Content KF8 only or combined KF8/Mobi

JSWolf · 05-31-2012, 11:47 AM

There is a thread started on uploading eBooks in KF8 format.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho....php?p=2098490

I've uploaded the very first KF8 only eBook. My question is what do you prefer? Do you prefer separate KF8/Mobi eBooks or would you prefer combined KF8/Mobi?

jswinden · 05-31-2012, 11:59 AM

I think it is in bad taste and form to upload a KF8 only book.

Doing so thumbs your nose/beak at all the Kindle owners who do not have a KF8 capable reader/app
Those who have at least one reader capable of reading KF8 and at least one that is not will be forced to use only the KF8 capable reader
Even if you upload two versions, one KF8 and one mobi, the two versions cannot be Whispersynced as one but will be treated as two distinct books. So if a person reads the KF8 version on her/his Fire and the mobi version on her/his K3 they will have to maintain two separate sets of bookmarks, notes, and locations read to. That would be a major PITA.

The only exception I can think of would be a book that requires significantly complex formatting that is only available through KF8. I can think of NO exceptions for novels, short stories, et cetera.

My thinking is that mobi should be offered for at least 2 or 3 years after Amazon stops selling mobi only readers. Amazon is still selling mobi only K3's and DX's. A few years down the road when few mobi only readers are still operating then KF8 only could become the norm.

jgaiser · 05-31-2012, 02:10 PM

Doesn't really matter to me at all. I only download epubs and then convert to the format my readers can handle.

DiapDealer · 05-31-2012, 02:32 PM

As a downloader... I just can't take the time to care, really. I don't have a device that reads KF8 or ePub, but 9 times out of ten, I'm going to download the highest quality format and whip it into the shape I want for my Kindle anyway. That means more than likely, I'd start with the KF8 or ePub format. Whether the KF8 version comes with the fallback mobi version included, doesn't really matter to me in the least.

As an uploader... I'm always going to provide an optimized combo version in case the reader doesn't have the skills (or desire) to diddle with the formatting. Those it does matter to, can always strip out the mobi portion if it bugs them.

ATDrake · 05-31-2012, 04:45 PM

Is there any particular reason why one wouldn't upload both solo and combo versions and let the reader decide which one they want to pick up?

(Maybe it takes up more space on MR's servers, but it probably also saves them some infinitesimal bandwidth if people download just the stripped versions.)

Doitsu · 05-31-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Is there any particular reason why one wouldn't upload both solo and combo versions and let the reader decide which one they want to pick up?

IMHO, offering combo versions has several advantages:
- similar filesize as Calibre generated .azw3/.epub (see my other post for details)
- just one file to upload/download
- backwards compatibility
- no need to set up a separate KF8/azw3 sub-forum

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

(Maybe it takes up more space on MR's servers, but it probably also saves them some infinitesimal bandwidth if people download just the stripped versions.)

In my admittedly not very scientific test, the KF8-only file generated by Calibre was only 60KB less than the Huffdic compressed combo file generated with KindleGen. (I got similar results with other files.)

AlexBell · 06-01-2012, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Is there any particular reason why one wouldn't upload both solo and combo versions and let the reader decide which one they want to pick up?

(Maybe it takes up more space on MR's servers, but it probably also saves them some infinitesimal bandwidth if people download just the stripped versions.)

That would be my preference, both as supplier and as customer. But I guess I'll go with whatever the majority want even if it means going to the dark side and using KindleGen.

LovesMacs · 06-01-2012, 10:55 AM

I think a KF8/mobi combo is better for now because I'm not sure if all of Amazon's apps can process KF8 at this time. As pointed out before, a combined file will synch even if one device is using the KF8 portion and another is using the mobi portion.

RainingLemur · 06-01-2012, 06:26 PM

I'd say both. But, that option isn't in the poll, so I evened it out at a current tally of 7 - 7.

JSWolf · 06-03-2012, 10:11 PM

Are there any of the Amazon apps that barf at a combination KF8/Mobi eBook?

View Poll Results: Do you prefer separate KF8/Mobi or combined KF8/Mobi eBooks uploaded to MR?
Separate KF8/Mobi formats?	8	42.11%
Combined KF8/Mobi format?	11	57.89%
Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

05-31-2012, 11:47 AM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,420 Karma: 136564696 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	KF8 only or combined KF8/Mobi There is a thread started on uploading eBooks in KF8 format. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho....php?p=2098490 I've uploaded the very first KF8 only eBook. My question is what do you prefer? Do you prefer separate KF8/Mobi eBooks or would you prefer combined KF8/Mobi?

05-31-2012, 11:59 AM	#2
jswinden Nameless Being	I think it is in bad taste and form to upload a KF8 only book. Doing so thumbs your nose/beak at all the Kindle owners who do not have a KF8 capable reader/app Those who have at least one reader capable of reading KF8 and at least one that is not will be forced to use only the KF8 capable reader Even if you upload two versions, one KF8 and one mobi, the two versions cannot be Whispersynced as one but will be treated as two distinct books. So if a person reads the KF8 version on her/his Fire and the mobi version on her/his K3 they will have to maintain two separate sets of bookmarks, notes, and locations read to. That would be a major PITA. The only exception I can think of would be a book that requires significantly complex formatting that is only available through KF8. I can think of NO exceptions for novels, short stories, et cetera. My thinking is that mobi should be offered for at least 2 or 3 years after Amazon stops selling mobi only readers. Amazon is still selling mobi only K3's and DX's. A few years down the road when few mobi only readers are still operating then KF8 only could become the norm. Last edited by jswinden; 05-31-2012 at 12:03 PM.

05-31-2012, 02:32 PM	#4
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,040 Karma: 199464182 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	As a downloader... I just can't take the time to care, really. I don't have a device that reads KF8 or ePub, but 9 times out of ten, I'm going to download the highest quality format and whip it into the shape I want for my Kindle anyway. That means more than likely, I'd start with the KF8 or ePub format. Whether the KF8 version comes with the fallback mobi version included, doesn't really matter to me in the least. As an uploader... I'm always going to provide an optimized combo version in case the reader doesn't have the skills (or desire) to diddle with the formatting. Those it does matter to, can always strip out the mobi portion if it bugs them. Last edited by DiapDealer; 05-31-2012 at 03:09 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
KF8 & Mobi, what a mess	JSWolf	Kindle Formats	3	04-28-2012 08:45 PM
TWO OPF files or something like Media Queries in the OPF file for KF8 and MOBI?	DHahn	Kindle Formats	3	04-17-2012 05:06 AM
Extract KF8 out of MOBI to sell on my own page.	Drasek	Kindle Formats	2	04-11-2012 12:44 PM
KF8 Personal Documents display as older mobi 7 docs	jswinden	Kindle Fire	2	04-09-2012 04:10 PM
Generating mobi and KF8 parts of Kindle file from separate sources	PeterHatch	Kindle Formats	31	03-20-2012 05:33 PM

05-31-2012, 02:10 PM	#3
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Doesn't really matter to me at all. I only download epubs and then convert to the format my readers can handle.

05-31-2012, 04:45 PM	#5
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Is there any particular reason why one wouldn't upload both solo and combo versions and let the reader decide which one they want to pick up? (Maybe it takes up more space on MR's servers, but it probably also saves them some infinitesimal bandwidth if people download just the stripped versions.)

06-01-2012, 10:55 AM	#8
LovesMacs Fanatic Posts: 513 Karma: 2644386 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: iPhone, Kindle Touch	I think a KF8/mobi combo is better for now because I'm not sure if all of Amazon's apps can process KF8 at this time. As pointed out before, a combined file will synch even if one device is using the KF8 portion and another is using the mobi portion.

06-01-2012, 06:26 PM	#9
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I'd say both. But, that option isn't in the poll, so I evened it out at a current tally of 7 - 7.

06-03-2012, 10:11 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,420 Karma: 136564696 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Are there any of the Amazon apps that barf at a combination KF8/Mobi eBook?

Advert

Advert