The Verge reports that the Download & Transfer via USB feature will cease functioning from February 26. This means that users will no longer be able to download purchased ebooks from Amazon and then transfer those ebooks to the Kindle through a wired USB connection.
This effect is on all models, even though the most recent Kindle models released last year never had this option available. Amazon has not shared a specific reason for this facility being closed down, but probably it’s targeted for ebook piracy.
With the many various readily available online tools, users could download their purchased ebooks from Amazon, and strip them of all of the DRM (Digital Rights Management) protections. In turn, users can read them on other devices or market them online and that little loophole will soon be closed.
As is the case, most often, these measures undertaken to curb digital piracy usually turn against the interests of the innocent, law-abiding user. That is never again going to store ebooks in a computer as a backup or transfer them outside the Wi-Fi connection with which Kindle-authorized users previously enjoyed extra convenience.
Amazon tends to delete or replace some ebooks on its platform from time to time. This change would mean users would be left more at the mercy of the decisions made by Amazon regarding the content available from now on.
Users would still be able to transfer ebooks via Wi-Fi and use such software as Calibre to send files to their Kindle. However, the ability to download purchases directly from the Amazon website to a computer will be eliminated.It also means heading towards the digital extinction of the older AZW3 format for Amazon ebooks, largely surpassed by the newer KFX format. The KFX format is far more challenging to hack when it comes to DRM and is now mostly used except for downloaders down to the computer.
