Kindle DRM hacked to allow protected Mobipocket ebooks

We knew the Kindle's DRM would be cracked the minute we heard about it, and it looks like the first chink in the armor is here courtesy of Igor Skochinsky: he's discovered the algorithm the Kindle uses to turn regular Mobipocket books into Amazon's proprietary .azw format. The hack involves replacing a Mobipocket file's PID with one generated from your Kindle's serial number, and then setting a Kindle-specific flag that allows it to be opened. Igor's posted a couple little Python scripts to handle both of these tasks for you, and it looks like sites like Fictionwise already support the hack. That's all well and good, but we're still waiting patiently for the day when we can tether to that free EV-DO.

[Christopher M. @ Dec 12th 2007 6:58PM]

Great, what would that accomplish other than Amazon having to majorly retool or even remove the EV-DO connectivity? Or move to a model of charging us.

More humble hacks, please.

[EatingPie @ Dec 13th 2007 2:24PM]

I'm looking for the opposite hack.

Kindle DRM --> Mobipocket (or other) format. That way (hopefully) we can get converters to other formats, such as those for the Sony Reader.

Sadly, I think Amazon wants to sell hardware, even though they're a book retailer (yes they sell tons of other junk, but they don't *build* it). Sony, OTOH, wants to sell books even though they're a hardware retailer. Sheesh.

Amazon is gonna win the book selling end of things, hands down. Sorry Sony, own up to it. The Kindle is an ugly dog, and Sony's Reader is elegant, beautiful, and ergonomic, Amazon own up to it. Become friends. Combine forces. Take over the universe.

-Pie

[BeforeISleep.net @ Dec 12th 2007 6:59PM]

The irony is, as soon as we can tether to that free EV-DO... it won't be free anymore!

[John @ Dec 12th 2007 7:08PM]

Great, now take it one step further to allow Audio file formats and a web browser of sort, although i dont know how that crappy "e-ink" screen would seem to handle it all. It makes me wornder how crappy the kindle can be, and how useful it can be as well.

[Plothole @ Dec 13th 2007 4:08PM]

How is "e-ink" crappy? No LCD could perform nearly as well in bright daylight, nor consume so little power as to afford the device a one week average battery life.

Anyways... the Kindle does support Audio (including Audible.com books), and does have a basic web browser.

[John McKenna @ Dec 13th 2007 7:58PM]

i stand enlightened.

[eric cumbee @ Dec 12th 2007 7:10PM]

they could most likely track the number of downloads and requests to there servers, and compare that to data used per user.

or even easier, i am sure they can set it up where kindle devices can only access amazon servers.

[Patrick @ Dec 12th 2007 7:39PM]

This fixes one of my MAJOR gripes with the Kindle. I love borrowing protected books from NYPL.

Kindle is still ugly and expensive though...

[Ipaq3115 @ Dec 12th 2007 8:59PM]

wouldn't that be the day...

[Ian @ Dec 12th 2007 10:38PM]

Day you can tether == day it's not free == day I say "way to go dumbasses."

I have nothing against the price. That bandwidth ain't free. People are such whiny bitches sometimes.

[Shoeb KHAN @ Dec 12th 2007 11:03PM]

Did ur staff just use thew word 'chink'? must be a real geek or racist SOB. Chink is a derogatory ethnic slur for someone of Chinese descent, now used as an epithet against East Asians. Granted Chink may also mean a small crevice or opening, referring to a weakness, such as a "chink in the armor." But still come-on. Don't be hatin.

[Robert Johnston @ Dec 12th 2007 11:17PM]

The only kind of person who would have a problem with the phrase "Chink in the armour" would be someone who is trying to overcompensate for their own racism.

[Matt @ Dec 12th 2007 11:19PM]

Its called English. Your objection speaks more to YOUR hang ups rather than Engadget's grasp of the written language. Or in your words, "don't be hatin".

[Kai Cherry @ Dec 13th 2007 12:55AM]

You are a politically correct misinformed moron. the chink in your argument has rendered it unto mindless babble ;)

[Ian Argent @ Dec 13th 2007 12:32AM]

It's not all that hard for Amazon to have locked the devices to only be able to access their servers; given that from the breakdown pics given the module is a mini-PCI unit, I would hope they thought about the possibility that someone could rip the card itself out of the unit.

[Ayrkain @ Dec 13th 2007 2:20AM]

As someone who has a couple of hacked eInk devices, I would like to welcome our new Amazonian compatriots to the club! :)

[Future Technologies @ Dec 13th 2007 5:56AM]

Tragedy of the commons: "The rational herdsman concludes that the only sensible course for him to pursue is to add another animal to his herd. And another; and another .... But this is the conclusion reached by each and every rational herdsman sharing a commons. Therein is the tragedy. Each man is locked in a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit.
Ruin is the destination to which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons. Freedom in a commons, brings ruin to all.

[markq @ Dec 14th 2007 2:40PM]

The infamous Igor Skochinsky. I feel like he could be a trivia answer someday
Anyway, if anyone is interested in my review of the kindle:
http://everydayyeah.com/?q=content/kindle-review