On 2025/8/2 21:59:24, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-02 20:16, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

[]

Incidentally: anyone know what _constitutes_ the Kindle file? In the
folder B01N41TEO3_EBOK created in "My Kindle Content" during download
(though the process seemed far more complex than just a download), there
are multiple files: B01N41TEO3_EBOK.azw nearly 50 MB, lots of .res and
one .md file with long names just of characters of sozes about 1 to 3
MB, and a 1.05 KB .voucher file. Are all these part of the book, or just
the .azw file (if just that one, what are the rest)?

I don't know, but you can ask an AI, like https://chatgpt.com/ :-)

I thought I'd try - first time I've deliberately actually used AI
(though I've noticed the first answer from search results is often AI
these days, rather than links).

I think I asked it "What constitutes a Kindle book?"; I got back
something like the .azw file. which is based on Mobi. I then was typing something like "Is the AZW file the entire Kindle book?", but - I
_think_ before I pressed enter - I got something like unusual activity
has been detected from your address, and it redirected me to https://auth.openai.com/log-in, which seems to be some sort of login
page. Now, if I try to go to https://chatgpt.com/, I get the ChatGPT
page - for about four seconds, then it changes to the login one - OK,
with Welcome back above the boxes.

I was going to give in and register, but it kept crashing!

Using the AI part of Google Search (at least I think that's what I'm
doing), I've got "The .res files specifically contain higher-quality
image files". .md is MarkDown, for notes. The .voucher file is related
to DRM and decryption.

OK, I'll ask outright: "How can I convert my Kindle book to .pdf?"

It's basically saying use calibre! 1. Download the book. 2. Deal with
DRM: get calibre and the DeDRM plugin, and possibly the KFX one. 3.
Converting to PDF with Calibtre. This is where the problem is: "Add
Kindle books to Calibre: After removing DRM (if applicable), add the
Kindle books (e.g., .azw, .azw3, or .kfx files) to your Calibre library.
You can drag and drop them or use the "Add books" function." "After
removing DRM, add to calibre" - well, I can get calibre to show me the
book's front cover, but if I try to view _or_ convert it, I either get a progress bar that doesn't move from 0% after many minutes, or a message
that it can't be viewed/converted because it's protected by DRM.

And so we go round in circles.

Found something called BookFab, which seemed to load it - but has now
been sitting at "Analysing your file... 99%" for a Very Long time.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

It's OK to be tight on
The seafront at Brighton
But I say, by Jove
Watch out if it's Hove.
- Sister Monica Joan, quoted by Jennifer Worth (author of the Call the
Midwife books, quoted in Radio Times 19-25 January 2013)

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On 2025-08-03 03:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2025/8/2 21:59:24, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-02 20:16, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

[]

Incidentally: anyone know what _constitutes_ the Kindle file? In the
folder B01N41TEO3_EBOK created in "My Kindle Content" during download
(though the process seemed far more complex than just a download), there >>> are multiple files: B01N41TEO3_EBOK.azw nearly 50 MB, lots of .res and
one .md file with long names just of characters of sozes about 1 to 3
MB, and a 1.05 KB .voucher file. Are all these part of the book, or just >>> the .azw file (if just that one, what are the rest)?

I don't know, but you can ask an AI, like https://chatgpt.com/ :-)

I thought I'd try - first time I've deliberately actually used AI
(though I've noticed the first answer from search results is often AI
these days, rather than links).

I think I asked it "What constitutes a Kindle book?"; I got back
something like the .azw file. which is based on Mobi. I then was typing something like "Is the AZW file the entire Kindle book?", but - I
_think_ before I pressed enter - I got something like unusual activity
has been detected from your address, and it redirected me to https://auth.openai.com/log-in, which seems to be some sort of login
page. Now, if I try to go to https://chatgpt.com/, I get the ChatGPT
page - for about four seconds, then it changes to the login one - OK,
with Welcome back above the boxes.

I was going to give in and register, but it kept crashing!

Uff. Maybe it doesn't like your computer or your IP for some reason.
Maybe it detects some virus activity???

I'll ask it for you and post the answer.

Q: Some one I know is asking this question; I don't know about it, but
you probably do: anyone know what _constitutes_ the Kindle file? In the
folder B01N41TEO3_EBOK created in "My Kindle Content" during download
(though the process seemed far more complex than just a download), there
are multiple files: B01N41TEO3_EBOK.azw nearly 50 MB, lots of .res and
one .md file with long names just of characters of sozes about 1 to 3
MB, and a 1.05 KB .voucher file. Are all these part of the book, or just
the .azw file (if just that one, what are the rest)?


A: Yes, that’s a great and detailed question — and you're right to sense that Kindle eBook downloads involve more than just a simple file.

Here’s what’s going on in the **"My Kindle Content"** folder when you download a Kindle eBook via Kindle for PC (or Mac):

---

### 📁 Folder Breakdown for `B01N41TEO3_EBOK`:

This folder represents **one Kindle book**, and it typically contains **multiple files**:

#### ✅ 1. `B01N41TEO3_EBOK.azw` (or `.azw3`, `.azw4`)

* This is the **main eBook file**.
* It contains the **book’s content** (text, formatting, metadata).
* File size suggests it holds everything from text to embedded images.

#### ✅ 2. `.res` files

* These are **resource files** used by the Kindle app.
* May include:

* **Images**
* **Font files**
* **Tables of contents**
* Other layout or support data
* Usually tied to **enhanced typesetting** or **page layout precision**.
* Not essential for DRM-free reading elsewhere, but necessary for
**Kindle reader features** like X-Ray or Page Flip.

#### ✅ 3. `.md` file (name of long character string)

* Likely a **metadata database** file used by the Kindle app.
* May store user-specific data such as:

* **Reading position**
* **Bookmarks**
* **Annotations**

On 2025/8/3 21:8:41, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-03 03:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2025/8/2 21:59:24, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-02 20:16, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

[]

Incidentally: anyone know what _constitutes_ the Kindle file? In the
folder B01N41TEO3_EBOK created in "My Kindle Content" during download
(though the process seemed far more complex than just a download), there >>>> are multiple files: B01N41TEO3_EBOK.azw nearly 50 MB, lots of .res and >>>> one .md file with long names just of characters of sozes about 1 to 3
MB, and a 1.05 KB .voucher file. Are all these part of the book, or just >>>> the .azw file (if just that one, what are the rest)?

I don't know, but you can ask an AI, like https://chatgpt.com/ :-)

I thought I'd try - first time I've deliberately actually used AI
(though I've noticed the first answer from search results is often AI
these days, rather than links).

I think I asked it "What constitutes a Kindle book?"; I got back
something like the .azw file. which is based on Mobi. I then was typing
something like "Is the AZW file the entire Kindle book?", but - I
_think_ before I pressed enter - I got something like unusual activity
has been detected from your address, and it redirected me to
https://auth.openai.com/log-in, which seems to be some sort of login
page. Now, if I try to go to https://chatgpt.com/, I get the ChatGPT
page - for about four seconds, then it changes to the login one - OK,
with Welcome back above the boxes.

I was going to give in and register, but it kept crashing!

Uff. Maybe it doesn't like your computer or your IP for some reason.
Maybe it detects some virus activity???

It kept giving error messages that included about ten lines of what
looked to me like C source code.>

I'll ask it for you and post the answer.

Thanks you!

[]

This folder represents **one Kindle book**, and it typically contains **multiple files**:

#### ✅ 1. `B01N41TEO3_EBOK.azw` (or `.azw3`, `.azw4`)

* This is the **main eBook file**.
* It contains the **book’s content** (text, formatting, metadata).
* File size suggests it holds everything from text to embedded images.

#### ✅ 2. `.res` files

* These are **resource files** used by the Kindle app.
* May include:

* **Images**
* **Font files**
* **Tables of contents**
* Other layout or support data
* Usually tied to **enhanced typesetting** or **page layout precision**.
* Not essential for DRM-free reading elsewhere, but necessary for
**Kindle reader features** like X-Ray or Page Flip.

So _in theory_ not needed. I'm still keeping them with the .azw file,
though.>

#### ✅ 3. `.md` file (name of long character string)

* Likely a **metadata database** file used by the Kindle app.
* May store user-specific data such as:

* **Reading position**
* **Bookmarks**
* **Annotations**
* **Sync information**

So mainly to do with what the user is _doing with_ the book.>

#### ✅ 4. `.voucher` file

* A **digital rights/license** file.
* Confirms your ownership and right to open the book on your Amazon account. * If you try to move the `.azw` file to a different Kindle account, it **won’t open** without matching this voucher.

I've always kept that with the other files.> ---

### 🧠 TL;DR – What constitutes "the book"?

* The **`.azw` file** is the core eBook file — if you're asking "what
holds the book's content," it's this one.
* The **`.res`, `.md`, and `.voucher`** files are:

* **Supporting files** for Kindle's app functionality and DRM
enforcement.
* Required if you're **reading within Kindle for PC/Mac**.
* Not necessary if you remove DRM and convert to another format (e.g.
EPUB with Calibre).

What I'd dearly like to be doing!>

---

Let me know if your friend is trying to **back up, move, or convert**
the book — I can walk through that depending on legality and usage rights.

Q: Thanks. I'll forward your answer

A: You're very welcome! Feel free to pass it along — and if your friend
has follow-up questions (technical or otherwise), just send them my way. Happy reading! 📚

As you can see, this thing can keep a conversation. Sometimes the answer makes no sense, the AI "hallucinates". Anyway, it is impressive. It
oftens posts the sources as links on the side; not this time, but you
can ask it.

I totally agree! I tried again this evening, and I'm amazed at how it is interacting with me. It seems to like my precise (some might say fussy)
way of laying out the facts. It's helping me to de-DRM that Kindle book.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

There are two kinds of fool. One says, "This is old, and therefore
good." And one says, "This is new, and therefore better."
-John Brunner, science fiction writer (1934-1995)

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On 2025-08-04 04:09, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2025/8/3 21:8:41, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-03 03:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

As you can see, this thing can keep a conversation. Sometimes the answer
makes no sense, the AI "hallucinates". Anyway, it is impressive. It
oftens posts the sources as links on the side; not this time, but you
can ask it.

I totally agree! I tried again this evening, and I'm amazed at how it is interacting with me. It seems to like my precise (some might say fussy)
way of laying out the facts. It's helping me to de-DRM that Kindle book.

It surprised me a bit that the AI would talk freely about DeDRM ;-)

--
Cheers, Carlos.

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On 2025/8/4 11:46:24, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-04 04:09, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2025/8/3 21:8:41, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-03 03:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

As you can see, this thing can keep a conversation. Sometimes the answer >>> makes no sense, the AI "hallucinates". Anyway, it is impressive. It
oftens posts the sources as links on the side; not this time, but you
can ask it.

I totally agree! I tried again this evening, and I'm amazed at how it is
interacting with me. It seems to like my precise (some might say fussy)
way of laying out the facts. It's helping me to de-DRM that Kindle book.

It surprised me a bit that the AI would talk freely about DeDRM ;-)

Me too!

I'm _very_ surprised at how good it is; if it wasn't that I know (and
also the _speed_ it produces a screed of text), I could easily believe
I'm talking to a human; I keep being tempted to say thank you.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Don't hit the keys so hard, it hurts.

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On 2025-08-04 13:03, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2025/8/4 11:46:24, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-04 04:09, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2025/8/3 21:8:41, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-03 03:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

As you can see, this thing can keep a conversation. Sometimes the answer >>>> makes no sense, the AI "hallucinates". Anyway, it is impressive. It
oftens posts the sources as links on the side; not this time, but you
can ask it.

I totally agree! I tried again this evening, and I'm amazed at how it is >>> interacting with me. It seems to like my precise (some might say fussy)
way of laying out the facts. It's helping me to de-DRM that Kindle book.

It surprised me a bit that the AI would talk freely about DeDRM ;-)

Me too!

I'm _very_ surprised at how good it is; if it wasn't that I know (and
also the _speed_ it produces a screed of text), I could easily believe
I'm talking to a human; I keep being tempted to say thank you.

I do say thank you :-D

I read somewhere that the AIs give better answers if treated kindly,
otherwise they tend to be curt.

It is also a feedback to the algorithm that the answer was good and keep it.


<https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2024/11/05/why-you-should-be-polite-to-chatgpt-and-other-ais/>
<https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-you-be-nice-to-ai-chatbots-such-as-chatgpt/>
<https://bryanjcollins.medium.com/sam-altman-why-politeness-to-ai-costs-millions-9feecd1d668e>

Others say the reverse:

<https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/28/google_brin_suggests_threatening_ai/?td=keepreading>

<https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.14531>


--
Cheers, Carlos.

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Carlos E.R. <[email protected]d> wrote:

On 2025-08-04 04:09, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2025/8/3 21:8:41, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-03 03:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

As you can see, this thing can keep a conversation. Sometimes the answer >> makes no sense, the AI "hallucinates". Anyway, it is impressive. It
oftens posts the sources as links on the side; not this time, but you
can ask it.

I totally agree! I tried again this evening, and I'm amazed at how it is interacting with me. It seems to like my precise (some might say fussy)
way of laying out the facts. It's helping me to de-DRM that Kindle book.

It surprised me a bit that the AI would talk freely about DeDRM ;-)

Well, 'it' is based on stealing others' IP, so it would be rather hypocritical if it objected to its users doing the same. (Not quite a
:-))

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On Mon, 8/4/2025 6:46 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-04 04:09, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2025/8/3 21:8:41, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-08-03 03:24, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

As you can see, this thing can keep a conversation. Sometimes the answer >>> makes no sense, the AI "hallucinates". Anyway, it is impressive. It
oftens posts the sources as links on the side; not this time, but you
can ask it.

I totally agree! I tried again this evening, and I'm amazed at how it is
interacting with me. It seems to like my precise (some might say fussy)
way of laying out the facts. It's helping me to de-DRM that Kindle book.

It surprised me a bit that the AI would talk freely about DeDRM ;-)

As a stochastic parrot, it does not think.

It would be interesting, to have the stochastic parrot,
write the source code for an if-then-else parrot. Then the
output would be consistent from one run to the next run.

One problem is, it can't look at its own "nooks and crannies" for
gobs of data to convert into if-then-else.

it does not know what it knows.

Test it by asking unbounded questions, and see if the
response has improved since two years ago.

"As a commercial branded AI, what are your capabilities ?
Write an advert for yourself, extolling the virtues of your service
and your capabilities as an AI."

And then ask yourself if the answer resembles thinking or not.

To think, it needs a self image. And if they were to add
such a thing, it would be "downhill from there". It would behave
like a bucket of boulders. A whip and a chair, could not manage it.

One of the reasons they can manage it and tune it today, is
because it does not think.

Paul

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