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Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

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Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#151

Post by maushu »

mabbo wrote: post #150

There's something to be said for today's business model that much of big tech uses: "First we build it, then we get customers who love it, then we try to figure out how to monetize it- and kill it if we don't". Google is, of course, the king of this model, but it feels as though the entire industry fully embraces it. I'm waiting for the day my Alexa shuts itself off forever because I still don't see how it makes a di…

When you can't find the source of revenue then that generally means you are the source of revenue.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#152

Post by Amorymeltzer »

mabbo wrote: post #150

There's something to be said for today's business model that much of big tech uses: "First we build it, then we get customers who love it, then we try to figure out how to monetize it- and kill it if we don't". Google is, of course, the king of this model, but it feels as though the entire industry fully embraces it. I'm waiting for the day my Alexa shuts itself off forever because I still don't see how it makes a di…

This is essentially Cory Doctorow's "Enshittification": https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys>, briefly discussed here at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34480479>

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#153

Post by aestetix »

nischalsamji wrote: post #50
pgib wrote: post #29

Sure hope 2600 finds a new means of distribution. It was super convenient going to my Kindle and was a no-brainer to subscribe.

what will happen to the old 2600 magazines? I have been a subscriber since 2015. sad to see this going away

2600 is working on a solution.

https://twitter.com/2600/status/1634298291599859712

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#154

Post by Lolaccount »

Hmm, with the changes at Amazon Music (on Sonos at least), this is the first time I've noticed some proper, consistent chipping away at the benefits of an Amazon Prime membership.

I jumped ship to Amazon after Google actively prevented me from paying them (!).

Time to stop lying to myself and go 100% local.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#155

Post by jacobjwebber »

longnguyen wrote: post #114

Shameless plug: I build a tool to forward RSS feeds and newsletters to Kindle automatically[0]. While it could not replace the official periodicals, it works pretty well for my personal reading workflow. Consider giving it a try if you’re looking for an alternative. [0]: https://ktool.io

Just signed up! This looks v good

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#156

Post by Ensorceled »

SentientAtom wrote: post #142
ravel-bar-foo wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Around 2013 our university digitized their newspaper displays. Prior to the renovation, newspapers were posted daily in large vertical glass-covered display cases in the student lounge of the library (the library would buy and post two copies so all pages were face up). Tens of students at a time would slowly walk down the row of newspapers reading during their study breaks and quietly chatting while sipping on coffe…

Seems there is a psychological effect at play. I imagine a social ritual of standing and reading something that is always in-focus requiring no scrolling is far more appealing.

Scanning in that fashion is also far faster, more comfortable and efficient.

I used to flip through newspapers rather quickly scanning the headlines and first paragraph and reading more interesting articles in depth. Scanning this way is almost impossible digitally. Also headlines were more useful and articles actually had informative first paragraph instead of just "scroll some more" hooks.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#157

Post by eitally »

Ma8ee wrote: post #136
TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good luck canceling that subscription.

They have made it easier. It used to be that you had to call, but now you can do it on the web.

They have made it easier [by law] for subscribers [in California].

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#158

Post by tootie »

CobrastanJorji wrote: post #21
mrwh wrote: post #3

I had to read the email I got about this several times because it didn't seem to make sense. Hang on, my New York Times subscription is going to end in September and then... that's it? The Kindle is wonderful for reading newspapers on, and now - what? And why? I'm sure that someone has a very good reason for the change. I'm also sure that I've never seen a deprecation so poorly communicated.

Amazon doesn't want you to have a subscription to the New York Times. Amazon wants you to have a subscription to Amazon Unlimited, which would include access to the New York Times. Amazon would then pay the New York Times and all other periodicals an amount that Amazon thinks is fair based on how many people are reading their articles, like Amazon Unlimited books. This is very bad for big periodicals with many subscr…

Aside from the NY Times and maybe Conde Nast this will be Amazon squeezing blood from a stone. Most publishers are barely treading water right now and are getting killed by off-platform news consumption.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#159

Post by jrochkind1 »

CobrastanJorji wrote: post #21
mrwh wrote: post #3

I had to read the email I got about this several times because it didn't seem to make sense. Hang on, my New York Times subscription is going to end in September and then... that's it? The Kindle is wonderful for reading newspapers on, and now - what? And why? I'm sure that someone has a very good reason for the change. I'm also sure that I've never seen a deprecation so poorly communicated.

Amazon doesn't want you to have a subscription to the New York Times. Amazon wants you to have a subscription to Amazon Unlimited, which would include access to the New York Times. Amazon would then pay the New York Times and all other periodicals an amount that Amazon thinks is fair based on how many people are reading their articles, like Amazon Unlimited books. This is very bad for big periodicals with many subscr…

> Amazon wants you to have a subscription to Amazon Unlimited, which would include access to the New York Times. Amazon would then pay the New York Times and all other periodicals an amount that Amazon thinks is fair based on how many people are reading their articles, like Amazon Unlimited books.

The "spotify model".

It's pretty bad for content creators. It is great for the distribution platform in the middle position. I think it's arguably pretty good for consumers, at least initially -- but generally the point is locking in consumers to eventually squeeze them, and I don't think it's great for _society_, which of course effects "consumers".

Giblin and Doctorow's _Chokepoint Capitalism_ is worth checking out. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710957/chokepoint-c...

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