the only bit of the service i cared about was mailing my kindle address mobis/epubs (even the mobile kindle app receives these) today i use a boox page, after a friend complimented his https://shop.boox.com/products/page
Why do those devices need 3GB RAM and 8-core CPU if they well, show books? There is no hurry there. Give us full-blown terminal and ssh/mosh at least.
At least some of the Boox devices support Play Store, meaning that you can install termux.
I don't follow the logic here. Users of old devices aren't asking for new features, they're merely asking for their devices not to be bricked. If an author wants to design against a new set of features they can do that, and that book will not be available on older hardware. Just like, if you want to build an Android app against a newer version you can do that without forcing every human being to replace their phone.
The old kindles can still read all previously downloaded content. Amazon's warning is literally exactly that - you can't download new books or redownload old books (i.e. AZW versions).
They are bricking the devices and not allowing them to log back into the service if they ever log out. All they had to do was not allow them to access / purchase from the store rather than keeping them from logging in.
Do NOT buy a Kobo device for Libby integration. It is a LIE . I found out the hard way. Kobo only integrates with OverDrive, the predecessor to Libby. You can only use one library card at a time with OverDrive, and don't have access to the audioboks or periodicals on Libby. Meanwhile Kobo will aggressively push you to sign up for their monthly subscription to get access to that kind of content. If you want Libby on e…
> You can only use one library card at a time with OverDrive, and don't have access to the audioboks or periodicals on Libby.
I personally was fine with the limitations, after all I'm only one person and I would only ever read books on my ereader.
Do NOT buy a Kobo device for Libby integration. It is a LIE . I found out the hard way. Kobo only integrates with OverDrive, the predecessor to Libby. You can only use one library card at a time with OverDrive, and don't have access to the audioboks or periodicals on Libby. Meanwhile Kobo will aggressively push you to sign up for their monthly subscription to get access to that kind of content. If you want Libby on e…
Just want to semi recommend Pocketbook (please do your own research, never take a random recommendation et al).
I bought the Verse Pro Color. It doesn't require an account, it doesn't require wifi. I transfer epubs via USB and the pocketbook works on device without ever logging into a Pocketbook account.
There are other reasons not to like the device, but it's refreshing not to need to login to even use the device.
“I’ve carried a Kindle in my bag for over a decade. Through every hardware iteration, from the physical keyboard right up to the latest Paperwhite, a Kindle has been with me everywhere”
Wow. I got a kindle keyboard in 2012? It gave out about 4 years ago when I got a PocketBook Touch HD3, which has been great these last 4 years. I think it’s just insane that some people buy all the generations. What a waste.
Always loved to have an e-ink reader but the walled gardens always made it so hard. Until I bought the xteink x4, as skeptical as I could be. What a great little device. https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4
I love mine. I've owned a Kindle Paperwhite and a Boox Note 4+ but I never really got into the habit of reading much on them. The Note is great for notetaking, but the Kindle is too big to bring with me everywhere.
The X4 is so small that I can throw it in my pocket and read a page or two when I'm waiting for something instead of doomscolling on my phone. I love that little thing. I've read two books since 3/27 and I'm halfway through my 3rd book.
I have several Kindles for me and my kids, I have never bought a book on the Amazon store, instead I side load everything. Amazon basically subsidized a cheap and tough e-reader assuming it would drive everyone to the store, which I actively do not engage with. If it gets bricked in 10 years, I still think it would be worth it.
Just to be clear, "bricked" here means: 1. if you factory reset a device after May 20, you will not be able to sign in or use the device at all. 2. if you have one already you can use it with your downloaded books but you cannot use the official store at all. You might not have a problem with #2, but #1 is a dealbreaker imo
Again, this is after 13 years, so the subsidized price is worth it for me (personally) for at least 13 years of use. In the original article it compares it to kobo and says “Meanwhile, when you buy a Kobo, you are buying a tool that can be maintained for a decade or more”, so 13 years either way. That said, I don’t like Kindles approach, this is purely a cost benefit calculation and Amazon subsidizing the hardware makes it worth it (for me). I only use ereaders for reading and don’t want/need any more features.
While I agree with the sentiment, one nitpick - "When you buy a Kindle, you are buying a disposable product with a predetermined shelf life. Meanwhile, when you buy a Kobo, you are buying a tool that can be maintained for a decade or more." My Kindle is still going strong after 15 years, including a few years of not using it at all when I was enjoying reading physical books. That longevity is why I'm angry about this. I have a perfectly serviceable device and it's effectively being taken away from me.
What a shame that iPhone 6 cannot install the latest apps from App Store. This is robbery from Apple.
But iPhone 6 can still download whatever version supported by the latest iOS version on the phone, right?
That catalog is diminishing if not almost completely gone. Even if an app exists, unless it is (mostly) local, chances are that it's so old that it cannot talk to the remote server using the correct API. For mainstream apps, if it launches at all, many will immediately tell you to upgrade to a newer version otherwise it won't work.