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Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

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Re: Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

#71

Post by mavhc »

kelnos wrote: post #38
kolinko wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because Amazon stops supporting devices after 14 years ? (while they can still be used to read books already downloaded) Really?

In this case the reason for dropping support is most likely that the only DRM they can support on that older hardware has been broken. There's no technical reason why it can't be supported, and I doubt it would cost them much (or even anything) to continue support. Meanwhile, I can still read physical books I've had since I was a child, 40 years ago. The Kindle is undeniably more convenient than physical books, but t…

you can still remove the drm and sideload them

Re: Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

#72

Post by scblock »

Havoc wrote: post #2

The old kindles only support the book format with the weak encryption. ;) They also killed the ability to download books from the website a while back so directly of travel is pretty clear here.

It was a good compromise, including for Amazon. DRM is immoral when you're "selling" books, because that means I don't own the actual book. I still bought plenty of them when I could easily strip the DRM. But now I'm done, never buying another DRM encrusted book from Amazon.

Re: Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

#74

Post by lxgr »

lordleft wrote: post #36

I've used a kindle for years and have bought hundreds of ebooks through Amazon's platform. The convenience of being able to carry a library with me in a single device is undeniable. ~14 years of support seems reasonable, especially in the context of modern tech. And yet decisions like this always upset me. For all the limitations of physical books, I can hand my physical books to my literal children and grandchildren…

> I can hand my physical books to my literal children and grandchildren when I die. […] The fact that this isn't guaranteed for DRM-locked ebooks

In fact, the opposite is pretty much guaranteed. To my knowledge, you can’t inherit Amazon Kindle licenses, and you definitely can’t give them away otherwise (which is the obvious next thing to do when inheriting books you think somebody else has a better use for than you).

Re: Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

#75

Post by amarant »

neilv wrote: post #51
TimorousBestie wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (Authors and publishers need any bit of good news they can get right now.) Amazon accumulating even more control over the ebook market is not good news for authors and publishers.

I agree that Amazon getting even more control over the ebook market would be bad for authors and publishers. But how would (hypothetical) more formidable DRM constitute even more control over the ebook market? (Do you mean more control by preventing more piracy? Or by preventing more good-faith circumvention? Or more control because ebooks might be published even more Amazon exclusive than they already are, because o…

Lock-in effect probably? I kinda wanna switch to kobo, but I own like, several books on Amazon.

The notion that copying books I've bought and paid for to a second device from a different manufacturer should be considered piracy is offensive.

Re: Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

#76

Post by snowe2010 »

neilv wrote: post #51
TimorousBestie wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (Authors and publishers need any bit of good news they can get right now.) Amazon accumulating even more control over the ebook market is not good news for authors and publishers.

I agree that Amazon getting even more control over the ebook market would be bad for authors and publishers. But how would (hypothetical) more formidable DRM constitute even more control over the ebook market? (Do you mean more control by preventing more piracy? Or by preventing more good-faith circumvention? Or more control because ebooks might be published even more Amazon exclusive than they already are, because o…

That control is only held by Amazon with their drm scheme. It’s not held by the publishers or authors. It does nothing to prevent piracy and only helps Amazon consolidate more control.

Re: Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

#78

Post by 72deluxe »

damontal wrote: post #18

I have an old kindle keyboard I keep around for nostalgia that still works. I’m guessing this will be affected. Hoping I can still add books via usb

You can add books using the Calibre software which converts epubs and mobi files I think. I use this with a Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Generation and avoid Amazon interaction.

Re: Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

#79

Post by hemant6488 »

isghoor wrote: post #63

Jailbreak and repurpose as an e-paper dashboard? I have two kindles used this way. https://github.com/usetrmnl/terminus https://github.com/usetrmnl/trmnl-koreader (I built the koreader plugin)

Did something similar with my 7th gen paperwhite, turned it into a little weather and calendar display. Wrote up the process if anyone wants to try it, also the battery life on these things as a dashboard is insane, barely need to charge it.

https://terminalbytes.com/reviving-kindle-paperwhite-7th-gen...

Re: Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May

#80

Post by duncangh »

xyzzy_foo wrote: post #33
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes...but let's also be realistic. Very few people are still using this Kindle as their daily driver . They've already upgraded to a PaperWhite or something better. But there's a very simple reason that Amazon is cutting support for these. Many people (myself included--I have a 4th Gen still kicking around) keep one around because, after Amazon removed the Download option for Ebooks awhile back, having one of these o…

Good news: People are working on removing the latest KFX DRM, and it has already been cracked. Bad news: Amazon is monitoring them and hasn't let up on efforts to update the DRM.

Good news: this cat and mouse game is keeping some of our brothers / sisters in software employed at FAANG. I feel like the girl from the kombucha reaction gif weighing both sides in this back and forth rally lol
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