Kindle for tech users?

l1n1234 · 05-13-2008, 04:55 PM

I have noticed the Kindle being usually recommended for non-tech users, but just out of curiosity is there something about the Kindle that makes it not good for a technically inclined person. It just seems to me that the Kindle would be more easily hackable because it has so many features already built-in that could be modified by someone like Igorsk (qwerty keyboard, search feature, browser, etc.) But I am not a programmer or engineer so I do not know if there is something inherent in the Device that makes it not so amenable to mods by techies.

wallcraft · 05-13-2008, 06:01 PM

My baseline "techie" criteria is the availability of a screenshot utility. Only the Kindle and the iLiad have one. The developers of the Kindle software, lab126, are clearly techies and have designed a very clean interface to the device. Lab126 also added many more features (like the screenshot utility) than are exposed in the documentation, but so far I am not aware of any hacks to the actual software. One I would really like to see is a method to replace the default font.

Ervserver · 05-13-2008, 07:00 PM

There are hacky techies and there are techies who just want the latest and greatest. I really don't see that much hacking potential on a Kindle, I think once someone starts hacking the wireless capabilities mother ship will cut the tether.

l1n1234 · 05-14-2008, 01:40 PM

I guess not just hacks but also mods and utilities. If you look at the Sony forum here it looks like there is a lot more activity even for the 505. Of course the Sony readers have been around longer. Maybe the Kindle is just a turnoff for techies. I hope not because like Wallcraft I would also love to have a method to change fonts like the Gen3.

Ervserver · 05-14-2008, 01:46 PM

as the Kindle ages I'm sure we will see more mods come out

Quote:

Originally Posted by l1n1234

I guess not just hacks but also mods and utilities. If you look at the Sony forum here it looks like there is a lot more activity even for the 505. Of course the Sony readers have been around longer. Maybe the Kindle is just a turnoff for techies. I hope not because like Wallcraft I would also love to have a method to change fonts like the Gen3.

05-13-2008, 04:55 PM	#1
l1n1234 Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 109 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: kindle	Kindle for tech users? I have noticed the Kindle being usually recommended for non-tech users, but just out of curiosity is there something about the Kindle that makes it not good for a technically inclined person. It just seems to me that the Kindle would be more easily hackable because it has so many features already built-in that could be modified by someone like Igorsk (qwerty keyboard, search feature, browser, etc.) But I am not a programmer or engineer so I do not know if there is something inherent in the Device that makes it not so amenable to mods by techies.

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05-13-2008, 06:01 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	My baseline "techie" criteria is the availability of a screenshot utility. Only the Kindle and the iLiad have one. The developers of the Kindle software, lab126, are clearly techies and have designed a very clean interface to the device. Lab126 also added many more features (like the screenshot utility) than are exposed in the documentation, but so far I am not aware of any hacks to the actual software. One I would really like to see is a method to replace the default font.

05-13-2008, 07:00 PM	#3
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	There are hacky techies and there are techies who just want the latest and greatest. I really don't see that much hacking potential on a Kindle, I think once someone starts hacking the wireless capabilities mother ship will cut the tether.

05-14-2008, 01:40 PM	#4
l1n1234 Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 109 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: kindle	I guess not just hacks but also mods and utilities. If you look at the Sony forum here it looks like there is a lot more activity even for the 505. Of course the Sony readers have been around longer. Maybe the Kindle is just a turnoff for techies. I hope not because like Wallcraft I would also love to have a method to change fonts like the Gen3.

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