MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Firmware Update Kindle Paperwhite Update Warning

dpbmobi · 07-31-2015, 12:56 AM

I've read the comments above with interest. I was not rude with the Amazon customer service representatives, because that rarely gets you anywhere, but I made it clear how I felt. And, believe me, if you don't demand change, you're not going to get it. I knew that they weren't going to do anything to resolve this issue, but I thought one more complaint might shift the attitude a tiny bit when dealing with the next irate customer. Who knows?

If nothing else, I will be very grateful to this wonderful site and the people who run it if one person has seen the original posting and disabled their wireless option. That was my intention, which is why I put it up as a warning. If I had known about the stealth attack, I never would have allowed my friend to check on her purchases. My recollection is that before this Amazon notified me of updates, and left it up to me to take advantage of them or not. This was different.

I strongly agree with those who cite the "your device, your rules" approach to hardware. My Kindle was out of warranty, and I did not want or request customer assistance with the software I installed. I always alter the OS on my computers to suit my needs, and understand that I do so at my own risk. It's usually a matter of compensating for some shortcoming in the technology, in this case a reading device that doesn't support ePub books.

But I'm afraid that those who say this interference with personal technology devices is just the beginning are right as well. Amazon, along with other high-tech corporations, is a de facto monopoly, if not strictly one by law. It is best judged by its behavior: price-fixing and differential pricing, content removal, silent upgrades, copyright infringement, tax evasion, anti-labor campaigns. These abuses are well-documented in Wikipedia articles and in the mainstream press.

I'm very, very grateful to those who helped me get back my ePub option and dial back this software-from-hell. It's great to be reading again. I'm afraid I'm going to have to post other questions concerning fonts and so forth, but I'll do all the research I can before bothering others.

Next stop, Kobo.

07-31-2015, 12:56 AM	#35
dpbmobi Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I've read the comments above with interest. I was not rude with the Amazon customer service representatives, because that rarely gets you anywhere, but I made it clear how I felt. And, believe me, if you don't demand change, you're not going to get it. I knew that they weren't going to do anything to resolve this issue, but I thought one more complaint might shift the attitude a tiny bit when dealing with the next irate customer. Who knows? If nothing else, I will be very grateful to this wonderful site and the people who run it if one person has seen the original posting and disabled their wireless option. That was my intention, which is why I put it up as a warning. If I had known about the stealth attack, I never would have allowed my friend to check on her purchases. My recollection is that before this Amazon notified me of updates, and left it up to me to take advantage of them or not. This was different. I strongly agree with those who cite the "your device, your rules" approach to hardware. My Kindle was out of warranty, and I did not want or request customer assistance with the software I installed. I always alter the OS on my computers to suit my needs, and understand that I do so at my own risk. It's usually a matter of compensating for some shortcoming in the technology, in this case a reading device that doesn't support ePub books. But I'm afraid that those who say this interference with personal technology devices is just the beginning are right as well. Amazon, along with other high-tech corporations, is a de facto monopoly, if not strictly one by law. It is best judged by its behavior: price-fixing and differential pricing, content removal, silent upgrades, copyright infringement, tax evasion, anti-labor campaigns. These abuses are well-documented in Wikipedia articles and in the mainstream press. I'm very, very grateful to those who helped me get back my ePub option and dial back this software-from-hell. It's great to be reading again. I'm afraid I'm going to have to post other questions concerning fonts and so forth, but I'll do all the research I can before bothering others. Next stop, Kobo.