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Originally Posted by ratinox
If it's about control over the ecosystem (vendor lock in) and user tracking (privacy invasion) then cutting off devices they don't control is a good reason for Amazon to do exactly this.
What's concerning is Amazon's lack of transparency and vaguely worded announcements. I have a Kindle DX and a DXG which I know are being cut off because no WiFi. But I don't know about the Paperwhite 3. It has WiFi, but it is unsupported by Amazon (not actively developed). Amazon's notices do not specify what constitutes a "supported Kindle device".
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Yes, but it is only D&T going away.
People here are understandably ultra sensitive to the implications for DRM removal and linking it to this move, and assuming the worst case. Vague messaging is nothing new when marketing a brand, and isn't informing us of anything one way or the other.
Support for any Amazon device (to me) includes continuing access to Amazon services, as well as customer support. In the case of Kindles, they are clear about which devices are guaranteed software updates and for how long.
Amazon announced D&T was going away, a few weeks in advance, to customers that were actually using this feature. This is of concern to a very small percentage of people purchasing Kindle books, many or most of whom do not even have Kindles or Fires. It is not the big deal we make of it here.
Access to Amazon's services are what Amazon devices are designed for (Kindle, Fire, Echo/Alexa), and why they continue to make devices. They have not pulled the plug on a single one of these. Fire Phone can still be registered and connect, even though they don't make phones any more, and it has zero trade-in value. Changing this long standing practice would be a much bigger deal.
It will take more than 'vague messaging' to change my 'prior' on this.