Double Kindle PW3 purchase mistake?

dejanribic · 07-20-2015, 05:49 PM

So, without further ado - I'm a dumbass.
What did I do?
I just bought my girlfriend and myself the newest Kindle Paperwhites (June 2015 release), I see these are called Paperwhite 3 around the web, so that's what I will refer to them as.

Now, that's awesome right? New kindles, yay!
Yes, except I didn't do any research or read any of the (not-so) fine print, and I'm just now discovering that:

1. They have adds, and
2. I can't load personal screensavers on them.

The adds I can live with, it's the screensaver thing I'm not happy with.

I know you guys probably get asked this ALL the time, so I tried finding an answer elsewhere before asking directly, and what I got was that my issues can both be solved by jailbreaking the devices, and that it can be done in one of two ways, either by downgrading to a previous version or by using the serial port to crack it.

So, my questions are as follows:

1. As I'm not very proficient with soldering and fiddling with small electronics, the serial port jailbreak doesn't seem the way to go.

Now, is there an option for me that doesn't require doing it this way?

2. If I go the downgrading route (as detailed here: http://www.howtogeek.com/168844/how-...apps-and-more/)

What features can I expect to lose, and is this method safe?

Thanks for any and all help that you guys can give!

eschwartz · 07-20-2015, 06:38 PM

That method is deprecated. The linked thread there has directions to the new master Jailbreak thread, which is the canonical location of JB info.

But there is no lower firmware to downgrade to

also Amazon closed that loophole.

Currently the serial port is the only way in.

Note: If you do jailbreak over the serial port, you will need to pay Amazon to remove the ads, before using our screensavers hack.

knc1 · 07-20-2015, 08:56 PM

And you only need the serial port for a very short time, just long enough to type: /mnt/us/jb.sh

So you will find posts here by people (also soldering iron challenged) that have held the leads in-place with tape.

Check my "KT2 Exposed" thread for some close-up photos to see what you will have to deal with - - those are **tiny** connection points.

- - - -

I don't think you will find any write-up posted here (yet) of a PW-3 teardown . . .
I know we don't have a wiki index page for the PW3 prefix (yet), because I haven't done it.

But your favorite web-search engine should be able to find PW-3 teardowns by now.

dejanribic · 07-21-2015, 11:46 AM

Damn, I'm outta luck then...my biggest concern is voiding the warranty.

Is there any way to contact amazon and ask to pay the 20$ somehow, and get the adds removed and the screensavers "unlocked"?

Thanks.

badgoodDeb · 07-21-2015, 12:32 PM

Sorry, I'm pretty sure the answer is NO. Amazon likes their own screen savers.

AnemicOak · 07-21-2015, 01:15 PM

You can pay the $$$ to remove the ads (it can be done on the website), but that won't give you user changeable "screensavers".

dejanribic · 07-21-2015, 02:30 PM

Welp, thanks anyway guys!

07-20-2015, 05:49 PM	#1
dejanribic Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 7th Generation (June 2015)	Double Kindle PW3 purchase mistake? So, without further ado - I'm a dumbass. What did I do? I just bought my girlfriend and myself the newest Kindle Paperwhites (June 2015 release), I see these are called Paperwhite 3 around the web, so that's what I will refer to them as. Now, that's awesome right? New kindles, yay! Yes, except I didn't do any research or read any of the (not-so) fine print, and I'm just now discovering that: 1. They have adds, and 2. I can't load personal screensavers on them. The adds I can live with, it's the screensaver thing I'm not happy with. I know you guys probably get asked this ALL the time, so I tried finding an answer elsewhere before asking directly, and what I got was that my issues can both be solved by jailbreaking the devices, and that it can be done in one of two ways, either by downgrading to a previous version or by using the serial port to crack it. So, my questions are as follows: 1. As I'm not very proficient with soldering and fiddling with small electronics, the serial port jailbreak doesn't seem the way to go. Now, is there an option for me that doesn't require doing it this way? 2. If I go the downgrading route (as detailed here: http://www.howtogeek.com/168844/how-...apps-and-more/) What features can I expect to lose, and is this method safe? Thanks for any and all help that you guys can give! Last edited by dejanribic; 07-20-2015 at 06:09 PM.

07-20-2015, 06:38 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	That method is deprecated. The linked thread there has directions to the new master Jailbreak thread, which is the canonical location of JB info. But there is no lower firmware to downgrade to also Amazon closed that loophole. Currently the serial port is the only way in. Note: If you do jailbreak over the serial port, you will need to pay Amazon to remove the ads, before using our screensavers hack. Last edited by eschwartz; 07-20-2015 at 09:32 PM. Reason: typos

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07-20-2015, 08:56 PM	#3
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	And you only need the serial port for a very short time, just long enough to type: /mnt/us/jb.sh So you will find posts here by people (also soldering iron challenged) that have held the leads in-place with tape. Check my "KT2 Exposed" thread for some close-up photos to see what you will have to deal with - - those are tiny connection points. - - - - I don't think you will find any write-up posted here (yet) of a PW-3 teardown . . . I know we don't have a wiki index page for the PW3 prefix (yet), because I haven't done it. But your favorite web-search engine should be able to find PW-3 teardowns by now.

07-21-2015, 11:46 AM	#4
dejanribic Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 7th Generation (June 2015)	Damn, I'm outta luck then...my biggest concern is voiding the warranty. Is there any way to contact amazon and ask to pay the 20$ somehow, and get the adds removed and the screensavers "unlocked"? Thanks.

07-21-2015, 12:32 PM	#5
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,547 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Sorry, I'm pretty sure the answer is NO. Amazon likes their own screen savers.

07-21-2015, 01:15 PM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	You can pay the $$$ to remove the ads (it can be done on the website), but that won't give you user changeable "screensavers".

07-21-2015, 02:30 PM	#7
dejanribic Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 7th Generation (June 2015)	Welp, thanks anyway guys!

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