Amazon and DRM changes

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

You have tested that on your PW5? Possibly with some high speed video to allow you to quantify that claim? Perhaps you should update your device list?

I don't have a PW5. It belongs to someone else.

Before I updated the firmware, I did have a look at the page turns and then I had a look after and it did look faster.

I should be able to get a video showing the page turns on the new firmware.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I don't have a PW5. It belongs to someone else.

Before I updated the firmware, I did have a look at the page turns and then I had a look after and it did look faster.

I should be able to get a video showing the page turns on the new firmware.

Only useful if you have a before and after video to compare. Otherwise, placebo effect.

[Alfirin]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That would be forcing everyone to turn on WiFi so Amazon would know what version of the firmware is installed and for some, that would mean having side-loaded eBooks deleted. That's not a good idea on Amazon's part. Besides, Amazon has never forced a firmware update.

There is no reason not to update to 15.7.1. You will not lose D&T. With a PW5, you will have faster page turns.

I think you misunderstood what I meant.
You could turn off the Wifi and keep all your imported ebooks and not updating the firmware (if you want) but if they want it to be firmware related and poeple don't update to bypass it, they could set a timer on their end to end D&T if the update if not done.

I know it's "if if if if if" but in the end who knows what'll do next?

[Frogm4n]

People have been speculating "but what if" about Amazon doing things for well over 15 years.

[BionicGecko]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

I think you misunderstood what I meant.
You could turn off the Wifi and keep all your imported ebooks and not updating the firmware (if you want) but if they want it to be firmware related and poeple don't update to bypass it, they could set a timer on their end to end D&T if the update if not done.

I know it's "if if if if if" but in the end who knows what'll do next?

Yeah Amazon has a history of making features available at random times, i.e. installing a firmware version doesn’t guarantee that you get all the updates at once, some remain dormant and are activated remotely by Amazon later on.

This here is a bit different as the change would not hinge on a specific firmware update, but the fact that D&T is still working right after applying 5.17.1 is not a guarantee that it will stay that way. But well at least we know that the update doesn’t immediately kills D&T.

[A Lurker]

Has anyone tried contacting Amazon customer service to say their new device isn't showing up as an option for download and transfer? If this is a bug, they might not realize it.

For the record, I suspect this is intentional, not a bug, but ya never know. It can't hurt to contact Amazon to doublecheck. I'm not able to reach out to them right now, but I should have some time tomorrow.

It wouldn't surprise me if they totally removed the download and transfer option, not just to thwart DRM removal, but also because I doubt the function is used very much by people for its intended purpose. After all, how often is a person unable to load their book via WiFi? Must be rare.

[innocenat]

There are reports of people contacting customer service on Reddit, and was told it was intentional. But Amazon CS rep has been know to don't know what they were talking about so I wouldn't take their words too seriously.

[jlinear]

Originally Posted by A Lurker

It wouldn't surprise me if they totally removed the download and transfer option, not just to thwart DRM removal, but also because I doubt the function is used very much by people for its intended purpose. After all, how often is a person unable to load their book via WiFi? Must be rare.

I use download & transfer to fix e-book formatting issues. The intended purpose is to redress the extremely limited formatting options Amazon builds into the device.

[A Lurker]

Originally Posted by jlinear

I use download & transfer to fix e-book formatting issues. The intended purpose is to redress the extremely limited formatting options Amazon builds into the device.

I would do that as well, but that's clearly not the intended purpose. Amazon isn't providing the download option with the exception that people will be editing ebooks.

[A Lurker]

Originally Posted by innocenat

There are reports of people contacting customer service on Reddit, and was told it was intentional. But Amazon CS rep has been know to don't know what they were talking about so I wouldn't take their words too seriously.

That's true, they do often give incorrect information. Heck, one time an Amazon CS rep tried telling me that Prime members don't get discounts at Whole Foods. I assured her that she was mistaken. I told her she didn't have to take my word for it -- if she pulled up Whole Foods' website she'd see a banner advertising discounts for Amazon Prime members. Sheesh.

With this in mind, I suppose it would be pointless for me to call them. I wouldn't trust whatever answer they give me. In fact, I suspect they'd not understand what I'm talking about and I'd end up needing to speak with a supervisor.

[Alfirin]

Originally Posted by A Lurker

[...] I wouldn't trust whatever answer they give me. In fact, I suspect they'd not understand what I'm talking about and I'd end up needing to speak with a supervisor.

Exactly my experience.
They didn't know what I was talking about, wanted to call me by phone for more explanation.
In the end they admitted that maybe some changes could have been made with new hardware but I still don't know if they understood what I was talking about.

[geoffwood]

Just went to send a book to one of my Kindles and noticed the PW 12th Gen is now listed, along with iPads and other Non-Kindle devices that disappeared from the list recently.

Normal service is resumed.

[geoffwood]

Originally Posted by geoffwood

Just went to send a book to one of my Kindles and noticed the PW 12th Gen is now listed, along with iPads and other Non-Kindle devices that disappeared from the list recently.

Normal service is resumed.

I was wrong. Wasn't D&T I was seeing it listed under, just send to device

[gordonsj]

The major watershed for Amazon will come when, or if, they decide it's ok to render millions of older Kindle devices completely obsolete in the name of DRM. I have a number of Kindle 3 devices, circa 2010, which are my favoured reading devices if the light is good, that can no longer access the Kindle store. However they can still download books purchased on another device, they still appear in the send to list and the D&T list. Worldwide free 3G still works in places that have 3G masts and wifi still works if you have a compatible access point. I can keep these devices functional almost indefinitely. There are plenty out there to buy for spares and new batteries and screens are available.
I can retrieve a downloaded book file from the device, even if its from Kindle Unlimited and import it into Calibre if I wish and I can remove DRM from that file. To prevent this Amazon will have to completely remove downloads to older Kindle devices. There are a LOT of these devices still in use and Amazon will consider very carefully whether to do this.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by gordonsj

The major watershed for Amazon will come when, or if, they decide it's ok to render millions of older Kindle devices completely obsolete in the name of DRM. I have a number of Kindle 3 devices, circa 2010, which are my favoured reading devices if the light is good, that can no longer access the Kindle store. However they can still download books purchased on another device, they still appear in the send to list and the D&T list. Worldwide free 3G still works in places that have 3G masts and wifi still works if you have a compatible access point. I can keep these devices functional almost indefinitely. There are plenty out there to buy for spares and new batteries and screens are available.
I can retrieve a downloaded book file from the device, even if its from Kindle Unlimited and import it into Calibre if I wish and I can remove DRM from that file. To prevent this Amazon will have to completely remove downloads to older Kindle devices. There are a LOT of these devices still in use and Amazon will consider very carefully whether to do this.

Amazon won't do drop these older Readers. But they could make it very difficult by changing the DRM and forcing you into a firmware update.