Amazon has removed Download & Transfer option

[Vroo]

Originally Posted by Quoth

They might just simply end eink kindles

Just four months after showing off a new range of devices? Highly unlikely.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Vroo

Just four months after showing off a new range of devices? Highly unlikely.

The rollout of the new models was very rocky with lots of negative publicity. I doubt they have sold as well as the prior generations of Kindles.

[pdurrant]

I got a new Kindle recently, but it was the last generation Kindle Oasis, not one of the recent releases. This wasn't a cost issue - the Kindle Oasis was the only one with the form factor and features I wanted.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Vroo

Just four months after showing off a new range of devices? Highly unlikely.

See sudden demise of Windows phone. Other examples exist.

I don't think it's likely, but actual Kindles are the minority use for reading Kindle titles and the ENTIRE Amazon book business, which was once their flagship, is now down the back of sofa loose change. It's not good that Kindle HW is part of the ailing Alexa division.

Also MS wasted $11 Billion on Nokia phones and shuttered it all and they didn't get any IP. Nokia still exists and is doing OK. In the past Nokia did welly boots, paper, set-boxes, PCs, TVs. Successful smart phones (from 1999 approx) before Apple iPhone and before Android. Nokia took over Siemens and Motorola networks. Resold QT/Trolltech and licence their name for phones.

It's an ex-Microsoft guy running Alexa division now?

[gordonsj]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I got a new Kindle recently, but it was the last generation Kindle Oasis, not one of the recent releases. This wasn't a cost issue - the Kindle Oasis was the only one with the form factor and features I wanted.

I did exactly the same.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

They might just simply end eink kindles, Mac app & Windows app. Only have iOS and Android apps. The Fire is basically Android, so a version of the Android app. Exactly the sort of thing beancounters and an ex Microsoft person would like.

There is nothing compelling new that can do with eink, and for Amazon, control is important. The Alexa division is under pressure to save money.

Why would Amazon come out with new eInk kindles in 2024 and then end them? That makes no sense. I cannot see Amazon dropping eInk Kindles.

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Quoth

See sudden demise of Windows phone. Other examples exist.

I don't think it's likely, but actual Kindles are the minority use for reading Kindle titles and the ENTIRE Amazon book business, which was once their flagship, is now down the back of sofa loose change. It's not good that Kindle HW is part of the ailing Alexa division.

Also MS wasted $11 Billion on Nokia phones and shuttered it all and they didn't get any IP. Nokia still exists and is doing OK. In the past Nokia did welly boots, paper, set-boxes, PCs, TVs. Successful smart phones (from 1999 approx) before Apple iPhone and before Android. Nokia took over Siemens and Motorola networks. Resold QT/Trolltech and licence their name for phones.

It's an ex-Microsoft guy running Alexa division now?

It could happen but they're not going to do it at an event unless they have something they think will replace them. And I don't think an $80 LCD Amazon Fire is going to be a good replacement for the basic Kindle for a lot of people.

Yes, ex-head of the Surface division at Microsoft, Panos Panay. The Surface line of devices are quite nice, although not the usual cheap stuff Amazon hardware peddles.

[John F]

I tend to doubt if they will get rid of the Mac and Windows app. Android and IOS apps on phones and tablets are fine for reading a lot of things, but I would guess there is still some demand for tech manuals on Windows and Macs.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by tomsem

When you login for first time on some new browser and have 2 factor auth enabled on your account (as you should) then it's the code Amazon sends you to authorize.

I think the script assumes you have 2 factor set up and if you do not, maybe just hit return and it will be able to keep going.

It was failing without 2factor, so I added Amazon to my authenticator app (really should have done that a while ago). Script is still failing, because it is complaining now about being unable to get a driver for selenium, even though I do have chromedriver installed.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

That would cut off a substantial part of their customer base, I think. There are lots of folks still using their Paperwhite 3 and 4, their Oasis 3, or even the Voyage.

I am still using my Kindle 3 with the keyboard, but support for that definitely is waining. There are a decent amount of books that I've seen where I couldn't download them for that. I wouldn't be surprised if at some point they cut support for readers that don't do KFX. They probably will offer a discounted upgrade path for those who are affected then.

[jonathan2022]

Let's say they do stop selling e ink devices. What will this mean for the kindle app on other devices . More updates and features ?

[geoffwood]

Originally Posted by John F

I tend to doubt if they will get rid of the Mac and Windows app. Android and IOS apps on phones and tablets are fine for reading a lot of things, but I would guess there is still some demand for tech manuals on Windows and Macs.

I suspect for that use case they would push you towards read.amazon.com to read online. With the Online Reader I think the argument for the PC and Mac apps is weakening. How many people read on a PC/Mac that isn't connected to the Web?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Hellmark

They probably will offer a discounted upgrade path for those who are affected then.

It's all sheerest speculation of course, but I wouldn't expect a discount upgrade on a KK since they already offered one in 2022. A you snooze, you lose scenario. The 20% trade-in upgrade would still be available.

I know it's popular to harsh on Amazon especially right now and I've never been a fangirl, but I tend to think Amazon's been generous in terms of support and upgrade discounts on ancient Kindles. No device lasts forever.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by geoffwood

I suspect for that use case they would push you towards read.amazon.com to read online. With the Online Reader I think the argument for the PC and Mac apps is weakening. How many people read on a PC/Mac that isn't connected to the Web?

I do not see the Kindle for Mac app going away. Apple's ecosystem is integrated in a way that allows basically the same app to be developed once and deployed on iPhones, iPads and newer Macs. There is no significant added effort for the Mac app and the new one is much more secure than the original one that mimicked Kindle for PC.

I think that the PC app is much more likely to be discontinued. It lags behind the other apps in features and has historically been very insecure in its DRM. Amazon tried to replace it with the Kindle for Android app running in an Android emulator in Windows 11, but their deal with Microsoft fell through and that is no longer in their roadmap.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

It could happen but they're not going to do it at an event unless they have something they think will replace them. And I don't think an $80 LCD Amazon Fire is going to be a good replacement for the basic Kindle for a lot of people.

Ah, but what if they are rolling out new Alexa devices with super-duper AI? Those could replace Fire tablets and also include an e-ink model that replaces the Kindle line.

The advantages to Amazon would be great. Instead of a device that is mostly for reading but also includes a mediocre e-book store they would instead have a device that could constantly be trying to sell you a much wider range of products and services.