Amazon discontinuing support for older Kindles in May

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've not gotten any email from Amazon saying my Kindle Touch is no longer going to be supported.

How is Amazon going to handle this in the EU?

I’m in the UK. We are not in the EU but I can confirm I have the email.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by jhowell

This seems to be part of another cycle of Amazon locking down access to Kindle ebooks.

I saw indications that Amazon was planning to block book downloads to older Kindle devices almost a year ago. I expect this change to be announced worldwide soon.

It has come to light recently that the Kindle models that will still be supported can have their DRM updated without an actual firmware release. I believe that will now become more widespread.

And today I came across something else that hints of Amazon phasing out the Kindle for PC app, which has long been used to work around Kindle DRM.

So I guess this it is for Amazon downloads? I was going to ask if there was anything else we could do. Guess it’s just KU for me going forward. Don’t get me wrong I have 3750 ebooks so I’m sure I have enough to read I was just hoping Amazon wouldn’t cut us off.

[el_vandragon]

Originally Posted by jhowell

It is actually a software patch being installed through a mechanism which was apparently originally intended for remote diagnostics.

does jailbreak prevent this? or is there a way to prevent it on a jailbroken device?

[Sirtel]

I've actually never used old Kindles for deDRMing, so this news doesn't really influence my buying habits. Now if Amazon really ditches Kindle for PC and there won't be any new DRM removal methods, I'll finally stop buying from Amazon altogether. It's not as if I didn't have enough books amassed to read anyway, and Kobo/Google Play DRM is still removable.

[Martinoptic]

I agree Sirtel.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I've actually never used old Kindles for deDRMing, so this news doesn't really influence my buying habits. Now if Amazon really ditches Kindle for PC and there won't be any new DRM removal methods, I'll finally stop buying from Amazon altogether. It's not as if I didn't have enough books amassed to read anyway, and Kobo/Google Play DRM is still removable.

How do we do it using Kindle for PC?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

It's hard to know exactly how to extrapolate from this to markets other than Australia, other than assuming all devices of these vintages will be dead in the water.

My take from a US perspective:

• A 20% discount on a new device is lousy. We could get that at any time by swapping in the old device.
• Most if not all of these devices have already been subject to very nice upgrade deals (much better than this one).
• I have a keyboard and have heard nothing. It hasn't been able to connect to the store in yonks, but it still downloads. Which has been handy, *cough, cough*. I assume that will no longer be the case sometime in the near future. The question is whether download and transfer will still work and the inference is that it will not. The email coyly doesn't mention that specifically when it lists the other methods of accessing books that will end.

My bottom line which I suspect puts me at odds with most posters here, is that these are ancient gadgets! No device lasts forever. And I can't imagine that many valued Amazon customers still read on these. The specs stink and the batteries are moribund. Heavy kindle book buyers moved on long ago, even if only to their phones.

And for those who are outraged that Amazon is trying to enforce the "license" thingy, that's what you signed on for when you hit the Lease Buy button. It was always implicit and lately in the US it's been explicit.

Actually, because my Kindle Touch was bought from Goodwill, I didn't agree to any license agreement from Amazon.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by haertig

For me, if I want to rent an ebook I'll just rent it from the library instead of Amazon, since the library is free.

Spot on. The only reason I have for buying is to make sure I retain a copy of the books I read.

If I just wanted a temporary licence to read a book, I'd be using the UK library service.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

How do we do it using Kindle for PC?

Satsuoni's method. It's somewhat more complicated than the other methods.
https://github.com/Satsuoni/DeDRM_tools/discussions/25

[cavy]

Received from Amazon.es

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by haertig

For me, if I want to rent an ebook I'll just rent it from the library instead of Amazon, since the library is free.

I thought we were talking about the poor ignorant masses, here.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Satsuoni's method. It's somewhat more complicated than the other methods.
https://github.com/Satsuoni/DeDRM_tools/discussions/25

Thank you

[Bermudagirl]

I got the email that we are discussing here from Amazon.co.uk this morning. It lists some of the devices they are referring to including the Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation. But mine is a Paperwhite 5th generation.
So will this affect me? If so I'm going elsewhere for my eBooks!

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

Has anyone used a jailbroken Kindle to look at how Amazon identifies your device? I wonder if it would be possible to forge the version strings in specific packets to spoof your Kindle's identity into appearing as a newer device to get around the blockade.

That would result in a ebook the reader can't open, if it was possible. They've remote patched the later models (than PW1) to work with a different version of KFX. The later models than PW1 all take KFX anyway and even the prior version of KFX can't be read on them.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by issybird

It's hard to know exactly how to extrapolate from this to markets other than Australia, other than assuming all devices of these vintages will be dead in the water.

My take from a US perspective:

• A 20% discount on a new device is lousy. We could get that at any time by swapping in the old device.
• Most if not all of these devices have already been subject to very nice upgrade deals (much better than this one).
• I have a keyboard and have heard nothing. It hasn't been able to connect to the store in yonks, but it still downloads. Which has been handy
  …

And for those who are outraged that Amazon is trying to enforce the "license" thingy, that's what you signed on for when you hit the Lease Buy button. It was always implicit and lately in the US it's been explicit.

The UK site still claims you bought the ebook.

I got the EOL email on my account for Keyboard this morning, but not yet for the DXG (which was still downloading via GSM EDGE; the 3G is gone).