Amazon discontinuing support for older Kindles in May

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by Sats

I can definitely tell that the error indicates a version of DRM that is not listed in 10.0.9 supported list. What exact versions exist on which platform is becoming increasingly difficult to tell, but that is a new one, and probably unique to Kindle devices. Running it on 10.0.16+ would give one better idea which number it is, at least.

I've asked them to post a log from 10.0.19.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I suggest you jailbreak your Voyage and into the OTA firmware block. That may give you more time.

Thank you. I was just coming on here to ask if that would be a good idea. I’m very nervous because I haven’t ever jailbreaked anything before but I have located the threads and saved them for a good read.

[curtw]

Originally Posted by Smitmiller

Since we're talking about ways that Amazon is pushing code to older Kindles, I just noticed a file that is pending delivery to my Kindle Keyboard. It was first pushed on April 13 and is titled (redacted)_ATVPDKIKX0DER_en_US_US. I haven't bought anything since April 5. This may be a note from Amazon about the May 20 deadline, or it may be some sort of code push. I'm not turning off airplane mode to find out. Has anyone else seen something like this?

Confirm. I just looked at it. The file with ATVPDKIKX0DER in the title is a duplicate of the email. I assume the different numbers are because we all got unique coupon codes. I've deleted that part of your filename from this response just in case it's possible to discern the code from the filename.

[Smitmiller]

Thanks for the confirmation, and the caution. Is the coupon code in that email? I didn't see one in the original (browser) email, just that I'd get a "promotional code."

[curtw]

Originally Posted by Smitmiller

Thanks for the confirmation, and the caution. Is the coupon code in that email? I didn't see one in the original (browser) email, just that I'd get a "promotional code."

Yes, it is in the email. The code is in one of the last paragraphs, the one that starts with "To minimize any disruption..."

Among other problems with that email, the code seems disguised...

"To minimize any disruption, we're offering a promotional code for 20% off select new Kindle devices (code here) as well as a $20 eBook credit that will be automatically added to your account after purchasing a new device..."

[curtw]

Originally Posted by haertig

I would instead advise you to change the WiFi password on your home router (or wherever your Kindle connects to). Yes, this will be a hassle because you'll have to re-configure all your other devices to use this new password (except the Kindle, of course). Also, on that home router, configure it to block all incoming connection attempts for your Kindles MAC address (that should be shown to you on one of the Kindle Help/Info screens). Finally, put your Kindle in Airplane Mode and keep it in that mode permanently. If you're really worried, you could also do a factory reset of your Kindle to force it to forget any remembered WiFi passwords (which you already changed on the router anyway) - but there may be some negative ramifications from doing a factory reset - I will leave that as an exercise for the reader to determine the appropriateness of a factory reset.

Then side load all new content to your Kindle through Calibre (or other software) from then on. Don't ever let your Kindle connect to anything except your local computer over the USB cable.

Well, I intended to do that. But I stupidly did a factory reset first (because it was the fastest way to remove all 865 books I had previously downloaded and backed up. They were slowing responsiveness). Found out the hard way that the email is somewhat deceptive, and the ability to re-register the device has ALREADY been disabled.

So, to be clear, that email should have said:

* If you deregister or factory reset these devices, you will not be ARE NOW NO LONGER able to re-register or use these devices in any way.

At least that's what customer support told me. I may have just exhausted login attempts and gotten locked out, because eventually the message changed. Customer support DID NOT tell me this, which I saw after I tried to disable 2-Factor Authentication on my account, and get in that way.

https://imgur.com/gallery/amazon-2-f...around-eivwzQN

All I've really lost is access to my games that were discontinued long ago, but I just want people to be aware of the deception in the email. If anyone is worried, the text-to-speech capability is not affected by a factory reset. SO, back up before May 20, then reset, jailbreak, or just put the device away. And remember to join the inevitable class action lawsuit.

[Sirtel]

I still haven't gotten the email and presumably won't.

[jhowell]

Despite having four registered Kindle devices that are going to lose support next month they only gave me a single 20% off discount code.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by Sats

I can definitely tell that the error indicates a version of DRM that is not listed in 10.0.9 supported list. What exact versions exist on which platform is becoming increasingly difficult to tell, but that is a new one, and probably unique to Kindle devices. Running it on 10.0.16+ would give one better idea which number it is, at least.

They have posted a log from 10.0.19 now.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Go to your Content & Devices page at Amazon. Then where it says All content, switch to pending deliveries.

I have one waiting to be delivered to my Kindle Touch. Last attempt April 13. I'd guess it is the letter about it getting cut off.

The email about getting cut off is email and not delivered to your Kindle. I just had a look and my PW3 does not have anything waiting to be delivered. I've had the WiFi off since not long before D&T was shut off.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

They have posted a log from 10.0.19 now.

It's definitely a DRM issue.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by curtw

Well, I intended to do that. But I stupidly did a factory reset first (because it was the fastest way to remove all 865 books I had previously downloaded and backed up. They were slowing responsiveness). Found out the hard way that the email is somewhat deceptive, and the ability to re-register the device has ALREADY been disabled.

So, to be clear, that email should have said:

At least that's what customer support told me. I may have just exhausted login attempts and gotten locked out, because eventually the message changed. Customer support DID NOT tell me this, which I saw after I tried to disable 2-Factor Authentication on my account, and get in that way.

https://imgur.com/gallery/amazon-2-f...around-eivwzQN

All I've really lost is access to my games that were discontinued long ago, but I just want people to be aware of the deception in the email. If anyone is worried, the text-to-speech capability is not affected by a factory reset. SO, back up before May 20, then reset, jailbreak, or just put the device away. And remember to join the inevitable class action lawsuit.

I have been downloading all my ebooks in batches of 500. Every time I I get to 500i put them on my pc and the do a reset which effectively de registers the device. I have had no issue re registering. My two are Paperwhite 5th Gen’s.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Despite having four registered Kindle devices that are going to lose support next month they only gave me a single 20% off discount code.

I have three.

[Yapyap]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I still haven’t gotten the email and presumably won’t.

Same.

No trade-in options either, obviously.

Oh well, Amazon is really just determined to make it easier for me to break up with them completely, I guess.

Now that my PW1 will become unusable for Amazon books, and my Oasis is definitely on its last legs (battery can last maybe 5-ish hours of reading between charges), and all my Kindle books have been downloaded, liberated and backed up, they’re not giving me much reason to ever buy a Kindle book again. Or a Kindle.

(I do still need a good replacement for the Oasis. The colour Boox I got last year will do to tide me over once the Oasis dies completely, but I’m not really getting on well enough with the colour screen to want to stick to that for all my book-reading for the next few years. It’d be really nice if Kobo came out with a new 7-8’’ buttoned BW device this year…)

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

It’d be really nice if Kobo came out with a new 7-8’’ buttoned BW device this year…

We've all been waiting for that for a long time now. My two Kobos will be 5 years old this autumn, and the battery of the Sage is no longer all that good.