New Windows Kindle app announced; Current Kindle app unavailable after 30/06/2026

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by haertig

The ultimate problem for them is, "If you can see it, you can copy it."

Especially now, with all the so-called AI stuff. Soon you can probably just tell your personal AI assistant to read the book and paste the content to a new file. Amazon can't forbid their customers to read their purchased books, can they?

[nabsltd]

Originally Posted by nana77

Perhalps I may not understand, but iirc Windows 11 already requires some minimum chipsets, as on olders ones won't work.

Windows 11 will happily run on a 3rd generation Core processor built 14 years ago. Those CPUs have all the instructions required by Windows 11.

You do have to tweak the install disk to ignore the fact that the processor is not on the officially supported list, but that's not too hard.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by nana77

Thought that if the answer is just don't buy it, I guess that's the simplest. E.g. that problem to me doesn't bothers and it costs nothing not to get there.

For some people, not buying from Amazon is not really a viable option. That's because some subgenres (fantasy romance and LitRPG come to mind) are overwhelmingly Amazon exclusives. And if you prefer to read mostly one of those subgenres, then it's either Amazon or you won't have much to read at all.

Granted, I have no idea how many people limit their reading material to only one or two subgenres. But there certainly are a few.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by nabsltd

Windows 11 will happily run on a 3rd generation Core processor built 14 years ago. Those CPUs have all the instructions required by Windows 11.

You do have to tweak the install disk to ignore the fact that the processor is not on the officially supported list, but that's not too hard.

Yes, but if I did understood, the app (pardon for the talking by ignorance) will requite TPM active, and a log in on Microsoft account, and a log in to the app. To certify the system is appropriate for the - ahem - "customer, (DRM's) safety".
At least, that's what I guess it would be.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

For some people, not buying from Amazon is not really a viable option. That's because some subgenres (fantasy romance and LitRPG come to mind) are overwhelmingly Amazon exclusives. And if you prefer to read mostly one of those subgenres, then it's either Amazon or you won't have much to read at all.

Granted, I have no idea how many people limit their reading material to only one or two subgenres. But there certainly are a few.

The Amazon Appstore allows you to download and install apps on Amazon Fire tablets and Fire TV devices. But the Appstore actually predates the Amazon Fire ecosystem. Amazon first launched the Appstore in March, 2011 as an app that could be installed on Android phones and tablets. The first Amazon Fire-branded tablet didn’t launch until half a year later.

Fourteen years later Amazon has announced that it’s discontinuing the Appstore for Android. Starting August 20, 2025 the app store will no longer work on Android devices and users will not be able to download and install applications – even those they may have already purchased. There’s also no guarantee apps installed via the Appstore for Android will continue to function. The Appstore will continue to be available for Fire Tablet and Fire TV devices.

There will be no more support for the Android appstore, always if I do understand, and it will be available the app mentioned in the thread for the Windows 11 ecosystem, but there is a tablet from Amazon coming, codenamed "Kittyhawk" (its new Fire device, seemingly based on a modded version of Android?).
Also: would the Amazon app on others' Android-based e-readers (like the Pocketbook Color Note) still work?

[nabsltd]

Originally Posted by nana77

Yes, but if I did understood, the app (pardon for the talking by ignorance) will requite TPM active, and a log in on Microsoft account, and a log in to the app.

If the Kindle app does require TPM, then that might make it harder to break DRM. And, of course you would need a login to Amazon through the app, just like you do now for every Kindle reader (both e-ink and app).

But, Amazon would be very, very stupid to require a Microsoft login to the store to download a free app. There are many other free apps that let you spend money in the app that don't require a login to download.

So, the only real change might be where Amazon stores the DRM keys, and how those keys are protected. But, no matter what, if the DRM keys are anywhere on the local computer, there will be a way to eventually extract and use them.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by nabsltd

If the Kindle app does require TPM, then that might make it harder to break DRM. And, of course you would need a login to Amazon through the app, just like you do now for every Kindle reader (both e-ink and app).

But, Amazon would be very, very stupid to require a Microsoft login to the store to download a free app. There are many other free apps that let you spend money in the app that don't require a login to download.

So, the only real change might be where Amazon stores the DRM keys, and how those keys are protected. But, no matter what, if the DRM keys are anywhere on the local computer, there will be a way to eventually extract and use them.

Iirc, onto the previously posted video it's said the key would be in the cloud.

[DiapDealer]

You can still install/run Windows 11 without a Microsoft account. And you can still download free software from the Microsoft store on Windows 11 without a Microsoft Account. I've done it with both virtual machines and physical hardware. It will be interesting to see if the new free Amazon app can be installed/run with just a local Windows account (and the required Amazon login, of course).

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by nana77

Iirc, onto the previously posted video it's said the key would be in the cloud.

If the book can be read (after downloading) with no internet connection, then the key to decrypt the DRM cannot be in the cloud. It would have to be available to the device locally.

I suppose it's possible the new Kindle app could require an internet connection to read downloaded (or cloud-based) books, but I've not heard that mentioned anywhere yet.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by nana77

There will be no more support for the Android appstore, always if I do understand, and it will be available the app mentioned in the thread for the Windows 11 ecosystem, but there is a tablet from Amazon coming, codenamed "Kittyhawk" (its new Fire device, seemingly based on a modded version of Android?).
Also: would the Amazon app on others' Android-based e-readers (like the Pocketbook Color Note) still work?

What you quoted is referring to Amazon's Android app store only. Kindle for Android is available through Google Play.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by gbm

My personal opinion is that all that Amazon is doing is just to make the "walled garden" harder to get out of.

bernie

I agree. I don’t follow any of the DRM Posts so I don’t know what Amazon are or are not doing but I do follow some Kindle groups on Facebook and I see a lot of posts from people saying I bought a Kobo Libra Colour/Clara and how do I get my Kindle books onto it. Amazon must be aware that people want to move away from Kindle, especially with the way Jeff Bezos is behaving, and removing the Oasis and going down the non-button route. A lot of people are fed up and the last thing Amazon want is for people to strip the DRM from their e-books and move to Kobo as it’s unlikely those people will come back .

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I agree. I don’t follow any of the DRM Posts so I don’t know what Amazon are or are not doing but I do follow some Kindle groups on Facebook and I see a lot of posts from people saying I bought a Kobo Libra Colour/Clara and how do I get my Kindle books onto it. Amazon must be aware that people want to move away from Kindle, especially with the way Jeff Bezos is behaving, and removing the Oasis and going down the non-button route. A lot of people are fed up and the last thing Amazon want is for people to strip the DRM from their e-books and move to Kobo as it’s unlikely those people will come back .

There is nothing at all wrong with no buttons as long as the touch screen works well.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is nothing at all wrong with no buttons as long as the touch screen works well.

No there isn’t but unfortunately the kindle touch screens are iffy at best. Okay for page turning within a book but not good for everything else. At least not on my kindles.

It’s just systematic of Amazon’s general attitude. We won’t make what some of our customers want but we don’t want you to leave either.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

No there isn’t but unfortunately the kindle touch screens are iffy at best. Okay for page turning within a book but not good for everything else. At least not on my kindles.

It’s just systematic of Amazon’s general attitude. We won’t make what some of our customers want but we don’t want you to leave either.

I have a Kindle Touch and a PW3. I also have used a PW5 and none of them have had any trouble with the touch screen.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have a Kindle Touch and a PW3. I also have used a PW5 and non of them have had any trouble with the touch screen.

Will you ever stop making the assumption that your experience applies to everyone else in the universe?