Amazon discontinuing support for older Kindles in May

[Regina]

Originally Posted by Regina

I am not suggesting that Amazon is dropping KF8. I feel that Amazon is dropping all the devices that do not support KF8. This way, there is no need to provide the ebook in an insecure Mobi format.

My bad! I intended to mean KFX. I incorrectly mentioned as KF8.

[Regina]

Originally Posted by DNSB

It would appear that all the devices that do not support KFX are no longer going to be able to download books after 2026-May-20. Amazon may still send the occasional KF8 or mobi ebook to newer devices—one acquaintance of mine was rather surprised when they received a mobi version of an ebook on their 12th gen Paperwhite on 5.19.3.0.1—but both formats are pretty much toast going forward.

As for insecure formats? KF8 DRM is broken so hardly a 'secure' format. What makes mobi a more insecure format?

When a format gets broken, Amazon patches the software. Because Amazon forces software update, all the devices that get the software update are safe for Amazon. Once software update is not available for a device, it becomes a risk factor for Amazon. Someone with the old device will be able to hack and get the ebook contents (and possibly DeDRM it). So, Amazon wants to keep only the latest KFX supported devices and stop all older devices. As for devices that support KFX but do not receive software updates, not sure whether they have a way to patch the software remotely.

[Quoth]

There are no broken formats, only defeated DRM.
Ultimately it only controls ordinary consumers and can always be circumvented.

The " only models with KFX" is as much about those Firmwares ability to surviell and control as about DRM. It's not really about "risk" to Amazon.

Amazon has "patched" or enabled new KFX features on the PW3 without a firmware update.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by issybird

get to keep the old one. have the problem of disposing the etrash instead of Amazon.

In fact, I've had a few upgrade offers in the past year which had already moved to "keep your trade-in", in my case a PW2. I had already taken the earlier "keep your trade-in" offer on a KK when store access was discontinued. Which is why I'm not surprised that the current offer is lousy.

Well, yes, mileage may vary on getting to keep the old one. My Kindle Touch will continue to be good for beach reading (or wherever else I wouldn't want to take a newer ereader) until the battery dies. I don't want a new Kindle. I have other ereaders I much prefer.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I consider the PW5 cut off because if you have the 5.16.2.1.1, you are unable to get rid of it by upgrading.

PW5 is on 5.19.2. One update behind the very latest firmware, but certainly not cut off.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

PW5 is on 5.19.2. One update behind the very latest firmware, but certainly not cut off.

It is cut off when it no longer gets firmware updates when it's able to run the new firmware.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Well, yes, mileage may vary on getting to keep the old one. My Kindle Touch will continue to be good for beach reading (or wherever else I wouldn't want to take a newer ereader) until the battery dies.

Oh, sure, some may be glad to keep their devices; my only point was that it's advantageous to Amazon not to require the trade-in which has a lot of costs associated with it.

My Kobo Mini is my beach reader. It still direct downloads and syncs across devices and the beach (pool, lake) is the only place with enough light that I don't miss having frontlight. I'll be sad when it goes paws up, but it owes me nothing.

[davedeacon]

Originally Posted by tomsem

PW5 is 'cut off' (from future updates). As is Kindle 11th generation 2022 edition. Both are outside the 3 year window.

Huh? No idea where this "3 year window" idea is coming from. I already posted this - guess I need to do it again:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/cus...3LDHSB5YM9BYF7

"We’ll support your device with software security updates until at least four years from when you bought it new, from Amazon as the seller, on Amazon.co.uk (or until the date stated below if later). If you got your device somewhere else, we’ll support it with software security updates until at least the date stated below."

Kindle Generation 11, 2022 Release 31 December, 2028

Also "cut off" is not a term I've ever heard used to describe something going "out of support" or "end of life". Bit misleading - makes it sound like something is going to happen other than "no updates". That term can be more suitably used to describe what Amazon is planning to do with the 14-19 year old kindles. There's no reason to believe you'll need to buy a replacement for a 11th gen kindle after 3 years, or 2028. Maybe by 2041, if they apply the same logic as currently.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It is cut off when it no longer gets firmware updates when it's able to run the new firmware.

You have a different definition of "cut off". Not getting the latest features is not cut off. The PW5 is still supported with security updates through 2028, and probably not really cut off even then. Only the 2012 and earlier Kindles are getting cut off entirely from Amazon.

[curtw]

OK, so I got my Kindle Library all downloaded to Kindle Keyboard. I'll copy and archive them. Calibre Tools plugin already has the serial number, so all is good.

After all this, is the best advice to just jailbreak the device, so it can't inadvertently attempt to contact Amazon, and maybe get locked up?