Hacks Is my Kindle 2 International dead?

[Atunah]

I just charged up my K1 as I wanted to see if it still connects to the mothership. It has always been on my account, never deregistered since 2008. After charging, it took me like 20 minutes to get a book on it. Recent KU loan. Did not appear in the content manager, which was the old archive. Just could not find it. Then send it via manage account along with a library loan. KU finally showed up after the 20 minutes, the library loan still isn't there. I can't see either of them in the content manage. I can't see any of the newer stuff there.

Don't know how new, would take a while to figure out. Still lots of old archive there. But seems my magical wheel is getting a bit jumpy. Very very difficult to get books on it at this point. Only one so far appeared.

Pretty sure last time I tried few months ago books appeared on it fine, slow, but they got there.

Now, no matter what I send over, still only the one book appeared in all this time. 30 minutes or so. Nothing else. Maybe it just needs more time syncing with the mothership. It hasn't been turned on after all in a few months.

I was just curious.

I read 100's of books on that thing for 2 years. Amazing how fast I figured out how to work the menu on it again. I don't have a K2 or DX.
I guess I'll never deregister it.

eta: trying to download books from the K1 gives me the failed to download error message. So that doesn't work either.

[darryl]

Interesting experiment for someone with an affected K1 or K2 that is still registered to your account. Are you able to download a mobi (azw) file for transfer by USB? If so the device remains useful to you if you wish to get a format other than kfx.

[q2jc30]

I just sent this e-mail:

Dear Mr. Bezos,

I have two Kindle second generations. They both worked fine, except neither would connect via 3G until I updated the software that was required by March 22, 2016. Upon doing so, they still would not connect. Each time, I called Amazon Help, and was told to reset them to factory settings. Each time, upon doing so, I could not get them re-registered. Each time, I checked the 411 page, and got the message that "411 Page: The FIRS, WEBSITE, TODO, CDE server is DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN." Each time, the Amazon Help people then told me that there was something wrong with my device, and that I should buy a new one.

Not believing that both devices suddenly became defective upon trying to re-register them, I began to do some research. I have found hundreds of people who are complaining about the exact same issue. Their older Kindles are now useless, and they have been told to buy newer models.

One of the people complaining wrote to you, and his e-mail was answered as follows:

"Hello Douglas,

I'm Caesar M. of Amazon's Tech Support Executive Customer Relations. Jeff Bezos received your email and I'm responding on his behalf. I've reviewed your account and understand you're concerned about your device support. While I know you're disappointed with our stance on this matter, I want to assure you the information you received from our customer service is correct.

As mentioned, hardware updates exist for a very genuine reason. When a new device is developed, it goes through rigorous tests and quality checks. The final version of the device is released to public only when the vendor is fully satisfied with the product’s functionality and stability. When the devices are used by customers in a real-time environment, they may come across several areas of improvement and same gets reported back to the developers. Sometimes latest versions of applications will need new processes and tools to work properly, which the developers constantly include with the new software updates. However, in the occasion that the software is not enough , the needs of the apps are going to overdrive the capacity of the product, causing the malfunction of the it. To address those issues, the developers try to support those devices as much as possible until the customer needs are major than the device capabilities, then a new device with better qualities will be lunch so that users can have a convenient and well supported interface with the product.

Douglas, I’m sorry for any disappointment caused and appreciate your understanding. While we won’t be able to comment further on this matter, we’re always happy to help if you have any other questions - you can click a button to contact us by e-mail or phone from any Help page on our website.

Regards,

Caesar M.
Tech Support Executive Customer Relations
Amazon.com"

Amazon has therefore admitted that it no longer supports the older Kindle models. But Amazon is still telling customers to update the software, knowing that the devices still will not work properly. Amazon is also still telling customers to de-register their devices, knowing that they will not be able to re-register. I therefore believe that Amazon is intentionally causing device failure to the older models.

Many others agree with me. One person posted, "Why push out the warning emails and the firmware updates (and CERT update) last March for these devices to remain compatible with their network if there was no plan to continue support for them anyway? Did they even push out a "fix", or did they push out a change that made it easier to disable those devices' ability to re-register? Before calling me paranoid, remember that users were being encouraged to de-register devices they were no longer using in those same emails.

Never mind the fact that the devices themselves seem to work perfectly with Amazon's network if they're already registered (and fully updated). It 's only when these devices need to be re-registered that issues arise."

Another posted, "As many of you know I am a big Amazon fan in most things. But they are certainly far from perfect. What we have in this instance are devices which are still perfectly functional which are being rendered virtually worthless to most people. Yes, they do not even support kf8 let alone kfx. There may well be a good business case for Amazon to end support for these devices. AFter all, there must be some cost involved in delivering the azw (mobi) format, and there are probably relatively few of these devices still being used.

The problem is the outright sneaky way in which this has been done. Common sense alone dictates a public announcement. What of someone who has bought one of these devices, no doubt very cheaply, and now can't register? A situation which could have been avoided with an announcement. What of those wanting to sell these otherwise still perfectly functional devices?

Jeff Bezos. You can and should do better than this!"

And even brand new, factory-sealed devices are useless, proving that the devices are fine, and Amazon is Intentionally lying to customers, as evidenced in this post: "I have a KINDLE DXG; I just recently bought as brand new, sealed. However I can not register it. I updated to 2.5.8 and the service update. 411 page looks fine; Just does not allow me to register. I can browse the Amazon book store. Please help!!"

The question of a possible class-action lawsuit is currently being explored. One person posted, "I think there is some merit to that. The original promise was 'free wireless for life of the device' and it seems it is only these older 3G devices, without any wifi support, that are getting cut off. The devices still live, yet can no longer work if you need to factory reset for some reason (e.g. You are giving or selling it to someone else) and have to re-register it."

My next action will be to notify E-Bay of all of this information, so that they can notify the sellers and buyers of these devices that the perfectly operational devices are nevertheless worthless junk. That will surely generate much public outcry and horrible publicity, and call into question Amazon's promised support of all similar devices. I will then take whatever additional action I feel is warranted under the circumstances, including, but not limited to, publication of this issue and a class-action lawsuit.

Before I take such actions, I would like to give you the chance to redeem your reputation by rectifying this situation. Please consider re-establishing the promised support of the Kindle 1st and 2nd generations.

Sincerely,
Melanie Housley

[Atunah]

Originally Posted by darryl

Interesting experiment for someone with an affected K1 or K2 that is still registered to your account. Are you able to download a mobi (azw) file for transfer by USB? If so the device remains useful to you if you wish to get a format other than kfx.

If I ever find the proper usb cord for it. All my cords on the house have the micro usb, the K1 has the larger hole, whatever that one was called. So I have to find the original cord.
Not an issue for me as I have a keyboard and old basic also on my account as far as still getting the older format. So far K4PC also still works. But I do think they should at least let folks know if K1 and K2 devices can not be registered anymore. I don't know that one as I mine has always been on my account.
So unless it get unregistered by accident, it stays there.

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by darryl

Interesting experiment for someone with an affected K1 or K2 that is still registered to your account. Are you able to download a mobi (azw) file for transfer by USB? If so the device remains useful to you if you wish to get a format other than kfx.

I already know the answer to this one, as due to Amazon's update-your-devices notice last year, I'd already done an unwise factory reset without de-registering first, and was unable to re-register because apparently my K2's wireless modem had died.

So I happen to have a K2 that's only registered on the Amazon site and not the actual device, and the answer is yes, I can still download perfectly functional DRM-ed .azw books for it. I'd suggest that anyone with a now-non-registered device go and badger Amazon's Customer Service to manually add the device to their account, which it used to be an option for people to directly register their serial numbers from the website, before Amazon went and removed that for no useful reason that I can see.

If anyone with a now non-registered K2 is looking to fake-register the actual device so that they can at least use Collections again, this is the thread where I asked about that last year, which seemed to provide the solution (I haven't gotten around to trying it yet, since the simplest response to the situation was just to mostly stop using the K2 in favour of the Sony).

Apparently unregistering also messes with one's ability to use Audible audiobooks on the K2, and not having wireless access prevents Mac/Linux users from re-registering for Audible support, but Audible does provide a standalone Windows application to register the K2 via USB. No idea if it works under Wine, but probably worth a try if you need it back.

[darryl]

@ATDrake. Excellent information. Thanks.

Meantime, Nate reports on the Digital Reader that:

Amazon has replied with a statement which doesn't match with their actions: "No we haven’t ended support. Our Customer Service team is working directly with this customer to troubleshoot."

I'm looking forward to hearing from the customer concerned about these efforts. If they want to resort to BS then they could probably not have picked a worse customer.

[DiapDealer]

I love how in the blog comments (and Amazon Forums) people are calling BS because "their device still downloads books."

Read the words, folks: can't register after a reset/deregistration. My K2 was working fine, too. Until I did a reset.

But, hey! If shining a light on the problem gets Amazon to reverse their secret decision (or to grow a pair and officially announce these devices' end-of-life), I'll be happy. Still can't register my fully-updated K2 US as of this evening, though. And I'm certainly not the customer C.S. is working with.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I love how in the blog comments (and Amazon Forums) people are calling BS because "their device still downloads books."

Read the words, folks: can't register after a reset/deregistration. My K2 was working fine, too. Until I did a reset.

But, hey! If shining a light on the problem gets Amazon to reverse their secret decision (or to grow a pair and officially announce these devices' end-of-life), I'll be happy. Still can't register my fully-updated K2 US as of this evening, though. And I'm certainly not the customer C.S. is working with.

Well, I did say some were having trouble _before_ the reset, which is actually true.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Well, I did say some were having trouble _before_ the reset, which is actually true.

Regardless ... people responding, "I can still download books just fine," were missing the point.

[Dopedangel]

This happened just after the new kindle format came out. I have a feeling in a few months time all the kindles that can support the latest format will be moved over to it. And the workaround to download a drm removable version will be gone. One of the reasons I dislike closed ecosystems is something like this. With epub because of legacy support needed Adobe cant move over everyone to a new drm that is unbreakable where as Amazon probably can by updating all devices and removing support for old version.

[DiapDealer]

Someone at Amazon may have flipped the switch back on. My K2US was able to register this morning.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

This happened just after the new kindle format came out. I have a feeling in a few months time all the kindles that can support the latest format will be moved over to it.

Kindle for PC was just updated to support the new format, KFX, but newer Kindle devices have supported it since 2015. I doubt there is any connection to this new problem.

And since the registration problem now seems to be resolved we may never know if it was actually intentional or just a glitch.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by jhowell

And since the registration problem now seems to be resolved we may never know if it was actually intentional or just a glitch.

The response I got from the Amazon "engineer" has convinced me it was more than just a glitch. They knew there was a problem, and their solution was "upgrade". Still doesn't mean the devices in question were intentionally abandoned, but there was definitely a brief period of time where Amazon chose to not give a damn about these fully-functional devices.

My being able to register, and have full functionality restored is proof that the capability of these devices is sufficient to utilize their infrastructure.

I agree, however, that it doesn't automatically mean these devices were being axed to further strengthen Amazon's lock-in via KFX. More than likely, it was test to see how important it was to continue maintaining infrastructure for these aging devices (or some idiot who's now out of a job made a bone-headed unilateral decision). I'd say it's time to worry, though, if support for KFX on K3's starts rolling out.

[montalex]

My DXG browser is still limited, will no longer go to most sites other then Amazon. Weirdly, CNN works... what's with that? My Kindle 3s get gmail in the same room, at the same time.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by montalex

My DXG browser is still limited, will no longer go to most sites other then Amazon. Weirdly, CNN works... what's with that? My Kindle 3s get gmail in the same room, at the same time.

might be 'https:' vs 'http:'? for example, Wikipedia insists on https but CNN is http. I thought the 'certificate update' (https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...deId=201994710)
fixed this but perhaps not.