Amazon Kindle Leaps the "Great Firewall of China"

HarryT · 11-01-2010, 01:19 PM

HONG KONG (AFP) – Amazon's Kindle 3G e-reader is being snapped up on China's grey market as it has an extra special advantage for customers -- it automatically leaps the so-called "Great Firewall" of state web censorship.

Sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which are blocked by the Beijing authorities, can be accessed without interference by the Kindle's Internet browsing function, the South China Morning Post reported Monday.

Amazon says it is not able to ship the Kindle to mainland China or offer content in the country, which has the world's largest Internet community at more than 420 million web users, the Post reported.

But a seller in Beijing told the paper he slipped them into China a few at a time after having them delivered to an address outside the mainland. He has sold 300 in the past month.

Full story here.

ppw · 11-01-2010, 01:52 PM

Kindle's Chinese support is pathetic. I had to jailbreak it and add the font hack. I guess those Chinese purchasers know how to do similar thing or they only read in English.

K-Thom · 11-01-2010, 05:17 PM

Kindle, a subversive instrument ... will wonders never cease?

But can't the 3G connection of AT&T simply be cut off?

Joe Minton · 11-01-2010, 05:46 PM

I personally wish that you had not published this. Chinese folks who wish, very much, to be free have enough trouble learning what is going on outside their totalitarian state without our helping the authorities discover how they are getting around the censorship.

I don't mean to offend. I simply wish every person to be free. like we are. Sometimes that is a very difficult thing and we must sometimes be subversive.

Joe

Richey79 · 11-01-2010, 05:54 PM

The South China Post already reported it. I'd think the Chinese authorities would have already picked the information up from that organ... .

"Every Kindle device is pre-registered to a personal account, so every user's information is clear," said an expert from the University of Hong Kong. So, perhaps the Chinese authorities are happy to leave a few loop holes in the Great Fire-Wall and scrutinise what those who wish to use them are saying?

Never has the term 'Whispernet' been more apt.

Thanks for posting, Harry.

whitearrow · 11-01-2010, 05:54 PM

I think when the South China Morning Post published the story, the cat was pretty much out of the bag, Joe Minton.

langshipley · 11-01-2010, 05:55 PM

From the article: "Professor Lawrence Yeung Kwan, of the University of Hong Kong's electrical and electronic engineering department, told the paper that mainland Internet patrols might have overlooked the gadget."

They won't now ....

robertlz · 11-02-2010, 10:15 AM

Stupid news. With so many free proxies, all I need is Kindle to get over the GFW.

encapuchado · 11-02-2010, 02:06 PM

Oh, those Chinese...

kennyc · 11-02-2010, 04:24 PM

Just read about this here:

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/d...102-17amz.html

HarryT · 11-03-2010, 05:22 AM

It's on pretty much every news site.

ebookerz · 11-08-2010, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

Kindle, a subversive instrument ... will wonders never cease?

But can't the 3G connection of AT&T simply be cut off?

Yes, the 3G provider will have to prohibit access to twitter and others, as soon as the government will take notice of the news...

S Livingston · 05-25-2011, 05:05 PM

It's good to know that China is getting the Kindle. There's a huge market there. I wonder does anyone have any idea how many people in China read books written in English?

crich70 · 05-28-2011, 10:02 AM

The more someone tries to prohibit something in a repressive government the more people there are who push back via whatever means they can find.

Canuck_in_Japan · 05-30-2011, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Minton

I personally wish that you had not published this. Chinese folks who wish, very much, to be free have enough trouble learning what is going on outside their totalitarian state without our helping the authorities discover how they are getting around the censorship.

I don't mean to offend. I simply wish every person to be free. like we are. Sometimes that is a very difficult thing and we must sometimes be subversive.

Joe

LOL45

11-01-2010, 01:19 PM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Amazon Kindle Leaps the "Great Firewall of China" HONG KONG (AFP) – Amazon's Kindle 3G e-reader is being snapped up on China's grey market as it has an extra special advantage for customers -- it automatically leaps the so-called "Great Firewall" of state web censorship. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which are blocked by the Beijing authorities, can be accessed without interference by the Kindle's Internet browsing function, the South China Morning Post reported Monday. Amazon says it is not able to ship the Kindle to mainland China or offer content in the country, which has the world's largest Internet community at more than 420 million web users, the Post reported. But a seller in Beijing told the paper he slipped them into China a few at a time after having them delivered to an address outside the mainland. He has sold 300 in the past month. Full story here.

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11-01-2010, 01:52 PM	#2
ppw Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 499180 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle DXG, iPad 3	Kindle's Chinese support is pathetic. I had to jailbreak it and add the font hack. I guess those Chinese purchasers know how to do similar thing or they only read in English.

11-01-2010, 05:17 PM	#3
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	Kindle, a subversive instrument ... will wonders never cease? But can't the 3G connection of AT&T simply be cut off?

11-01-2010, 05:46 PM	#4
Joe Minton eReader Posts: 60 Karma: 31585 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Southern California Device: Sony 650, iPod Touch 4G, iPhone 4, Nook: Touch/Glow/Color/Tablet	I personally wish that you had not published this. Chinese folks who wish, very much, to be free have enough trouble learning what is going on outside their totalitarian state without our helping the authorities discover how they are getting around the censorship. I don't mean to offend. I simply wish every person to be free. like we are. Sometimes that is a very difficult thing and we must sometimes be subversive. Joe

11-01-2010, 05:54 PM	#5
Richey79 mrkrgnao Posts: 241 Karma: 237248 Join Date: May 2010 Device: PRS650, K3 Wireless, Galaxy S3, iPad 3.	The South China Post already reported it. I'd think the Chinese authorities would have already picked the information up from that organ... . "Every Kindle device is pre-registered to a personal account, so every user's information is clear," said an expert from the University of Hong Kong. So, perhaps the Chinese authorities are happy to leave a few loop holes in the Great Fire-Wall and scrutinise what those who wish to use them are saying? Never has the term 'Whispernet' been more apt. Thanks for posting, Harry.

11-01-2010, 05:54 PM	#6
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	I think when the South China Morning Post published the story, the cat was pretty much out of the bag, Joe Minton.

11-01-2010, 05:55 PM	#7
langshipley Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kindle 3, Paperwhite 2, iOS Kindle app	From the article: "Professor Lawrence Yeung Kwan, of the University of Hong Kong's electrical and electronic engineering department, told the paper that mainland Internet patrols might have overlooked the gadget." They won't now ....

11-02-2010, 10:15 AM	#8
robertlz Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Stupid news. With so many free proxies, all I need is Kindle to get over the GFW.

11-02-2010, 02:06 PM	#9
encapuchado Banned Posts: 130 Karma: 7587966 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Mexico Device: Black Sony Touch (650)	Oh, those Chinese...

11-02-2010, 04:24 PM	#10
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Just read about this here: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/d...102-17amz.html

11-03-2010, 05:22 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's on pretty much every news site.

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05-25-2011, 05:05 PM	#13
S Livingston Connoisseur Posts: 94 Karma: 50416 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Scotland Device: Kindle	It's good to know that China is getting the Kindle. There's a huge market there. I wonder does anyone have any idea how many people in China read books written in English?

05-28-2011, 10:02 AM	#14
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	The more someone tries to prohibit something in a repressive government the more people there are who push back via whatever means they can find.