• ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 months ago

    I wonder if this is a response to someone jailbreaking all kindles ever the other day

    Fuck kindles, get a different brand of ereader that just runs stripped android

    • IonAddis@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Some have speculated it’s complying in advance with stealth editing of books to remove whatever content has been decided to be censored. If you can’t download the original copy and keep it, they can change the one you have and make it seem like the original text never existed.

    • Luffy@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      The kobo unes run Linux ootb, and they are as easy to install something like pluto on as an android one, but I still prefer them because I can do all kinds of shinanigans with the command line

      Also if they are too expensive for you, just get a used one, as long as they have a backlight you can read just as well on them as a libra color

    • suburban_hillbilly@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      It’s because the first few generations of DRM were extremely poorly implemented. My og kindle keyboard still works and will ignore the DRM (that would be locking me out of, for example, a library book after its due date) if you just change the file extension to one of the DRM free file types. It will also then let me distribute that ebook to others without restriction.

  • Macaroni_ninja@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I think with applications, like Calibre its relatively painless to save the whole library, if someone is ready to jump ship. Now its the perfect time.

    I personally use a Kobo without the online features, which is fantastic, but there are many great Kindle alternatives without the corporate spyware bullshit.

    • Brewchin@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Calibre (Kindle) and Libation (Audible) are essential backup tools.

      Y’know, in case their servers are down…

  • pr06lefs@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    Unaffected since I’ve never participated in the Kindle ecosystem. I’ve been gifted a few Kindles but never was on board with that walled garden. Fuck Amazon.

    • kava@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Up until fairly recently, you could just drag and drop files onto the Kindle with a usb. I’ve had my first generation Kindle for almost 15 years now and it still works. Just download an .epub file, convert it to .mobi with Calibre, and drag and drop it over to the Kindle.

      I have a newer one too, that I got a couple of years ago as a gift.

      The trick is just disable the wifi and never let it communicate with Amazon servers. They will mess with your settings and push secret updates that remove features. For example, it could “sync” your books with your Amazon account if you naively log into your Amazon account and that literally results in you not being able to remove items from your Kindle without logging into your Amazon account on your computer and going through a million menus. It won’t let you do it from the Kindle, even if you’re offline.

      But if you just never let it connect it to the internet at all, you’re fine.

      Although the new Kindles now require a special Amazon software to copy files over (because of “convenience”) and it won’t communicate with the usual protocol so you can’t drag and drop like you could for the last 15 years.

      So yeah, don’t buy a Kindle. at least not a new one.

  • Kyrgizion@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Good thing then that I never, ever in my entire life have given Amazon a single cent, nor will I.

    • Optional@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Where do others buy epubs? (Besides the library) In many cases my obscure authors only use Amazon.

  • flop_leash_973@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Sounds to me like Amazon is reducing the value proposition of their product. For me, additional roadblocks to being able to enjoy something they way I want when I have paid for it reduces the value of the product itself.

    For example, if a DRM free book in an standards compatible format costs $20, then the DRM version I can still download for offline viewing is worth $10. The DRM version I can’t download is now worth more like $1-$5 depending on how badly I would want to read it while still supporting the author.

    And yes, ebooks from the major sellers aren’t worth much to me and I rarely rent (because you’re not really buying) them.