Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Fyi-amazon-is-removing-download-transfer-option-on-feb-26th-v0-s7wd6fm1rqie1.webp|alt=Amazon notice about removing download capability|thumb|Amazon notice about removing download capability <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/|title=FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th|format=forum thread|publisher=Reddit|language=en|date=12 Feb 2025}}</ref>]] | [[File:Fyi-amazon-is-removing-download-transfer-option-on-feb-26th-v0-s7wd6fm1rqie1.webp|alt=Amazon notice about removing download capability|thumb|Amazon notice about removing download capability <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/|title=FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th|format=forum thread|publisher=Reddit|language=en|date=12 Feb 2025}}</ref>]] | ||
On February 26th 2025, Amazon removed the "download and transfer via USB" feature from their website. This | On February 26th 2025, Amazon removed the "download and transfer via USB" feature from their website. This means [[Amazon Kindle]] users are no longer able to download their purchased e-books from Amazon's website to their computers using the "download and transfer via USB" feature. A message describing this change appeared on the page for the download feature a few weeks before the feature was removed.<ref name="theverge">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/news/612898/amazon-removing-kindle-book-download-transfer-usb|title=Amazon’s killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books|publisher=The Verge|date=14 Feb 2025|format=article|author=Andrew Liszewski|language=en}}</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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*The change makes it harder for customers to move away from Amazon to another e-book platform, since customers are not able to keep the e-books they purchased through Amazon | *The change makes it harder for customers to move away from Amazon to another e-book platform, since customers are not able to keep the e-books they purchased through Amazon | ||
After the announcement, many consumers downloaded their purchased e-books with the download and transfer feature while the feature was available. Many people | After the announcement, many consumers downloaded their purchased e-books with the download and transfer feature while the feature was available. Many people have also moved to other providers to buy e-books going forward. | ||
Other users resorted to jailbreaking their devices to ensure continued access to previous features. This can be done using tools such as [https://kindlemodding.org/jailbreaking/WinterBreak/ WinterBreak], which allow users to run custom applications like [https://github.com/koreader/koreader/wiki/Installation-on-Kindle-devices KOReader], a unified eBook reader that supports PDF, DjVu, EPUB, FB2, and many other formats—on Cervantes, Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, and Android devices. | Other users resorted to jailbreaking their devices to ensure continued access to previous features. This can be done using tools such as [https://kindlemodding.org/jailbreaking/WinterBreak/ WinterBreak], which allow users to run custom applications like [https://github.com/koreader/koreader/wiki/Installation-on-Kindle-devices KOReader], a unified eBook reader that supports PDF, DjVu, EPUB, FB2, and many other formats—on Cervantes, Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, and Android devices. | ||
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The Amazon Kindle 1 (2007), Kindle 2 (2009), and Kindle DX (2009) relied on EVDO and 3G networks for wireless book downloads via Amazon’s Whispernet service.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> However, with the global shutdown of these older networks by mobile carriers, these early Kindle models are no longer able to download purchased Kindle books wirelessly in most regions. | The Amazon Kindle 1 (2007), Kindle 2 (2009), and Kindle DX (2009) relied on EVDO and 3G networks for wireless book downloads via Amazon’s Whispernet service.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> However, with the global shutdown of these older networks by mobile carriers, these early Kindle models are no longer able to download purchased Kindle books wirelessly in most regions. | ||
Since eBooks can no longer be purchased from the Kindle Store and downloaded, there is no way to get them onto these devices. | |||
*Users are no longer be able to download Kindle books to a computer for manual transfer to their device via USB. | *Users are no longer be able to download Kindle books to a computer for manual transfer to their device via USB. | ||
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*Ability of publishers to modify purchased content without user consent. | *Ability of publishers to modify purchased content without user consent. | ||
*Ability of publishers to remove purchased content without user consent | *Ability of publishers to remove purchased content without user consent | ||
*E-book platforms can be used to retroactively alter literary works, erasing | *E-book platforms can be used to retroactively alter literary works, erasing historical context and the artist's original intent. | ||
*Ability of content providers to disable perfectly functioning devices from being usable post-sale. | *Ability of content providers to disable perfectly functioning devices from being usable post-sale. | ||