Amazon Kindle: Difference between revisions
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==Controversies== | ==Controversies== | ||
While EPUB has been the widely adopted format for digital books,<ref>{{Cite web |title=EPUB 3.3 |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-33/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https:// | While EPUB has been the widely adopted format for digital books,<ref>{{Cite web |title=EPUB 3.3 |url=https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-33/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128221235/https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-33/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[w3.org]]}}</ref> the Kindle e-readers do not support this format natively. That means that it is not possible to load these files directly to the e-reader (which is called {{Wplink|sideloading}}), but have to be converted first to one of the proprietary formats the Kindle uses. Books directly purchased through Amazon come with [[DRM]] restrictions. | ||
Around 2022 it was announced that there would be an option to read these files,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Stan |date=3 May 2022 |title=Amazon's Kindle will finally support epub files |url=https://mashable.com/article/amazon-kindle-epub |url-status=live |archive-url=https:// | Around 2022 it was announced that there would be an option to read these files,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Stan |date=3 May 2022 |title=Amazon's Kindle will finally support epub files |url=https://mashable.com/article/amazon-kindle-epub |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018065850/https://mashable.com/article/amazon-kindle-epub |archive-date=18 Oct 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2022 |website=[[Mashable]]}}</ref> which was not through native support but via their e-mail service or dedicated app for the Kindle. Both send the file to the Kindle Cloud Library, and process the file on Amazon servers to the proprietary format. | ||
As for the sideloading itself, newer firmware versions of Kindle e-readers only work with {{Wplink|Media Transfer Protocol|MTP}},<ref>{{Cite web |author=Nathan |date=20 Oct 2024 |title=Amazon Removed Download and Transfer Option for New Kindles |url=https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2024/10/20/amazon-removed-download-and-transfer-option-for-new-kindles/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https:// | As for the sideloading itself, newer firmware versions of Kindle e-readers only work with {{Wplink|Media Transfer Protocol|MTP}},<ref>{{Cite web |author=Nathan |date=20 Oct 2024 |title=Amazon Removed Download and Transfer Option for New Kindles |url=https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2024/10/20/amazon-removed-download-and-transfer-option-for-new-kindles/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251014062925/https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2024/10/20/amazon-removed-download-and-transfer-option-for-new-kindles/ |archive-date=14 Oct 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Ebook Reader]]}}</ref> which led to controversy among {{Wplink|power user}}s as it disrupted existing workflow, which is to be expected. Book management software like Calibre<ref>{{Cite web |author=Kovid Goyal |date= |title=calibre - E-book management |url=https://www.calibre-ebook.com |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222054742/https://calibre-ebook.com/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2026-02-06 |website=}}</ref> addresses this issue, and can do the conversion of file formats locally. The recent firmware updates have caused other issues, like faster battery drain than before and a slower user experience.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kozlowski |first=Micheal |date=20 Aug 2024 |title=The Amazon Kindle is in a state of decline |url=https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/the-amazon-kindle-is-in-a-state-of-decline |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219161317/https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/the-amazon-kindle-is-in-a-state-of-decline |archive-date=19 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Good EReader]]}}</ref> | ||
===Anti-repair and anti-ownership practices=== | ===Anti-repair and anti-ownership practices=== | ||
Kindle devices regularly receive bad scores in repair reviews.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Kindle 11 Repair |url=https://it.ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https:// | Kindle devices regularly receive bad scores in repair reviews.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Kindle 11 Repair |url=https://it.ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_11 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221125927/https://it.ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_11 |archive-date=21 Feb 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Kris |title=Kindle Paperwhite 5 (11th Generation) Repair |url=https://ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_Paperwhite_11th_Generation |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212013608/https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Kindle_Paperwhite_11th_Generation |archive-date=12 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[iFixit]]}}</ref> The baseline model has a replaceable battery, but provides no official replacement parts or repair instructions, and solders the power button and usb-c port to the motherboard.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">[https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/e-reader-repairability-scores e-reader repairability scores]</ref> The paper-white model uses excessive amounts of adhesive for the battery and motherboard, which make it harder to replace the battery.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Most of the components of the device, most importantly the e-ink screen, are not available to the general market. Any stock for e-ink displays for these devices can rarely be found, and they usually approach the cost of the device itself, making repair uneconomical. | ||
Kindle devices run a Linux distribution, however the bootloader is locked down and users have had trouble accessing debug ports on newer hardware.{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account}} Adding to this, Amazon relies on proprietary software and drivers which make it difficult to port a standard mainline Linux kernel onto their devices.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}} | Kindle devices run a Linux distribution, however the bootloader is locked down and users have had trouble accessing debug ports on newer hardware.{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account}} Adding to this, Amazon relies on proprietary software and drivers which make it difficult to port a standard mainline Linux kernel onto their devices.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}} | ||
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===Download feature removed for purchased books (2025.02.26)=== | ===Download feature removed for purchased books (2025.02.26)=== | ||
{{Main|Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books}} | {{Main|Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books}} | ||
[[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=":03">{{Cite web |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/ |archive-url=https:// | [[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=":03">{{Cite web |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804001513/https://old.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/ |archive-date=4 Aug 2025|publisher=Reddit |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref>]] | ||
On 26 February 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. | On 26 February 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. | ||
Revision as of 20:42, 22 February 2026
Amazon Kindle
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2007 |
| Product Type | E-readers, Publishing |
| In Production | Yes |
| Official Website | https://amazon.com/kindle |
Amazon Kindle is a product line of e-readers made by Amazon.
Consumer-impact summary
Controversies
While EPUB has been the widely adopted format for digital books,[1] the Kindle e-readers do not support this format natively. That means that it is not possible to load these files directly to the e-reader (which is called sideloading), but have to be converted first to one of the proprietary formats the Kindle uses. Books directly purchased through Amazon come with DRM restrictions.
Around 2022 it was announced that there would be an option to read these files,[2] which was not through native support but via their e-mail service or dedicated app for the Kindle. Both send the file to the Kindle Cloud Library, and process the file on Amazon servers to the proprietary format.
As for the sideloading itself, newer firmware versions of Kindle e-readers only work with MTP,[3] which led to controversy among power users as it disrupted existing workflow, which is to be expected. Book management software like Calibre[4] addresses this issue, and can do the conversion of file formats locally. The recent firmware updates have caused other issues, like faster battery drain than before and a slower user experience.[5]
Anti-repair and anti-ownership practices
Kindle devices regularly receive bad scores in repair reviews.[6][7] The baseline model has a replaceable battery, but provides no official replacement parts or repair instructions, and solders the power button and usb-c port to the motherboard.[6][8] The paper-white model uses excessive amounts of adhesive for the battery and motherboard, which make it harder to replace the battery.[7][8] Most of the components of the device, most importantly the e-ink screen, are not available to the general market. Any stock for e-ink displays for these devices can rarely be found, and they usually approach the cost of the device itself, making repair uneconomical.
Kindle devices run a Linux distribution, however the bootloader is locked down and users have had trouble accessing debug ports on newer hardware.[citation needed - Personal account] Adding to this, Amazon relies on proprietary software and drivers which make it difficult to port a standard mainline Linux kernel onto their devices.[citation needed (30 Nov 2025)]
Incidents
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [:Category:Amazon Kindle Amazon Kindle category].
Download feature removed for purchased books (2025.02.26)
On 26 February 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.
Example incident two (date)
...
Products
See also
References
- ↑ "EPUB 3.3". w3.org. Archived from the original on 28 Jan 2026. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
- ↑ Schroeder, Stan (3 May 2022). "Amazon's Kindle will finally support epub files". Mashable. Archived from the original on 18 Oct 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2022.
- ↑ Nathan (20 Oct 2024). "Amazon Removed Download and Transfer Option for New Kindles". The Ebook Reader. Archived from the original on 14 Oct 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
- ↑ Kovid Goyal. "calibre - E-book management". Archived from the original on 22 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ Kozlowski, Micheal (20 Aug 2024). "The Amazon Kindle is in a state of decline". Good EReader. Archived from the original on 19 Dec 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Frauenheim, Carsten. "Kindle 11 Repair". iFixit. Archived from the original on 21 Feb 2026. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Rodriguez, Kris. "Kindle Paperwhite 5 (11th Generation) Repair". iFixit. Archived from the original on 12 Dec 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 e-reader repairability scores
- ↑ "FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th". Reddit. 12 Feb 2025. Archived from the original (forum thread) on 4 Aug 2025.