All posts tagged: Kindle

I jailbroke my old Kindle to install KOReader – but there’s a better way to extend its life

I jailbroke my old Kindle to install KOReader – but there’s a better way to extend its life

Published by skeptic

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Jailbreaking a Kindle lets you modify its software to bypass some of Amazon’s restrictions. This is most useful for users with older Kindle devices that are no longer supported by Amazon. As of May 20, eight Kindle models will no longer receive support. Amazon plans to end technical support for older Kindle devices starting on May 20, but that doesn’t mean users must get rid of them. Kindles and Fire tablets released before 2013 will no longer receive software support from Amazon, leaving many users looking for alternative ways to continue using them as e-readers. One of the most popular ways to extend your Kindle’s lifespan is to jailbreak it. Doing so lets you bypass some of Amazon’s biggest restrictions, offering greater UI customizations, access to untapped settings, and even the ability to install alternative reading software. Also: This e-reader lets you view in color, and it’s $60 cheaper now Most people looking to jailbreak an older Kindle today install …

ReMarkable Paper Pure vs. Amazon Kindle Scribe: I’ve written on both E Ink tablets – this one wins

ReMarkable Paper Pure vs. Amazon Kindle Scribe: I’ve written on both E Ink tablets – this one wins

Published by skeptic

Manufacturer or Full Name/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ReMarkable just announced its new digital paper tablet for note-taking and sketching, called the Paper Pure. It comes to market at the same $399 starting price as one of its biggest competitors, Amazon’s Kindle Scribe. If you’ve had your eye on either tablet and are confused about which one is better, I don’t blame you.  The Kindle Scribe from 2024 is not the newest model — but it’s the version I recommend and one of Amazon’s top-rated tablets for its price point and functionality. It’s also the same starting price of $399 as the Paper Pure, and the closest in features.  Also: I’ve tested several ReMarkable tablets, but its new cheap E Ink tablet had me fooled In fact, there’s evidence to suggest these two devices’ designs are influenced by one another. After the success of ReMarkable’s Paper Pro, Amazon took a page from ReMarkable’s pro-minded features that emphasize distraction-free work. In turn, the Paper Pure seems to have taken a few design …

Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft Gets a Dark Mode (2026)

Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft Gets a Dark Mode (2026)

Published by skeptic

I’m a nighttime reader. I usually read in the dark with my e-reader of choice in its native dark mode (if you’re unfamiliar, it’s the mode that turns the background black and all text and lines white, making it much dimmer but still easy to read). That allows my husband and even my almost-4-year-old to snooze next to me while I read, with no beacon of light blasting from my device. It’s no surprise that, as such a nighttime reader, the lack of dark mode on the Kindle Colorsoft or Kindle Scribe Colorsoft was a big complaint for me. Yes, you can turn the page color black on books (but not on imported documents, including AZW3, which is designed specifically for reading on Amazon’s devices), but the menu bars and home pages would blast me in the eyes in a dark room if I wanted to switch what book I was reading or use a menu feature. It was one of the many features we found lacking in the Kindle Colorsoft, but it’s the one that keeps me from …

What’s New in Kindle Unlimited, Audible+, and Spotify Audiobooks

What’s New in Kindle Unlimited, Audible+, and Spotify Audiobooks

Published by José Betancourt

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. You love books. You want to read as many as possible every month. Then you need all the latest news on book deals, exclusives, and freebies included with all of your book memberships. So if you’re a Kindle kid, an Audible+ aficionado, a Libro.fm lover, a Spotify Premium listener, or all of the above, here’s what’s new for you. What’s New on Kindle Unlimited As Far as She Knew by Diana Awad This is the latest domestic thriller from Mindy Kaling’s imprint Mindy’s Book Studio. Amira Abadi’s 23-years-strong marriage is shattered when her husband Ali dies in a car accident, revealing a secret life Amira never knew existed. As Amria uncovers a whole house her husband hid from her, and their tight-knit Arab American community begins to gossip about Ali’s betrayal, Amria knows she must discover the truth about Ali’s final days. Even if it means putting herself in danger’s way. The Price of Honey by Liane Moriarty …

The pros and cons of switching from Kindle to Kobo e-readers

The pros and cons of switching from Kindle to Kobo e-readers

Published by skeptic

BookTokers, Bookstagramers, and the most passionate Kindle users across the internet are fuming this week. On April 7, Amazon notified affected users that the company would be discontinuing support on 13 devices, including nine Kindle e-readers. Amazon already faces plenty of backlash in the book world. Last year, Amazon launched a massive book sale, which coincided with Independent Bookstore Day. This most recent news has left some Kindle users with a bad taste in their mouth, and now some readers are asking, “Should I switch to a Kobo?” This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. While Kindle is the biggest name in e-readers, Kobos are climbing the ranks. We’ve tried and loved both the Kobo Clara and Kobo Libra, and the devices are just as great as any Kindle. Kobo e-readers have features that Amazon abandoned in its Kindles, like page-turning buttons, plus seamless Libby integration. But if the decision to switch to a Kobo is driven out of worries that your current Kindle will eventually get bricked too, …

What to do if you’re affected

What to do if you’re affected

Published by Sam Flores

It seems like a lot of devices, but Amazon told Engadget that the move will affect around three per cent of current users. In theory, if you’re using a device that’s affected, then Amazon should already have notified you via email. If in doubt, however, the company has a support page with pictures and specifications of every Kindle ever released. If you’re still unsure, entering the model number into Google should reveal the exact version you’re using. This can typically be found on the back of devices. For Kindle Fire tablets, the process is simpler. Open the Settings menu and select “Device Options”. You’ll find the model you’re using either under “Device Model” or “About Fire Tablet”. Why is this happening? Nobody expects electronic devices to be supported forever, but it’s disappointing that the Kindle’s most enthusiastic early adopters are being cut off. Given the basic functionality of e-book reader technology, there doesn’t appear to be a technical reason behind the decision, making it appear like an anti-consumer move to push older customers towards the …

Kindle owners are furious over Amazon’s plan to end support for older devices

Kindle owners are furious over Amazon’s plan to end support for older devices

Published by skeptic

Amazon is facing backlash from Kindle owners after notifying users this week that support for Kindle devices released in 2012 or earlier will end on May 20. The email sparked immediate panic online, with many readers initially fearing their beloved e-readers were about to stop working entirely — and others expressing frustration that devices they have used for more than a decade are effectively being pushed toward obsolescence. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Much of the frustration seems less about the devices themselves and more about what they represent. Kindle owners repeatedly pointed out that their 2010 or 2011 devices still do the one thing they need them to do: read books. On Reddit, many users framed Amazon’s move as another example of planned obsolescence and unnecessary e-waste, especially because these devices are otherwise fully functional. Some commenters on X and Threads said they were considering switching to Kobo rather than buying another Kindle, while others called the change “a nightmare” and “a hostile act of predatory …

How I turned my Android tablet into the ultimate Kindle alternative – for free

How I turned my Android tablet into the ultimate Kindle alternative – for free

Published by skeptic

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. It’s been a rough week for Amazon Kindle users, with ebook prices continuing to climb and a series of older models no longer receiving software and security updates.  That’s where repurposing comes in hand. Tablets already do everything e-readers like Kindles do. So turning one into an e-reader is easier than you think. With a few tweaks, any iPad or Android tablet can feel pretty close to an e-reader.  Also: Your Kindle’s not obsolete, it just needs a jailbreak – and I’ll show you how it’s done Your tablet can become your personal library and even do a better job than a dedicated device. Like e-readers, tablets let you read digital books, but they also tend to have more storage than dedicated devices, so you can carry thousands of titles at once. Here’s how I converted mine. How to turn a tablet into an e-reader Look through the apps on the tablet you plan to use as an e-reader and remove any that will be …

You can read PDFs and articles on your Kindle: How to send all kinds of files to your device

You can read PDFs and articles on your Kindle: How to send all kinds of files to your device

Published by skeptic

Nina Raemont/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Using your Kindle to read is much easier on the eyes than a standard phone or tablet, thanks to its e-ink display. Because of this reduced eye strain, you may have often found yourself reading a long article, study, or book on your tablet and wished you could send it to your Kindle. The good news is that you can do just that, in a few different ways. You can send files to your Kindle via Amazon’s Send to Kindle feature, or manually add them via USB. Your Kindle also has a dedicated email address for forwarding files. In this article, I’ll cover how to send files to your Kindle without using a USB cable. Also: I’ve been a Kindle user for over a decade – here’s why the Paperwhite is still my top choice How to send articles and files to your Kindle What you need: A Kindle and access to your Amazon account. Other ways to get the most out of your Kindle: You …

How to quickly convert EPUB files to Kindle format – and why it matters

How to quickly convert EPUB files to Kindle format – and why it matters

Published by skeptic

ZDNET This article was originally published in early 2025 in response to news that Amazon was restricting the ability to download Kindle files to your computer. Now, we’re learning about an even more challenging restriction:  As of May 20, 2026, users of all Kindle devices released before 2013 will be completely cut off from the Kindle ecosystem. You will not be able to purchase, borrow, or download new content via the Kindle Store. Also: Amazon is ending support for 8 Kindle models next month: Is yours on the list? In response to this unprecedented and draconian restriction, we’re updating this article. Because while you may not be able to access the Kindle ecosystem, you can use your pre-2013 Kindle devices with e-books going into the future. This article will show you how. Other articles in this series For some users of older Kindles, the ability to download files was the only way to move Kindle files onto their devices. The first- and second-generation Kindles, as well as the Kindle DX, could only wirelessly transfer data via the now-obsolete 3G cellular …