Owners of Older Kindles Embrace Jailbreaking as Amazon Ends Support

Last month, Amazon announced that it would be ending support for older Kindle devices on May 20th. To be precise, devices released in 2012 or earlier. The list includes the Kindle 1st and 2nd generations, Kindle DX, Kindle DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4, Kindle 5, Kindle Touch, Kindle Paperwhite 1st gen, Kindle Fire 1st and 2nd gen, Kindle Fire HD 7, and Kindle Fire HD 8.9. These models will lose access to the Kindle Store, and users cannot purchase or download additional books.

Amazon is ending support for older Kindle devices on May 20th

If you deregister or factory reset your old Kindle, you will not be able to re-register it. That said, users will still be able to read books that are already downloaded onto the devices. If you’re an owner of any of these products, it’s definitely bad news. Especially if your Kindle is working flawlessly and has not seen any operational degradation.

Many users do not seem very happy with this move and hence are reportedly turning to jailbreaking them. For context, jailbreaking means bypassing the software restrictions imposed by Amazon on Kindle devices. It apparently allows users to install custom fonts, new screensavers, alternative reading apps, and more to expand the Kindle’s functionality. 

Jailbreaking is not without its risks

While these abilities might look tempting, it’s important to understand that jailbreaking a Kindle has its risks. First, it may violate the terms of service set by Amazon. While jailbreaking in general might not be a criminal offense for personal use, it’s a crime if it involves illegal software distribution, copyright infringement, or the sale of modified devices. 

Kindle users seem to be opting to jailbreak as a way to gain control over the device, which is still functional, rather than being forced to upgrade. However, it carries risks, as the Kindle may become unusable in case something goes wrong. Running unofficial software can also lead to issues like frequent app crashes. It could also negatively affect battery life. 

If you’re looking at a rather safer alternative, you can sideload books onto your Kindle through a USB cable and a computer. Then there’s the option to upgrade to a newer Kindle or check out alternatives available on the market.

The post Owners of Older Kindles Embrace Jailbreaking as Amazon Ends Support appeared first on Android Headlines.

​