This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
I bought one years ago. Maybe 2018? I think it's a kindle touch 8th gen, ad-supported. Cost me ~60€, ad-supported. It got jailbroken and KOReader installed. It has stayed offline since, so those ads have long since expired.
It gets the job done. I've never been in the amazon e-book ecosystem, and I don't want to be licensing my books at their mercy.
Choose Your Kindle Device Ensure your Kindle device is fully charged. This method works on most Kindle e-readers, but newer models might have more restrictions.
Download Calibre Calibre is a free and open-source eBook management tool. It allows you to convert and transfer eBooks to your Kindle without relying on Amazon.
Download Calibre: Visit Calibre's official website and download the version compatible with your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux). 3. Install Calibre Follow the installation instructions provided on the Calibre website. Once installed, launch the program.
Project Gutenberg: Offers thousands of free public domain eBooks. Open Library: Provides access to millions of eBooks that can be borrowed. Other eBook retailers: Many online stores sell DRM-free eBooks. Add eBooks to Calibre:
Open Calibre. Click on “Add books” and select the eBooks you’ve downloaded. 5. Convert eBooks (if necessary) Kindle devices primarily support MOBI and AZW formats. If your eBooks are in a different format (e.g., EPUB, PDF), you can convert them using Calibre.
Convert eBooks:
Select the eBook(s) you want to convert. Click “Convert books” in the toolbar. Choose the output format (MOBI is a safe choice). Click “OK” to start the conversion. 6. Transfer eBooks to Kindle You can transfer eBooks to your Kindle using a USB cable or wirelessly.
Using a USB Cable:
Connect your Kindle to your computer using a USB cable. In Calibre, select the eBooks you want to transfer. Click “Send to device” in the toolbar. The eBooks will be transferred to your Kindle’s “Documents” folder. Wirelessly:
Set up Calibre’s content server (if you prefer wireless transfer). In Calibre, go to “Connect/share” and select “Start content server”. On your Kindle, open the web browser and enter your computer’s IP address followed by “:8080” (e.g., 192.168.1.2:8080). Browse and download the eBooks from the Calibre content server. 7. Use Alternative Reading Apps (Optional) For a more versatile reading experience, you can install alternative reading apps on your Kindle, but this might require jailbreaking your device, which can void the warranty and risk bricking the device.
Install KOReader (Jailbreak Required):
Search for jailbreaking guides specific to your Kindle model. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid damaging your device. Once jailbroken, you can install KOReader, an open-source eBook reader that supports various formats and offers more customization. 8. Manage Your Library With Calibre, you can organize, edit metadata, and even download cover art for your eBooks, providing a seamless library management experience.
Tips:
Regularly back up your eBooks: Ensure you have a backup of your eBooks in case of device failure. Keep Calibre updated: Regular updates ensure compatibility with new eBook formats and devices.
Buy a Kobo EReader.
Hack the EReader so you don't have to sign up with Walmart.
Install Calibre.
Install Kobo Driver Extension for Calibre.
Use a VPN (I prefer Mullvad), and go to your favorite Book piracy website for epubs.
Download epub books.
Connect Kobo device to your PC via USB.
Use Calibre to upload epub books to Kobo.
Disconnect Kobo from PC.
Profit.
I recommend installing calibre web on a home server, installing koreader on the Kobo, and accessing your eBook library over your WiFi and OPDS.
Koreader is such a good reading experience, I never want to go back to stock firmware (well, except for the dictionaries maybe, those are better.)
Bought a kobo recently. Bought it direct from Kobo, Walmart wasn't involved at all in any step. Worked perfectly out of the box with Caliber too. Nice little device, library interface could use some work but it's functional.
Nice to know. I thought about buying from Walmart so I'd have recourse w/ retail, but if they have any change in firmware, I'll just buy straight from Kobo.
Or just:
No need for piracy, read a bunch of library books if you don't want to pay for books.
I have a kobo but I don’t remember having to do anything with Walmart. Rest is spot on though.
Kobo was sold exclusively through Walmart in the US (at least when I bought my Kobo). I think they recently ended the partnership.
I thought they've been available directly from Kobo since they launched in the US.
As for other retail stores, they used to be exclusive to Walmart, but I now see them elsewhere (e.g. Target and Amazon both have them).
Not sure when things changed but all I know is that when I bought mine years ago the Kobo site redirected me to Walmart and that's where I had to buy it. My e-reader even displays the Walmart logo on it when I power it off.
Got mine off Amazon in 2021, am Murican
"make" usually implies already having one, advising to just go out when given the option to recycle an existing kindle with a debloated experience to instead go and buy something else is encouraging ewaste
Is there no way to just install Linux on the Reader? I don't understand any of those words in the hacking instructions.
The Kobo EReader is already a Linux machine.
As far as bypassing the sign up, here are my quick notes on how to do so step by step.
I meant a workstation OS. Or any Linux OS that's not locked to a corporate account and probably filled with spyware.
here are my quick notes on how to do so step by step.
I don't even understand the first sentence of these instructions. "Mount the device" followed by a bunch of seemingly random letters and characters. Mount it on what? What do I do with these?
I meant a workstation OS. Or any Linux OS that's not locked to a corporate account and probably filled with spyware.
Yes, though I have not tried to utilize this:
https://github.com/Quill-OS/quill
I don't even understand the first sentence of these instructions. "Mount the device" followed by a bunch of seemingly random letters and characters. Mount it on what? What do I do with these?
These instructions require a very basic understanding of the Linux command line and file system. As does installing a Linux OS without a GUI helper.
Thanks, this looks like what I was looking for. Unfortunately these install instructions also look complicated.
These instructions require a very basic understanding of the Linux command line and file system.
No tengo, but thanks.
As does installing a Linux OS without a GUI helper.
I don't do that either.
Unfortunately these install instructions also look complicated.
If you read the instructions, it's literally just downloading the binary, and using balenaEtcher to flash it onto the SD card.
To be fair. I get where they're coming from. Some people simply don't want to take the time to learn the Linux command line nor learn how to utilize the tool, balena etcher.
That said, if one says "Is there a way to simply install a Linux OS", I usually assume said person has at least a passing familiarity with burning an ISO as that is the bare minimum knowledge for starting the Linux installation process.
Hence my assumption that they were familiar with said tools when they asked the question.
Did you think I decided the instructions were too complicated without reading them?
Quil os is an option for some.https://github.com/Quill-OS/quill
It's a bit involved. Def not easier than the above but it's an option. It worked for me for a while.
Don’t let the ugly UI scare you off. Once you get past that awful first impression, Calibre turns out to be a pretty great app.
Couldn't have said it better myself. The UI looks ancient and cartoonish, but once you actually start using it, you don't even notice because of what it can actually do.
Nice web frontend that doesn't look like 1993:
https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web
I run that, but somehow the web database got borked when I setup the Kobo Sync. DB works fine in Calibre desktop but web UI only shows new books unless I search for them. Haven't messed with it much, but on my to-do list to figure out why.🤦♂️
I was wondering why anyone would go to the trouble when you can just buy a different brand.
In Brazil, you can pick any e-reader you want, as long as it’s a Kindle. (Kobo, Boox, and other brands don’t sell their devices here.)
That’s too bad, and surprising since later in the article it mentions that Kobo does have a store in Brazil to sell EPUB files, but not their readers.
It's a shame indeed. Kobo used to sell their devices here, but they pulled out years ago. We also had a local bookseller that tried to face off Amazon, Saraiva, that released its own e-reader in ~2017, called Lev. (Probably a rebranded Chinese device; it was awful.) It didn't last. Right now, we have only Kindle devices for buying, and even that isn't complete — Kindle Scribe hasn't arrived yet.
I bought a Kobo Clara last year and it works. I can even buy books. I live in Brazil.
Where did you get your Kobo?
Ebay or Aliexpress, I don't remember. It works in conjunction with "Livraria cultura", though.
maybe that will finally get me interested on a kindle
Step 1: Buy a Kindle on Amazon...
You gotta be kidding me
Have you used other ebook readers?
My mother in law had a nook, and that was one of the worst goddamned devices i'd ever used. Low res screen and cheap buttons, buttons that you had to use all the time because the touch controls were so awful. The interface was just extraordinarily bad.
I hate to say it, but the Kindle line are the best devices on the market for ebooks. But I'd pay a little extra if Besos got kicked in the balls with every purchase.
Well what were you expecting? This is like when people install GrapheneOS on Pixels, because it's still the best platform to have a Google-free device.
It's entirely possible that someone wants to buy a Kindle because of it being a great device, but not want to be tied to Amazon's data mining exercises and/or buy books from them because of their behaviour as a publishing company.
Why not buy a Kobo eReader? Just as good, and better in some ways.
That said, I'm in the US, so I don't know about other countries.
I fall into this category.
Same. Have mine about 18 months. Never once connected to the internet. Great device.
The article starts out explaining that other devices are not sold in Brazil; Kindle is the only option.
I think he's trying to point out that if someone were that concerned with trying to not be data mined by Amazon, they wouldn't have an Amazon account to be able to order a Kindle in the first place.
If you actually read the OP article, they specify that there aren't any other ebook readers available in their region, and that they could use it without connecting it to their Amazon account, or even to the internet at all.
Why? I wrote about how to use a Kindle without tying it to Amazon. Kinda hard buying one anywhere else but from Amazon…
It was a good article. I bet if you think really hard you will see the irony this reader found with an Amazon-free Kindle... Purchased from Amazon.
Also, I heard that some people pirate books for Kindle.
My SO does, and it totally works.
That said, there are more options than Kindle. The Kobo eReader recently got a big revamp, and is now in many ways better than Kindle. And it works directly with library books (at least in the US, not sure about other countries).
So if you want an eReader, shop around first before jumping to the conclusion that you need to find workarounds for Kindle.
Hardware and software are different things.
It's perfectly reasonable to want the hardware of a Kindle, while not wanting to deal with the software shenanigans. I'm sure plenty of people on Lemmy have bought a laptop before then put a different OS onto it, for example.
Even putting that aside, did you not read the first paragraph? The author clearly states that alternatives like Boox and Kobo aren't available in their country.
You actually as if their position is unreasonable. It really isn't.
I expected a method to root the device...
That was pretty thin on details.
I've had a Fire 8 for a while now that I bought because it was cheap as hell, thinking I could subvert it to the side of good. To an extent I guess I did, but I'd still rather use an old android 4.1 7" that doesn't have a lock screen I can't get rid of, so I have one less swipe to read for a few minutes when I wake up in the middle of the night.
I wish I could make it work like that one, but so far no go. And you can't get rid of some of the Amazon bullshit, so there's that. It just feels like its sitting there waiting to fuck me over somehow so I don't bother.
Kindle Fire is a different beast: they run Android AOSP modified by Amazon and usually has low-end specs. I'd not recommend getting one anyway — tied to Amazon or otherwise.
By buying a Kobo instead.
