Don't let your Kindle phone home

[sekker]

I have a new Kindle Signature Edition.

Put it in airplane mode to enable USB connection to my Mac, used Calibre to add a set of files. PDF scientific articles. Text files (I am an editor-in-chief, have plenty of personal articles). Google play purchased books.

Used it for awhile, decided it was time to add an Amazon book from my library. Turned off airplane mode.

And ... voila!

My kindle had a LOT of free space!

Not quite ALL of my files were deleted.

I was warned this could happen, so confirming here. I can easily add my content back, but if I do that I will be living with a corded-only eReader that actually doesn't access my personal kindle content.

I've looked, there is nowhere on the agreement that Amazon can control ALL content on the kindle.

Does anyone know a permanent solution? There is a recent jailbreak, but it sure looks like a PITA to keep it running.

If not, I think I'm going to wrap it up and tell Amazon they are selling a defective product, ask for a return option.

If they don't want to accept it, I will likely escalate to see.

The next step might just be a Kobo.

[special]

I wonder if you can keep your PDF files on a google drive instead of on the device itself.
Also do these Kindle devices have a microSD card? I know some android devices do. Will Amazon delete files from a microSD?

Anyway, good luck. I have a kindle somewhere around the house, probably dead and not used in years, so I don't recall if it has microSD card.

[sekker]

special wrote:
I wonder if you can keep your PDF files on a google drive instead of on the device itself.
Also do these Kindle devices have a microSD card? I know some android devices do. Will Amazon delete files from a microSD?

Anyway, good luck. I have a kindle somewhere around the house, probably dead and not used in years, so I don't recall if it has microSD card.

No microUSB card.

Not sure a google drive will work. But might be able to do a Calibre server to download and then open the file - apparently open documents are not deleted.

Thanks for floating options. It might just be best for me to return it and get a Kobo - there are now wireless charging cases, so I think I can get a nearly identical (in function) eReader.

I just find it absurd. Not even the Draconian iOS overlords actual DELETE content on our iPhones and iPads once you have them on your devices.

EDIT: adding calibre cloud idea.

[special]

Found our old kindle under a pile of books in one of the kids bedroom, they said they didn't use it in 2 years, dead of course. Charging now. Right, I don't see a microSD slot.

EDIT: it's booting up, it's a Kindle 7th generation


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J94T4R2/

[mrlynn]

Why a Kindle, when an iPad or MB Air would have so much more capability?

[ztirffritz]

Kindle is easier on the eyes. E-Ink is like reading paper. It’s physical colored beads that rearrange on screen refresh.

[special]

They have many version of Kindle. Some are like iPad (LCD screens), some are e-Ink. Looking at the latest amazon models, it appears there is monochrome and Color version of this eInk technology. Sounds interesting, I need to look into that. Also they claim weeks of battery life, unlike an iPad which would need to be charged about every other day.

[raz]

And they’re a lot lighter.

If all you want to is read, it’s better experience. For anything else…

[sekker]

raz wrote:
And they’re a lot lighter.

If all you want to is read, it’s better experience. For anything else…

And waterproof, and wireless charging. Even without a nice dock, their charge can last a month or more with regular use.

And being a 'unitasker' keeps me offline.

[sekker]

mrlynn wrote:
Why a Kindle, when an iPad or MB Air would have so much more capability?

I think the form factor/size really matters. It's bigger than even the plus iPhone, and yet weighs very little.

IF Apple made a super-thin iPad mini that was waterproof AND wireless charged, I could go there.