Amazon silently updates devices as soon as they patch CVEs. In most cases, you must keep the device in Airplane mode or somehow block OTA updates. [1]
You can not downgrade if you mess this up or do not catch your device before the CVE is patched. Presumably, they are blowing fuses, but I don't know.
So if you think you might want to jailbreak, find your device put it in airplane mode now!
I keep an Oasis in a spring-balanced arm anchored to my bed frame so I can read while I'm falling asleep. I finally finished the first Dune trilogy this year thanks to this.
--
The sole reason I previously jailbroke my Kindle was so I could use a wireless page turner.
The problem was that reaching out to touch the screen each page meant I had to get my arm out from under the covers which broke the otherwise sublime passive consumption of a book. More recently such motion had the potential to wake the baby I was holding.
I am not the only one who has wanted an official clicker from Amazon, people have expressed a desire for this on reddit and forums for many reasons including accessibility.
Since these jailbreaks come along infrequently, my initial idea was to build a physical screen tapper out of a solenoid. That ended up being too noisy and big.
I've investigated two jailbreak methods using software / hw combos:
- Kindlelazy, which uses a usb 2.0 micro usb male to usb female otg adapater and a presentation clicker
- Homekit Eve button -> Homebrew -> run ssh command on kindle over wifi
When the last jailbreak based on an RCE dropped in January of 2021, KindleDrip, [2] I rushed to attempt it and succeeded.
However, I made some mistake and the device updated. I was so bummed!
I kept my notes on these different methods with links to each repo or forum thread for the steps in a google doc. I just made a copy of it public, maybe it will help someone. [3]
--
To my great surprise in mid 2021, some company called SYUKUYU made a wireless Kindle page turner using a clip that does a light electrical pulse and a small hand held remote.
I bought it even though it had hardly any reviews and found it was amazing. Both parts use a USB-C connection to recharge and the thing works exactly as designed.
I just checked in on that product and it has 4.5 stars and 726 ratings now.
--
Parent mentioned Amazon took 13 years to add image covers. It isn't just that, Amazon has neglected the Kindle in many ways for many years.
From the default "special offers" behavior of Kindle, to the languishing, yet unavoidable Goodreads to the latent hardware improvements to their overpriced product line.
Amazon isn’t offering a native Bluetooth page turning device because the product lacks demand or it’s not feasible.
In my opinion its because the company doesn't care about its Kindle customers.
Amazon has a strong hold over ebooks due to its vertical integration of content, hardware and entrenched social platform of Goodreads.
The pandemic only pushed adoption of its DRM licensing scheme used by libraries or their service providers even further.
It was unexpected and welcome when they added the cover thing, but that came only after the last CVE was closed. Almost like they were waiting for a reason to need to appear like they were doing _anything_ for the product.
[1] https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338268
[2] https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336740
[3] https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JIw5YCx-wlSetOWVgD-HAAiP...