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Remote Kill Flags Surface In Kindle
PL/SQL Guy writes "The Kindle has a number of 'remote kill' flags built in to the hardware that, among other things, allow the text-to-speech function to be disabled at any time on a book-by-book basis. 'Beginning yesterday, Random House Publishers began to disable text-to-speech remotely. The TTS function has apparently been remotely disabled in over 40 works so far.' But what no one at Amazon will discuss is what other flags are lurking in the Kindle format: is there a 'read only once' flag? A 'no turning the pages backwards' flag?"
There, I said it. Kindle remotely made me do it!
Well, that's what you get for buying content instead of just copying it from pirate bay or whatever. Maybe it's time for us to finally learn our lesson?
Unless they upload a replacement, the book would have to have all the possible tags attached. I'm assuming the books are on the device itself. Obviously, I don't know enough about the Kindle2.
Having to work for a living is the root of all evil.
But what no one at Amazon will discuss is what other flags are lurking in the Kindle format: is there a "read only once" flag?
No. But there inside your home on your desk inside your kindle is a flag so vile, so full of hatred, so very <insert your opposing political party here> that when activated it will only let you read books from Oprah's Book Club.
My work here is dung.
Kindle: The iPhone of readers. Proprietary schemes rock.
Clearly you're new here - the "baseless speculation" bit is implicitly set on all stories.
Buy a real book and then have it read to you by your girlfr... oh, wait, this is Slashdot. Ignore me :)
THE HONOUR OF THE KNIGHTS - CC Licensed Sci-Fi Novel
Sounds like canceling an AOL account in the '90s.
Can't one of those Blind Advocacy groups sue them for discrimination?
They would if they could see the article.
And that's why my Kindle's flag will be a Jolly Roger.
__ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
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May the Maths Be with you!
the memento flag:
you can only read the chapters once and in reverse order only.
the pulp fiction flag:
chapter order is randomized
the Bedazzled flag:
last page is missing in mystery novels
the pat robertson flag:
all naughty words like "gay" and "damn" are changed to "homo" and "golly"
they also introduced several modes:
leet speak mode:
so your p4r3nts can't read over your shoulder.
The beevis and bottomhead flag:
all accidental double entedres are bolded (heh heh).
Ascii art mode
speed reading mode: the words disappear from the page at defined rate.
Controverial undocumented ebonics and hot coffee modes.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Can we get a White Flag? One that just allows us to surrender? How about a bloody pirate flag? One that shoots cannons at the other flags. I would like at least one device not try to screw me over. (Full Disclosure, I own a Kindle 2.)
Do we need a "sensationalist" tag? Is CmdrTaco abusing his power as editor? What's stopping him from using these powers to spy on your Slashdot viewing habits? Will he kill your family and steal your very soul through your nose? And what about his wife? Why don't we ever hear about her? What's she got to hide?
All very suspicious. Terrifying, you might say...
Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
From his UID, I'd say he was half as new as you :)
Troc's dubious podcast and blog: http://www.trocnet.net