Amazon's Kindle Voyage May Be Over (cnet.com)

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Amazon's Kindle Voyage May Be Over (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on Monday August 20, 2018 @04:24AM from the silence-before-the-storm dept.

Amazon's Kindle e-reader family seems to have lost a member along the way, with the disappearance of the Voyage from its Kindle Family listing. From a report: The site now lists just three models in its lineup of eight configurations, the Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Oasis. Good e-Reader first noticed this a few weeks back, saying the Voyage seems to have vanished in July. In years past when Amazon has refreshed its Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets, it has done it in the summer or fall. The high-end Oasis was last updated in October 2017, but the most recent midline Paperwhite last saw changes in 2015, and the basic Kindle in 2016. Chances are one or both of the older models will receive an update in the near future.

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Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 04:30 · Score: 0

Maybe it's good how it is, and eReaders don't have new features to offer every year?
1. Re:Like phones... by jellomizer · 2018-08-20 04:48 · Score: 2
  
  But what is Amazon doing with its R&D team?
  If you flag it as good enough and the product is done. Then your R&D team will either be fired or moved onto a different product all together. Risking having your product become outdated, and not having the resources to ramp up and catch up.
  Just like phones last decade. Flip Phones, reached what a Flip Phone can do. Smart Phones were dominated by black berry, and each update to blackberry wasn't that big of a deal.
  Apple iPhone concept put shock into these companies. Causing them 2 years to rework and revamp their product line, because there was minimal R&D because a phone was a phone, and all was done was change the style.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
2. Re:Like phones... by LynnwoodRooster · 2018-08-20 04:54 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  Making new Kindle Fires. Those are still selling, and being updated. Pure Kindle readers - eInk, monochrome - are dying. Why pay $79 for an eInk reader, when you can get a full-blown tablet for the same price?
  
  --
  Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
3. Re:Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 04:55 · Score: 0
  
  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/team-trump-still-isn-t-telling-truth-about-2016-trump-n902146
4. Re: Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 04:57 · Score: 1
  
  Battery life, the fact that e-ink is much better to read in the sun, etc, and sheer portability come to mind.
  I realize millenials cannot go more than 2 minutes without obsessively refreshing their favorite social media site or looking at porn, but there is plenty of room for people who just want to read a book.
5. Re:Like phones... by Squash · 2018-08-20 05:00 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I can only imagine you've never used an e-ink ebook reader. You just cannot compare the experience of the paperwhite e-ink reader to a tablet, both for reading and living with it otherwise. Charging your kindle once a month and being able to read it outdoors as easily as a physical book, you just can't get that with a "full-blown tablet".
  
  --
  Squash
6. Re:Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 05:06 · Score: 0
  
  I own both. Kindle Fires are awful in comparison to Kindle readers for reading. The paper white is fantastic if you want to read.
7. Re:Like phones... by shplopt · 2018-08-20 05:14 · Score: 1
  
  I agree. Once you have a decent e-ink device, you don't really need a new one. It's a product that lets you read every book ever written. Pretty hard to improve on that. The only growth is probably in large form factor devices for manuals and textbooks, which are too niche and too expensive for the average consumer.
8. Re: Like phones... by astrofurter · 2018-08-20 05:16 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Yup. The Kindle Paperwhite is a superior device. Read anywhere, never worry about battery life, and a pleasant & low distraction UI. Just barely pocket size. So it is easily carried without the display being too tiny. Ability to buy obscure books almost instantly if I see an interesting reference.
  Amazon probably makes a lot more ebook sales on Kindle than anywhere else. I can't imagine buying an ebook to read on the laptop - I'll find a free copy somewhere. But that requires time & effort. If I can get a properly formatted version on the Kindle with near zero effort, and the price is right, they've got a sale.
  Even tho it's just a fucking database entry saying I'm allowed to read the damned book.
9. Re:Like phones... by drinkypoo · 2018-08-20 05:26 · Score: 1
  
  Charging your kindle once a month and being able to read it outdoors as easily as a physical book, you just can't get that with a "full-blown tablet".
  I don't imagine that I'm a typical user, but I do most of my reading indoors. The exception is when I'm using digital documentation for auto repair, but then I don't want to put my greasy fingers all over a PDA. I want to print out the pages I need, get them all greasy, and then recycle or discard them. Most people don't spend much time outside any more, and when they do, they're rarely reading. Consequently, the only functionality of e-Ink that's really relevant to most users is low power consumption. Most people are used to frequently charging devices now, though, so that's not much of a selling point.
  There are cool things about e-Ink, but most people just don't care, and don't have a good reason to.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
10. Re:Like phones... by LynnwoodRooster · 2018-08-20 05:29 · Score: 1
  
  Well then, there's now an opening for you. You can make a paperwhite reader, load it with the FireOS (it's free) and then the Kindle app - and you can sell them to people who want an eInk based reader for their Kindle subscription!
  
  --
  Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
11. Re: Like phones... by LynnwoodRooster · 2018-08-20 05:31 · Score: 1
  
  I read on my Note 8. Big screen, plenty good for reading, and ALWAYS with me. Not so with a Kindle Fire, or laptop. Can read and listen to music any time I like. I bet that's the main consumption point for Kindle books, too - phones.
  
  --
  Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
12. Re:Like phones... by Presence+Eternal · 2018-08-20 05:36 · Score: 1
  
  They tend to be considerably lighter. More importantly they are far easier on the eyes than most tablets due to not having a backlight. The exception for me is oled which is superior to all other solutions when reading white text on black background in a dim room. So now I just read on my phone.
13. Re:Like phones... by drinkypoo · 2018-08-20 05:42 · Score: 2
  
  They tend to be considerably lighter. More importantly they are far easier on the eyes than most tablets due to not having a backlight.
  I find that so long as I adjust the display brightness according to the ambient light, a TFT tablet is plenty easy on the eyes. Meanwhile, e-Ink either requires an external light, or has some oddly-colored backlight, and/or provides patchy illumination. TFTs have none of these problems. I used my e-Ink reader so little that two batteries died for lack of proper usage cycles.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
14. Re:Like phones... by Presence+Eternal · 2018-08-20 06:43 · Score: 1
  
  If you're speaking of the paperwhite having a backlight, it does not. The light is indeed a crappy temperature though.
15. Re:Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 06:44 · Score: 0
  
  I agree that e-ink is superior, but I found that once I adapted to the several compromises needed to read novels with the Kindle app on my iPhone SE, I read much more often. The phone is good enough for me and far more accessible/convenient.
  Now, if I could buy a 4” e-ink phone. . .
16. Re:Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 07:19 · Score: 0
  
  Voyage is even better than Paperwhite (I own both).
17. Re: Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 07:22 · Score: 0
  
  Donald Trump broke into my house and left a huge turd in my crapper!
18. Re:Like phones... by dkone · 2018-08-20 07:53 · Score: 1
  
  From you comment it is so clear that you don't read a lot using a table.
  The battery life is many times greater than a full color tablet and you can comfortably read when sitting in the sun. I have a kindle fire for indoor reading and there have been many times I will read to the point I need to recharge the battery in a single sessions (starting at 75% or greater charge). I have never come close to that in a single session with my paperwhite.
19. Re: Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 08:13 · Score: 0
  
  How does it perform in bright sun? The eInk devices really shine there.
20. Re: Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 08:55 · Score: 0
  
  I read all kinds of stuff on my iPad, but I keep a Kindle (Keyboard, with 3G service) for the beach. You can't beat e-ink when you're in daylight.
21. Re:Like phones... by grahamtriggs · 2018-08-20 09:52 · Score: 1
  
  There isn't much point to the Kindle Voyage - it doesn't have enough advantage over the Paperwhite to justify the cost.
  Simplifying the lineup makes sense - you have the basic device without a built-in light, a mid-range device with a built-in light, and a premium device with larger reading area extra features (e.g. bluetooth audio for audiobooks).
22. Re:Like phones... by AuMatar · 2018-08-20 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  Because I have 0 use for a tablet, they're hard on the eyes, constantly need to be recharged, and provide oh so convenient avenues for privacy invasion. They also provide me no utility- the last time I decided to watch a movie when not at home was.... actually never. I'd go back to paper books before I got rid of my eink device. I'd buy an eink before I took a free tablet.
  
  --
  I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
23. Re: Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 11:44 · Score: 0
  
  I would pay for an upgrade to commute e ink with a higher refresh for cookbooks and the like
  I'm also ok with just looking at coming ebooks on my PC/laptop or phone. I don't use cookbooks the same way I do novels and as such I don't really like using an e reader for them. I really like my e reader for everything else though and wouldn't consider reading a novel on my phone instead.
24. Re: Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 11:52 · Score: 0
  
  You're lucky it was in the crapper, at my house he left it in the middle of the living room floor!
25. Re:Like phones... by LinuxIsGarbage · 2018-08-20 12:37 · Score: 1
  
  Kindle DX was an almost 10" screen. It seems there's no market for the textbook / letter / A4 sized e-reader, so they were back to novel-only sized units.
  But I agree. Anyone I know that upgraded an e-reader only does so because the old one broke.
26. Re:Like phones... by drinkypoo · 2018-08-20 12:46 · Score: 1
  
  If you're speaking of the paperwhite having a backlight, it does not. The light is indeed a crappy temperature though.
  I'm not overly familiar with a range of e-Ink products, I have ye olde nook simple touch. But I do know those which do have front-lights, and not backlights, because e-Ink. And they all seem to be trying to mimic the experience of reading underwater, sometimes in a swamp.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
27. Re: Like phones... by LynnwoodRooster · 2018-08-21 05:51 · Score: 1
  
  Performs pretty well... The new Note 8 screen is really good in bright sun. However, I tend to read only on flights and longer subway rides, so...
  
  --
  Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
28. Re:Like phones... by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-21 22:04 · Score: 0
  
  But what is Amazon doing with its R&D team?
  If you flag it as good enough and the product is done. Then your R&D team will either be fired or moved onto a different product all together. Risking having your product become outdated, and not having the resources to ramp up and catch up.
  Just like phones last decade. Flip Phones, reached what a Flip Phone can do. Smart Phones were dominated by black berry, and each update to blackberry wasn't that big of a deal.
  Apple iPhone concept put shock into these companies. Causing them 2 years to rework and revamp their product line, because there was minimal R&D because a phone was a phone, and all was done was change the style.
  well not updating your models AT ALL... worked just fine for Apple... and not just for 2 years.. but 4 years... And at the same price that they charged 4 years ago no less...
  No... the most important part of a company is NOT R&D... You just need ONE guy to spot ideers and retroactively patent them before selecting just enough random tech and design choices to make the chinese sweat shop able to make a very cheap phone... the most important part of ANY company is the PR department...
  Apple taught us that...
  To hell with the actual product, as long as you can convince enough morons that they can't live without the latest fashion tech bling... makes me sick!
29. Re:Like phones... by smithmc · 2018-09-02 16:34 · Score: 1
  
  Paperwhites, Voyages, etc. are edge-lit. Trust me, it's far easier on the eyes than even a top-notch backlit LCD display. It may be the first digital display that's even better than paper.
  
  --
  Downmodding is the refuge of the weak. Don't downmod, make a better argument!
30. Re:Like phones... by drinkypoo · 2018-09-03 03:00 · Score: 1
  
  Paperwhites, Voyages, etc. are edge-lit.
  It is my understanding that the entire class of devices uses a light wedge, so they are effectively front-lit. My problem is with the frequency of light used. I'm not happy with it.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Meh by DarkRookie · 2018-08-20 04:32 · Score: 3, Interesting

Since they started adding ads to the home screen (Even the one without special offers), these were no longer worth buying.

--
The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
1. Re:Meh by Rick+Schumann · 2018-08-20 04:36 · Score: 0
  
  I don't have nor have I ever wanted an 'e-book reader', I like printed books much better and always will, so I was unaware of this. They actually did this? You pay cash money for something like that, and they shove ads in your face that you can't do anything about? Sounds like shooting themselves in the foot to me. Well, if that's the case, then on top of the entire list of reasons I already had for never wanting one of these, I guess that one goes near the top.
2. Re:Meh by MightyYar · 2018-08-20 04:41 · Score: 2
  
  You pay less "cash money" than without the ads, and they don't show up when reading. If you don't mind reading on the epaper screen, Kindles have only gotten better with time - backlights, controls, speed, capacity, and screen quality have all improved.
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
3. Re:Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 04:48 · Score: 0
  
  Do you own a TV, go to the movie theater, listen to Sat radio, drive on a toll road with billboards, or any other of the 10 quintillion things wherein you pay money for X and you get ads for Y?
4. Re:Meh by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2018-08-20 04:51 · Score: 2
  
  Since they started adding ads to the home screen (Even the one without special offers), these were no longer worth buying.
  What are you talking about? I have the Voyage, paid my $20, and the ads went away - ALL of them.
  When I power on my Kindle, all I see is the last page of text I was reading.
  
  --
  #DeleteChrome
5. Re:Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 04:54 · Score: 0
  
  My family has three kindle paperwhites all without "special offers" (doesn't that just make you feel special, being advertised to?) and I've never seen ads. Maybe I just have my three paperwhites configured with a different layout.
  There are plenty of things I don't like about them, and have considered switching to something else, but being directly advertised to isn't one of them.
6. Re:Meh by Rick+Schumann · 2018-08-20 05:02 · Score: 2
  
  I own a TV.. and I have an antenna on the roof and pay zero to watch anything, and have a DVR (TiVo with lifetime Program Guide Service, paid for itself long ago) and skip past commercials.
  All the other things you mentioned: I've mentally disciplined myself to ignore them and not let them distract me. Get on my level.
7. Re:Meh by Rick+Schumann · 2018-08-20 05:03 · Score: 1
  
  Are you trying to sell me on the idea? Don't waste your time. I like printed paper books and have no intention of changing, ever.
8. Re:Meh by Presence+Eternal · 2018-08-20 05:07 · Score: 1
  
  I moved to e-readers and never looked back. Not having to dispose of piles of finished books, not having to find my place, lower costs for the books, and they don't cause six hour inkfinger syndrome. Also I bought a Sony ereader, and when their ebook marketplace failed, they did have an end of life plan to let me keep my purchases.
  One other huge thing is that Amazon offers ebook credit if you accept slow shipping. I get more than the cost of Prime in free ebooks every year.
9. Re:Meh by Presence+Eternal · 2018-08-20 05:11 · Score: 1
  
  Also it's a fantastic way to support self-published people and read books that would never ever see print otherwise. There's also a lot of great web serials out there that are too long or offbeat to otherwise make their authors money.
10. Re: Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 05:31 · Score: 0
  
  You pay less "cash money" than without the ads, and they don't show up when reading. If you don't mind reading on the epaper screen, Kindles have only gotten better with time - backlights, controls, speed, capacity, and screen quality have all improved. ;)
11. Re:Meh by LynnwoodRooster · 2018-08-20 05:33 · Score: 1
  
  I use my phone with the Kindle app. No ads - and I can take my entire library with me wherever I am. No worry about deciding which books to lug around on trips, flipping back to the right page because I lost my bookmark. Everything, all the time - and no ads.
  
  --
  Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
12. Re: Meh by Rick+Schumann · 2018-08-20 05:35 · Score: 1
  
  I like printed paper books and have no intention of changing, ever.
13. Re: Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 05:36 · Score: 0
  
  This.
  Get on my level. - this made the post x10000 better
14. Re:Meh by DarkRookie · 2018-08-20 05:51 · Score: 1
  
  https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker...
  
  There are a total of 6 ads on that page.
  I am pretty sure one is the special offers which can be removed.
  The other and the My Reading list need to go
  
  Also need a list view without the cover page as well, but I doubt that will ever happen. People like pictures.
  
  --
  The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
15. Re:Meh by DarkRookie · 2018-08-20 05:55 · Score: 1
  
  Or not watch TV.
  Not like there is much good on it.
  
  --
  The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
16. Re: Meh by MightyYar · 2018-08-20 06:06 · Score: 1
  
  Then why are you reading - much less commenting - on an article about ebook readers? Do you think ranting about dead tree carcasses is going to convince others that we've made a grievous error?
  I'm not trying to sell you on anything, but you seem to be hell-bent on evangelizing.
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
17. Re: Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 06:25 · Score: 0
  
  If you don't like my comments or comments that aren't part of some echo-chamber then why are you commenting on my comments or for that matter reading them at all instead of ignoring them, and by the way that's also aimed at everyone else that replied to my original comment, in which they sounded like they were trying to convince me how wonderful e-book readers are like I should give up and buy one. I LIKE PAPER BOOKS for a whole list of perfectly valid reasons and this news story gave me one MORE reason why I like paper books, WHAT OF IT? Go read your e-books and leave me alone if you don't like what I'm saying!
18. Re:Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 06:42 · Score: 0
  
  If you've mentally disciplined yourself to ignore ads, why does having ads on the Kindle bother you?
19. Re: Meh by Presence+Eternal · 2018-08-20 06:50 · Score: 1
  
  It's trolling. If it was someone genuinely passionate about paper books, we'd have been told about why they are passionate about paper books.
20. Re: Meh by MightyYar · 2018-08-20 06:51 · Score: 1
  
  Haha, sorry to send you off the deep end :)
  I'm here for the echo chamber. It's a tech site. If I want curmudgeonly anti-ebook stuff I'll go talk to the old lady who runs our book store...
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
21. Re: Meh by MightyYar · 2018-08-20 07:39 · Score: 1
  
  Occam demands a sexual explanation.
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
22. Re: Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 07:49 · Score: 0
  
  Whatever, older fart.
23. Re: Meh by dkone · 2018-08-20 07:56 · Score: 1
  
  Lol, your last sentence is awesome! I went back and read all the Trolls comments in a cranky old ladies voice.
24. Re:Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 09:03 · Score: 0
  
  Compared to when? Or ever?
25. Re: Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 11:53 · Score: 0
  
  Huh? I always view my library in a list view with no cover page. I forgot the view in your screenshot even existed as it's totally optional to ever go there/use that view.
26. Re: Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 12:03 · Score: 0
  
  No to all the ones you explicitly listed. I do not watch paid to, do not go to movies, do not use toll roads, etc.
27. Re:Meh by zugmeister · 2018-08-20 17:10 · Score: 1
  
  If you turn off the ads, you won't see them. My books are very personal to me and I've found even just one ad offensive. It would be like interrupting your favorite song with a beer jingle or something. Anyway, you can get rid of ALL the ads if you want to.
Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by Mr.+Dollar+Ton · 2018-08-20 04:33 · Score: 1

is truly beyond me. The so-called "copyright" isn't a right, the so-called "intellectual property" is not property.
These used to be contracts with a pretty narrow meaning - a few years of monopoly on the distribution of your work and all the money you can get for it, but IN EXCHANGE for making it available afterwards.
Today, the second part of the deal is gone, so there is absolutely no reason to stick to the first one, and especially to accept the sodomizer of the reader that the DRM is.
No amazon, no kindle, sorry.
1. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by iggymanz · 2018-08-20 04:37 · Score: 2
  
  because it works to read books in any font size I want with old eyes that have trouble with paper books.
  I can read my kindle books on other devices too if I wanted. Like in browser.
  The DRM doesn't even matter in this case, it's just an appliance. if amazon went away the kindle still works too.
  Been using it for 8 years with no issue.
2. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by rogoshen1 · 2018-08-20 04:41 · Score: 2
  
  i'm just hoping my DX doesn't ever die, why they stopped the larger form factor reader is beyond me. 6 years and counting, the battery is showing signs of stress, but still usable =/
3. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by MightyYar · 2018-08-20 04:42 · Score: 2
  
  Removal of Amazon DRM is trivial in Calibre and you don't need to use DRM ebooks in the first place.
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
4. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by iggymanz · 2018-08-20 04:47 · Score: 2
  
  mine is the 2012 model... battery still good
  the naysayers might point to the "Animal Farm" book Amazon retracted when the source company didn't really have rights to it.... but good grief
  There are 48.5 million books available for kindle. 1 out of 48.5 million had that problem and so autists go full on Richard Stallman pulpit pounding? Pfffftttt.
  The paper versions didn't go away, I could read those with a magnifying glass if the day comes all kindles die. But Kindle is convenient, it works, it never failed me.
  Besides, the naysayers are hypocrites, their PC have all kinds of embedded DRM BLOBS that no one knows what the heck they do. There is no totally open system.
5. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by starless · 2018-08-20 04:54 · Score: 1
  
  For me (using kindle app. on an iPad mini) it's the ability to effectively carry large number of books when I travel,
  at very little weight. In addition, I'm learning French and it's very convenient to be able to look up words simply by
  highlighting them.
6. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 04:56 · Score: 0
  
  Please explain "trivial" process.
7. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 05:10 · Score: 0
  
  You need to see Apprentice Alf.
8. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2018-08-20 05:22 · Score: 1
  
  Removal of Amazon DRM is trivial in Calibre and you don't need to use DRM ebooks in the first place.
  Well, it's a little more involved than that, given that the DeDRM plugin doesn't really work with Amazon's new (and default) KFX format. It's still doable, though.
  
  --
  #DeleteChrome
9. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 05:41 · Score: 0
  
  Install Calibre
  Install gray-market add-on for Calbre that converts ebooks (Not in the official Calibre add-on store for obvious reasons)
  Click add books (It's a menu at the top) and select DRM files
  Click convert books (It's a menu towards the top)
  Select format desired and click through, you can do this several times- mobi, epub, etc
  New DRM-free files appear in a special folder
  That's if you use Kindle for Windows PC software to download the files in the first place for the purpose of doing this. If you want to drag them over from your Kindle device, you can, but it's a different process. Also, try to get Kindle for PC version 27 or below if you are using that- above Version 27 was creating problems creating files that work with the add-on for some reason.
  We used to have a legal right in the US to make archival copies of things we owned legally for our own personal use and to replace the original copies if they became damaged or inaccessible. There was no problem, and remains no problem, with copying or ripping your music CD or VHS tape, legally speaking, if it's just for your own use, and you legally own the original (You're not supposed to sell it or give it away, but the nature of the word archival makes it sound okay if you lose it in a fire or a move). That's not piracy and the courts have ruled you can do it.
  The problem is a 21st century law against circumvention of DRM, which seems to overwrite previous law when it comes specifically to crap with DRM- ebooks, DVDs, Blu-Ray, whatever. Bad law.
  Still, I've never heard of an individual being prosecuted for making archival copies of things he or she legitimately owns purely for his or her own use, even when it technically violates the pro-DRM law. I'm not a lawyer and I'm not providing legal advice. In theory, they could start enforcing that law at any time against anyone. However, I think they have bigger fish to fry at the moment, like actual piracy where people are making copies available to others, versus just copying something they paid for so they can access it on other devices (Allowing people to switch ecosystems at will- going from Kindles to Kobos to Nooks to Kindles, and so forth, or to buy multiple devices for their own personal use because they like to use one at home and one at work or whatever) and don't have to worry about a ban from Amazon (Which come not for doing this, but based on a random formula Amazon doesn't reveal) or whatever potentially effectively destroying their hundreds or thousands of dollars of ebooks that they purchased.
  What a lot of people don't know is that before Amazon launched the first Kindle, it used to sell e-books on a small scale for PC software and e-readers sold by other companies. When you bought them, you were told they were going to be stored in your "Amazon locker" forever for re-download at will. When Amazon stopped selling these in preparation for the Kindle launch, they eliminated the e-lockers and the ability to redownload.
  Also, very large companies (I am thinking Wal-Mart, Yahoo, or maybe both did this) used to offer DRM-ed music downloads and people bought them figuring they'd never go under, because they were and are such companies. What they didn't count on is that they'd just stop selling music that way and stop providing the authentication service, locking people out of already purchased music.
  I think making DRM-free backup copies is a smart move from a protecting your investment perspective. However, I am not specifically advising anyone to do it or not to do it because of the legal implications in some countries.
10. Re: Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 05:45 · Score: 0
  
  Enjoy your locked down walled garden snowflake.
11. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by GrumpySteen · 2018-08-20 05:48 · Score: 1
  
  http://lmgtfy.com/?q=remove+ki...
12. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by burtosis · 2018-08-20 05:50 · Score: 1
  
  True naysayers would remember they also remote wiped/denied access to 1984. That one was a little more on the nose.
13. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by MightyYar · 2018-08-20 06:03 · Score: 1
  
  That gives you a clue how often I buy books from Amazon :)
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
14. Re: Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by iggymanz · 2018-08-20 06:33 · Score: 1
  
  not locked down, I can import and read open documents too. In fact, it's more useful than any open source device the way things are at present.
15. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by iggymanz · 2018-08-20 06:35 · Score: 1
  
  No it was Orwell's Animal Farm as I said. And it was *temporary* because of fault of upstream provider.
  One time from 48.5 million ebooks available on kindle. 9 years ago.
  yeah that has any thinking person shaking in their boots.
  I'll even say that right now my kindle is more useful than any open source device for reading books.
16. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by burtosis · 2018-08-20 07:16 · Score: 2
  
  It was both in the most infamous incident
17. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 08:17 · Score: 0
  
  News flash! Many of Amazon's Kindle e-books are not DRMed, just in Amazon's own e-book format. There are plenty of places to get non-DRMed ebooks.
18. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by magarity · 2018-08-20 09:32 · Score: 1
  
  i'm just hoping my DX doesn't ever die, why they stopped the larger form factor reader is beyond me. 6 years and counting, the battery is showing signs of stress, but still usable =/
  It's fairly straightforward to replace the battery. Look on eBay for them.
19. Re: Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by zugmeister · 2018-08-20 17:17 · Score: 1
  
  Enjoy your locked down walled garden snowflake.
  It's an excellent piece of hardware. As for "walled garden"... google Calibre. You're welcome.
20. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 17:48 · Score: 0
  
  Because I can get books for so cheap on there, I honestly DNGAF. I can buy spend a few bucks an read a reasonable novel by an independent author.
  I'll probably not read them again.
  Doesn't worry me.
21. Re:Why would anyone buy a DRM-infested POS by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-21 05:24 · Score: 0
  
  We used to have a legal right in the US to make archival copies of things we owned legally for our own personal use and to replace the original copies if they became damaged or inaccessible. There was no problem, and remains no problem, with copying or ripping your music CD or VHS tape, legally speaking, if it's just for your own use, and you legally own the original (You're not supposed to sell it or give it away, but the nature of the word archival makes it sound okay if you lose it in a fire or a move). That's not piracy and the courts have ruled you can do it.
  The problem is a 21st century law against circumvention of DRM, which seems to overwrite previous law when it comes specifically to crap with DRM- ebooks, DVDs, Blu-Ray, whatever. Bad law.
  Illegal law. Archival and other fair use rights are a consequence of the highest law in the land is open-ended. The US Bill of Rights provides for unspecified rights "retained by the people" (9th Amendment), and "reserved to the people" (10th Amendment). The Bill of Rights, not Congress, is the highest law in the land - and supersedes the authority of Congress and it's courts, including the Supreme Court.
  The right to ethical practice of law also comes into play. There's absolutely no doubt that the current implementation of US IP law is not consistent with this right, and thus is illegal. You can find the details in prior discussions on this forum. For a general discussion of the legal ethics issue, see The Captured Economy.
  
  Still, I've never heard of an individual being prosecuted for making archival copies of things he or she legitimately owns purely for his or her own use, even when it technically violates the pro-DRM law. I'm not a lawyer and I'm not providing legal advice. In theory, they could start enforcing that law at any time against anyone.
  They could, if they were really dumb and wanted to force the courts to acknowledge that current law is illegal - or force the courts to address the legal ethics issue in US law. Nobody that is benefiting from the current illegal system wants to open that can or worms.
  US legal history shows clearly that government can get away with breaking the law on behalf of special interest groups for a long, long time - but it never lasts forever, and the last thing they want to do is call public attention to the current illegal practices. Lots of stuff flourishes under rocks, in the dark, but can't survive the light of strong sustained public awareness. The public may have trouble learning from the mistakes of the past, but the successful criminals in politics and law are a lot smarter.
e-Ink laptop by b0s0z0ku · 2018-08-20 04:42 · Score: 2

I'd want an e-ink or split-screen e-ink/OLED laptop, frankly. It could be an e-reader and a general-purpose computing device. With the e-ink display, it could have absurd battery life (days to weeks).
1. Re:e-Ink laptop by Presence+Eternal · 2018-08-20 04:59 · Score: 2
  
  You can absolutely kludge up an e-ink laptop or tablet with existing products. A raspberry combined with any number of e-ink screen solutions is quite doable right this very minute, and you can go up from there. But I don't recommend it. There are intractable problems with e-ink's refresh rate, and there's no good way to have color without further screwing with how the white space of the screen looks. You can push the refresh rate on e-ink up a fair bit...but not for long. It'll damage the screen permanently.
  Also I'm not sure why you're saying e-ink and oled in the same context given how different they are. If you wanna read on oled, get a used Note 4 or something.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
2. Re:e-Ink laptop by Anonymice · 2018-08-20 05:06 · Score: 1
  
  e-ink displays, including for laptops, have been around for a while now.
  I came across a blog a couple of years ago that was dedicated to documenting swapping out laptop LED monitors with dual-purpose LED/e-ink monitors. I can't find the link now, however Dasung seem to be a known manufacturer.
3. Re:e-Ink laptop by b0s0z0ku · 2018-08-20 05:19 · Score: 1
  
  i said split-screen e-ink and OLED. One half e-ink, the other OLED. Or maybe a foldable split display.
4. Re:e-Ink laptop by Fencepost · 2018-08-20 07:23 · Score: 1
  
  The Pixel Qi screens were supposedly an attempt at something that could be similar to that, at least with some kind of a dual mode that would be readable in bright light in a monochrome(ish) display and usable as color as a normal display.
  
  The company appears to be long gone, the domain has generic businessy content for feeding ads, and there's a link from Wikipedia to a small company in Georgia that may still do custom manufacture of those screens.
  
  --
  fencepost
  just a little off
5. Re:e-Ink laptop by BadDreamer · 2018-08-20 08:56 · Score: 1
  
  The King Jim Pomera DM100 is pretty much that.
  http://pomeradm100guide.com/
  Except it's not really e-reader or general purpose computing. More of a writer's tool. But it has absurd battery life on two AA batteries, and is quite nice for typing and doing simple spreadsheets. As long as you're happy with English and Japanese.
  I really wish something like that but running a light weight Linux would be available. Console only would be perfectly fine for my needs.
6. Re:e-Ink laptop by magarity · 2018-08-20 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  I'd want an e-ink or split-screen e-ink/OLED laptop, frankly. It could be an e-reader and a general-purpose computing device. With the e-ink display, it could have absurd battery life (days to weeks).
  You do know at laptop resolutions the screen refresh rate would be measured in seconds?
7. Re:e-Ink laptop by b0s0z0ku · 2018-08-20 10:09 · Score: 1
  
  Yep, that's fine, I'm not a gamer.
Not exactly suprising by enjar · 2018-08-20 06:09 · Score: 2

I was shopping for a replacement for my long in the tooth and increasingly flaky Fire. I pretty much only used it for reading library books I checked out online. When I compared the feature set of Paperwhite versus Voyage it was truly difficult to come up with anything that made the Voyage worth the extra money. Screen resolution was the same, both had backlights for night reading, both were about the same size, both were about the same weight. Battery life was pretty similar. The Voyage had a bit of an edge on the storage side, but since I only ever store a couple books on the thing it's not a big deal. Finding a refurbished Paperwhite for short money sealed the deal in favor of the Paperwhite.
My only complaint with the Paperwhite is that there isn't a way to access the Overdrive/Libby system from the device itself. Other than that I really enjoy having a device without the ability to browse the web in any meaningful way with very long battery life. Some might say "well, a book can do that", but if it's outside my library's hours, it's hard to go pick one up!
Video killed the radio star by nospam007 · 2018-08-20 06:14 · Score: 1

and the abolition of roaming charges killed the voyage, because we don't need it anymore.
Um, no. by Hallux-F-Sinister · 2018-08-20 06:36 · Score: 1

Kindle Voyage E-reader, 6" High-Resolution Display (300 ppi) with Adaptive Built-in Light, PagePress Sensors, Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers:
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-...
It's still for sale, right now, so... I have no idea what they're talking about. I guess this is like you go to a big box store, and you see they no longer have Campesso Beef with Barley Soup, and you go, OMG, THEY DON'T HAVE BEEF WITH... oh, wait, they just moved it to the end-cap between this aisle and the next. Never mind.
Maybe they are planning to phase them out, or maybe they just have lots more of the other models they'd rather sell, and so they want to steer people towards those other models. Just saying.

--
Our reign has gone on long enough. Indeed. Summon the meteors.
1. Re:Um, no. by enjar · 2018-08-20 07:23 · Score: 1
  
  The link you provided only shows used models.
  Note: This item is only available from third-party sellers (see all offers).
  If you go to the Kindle frontpage on Amazon there are no Voyage models shown in the comparison table.
2. Re:Um, no. by Hallux-F-Sinister · 2018-08-20 07:50 · Score: 1
  
  The link you provided only shows used models.
  Note: This item is only available from third-party sellers (see all offers).
  If you go to the Kindle frontpage on Amazon there are no Voyage models shown in the comparison table.
  Yeah, I was just noticing that. Went to close the tab and saw that it was a page for a bundle, so I went to find the actual device itself, and... came back here to fix this.
  Seems I may have spoken too soon on this one. I'm usually pretty careful to do at least a cursory check before making an assertion like this, so I'm kind of embarrassed that I missed this one. Lo siento mucho, todos.
  HRMmmm... What was the point of the Voyage that justified the extra price verses the Paperwhite? I recall looking at these a year or two ago and not being able to figure it out. Thanks. I think the big diff was automatic light sensing or something. :-/
  
  --
  Our reign has gone on long enough. Indeed. Summon the meteors.
3. Re:Um, no. by enjar · 2018-08-20 07:52 · Score: 1
  
  I had a similar question above from when I was looking to replace a very old and flaky Fire I used for only reading. I couldn't find anything compelling to make the extra money worth it, and chose the Paperwhite.
4. Re:Um, no. by zugmeister · 2018-08-20 17:26 · Score: 1
  
  I went for it for the buttons. It has page turn buttons on either side to go forward / back without having to tap the screen. It's not a bad idea, but they positioned to buttons so they're perfect when it's sitting on a desk in a case. If you're (for instance) holding it in your hand it's still easier to tap on the screen to turn the page. I think it originally had a more even light than the Paperwhite but I'd be surprised if that hasn't been worked out.
ONYX MAX 2 by gDLL · 2018-08-20 07:33 · Score: 1

Have you tried ONYX BOOX MAX 2 ?
Sad. I like it despite its shortcomings by sombragris · 2018-08-20 07:50 · Score: 2

Back in 2015 I purchased a Voyage and is still a trusted companion that gave me hours and hours of reading. I have it always close to me and I try to sneak in a read whenever I can.
If this news is indeed true, the sad part is the PagePress controls, which I love and are very useful to me; the Voyage is the only model to offer them. With its haptic feedback, it felt natural and speedy to me. I was certain it was a win, UX-wise, but looks like I was wrong.
Besides that, it was obvious that the Voyage would be a dud. The price was too high, Amazon did almost no rebates of the price, so the result was clear: it didn't sell.
It also shared almost all the shortcomings of other models in the Kindle lineup: poor battery life (with the possible exception of the Oasis), awful font choices (why invest $$ in an e-reader when you are going to read your books with an ugly, utilitarian font such as Bookerly with no better default options and no chance of supplying your own?), and lack of a case (again, save the Oasis).
I hope they soon lauch something with PagePress and with other drawbacks of the Kindle e-ink lineup removed.

--
-- Look to the Rose that blows about us--"Lo, Laughing," she says, "into the World I blow..."
1. Re:Sad. I like it despite its shortcomings by Shirley+Marquez · 2018-08-21 12:11 · Score: 1
  
  But the second generation Oasis has real buttons. Even better.
  The basic problem with the Voyage is that it's caught in the middle. People who want a fully premium e-reader step up to the Oasis. People who want the mainstream offering buy the Paperwhite, and bargain hunters buy the basic Kindle. The Voyage is the Oldsmobile of the Kindle line and has now suffered the same fate that the car line did.
2. Re:Sad. I like it despite its shortcomings by sombragris · 2018-08-21 16:03 · Score: 1
  
  I understand and agree with what you said. I think that most people see the Oasis' real buttons and think like you: "Even better".
  But I beg to differ with one point: PagePress is much better IMHO. "Real buttons" are great, but I bet PagePress last much longer than real buttons.
  
  --
  -- Look to the Rose that blows about us--"Lo, Laughing," she says, "into the World I blow..."
3. Re:Sad. I like it despite its shortcomings by Shirley+Marquez · 2018-08-23 08:21 · Score: 1
  
  But real buttons don't smudge the screen!
4. Re:Sad. I like it despite its shortcomings by sombragris · 2018-08-25 11:27 · Score: 1
  
  Nothing that a good cover could not fix :)
  
  --
  -- Look to the Rose that blows about us--"Lo, Laughing," she says, "into the World I blow..."
too costly of a model by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 11:27 · Score: 0

250 is just too much for a 6" reader. For that much it better be at least 8". AND no damned ads...
And as a disclaimer i LOVE e-ink. Just this model was stupid.
Re:All darkies must be exterminated by Anonymous Coward · 2018-08-20 23:27 · Score: 0

"Honkies go home." - American Indians, Inuit, Aleuts, and Hawaiians
Confusing if you aren't a Kindle nerd by The+Black+Oak · 2018-08-21 05:17 · Score: 1

I love my kindle and have since day one, so not hating on them I love them, the headline for this however is misleading if you've never heard of the Voyage as the line is written to where it reads as though the kindle is over.
Not a surprise by Shirley+Marquez · 2018-08-21 12:07 · Score: 1

Once the second generation Oasis came out, there wasn't much point to the Voyage. (The first generation Oasis vs the Voyage was less clear because of the limited battery life of the bare Oasis without its battery pack cover.) Just about everybody will either pay the additional money for the clearly superior Oasis, or save some money and buy the Paperwhite.