Amazon has told owners it will soon stop supporting older Kindle models - a move which has left some users outraged. In emails from the tech giant, affected users were thanked for being a 'longtime Kindle customer' but told devices released during or before 2012 will no longer receive updates from 20 May.
The move will mean owners of older Kindles, including its earliest models such as the Kindle Touch and some Kindle Fire tablets, will be unable to download new e-books. Amazon said it has supported affected models for years and their active users have been offered discounts to help 'transition to newer devices', but some have criticised it for making up to two million devices 'obsolete'.
'I have a Kindle Touch that I've had since 2013, it works great, I bought a book on it a few months ago, and suddenly it's obsolete,' one user wrote, tagging Amazon. Another frustrated user described the Kindle as 'probably one of the most low-tech devices ever made' and questioned why Amazon was discontinuing its support for it, emphasizing 'A Kindle is a text device! There is no need for updates.'
The affected Kindle models include the Kindle 1st Generation (2007), Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard (2010), and the first generation of Kindle Fire tablets released in 2011 and 2012. Users will still be able to read previously downloaded e-books, and their accounts and Kindle Library will remain accessible via mobile and desktop apps. However, Amazon cautioned that performing a factory reset on affected Kindles will render them unusable.
The move has sparked e-waste concerns, with estimates suggesting the decision could lead to 624 tons of electronic waste.
Despite the backlash, Amazon maintains that the decision is necessary as technology has advanced significantly since the launch of these devices, and they aim to prioritize security and support for current models.
The move will mean owners of older Kindles, including its earliest models such as the Kindle Touch and some Kindle Fire tablets, will be unable to download new e-books. Amazon said it has supported affected models for years and their active users have been offered discounts to help 'transition to newer devices', but some have criticised it for making up to two million devices 'obsolete'.
'I have a Kindle Touch that I've had since 2013, it works great, I bought a book on it a few months ago, and suddenly it's obsolete,' one user wrote, tagging Amazon. Another frustrated user described the Kindle as 'probably one of the most low-tech devices ever made' and questioned why Amazon was discontinuing its support for it, emphasizing 'A Kindle is a text device! There is no need for updates.'
The affected Kindle models include the Kindle 1st Generation (2007), Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard (2010), and the first generation of Kindle Fire tablets released in 2011 and 2012. Users will still be able to read previously downloaded e-books, and their accounts and Kindle Library will remain accessible via mobile and desktop apps. However, Amazon cautioned that performing a factory reset on affected Kindles will render them unusable.
The move has sparked e-waste concerns, with estimates suggesting the decision could lead to 624 tons of electronic waste.
Despite the backlash, Amazon maintains that the decision is necessary as technology has advanced significantly since the launch of these devices, and they aim to prioritize security and support for current models.
