You can probably still read on it, and, with a few tweaks, you can make it a useful display.
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Earlier this year, Amazon announced that it would end software support for older models of Kindle products, much to the dismay of longtime users. Meanwhile, others have criticized Amazon for contributing to the global e-waste problem by encouraging customers to upgrade from their functional devices to new models. But as of May 20, the company officially ended support for all Kindle devices released before 2013 – which means that customers who have kept their ereaders for more than a decade will now not be able to buy, borrow or download new books on them.
But this does not mean that you necessarily have to get rid of your trusty ereader, even if it is one of the affected models. There are ways to maintain your existing library, load new e-books through alternative methods, or completely rework the device by hacking the display for new uses. So what should you do with an old, old Kindle? Here are some options that don’t involve throwing it away.
Is my old Kindle outdated?
The Kindle first debuted in 2007, and Amazon has since released dozens of models of tablets with paper-like screens for reading books and other media. Starting this year, devices released in 2012 or earlier are no longer supported by Amazon. Affected models include the first Kindle, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4, Kindle Touch, Kindle 5 and the first version of the Kindle Paperwhite. At the time of the announcement, Amazon told Engadget that the decision only affected about 3 percent of its active users and cited updates in technology to make the change. “These models have been supported for at least 14 years – some as long as 18 years – but technology has come a long way in that time,” the company said.
So, will a 14 year old Kindle still work? Yes, technically your device will not be flashed directly. You can continue reading books you have already downloaded as long as you stay logged in. Do not deregister or reset the device, or you will be locked out. Meanwhile, your Amazon account and Kindle library remain fully accessible on other devices and apps, including mobile Kindle apps, the desktop version of Kindle and its web browser counterpart. Devices from 2013 and later, including recent Kindle Paperwhite models, the seventh to twelfth generation entry-level Kindle and premium devices such as Kindle Voyage (released in 2014) will still be able to download newly purchased or borrowed content as usual.
Can I still read with my old Kindle?
Although older models are now unable to download newly purchased or borrowed books, this does not mean that you can no longer read on a pre-2013 device. If you want to keep your old Kindle for reading, you can certainly continue to use it and load it with new content, despite the lack of software support.
The easiest way to do this is through sideloading – using a USB data cable to import files directly instead of Amazon’s “Send to Kindle” feature, which loads content virtually via email or app transfer. To do this, first download Caliber to your computer. This open-source tool is designed to format and transfer ebooks between devices. It also allows you to send personal documents and other PDFs to Kindles. As a side note, many books are available for free as PDFs on Internet repositories such as the Internet Archive’s Open Library and Project Gutenberg. Be sure to keep a backup of PDFs on your computer in case you lose access to files on your Kindle device.
What else to do with an outdated Kindle?
Maybe you’ve upgraded to a new ereader but still want to find a use for your old Kindle. There are a number of relatively easy hacks to repurpose a Kindle. Its display uses power very slowly, so it can last a long time on one charge, making it a great option for electronic clocks, calendars and other dashboards. To do that, you need to set up an external home server with a microcomputer like a Raspberry Pi. Set it to run a companion script, which you can download for free on GitHub, to format your data into a simple grayscale image. Your Kindle will then automatically wake up on a timer, download the fresh image over Wi-Fi and display it.
If, despite all these options, you still want to get rid of your old device, don’t forget to wipe before doing so. To do this, perform a factory reset by going to “Settings” and “Reset to factory defaults”. You can then check local e-waste disposal options to get rid of them, or send them back to Amazon. And if you’re looking to get something new to replace it, Amazon is offering a 20 percent discount for people affected by the recent changes to software support. If you want to ditch Amazon altogether, you can consider a number of ereader alternatives from companies like Boox and Kobo.