<![CDATA[Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them]]>Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them

If they don’t, the penalty should be that the CEO has to eat the bricked devices

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/09/amazon-upsets-book-lovers-by-ending-support-for-old-kindles

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/5ad66df7-34b0-41b9-9e19-e33d6d29b222/companies-should-be-required-by-law-to-completely-open-devices-when-they-end-support-for-themRSS for NodeMon, 13 Apr 2026 15:44:24 GMTFri, 10 Apr 2026 00:56:32 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:36:11 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs how about we bring back stoning? Owners of the bricked devices get to play a game of one sided dodge ball with the CEO.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/hohokam/statuses/116381146906753685https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.sdf.org/users/hohokam/statuses/116381146906753685Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:36:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:56:15 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs @foone bonus: fewer toxic components

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/endrift/statuses/116380989893224545https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/endrift/statuses/116380989893224545Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:56:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:34:44 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs by the ass ><

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://piaille.fr/users/martouf/statuses/116380905287175175https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://piaille.fr/users/martouf/statuses/116380905287175175Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:34:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:28:35 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs
“The challenge is that these devices were built for a different era and are not equipped to run newer, more data-hungry services and features,”

pretty sure they're supposed to run books]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toki.melikule.xyz/objects/2a332e74-2917-4684-9137-0d746d6c2fadhttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toki.melikule.xyz/objects/2a332e74-2917-4684-9137-0d746d6c2fadFri, 10 Apr 2026 14:28:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:13:54 GMT]]>@IngaLovinde @drchaos Kindles have dictionaries built-in and have Wikipedia lookup which is really helpful; but the killer feature for e-readers really is notes and highlights (and syncing them around etc.).

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/thomasfuchs/statuses/116380823336096558https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/thomasfuchs/statuses/116380823336096558Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:13:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:07:57 GMT]]>@drchaos @thomasfuchs I'm using e-ink book readers since Sony PRS-500 which in 2006 IIRC was the second commercial e-ink reader ever (the first one being some other Sony device that was only available on Japanese market).
It never occurred to me that they need to have "services" or "features". Although having dictionary support in my current Kobo Aura H2O (released in 2014) is nice.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://embracing.space/users/IngaLovinde/statuses/116380799937850322https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://embracing.space/users/IngaLovinde/statuses/116380799937850322Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:07:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:57:40 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io

This sucks. My 2010 Kindle still works perfectly fine! I should be able to keep using it if I want to.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://app.wafrn.net/fediverse/post/ee5c71c0-6c5a-4730-ad22-964b41676e50https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://app.wafrn.net/fediverse/post/ee5c71c0-6c5a-4730-ad22-964b41676e50Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:57:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:57:16 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io

And it it's a device (or even just software) that requires a centralized service to function, they should have to publish the server code and turn it over to a community custodian/maintainer as well as create easy-to-install packages of the server (e.g., Docker containers with necessary Dockerfiles).

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://blahaj.zone/notes/akwjb4d6b76100oshttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://blahaj.zone/notes/akwjb4d6b76100osFri, 10 Apr 2026 13:57:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:55:18 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs Install your open source like model and stop complaining about it please.
Why do you use that trash????
Each complaint post bout AI I see, is I see you as a simp as well simply set.
You can install yours and run it privately > figure out how as I'm tired to explain it.]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://friendica.rogueproject.org/objects/b71a4a1e-2369-d901-4690-043519450562https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://friendica.rogueproject.org/objects/b71a4a1e-2369-d901-4690-043519450562Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:55:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:55:14 GMT]]>@AG100pct either end is acceptable

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/thomasfuchs/statuses/116380749930829943https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/thomasfuchs/statuses/116380749930829943Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:55:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:53:53 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs to eat bricks

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/DaleOh/statuses/116380744616416856https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/DaleOh/statuses/116380744616416856Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:53:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:45:04 GMT]]>@IngaLovinde @thomasfuchs Yes. I wanted to quote exactly that.
It's a bloody ebook reader. My ancient Kobo that I never activated nor connected to the net works. It helps that I avoid DRM media like the plague it is. Or read dead tree books. They are nicer anyway.
Still: ebooks are really light weight and do not take up a lot of space, nor do they come with computing heavy features. So the reasoning is just... BS

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sauropods.win/users/drchaos/statuses/116380709975434736https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sauropods.win/users/drchaos/statuses/116380709975434736Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:45:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:43:53 GMT]]>@brad I would even let them blend it first.

@magnetichuman @thomasfuchs

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sunny.garden/users/dacmot/statuses/116380705302128236https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sunny.garden/users/dacmot/statuses/116380705302128236Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:43:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:41:09 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs this is what parents are *supposed* to be for; there's exclusivity protection for a reasonable period in exchange for enough information about the patented subject to reproduce and improve it after that period ends.
That it doesn't work that way in reality these days is a large part of why the parent system is so broken.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://meow.social/users/stripey/statuses/116380694585601208https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://meow.social/users/stripey/statuses/116380694585601208Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:41:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:39:08 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs imagine a fridge you bought in 2007 stops accepting any new food you put in it. You can only eat what's already there, but you cannot put anything new inside anymore. Its door literally switches to one-way mode.

That's because the fridge manufacturer ended support for your fridge, because it was built for a different era and is not equipped to run newer, more data-hungry services and features; and ageing hardware could also pose problems.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://embracing.space/users/IngaLovinde/statuses/116380686637793323https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://embracing.space/users/IngaLovinde/statuses/116380686637793323Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:39:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:35:55 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs
The CEO should be forced to take each device as a suppository.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/AG100pct/statuses/116380674029082808https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/AG100pct/statuses/116380674029082808Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:35:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:35:01 GMT]]>@IngaLovinde @thomasfuchs
unless the data hungry services are spyware and ad delivery.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/AG100pct/statuses/116380670469044099https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/AG100pct/statuses/116380670469044099Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:35:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:33:48 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs Another example of corporations forcing their customers to spend money for no good reason.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/EndicottAuthor/statuses/116380665662168167https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/EndicottAuthor/statuses/116380665662168167Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:33:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:07:59 GMT]]>@slackline for mine it works. to be honest i never used the kindle store in my kindle, i only ever copied files directly to it by plugging it to the computer or used the kindle email function which is quite convenient. i'll have to see what happens!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.uy/users/budin/statuses/116380564128725142https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.uy/users/budin/statuses/116380564128725142Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:07:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:06:35 GMT]]>@foobarry @thomasfuchs i don't know 😞 but i guess it's likely that at least some use can still be had out of them. ideally someone finds out how to install something else on them and keep using them, but i've never checked if that's possible

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.uy/users/budin/statuses/116380558681000570https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.uy/users/budin/statuses/116380558681000570Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:06:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:55:34 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs Absolutely. I have the Kindle Keyboard (2010) that's still going strong, after a battery replacement ($20 or something?). There should be significant laws against this constant e-waste churn, on top of everything else.

I guess I could root it and look at KOReader, or stick it in airplane mode and copy files via cable. What's worrying is that you can't factory reset it after this deadline.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/tehstu/statuses/116380515366816165https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/tehstu/statuses/116380515366816165Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:55:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:54:05 GMT]]>@Eatsbluecrayon @thomasfuchs well if I'm going to live in a walled garden I would rather it not be owned by a billionaire. I do like your other approach 🦜

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/115940330255747737/statuses/116380509491974731https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/115940330255747737/statuses/116380509491974731Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:54:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:50:59 GMT]]>@thomasfuchs The best alternative is to buy a real book, it is almost the same price than a kindle book, does not require technical support or any DRM restricted implementation software. Just a simple book

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/richintheflow/statuses/116380497304551997https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/richintheflow/statuses/116380497304551997Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:50:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Companies should be required by law to completely open devices when they end support for them on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:33:14 GMT]]>@budin @thomasfuchs Check out whether you can use Calibre to get ebooks onto the device.

https://calibre-ebook.com/

Works fine for my Kobo.

(Although I refuse to use versions >8.9.0 because of the introduction of "AI" features)

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/slackline/statuses/116380427535537450https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/slackline/statuses/116380427535537450Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:33:14 GMT