I really like the form factor of the Kindle 3 – it seems like an e-ink device with an inbuilt qwerty keyboard might be useful for things like field data entry or other low-power computing functions where daylight readability and long battery life matter. Can I do that with this thing? (Spoiler: Not really).
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Afterthoughts & Addenda
What I originally hoped to do with this device was to be able to browse for online recipes, then (by prefixing the URL with cooked.wiki/) render them into simple one-page views that could be displayed on the screen and taken to the kitchen, and also maybe that I could use some kind of document editor, even a text editor, on the device, using the keyboard for field data entry on a daylight-readable, power-frugal screen.
The keyboard isn't as good as I hoped it would be – that may be why they never implemented text editing on this machine as it would highlight the shortcomings of the keyboard.
Manually loading documents/PDFs/eBooks is still possible, so I could use it for that – even loading recipes, but there are a few additional steps in getting those things onto the device, which is not what I hoped to do.
Registering the device is difficult and requires extra steps because it doesn't support two factor authentication, but I have managed to do it, however registering it is pretty pointless now, as any books or documents I try to send to the device just stay in 'pending' forever – even though the device is talking to the Amazon system – the content just never goes to the device. This is also true of documents emailed to the kindle using Amazon's email to Kindle service – they just never arrive.
There is an experimental web browser on the device, but it's obsolete as it doesn't support SSL (https sites, which is all of them, these days) – also the web browser is really buggy and crashes at the slightest provocation.
What I will do at some future point is probably: buy a modern e-ink device – probably one that runs Android and has a touchscreen, since the whole screen-with-a-little-keyboard form factor of this device is a nicer concept than it is in reality. I will probably still get a monochrome device as these have the best daylight readability without a frontlight.
The perfect background video while I catalogue and clean a pantry cupboard
I am looking forward to seeing your experience with this – I have not yet watched all the video (I need to go to sleep). I have had almost this exact version of Kindle for nearly 15 years. I replaced the battery in it two years ago. It still does what I ask of it – let me read books. I wish they produced an updated version of this – all the latest ones are touch screen, no buttons or keyboards (though there was maybe a recent version with physical page-turn buttons?).
Amazon recently stopped supporting emailing documents and files to the Kindle, which is rather annoying. There are guides for jailbreaking this device, which I think would unlock some functionality – I wanted to do it to install custon screensavers. Ah, the bookmark I had for that guide on HowtoGeek has died – whcih is also frustrating! I wonder if you will go hunting for jailbreaking guides, and that will give me the impetus to finally do it.
I remember getting a Kindle like this one or similar close to launch, I got it with the intention of reading more than I figured out most books on the platform had voiced audio as well as the words so 99.9% of the time I just threw headphones in and listened instead of actually reading lol. I still have it in perfect condition and its def not worth reselling, maybe in 30 years lol!
I got a hand me down k3 that i replaced the battery on, its kinna only good for general resding. I got it to read manga on but the images turn out so small when reading that im better reading on my phone.
i really enjoyed this video though i was a little disheartened that you only thought that publishing it would be of value to 'people putting it on in the background as they sleep'
I enjoy watching people try to troubleshoot or experiment with something they're fluent in, it doesn't matter if the outcome is impressive or just a whole lot of nothing, watching someone competently explore an idea is interesting whether it yields results or not!
I wonder if some enterprising chap has developed a replacement motherboard that talks to the screen, reuses the battery, buttons and so on.
Even just finding a board that runs android or the like and talks to that model screen and 3D-printing out a case. An idea to consider. A lot of those things around with perfectly good screens basically ewaste. Could snag them cheap for parts and turn a profit selling the remanufactured product.
While not the same thing, I have a camping shower, basically a battery operated water pump with a hose attached. I hadn't used it for a couple of years so I thought the battery was completely dead when it wouldn't charge. But I left it plugged in and forgot about it. The next day I was ready for throwing it out when I saw the battery indicator light was on green. The day before it was dead and now fully charged. Maybe yours also needed to trickle charge to get the battery up and running again.
Doesn't this model of Kindle have a built in "Beta" web-browser that can be enabled by poking around deep in the settings? No jail-breaking required? The original Kindle did, and I think later kindles do. So I assume this one does also.
If you log in with an amazon account, you would have avoided half your issues with it being recognised as a test device.
Excellent spudger collection.
At the end of the day, it is usable as a paper weight I suppose…I knew of these things but never had much interest, being proprietary, limited, not at all surprised at what AS concluded.
This was a useful and interesting video, and I did watch the whole thing.
You make excellent background noise, I'm putting together a Metal Earth kit of the Batmobile Tumbler. I'm on step 29. Over a 100 parts of metal and now it's almost finished.
Very timely, I'm waiting for a replacement battery for my Kindle 3, thanks for the tips
12:18 Excessive force? Just sounds like satisfying clicks to me.
I subscribe-ed 😅😂😂
Could try modding it by pulling the board out, put a ESP32 in its place with a 3D printed outer shell if needed, thus you have the keyboard and screen hardware, but your own hardware and software control.
Back when these were new you could get them with a SIM card that Amazon footed the bill for in anticipation that you'd browse and purchase books from them on the go. I never bought a book from them, but used that worldwide 3G coverage to write emails home from China, Iceland, Sweden, Norway…it could only run .html webpages, and those poorly. Sadly, I tested mine in a country that still has 3G last year and it seems Bezos has stopped paying the bill.
There used to be some first party text editors and other apps. Typing was always a bit dire though–not due to key spacing in my case, but rather the screen's abysmal refresh rate.
Pro tip: the alt key turns the top row of letters into numbers, for all your Kindle spreadsheet needs.
I still read bedtime stories to my kid on this device.
Well thank you, that was interesting in spite of itself. A journey with no destination, but glimpses of mysterious scenery. I'm glad you were able to make it usable for its original purpose, so the adventure was worthwhile in its way.
No ending is futile if the journey was fun
Valiant effort Mike, sometimes it's just a no unfortunately!