Jailbreaks will be overridden on modern Kindle firmwares unless you install an additional extension to prevent updates.

I use the "renameotabin" extension and enable Wi-Fi from time to time to load books from FTP via Koreader. It has been 3 years since I jailbroke it, and there have been no resets for me.

See https://kindlemodding.org/jailbreaking/post-jailbreak/disabl...

Depending on your firmware version, most jailbreak guides will have you either create an empty directory with the same name as the OTA firmware file (causing any OTA downloads to fail) or install an extension called `renameotabin` which renames the binaries responsible for performing the update, rendering them inaccessible.

source: https://kindlemodding.org/jailbreaking/post-jailbreak/disabl...

Worth noting that kobo devices are not locked down at all and run linux. They’re very easy to build for.

This is a great point. Back when I was checking I think I was underwhelmed by the customization ecosystem for kobos but now I’m not sure what was stopping me/made me reconsider.

Upon further inspection there is also the Pine Note!

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46283016

https://pine64.org/devices/pinenote/

It’s quite pricey but certainly more straightforward in its offering.

Kobo is the cheaper and has a color option and is likely slightly less hackable.

[EDIT] Ah, I think this is what I found:

https://github.com/Quill-OS/quill

Kobo’s switch to secure boot made things harder for Quill which seemed to be the only custom OS.

I've been using one of the Kobo Clara devices running Plato (built in Rust) for a few years now. Other than a couple of minor bugs early on, I've had no issues.

It's largely the exact device that I want my book reader to be:

* Small and lightweight

* Nice epaper screen

* No need for an internet connection whatsoever

* Natively understands EPUB

* Just reads books -- no ads, no markets, no apps, no upsell

The built-in Kobo firmware isn't great. IIRC Rakuten/Walmart hoover up and sell your reading habits, etc. Hence one reason why I don't connect mine to the internet (running Plato probably fixes this, but restarting the device doesn't immediately go into Plato). The device is also weirdly sluggish with the default Kobo software, and much faster in Plato.

I'm done with the kindle ecosystem, except for one last jailbroken kindle that I use for reading, but once that dies it's nice to know options.

Open source software, open (to the owners) with default configs, open ecosystems, repairability, hackability, open hardware are all factors I look for across multiple devices now. routers & wifi, readers, phones, headphones, laptops, keyboards, etc..

They don't always have to hit every element - but the more they cover, the more likely I am to track and purchase them when the time comes.

One of my biggest regrets is not jailbreaking my kindle before it auto updated last year

Live has been kind to you ;)

If you want to make sure to block Amazon, use: https://github.com/Darthagnon/kindle-kual-blockamazon and also one of the Kindle software update blockers here: https://github.com/Darthagnon/BlockKindleOTA

I have a jailbroken Kindle that's connected to Wifi (and theoretically has access to the internet). No problems for three years now