New Tailscale Tricks for Your Jailbroken Kindle and E-Readers
More Tailscale tricks for your jailbroken Kindle
I am thrilled to share updated Tailscale implementations for jailbroken Kindles that unlock powerful new capabilities. These improvements include default SSH access, a proxy mode for apps like KOReader to reach Calibre servers, and full TUN mode support on select devices. This community-driven code transforms your e-reader into a versatile thin client, allowing seamless connectivity across your tailnet for reading, syncing, and even remote management.
Is there a pleasant warmth, knowing that you've added the least likely thin client to your what-if kit?
- benterris
KOReader (mentioned in the article, an alternative OSS interface you can install on most ereaders) is really a marvellous piece of software. I was not sure about setting it up at first, fearing it would drain battery out of my Kobo and whatnot, but I never had any issue with it. The amount of stuff you can customize to your liking has no limit and I feel I have reached the endgame of reading comfort. If you own an ereader, I highly recommend installing it. I'm happy and grateful people spend time developing and maintaining it without being paid!
- kioleanu
I’ve just jailbroken my Kindle this week. I have a Paperwhite 7th Generation and my biggest problem was that I didn’t have dark mode on it. Turns out the only reason that is is because Amazon didn’t want me to have it. Maybe maybe I’ll buy a new device. KOReader has no problem with dark mode and is much faster and snappier than the Kindle software.
What’s funnier is that both my son and my wife have the Paperwhite 10th generation, but only my wife’s device has dark mode. Same exact device, different software depending on when it was bought.
The second major reason for Jailbreaking is that KOReader can do DRM through a plugin so I was finally able to loan out ebooks from my library. No need for a new device, the 10 year old one works extremely well with the right software
- vachina
You guys should just get the millions of other uncucked ebook readers than doing somersaults with your Kindle just to read some ePub.
- mlitwiniuk
Ok, this one crosses the bar - time to jailbreak my Kindle.
On days when I don't vibe-code (or code less), I get this withdrawal-like feeling (lack of dopamine?), and I tend to spend too much time watching dumb X posts or striving for anything that ticks my nerves. Actually, I could use this time to catch up on my RSS queue.
- parolee
Kind of a hijack comment, but since RSS was mentioned - Do you guys have some recommendations for ereader friendly feeds? Content like r/longreads is what comes to mind.
- 1shooner
Between KOReader, SSH, and Tailscale, something completely wrecked the battery life of my Kindle Oasis, and introduced frequent reboots/crashes. That was a previous implementation, maybe things have improved.
- totetsu
Even if your kindle is on older firmware that doesn’t have some of the kernel extensions needed by Tailscale to create the .. TUN ? Type network interface, you can still kind of get it working in the user space mode with .. -tun -userspace-networking
And then I see my koreader calibre is pointing at localhost:8081.. so maybe there was a proxy?
It’s been a while since I set it up. But it’s possible
- Lammy
You will probably also want to add `--no-logs-no-support` (don't mind the FUD-y argument name) to the scripted invocation of `tailscaled` here: https://github.com/victoria-riley-barnett/koreader-tailscale...
Otherwise Tailscale (the company) will be collecting your behavioral metadata every time you use your Kindle (what other hosts it connects to, on what ports, connection open and close timestamps, etc): https://tailscale.com/docs/features/logging#opt-out-of-clien...
Yes obviously the actual connection contents are encrypted, but ”just metadata” tells a whole heck of a lot about you: https://kieranhealy.org/blog/archives/2013/06/09/using-metad...