Kindle 2.3 update

[Susan in VA]

Still no update for me...  WN on for well over a week now....  no hacks....  <sniff> did Amazon forget me?

[artsandhistoryfan]

Based on my observations, the non-international Kindle 2 DOES get battery improvements (when online) with the update...

So this change applies to Kindle 2's whether international or not.

Oh my goodness.  You made that statement based on your own  perceptions of your situation?

  BOTH my Kindle and DX have shorter battery life since the update.   But for me, it's one of those things.  I figured maybe it's doing a lot more these days underneath  :-)

As I understand it, the international Kindles had especially bad battery life because of the nature of the AT&T wireless, and the improvement between really awful battery life and decent battery life on the international Kindles makes the difference really noticeable. But I find a distinct improvement on the non-international Kindles as well.  

  These both were speculations/conjecture by one blogger and, to my mind, a case of wishful thinking.   It's so easy for speculation to become Word.  It started with a misinterpretation of a paragraph (but for all we know Amazon forgot to include the 'domestic' designation and it wasn't a misinterpretation, but Amazon has not said a thing).  And this theory would have made that reading of what Amazon didn't write, correct, and assumes Amazon just didn't want domestic Kindle users to know they get the improvement too (it would be one if battery life were extended to 7 days). 

  Re AT&T, the NYTimes has an interesting article today re AT&T, saying that the probs have not been due to AT&T but something in the process of the iPhone interacting with AT&T.

   If the premise you mention getting were valid, everyone's Kindle 2's would now get about 7 days
with wireless On.  I don't think so.  The only common much-reported after-effect is slower handling of file-opening and some movement processes -- and these may be due to a slow re-indexing of entire Kindles (if so, I wish they'd tell people).  Others report battery drain probs.

   I can't know what the rest of the Kindle world is experiencing quietly, but I haven't read
of people suddenly getting a week with wireless On.  This is what would happen if the bad-Int'l Kindle battery interaction as speculated were brought up to par with the domestic model's situation.

I installed the improvement and didn't wait for it to happen automatically; it's very easy.

  I agree.  But some people have less experience with working with a computer and file/folder systems so it's less easy for some of them.  Some find it's easier than they thought, others are begging for help on the forums after trying to do it and just not getting their Kindles updated.

[Pushka]

  These both were speculations/conjecture by one blogger and, to my mind, a case of wishful thinking.   It's so easy for speculation to become Word.  

Ain't that the truth.  I have found this with the media, and (Australian) politicans as well.  They wish for something, find one piece of soft evidence for it, ignore hard evidence that disputes it, and suddenly we have "Facts".

[HedgeHog]

Still no update for me...  WN on for well over a week now....  no hacks....  <sniff> did Amazon forget me?

You're not alone. I've had mine on continuously since receiving the email notice form Amazon that the update would be coming. Nada. Zilch. I still get the daily Amazon news updates so I know that my WN is working.  Only thing I can figure is I had my original K2 replaced back in March due to the fading screen in the sun problem. Just wondering if the replacements are the ones not being updated. I know I can download and install it myself but was just waiting (patiently?) to see how long it would take. Not sure how much longer I'll wait.

[HedgeHog]

BTW, Mine still says that I'm on the 2.0.3 update which means that I guess I never even got the 2.0.4 one!

[Shastastan]

BTW, Mine still says that I'm on the 2.0.3 update which means that I guess I never even got the 2.0.4 one!

Yeah, I don't understan that either.  I bought my K2 in Aug. and the 2.04 update came automatically.  My wife got her K2 in Sept. and it was 2.03 and never update.  I did the current update for both manually since making sure they were both on overnight to receive the update.  It was easier to just do it myself.  It does not appear that there is a system of consistency, IMHO.

[Anju No. 469]

Well my battery life has not increased at all.  I am having to charge every few days, but I don't let it get below half.  I do read a lot, several hours a day, but I would think the battery life would be better on a K2i anyway, that is only a month or so old.

[Varin]

If I could go back to the previous version, I think I would...

My DX has been working very slowly for me... page turns seem faster but everything is working a lot slower than I remembered it before the update...

I don't know what it is but I hope the next update cleans up the code or whatever it is that makes my kindle act this way!

[Shastastan]

If I could go back to the previous version, I think I would...

My DX has been working very slowly for me... page turns seem faster but everything is working a lot slower than I remembered it before the update...

I don't know what it is but I hope the next update cleans up the code or whatever it is that makes my kindle act this way!

My K2 does seem faster, especially page turns.  I have no clue about the battery life, though.  I get a couple of blogs, but WN is only on for a couple of minutes.

[LauraB]

Well my battery life has not increased at all.  I am having to charge every few days, but I don't let it get below half.  I do read a lot, several hours a day, but I would think the battery life would be better on a K2i anyway, that is only a month or so old.

From what CS told me the battery life on the k2i on shows improvement with whispernet on. Mine goes to about 3/4 in 36 hours. So, I can't see it making a week. I only do the Kindle store maybe once a day, never use web browser (for anything but the store) and only have 1 weekly mag., one biweekly mag and two blogs. So I don't think it would be "going home'" searching for updates often enough to cause the drain.  Or, maybe what I get would last a week, I just haven't tried it yet.

Anarel, my Dx got slower after the update, then I reindexed  per Buffo Calvins instructions on the Amazon forum and it really helped.

[Rayne]

Finally recieved the update!  I happened to be in the Kindle Store, on the Kindle Daily Post when the screen all of a sudden said it was updating; I was just about to get it manually too.  Maybe being there helped me get it faster? lol

Anyway, I love the new rotatation, it gives me an excuse to get a third cover. (I'm getting my second one for xmas)   

[kevindorsey]

This has to be the weirdest update of all.  How come people get them so randomnly?

[Rayne]

Yeah, it is strange.  My previous version was 2.0.3, I never recieved the 2.0.4. Didn't even know there was a 2.0.4 until I read this thread.  Usually, I've gotten updated right away.  And I have no hacks.

Maybe due to the upcoming holidays?? 

[markel]

Battery life is still dependent on the signal itself. The harder the Kindle has to search for a 3G signal, the more battery power it expends. I haven't looked since my area gets a good 3G signal, but if you are in an area that doesn't - if there is a way to turn 3G off, it will extend battery life.

I have found a noticeable increase in loading a book and turning a page with the update. I truly hope they issue another one that brings this back to the way it was.

[drenee]

Left my WN on overnight by accident.  I was updated this morning. 
Called my mom, who is not a member of KB, hers is updated.  Not sure when hers happened.
deb

[Susan in VA]

Still on 2.0.3 here.... 

[Toby]

I got mine this week. Love the rotation, darker contrast, seems faster, new screensavers, & louder TTS sound. I still would like having my battery last longer, but I am always downloading samples & books, so maybe my indexing is affecting my battery besides using the TTS. I think the TTS uses more battery, but don't know for sure if that is so. What's missing is the choice of male/female voice, speed, etc, but that doesn't bother me as I used the male voice at default setting. Oh, I have the K2, USA version.

[Susan in VA]

What's missing is the choice of male/female voice, speed, etc, but that doesn't bother me as I used the male voice at default setting. 

What?!?  This is the first I've heard that the update removes that choice.  Can someone else confirm this, or is this some glitch on Toby's Kindle?

[ak rain]

male and female on mine or OK I have update K2 usa
sylvia

[tsemple]

What?!?  This is the first I've heard that the update removes that choice.  Can someone else confirm this, or is this some glitch on Toby's Kindle?

TTS must be turned on before you can change the options. Otherwise they are greyed out.

[Prazzie]

I think the TTS uses more battery.

This is definitely true.  Without wireless on, normal use of the K2 should see the battery lasting 2 weeks (normal use being reading on it a couple of hours per day, rather than hitting next page all day long).  With TTS activated, battery life is depleted to about one day.

[Leslie]

What?!?  This is the first I've heard that the update removes that choice.  Can someone else confirm this, or is this some glitch on Toby's Kindle?

I still have both.

L

[Leslie]

With all the new updates for the K2, I am unhappy that I purchased the KDX for a lot more money.  I bought the KDX primarily for its pdf ability and landscape screen.  Now that the K2 does all that, I feel I got ripped off in the price.  If I had known that the K2 would have had the same features, I would have purchased a K2 for over $200 less.  I have decided NOT to buy another Kindle until Amazon finally decides what features and prices they are going to settle on for their products.

Hubby loves his Kindle, but I have given up on getting another one and am reading on my iPod Touch and computer instead.  At least I feel I got my money's worth on both of them. 

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I thought a major factor in your decision to buy the DX was your concern about the screen fading in the sun with the K2. I know I read many posts from you on that issue, trying to confirm that it wasn't a problem with the DX.

L

[artsandhistoryfan]

With all the new updates for the K2, I am unhappy that I purchased the KDX for a lot more money.  I bought the KDX primarily for its pdf ability and landscape screen.  Now that the K2 does all that, I feel I got ripped off in the price.  If I had known that the K2 would have had the same features, I would have purchased a K2 for over $200 less.  I have decided NOT to buy another Kindle until Amazon finally decides what features and prices they are going to settle on for their products.

   "Settle for" ?  And you really would be happier if they never upgraded units for us retroactively?   
So, others complain when Amazon DOESN'T add new capabilities but you feel they ripped you off by adding some in previously sold units?   

   In this real world, just how do you even read most of those PDFs on the K2 ?  I'm glad to have the capability so I can see what the layout was like, but on a 6" I more often than not will convert a copy of the PDF so I can actually read the text.  We were given an added option.

   I do remember that you liked the readability of the DX (which has a really strong display that still knocks me out).

Hubby loves his Kindle, but I have given up on getting another one and am reading on my iPod Touch and computer instead.  At least I feel I got my money's worth on both of them. 

   Why don't you just sell your DX ?   You'd probably get close to full price on it.
  They are out of stock for probably at least 4-6 weeks and most people won't be aware that MAYBE Amazon is coming out with a global version next... (I'd keep mine since Sprint is better for me than AT&T in San Francisco area and I don't travel out of the country that often and if I do go abroad I could download to the netbook to save money.)

   Really, if you can be this upset over enhancements sent over the wire, please sell it to someone who'll appreciate it since you don't feel it's worth it.  I have read lots of posts by others who wanted one this week but they now can't get any, not even refurbished. 

[Luvmy4brats]

With all the new updates for the K2, I am unhappy that I purchased the KDX for a lot more money.  I bought the KDX primarily for its pdf ability and landscape screen.  Now that the K2 does all that, I feel I got ripped off in the price.  If I had known that the K2 would have had the same features, I would have purchased a K2 for over $200 less.  I have decided NOT to buy another Kindle until Amazon finally decides what features and prices they are going to settle on for their products.

Hubby loves his Kindle, but I have given up on getting another one and am reading on my iPod Touch and computer instead.  At least I feel I got my money's worth on both of them. 

I think that because the features of the KDX were so popular, they worked hard to make them available for the K2. That's something that's very common in technology. If you feel ripped off, you should sell your DX and buy a K2. But reading a PDF on a 6" screen isn't nearly as nice as reading it on a 9" screen. The extra cost of the DX wasn't  for those features, it's for the screen size. I'm sure that the K3 is going to have features that the K2 doesn't have. each version is going to have improvements. Does this mean you'll never buy another Kindle? Is this really any different than buying a computer and 6 months later they've come out with one twice as fast with double the memory?