Kindle 2.3 update

[Jesslyn]

Just saw a post by a programmer who speculates (after "poking" thru the code) that this update prevents unsigned/authorized updates from being applied--thus removing the ability to re-add the screensaver and font hacks.
Is it me or doesn't that remark make the Amazon programmers seem pretty mean-spirited? 

[marianneg]

I tried the PDF reader with the Uglies PDF ebook that was free from the publisher a while back.  It actually looks better than I expected.  The text was relatively large to begin with - looks like it might have been formatted for a mass-market paperback edition.  Those that read on a high font size aren't going to be thrilled, but it works for me.  No annotations or highlighting, of course, nor dictionary lookups from the text, but not too shabby if you're just going to be reading and have good eyes.

[Pushka]

Just saw a post by a programmer who speculates (after "poking" thru the code) that this update prevents unsigned/authorized updates from being applied--thus removing the ability to re-add the screensaver and font hacks

Amazon did the same with the K2 International, but it only took a couple of weeks to work it out.

[meglet]

I don't know if it's mean-spirited, I can certainly understand the need/desire to protect what they've created by only allowing signed updates.

But I'll wait a while before installing the update to see if someone manages to fix the screensaver hack. I can live without PDF support a while longer, I can't stand to go back to the horrible standard screensavers.

[altompkins]

Just downloaded Kindle 2.3 Update.  Installed in just a few minutes and it automatically restarted.  Haven't tried the native PDF stuff, but the landscape mode(s) are neat.  Used the browser and pages are really easier to read.  Even books can go landscape/  I like the option.  Now we wait for folders.

[Gayle]

If Amazon fills its promise to provide some sort of "filing" system, they will build on this update.  So, the font and screensaver hacks we have in place will be moot then anyway.

[Pushka]

If Amazon fills its promise to provide some sort of "filing" system, they will build on this update.  So, the font and screensaver hacks we have in place will be moot then anyway.

That is true.  But I reckon the folders are a way off yet.  And people are very clever.

[Leslie]

I love the font hack, though. I can't imagine going back to the original fonts.

I could care less about the screensavers, in fact, I am looking at Oscar, Harriet, Edgar et al. and I don't even notice them anymore.

So...I am guessing that I'll never get the upgrade automatically if I have the font hack installed? Has anyone verified this? Right now I am at 2.0.3.

L

[Annalog]

If Amazon fills its promise to provide some sort of "filing" system, they will build on this update.  So, the font and screensaver hacks we have in place will be moot then anyway.

It looks as if this update will make the code on most of the versions of the Kindle the same, with the exception of the original Kindle. That should make coding a consistent organization system on the three latest versions of the Kindle easier.

However, it also makes me suspect that either the original Kindle will get a different organization feature or none at all. 

[LauraB]

I updated my K2I manually from the support page took less than 2 minutes. I don't want to wait for whispernet because I am one of those it takes a week to roll out to, or always has, since the long old days of KK. Everytime I'm 4 days to a week out via whispernet and I want the battery life and the land scape mode. The portrait mode works on all type files, just like the DX, via the font choice menu. I like it.
 I also own a DX, but don't do any PDF, so I'm not going to bother with the DX update, I don't think, because I don't think the battery life update is on the DX, is it? And as I said I don't do PDF's so it isn't worth removing the font hack for this update, to me anyway. 

[Gayle]

That is true.  But I reckon the folders are a way off yet.  And people are very clever.

You're absolutely right there.  It didn't take them long to work around the K2i font hack.  So, they shouldn't have too much trouble working around this one either.  At least, that's what I hope will happen...

It looks as if this update will make the code on most of the versions of the Kindle the same, with the exception of the original Kindle. That should make coding a consistent organization system on the three latest versions of the Kindle easier.

However, it also makes me suspect that either the original Kindle will get a different organization feature or none at all.  

I agree.  

I love the font hack, though. I can't imagine going back to the original fonts.

I could care less about the screensavers, in fact, I am looking at Oscar, Harriet, Edgar et al. and I don't even notice them anymore.

So...I am guessing that I'll never get the upgrade automatically if I have the font hack installed? Has anyone verified this? Right now I am at 2.0.3.

L

I enjoyed the font hack also.  Like you, the screensavers are immaterial to me.  So I hope they will be able to provide us with another font hack soooooooonnnn.

[Annalog]

I love the font hack, though. I can't imagine going back to the original fonts.

I could care less about the screensavers, in fact, I am looking at Oscar, Harriet, Edgar et al. and I don't even notice them anymore.

So...I am guessing that I'll never get the upgrade automatically if I have the font hack installed? Has anyone verified this? Right now I am at 2.0.3.

L

My Kindle has version 2.0.3 and has never had any hacks of any variety installed. It has not yet updated automatically (although an earlier update did happen automatically). I will probably install this update from the download as I am very curious to see how PDF files of origami diagrams will look on my K2.

[Pushka]

It's funny, isnt it, the different things that bother us!  The screensavers were a real pet peeve of mine and I couldnt wait to get rid of them, I think because they were not selected by me!  I never have the preset savers on my laptop or phone - I have to have the one that I chose.  The font hack - not as big a deal but I do like the one I have now.  I reckon within a week people will have worked out what to do - they are quite competitive these programmers!

[Shastastan]

My Kindle has version 2.0.3 and has never had any hacks of any variety installed. It has not yet updated automatically (although an earlier update did happen automatically). I will probably install this update from the download as I am very curious to see how PDF files of origami diagrams will look on my K2.

Thanks for your post.  I was wondering if something was wrong with my K2.  I have ver. 2.0.4 and my wife has ver. 2.0.3.  We are confused about this since her K2 is a couple of months newer than mine.  I had WN on for awhile.  A new book and my blog updated, but no firmware updates.  I guess I'll just wait a few days to see what happens.  Maybe they are hoping for folks to update via their pcs and have less traffic over WN?

[Ann in Arlington]

I'm going to leave my DX plugged in with the WN on overnight tonight. . . . .if it hasn't come down tomorrow, perhaps I'll do it manually.

[mlewis78]

The author screensavers were fine for me until after I joined Kindleboards.  

The font hack is more important to me though.  I'm going to wait and not get the update now.

[Jo]

Has anyone tried to move a PDF that has DRM on it. I had a free download of a book in PDF form that has DRM. When I moved it over it show up on the Kindle as PDF but when I try to access it an error message comes up "your kindle has encountered an unexpected error. If the problem persist, please restart your kindle."

[Ann in Arlington]

It is unlikely that the Kindle will correctly display anything that has non-Amazon DRM. . .no matter the format. . . . . .

[chilady1]

Not everyone gets the updates right away.  I think Amazon sends out the updates in waves as oppose to all at once.  So where some get it day 1, others might not get it until day 2 or 3.  I could be wrong but based on when I hear people getting the updates it appears to be rolling.

[Chris W]

I was reading the Amazon support page, mostly to see how the new update would bring the K2 in line with my DX, when I realized the update was for both devices. I started to get my USB cable ready, but I checked my DX, and there was version 2.3 already downloaded through Whispernet. I tend to leave wireless on all the time, so I'll be interested in seeing if the update improves my battery life.

[scarlet]

My kindle and my computer have never met (never had any reason to), so does this mean I have no other option but to introduce them to get the update?

[chilady1]

My kindle and my computer have never met (never had any reason to), so does this mean I have no other option but to introduce them to get the update?

No, just leave your WhisperNet on and you should receive the update automatically.  Keep in mind, if you have either the screensaver or font hack, or both, then the update will not occur automatically.  You have to remove both from the Kindle before the update will process.

[Leslie]

My kindle and my computer have never met (never had any reason to), so does this mean I have no other option but to introduce them to get the update?

If you can be patient, it should show up automatically sometime in the next few weeks (according to what I just read at Amazon) when you turn the WN on. Of course, if you have any of the hacks installed, it might not show up. That's what I am trying to ascertain and I don't have a definitive answer yet.

L

[scarlet]

If you can be patient, it should show up automatically sometime in the next few weeks (according to what I just read at Amazon) when you turn the WN on. Of course, if you have any of the hacks installed, it might not show up. That's what I am trying to ascertain and I don't have a definitive answer yet.

L

I don't have any hacks installed and yeah, I can be patient, since I don't use the kindle for any PDF files. 

Thanks.

[Annalog]

It's funny, isnt it, the different things that bother us!  The screensavers were a real pet peeve of mine and I couldnt wait to get rid of them, I think because they were not selected by me!  I never have the preset savers on my laptop or phone - I have to have the one that I chose.  The font hack - not as big a deal but I do like the one I have now.  I reckon within a week people will have worked out what to do - they are quite competitive these programmers!

Yes it is. I don't install screensavers on my computers either as I normally use the None or Blank Screen screensavers. I find movement on the screen very distracting. Since I normally don't spend much time looking at my Kindle when the screensaver is on (except when waiting for updates   ), the default screensaver pictures don't bother me. However, it would be nice to put pictures of my granddaughter's there instead.   Fortunately I haven't needed the font hack as I am nearsighted and can easily read the smallest font on the Kindle if I take off my glasses. I even use the smallest font on the Web browser page.

I downloaded and installed the update and then put 51 PDFs that I had in my Origami folder on my computer. I checked 4 and they have been readable either in portrait or landscape. A  problem I found with the ones I checked in landscape mode has been when a specific diagram does not fit on the section of the screen currently visible. However, when the Kindle went backwards on a page (prev page), I was usually able to see a different 'cut' of the page. YEAH!

I miss not being able to add notes to PDFs. Maybe in a future update.  

I did notice that the version of the Kindle is now displayed on the right instead of the left.

Also, line spacing is still available on my Kindle after the Words per Line was added. I wonder if the Kindle DX will now have adjustable line spacing?

It is possible that the font is darker but I am not certain.

For me, this update has been all positive so far.

(EDIT: Other than now bringing my Home list up to 46 pages when showing all items (6 pages Personal Docs, 40 pages Books)! Eagerly waiting for more organization features.  )