2.5 update = 2.5.2!

[geoffthomas]

I removed the hacks.
And I turned WN on all the time.
Then I realized that this may not happen for several weeks yet.
So I leave WN on when I am at home at night and know that I can re-charge at will.

I am looking forward to collections.
I only have the one K2 (domestic).
And the software for the PC.

Just sayin....

[nogdog~6op6ou]

At first I was sort of caught up in the excitement and removed the hacks from my K2. Last night I gave it more thought, and put the hacks back on.

• Collections: Organize your books and documents into one or more collections.

~ Eh...is this really that big a deal? I can't imagine worrying about it that much, but your mileage may vary. I only plan to keep books on my K2 that I plan to read or re-read sometime in the reasonably foreseeable future, not my entire e-book library.

• PDF Pan and Zoom: Zoom into PDFs and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics.

~ Sounds good, but I've not really had a reason to read any PDF's yet.

• Password Protection: Password protect your Kindle when you're not using it.

~ Good idea, but not a big must-have-right-now issue to me.

• More Fonts & Improved Clarity: Enjoy two new larger font sizes and sharper fonts for an even more comfortable reading experience.

~ I'm quite happy with my Georgia2 font hack, thank you.

• Facebook & Twitter Posts: Share book passages with friends on Facebook and Twitter directly from your Kindle.

~ Eh...I can easily live without this.

• Popular Highlights: See what the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you're reading.

~ Eh...I can even more easily live without this.

So at this point, while I'm looking forward to the update, I think I'll just wait for the main release with the direct download link, as well as for the 2.5-compatible hacks. Then I'll be ready to update.

[thorn]

Since 28 April. Seriously.

And now that I've turned in the paper I was working on in between Kindle-checks, I will begin to pace.

But maybe I can just be patient and finally read that Dorothy Sayers that's been calling me since my class began in January.

[Edge]

At first I was sort of caught up in the excitement and removed the hacks from my K2. Last night I gave it more thought, and put the hacks back on.

Different strokes for different folks. I'm looking forward to this update for many reasons.

• Collections: Organize your books and documents into one or more collections.

~ This is a HUGE deal for me. I use my K2 for work and play. I can't wait to organize my word docs (I work for a tech writing/training development company and I have to review LOTS of documents. LOTS and LOTS. lol. I also love to read and typically have around 20-30 different books and magazines I like to be able to choose from depending on my mood, how much time I have to read, etc. Organizing all of these into folders will really make life easy on me when I sometimes have over 200 docs on my K2.

• PDF Pan and Zoom: Zoom into PDFs and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics.

~ At work, I live in PDF's. This is going to be HUGE for me. As for play, I play D&D, and it'll be nice to use my PDF character sheets and reference materials on the Kindle.

• Password Protection: Password protect your Kindle when you're not using it.

~ I work with sensitive data that typically I can't use on the K2 because it has no security. My writers are writing user guides, tech manuals, white papers, etc for products that are oftentimes 1+ year out from release and even announce. Having the ability to secure my K2 will allow me to use it even more!

• More Fonts & Improved Clarity: Enjoy two new larger font sizes and sharper fonts for an even more comfortable reading experience.

~ I love the font hack I was using (Georgia2 as well) but I am curious to see what the native font improvements are going to be. Ideally, I'd love to use the K2 sans-hacks if they can "get it right."

• Facebook & Twitter Posts: Share book passages with friends on Facebook and Twitter directly from your Kindle.

~ I have to admit I'm looking forward to this. I use FB to connect with former classmates, former Marines I've served with, and to keep track of what my kids and cousins are writing. My friends locally use Twitter as a means of planning outings, meeting up last-minute, etc.

• Popular Highlights: See what the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you're reading.

~ This is another feature I can also easily live without, but I plan on trying it out.

As for having WN on, I removed all hacks and have had WN on since the first reports of 2.5 were heard. My wife's K2 and my daughter's K2 are also on WN 24/7 awaiting 2.5.

[Annalog]

I'm pretty bummed. I have a bunch of PDFs that I need to read for class but fear I won't get the update until it's posted online.

I have a DXi and a USK2 and despite having full wireless signal and no problem shopping in the online store, I have never gotten any update on either of them over Whispernet. I have left the wireless on for a week now and still no go.  So I'm sad.

Do you have the 2.3 update on your Kindles so that you can read PDFs? If not, you could download those updates and install them manually. Links have been posted for these files. Be sure you download the correct one for each Kindle.

If you can read the PDFs but the font size is not large enough, even on your DXi in Landscape mode, then reading them on paper or computer is still possible.


For me, while I normally leave WN off most of the time, I turned WN on when I read the announcement on 28 April and it has not been off since then. It seems that I am only charging my K2 about twice as often as before. (I annotate a lot while I am reading and much of my battery power seems to go to indexing. ) While I am eager, I would not say that I am either anxious or worried. Since the contents and order of the Home page menu change with 2.5, I can go days without checking the installed version on my Kindle. (I just check to see if Experimental is last on the list. )

EDIT: I did not have any hacks to remove since I have no hacks on my Kindle. (I am lucky to be able to read the smallest font comfortably. I rarely look at the default screensaver images as I often wake up my K2 before I open the cover and I usually put it to sleep after I close the cover. )

The features I am eager for are:

• PDF Pan and Zoom: Zoom into PDFs and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics.

I will be going on vacation with my mom in early June. We plan to do a lot of hiking. It would be great to find out in advance if PDF maps on my Kindle will be sufficient. (Yes, I am willing to hike with my Kindle. However it would be great if the M-Edge Guardian case is available in time! Ziploc bags will be my friend until then. Since Mom is 78, we won't be on rugged trails but I expect we will cross Oak Creek frequently. )

DH's DX does not have WN on as he forgets to charge his Kindle. Therefore he can wait for Pan and Zoom for reading his PDF model railroad magazines.

• Collections: Organize your books and documents into one or more collections.

This will be great as I have a lot of reference documents of various types on my K2 in addition to classics and contemporary books.

[kb7uen Gene]

Mine is on and the battery does take a serious hit.  One thing I wish Amazon would do with the battery meter is give us an actual remaining battery percentage.  Then I could charge it when it really needs it, not when the battery icon shows half empty.

Gene

[Labrynth]

I can't WAIT for the Collections.  I know I don't have nearly as many as some, but 12 pages of books to flip thru when I'm looking for something is a lot.  Not to mention I can't always remember with new authors what the books was about and being able to organize them into a folder will at least give me a clue.

I have some of JA Konrath's PDF files and can't read them because the font is SO SMALL.  I have my Kindle set tot he smallest font size,  but I'm squinting like crazy trying to read those.  And I don't want to try to convert them because it always seems to screw up the formatting so badly.

Everything else doesn't matter much to me.

I've been turning WN on periodically because I don't want to kill my read time.  Currently I'm reading a DTB tho and Have left it on since read time isn't as worrisome until I'm done with it.

[crazyguy510]

I downloaded several lectures on PDF (over 27). It would be nice to stick them in a folder! I'm looking forward to the 2.5 collections!

[mistyd107]

Mine is on and the battery does take a serious hit.  One thing I wish Amazon would do with the battery meter is give us an actual remaining battery percentage.  Then I could charge it when it really needs it, not when the battery icon shows half empty.

Gene

ITA I LOVE percentage meter on my iphone for that very reason

[LauraB]

ITA I LOVE percentage meter on my iphone for that very reason

I have an iphone 3G, and the hubby has a 3gs, and neither have a % meter.

[mistyd107]

I have an iphone 3G, and the hubby has a 3gs, and neither have a % meter.

Percentage meter may be the wrong term sorry about that.  There is a numerical percentage indicator though you can set it to show the percentage next to the battery indicator (at least on the 3gs) i accidentally found it when I was playing around trying to get used to it after purchasing last week.  tap settings then general from there tap usage first choice is battery percentage on/off tap on and it should show the percentage as well as the bar.  For instance mine shows 98% just to the left of the battery indicator. hope this helps

[suicidepact]

Very anxious, Whispernet on for a week straight, and hack-free for that long as well. I leave the country and wireless coverage on Monday for 2 months so I hope I get it by then, if not it's back with the hacks and off with the Whispernet until I can download it.

[Pushka]

The hacks dont work with the 2.5 update btw.

[suicidepact]

I know what I was saying is just before  I leave Whispernet coverage, I'll probably re-install the hacks until I download the update at a later date. That is unless I get the update prior to that time.

[Pushka]

Apparently you need to keep whispernet on continually because the download occurs over a period of time - ie days!  It is 13meg in size. I received mine today and it arrived very quickly - I think far too quickly to have downloaded a file of that size.

[Crystalmes]

I want mine!!! hahaha. I keep checking. 

[LauraB]

I loaded it on my usDX (it was 2.3.3, my kindle has 2.3.4  but as you follow the thread it gives a link for from the 2.3.4).  It loaded quickly and restarted in about the same time as the font hack. I'm working with it on the DX to decide if I want it on the k2i or not. So far so good. The 2.5, from the ink to mobilereads, is working great on the DXus.

[Cindy416]

I'm assuming that the update can come through if Whispernet is left on, even if the Kindle is in sleep mode. Is that right? Seems as if it would be pretty random to have the update come through while one is actively using the Kindle.

[Linjeakel]

I'm assuming that the update can come through if Whispernet is left on, even if the Kindle is in sleep mode. Is that right? Seems as if it would be pretty random to have the update come through while one is actively using the Kindle.

Amazon say it should be in sleep mode (with Whispernet on) in order to get the update, though I think some people have had it arrive in the middle of reading something. As long as you have WN on and any hacks taken off, you should be OK.

[Granvillen]

I just read on a blog that in the first 2 waves, 20,000 units were upgraded.  Wave 3 has begun.  Apparently it takes a long time for all the downloads to take place, almost a whole day.  That is not for individual units, but the entire Wave. Also, according to this blog, the remainder over the next 2 weeks is on schedule.  BTW the blog is the Kindle Review via the World Press.

[mom2karen]

I got it last night on my K2i.   

[Kathy]

I got it last night on my K2i.   

Great. I hope I get mine soon.

[CaroleC]

I will probably be the last person to get it. (sigh). Oh well.

It was announced on April 28th, if I recall correctly. Today is May 14th and I assume it will be distributed to the rest of us on or before May 31st. So, we only have 17 more days to wait and we have already waited 16 days.

[r0b0d0c]

I will probably be the last person to get it. (sigh). Oh well.

It was announced on April 28th, if I recall correctly. Today is May 14th and I assume it will be distributed to the rest of us on or before May 31st. So, we only have 17 more days to wait and we have already waited 16 days.

Mine will accompany yours....

I'm not very patient, but I've NEVER gotten an update via WN, although I leave it on every night to download the morning newspapers - within a few days after reading about an update, I download it from Amazon and do a manual update.....

[CaroleC]

Mine will accompany yours....

I'm not very patient, but I've NEVER gotten an update via WN, although I leave it on every night to download the morning newspapers - within a few days after reading about an update, I download it from Amazon and do a manual update.....

Me too. I just bought my Kindle in April, but had to do a manual update in order to go from 2.3 to 2.3.3. It never updated via Whispernet. But, on the bright side, now I feel pretty confident about doing a manual update since I have already done it once.