The Kindle's first update was just announced. You can find out more here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200226050&#manual).

I forgot my Kindle today, so I won't be able to update it right now.

So what does this new update fix, break, and add?

The Kindle's first update was just announced. You can find out more here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200226050&#manual).

I forgot my Kindle today, so I won't be able to update it right now.

Interesting that they have a support number for outside the US.
Why don't they tell us what they fixed?

Dale

I just updated my Kindle to the new update. For some reason I had to download the update to my computer and move it to the Kindle. Not sure why I couldn't get it wirelessly. Anyway...the update went smooth but I can't see anything new or different with the update.

If anyone discovers anything cool with the new update...let us know :-)

Greg

Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/kindle-gets-its-first-update-now-v1-0-4/) is reporting that the update isn't... er.. complete, and managed to wipe their Kindle.

May want to avoid it till we know more.

This is from the Engadget posting dated February 14, 2008.

Ok, we just got off the phone with Amazon support, they're claiming the update was released too early and isn't the "real" update which is supposedly due out later this week. We're confirming with Amazon corporate what the hell is going on.

So basically do not update your Kindle just yet.

I had no problems with mine and it is working great. Been using it since I did the update.

Greg

Frak me! Well I am updating mine right now, so we'll see. It says not to stop during the update so too late now....

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/kindle-gets-its-first-update-now-v1-0-4/

Engadget says the first update is here (or maybe on the way).

Well I am updating mine right now, so we'll see. It says not to stop during the update so too late now....

Ditto!! And I'm usually so paranoid about "wait till somebody ELSE reports about it...." But I have no pre-Kindle books, so I figured it couldn't break anything.

Done. It looks fine here. (First glance, anyway.)

Hasn't started to support folders in the directory. :(

It DOES appear to search within books for a search word now. Not sure if it did before or not --- somebody just today posted a message saying they wished it would, so I tried it earlier this morning, and it didn't. But perhaps this book hadn't been indexed yet. Anyway, it DOES find a word within books. Now, if not before.

Nothing else new, that I can see immediately.

Whew! Nothing bad happened. The update went fine. It's updated and shows the new version number, but I don't notice anything different either, so maybe it's a very minor update.

Hasn't started to support folders in the directory. :(

It DOES appear to search within books for a search word now. Not sure if it did before or not --- somebody just today posted a message saying they wished it would, so I tried it earlier this morning, and it didn't. But perhaps this book hadn't been indexed yet. Anyway, it DOES find a word within books. Now, if not before.

Nothing else new, that I can see immediately.

It does search inside files. If you have a book that wasn't searched, then it likely wasn't indexed yet.

P.S. My upgrade is running right now.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/kindle-gets-its-first-update-now-v1-0-4/

Engadget says the first update is here (or maybe on the way).

You didn't beat me this time. (*maniacal laugh*)

This site has a link to the update for USB users.

http://mobilitysite.com/2008/02/kindle-software-update-to-104/

Careful with the update.

My Kindle isn't bricked, but the upgrade failed - it killed my registration and a lot of books along the way (all legit amazon or feedbooks books). The biggest problem I'm having, though, is that the indexing seems messed up - the feedbooks guide isn't indexed (or won't index) and I don't know how to force it. I've paper-clip reset, and that didn't help - any suggestions?

Careful with the update.

My Kindle isn't bricked, but the upgrade failed - it killed my registration and a lot of books along the way (all legit amazon or feedbooks books). The biggest problem I'm having, though, is that the indexing seems messed up - the feedbooks guide isn't indexed (or won't index) and I don't know how to force it. I've paper-clip reset, and that didn't help - any suggestions?

Leave your Kindle in sleep mode over night. Depending on how many files need to be indexed, you may need to leave it asleep for a longer period.

You didn't beat me this time. (*maniacal laugh*)

Ah but you can change the title si vous plait to 'increase readership' (shades of Bob Guccione or Henry Luce):p

Important Details:

My Kindle is still recognized by MobiDesktop 6.0.
My ebooks, settings, bookmarks are all okay.
They gave me a new copy of the Kindle User's Guide. Weird.


P.S. Why can't I upload a file with AZW suffix? I had to change it.

No, the problem is that it's not indexing, at all (I'm not getting messages in the search screen about how many left to index).

I had a look at the logs, and it can't "load or create masterindex file". I think this is related to a problem engadget reported about the Kindle thinking it was out of disk space - mine thinks it only has 92M free - even after wiping all the directories (they are automatically re-created, so basically a virgin Kindle.

Just remounted, and the index file has been re-created correctly - now to add a book.

ETA - okay, the indexing is working again - I get the "1 item not yet searchable" that was missing before. I think I'll try the upgrade again before I reload my books - in for a penny, in for a pound.

So Amazon is spreading the Valentine's love today... :p

Anyways, I decided to hold back on this upgrade until all problems are sorted out. Does that mean I have to keep my whispernet off for now?

Does that mean I have to keep my whispernet off for now?

Mine wouldn't update over the air - I had to download the file to my computer and push it via USB cable. Anybody find that it DID automatically work over the air? If no, then you don't have to worry about getting it before it's fully fixed.

For those of you who failed the upgrade,... could it be the case that you didn't have enough space on your main memory? Just guessing here.

So Amazon is spreading the Valentine's love today... :p

Anyways, I decided to hold back on this upgrade until all problems are sorted out. Does that mean I have to keep my whispernet off for now?

According to Amazon, your Kindle will look for an update if it is in sleep mode with Whispernet on. So turn it off.

If you downloaded, and upgraded successfully, could you please tell me how large the bin file was. I'm wondering if I have a bad file, but it passes the automatic checksum test.

I don't know where my original user's manual is, and frankly I never completely read it. So some of the following may not be new.

Automatic conversion of ZIP
Did the conversion service accept zipped files? I don't remember.

Audible.com
There is a section on how to register your Kindle on Audible.com. Is that new?

If you downloaded, and upgraded successfully, could you please tell me how large the bin file was. I'm wondering if I have a bad file, but it passes the automatic checksum test.

Around 29MB.

I just got off the phone with Kindle Customer Service about another subject and the rep told me this about the update:

There are new screensavers.

The browser has been updated to cut down on 'excessive lines'.

The 'default search' has changed (she was unable or unwilling to discuss what that meant).

And no, the update does not allow folder creation.

I just got off the phone with Kindle Customer Service about another subject and the rep told me this about the update:

There are new screensavers.

The browser has been updated to cut down on 'excessive lines'.

The 'default search' has changed (she was unable or unwilling to discuss what that meant).

And no, the update does not allow folder creation.
Doesn't seem to be very appealing to me. I guess the most important change is about the *default search*. From my own experience, the search daemon consumed a lot of power while in idle if you put in a lot of new material. Several times it rendered my kindle completely dead after a night or so. Otherwise I don't think it justified the money and effort Amazon pays to push it over the whispernet (I am guessing that Amazon has to pay Sprint for the data fee, no?)

To Nate: I am not sure if I understand your question but Amazon always had the conversion capability if you sent in a zipped file with many documents inside.

To Nate: I am not sure if I understand your question but Amazon always had the conversion capability if you sent in a zipped file with many documents inside.

Thanks. It's not a feature that I've used, so I wasn't sure.

Around 29MB.


Thanks, obviously I had a good file, still think it was memory issues.

I got my 90M back - it seemed to be lost in a trash file - gotta love the terminal!

Although, I have to admit, that turned into a whole lot of work for a whole lot of nothing!

My biggest gripe with Amazon today (somewhat unrelated) is that I got an email stating that they were resetting my password due to recent phishing activities and they wanted to be safe. And they didn't tell me what they reset it to so they are asking that I log in and go to the "forgot password" page and put in my info again and then change the password.

At first I ignored the email thinking that it was a scam, but sure enough, I go in to get my free "women and money" ebook and my password doesn't work. I go through all the hoops and they don't recognize my info.

My co-worker is going through the same thing. Why would Amazon change my password just because other people are foolish enough to fall for phishing scams?!?! Very irritating.

Ok, done complaining! My update worked and my books still work, but I didn't notice any new screen savers...

EDIT: Ok, I take back my rant. I called customer service and I was on hold for less than one minute and they fixed my account right away. So it wasn't a scam it and it got fixed quick. Yay! They really rocked on fixing this so fast. :)

Thanks, obviously I had a good file, still think it was memory issues.

I got my 90M back - it seemed to be lost in a trash file - gotta love the terminal!

Although, I have to admit, that turned into a whole lot of work for a whole lot of nothing!

Yeah. I was going to mention that. When you delete stuff on an external drive in mac, the deleted items are sent to a hidden folder on the drive until you empty the trash can. More mac users should know that if they don't empty the trash before ejecting the drive they haven't really deleted the items.

There is new material in section 3.6. It looks like a new menu was added for playing audiobooks. This section is completely new.

8.4 Audiobooks and Music
There are two types of materials you can listen to on Kindle. You can purchase, transfer, and play audiobooks from Audible.com, and you can transfer MP3 files to Kindle to play as background music while you read.

Audiobooks from Audible.com
Kindle supports the thousands of audiobooks available through Audible.com. You can purchase and download one or more of these books through your Windows-based computer using AudibleManager software supplied by Audible or iTunes on your Macintosh. You can then transfer these books to your Kindle over USB or using an SD memory card, and listen to them on your Kindle.

Audiobook Formats for Kindle
Audible offers four versions of its audiobook format. Kindle is compatible with formats 2, 3, and 4. Format 1 and audiobooks provided from other sources are not supported.

Activation, Purchase, Download, and Transfer
You must have access to a Windows-based computer running the latest AudibleManager to activate your Kindle. To activate for use with Audible content, follow these steps. :

1. Using a Windows-based computer, go to Audible.com at http://www.audible.com/kindle.
2. If you are not already an Audible customer, follow the prompts to create your Audible account.
3. Download and install the latest AudibleManager software.
4. Launch AudibleManager and connect your Kindle.
5. Activate your Kindle using the Activate... command under Devices in AudibleManager. This will authorize your Kindle to play the audiobooks you purchase at Audible.com.

Tip: If you are a Macintosh user, you need to connect your Kindle to a Windows-based computer running AudibleManager to authorize your Kindle. You may be able to authorize your Kindle running AudibleManager on Windows on your Macintosh if you have your Macintosh configured to run Windows. Once authorized with your Audible credentials, you can then use Audible files downloaded through AudibleManager under Windows or iTunes by copying them to your Kindle.

Once you have activated your Kindle, you can purchase and transfer files using the AudibleManager software. If you are a Macintosh user, you will need to copy Audible content in your iTunes library to the "Audible" folder on your Kindle. Once on your Kindle, an Audible file will be displayed on your Home screen with your other documents. The file will have a small speaker icon at the end of the title to indicate that it is an audiobook.

The attached picture was not in the old manual:

Tip: If you are a Macintosh user, you need to connect your Kindle to a Windows-based computer running AudibleManager to authorize your Kindle.

This has got to be the lamest line I have ever seen in a hardware manual to date! It just beats out "this page intentionally left blank".

BOb

This has got to be the lamest line I have ever seen in a hardware manual to date! It just beats out "this page intentionally left blank".

BOb

its just to authorize your kindle.

-d

Around 29MB.

Since Amazon has taken down the download link for direct USB upgrades perhaps some kind soul will upload it to a file sharing site (such as Rapidshare)?

Since Amazon has taken down the download link for direct USB upgrades perhaps some kind soul will upload it to a file sharing site (such as Rapidshare)?

You may want to wait a bit, it seems like it wasn't quite ready for prime-time. I upgraded mine and it seems to be a bit buggy. I have froze my screen twice and had to restart since I upgraded and I never had to do that before.

I haven't added any more books or anything, so I can only suspect that the upgrade is to blame. Also, at random times, a book I am reading will close in the middle of a page-turn. Nothing too major since I just click on the book again, but I wouldn't want it to do this forever.

But it does have new screen saver images. They are mixed in with some of the old ones.

its just to authorize your kindle.

-d

I understand, but still. If you are a "Macintosh user" by definition you probably don't have a Windows machine. And, if you DID I think you are smart enough to know that you could use it.

BOb

OK, I'm confused. Thought I'd try the upgrade, so turned on the wireless, waited until got the full number of bars, put it to sleep, waited 15 minutes, but nothing happened.

When I went to settings, still the Ver 1.0 listed. What did I do wrong?

Did you get an e-mail: To make the update process as effective as possible for all of our customers, not all Kindle users will receive the software update wirelessly at the same time. You'll be notified via e-mail when the software update is available for your Kindle. If you have not received this e-mail, please be patient--it's coming. I have not received an e-mail yet either.

I understand, but still. If you are a "Macintosh user" by definition you probably don't have a Windows machine. And, if you DID I think you are smart enough to know that you could use it.

BOb
Yeah, it is at least better than Sony...

I really don't understand all these mac whining. How about linux then?

I applied the update to my better half's Kindle and upon reboot it turned into a Sony reader

Yeah, it is at least better than Sony...

I really don't understand all these mac whining. How about linux then?

Will it work with a Windows emulator maybe?

Will it work with a Windows emulator maybe?

Probably. I've found that almost all usb devices interface flawlessly in parallels now.

Since Amazon has taken down the download link for direct USB upgrades perhaps some kind soul will upload it to a file sharing site (such as Rapidshare)?

If you really have to have it, send me an email. I will try to send it as an attachment from my @mobileread account, which is hosted by gmail.

This is an open offer.

OK, I'm confused. Thought I'd try the upgrade, so turned on the wireless, waited until got the full number of bars, put it to sleep, waited 15 minutes, but nothing happened.

When I went to settings, still the Ver 1.0 listed. What did I do wrong?

Nothing, apparently they're sending out the upgrade in batches over the next two weeks. At least that's what I think I've read.

Carl

Probably. I've found that almost all usb devices interface flawlessly in parallels now.
But, DO NOT use Paralells to update any firmware via the USB. Paralells doesn't always get enough control of the USB port to be able to give the critical timing needed for USB based firmware updates. If you try it, you risk bricking your Kindle or whatever it is you are trying to update. So either Boot Camp or a true Windows system, and then you'll be fine.

The Kindle update to 1.0.4 and a new users guide were on my device when I turned it on this morning. I always leave the wireless on so I assume it came in during the night.

Bob

Doesn't leaving the wifi on drain the battery way too much?

Bwit probably leaves it plugged in every night.

I got curious, as have not received any email about the update, so dropped amazon an email. Just got a reply that I should get it by 3/7, so obviously it is going to stretch out for a while yet. They said if I have not received it my 3/12, to contact them.

I also leave my Wireless switch on all the time, and recharge every night. But I have noticed that when my Kindle is in sleep mode (after 10 minutes of inactivity), that the Wireless apparently goes off, since once I bring it out of sleep mode again, it takes maybe 15 seconds for the wireless to show up, so sleep mode must also turn the wireless off for as long as it is in sleep mode.

Charles Wilkes, San Jose, Calif.

This is for anyone (like me) who hadn't gotten the update. It was posted in another forum, I tried it, and it worked. Do an Alt + Up Arrow + R + Home. This resets the Kindle and, when I did this, it immediately started the download process. Put it to 'sleep' and wait. You should see it reboot in 20-30 minutes as it applies.

I also leave my Wireless switch on all the time, and recharge every night. But I have noticed that when my Kindle is in sleep mode (after 10 minutes of inactivity), that the Wireless apparently goes off, since once I bring it out of sleep mode again, it takes maybe 15 seconds for the wireless to show up, so sleep mode must also turn the wireless off for as long as it is in sleep mode.

I've noticed this also but it must wake up periodically as my subscriptions are always available when I wake it up in the morning.

I usually charge my Kindle every evening (takes about 20 min) and I always leave the wireless enabled and I have never seen the battery level drop more than a single bar.

Bob

This is for anyone (like me) who hadn't gotten the update. It was posted in another forum, I tried it, and it worked. Do an Alt + Up Arrow + R + Home. This resets the Kindle and, when I did this, it immediately started the download process. Put it to 'sleep' and wait. You should see it reboot in 20-30 minutes as it applies.

Make sure your Kindle is fully charged or plugged in before you do this. I assume bad things would happen if your battery went dead while doing this. :)

I usually charge my Kindle every evening (takes about 20 min) and I always leave the wireless enabled and I have never seen the battery level drop more than a single bar.

Bob

How much do you read each day?

How much do you read each day?

Generally about 2 hours per day.

Are people having a problem with battery life on the Kindle? I know it doesn't get the time between charges the the Sony does but, honestly, going 5 days without a charge is not a requirement for me. So far the longest I've gone without recharging is 2 days and my battery level was just fine. I bought my Kindle on the first day they were available and the only time the wireless has been off is during airplane flights.

Bob

I don't know of any battery problems. It's just that I had assumed that leaving the wireless on all day would drain the battery more.

In comparison, I read about an hour a day and almost always have the wireless off. I usually charge my Kindle once a week.

It really drains my battery but my house doesn't get very good Sprint signal. I have to charge my Sprint phone pretty much daily, too. I don't have any periodicals to be delivered so I pretty much only turn on the wireless when I'm getting books or doing a wiki search. I charge a couple times a week but the battery usually isn't very low when I do.

I don't know of any battery problems. It's just that I had assumed that leaving the wireless on all day would drain the battery more.

As an ironic aside - when I got home from work yesterday I pulled my Kindle from my backpack and discovered that my battery was almost completely drained! At first I thought it must be negative karma for bragging about battery life here but it occurred to me that the installation of the 1.0.4 update must have drained the battery and I just didn't notice it yesterday morning.

I recharged last evening and things seem fine today.

Bob

Besides Audible aBook support, what else does 1.0.4 bring to the Kindle?

As an ironic aside - when I got home from work yesterday I pulled my Kindle from my backpack and discovered that my battery was almost completely drained! At first I thought it must be negative karma for bragging about battery life here but it occurred to me that the installation of the 1.0.4 update must have drained the battery and I just didn't notice it yesterday morning.

I recharged last evening and things seem fine today.

Bob

Right after I updated, I had strange battery stuff happening. The battery meter would go down to almost zero in a matter of minutes after opening a book. But after I did a firmware reset, everything started working fine again. Beware though, a firmware reset, will erase everything. I even had to re-register the Kindle. Easy to do tho and everything was backed up, so it all worked out.

Didn't do anything for me but reset the Kindle. Still on 1.0. I reset it and put it to sleep with wireless on. It just stayed asleep. Does it normally start right away?

Right after I updated, I had strange battery stuff happening. The battery meter would go down to almost zero in a matter of minutes after opening a book. But after I did a firmware reset, everything started working fine again.

Mine seems to be working normally without doing this. I'll keep a close eye on it for a few days. I think my battery drain was related to the installation of the update. Maybe it is a resource intensive procedure or maybe it needs to re-index all the documents after updating. Amazon does not seem to be going out of their way to provide information about either the update or the update process.

I wonder if Amazon has anything in place to test your battery level before starting an update. Surely it would not be good to run out of juice in the middle of an update.

Bob

P.S. I should mention that it is easy to determine when the update arrives as you will see a new Kindle Users Guide in your book list.

I turned on the wireless and then went into the menu, selected UPDATE, the download/upgrade started immediately.


Didn't do anything for me but reset the Kindle. Still on 1.0. I reset it and put it to sleep with wireless on. It just stayed asleep. Does it normally start right away?

This is for anyone (like me) who hadn't gotten the update. It was posted in another forum, I tried it, and it worked. Do an Alt + Up Arrow + R + Home. This resets the Kindle and, when I did this, it immediately started the download process. Put it to 'sleep' and wait. You should see it reboot in 20-30 minutes as it applies.

Could you direct me to the forum where you found that?

Or send it in email if you don't want to post it.

Thanks

This is for anyone (like me) who hadn't gotten the update. It was posted in another forum, I tried it, and it worked. Do an Alt + Up Arrow + R + Home. This resets the Kindle and, when I did this, it immediately started the download process. Put it to 'sleep' and wait. You should see it reboot in 20-30 minutes as it applies.

Please give us a link to the bin file.

I am unable to upload it or email it because my DSL is so slow.

Besides Audible aBook support, what else does 1.0.4 bring to the Kindle?
No, Audible support exists in 1.0 firmware already.

Besides Audible aBook support, what else does 1.0.4 bring to the Kindle?

Not much: new screensavers, 'improved line function in browser', and change in default search

They also obfuscated their Java classes this time :)

They also obfuscated their Java classes this time :)

So this likely is the real reason for the update, eh?

Well, I'm sure there were changes but with the obfuscation it's kinda hard to do the code comparison...

Ok, this may be just my Kinde, but the update to 1.0.4 increased the functionality of the default dictionary. Before the update, when I would look up a word, I could view the definition of the word, but couldn't go to the next page of the dictionary. Sometimes the definition of the word would be more than one page. And I couldn't do much about it.

Now when I look up a word, I can go the next page, and the next page, even on to different entries from with-in the little dictionary window pop-up. Couldn't do that before.

So have I made any sense here? Sorry, it's early! :)

Ok, this may be just my Kinde, but the update to 1.0.4 increased the functionality of the default dictionary. Before the update, when I would look up a word, I could view the definition of the word, but couldn't go to the next page of the dictionary. Sometimes the definition of the word would be more than one page. And I couldn't do much about it.

Now when I look up a word, I can go the next page, and the next page, even on to different entries from with-in the little dictionary window pop-up. Couldn't do that before.

I don't notice that mine works any differently than under 1.0. The pop-up dictionary windows would always have page number at the bottom (i.e. Page 1 of 2) and I could page backwards and forwards for those pages but not beyond.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you or maybe you are looking up differently. I'm just moving the cursor to a line in a book and selecting "Lookup".

Bob

Ok, this may be just my Kinde, but the update to 1.0.4 increased the functionality of the default dictionary. Before the update, when I would look up a word, I could view the definition of the word, but couldn't go to the next page of the dictionary. Sometimes the definition of the word would be more than one page. And I couldn't do much about it.

Now when I look up a word, I can go the next page, and the next page, even on to different entries from with-in the little dictionary window pop-up. Couldn't do that before.

So have I made any sense here? Sorry, it's early! :)

That's strange...I have had that function since I got the gadget on Nov 21. It was there in the original firmware for me. Except I don't believe I have the 'pop-up window' you described.

I've read that for some reason the first batch of Kindles have not been updated yet.

Somebody sent me this in email:

'I’m sure Amazon is releasing the update in a “test” market. I know very few folks that received their Kindles in the first batch who have been contacted. I think this is for a reason. Perhaps it is because the firmware from later builds has been having issues, i.e battery, indexing and the like.'

Don't know if that's true or blowing smoke. I do know that I've bought 4 Kindles in my account and have yet to receive the update email.

I don't notice that mine works any differently than under 1.0. The pop-up dictionary windows would always have page number at the bottom (i.e. Page 1 of 2) and I could page backwards and forwards for those pages but not beyond.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you or maybe you are looking up differently. I'm just moving the cursor to a line in a book and selecting "Lookup".

Bob

Yeah, when mine would say Page 1 of 2, I couldn't get to the page 2.

Now, I can go way beyond that. I can keep pushing next page and the defined words change, so basically now I have the whole dictionary opened up. So basically if I select the word "ant," I can keep pushing the next page and get through all the A words, B words, etc. Not really useful at all after getting my full definition, but it is a change for my Kindle.

So I wonder if the update changed the dictionary function or if for mine, it just made it the way it was supposed to be in the first place.

That's strange...I have had that function since I got the gadget on Nov 21. It was there in the original firmware for me. Except I don't believe I have the 'pop-up window' you described.

I've read that for some reason the first batch of Kindles have not been updated yet.

Somebody sent me this in email:

'I’m sure Amazon is releasing the update in a “test” market. I know very few folks that received their Kindles in the first batch who have been contacted. I think this is for a reason. Perhaps it is because the firmware from later builds has been having issues, i.e battery, indexing and the like.'

Don't know if that's true or blowing smoke. I do know that I've bought 4 Kindles in my account and have yet to receive the update email.

Mine was in the first batch, I actually ordered mine the first day they started selling them and got it the second day. But my update came from the brief download section that was put up a week ago or so. I had to copy the update to my Kindle, so I didn't update it via wireless.

But again, it could have been just a quirk of my Kindle that didn't allow the dictionary to work properly in the first place. It worked fine for the basic definition, but I never got to go into the "meat" of the definition (pronunciation, word origin, etc) until now.

But from the looks of it, based on people's reply, the update didn't really change the function after all. It just "fixed" mine. Good either way I suppose. :)

I tried everything to get the new update but nothing worked, although I got part way there. I tried the alt+upshift+R+home but while the Kindle did reboot, it still showed ver. 1.0 in the settings. I then tried the Restart from the menu, but that didn't work either. I then did a hardware boot by removing the back cover, and with a straightened paper clip, did a reset from there, but that didn't work either -- all of them rebooted, but the settings still showed only ver. 1.0

Then I found a menu item -- hard to find -- that said it would update my Kindle software, so I tried that. I think this is really the right way -- it did an awful lot of work -- and finally the settings showed ver. 1.0.1 -- but not 1.0.4 -- disappointed of course. But that's at least part way. I think you must be connected to the right server to get the 1.0.4 to download, while I obviously am not.

Since I knew this would take a lot of juice from my battery, I left the battery plugged in the whole time I did the above, and the battery came out fully charged at the end.

And I'm stll waiting for someone who has the update to tell me and everybody else just what it does that is different.

Charles Wilkes, San Jose, Calif.

Now, I can go way beyond that. I can keep pushing next page and the defined words change, so basically now I have the whole dictionary opened up. So basically if I select the word "ant," I can keep pushing the next page and get through all the A words, B words, etc. Not really useful at all after getting my full definition, but it is a change for my Kindle.

Oh yeah - mine does that too. I never noticed it before, maybe it is new.

Bob

Oh yeah - mine does that too. I never noticed it before, maybe it is new.

Bob
It is not new. I could do that with my 1.0 firmware starting from day one...

They also obfuscated their Java classes this time :)
So igor, is it possible to construct a customized firmware now? I think you know the way to scramble/descramble the bin file, aren't you?

I have the 1.0.4 bin file here, I am eagerly to know if I can replace the Caecilia font with another font, possibly with unicode support, and flash it.

:thanks:

Um, I'll try to do another post "soon" summarizing my various findings...

Um, I'll try to do another post "soon" summarizing my various findings...
Cool!:thumbsup:

I could imagine that hacking kindle will be harder,... due to the ota firmware push ability. Can amazon detect a cooked rom and push an official one? I have kept my Whispernet down for the last couple of days in fear of new firmware update being irreversible (like the iphone stuff). But it is getting harder and harder as I have to buy/sample books and check wiki. I remembered that you mentioned in your blog that there's a hidden software switch to turn off the auto update. Is it really useful and safe to use?

Anyway, take you time. :thanks:

I have two Kindles, one for 'backup' in case the main one fritzes out.

I'm out of EVDO range and can choose when & if I get the update.

Is there any reason NOT to get the update on one.....or both?

I wonder if there is some code inserted to disable further hacking, such as Jobs has done in Iphone updates.

It might be well to keep at least one unit in the 1.0 firmware. I don't use Kindle #2 much at all at present.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Looks like the release window has been extended...

If you don't receive the update wirelessly between February 14 and March 15 or travel outside our wireless coverage area and cannot receive the update automatically via Whispernet, we'll post instructions for applying the update manually on this Help page soon after the rollout of the wireless updates is completed. We appreciate your patience.

I have a replacement Kindle which arrived the end of the first week of February. I'm still running 1.0 with the Dictionary bug. I know that eventually I'll get the update since I use Whispernet several times daily.

We have not noticed any difference with the update, no improvements nor problems


I have two Kindles, one for 'backup' in case the main one fritzes out.

I'm out of EVDO range and can choose when & if I get the update.

Is there any reason NOT to get the update on one.....or both?

I wonder if there is some code inserted to disable further hacking, such as Jobs has done in Iphone updates.

It might be well to keep at least one unit in the 1.0 firmware. I don't use Kindle #2 much at all at present.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

This is for anyone (like me) who hadn't gotten the update. It was posted in another forum, I tried it, and it worked. Do an Alt + Up Arrow + R + Home. This resets the Kindle and, when I did this, it immediately started the download process. Put it to 'sleep' and wait. You should see it reboot in 20-30 minutes as it applies.


Does this erase the current contents of the kindle as well or is it only performing the update?

-d

does not erase your contents, just upgrades the software

Does this erase the current contents of the kindle as well or is it only performing the update?

-d

I've done this reset thing four times now, and let the kindle sit overnight or for some prelonged amount of time and it still has not picked up any update (the settings/update menu item is ghosted out). The version is 1.0.


-d

The reset didn't work for me either. Yesterday the Kindle was upgraded by Amazon.

What worked for me was to go to the Home menu, select check new items. If you see "new items downloaded" at the bottom of your screen, go to Settings and see if the Update Kindle is a viable option, and if so, select it. It was a two-part update, with 1.04 coming only after I'd put the Kindle back to sleep after receiving 1.01.

Jim

The file is available for download from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200226050&#manual

The file is available for download from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200226050&#manual
Quite interestingly, this new 1.0.4 bin file is not the same one (in binary) as the old 1.0.4 bin file I downloaded in mid-February.

They changed the initial script to check for enough free space. The actual flashed firmware is exactly the same.

Mine updated yesterday to 1.0.4. It might have been available to me earlier, I'm not sure, as I generally keep the wireless off unless I need it for something. Still haven't received an email from Amazon though, I wonder if that will be picked back up for future updates?

- David

As I posted earlier, I got a v1.0.1 update, but some time afterwards, this became v1.0.4 bringing my Kindle completely up to date. I also got the new manual, which I read start to finish, but could not find anything I recognized as a change from before.

I'm glad to read here the real changes which showed up for users who are very good at recognizing them (I am not). I do wish there was better communication between Kindle and their owners. We are readers -- not idiots, and are surely totally able to understand whatever they will write about such changes. But we do NOT understand a complete absence of information. They have the world's best publishing platform -- they can easily send a note to all Kindle owners, and pass on information we feel we are entitled to. But they don't.

But I love my Kindle, and totally appreciate their three years of work to produce it. Since I'm so satisfied, I've never worked on a list of changes I would like to see in future updates. But I'll mention a few here, which are not criticisms of the Kindle, buy my way of helping Kindle to make it better.

1. I have almost 500 books, and my directory is big. I like the ability in my home page of keying an inital letter, taking me to the first entry in my directory that that starts with that letter. But I also use my "contents" page also, where this doesn't work. I don't see why it works one place, but doesn't in an another almost identical situation.

2. I would like to have the ability in my home directory to show only the first entry after sorting of the main entry when the sort is by author. For example I have almost every Agatha Christe book. I woule like only one Agatha Christe entry to show up when sorted by author. Then by clicking on that entry, bring up just her own books. This would greatly reduce the size of my main directory in that sort, making my task of finding books much simplier. This would not work when sorted by title however.

3. On my PC, in the Kindle section, I can sort books in the Kindle Store by category, which is really great. But I cannot do that from my Kindle when in the Kindle Store, and I can't see why. This is an important way to find books which I would not know about otherwise. So I want it on my Kindle also, as I use that more often than I do the PC facility to do the same.

4. I not only want to find books in the Store by category, but I want to find books in my home directory also by category, since I have so many books already -- and it will certainly grow even bigger in the future. But when I add a book not from the Kindle Store, I want to be able to assign a category code to it as well, which is another facit of the same missing capability. Another way to do this is to allow me to assign a category code to any book already on my Kindle if there is not already a category code present, or if I want to change the category code when one is already there.

5. When I have added books from my own hard disk, I have been unable to correctly title them, and completely unable to apply an author name. I need the ability to edit these two items for books on my Kindle -- no matter how they got there. This is really important to be able to find books when sorted by author or title.

6. When in the Kindle Store, I would like a sort by price, so I could examine all books by price, and thus add more lower-priced books to my Kindle, which I find almost by accident now. This would result in additional sales from the Store, which should help justify this addition.

Charles Wilkes, San Jose, Calif.

Mine finally updated to 1.0.4.

I sure hope Amazon adds folder and filename management in the next build. I have children's books Id like to separate from my own personal material.

-d

Since I updated, I have been noticing a general sluggishness when navigating and viewing the home screen.

Anyone else noticing this?

Ken