Amazon Silk Has a New Look

Jessica Lares · 08-14-2013, 03:47 PM

From the Amazon Silk blog:

http://amazonsilk.wordpress.com/2013...as-a-new-look/

Quote:

Since our last major release back in September 2012, the Amazon Silk team has been working hard to make the browser faster and more responsive. A lot of our improvements have happened under the hood, so you may not have noticed the last few software updates. But with our latest release, the browser has a new look!

Based on feedback from Kindle Fire owners, we redesigned the user interface to make the browser easier and more intuitive to use. Among the changes, you’ll find a new tutorial, redesigned tabs, improved browser controls, simpler navigation options, and easier access to our Reading View feature. We’ve also published a Silk Developer Guide to accompany the release.

Our goal with the Silk redesign is to provide a faster, more fluid, and more elegant browsing experience to help customers discover and rediscover the content that matters to them.

Some screenshots:

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Looks great! I applaud the detail that they're applying to making the browser much more intuitive.

Little.Egret · 08-15-2013, 09:46 AM

Thanks for all that. It seems the new Silk is being rolled out - I and many in the UK got it today so it was handy to know a little in advance.

poohbear_nc · 08-16-2013, 02:28 PM

Got my update last night - very nice - much more usable with lots less clutter on the screen.

GoSharks · 08-16-2013, 03:17 PM

Does anyone know if this is this being rolled out to all generations of the fire?... I have a first generation and have been thinking of doing the N2Aos thing, but may wait to try this first if it's coming. Thanks!

Jessica Lares · 08-16-2013, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoSharks

Does anyone know if this is this being rolled out to all generations of the fire?... I have a first generation and have been thinking of doing the N2Aos thing, but may wait to try this first if it's coming. Thanks!

No, the first generation isn't being updated and it probably won't get this. Mostly because they would have to refresh the UI elements, and I think Amazon would rather your $150. Otherwise people would get the ones going for ~$90 on eBay.

GoSharks · 08-16-2013, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

No, the first generation isn't being updated and it probably won't get this. Mostly because they would have to refresh the UI elements, and I think Amazon would rather your $150. Otherwise people would get the ones going for ~$90 on eBay.

Thanks...I guess N2Aos is looking more interesting!

KimberlyFDR · 08-16-2013, 07:59 PM

Mine had the new version when I opened my tablet this morning. I'm a big fan of the fact the carousel no longer has the screenshot of the last page visited and I'm loving the reading view (which I didn't think I would use). Much cleaner design overall.

Barbara1955 · 08-17-2013, 01:52 PM

You can turn off those screen shots being on the carousel. Me I see no difference????? Turned off FIRE ...rarely do....Ran to store. Came back. Turned on. WOW...THIS WILL TAKE GETTING USE TO LOVE IT!!!!

booklover6 · 08-17-2013, 09:03 PM

I had to take a look, nice change! They finally gave us something good. Now they need to bring back the screen savers.

tubemonkey · 08-19-2013, 08:45 PM

Love the "Reading View" feature

Barbara1955 · 08-20-2013, 03:17 PM

Anyon figured out to make font in Reading view larger?

DiapDealer · 08-23-2013, 10:05 PM

How on earth do I tell if I have the latest Silk? Does it come with the latest firmware update, or is it separate? I've yet to find a site where the "Reading View" button appears.

Little.Egret · 08-24-2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

How on earth do I tell if I have the latest Silk? Does it come with the latest firmware update, or is it separate? I've yet to find a site where the "Reading View" button appears.

It arrived separately after the firmware update.

Swipe from top, more, apps, installed applications, Silk, I see level 1.0.68293-Gen5.34034610

But it's obviously different menus.

Almost any blog will show "Reading View" but you may need to click on an individual entry (a previous version just showed a spec symbol - on an eInk article mode is similar)

DiapDealer · 08-24-2013, 05:13 PM

Thanks for the version number. I was finally able to get Silk to update to the new version. It's definitely a lot better than it was. Not nearly better enough to convince me to give up on Dolphin/Jetpack, but it's a start.

goggin · 09-25-2013, 04:55 AM

Wow! I'd stopped using my Kindle Fire HD for browsing. I'm so delighted to see the improvement - it's stunning. This is what I'd hoped for when I first got the device and, as I said, it so didn't live up to the hype that I stopped using it to surf the web.

All that's changed now. I'm very happy with this update!

08-16-2013, 03:17 PM	#4
GoSharks SQUIRREL!! Posts: 1,636 Karma: 8400000 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Device: K-Fire, PW2, PW3	Does anyone know if this is this being rolled out to all generations of the fire?... I have a first generation and have been thinking of doing the N2Aos thing, but may wait to try this first if it's coming. Thanks! Last edited by GoSharks; 08-16-2013 at 03:19 PM.

08-17-2013, 01:52 PM	#8
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	You can turn off those screen shots being on the carousel. Me I see no difference????? Turned off FIRE ...rarely do....Ran to store. Came back. Turned on. WOW...THIS WILL TAKE GETTING USE TO LOVE IT!!!! Last edited by Barbara1955; 08-17-2013 at 03:28 PM.

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08-15-2013, 09:46 AM	#2
Little.Egret Wizard Posts: 3,168 Karma: 37800000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, UK Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G, Kindle Fire 2, NOOK ST, Kindle HDX, Fire 7"	Thanks for all that. It seems the new Silk is being rolled out - I and many in the UK got it today so it was handy to know a little in advance.

08-16-2013, 02:28 PM	#3
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,856 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Got my update last night - very nice - much more usable with lots less clutter on the screen.

08-16-2013, 07:59 PM	#7
KimberlyFDR Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 593762 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Mebane, NC Device: Paperwhite, Fire 7, Fire HD 6, FireStick, Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Connect	Mine had the new version when I opened my tablet this morning. I'm a big fan of the fact the carousel no longer has the screenshot of the last page visited and I'm loving the reading view (which I didn't think I would use). Much cleaner design overall.

08-17-2013, 09:03 PM	#9
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	I had to take a look, nice change! They finally gave us something good. Now they need to bring back the screen savers.

08-19-2013, 08:45 PM	#10
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Love the "Reading View" feature

08-20-2013, 03:17 PM	#11
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Anyon figured out to make font in Reading view larger?

08-23-2013, 10:05 PM	#12
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	How on earth do I tell if I have the latest Silk? Does it come with the latest firmware update, or is it separate? I've yet to find a site where the "Reading View" button appears.

08-24-2013, 05:13 PM	#14
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Thanks for the version number. I was finally able to get Silk to update to the new version. It's definitely a lot better than it was. Not nearly better enough to convince me to give up on Dolphin/Jetpack, but it's a start.

09-25-2013, 04:55 AM	#15
goggin Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 30034 Join Date: May 2008 Device: kindle	Wow! I'd stopped using my Kindle Fire HD for browsing. I'm so delighted to see the improvement - it's stunning. This is what I'd hoped for when I first got the device and, as I said, it so didn't live up to the hype that I stopped using it to surf the web. All that's changed now. I'm very happy with this update!

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