Firmware Update Kindle Keyboard 3.4 Software Update Coming Out Today!

[apastuszak]

From my chat with Amazon Tech Support:

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by apastuszak

From my chat with Amazon Tech Support:

[Jessica Lares]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to try it out!

[booklover6]

Time to turn on wifi!

[twobob]

# Start updatewait in background and exit
# ${_UPDATE_WAIT} &
# msg "Started ${_UPDATE_WAIT}" I

msg "Auto updates are disabled, exiting..." I
exit 0

I think I shall wait and see on this one...

The last minecraft update I was so excited about destroyed months of work. Totally irrelevant but provenance for the mindset.

Live. Learn. See what the early adopters say.

[copyrite]

Somebody let me know if this destroys TTS (I know I'm harping on the same subject but hey...)

[apastuszak]

So, it looks like Whispersync for Voice will sync across devices. So, you CAN use you eInk Kindle and Audible on your phone, which is my use case.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000827761

It looks like you'll be able to add narrated audio for as little as $5.99 to any purchased Kindle book.

Now this is the kind of innovation that will keep people from pirating. Add features to make the reading experience BETTER with purchased content, instead of locking up content with DRM that is available for free from "other sources."

I'm guessing not everything is in place for this yet. One of my books is listed as WhisperSync for Voice ready, but won't let me download anything yet. I assume that we're going to need firmware updates and updated Audible apps for iPhone and Android to make it all work.

I've missed reading in bed at night since I went to audiobooks. The ability to keep listening in the car while still reading at home is going to be incredible.

Even though my Kindle Keyboard works fine, I might still buy a PaperWhite just to "reward" Amazon for their rolling out this feature I have been begging for.

I sent Amazon an email 2 years ago, asking for this exact feature. The smart man would have patented it, and sold the patent to Bezos and Co.

[twobob]

err. the new kindle has no sound of course... just saying.
Seems like a bit of a contradiction to me.

Sure you could rig something together but an all-in-one was there for the taking.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by apastuszak

So, it looks like Whispersync for Voice will sync across devices. So, you CAN use you eInk Kindle and Audible on your phone, which is my use case.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000827761

Those earbuds are going to sound awful and they won't be comfortable. I've used some that looked just like those.

[apastuszak]

I don't need it all on one device. Using an eInk plus a phone is a best case scenario for me. If I get a call in the car, the Audible app auto pauses. If my Kindle is plugged into my stereo, then I have to grab the Kindle and pause it and then answer the phone. Not the best scenario in a car doing 60 MPH on the highway.

[twobob]

There are ones out there that do a decent job, but they are NO cheap.

probably £100 could get you a decent reference pair these days, more for REAL audiophile quality. http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-CX-.../dp/B004CQNTF6

But yeah. Headphones? why... I want to hear it in the bath. Or anywhere.

Guess I will be forced to go down this road or bulk buy audio capable kindles until Amazon decide to put the $2 worth of Soundcard and port back in...

Or give me a usb port that I can plug a $5 usb soundcard into.

Or - well the list goes on....

If it works for you in the car then excellent. A "use case" that it IS good for. Chalk it up!

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Those earbuds are going to sound awful and they won't be comfortable. I've used some that looked just like those.

JVC Marshmallows! They like $15 and wonderful! I could sleep with them in. I use them on my Sansa Clip Zip.

[noisy]

My conversation about this same subject:

Me:I found information (a rumor) that today there is software update for Kindle Keyboard to 3.4. Can you confirm that?
Shiela:I've checked on this and found that the Kindle Keyboard software update failed to launch today because there was an error. The update is not yet available.
Me:So this meens that there is a high propability, that new software will be available soon, right?
Shiela:That's right!

[tomsem]

Hmm. I want to go the other way: add ebooks to my audiobooks. Will they have a deal for that?

Only 121 titles with this feature at the moment.

I think this is pretty brilliant, however. iBooks and Nook have a 'read aloud' feature but having all this content in the same file can make it pretty unwieldy and suitable only for children's books (with only a few dozen pages of text). Plus in general, the audio and ebook publishing rights are often held by different companies, limiting what is possible to put together. Amazon's scheme seems more flexible and rights-friendly. It would be great if they add the highlighting feature to the iOS and Android apps at some point. Of course you can have audible playing in the background and follow along with the Kindle app, just as you can now (without automatic location sync).

Not sure I understand why firmware needs to be updated. Seems like only the Audible apps would need that (just checked: no iOS or Google Play update—but maybe it is already in the current apps). Would there need to be an update for KT/K4 as well, or has this feature been anticipated for awhile?

Also wondering if audible app's notes/bookmarks will sync also. THAT would be awfully nice! I don't see the point of creating them in the first place, since currently they go away when you remove the file from the app. Sent them this suggestion quite awhile ago, good to see they were taking notes. <g>

Wonder what else is in 3.4. Surely not KF8 support...

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by twobob

There are ones out there that do a decent job, but they are NO cheap.

probably £100 could get you a decent reference pair these days, more for REAL audiophile quality. http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-CX-.../dp/B004CQNTF6

But yeah. Headphones? why... I want to hear it in the bath. Or anywhere.

Guess I will be forced to go down this road or bulk buy audio capable kindles until Amazon decide to put the $2 worth of Soundcard and port back in...

Or give me a usb port that I can plug a $5 usb soundcard into.

Or - well the list goes on....

If it works for you in the car then excellent. A "use case" that it IS good for. Chalk it up!

REAL audiophile quality? Hardly. Their i80's will get you closer to "real" audiophile quality, but they are still consumer earphones.

Sennheiser i80

If you like Sennheiser, their new i800's will be out this month.