Do you dislike the new Kindle homepage Amazon is forcing on us in February 2016?

Phoenix Dragon · 02-15-2016, 04:16 AM

I would like to know if anyone else feels as I do about the Kindle update coming this month. It is an automatic update and can’t be refused. It will create a homepage that will only have a small box in the upper left hand corner for recently read books. To get to our current homepage – our libraries – we will have to click on an arrow on the new homepage. The page will be much like the current store page – full of recommended books, with an advertising banner at the bottom of the page. There are pictures and explanations of this new homepage here:
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=13550053011

I paid the extra $30 in order to not have any ads on my Kindle Voyage, and deeply resent having another form of advertising forced on me. I believe that Amazon should refund my $30, since now I will be subjected to ads every day. I am also not interested in the Amazon selected recommended books – in my opinion, those are just another way for Amazon to advertise. They want to force us to have a homepage that is quite similar to their store page, obviously hoping that we will buy more books than we do now. On a device for which I have paid over $330, I do not appreciate having Amazon’s corporate commercial greed forcing an advertising based homepage on me, constantly, every time I want to navigate between books on my Kindle.

I have long lists of books I’d like to read without needing any help from Amazon to discover any. But, if I did want suggestions, I can navigate to that page in the current Kindle setup; I am deeply disturbed by being forced to have a page full of book lists and suggested books forced on me as my homepage. I want to continue to have my library list be my homepage and be able to go immediately back to the library from within any book I am reading by touching the homepage icon. I most emphatically do not want to have to go from any book I am reading to this new homepage, that I detest, and for which I have no use at all, and then from that homepage to my library. Every time I want to go from a book to the library, I will have to go through this annoying extra step.

Does anyone else feel at all as I do about this new homepage?

If so, please contact Amazon, and let them know. I believe that Amazon should include in this update (or a future update) the ability for Kindle users to choose which will be their homepage – this new one, or their library, as it is now. Then those who may like the new homepage could have it, and those of us who hate the new homepage can have the option of keeping our library as our homepage. If Amazon cares about their Kindle customers, they will create this option for us. If they only care about foisting advertising on us in hopes of increasing their Kindle book sales, then they will refuse to give us this choice.

In which case, I am even considering that it could be possible for Kindle readers who paid for the no-ads option and who feel about this update as I do, to join in common cause, perhaps even a class action suit, to get our $30 payments for having no advertising refunded to us. Or, will Amazon offer to remove the ads from this obnoxious new homepage if we pay them another $30?

Thank you for reading my post and letting me express my feelings. I hope I haven't sounded too strident. It's just that I have so adored my Kindle in its current configuration, and will truly hate this new homepage. Since I love reading books on my Kindle so much, this unwelcome change is very distressing to me.

Dr. Drib · 02-15-2016, 07:32 AM

This post has nothing to do with Kindle formats.

Now moved to the Kindle forum.

Please take the time to look over our site and post responsibly.

Don
(Moderator)

jhowell · 02-15-2016, 07:38 AM

The new home page is optional and can be easily turned off.

copyrite · 02-15-2016, 07:55 AM

Dr. Drib · 02-15-2016, 08:11 AM

Yes, you sound very strident.

Just turn off the Home Page, sit down with a beverage of your choice, and try to relax.

booklover6 · 02-15-2016, 08:16 AM

I don't like it, but as I don't use wifi on my Voyage, I won't be getting the update. Yes I know it can be turned off, but as I understand, there are other changes, such as to List View, that I would also dislike.

The new home screen is eerily reminiscent of the Nook Simple Touch home screen. Some have said it is a more modern look, well the NST had that home screen back in what, 2011?

HarryT · 02-15-2016, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix Dragon

I believe that Amazon should include in this update (or a future update) the ability for Kindle users to choose which will be their homepage – this new one, or their library, as it is now.

It does include precisely that ability. Did you actually bother to find anything out about the 5.7.2 firmware update before writing that rant?

DiapDealer · 02-15-2016, 09:13 AM

Home page, schmome page. I can count the seconds I spend looking at it in a day on two hands. As long as it still "turns on" to where I stopped reading, I simply refuse to get worked up about any potential home page changes.Why stress over a couple of taps/clicks here or there?

Dusky Rose · 02-15-2016, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

The new home screen is eerily reminiscent of the Nook Simple Touch home screen. Some have said it is a more modern look, well the NST had that home screen back in what, 2011?

Yeah, it does have that look. I have the Nook Aura and never minded the home screen, so maybe that's why this new Kindle home screen doesn't bother me.

I just turned the home screen off, and don't worry about it. I prefer the Collections view, Grid settings.

I like the new look, smoother icons and the easy way to get to the settings at the top.

I've been working with the new update for about a week or so, and there are other things I'd rather have had, but I like the rest of it, and it's easy to turn the home screen off.

So no big deal for me.

Yolina · 02-15-2016, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix Dragon

Does anyone else feel at all as I do about this new homepage?

Well...as it has been said, the new homepage can be turned off so

In fact, because I had recommendations turned off on the older firmware, when I updated I had a little pop up on my screen that said something along the lines "you have recommendations turned off so the new style home page won't be displayed. Go to settings if you want to change this."

HarryT · 02-15-2016, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yolina

Well...as it has been said, the new homepage can be turned off so

In fact, because I've always had recommendations turned off on the older firmware, when I updated I had a little pop up on my screen that said something along the lines "you have recommendations turned off so the new style home page won't be displayed. Go to settings if you want to change this."

Yep - it's always been possible to turn off reading recommendations.

I really have to wonder if the original poster took any time at all to find anything out about the 5.7.2 firmware upgrade before launching into this somewhat hysterical rant.

Bookworm_Girl · 02-15-2016, 09:43 AM

I tried the new homepage for a few days to give it a fair chance, and then I turned it off.

Yolina · 02-15-2016, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yep - it's always been possible to turn off reading recommendations.

Though I would have at least given the new style homepage a chance if I could have turned recommendations off on there too

Instead I'm just sticking with the old-style homepage.

Cinisajoy · 02-15-2016, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yep - it's always been possible to turn off reading recommendations.

I really have to wonder if the original poster took any time at all to find anything out about the 5.7.2 firmware upgrade before launching into this somewhat hysterical rant.

HarryT,
Do you mean to say there are already threads about the new update?

Are you using invisible thread again?
Just teasing you, but it doesn't look like the OP did any research.

Atunah · 02-15-2016, 12:05 PM

Like everyone else said. Its optional. Turn it off if you don't like it. I like it, so there.

I actually always had recommendations turned off before this update and I also bought out of ads. But this new home page doesn't work like the old recs for me. It uses my own book interest to show that stuff. I control really what comes up. My goodreads shelf, my goodreads friends, my samples, my amazon wishlist. Its all my stuff in one place. And the recommendations through goodreads, when that rotating row comes up? Based on books I rated on goodreads so based on what I actually like.

I don't know what it would show if you don't use goodreads or have amazon wishlists or any samples. No clue. But for me, I happen to like it. The old view is still there, just a swipe or button press away.

Best of all, as usual amazon makes most stuff like that optional. So those that like it can use it and those that don't can turn it off. Nobody gets to decide for the other group what should or shouldn't be offered after its there.

I have actually found a few reads already since the new home view since its uses my own ratings. I don't even bother browsing on amazon anymore because of all the scammy and mis-categorized stuff. This actually works for me.

02-15-2016, 04:16 AM	#1
Phoenix Dragon Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2016 Device: Kindle Voyage	Do you dislike the new Kindle homepage Amazon is forcing on us in February 2016? I would like to know if anyone else feels as I do about the Kindle update coming this month. It is an automatic update and can’t be refused. It will create a homepage that will only have a small box in the upper left hand corner for recently read books. To get to our current homepage – our libraries – we will have to click on an arrow on the new homepage. The page will be much like the current store page – full of recommended books, with an advertising banner at the bottom of the page. There are pictures and explanations of this new homepage here: http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=13550053011 I paid the extra $30 in order to not have any ads on my Kindle Voyage, and deeply resent having another form of advertising forced on me. I believe that Amazon should refund my $30, since now I will be subjected to ads every day. I am also not interested in the Amazon selected recommended books – in my opinion, those are just another way for Amazon to advertise. They want to force us to have a homepage that is quite similar to their store page, obviously hoping that we will buy more books than we do now. On a device for which I have paid over $330, I do not appreciate having Amazon’s corporate commercial greed forcing an advertising based homepage on me, constantly, every time I want to navigate between books on my Kindle. I have long lists of books I’d like to read without needing any help from Amazon to discover any. But, if I did want suggestions, I can navigate to that page in the current Kindle setup; I am deeply disturbed by being forced to have a page full of book lists and suggested books forced on me as my homepage. I want to continue to have my library list be my homepage and be able to go immediately back to the library from within any book I am reading by touching the homepage icon. I most emphatically do not want to have to go from any book I am reading to this new homepage, that I detest, and for which I have no use at all, and then from that homepage to my library. Every time I want to go from a book to the library, I will have to go through this annoying extra step. Does anyone else feel at all as I do about this new homepage? If so, please contact Amazon, and let them know. I believe that Amazon should include in this update (or a future update) the ability for Kindle users to choose which will be their homepage – this new one, or their library, as it is now. Then those who may like the new homepage could have it, and those of us who hate the new homepage can have the option of keeping our library as our homepage. If Amazon cares about their Kindle customers, they will create this option for us. If they only care about foisting advertising on us in hopes of increasing their Kindle book sales, then they will refuse to give us this choice. In which case, I am even considering that it could be possible for Kindle readers who paid for the no-ads option and who feel about this update as I do, to join in common cause, perhaps even a class action suit, to get our $30 payments for having no advertising refunded to us. Or, will Amazon offer to remove the ads from this obnoxious new homepage if we pay them another $30? Thank you for reading my post and letting me express my feelings. I hope I haven't sounded too strident. It's just that I have so adored my Kindle in its current configuration, and will truly hate this new homepage. Since I love reading books on my Kindle so much, this unwelcome change is very distressing to me.

02-15-2016, 08:11 AM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Yes, you sound very strident. Just turn off the Home Page, sit down with a beverage of your choice, and try to relax. Last edited by Dr. Drib; 02-15-2016 at 08:29 AM.

02-15-2016, 09:13 AM	#8
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,569 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Home page, schmome page. I can count the seconds I spend looking at it in a day on two hands. As long as it still "turns on" to where I stopped reading, I simply refuse to get worked up about any potential home page changes.Why stress over a couple of taps/clicks here or there? Last edited by DiapDealer; 02-15-2016 at 12:19 PM.

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02-15-2016, 07:32 AM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	This post has nothing to do with Kindle formats. Now moved to the Kindle forum. Please take the time to look over our site and post responsibly. Don (Moderator)

02-15-2016, 07:38 AM	#3
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,070 Karma: 91577715 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	The new home page is optional and can be easily turned off.

02-15-2016, 07:55 AM	#4
copyrite Wizard Posts: 1,841 Karma: 4985051 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Device: Kindle	Easy peasy to change (well, more clicks than necessary IMO): Menu \| Settings \| Device Options \|Personalize your Kindle \| Advanced Options \| Home Screen View off

02-15-2016, 08:16 AM	#6
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	I don't like it, but as I don't use wifi on my Voyage, I won't be getting the update. Yes I know it can be turned off, but as I understand, there are other changes, such as to List View, that I would also dislike. The new home screen is eerily reminiscent of the Nook Simple Touch home screen. Some have said it is a more modern look, well the NST had that home screen back in what, 2011?

02-15-2016, 09:43 AM	#12
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	I tried the new homepage for a few days to give it a fair chance, and then I turned it off.

02-15-2016, 12:05 PM	#15
Atunah Wizard Posts: 1,817 Karma: 23400001 Join Date: May 2012 Location: USA Device: K1/K3/BasicK Voyage/Oasis1/Oasis3	Like everyone else said. Its optional. Turn it off if you don't like it. I like it, so there. I actually always had recommendations turned off before this update and I also bought out of ads. But this new home page doesn't work like the old recs for me. It uses my own book interest to show that stuff. I control really what comes up. My goodreads shelf, my goodreads friends, my samples, my amazon wishlist. Its all my stuff in one place. And the recommendations through goodreads, when that rotating row comes up? Based on books I rated on goodreads so based on what I actually like. I don't know what it would show if you don't use goodreads or have amazon wishlists or any samples. No clue. But for me, I happen to like it. The old view is still there, just a swipe or button press away. Best of all, as usual amazon makes most stuff like that optional. So those that like it can use it and those that don't can turn it off. Nobody gets to decide for the other group what should or shouldn't be offered after its there. I have actually found a few reads already since the new home view since its uses my own ratings. I don't even bother browsing on amazon anymore because of all the scammy and mis-categorized stuff. This actually works for me.

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