Kindle firmware 5.18.1 released for all 10th gen and newer Kindles

[mergen3107]

Yeah, I’ve seen world map update screen before on a Kindle, but that was very long time ago on a PW3 with FW 5.8.x or 5.9.x. So it must just another language pack update to support CJK stuff better

[jonathan2022]

Voiceview seems to have improved. Voice seems a bit different and doesnt seem to lag as much.

[Marek]

Originally Posted by mergen3107

Yeah, I’ve seen world map update screen before on a Kindle, but that was very long time ago on a PW3 with FW 5.8.x or 5.9.x. So it must just another language pack update to support CJK stuff better

Actually the TTS models were updates

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by jonathan2022

Voiceview seems to have improved. Voice seems a bit different and doesnt seem to lag as much.

For what it may be worth, when I look at the 5.18.1 firmware, there is a data.stgz file. This opens with 7-Zip to a data directory and if you dig into the data directory, there's a voice directory which contains 6 language directories. See attached images for more.

[jonathan2022]

Thanks for the info. I usually just download and copy to kindle. It was weird because I had to really think about if it had changed. Still robotic but least performs better. Least for me.

[mergen3107]

Originally Posted by Marek

Actually the TTS models were updates

People are complaining that it now sounds worse
https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/20...comment-422940

[Drybonz]

With Winterbreak, how do you re-enable the updates to allow this one to happen?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Drybonz

With Winterbreak, how do you re-enable the updates to allow this one to happen?

Easiest way would be to download the 5.18.1 firmware file for your device and copy it to the root of your Kindles exposed storage. Eject your Kindle, enter Airplane mode, use KUAL to run OTARenamer to restore the OTA binaries and then the update file should be seen so you can update your Kindle.

After the update, run the Hotfix booklet to restore the jailbreak which will likely also need you to re-install KUAL and MRPI. Use OTARenamer to rename the OTA binaries, turn on WiFi and continue with life.

[Terry Mint]

Hello there!

I just got myself a Kindle PW 12th Gen and have not registered it or even connected it to the internet yet. I was about to install WinterBreak but not too sure what to do with this new firmware now.

Should I go ahead and register the device before jailbreaking or is there a risk that the new firmware prevents me from doing so?

I am unsure whether WB can be installed on an unregistered device, the WB website says it's not possible but I hear otherwise too.

What would you guys suggest?

[Piecho]

Does the functionality of double tap the case to turn the page works on PW12 non-SE? I read only about having it enabled for SE only.

Would it work in Koreader today or it needs some changes in the apps code?

[BionicGecko]

Originally Posted by Terry Mint

I am unsure whether WB can be installed on an unregistered device, the WB website says it's not possible but I hear otherwise too.

Your Kindle absolutely has to be registered in order to use WinterBreak; I wouldn't trust your sources who say otherwise

Originally Posted by Terry Mint

Should I go ahead and register the device before jailbreaking or is there a risk that the new firmware prevents me from doing so?

Now this is a bit of a conundrum, as in all likelihood the latest FW (5.18.1) will be automatically downloaded during the registration, and most reports so far indicate that WinterBreak can't be installed on 12th gen Kindles already updated to 5.18.1, as access via USB to some required folders has been blocked. There is one report of someone who managed to run WinterBreak by copying the files using Linux, but not much is known about the circumstances yet, and this shouldn't be considered foolproof at this point.

Edit: the suggestion below does not work, as mentioned by user pumpkinwhite here. Leaving it for completeness.

Perhaps one way to go about this would be as follows: after powering on your Kindle, but before connecting it to Wifi, connect it to your computer via USB and fill the storage with random files, leaving only a few megabytes of free space (i.e. not enough space for the firmware update to be stored), and then connect the Kindle to Wifi and register. This should allow you to run the original software your Kindle shipped with, which should be vulnerable to WinterBreak. Then after installing the jailbreak, you can update to 5.18.1, or avoid updates with renameOTAbins, etc. and finally delete the random files from your device.

[BionicGecko]

Originally Posted by Piecho

Does the functionality of double tap the case to turn the page works on PW12 non-SE? I read only about having it enabled for SE only.

Would it work in Koreader today or it needs some changes in the apps code?

I can't answer your first question, however it will definitely not work out of the box in KOReader.

[Jose]

Does the Kindle Paperwhite 12 use an accelerometer for the double tap to work? Does this mean that it doesn't have an automatic screen rotation option simply because Amazon doesn't want it to or because it needs another component for screen rotation to work?

[Drybonz]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Easiest way would be to download the 5.18.1 firmware file for your device and copy it to the root of your Kindles exposed storage. Eject your Kindle, enter Airplane mode, use KUAL to run OTARenamer to restore the OTA binaries and then the update file should be seen so you can update your Kindle.

After the update, run the Hotfix booklet to restore the jailbreak which will likely also need you to re-install KUAL and MRPI. Use OTARenamer to rename the OTA binaries, turn on WiFi and continue with life.

Great... thank you! I was able to get the 5.18 installed, but I can't seem to get KUAL working after that. I get an application error each time. I ran the hotfix, put the "Update_KUALBooklet_ALLDEVICES_KS2_install.bin " in the mrpackages folder and ran ;log mrpi, but I still get the same error.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Drybonz

Great... thank you! I was able to get the 5.18 installed, but I can't seem to get KUAL working after that. I get an application error each time. I ran the hotfix, put the "Update_KUALBooklet_ALLDEVICES_KS2_install.bin " in the mrpackages folder and ran ;log mrpi, but I still get the same error.

Try downloading the latest hotfix.bin file and copying it to the root of your Kindle and see if it shows up as an installable update (this assumes that you have left the OTA binaries in their working state when installing 5.18.1). Once it has installed, try using the Hotfix booklet to run it. Then go ahead with the KUAL/MRPI installs.