New version of Kindle for PC

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm not having any problems with Kindle for Mac v1.10.0, so it looks like it's probably safe to upgrade on Windows or Mac.

Were you getting any expiration notices on OS X, out of curiosity? I'm used to the "New version available" message, but the "Your version will soon expire" sounds ominous.

[TimW]

The message on mine says: "Changes to allow application to continue working past July 21, 2012." I'm running version 1.4.0, I assume that's why it reads differently. It's reasonable to expect that the old version will no longer function after 7/21. At the very least, I won't be able to download new books from 'Zon unless I update.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Were you getting any expiration notices on OS X, out of curiosity? I'm used to the "New version available" message, but the "Your version will soon expire" sounds ominous.

No, I didn't get any messages like that. And now I've updated, I don't suppose I will!

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Were you getting any expiration notices on OS X, out of curiosity? I'm used to the "New version available" message, but the "Your version will soon expire" sounds ominous.

My update message on OS X is "Kindle for Mac 1.10: Minor improvements and bug fixes."

I guess Amazon is going to attempt to gain more control over our use of the K4PC and K4Mac apps, probably in order to squash the use of tools at some point. I hope that is not the case, but I suspect it is. I'm guessing that older versions of the app will still be able to view side-loaded Kindle books but not be able to download from or Whispersync with Amazon. But that is just a guess.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by TimW

The message on mine says: "Changes to allow application to continue working past July 21, 2012." I'm running version 1.4.0, I assume that's why it reads differently. It's reasonable to expect that the old version will no longer function after 7/21. At the very least, I won't be able to download new books from 'Zon unless I update.

That's sort of what I'm expecting. Not earth-shattering, by any means, but it will (if it turns out to be true) mark the first time Amazon has rendered any version of the K4* software obsolete (even partially) since its inception. It probably had to happen some time though.

Originally Posted by jswindon

I guess Amazon is going to attempt to gain more control over our use of the K4PC and K4Mac apps, probably in order to squash the use of tools at some point. I hope that is not the case, but I suspect it is. I'm guessing that older versions of the app will still be able to view side-loaded Kindle books but not be able to download from or Whispersync with Amazon. But that is just a guess.

I don't really see it as any preemptive strike against circumvention tools, per se. But rather, one more logical step in the controlled (but unhurried) migration away from the traditional MOBI format. You can't ultimately hope to phase it out while millions of apps are still clamoring to download it. It may result in having the same ultimate effect of rendering the tools "squashed" somewhere down the road. But I don't think that's the driving force.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I don't really see it as any preemptive strike against circumvention tools, per se. But rather, one more logical step in the controlled (but unhurried) migration away from the traditional MOBI format. You can't ultimately hope to phase it out while millions of apps are still clamoring to download it. It may result in having the same ultimate effect of rendering the tools "squashed" somewhere down the road. But I don't think that's the driving force.

I love my Kindle, but if they manage to find a way to circumvent the tools, I'll be finding my books at other outlets.

And I don't see how they can migrate away from MOBI without abandoning all those users who are still using K1, K2 and K3 devices with no hope of firmware upgrades. Gonna piss off a *lot* of folks. And a lot of revenue will be lost.

Sigh.. Looks like I need to upgrade my K4Win (1.4.0). Just checked and I get the July date also.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

And I don't see how they can migrate away from MOBI without abandoning all those users who are still using K1, K2 and K3 devices with no hope of firmware upgrades. Gonna piss off a *lot* of folks. And a lot of revenue will be lost.

I did say an "unhurried" migration.

I expect older "purchased" hardware (whose numbers will continue to dwindle) to be supported much, much longer than the free app. Lets face it... the only thing they might be asking users to give up by forcing them to upgrade their free apps is something that they don't endorse in the first place. And with the app out of the way, they're going to have a much easier time monitoring the number of ebooks being delivered to those older devices in the older format.

At some point, though—sooner for the K1 than the K3—when those numbers start getting pretty slim ... I suspect we'll lose the ability to download new purchases or archived items via Whispernet (Wifi or 3G). But I fully expect Amazon to always offer a free online conversion tool that users—who want to continue using the ageing hardware (of which I'm one)—can use to convert their new purchases to the older format that can then be downloaded and manually transferred to those devices.

Of course I could be full of bull-spit, too. Wouldn't surprise me one bit.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm highly curious about this "expiring" notice. I'm going to leave a few older versions installed to see what happens. There hasn't been any "expiration" of old versions clear back to the betas, that I know of. Perhaps it's just a semantic expiration, but the fact that a date is given leads me to believe otherwise. I guess we'll see in a month or so.

There's a thread about it at the Amazon Kindle Forum. Support claims it was a mistake and there should be no expiring messages that it was for beta users only. I am just happy to see it's fixed.

They need to fix the archive bug in this new version. It takes over 30 second for any books to appear. When I start up K4PC it tells me the books are 0 then after it syncs twice they eventually appear. The Archive items is off by 75 to 100 books.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Blossom

There's a thread about it at the Amazon Kindle Forum. Support claims it was a mistake and there should be no expiring messages that it was for beta users only. I am just happy to see it's fixed.

Hmmm. Well that makes all this rampant speculation on my part seem a little silly and premature, doesn't it?

They need to fix the archive bug in this new version. It takes over 30 second for any books to appear. When I start up K4PC it tells me the books are 0 then after it syncs twice they eventually appear.

I'm not experiencing anything like that. The number of books in my archive is almost immediately available, accurate... and no wait for the books to appear in my archive. Is this a common complaint?

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Hmmm.
I'm not experiencing anything like that. The number of books in my archive is almost immediately available, accurate... and no wait for the books to appear in my archive. Is this a common complaint?

No, just one I am experiencing. I'm on Vista 64 and my archive's 2500+ it says 2100

[hn333]

You guys still think Amazon is going to steal your books alike a thief in the night.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by hn333

You guys still think Amazon is going to steal your books alike a thief in the night.

My MYK page shows the correct number of books it's just K4PC that isn't working right.

[DiapDealer]

You guys still think Amazon is going to steal your books alike a thief in the night.

Still? I never did think they would.
This thread's not really about paranoia of any kind. Sorry if I gave that impression.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Perhaps I missed it, but I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere:

Just installed v1.10.0. I was warned that my version was going to "Expire soon"—which is something I've never experienced before... and I have no idea what it may or may not mean.

I don't know what all the changes it brings are, but I do know it adds support for two-column mode for KF8 books—all without breaking the functionality of a popular set of 3rd-party tools.

You must have read my mind.

I just logged on to ask if the upgrade 'broke' anything. Been getting a message also that my version is about to expire.

Spoiler:

BTW. I tried to give you Karma but it said I have to spread it around before I can give you any more.

Carol