Android KitKat released

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

That's interesting. I woke his tablet from sleep to see what it had on the notification bar. I wonder if it's because our tablets are always rooted? I know with my 2012 Nexus I even rebooted while the message was there and it didn't update.

Stock JB on N7 2012 & 2013 here and nope, neither are forcing me to update to KitKat. When you select the update, the only option in the dialog box is "Restart & Install" but you can just click on either back or home buttons to avoid updating. That's always been the case for me for updates. I have never been forced to upgrade any of my Nexus devices. The persistent notification on the status bar is annoying though so I usually end up upgrading sooner rather than later.

[MeSue]

Been checking for update every day now for the past week. Still no 4.4 on my 2012 N7. Grrrrr! I'd like to get a little familiar with it before I gift the thing to my niece for Christmas.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Carrier, Sim and region locked have nothing to do with rooting and unlocking the bootloader. That just prevents you from unlocking the Sim card.

That was my experience the last time. This time, however, the lock seemed to deny access. I'm not alone in that experience; a few others who bought their S4 from MetroPCS (unlocked without a plan after six months and $100 cheaper than elsewhere) reported the same issue.

I'm not updating to 4.3 on my S3 right now because of the KNOX crap either. I'll wait for the xda folks to do their magic first.

That was my thought, too.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by MeSue

Been checking for update every day now for the past week. Still no 4.4 on my 2012 N7. Grrrrr!

Same on my Nexus 7 2013. Here's a SWAG, maybe (for reasons unknown to me) the update algorithm is designed to put encrypted tablets to the back of the line.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Just got a reply from Moon+ Pro Reader's developer

So I don't think we will see a fix anytime soon.

Yes, it doesn't look promising. I got almost the same reply from him via email. However, what he says isn't precise -- I have a 2013 Nexus 7, yet italics don't work there, either. It really makes books ugly to look at.

Originally Posted by Gazella

Really? I very much like that the status bar icons are all white now. Someone said the blue color looked very sci-fi, which I agree

I dislike when software developers only give you one option, as if that could ever appeal to everyone. They should have made this an option. (Option to revert to blue for those who preferred it.)

Originally Posted by Blossom

Just found a horrible bug on the Kindle app after the upgrade.

The Kindle app is awful on iOS, but it's ten times more awful on Android. I haven't even bothered to install it on my current Android tablet.

PS: Oh, and my Business Calendar widget started working in weekly view again. The developers released "a KitKat update" of the app within a day or so that fixed the issue, and they also replied to my bug report via email to notify me of the fix. That's some great customer support.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Faterson

Yes, it doesn't look promising. I got almost the same reply from him via email. However, what he says isn't precise -- I have a 2013 Nexus 7, yet italics don't work there, either. It really makes books ugly to look at.


The Kindle app is awful on iOS, but it's ten times more awful on Android. I haven't even bothered to install it on my current Android tablet.

Now I have to disagree with you I found the Kindle app to be awesome compare to Kindle Fire HDX version. I embed my fonts to overcome the one font limitation but other than that it's a great app.

I agree the default font on Moon+ is not appealing with it being soooo thin. I have no idea what update he is talking about does anyone else know of an update for KitKat in the works and how he could know it will fix this problem?

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I agree the default font on Moon+ is not appealing with it being soooo thin. I have no idea what update he is talking about does anyone else know of an update for KitKat in the works and how he could know it will fix this problem?

You may want to explain the problem again since you said, "Mantano is not affected it displays all custom typesets correctly still." I find it hard to believe that it somehow works in Mantano but Moon+ has its hands tied because of a Kitkat issue.

Additionally if afv011 can be believed (quoted below) Kitkat has already had one software update. I suspect you already got the software update to Kitkat as your initial download. So at least 1 bugfix has rolled out to those users who required it. Supply the Moon+ developer the exact build number of your install and ask again when will it get fixed.

Originally Posted by afv011

Yes, I've had 4.4 for a week now. I sideloaded the OTA update the same day it came out, and got the bug fix OTA a day or two ago.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

You may want to explain the problem again since you said, "Mantano is not affected it displays all custom typesets correctly still." I find it hard to believe that it somehow works in Mantano but Moon+ has its hands tied because of a Kitkat issue.

Additionally if afv011 can be believed (quoted below) Kitkat has already had one software update. I suspect you already got the software update to Kitkat as your initial download. So at least 1 bugfix has rolled out to those users who required it. Supply the Moon+ developer the exact build number of your install and ask again when will it get fixed.

I've got build (KRT16S) I am clueless to what it means but I guess I can give it a try.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I've got build (KRT16S) I am clueless to what it means but I guess I can give it a try.

Since I don't have an updated Nexus 7 yet I can't add much but here is an article and another on the bug fix supplied with your version of Kitkat.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I've got build (KRT16S)

I have that same build, but it does not resolve the italics issue in Moon+ Reader.

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

You may want to explain the problem again since you said, "Mantano is not affected it displays all custom typesets correctly still." I find it hard to believe that it somehow works in Mantano but Moon+ has its hands tied because of a Kitkat issue.

Yes, it sounds doubtful. If there's another KitKat update later on and it still does not resolve the Moon+ issue, we may need to bother the Moon+ developer again, and insist he take a closer look at what's happening. (Particularly because also, in his reply to Blossom, he mischaracterised as to on which devices the bug occurs.)

Originally Posted by Blossom

Now I have to disagree with you I found the Kindle app to be awesome compare to Kindle Fire HDX version.

It's possible it's even more awful on Kindle FHDX. If you enjoy the Kindle app, good for you! I find it unusable on both iOS and (especially) Android. I'm not going to be embedding any fonts in my e-books just for the sake of some unbearably lame, totally non-customisable app. That's just embarrassingly trashy software to me. Your mileage may vary. I heavily annotate e-books I read, and that is another area where the Kindle app is extremely limited in terms of functionality. I found the hardware e-ink Kindles best in the Kindle universe, but got rid of them, too, after Marvin for iOS was released, which offers the best annotations functionality I have found on any e-reader regardless of platform (though still with lots of room for improvement). Moon+'s annotating capabilities are so-so. As to Kindle Fires, I wouldn't consider them due to their super-high-walled garden environment, compared to which even Apple's iOS garden wall looks like a waist-high hedge.

Originally Posted by Blossom

I agree the default font on Moon+ is not appealing with it being soooo thin.

I never use default fonts in e-books -- they're so ridiculously ugly in most cases. (One big reason I find the Kindles unbearable.) From among the fonts provided by Moon+ Reader Pro, I like Calluna most. From Marvin on iOS, I'm familiar with the free fonts Volkhov and Arvo, and I loaded them into Moon+ Reader Pro. They only work for Western European languages, though, so for e-books in any other language, I need to switch to Calluna. For reference, see the two screenshots below, showing my current themes as set up in Moon+ Reader. The screenshots show the three fonts -- Volkhov, Arvo and Calluna -- in action.

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

You may want to explain the problem again since you said, "Mantano is not affected it displays all custom typesets correctly still." I find it hard to believe that it somehow works in Mantano but Moon+ has its hands tied because of a Kitkat issue.

Additionally if afv011 can be believed (quoted below) Kitkat has already had one software update. I suspect you already got the software update to Kitkat as your initial download. So at least 1 bugfix has rolled out to those users who required it. Supply the Moon+ developer the exact build number of your install and ask again when will it get fixed.

Not sure if another update came through or not, but a day or so after 4.4 update my Nexus 7.2 did another restart after it went into sleep mode much the same way it did with 4.4 update. There was no message about an update though. A couple of setting were reset after the restart.

Originally Posted by Blossom

Now I have to disagree with you I found the Kindle app to be awesome compare to Kindle Fire HDX version. I embed my fonts to overcome the one font limitation but other than that it's a great app.

I agree with you here. The kindle for Android app is fairly simplistic, but it definitely gets the job done and looks good with embedded fonts. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Mantano (which is overpriced and its annoying in how they keep taking away features and charge for their cloud) and Moon+. But it works well with the Kindle Whispernet ecosystem.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Faterson

I have that same build, but it does not resolve the italics issue in Moon+ Reader.



]Yes, it sounds doubtful. If there's another KitKat update later on and it still does not resolve the Moon+ issue, we may need to bother the Moon+ developer again, and insist he take a closer look at what's happening. (Particularly because also, in his reply to Blossom, he mischaracterised as to on which devices the bug occurs.)

Are you going to contact him again? I am planning to but waiting a few days. I don't want him to think I am pestering him.

It's possible it's even more awful on Kindle FHDX. If you enjoy the Kindle app, good for you! I find it unusable on both iOS and (especially) Android. I'm not going to be embedding any fonts in my e-books just for the sake of some unbearably lame, totally non-customisable app. That's just embarrassingly trashy software to me. Your mileage may vary. I heavily annotate e-books I read, and that is another area where the Kindle app is extremely limited in terms of functionality. I found the hardware e-ink Kindles best in the Kindle universe, but got rid of them, too, after Marvin for iOS was released, which offers the best annotations functionality I have found on any e-reader regardless of platform (though still with lots of room for improvement). Moon+'s annotating capabilities are so-so. As to Kindle Fires, I wouldn't consider them due to their super-high-walled garden environment, compared to which even Apple's iOS garden wall looks like a waist-high hedge.

You have to pry my Kindles from my hands! I love Kindles. I own 4 of them well 5 if you could the Original Kindle Fire I gifted to my husband. It was the best tablet. I should have waited. I didn't mind it felt like I was holding a brick. I was heartbroken the HDX 7 was such subpar quality as this is the first time I am without a Kindle Fire. I may get a HD down the line.

I have no problems with the Kindle app. I only read Fiction though mostly romances and I never highlight or annotate. I was pleasant surprise with how nice it works on the Nexus 7 as it wont run on my older tablets. It has plenty of options that most Kindles have so I am happy. It's so easy to embed fonts I don't mind doing it specially if I do get that HD I am all set.

I never use default fonts in e-books -- they're so ridiculously ugly in most cases. (One big reason I find the Kindles unbearable.) From among the fonts provided by Moon+ Reader Pro, I like Calluna most. From Marvin on iOS, I'm familiar with the free fonts Volkhov and Arvo, and I loaded them into Moon+ Reader Pro. They only work for Western European languages, though, so for e-books in any other language, I need to switch to Calluna. For reference, see the two screenshots below, showing my current themes as set up in Moon+ Reader. The screenshots show the three fonts -- Volkhov, Arvo and Calluna -- in action.

You do realize with the exception of the PW2 that you can use any font on the Kindle without Jailbreaking it? I use Trebuchet that I've enlarge and added weight to. There's no need to embed anything. On the Nexus I have this font in several different weight because each app renders them different.

I find all the fonts you mention unsuitable for me. I think if you want to discuss more of this app we should move it to the app's thread though. Don't want to go too off topic too much. I use the Kindle Sepia theme and the Mantano Sepia theme in Moon+ Reader.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by DoctorOhh

Additionally if afv011 can be believed (quoted below) Kitkat has already had one software update. I suspect you already got the software update to Kitkat as your initial download. So at least 1 bugfix has rolled out to those users who required it. Supply the Moon+ developer the exact build number of your install and ask again when will it get fixed.

The original 4.4 OTA had a bug that affected devices with an encrypted file system, and this caused the pause in OTA updates. For those that had already updated, a 2nd, smaller OTA was sent out with the fix for the encrypted file system bug. If you updated after this OTA, you would only have 1 update.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Are you going to contact him again?

Only after the next Android update (like he said that it would fix the bug).

Originally Posted by Blossom

I don't want him to think I am pestering him.

Same here.

Originally Posted by Blossom

I have no problems with the Kindle app. I only read Fiction though mostly romances and I never highlight or annotate.

If you never highlight or annotate, Kindles might indeed fulfill your needs. They're just unusable for me. I was willing to put up with the limitations when the original first e-ink Kindle was released -- not in 2013.

Originally Posted by Blossom

You do realize with the exception of the PW2 that you can use any font on the Kindle without Jailbreaking it?

Even on iOS? But, you know, fonts are only a small part of what's missing in the Kindle app for me. Being unable to save dozens of themes (like you can do in Moon+ Reader Pro) would be another unpardonable deficiency from my point of view. I dislike each of the 3 Kindle themes offered by default (can't stand solid-colour backgrounds, no matter of what colour; gotta have textures!).

Originally Posted by Blossom

I find all the fonts you mention unsuitable for me.

Naturally! People have varying tastes. That's the hallmark of good-quality software: it allows users to adapt the software to their personal preferences. Kindle is (in my opinion) bad software because it lacks customisability, even on some of the most elementary levels.

Originally Posted by Blossom

if you want to discuss more of this app

Nope, from my perspective, Kindle software is hopelessly behind Moon+ Reader Pro on Android, and behind Marvin on iOS. It is clear as day that Amazon is satisfied with providing such bare-bones software. That may be fine for them and many of their customers -- but not for me.