Firmware Update Fw 5.8.11 update

[Pjama]

Originally Posted by jhowell

There are several factors at play.

In order to have the boldness slider you need a book in KF8 (azw3) or KFX format.

In order for the kindle to extract the cover thumbnail image for a sideloaded book it needs to be in original MOBI (azw) format.

You can get the kindle to display a thumbnail for a sideloaded book in KF8 or KFX format, but only if it marked as an e-book (cdetype=EBOK) and not a personal document (cdetype not set or cdetype=PDOC). In that case if the ASIN of the book matches that of a kindle book for sale then you will get that cover thumbnail. Otherwise you can sideload your own thumbnail image if you put it in the right place ("system/thumbnails" directory) with the right name. Both calibre and the ExtractCoverThumbs program have the ability to do this.

Thanks! I used to know this about selecting Ebok instead of Pdoc, but it's been a few years since I did this, good to know this will work in azw3 this way. I'll be trying later or tomorrow. I'll do them this way, and sideload them onto my Voyage, then my Oasis when I get this. I'm too much of a perfectionist to live without the covers.

Correction: having tried that, without reading properly, I have the azw with cover and no bolding slider. So now I'm going to try put the jpeg cover I have in the correct folder, et voilà (hopefully).

[Pjama]

Also, I can't see a setting to alter from PDOC to EBOK for the azw3 file I have. I'm checking other threads on this forum.

[shamanNS]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I haven't tested it, but logically it should then allow a cover thumbnail to be set while losing the ability to sync reading position and annotations. (The cdetype and ASIN combined form the "key" for the book.)

That "and" is unfortunate. ASIN + location should have been enough to implement syncing... but that would be to easy for Lab126.

(just like it's was to easy for Kindles to just generate thumbnails from embedded book cover, regardless of book format & CDETYPE)

[Pjama]

How can I change cdetype in my azw3? There is nothing to edit that I can see in the metadata. Cf. to azw where it's obvious. So frustrating having to choose between no cover or no bold slider.

[GoSharks]

@Pjama-
Are you using Calibre to convert to AZW3?..if so, there is no setting to change. If you side-load the converted AZW3 onto your kindle by using the 'send to device' in Calibre you will have both covers and bold slider ability. (Be sure to select AZW3 as the first priority format to send to your particular device)

[Pjama]

Originally Posted by GoSharks

@Pjama-
Are you using Calibre to convert to AZW3?..if so, there is no setting to change. If you side-load the converted AZW3 onto your kindle by using the 'send to device' in Calibre you will have both covers and bold slider ability. (Be sure to select AZW3 as the first priority format to send to your particular device)

Wow, I've been tying myself in knots over this! Thanks - this worked perfectly.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by shamanNS

That "and" is unfortunate. ASIN + location should have been enough to implement syncing... but that would be to easy for Lab126.

(just like it's was to easy for Kindles to just generate thumbnails from embedded book cover, regardless of book format & CDETYPE)

I believe this to be intentional. They withhold features from books that were not purchased from Amazon. It gives incentive to purchase from them instead of other book stores.

For example, in older firmware versions you could sideload a cover thumbnail for a KF8 personal document. They added code to block that.

[GoSharks]

Originally Posted by Pjama

Wow, I've been tying myself in knots over this! Thanks - this worked perfectly.

Glad you've got it working

[shamanNS]

Blocking covers for PDOCs is just spiteful. "Personal" banner was annoying but generic cover is 5x worse.

Without even considering all the newer stuff that is tied to KFX format there is still enough of things (X-Ray, Goodreads, Audiobook <> ebook sync ... ) to motivate people to buy from Amazon.

[krazy4katz]

My kindle Voyage hasn't updated yet. Do you think they are still distributing it? I usually wait rather than try to download the updates myself. I am somewhat techie, but not with my kindle. Too much to lose.

[Barbara1955]

3 am I reading on my PW3 Suddenly get this popup & my settings Change... I got the update...just wish it happened when I wasn't reading I Love the new settings!

These new setting are Soo much like the Kobo setting I wondering IF Kobo had a Patent on the software.....

[Pjama]

I'm converting all my mobis to azw3 and sending them via Calibre. It's working, but taking a long time.

I've now come across a kfx format book that isn't showing a cover. It's an omnibus edition so is quite a large file. I tried deleting it from my kindle, then resent it from Manage my Content, same problem.
Then I tried deleting it and downloaded it from Manage my Content and transferred via USB to my kindle - still no cover.

Has anyone else had this problem with kfx books?

I love the new settings too, Barbara, especially as I'm returning to the kindle from a year with kobo.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Pjama

I've now come across a kfx format book that isn't showing a cover.

Support for KFX in calibre is incomplete. See the first post in the KFX Output plugin thread for work-arounds to allow cover thumbnails. It takes extra work to make that happen.

[Pjama]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Support for KFX in calibre is incomplete. See the first post in the KFX Output plugin thread for work-arounds to allow cover thumbnails. It takes extra work to make that happen.

Thanks, but I wasn't using Calibre for this file, it came from my Amazon account. That's strange, isn't it?

[Barty]

Originally Posted by krazy4katz

My kindle Voyage hasn't updated yet. Do you think they are still distributing it? I usually wait rather than try to download the updates myself. I am somewhat techie, but not with my kindle. Too much to lose.

It's perfectly safe to update manually. Download the file, copy it over, and choose update your kindle from settings screen. It will not let you update if you have the wrong file.