Kindle firmware update 5.13.4

[binaryhermit]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Umm, how long has ‘Group Series in Library’ feature been there? (In Settings -> Device Options -> Advanced Options -> Home & Library)

I'm pretty sure it wasn't in 5.13.3, so less than a day unless it was one of those server-side updates that are all the rage these days

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I'm pretty sure it wasn't in 5.13.3, so less than a day unless it was one of those server-side updates that are all the rage these days

If that is the case, this is especially puzzling since I don’t recall ever seeing a setting/option that had no effect whatsoever. Instead the UI updates when the feature is turned on.

I will speculate that perhaps they have to do some sort of update to metadata on the ‘series’ books themselves, and given millions of titles involved it might roll out over time.

Whatever is going on, I’m looking forward to seeing it happen.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by tomsem

If that is the case, this is especially puzzling since I don’t recall ever seeing a setting/option that had no effect whatsoever. Instead the UI updates when the feature is turned on.

I will speculate that perhaps they have to do some sort of update to metadata on the ‘series’ books themselves, and given millions of titles involved it might roll out over time.

Whatever is going on, I’m looking forward to seeing it happen.

Are you dealing with purchased or sideloaded ebooks?

I expect same as covers, the series metadata require phoning the mothership to populate. The metadata probably won't be stored in/with the books either but in a central repository or database of some kind.

[jhowell]

Some things I found looking at the new firmware:

Series support. Message that will show when it is enabled: "Kindle has begun grouping series in your library. You can view individual books by tapping on the series group cover. This feature can be turned off in settings." It can also tell you that "You have {number} of {number} items in this series."

It is odd that the menu choice is shown prior to its availability. I suspect that was a mistake since this feature is not mentioned in the release notes and does not appear to be activated yet.

Continued work on the book cover as screen saver feature. Still not yet enabled. (EREADER_CURATOR_BOOK_COVERS_307723)

Different labels will be shown to go back from a footnote for LTR and RTL books.

Forgot to mention: Bookerly Display font

[binaryhermit]

hmm, my 10th gen PW has it but my 9th gen Oasis doesn't...
And it doesn't seem to do anything on the PW...

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Are you dealing with purchased or sideloaded ebooks?

I expect same as covers, the series metadata require phoning the mothership to populate. The metadata probably won't be stored in/with the books either but in a central repository or database of some kind.

Everything on my Paperwhite is purchased, and I never turn off WiFi so it is free to call home any time.

In the Kindle Store, for some time now, most series books are delineated and you can View Books in Series, with a purchase option to buy them all at once. (I accidentally tapped that button a couple of weeks ago, and unlike single purchases, I was unable to reverse the purchase on my Account page and had to contact Customer Support) So they must already have metadata that could be used on-device somehow.

So I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens with this.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Some things I found looking at the new firmware:

Series support. Message that will show when it is enabled: "Kindle has begun grouping series in your library. You can view individual books by tapping on the series group cover. This feature can be turned off in settings." It can also tell you that "You have {number} of {number} items in this series."

It is odd that the menu choice is shown prior to its availability. I suspect that was a mistake since this feature is not mentioned in the release notes and does not appear to be activated yet.

Continued work on the book cover as screen saver feature. Still not yet enabled. (EREADER_CURATOR_BOOK_COVERS_307723)

Different labels will be shown to go back from a footnote for LTR and RTL books.

Forgot to mention: Bookerly Display font

Are you still seeing Text-to-Speech reference?

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by tomsem

In the Kindle Store, for some time now, most series books are delineated and you can View Books in Series, with a purchase option to buy them all at once.

Amazon has also recently pushed for even self-publishers to provide series metadata to them: Create and Manage Series in KDP

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Some things I found looking at the new firmware:

Series support. Message that will show when it is enabled: "Kindle has begun grouping series in your library. You can view individual books by tapping on the series group cover. This feature can be turned off in settings." It can also tell you that "You have {number} of {number} items in this series."

It is odd that the menu choice is shown prior to its availability. I suspect that was a mistake since this feature is not mentioned in the release notes and does not appear to be activated yet.

Continued work on the book cover as screen saver feature. Still not yet enabled. (EREADER_CURATOR_BOOK_COVERS_307723)

Forgot to mention: Bookerly Display font

Is it possible to enable the series feature for side loaded eBooks?

The cover as sleep screen is getting some hostile comments. Personally, if people are going to be that hostile over it, I don't want it to ever be enabled.

How does Bookerly Display Font compare to Bookerly?

[Paperbackstash]

I'd rather do custom screensavers than book covers if we ever get that option. But, book cover options would be a good start.

I will probably have to sideload the update later to see it since it seems to take forever to become available on my devices otherwise. I finally loaded the last update on my Oasis 3 after over a month, but not my paperwhites - and they still don't have the update available to them.

I don't mind more home page content since I enjoy scrolling the recommendations personally, so I'm curious on this change.

Overall sounds like a small update - hopefully bug free

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is it possible to enable the series feature for side loaded eBooks?

Since it doesn’t work yet for purchased books, I have to think the answer is ‘no’.

Once the feature is enabled no doubt Kovid (of calibre) will be able to figure out how to enable it for side-loaded books.

[cvkemp]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Umm, how long has ‘Group Series in Library’ feature been there? (In Settings -> Device Options -> Advanced Options -> Home & Library)

I turned it on, but it doesn’t seem to do what I would expect, given the name of the option (which is to say, it seems to have no effect).

I just looked on my new paper white and it doesn’t have that setting

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Since it doesn’t work yet for purchased books, I have to think the answer is ‘no’.

Once the feature is enabled no doubt Kovid (of calibre) will be able to figure out how to enable it for side-loaded books.

Would Kovid try to figure out series for the Kindle driver or will that be up to someone else?

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Would Kovid try to figure out series for the Kindle driver or will that be up to someone else?

Anyone (with sufficient skills) can contribute enhancements to calibre - but there has to be something to reverse engineer first.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is it possible to enable the series feature for side loaded eBooks?

It is too much effort for me to dig into this further by looking at the firmware. Once it becomes enabled we will be able to see how it works and determine whether or not that is possible.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The cover as sleep screen is getting some hostile comments. Personally, if people are going to be that hostile over it, I don't want it to ever be enabled.

Amazon is certainly taking their time getting it out. It is implemented in conjunction with a new process for delivering ad campaigns as Kindle screen savers. That may be related the hold up. Or perhaps they are saving it to release in conjunction with the next generation of Kindles.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How does Bookerly Display Font compare to Bookerly?

I don't know. I just saw that it was added to the internal list of fonts. It is probably something intended for the Kindle's user interface, not a font for reading books.