Firmware Update Kindle firmware update 5.13.7

[kyrilson]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Amazon will soon be adding cover thumbnails to list view in order to match the way it is shown in the Android and iOS apps.

It seems likely that the drop in the number of items shown is a lead up to that change. I have no idea why they didn't just do both at the same time.

Fairly certain this is the reason they did this as well. It is an annoyance, but not something to get raging mad about.

[tomsem]

There is no reason they cannot have 2 list views to choose from: one with thumbnails, one ‘compact’. But if ‘compact’ had fewer than 8 items, people I guess would say it was a show stopper.

That said, this is a non issue for me.

On the PW5, is it still only 5 items in List view? And 6 in Grid?

[LDB]

I tried out grid view and that did up from 5 to 6 but some of the covers are not any good for identifying the book in that tiny size. List view is the only way to go. And I don't need to see the cover when I see the list. I "need" to see 8 titles not 5, in quotes because it isn't air to breathe or other true needs. But I want the prior and FAR BETTER display option back.

[Zbigniev Hamson]

I mean I kind of hate all the other UI changes as well (dragging down the top bar now has to take up 2/3rds of the screen for just 5 massively spaced out icons? really?), but this is the worst one.

I just feel like they should have a bit more responsibility when making changes like this that basically completely alters how the device works with no way to undo it. Updates like this should be sublte and minimal, or at least optional. I paid money for the software just as much as the hardware and no-one's arguing they should have the right to come and knock on my door and replace it with a Kobo or something. I don't know why the entire look and feel of the thing is regarded as something they can just play aroudn with as they see fit. It feels odd to see people defending that.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by LDB

I tried out grid view and that did up from 5 to 6 but some of the covers are not any good for identifying the book in that tiny size. List view is the only way to go. And I don't need to see the cover when I see the list. I "need" to see 8 titles not 5, in quotes because it isn't air to breathe or other true needs. But I want the prior and FAR BETTER display option back.

The system just forced this update on me today. I'm writing as I don't have any problem with the size of the thumbnails per page on the six-book grid view at all? Page turning seems faster, but that could just be my perception.

Not fond of the Home screen, but as long as it defaults to Library no problem. I only have seven books on the device.

[LDB]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

The system just forced this update on me today. I'm writing as I don't have any problem with the size of the thumbnails per page on the six-book grid view at all? Page turning seems faster, but that could just be my perception.

Not fond of the Home screen, but as long as it defaults to Library no problem. I only have seven books on the device.

I'm glad it's working well for you. Some of mine are great but some no. I need them to be in the list view for 100% to be good.

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Not fond of the Home screen, but as long as it defaults to Library no problem. I only have seven books on the device.

I have 730++ books. 72 index pages in a "to be read-paid money for" folder; 74 index pages of freebies within the last 4 years (since buying this version of the kindle). The *only* thing 5 on a page is good for is easier multiplying to see how many books are on 146 index pages. FINDING a book I feel like trying (when I'm not seeking a specific book) is much harder with only 5 books per page. Grrrrrrr.

This new format may be designed for dabblers; it certainly isn't designed for real bookworms. (No offense intended to you; you may be just starting your collection!)

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

I have 730++ books. 72 index pages in a "to be read-paid money for" folder; 74 index pages of freebies within the last 4 years (since buying this version of the kindle). The *only* thing 5 on a page is good for is easier multiplying to see how many books are on 146 index pages. FINDING a book I feel like trying (when I'm not seeking a specific book) is much harder with only 5 books per page. Grrrrrrr.

This new format may be designed for dabblers; it certainly isn't designed for real bookworms. (No offense intended to you; you may be just starting your collection!)

I take exception to "real bookworms" but will leave it that I have hundreds of titles on my hard drive, but don't see the point of keeping them all on a device; I go through them every so often at Calibre, selecting a couple to transfer. For the record, I prefer the Kobo list-with-thumbnail layout of my half dozen books on my Clara HD.

[Josieb1]

I have nearly 1000 books on my kindle. Every book is in a collection.I also have a priority read collection. I don’t have any issues finding a book to read. I’m not 100% happy with the new look but it’s not a disaster.

[LDB]

I've had a Kindle for over a dozen years and since they don't take up any space or consume any oxygen or other natural resources I've freely accumulated ebooks from multiple email sources when they are free. I have about 5,000 total, at least 96-97% of them free, the rest mostly 99c with some $1.99 and a couple dozen full price. They are mostly in the Kindle cloud with a few dozen on my Kindle at any given time. Even so, I really want my 8 titles per page back.

[mobilis]

I absolutely can't get the old back button functionality to work. Fortunately in reading the poetry of Bo Juyi (with short chapters) but for a longer book, this would be maddening.

Any help?

Ps. Also it's freezing up at random. Just going to Clippings (small file because I redid the Kindle) blanked the screen and I had to restart the device.

Why do companies "fix" perfectly operational things and break them..?

[willaful]

Has anyone found a way to go back to the page you were on from a footnote? The lack of a back button is a serious loss, for me.

[Canis_lupus]

Originally Posted by willaful

Has anyone found a way to go back to the page you were on from a footnote? The lack of a back button is a serious loss, for me.

I don’t have the new interface but apparently if you swipe up from the bottom to get the Page Flip view there will be arrows to navigate back a few recent locations.

Version 5.14.1 adds “back to page” when using a link such as table of contents and bookmarks. Presumably footnotes would be included.

It doesn’t seem to be as easy or reliable as the back button.

[Canis_lupus]

Originally Posted by mobilis

Why do companies "fix" perfectly operational things and break them..?

Really good question. It seems like the Kindle Team doesn’t use eInk Kindles.

Originally Posted by Zbigniev Hamson

I just feel like they should have a bit more responsibility when making changes like this that basically completely alters how the device works with no way to undo it. Updates like this should be sublte and minimal, or at least optional. I paid money for the software just as much as the hardware and no-one's arguing they should have the right to come and knock on my door and replace it with a Kobo or something. I don't know why the entire look and feel of the thing is regarded as something they can just play aroudn with as they see fit. It feels odd to see people defending that.

I couldn’t agree more.

[willaful]

I don't seem to have a way to swipe up from the bottom, just from the top.

Edited: I guess I do, at that. Doesn't help with footnotes, though. :-(