Firmware Update New Kindle software update: 5.18.4

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by jhowell

... three different Kindles, one running 5.18.3 and two running 5.18.4.0.1.

For reference purposes, does NoDRM's DeDRM plugin still work with 5.18.4.0.1? Thank you

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by odamizu

For reference purposes, does NoDRM's DeDRM plugin still work with 5.18.4.0.1? Thank you

Yes it does. There have been no changes to e-ink Kindle DRM.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by jhowell

The only changes from 5.18.4 to 5.18.4.0.1 are in FastMetrics (which handles sending statistics to Amazon), and xtables (which regulates Internet traffic). There are no other changes.

If someone reports that installing this update affected the user interface it is likely that it was coincidental with Amazon's servers enabling them remotely. Just the act of rebooting a Kindle will cause it to check for changes to features that should be enabled.



I am a US customer I have have the spacing adjustment feature on three different Kindles, one running 5.18.3 and two running 5.18.4.0.1. On all three it is found under Aa, Font, Spacing.

I've restarted all of my kindles running 5.18.3 and later, to no avail thus far.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Yes it does. There have been no changes to e-ink Kindle DRM.

Thank you. I will update the calibre thread.

[BionicGecko]

Originally Posted by sirena28

My Kindle is an 11th generation (2022 release) running firmware version 5.18.3, and I’d like to know if there is a jailbreak available for this version or not.

A jailbreak does exist for this firmware version but it’s not publicly available yet; it should be released sometime later this year.

At any rate, if you want to jailbreak your kindle, be sure not to update to firmware version 5.18.4 or later - you would then lose any chance of jailbreaking it, at least with currently known methods.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Yes it does. There have been no changes to e-ink Kindle DRM.

I should be clearer. There are no DRM-related changes in the 5.18.4.0.1 firmware and DeDRM currently still works with books downloaded using that firmware.

But what I wrote about the 5.18.4 firmware still holds. Amazon may have already implemented a DRM change in that version and if so it could be deployed in the future without a another firmware change.

[odamizu]

Thank you. I have updated the calibre thread. It will be interesting to see if/when Amazon hardens the DRM on eink devices. Also whether Amazon will block downloads to older eink devices entirely.

The battery on my old K4BNT continues to degrade. Just wondering which will come first: the battery dying completely or Amazon blocking downloads

Originally Posted by jhowell

I should be clearer. There are no DRM-related changes in the 5.18.4.0.1 firmware and DeDRM currently still works with books downloaded using that firmware.

But what I wrote about the 5.18.4 firmware still holds. Amazon may have already implemented a DRM change in that version and if so it could be deployed in the future without a another firmware change.

[Quoth]

I've replaced the battery (really a cell) on my K3 twice now. Gets better & faster downloads as azw3/KF8 than KFX on the Paperwhite, which seem to be throttled.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I've replaced the battery (really a cell) on my K3 twice now. Gets better & faster downloads as azw3/KF8 than KFX on the Paperwhite, which seem to be throttled.

After watching videos of replacing the battery in a K4BNT, I am afraid I will bork it in the attempt. This recent post of a bricked K4BNT after battery replacement doesn't help my confidence: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=369541

So I'm holding off until the battery is totally dead — assuming Amazon doesn't drop support for it before then.

[Quoth]

It's impossible on some models of Kindle, which ought to be a crime.

[Hollow Man]

Mine just updated to 5.18.4.0.1. Now it has a new "browse the book" menu when, in a book, you tap up top, or swipe up from the bottom, which tries to mimic how it looks on mobile devices. Except since you can't quickly swipe-scroll through pages, it's kinda lame. I hate change.

[jhowell]

I examined the 5.18.4 software again and saw something that I failed to notice earlier, support for color in Scribe notebooks.

Up to now the only color allowed for drawing in Scribe notebooks has been black. 5.18.4 adds support for other colors. A color picker can be opened that allows a choice between gray, red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, blue, purple, and pink. There is also mention of "Converting color stroke to black for B/W devices".

Of course none of this appears to be enabled at the moment. But is does indicate the possibility of a Color Scribe being in development.

[rantanplan]

If they wouldn't hold your notes hostage, you could benefit from color strokes.

[Steven630]

Thank you @BionicGecko and @DenS.

[gwergtre]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I examined the 5.18.4 software again and saw something that I failed to notice earlier, support for color in Scribe notebooks.

Up to now the only color allowed for drawing in Scribe notebooks has been black. 5.18.4 adds support for other colors. A color picker can be opened that allows a choice between gray, red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, blue, purple, and pink. There is also mention of "Converting color stroke to black for B/W devices".

Of course none of this appears to be enabled at the moment. But is does indicate the possibility of a Color Scribe being in development.

Wow I've been waiting for color Scribe for a long time. Hoping they'll release it soon.