Firmware Update Kindle adds Page Numbers (and more)

[tomsem]

I've just discovered something interesting about page numbers. I purchased a book directly from O'Reilly - also available in the Kindle Store - and sideloaded the .mobi format from them (no DRM!). Somehow, it downloaded a page number file (.apnx) and displays page numbers! I'm still trying to figure out just how...

[Snakey]

Originally Posted by FF2

I believe another person, Snakey, said his father's kindle was upgrade to 3.1. His/her father noticed because LOCATIONS had disappeared on the bottom status line. It now only shows when you press Menu.

So it seems it is being "shipping" by Amazon but there's no telling when someone will receive it.

Yes, he has no clue how it happened, never noticed it reboot or anything. Must have downloaded when he had wireless on and then rebooted when he wasn't looking? It's funny because he called Amazon about the locations going missing, and the first person he got went through a bunch of ideas that didn't work and had to transfer him to an expert before they could tell him that he had the "experimental" new firmware. You'd think all of their service people would be aware of this, I figure they'd be getting a lot of calls from people wondering where their locations went after the stealth update.

[FF2]

Very odd way of doing business - and saying he had the "experimental" new firmware is even more interesting. I guess they need a larger pool of "willing" volunteers.

[Grahamk]

Before I do the upgrade to 3.1, can anyone tell me if the progress bar at the bottom of the page shows you the chapter points and the marker as to where you last started reading. The pictures on Amazon seem to just show a % progress bar. I like knowing where the chapters marks are. In other words is it still the same minus the locations info?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...0505500&#pages

[Piper_]

Originally Posted by Grahamk

Before I do the upgrade to 3.1, can anyone tell me if the progress bar at the bottom of the page shows you the chapter points and the marker as to where you last started reading. The pictures on Amazon seem to just show a % progress bar. I like knowing where the chapters marks are. In other words is it still the same minus the locations info?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...0505500&#pages

Yes, the progress bar and chapter markers remain, the same as they were.

[jabberwock_11]

I just bought a Kindle 3 a few days ago to replace my previous ebook reader (which is falling apart), and was pretty enthusiatic about downloading firmware 3.1 because of the page numbers, however, after downloading it and looking through my books the only difference I see is that they no longer show the "position" numbers and if you enter the "go to" menu they have an option to enter page numbers as your go to destination. I see no place (on status bar or elsewhere) where any page numbers are listed. I have both books from Amazon and books converted using the newest version of Calibre. Seeing as this was the only part of the new firmware that I really cared about I am pretty disappointed right now. Any Suggestions? Maybe I just missed something simple that needed to be changed in the settings or something.

[ApK]

If the book has page number info, then when you push menu, the page info and the location info will both be displayed at the bottom where the locations used to be.

[jabberwock_11]

Ahh, I see. I was under the impression that the page numbers were supposed to always be on display on the progress bar, like the location used to be. Spiffy, I guess I can deal with having to hit the menu button to see what page I am on, it is a minor inconvenience.

[ApK]

Yeah, the option to keep that info displayed has come up a lot here as a desired feature.
By the way, because I'm trying to understand the large demand for the whole page number thing, could you tell me why you're interested in knowing what page number you're on when those numbers only apply to some other edition of the book?

thanks,
ApK

[jabberwock_11]

I like to keep an accurate track of my progress. I work two jobs, have a two year old daughter, a dog, and take some courses when I have the time/money...so my time is limited and I find that if I set limits or goals for my self in regards to pages read then I can better regulate my time, also it is easier for me to asses my place in a book via page numbers (as opposed to %). I am used to inaccurate page numbering systems...in most epubs you never know how many page turns will actually get you to the next page, it may take three page turns or just one to progress from your current page to the next, at least with all of the page numberings that I have seen on the kindle books, thus far, one page turn equals one page.

[Snakey]

I judge progress by the percentage counter, I love that. If your book supports pages, they stay displayed on the bottom of the screen don't they? On my dad's updated Kindle they are shown at the bottom along with the percentage.

[DMSmillie]

Originally Posted by Snakey

I judge progress by the percentage counter, I love that. If your book supports pages, they stay displayed on the bottom of the screen don't they? On my dad's updated Kindle they are shown at the bottom along with the percentage.

Only while the main menu is displayed. While you're reading, only the percentage is displayed with the progress bar - to see the page and location numbers, you have to press the MENU button.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by jabberwock_11

I like to keep an accurate track of my progress. I work two jobs, have a two year old daughter, a dog, and take some courses when I have the time/money...so my time is limited and I find that if I set limits or goals for my self in regards to pages read then I can better regulate my time, also it is easier for me to asses my place in a book via page numbers (as opposed to %).

Have you tried using the more precise and accurate locations instead?
Their primary downside (beside their initial unfamiliarity) is they will usually have more digits than page numbers.

at least with all of the page numberings that I have seen on the kindle books, thus far, one page turn equals one page.

Sheer coincidence based on your font and line spacing choice and typography of the print editions of the books you've seen so far, i can assure you. But it'll usually be a lot fewer clicks than percentages, true.

And I don't want any one to misunderstand, I have no issue with the feature, I'm asking because I'm trying to understand if there is some practical and objective use for the page numbers feature that I'm not understanding.
I understand the academic citation issue (though I think that convention will change as ebooks get more pervasive) and I hear the book club issue raised, but I'm not buying that one. Really, book-clubbers, you already deal with different editions of a book with different numbering, and honestly, how often do you cite page numbers?

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by ApK

And I don't want any one to misunderstand, I have no issue with the feature, I'm asking because I'm trying to understand if there is some practical and objective use for the page numbers feature that I'm not understanding.

For me, my originial intent this year was to read both ebooks and pbooks, and I've been tracking both books read and pages read. I don't need to know what page I'm on at any given time, just total pages or reasonable equivalent. At this time, for me, tracking pages instead of locations is a more "universal" (?) measurement when sharing my progress with others with whom I discuss books.

For myself, I'm happy with locations, but I got tired of doing the math when updating my progress. Honestly, the Kindle update didn't help me much on its own, because it only works with a pbook equivalent - I can get that info myself. Calibre's new page numbering feature, however, is great for me because it gives me an approximation for books with no paper equivalent.

Additionally, though as I said, I'm happy with locations, there's a part of my brain that is still comfortable with the known system of pages. I don't see that as a bad thing; we still live in a predominately page-based world for the time being. It's like anything new - you use some of the "old" to help you through the transition.

[TenaciousBadger]

Originally Posted by ApK

And I don't want any one to misunderstand, I have no issue with the feature, I'm asking because I'm trying to understand if there is some practical and objective use for the page numbers feature that I'm not understanding.
I understand the academic citation issue (though I think that convention will change as ebooks get more pervasive) .....

Old mentalities have to go for that one to happen. Where I'm from, that miracle has yet to occur