Firmware Update 5.4.2 has arrived with Goodreads integration

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Underneath the Collections display on my iPad and iPhone the Cloud/Device options are both greyed out. Indicates to me it's a static display regardless of what's on the device or not. On my iPhone the books in the collection not downloaded are shown as there but in white, they are all personal docs btw.

Yes, the options are greyed out for displaying the list of Collections, because Cloud Collections (as implemented) are omnipresent. They live in the cloud but display on the device.

'Not downloaded' does not have anything directly to do with white thumbnails. If a personal document has a cover image embedded 'properly', a thumbnail image will be generated, but only if you download it to the app. Then you can Archive the document and the thumbnail will be cached and will show for that item even though it is no longer on the device. Personal documents without properly embedded cover images (converted from word documents or whatever) will appear white whether they are on the device or not.

Content from Amazon will always have thumbnail images, even if it was never downloaded to the app. They download new thumbnails whenever new content is added to the library and sync happens.

It's the checkmark icon that is superimposed on the cover thumbnail that indicates it is on the device.

The iOS app implementation of CC suffers from the same limitation as the Fire/PW implementation: you cannot narrow focus to just the on-device items. It is good you can see the entire collection, but we still need to be able to filter to just on-device, for backward compatibility with how they appeared previously. Hopefully Amazon will appreciate the feedback they get and restore the feature they removed in their excitement to add a new one.

[nynaevelan]

Originally Posted by fearindex

By the way, I explored today how the Cloud Collections actually work.

Turns out, only "Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Generation), Kindle Fire HD (2nd Generation), Kindle Fire HDX, and Kindle for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch" actually update Cloud Collections in real-time as of now. Make cloud changes on these devices/apps, and they will show in other listed devices/apps.

For any other Kindle or Kindle app, including Kindle for PC which I tested quite a bit today (the latest version), category import is a one-time, one-way deal. One-time meaning the time you update to 5.4.2 or the time you register a device or reading up for the first time. So, the first time you update or register a 5.4.2 PW2, it will import collections from Kindle for PC and other types of older devices, but after that if you change something in those older devices or the current Kindle for PC version, those changes will NOT come to PW2.

Of course it is possible Amazon will update other apps and devices to support "real-time" Cloud Collections later.

Here is Amazon's help text on it:

"To import a collection: With Cloud Collections, collections are automatically stored in the Cloud and can be synced between Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Generation), Kindle Fire HD (2nd Generation), Kindle Fire HDX, and Kindle for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch reading apps.

Note: Importing collections from other devices or reading apps to Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Generation), Kindle Fire HD (2nd Generation), Kindle Fire HDX, and Kindle for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch is currently limited to the first time you register the device or reading app."

Since I have been fiddling with trying to clean up collections, I've found you can work around this if you de-register/re-register the device. Which of course works for me because ALL of my collections are maintained in K4PC. This is a PITA but at least I can get them into PW2. Since I have been doing a lot I have not actually sat down and written down the exact process to get it to work consistently, I will do this once I get my collections done, but since I am having to rebuild over 3000 books into over 100 collections, it may take me a while. Hopefully Amazon will add K4PC before I am done.

[nynaevelan]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I don't have a PW2 but I do have an iPad and spotted a collection called 'New' in it today that I certainly didn't create. It contained my last ebook sent to Kindle that I obviously forgot to add to a collection on my PW. In fact it's not actually downloaded to my PW yet.

I like that feature it would make it easier for you to identify which books need to be put into a collection. Too bad the PW2 doesn't have that. Hopefully the HD will have it once it gets the update.

[just_jeepin]

Pretty disappointed with the Goodreads integration. Have the time when I select the Goodreads link in the menu it times out (even though I'm connected to wifi. Also, I was expecting that it would auto update the progress in my currently reading books (or at least give me the option to update my progress).

[Dee Q]

I like the new collection cover.

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Personally there's nothing on the PW2 software wise that compensates for the disaster of Cloud Collections so I'll be quite happy if they never upgraded the PW1 again.

Originally Posted by Blossom

What she said!

I have seriously lost alot of faith in Amazon since October. After seeing the crafmanship in the HDX 7 and the raised priced I was shocked at the quality of the tablet.

What they said.

Basically I'm to the point of never wanting to buy another eInk period, especially one made by Amazon. I went through three PW1s, each a pile of crap. I did SETTLE on keeping my one PW2, but I knew it was at best a 3 star item. Now this fiasco with the FW and lackluster features. I could care less about the time usage feature as there are no rugrats in my household. I also think GoodReads integration is not useful. I'll continue to use a web browser on other devices/computers to visit GoodReads.

To be perfectly honest, having now read several books on my Nexus 7.2 and iThingies since buying the PW2, whenever I turn on the PW2 and try to read on it I realize immediately how terrible it is. I think I got one of those like Xendula got that was peed on. Trying to read on my PW2 is like looking at fuzzy, light text through a yellow cloud. I now give it a 2 star rating and wish I had returned it and kept my KT instead. Reading on the newer high resolution device screens that many Android and iOS devices come with is so much better than the crappy eInk screens. Except in sunlight of course.

I like Whispersync, so I'll stick with mostly using Kindle apps, but they will be used on non-Amazon built devices. The PW2 will only be used when reading in very well lit areas such as outdoors.

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by jswinden

To be perfectly honest, having now read several books on my Nexus 7.2 and iThingies since buying the PW2, whenever I turn on the PW2 and try to read on it I realize immediately how terrible it is.

Good for you. You certainly have a lot of choices. Unfortunately I am one of those people who finds it far more easy on the eyes and far more rewarding to read on a dedicated e-ink reader. Although none of the readers are perfect until the most recent upgrade the PW1-PW2 line was doing pretty well. I suspect that Amazon will address the issue on the current PW2 firmware. It looks too much like an oversight and not like an intentional design. If not and if they tamper with what we look for in a reader then by giving up some features there are other alternatives as well.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I don't have a PW2 but I do have an iPad and spotted a collection called 'New' in it today that I certainly didn't create. It contained my last ebook sent to Kindle that I obviously forgot to add to a collection on my PW. In fact it's not actually downloaded to my PW yet.


And, isn't this fun, I now have collections on my iPhone, even though I only have two books downloaded to it. Not all four of my Ipad collections though, just two of them.

Now I see the problem. Lots of posters here do NOT even own a PW 2013 AND an HDX 2013. No wonder they hate Amazon. They are here to vent only how bad Amazon is to justify their purchases of IPADS. BLOL. Others have given up their Kindles and purchased a Nexus. They have LEFT the Amazon Branded fold. Good luck to them when all the Nexus flaws turn up and the Nexus CS doesn't help them or charges a huge restocking fee for returns.

I only buy Amazon Kindles and really do not care what non-Amazon owners think. Their complaints are irrelevant to the Amazon loyalists.

Maybe they should buy some Amazon Kindles and see what they are missing.

By the way, some may not have noticed but this is the Kindle part of the Forum, not the iPad part. I've never posted anything to the iPad part.

When I owned a Sony PRS-505, I only posted in the Sony part of the Forum and never even read anything in this part.

I still think the Amazon Collections are a great improvement for both the PW 2013 AND the HDX 2013. Each firmware upgrade adds one more advantage to using these devices. Amazon should be expected to improve the latest devices and forget the older ones.

Car manufacturers producing self-driving cars these days never go back to old models to make them self-driving. Its the way of PROGRESS.

When October, 2014, rolls around, I will be buying the newest models again and forget this year's models other than using them for Christmas gifts at that time.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Stingo

Good for you. You certainly have a lot of choices. Unfortunately I am one of those people who finds it far more easy on the eyes and far more rewarding to read on a dedicated e-ink reader. Although none of the readers are perfect until the most recent upgrade the PW1-PW2 line was doing pretty well. I suspect that Amazon will address the issue on the current PW2 firmware. It looks too much like an oversight and not like an intentional design. If not and if they tamper with what we look for in a reader then by giving up some features there are other alternatives as well.

I like to have choices says the girl with 5 Kindles. Well 4 now cause Hubby's has my KFv1 which I am missing it very much.

I love my PW1, K4B and I love my Nexus 7.2 The text rendering on the Nexus is superior to the text rendering on the HDX so even though I am without a Kindle Fire at the moment I am very happy to just to be able to read again.

My PW1 will not leave this house. It's now more precious than anything I own. The K3 is my travel reader due to the how protected it is in that lighted cover.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by jswinden

To be perfectly honest, having now read several books on my Nexus 7.2 and iThingies since buying the PW2, whenever I turn on the PW2 and try to read on it I realize immediately how terrible it is. I think I got one of those like Xendula got that was peed on. Trying to read on my PW2 is like looking at fuzzy, light text through a yellow cloud. I now give it a 2 star rating and wish I had returned it and kept my KT instead. Reading on the newer high resolution device screens that many Android and iOS devices come with is so much better than the crappy eInk screens. Except in sunlight of course.

You can try buying another KT, Amazon and eBay will have them, and if you get the ones ranked "Used -- Like New" then it should be perfectly good. There are also eBay refurbished KT's, and you can also try to find an Amazon Warehouse Deal. Right now they have this offer, and as a Warehouse Deal ranked Like New:

From the Warehouse Deals FAQ

Like New - A "like new"" item sold on Amazon Warehouse Deals is in perfect condition, but due to the condition of the packaging, it does not meet Amazon.com standards for new product. For customer-returned product, it's possible that the previous customer opened and removed the product from the original packaging. If a returned item comes back in perfect physical condition and through our testing process we determine the working condition is perfect, the item may be deemed "like new." Physical damage to the outer box of a factory-sealed item in our warehouse can also lead to the condition being taken from Amazon.com "new" to Amazon Warehouse Deals "like new."

I avoided this problem by keeping my KT.

Originally Posted by sirmaru

Now I see the problem. Lots of posters here do NOT even own a PW 2013 AND an HDX 2013. No wonder they hate Amazon. They are here to vent only how bad Amazon is to justify their purchases of IPADS. BLOL. Others have given up their Kindles and purchased a Nexus. They have LEFT the Amazon Branded fold. Good luck to them when all the Nexus flaws turn up and the Nexus CS doesn't help them or charges a huge restocking fee for returns.

Why thank you for your brand loyalty. Please be condescending to us a little more, you missed a spot...

I'm not too happy about these changes, and I have never owned an Apple device. I don't own a KPW2013 or HDX2013, either, but this thread is where I go to find out that I shouldn't, and I never claimed I did have one. The people who DO have one possess valid opinions, and they told you to shut up too.

I only buy Amazon Kindles and really do not care what non-Amazon owners think. Their complaints are irrelevant to the Amazon loyalists.

I read books, and I don't care what non-readers think, so please stop talking.

Maybe they should buy some Amazon Kindles and see what they are missing.

By the way, some may not have noticed but this is the Kindle part of the Forum, not the iPad part. I've never posted anything to the iPad part.

And the iPad has a Kindle APP. Funny how that works...

When I owned a Sony PRS-505, I only posted in the Sony part of the Forum and never even read anything in this part.

I still think the Amazon Collections are a great improvement for both the PW 2013 AND the HDX 2013. Each firmware upgrade adds one more advantage to using these devices. Amazon should be expected to improve the latest devices and forget the older ones.

Many people feel it is a great DISimprovement. Their opinions are valid too.

They should imitate Apple, who forget their older models? I thought you hate Apple.
Amazon has always been very big on improving their older models with whichever software updates they can backport. It builds customer loyalty, and ensures all those Kindle Keyboard owners, for example, can enjoy the improvements of KF8 instead of getting frustrated at the need to upgrade each year, something Amazon doesn't make money off of. Amazon isn't in the business of selling hardware, they are in the business of selling ebooks and Customer Experience.

Car manufacturers producing self-driving cars these days never go back to old models to make them self-driving. Its the way of PROGRESS.

That would require a hardware upgrade. It's very different.

When October, 2014, rolls around, I will be buying the newest models again and forget this year's models other than using them for Christmas gifts at that time.

[booklover6]

My Kobo Mini is my travel reader. I really want a lighted one of that size and aspect ratio.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

That would require a hardware upgrade. It's very different.

Each year the Kindle hardware CHANGES for all the new models. Thus, firmware for the new models cannot be run on last year's models.

If you want the latest and greatest Kindles, you MUST buy the new models when they are introduced.

By the way, the Forum header in this section is:

Amazon Kindle.

It is NOT:

Book Collectors, Calibre, Apprentice Alf, iPad or Nexus 7.

There are specific Forums for those subjects. We are supposed to be discussing Kindles in this Forum, their features and their software and helping each other discover more about them.

Finally, if folks do have problems with their Kindles not solvable here, they should call Amazon Customer Support. They are excellent.

The best feature I've seen or heard about on any eReader is the Mayday feature on the Kindle Fire HDX 2013. I've used it many times. Just tap Help and then Mayday. A VIDEO of a real person comes on the HDX and he can manipulate your device pointing you to what you need and even rendering help on other models if possible. There is no wait and the person coming to your location is a great expert in the HDX 2013.

That feature alone places the HDX 2013 way ahead of all the competition.

I really doubt if the iPad or Nexus has this feature but can't be sure since I don't own those devices. Maybe others, who own those devices, can enlighten us.

The Goodreads implementation on the HDX 2013 has TWLEVE separate pages available if one hits Menu while in it. That is almost as good as going to the web page. The PW 2013 only has one page for Goodreads and is not as good.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by booklover6

My Kobo Mini is my travel reader. I really want a lighted one of that size and aspect ratio.

For me it's not the size but the case that matters. The K3 lighted case is soo well made and so stiff I've heard of it someone having a motorcycle accident and it flew off and the K3 still worked when he got it back!

[eschwartz]

@sirmaru
Making a car self-drive requires a hardware interface between the software and the wheels, which means a hardware upgrade. Adding new software features can be backported to older hardware, since the software itself doesn't require new hardware. Please stop saying stupid things.

And the Amazon Kindle App of iOS is very much an Amazon Kindle, despite being on the iPad.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

And the Amazon Kindle App of iOS is very much an Amazon Kindle, despite being on the iPad.

Here is the proper thread for discussing the Kindle App on the IPAD:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=227279

I am NOT interested in iPads with or without a Kindle App.

Plus, refrain from ad homs, they do not fit into any thread.

This particular thread is about the Goodreads implementation on Kindle HARDWARE.