Firmware Update New Kindle Version 2.3 (399380047) for DX

[Aeromot]

Amazon describes the changes here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200324680

Kindle (Global Wireless) and Kindle (U.S. Wireless)
-- Longer battery life for Kindle (Global Wireless): You can now read for up to 1 week on a single charge with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks.
-- Built-in PDF reader: Your Kindle can now display PDF documents without losing the formatting of the original file. Send PDF documents directly to your Kindle (via your @Kindle address) or drag and drop PDF files from your computer to your Kindle (when connected via USB). Learn more.
-- Manual screen rotation: The Kindle screen can now manually rotate between portrait and landscape views so you can see the entire width of a web page or magnify the page of a PDF file. The page-turn buttons work the same in either orientation, and the 5-way controller movements are switched to match the orientation. Learn more.
-- Option to convert PDF files to Kindle format. If you prefer to have your personal PDF documents converted to the Kindle format (so that they can reflow), type "Convert" in the subject of the e-mail when you submit your personal document to your @kindle.com address.
-- Kindle (U.S. Wireless) and Kindle (Global Wireless) users can go to Archived Items on their Kindle and download the Kindle User's Guide, 4th Ed., which now documents all the features of Kindle Software 2.3.

Kindle DX
-- Better cropping of PDF files: In landscape orientation, white margins of PDF documents are automatically cropped to maximize the amount of content shown on the screen.
-- Option to convert PDF files to Kindle format. If you prefer to have your personal PDF documents converted to the Kindle format (so that they can reflow), type "Convert" in the subject of the e-mail when you submit your personal document to your @kindle.com address.
-- View pages longer: We've extended the time before Kindle DX switches into screensaver mode — from 5 minutes to 20 minutes — giving you more time for reviewing your content.

That same link also has instructions on how to get the upgrade "manually."

It is v.2.3 for all models. To see if you have it, from the Menu, select Settings. Your software version is at the very bottom of the page.

[NDizzle]

PDFs seem a lot easier to read (at least technical ones, like IBM Redbooks) with the new firmware that crops out a lot of the margins.

I had a few converted to .prc that were 100+ megs each that I've been going through before the firmware release. Today I went ahead and put those out to pasture and replaced them with the ~6 meg PDFs which they rightfully are.

[ttf]

Originally Posted by NDizzle

PDFs seem a lot easier to read (at least technical ones, like IBM Redbooks) with the new firmware that crops out a lot of the margins.

I *JUMP* on that statement - currently thinking about importing a DX to Germany and I'd use it mostly for IBM z/OS literature, all pdf. How readable are the Redbooks if you open them *unchanged* (not cropped) on a DX.

I'd just love to see a screenshot of just one tightly packed example page ...

[NDizzle]

Sure.. I'm sorry that this won't be the most elegant example because I have most of my productivity software on my office PC. Here's what I offer:

This example comes from page 25 of this PDF. I can offer the entire PDF here I think, since it's a Redbook it's free for all. Notes 7 Programming Guide (4.68MB)

Here is a screenshot of page 25 showing the bottom, viewed from Foxit reader on my PC.

(I'm linking the images here to not break the forum formatting)

http://www.youturd.com/kindle/prog4_pg25_foxit.png

Note the margin size.

Now, all I knew to do is take a picture of my kindle displaying the same page with the 2.3 firmware. I'm not sure how to show you how it looks otherwise.

Since these pictures are a little bit bigger I'm going to link them. I hope this shows what you want to see!

http://www.youturd.com/kindle/prog4_pg25_k_topdown.png

http://www.youturd.com/kindle/prog4_pg25_k_angled.png

edit2: re-reading my post I don't know if it's clear or not. The kindle images come from that exact PDF, without any changes made by me. The kindle will do the cropping itself automatically.

[ttf]

NDizzle,

great, thank you so much.

From your pictures I'd say that these A4/letter formatted pdfs are very well readable on the DX, right?
While I'm at it (I know I could search):
Are references to other pdfs honored? I mean can you click on a link in a redbook and the referenced pdf opens?
Also, as far as I've read, there can only be one document open at a given time.
And finally, annotations are not supported for pdfs, but can you define bookmarks?

[LucasCorso]

The new version seems to have improved the foreign dictionary support. I struggled a lot in the past to create a dictionary with MobiPocket Creator but it wasn't working fine. Now my Kindle DX finds even inflections containing UTF-8 letters (not all of them but it's a step in the right direction).
Hopefully in the next version Amazon won't consider that everything that appears in the short definition box to be only ASCII (the same as the titles in the front page).
And no folders yet. :-(

[WookieReader]

I did the upgrade manually per the Amazon site and worked fine. The reflow on PDF's sent through the Kindle email to "CONVERT" are amazing. They now reflow in a number of font sizings and very readable. Graph zooming from PDF's still only one level of zoom, so hopefully that will improve.

[elmoglick]

Originally Posted by WookieReader

I did the upgrade manually per the Amazon site and worked fine. The reflow on PDF's sent through the Kindle email to "CONVERT" are amazing. They now reflow in a number of font sizings and very readable. Graph zooming from PDF's still only one level of zoom, so hopefully that will improve.

The output is virtually identical to Mobicreator, actually. I suspect they're just using a slightly modified version.

[Teyrnon]

I installed the update this morning and the PDF cropping does seem to be better. I've only tried it with one PDF so far. It's one that I use for reference and is always on my DX. Under 2.1 the text was almost too small to read in portrait and I usually had to switch to landscape. With 2.3 it's much more readable in portrait.

[Sheikspeare]

Hello All

I expect this has been answered elsewhere, but I'd really appreciate it, if someone could explain how to install the latest update via a PC connection (i.e. for non-wireless users).

Thanks!

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by Sheikspeare

Hello All

I expect this has been answered elsewhere, but I'd really appreciate it, if someone could explain how to install the latest update via a PC connection (i.e. for non-wireless users).

Thanks!

If you mean the 2.3 update, you can find the manual installation directions here.

[Sheikspeare]

daffy4u,
Cheers!

[panzupa]

I did update my device like it was said on the amazon.com (via PC).
Kindle DX updated fine but when I checked version it is still 2.1.

Should I try once again?

Edit:

I did. Now it says 2.1.1 ... strange

Ok, so I put once again firmware file on kindle and run update. This time it worked as it was intended.
The only difference I noticed is:

Better cropping of PDF files: In landscape orientation, white margins of PDF documents are automatically cropped to maximize the amount of content shown on the screen.

But in my opinion "better" is worse
The font is too big! In fact it's not "maximize the amount of content" but showing LESS of the content (with bigger zoom).

Before update in most of my pdf files pages were nicely cut into two equal parts when in landscape mode. Now the "zoom" is so big that page is cut into 3 pieces. The last piece of the page usually has only few lines of text and the rest of the display is blank and unused!! It really makes reading experience (for me) worse.

Why they didn't make that feature in portrait mode instead? That would be useful!

Is there any way to go back to 2.1 or 2.1.1 firmware??

Edit:
I really starting to hate Kindle DX for that shitty cropping feature. Why?!!?!

[panzupa]

I wrote to amazon about that cropping feature and got the answer.

I'm sorry for the problems you experienced with the recent Kindle 2.3 software update. There's no way to go back to a previous update. A factory reset won't take it back to a previous version of the software, for example.

I thank you for writing about how the "Better cropping of PDF files" feature from the current firmware update makes PDFs appear worse than before on your Kindle DX.

I'll send your comments to the Kindle team. Strong customer feedback like yours helps us continue to improve the service we provide, and we're glad you took time to write to us.

Thanks for your interest in Amazon Kindle.

[MrDetermination]

Is there a screensaver hack that works with 2.3 on the DX? Okay to use the same one I have from back in June? I don't wanna brick my Kindle