Kindle update - PDF support, increased battery, and more - Page 5

fuzzy_dunlop · 11-24-2009, 08:18 PM

Again I am bit disappointed with Amazon, I think they are great company* but they always seem to be holding out. Competition is one thing, but it seems like the timing on this one means they must have been sitting on this update for a while.

Anyway, this now makes the Kindle vs. nook competition a bit more heated. For me it will probably come down to how well they display PDF's, still waiting on the nook reviews.

Solid PDF Support - Tie
Discounted ebooks (store) - Tie, advantage Kindle
Internationally available - Kindle
Affordable Price - Tie
Unfortunately DRM - Tie, advantage nook
Supports multiple formats - Tie, advantage nook
Unicode support - Tie, both no good
Open platform - nook
Web Browser - Kindle

* When Kindle was first released people who hadn't bought it wrote tons of bad reviews on Amazon.com about how paper books will never be replaced and I thought to myself, what an ethical company that doesn't delete bad reviews against it own products even when they probably have a right to.

smp_iliad · 11-24-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smp_iliad

Am I the only one the KDX update fails? Half way through the update, the message says "Update was not successful!". I did factory reset before running the update, but still the update fails...Anyone has a clue?

Ok, I'm answering myself.. The problem was related to PDF-browser-download hack. Only after uninstalling the hack, the update was successful. So amazon is aware of the hack and want to disable it with the new firmware. I confirmed that the hack no more updated to v2.3.

tomsem · 11-24-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolgus

PDF support is really nice but unfortunately there is no zoom function. Many pdf files I tried had small text and only with zoom I can read it. Neither landscape helped.

Is there any zoom function for pdf files which I haven't found ?

Looks to me they have just ported DX features to K2 (except K2 doesn't have hardware support to auto adjust orientation). So no zoom, no text reflow (no ADE/ePub/ACS...). At least now DX and K2 are on par in terms of their PDF support, or lack thereof.

As a K2 owner, that's welcome and useful enough, and will keep me from considering purchase of a non-Kindle dedicated reading device for the foreseeable future. Ultimately I believe I'll prefer a general-purpose, tablet device of some sort (Android, Windows7, or Apple) but I am going to be patient about choosing one.

I plan to create my own PDFs, formatted for K2's screen size. Mostly I want this so I can read non-Latin scripts on there (primarily Russian), and possibly some music stuff (chord charts, 'fake' book stuff etc.).

SensualPoet · 11-24-2009, 08:41 PM

I tried the manual update using the (recently purchased) Kindle 2 Global Edition. It works exactly as advertised -- including the pdf thing. I did have my Home page filtered by "Books Only" and had to reset that to "All documents" to see the pdfs.

Search works with pdfs built on text. But switching to horizontal mode is pretty much required. Given the limited screen real estate, it's pretty solid.

If I were creating a pdf specifically for the device, I'd make sure the font was suitable for the screen. Since I create pdfs from word docs and use Primo pdf to "print", this will work really well for me.

UPDATE: I gave this a quick test using some genealogy software to generate a file. Setting the page size to "A5" -- which is abt 5 x 8 -- creates a presentable, readable document. Woo-hoo!

chilady1 · 11-24-2009, 08:49 PM

Does anyone have the file for version 2.03 and is willing to send to me? I updated my Kindle manually before understanding that the font hack and the screensaver hack would not go back on as it has other times a firmware update has occurred.

I have lived with this version 2.30 for a few hours and the text really is just to light. After having the font hack on my Kindle for so long, it really makes a difference in the readability of the Kindle, so if anyone has the old version bin and is willing to email to me, I would really appreciate it.

In the future, I won't be automatically upgrading unless (1) the font hack has been proven to work with the new firmware version OR (2) firmware delivering folders is sent out.

AnemicOak · 11-24-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilady1

Does anyone have the file for version 2.03 and is willing to send to me? I updated my Kindle manually before understanding that the font hack and the screensaver hack would not go back on as it has other times a firmware update has occurred.

I have lived with this version 2.30 for a few hours and the text really is just to light. After having the font hack on my Kindle for so long, it really makes a difference in the readability of the Kindle, so if anyone has the old version bin and is willing to email to me, I would really appreciate it.

In the future, I won't be automatically upgrading unless (1) the font hack has been proven to work with the new firmware version OR (2) firmware delivering folders is sent out.

http://cde-g7g.amazon.com/FionaCDESe...ndle_2.0.3.bin

BTW, he's working on a new version of the font hack according to his site.

chilady1 · 11-24-2009, 09:23 PM

Oak - thanks, I really appreciate it!

I just hope I can go back to the earlier version. We shall see!

Well, well - unless I am doing something completely wrong, doesn't appear I can go back to the older version of the firmware.

zipzip · 11-24-2009, 09:38 PM

Question: I have version 2.0.3 on my Kindle That's not the same as 2.3, right?

chilady1 · 11-24-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipzip

Question: I have version 2.0.3 on my Kindle That's not the same as 2.3, right?

Correct - version 2.30 was just released today I believe.

zipzip · 11-24-2009, 09:40 PM

Thanks. I guess I'll manually download it, then. (I never get the auto-updates until a week or two after everyone else... I think they go in alphabetical order or something.)

chilady1 · 11-24-2009, 09:44 PM

if you really like the screensaver hack or font hack, these cannot be added back once you do the upgrade. I don't like how light the screen is now with having upgraded to 2.30 and it appears I cannot go back to the older version of the firmware, so I am stuck with this light font until a new font hack can be completed.

Just wanted to point this out to you before you go through the upgrade. I have heard from others they are waiting before upgrading. If this doesn't present a problem for you, then go for it! Good Luck!

AnemicOak · 11-24-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilady1

Well, well - unless I am doing something completely wrong, doesn't appear I can go back to the older version of the firmware.

I was just reading in another thread that K updates are incremental so nope you can't go back.

pilotbob · 11-24-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipzip

Thanks. I guess I'll manually download it, then. (I never get the auto-updates until a week or two after everyone else... I think they go in alphabetical order or something.)

You should change your psuedo to AAzipzip then you will get them first.

BOb

edge777 · 11-24-2009, 10:49 PM

Installed 2.3 on my Kindle International today. All the hacks still work!!!

sergeykoren · 11-24-2009, 10:56 PM

While ago, i've hacked my kindle 2 with version 2.01 and ufhack 01. Today tried to update firmware. Copied everything to the root folder, but option UPDATE still not available. What I did wrong? Thanks

11-24-2009, 08:18 PM	#61
fuzzy_dunlop Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	Holding Out? Again I am bit disappointed with Amazon, I think they are great company* but they always seem to be holding out. Competition is one thing, but it seems like the timing on this one means they must have been sitting on this update for a while. Anyway, this now makes the Kindle vs. nook competition a bit more heated. For me it will probably come down to how well they display PDF's, still waiting on the nook reviews. Solid PDF Support - Tie Discounted ebooks (store) - Tie, advantage Kindle Internationally available - Kindle Affordable Price - Tie Unfortunately DRM - Tie, advantage nook Supports multiple formats - Tie, advantage nook Unicode support - Tie, both no good Open platform - nook Web Browser - Kindle * When Kindle was first released people who hadn't bought it wrote tons of bad reviews on Amazon.com about how paper books will never be replaced and I thought to myself, what an ethical company that doesn't delete bad reviews against it own products even when they probably have a right to. Last edited by fuzzy_dunlop; 11-24-2009 at 08:22 PM.

11-24-2009, 08:41 PM	#64
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	I tried the manual update using the (recently purchased) Kindle 2 Global Edition. It works exactly as advertised -- including the pdf thing. I did have my Home page filtered by "Books Only" and had to reset that to "All documents" to see the pdfs. Search works with pdfs built on text. But switching to horizontal mode is pretty much required. Given the limited screen real estate, it's pretty solid. If I were creating a pdf specifically for the device, I'd make sure the font was suitable for the screen. Since I create pdfs from word docs and use Primo pdf to "print", this will work really well for me. UPDATE: I gave this a quick test using some genealogy software to generate a file. Setting the page size to "A5" -- which is abt 5 x 8 -- creates a presentable, readable document. Woo-hoo! Last edited by SensualPoet; 11-24-2009 at 09:00 PM.

11-24-2009, 08:49 PM	#65
chilady1 I devour books! Posts: 789 Karma: 1285226 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad Air, Kindle 3/Kobo Aura HD, iPhone 6	Anyone have the Kindle file for firmware v.2.03? Does anyone have the file for version 2.03 and is willing to send to me? I updated my Kindle manually before understanding that the font hack and the screensaver hack would not go back on as it has other times a firmware update has occurred. I have lived with this version 2.30 for a few hours and the text really is just to light. After having the font hack on my Kindle for so long, it really makes a difference in the readability of the Kindle, so if anyone has the old version bin and is willing to email to me, I would really appreciate it. In the future, I won't be automatically upgrading unless (1) the font hack has been proven to work with the new firmware version OR (2) firmware delivering folders is sent out.

11-24-2009, 09:23 PM	#67
chilady1 I devour books! Posts: 789 Karma: 1285226 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad Air, Kindle 3/Kobo Aura HD, iPhone 6	THANKS! Oak - thanks, I really appreciate it! I just hope I can go back to the earlier version. We shall see! Well, well - unless I am doing something completely wrong, doesn't appear I can go back to the older version of the firmware. Last edited by chilady1; 11-24-2009 at 09:30 PM.

11-24-2009, 09:44 PM	#71
chilady1 I devour books! Posts: 789 Karma: 1285226 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad Air, Kindle 3/Kobo Aura HD, iPhone 6	Remember.... if you really like the screensaver hack or font hack, these cannot be added back once you do the upgrade. I don't like how light the screen is now with having upgraded to 2.30 and it appears I cannot go back to the older version of the firmware, so I am stuck with this light font until a new font hack can be completed. Just wanted to point this out to you before you go through the upgrade. I have heard from others they are waiting before upgrading. If this doesn't present a problem for you, then go for it! Good Luck!

11-24-2009, 09:38 PM	#68
zipzip Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 2.0	Question: I have version 2.0.3 on my Kindle That's not the same as 2.3, right?

11-24-2009, 09:40 PM	#70
zipzip Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 2.0	Thanks. I guess I'll manually download it, then. (I never get the auto-updates until a week or two after everyone else... I think they go in alphabetical order or something.)

11-24-2009, 10:49 PM	#74
edge777 Kindle Enthusiastic Posts: 67 Karma: 582 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Kindle 2 International	Installed 2.3 on my Kindle International today. All the hacks still work!!!

11-24-2009, 10:56 PM	#75
sergeykoren Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Kindle 2	While ago, i've hacked my kindle 2 with version 2.01 and ufhack 01. Today tried to update firmware. Copied everything to the root folder, but option UPDATE still not available. What I did wrong? Thanks

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