Content Dictionary update availability

ntamas · 10-02-2019, 05:57 PM

Hi!

Let's say you bought a dictionary from Kindle Store. Its publication date is 2013. Then after years, Amazon makes a new version available on Kindle Store with an updated version from 2019.

The title is the same, but the version from 2013 is no longer available. You don't get a notification, email or message about the newer version.

There is no update menu for the bought dictionaries in the Contenct and devices part either.

Is this acceptable? Shall I buy all the newer versions once more?

NiLuJe · 10-02-2019, 06:02 PM

I believe a quick chat with Kindle CS usually resolves that kind of thing to your advantage.

ntamas · 10-02-2019, 06:05 PM

Oh, thanks. Good to know.

I mean: it seems as though the dictionaries have nothing to do with each other. I just searched for them in the Kindle Store and surprised to find there is a newer version of those I bought years ago.

barryem · 10-02-2019, 10:27 PM

I ran into something a bit similar some time back. I had bought 7 books by the same author back when I had an Audible subscription so I also got the audiobooks for future use. It's a favorite author. This was all about 10 years ago before they had Whispersync. I think it might have even been before Amazon bought Audible but I'm not sure.

Anyway last year I decided to listen to one of the books and keep the Kindle version on my phone to sync with it and it wouldn't sync. It seems they've updated the audiobook to one that syncs but they've changed the part number or whatever they call it so I didn't get the new version of the audiobook. I still have the old version. I no longer have a subscription so correcting it was going to be expensive.

Support, I forget if it was Amazon or Audible, said they'd be glad to replace the current one for me at no charge but they couldn't do that with the rest. Basically they would do one as a favor. So no syncing beyond that one.

I don't really care that much. Since I got my Kindle I mostly read and only listen from time to time. It's nice if I can sync a book and an audiobook but it's not very important to me.

Anyway I wonder if the same thing happened to you, that they changed the part number when they did the update.

Barry

ntamas · 10-03-2019, 08:44 AM

Where can I have a look at that "part number"? Are you referring to the book ID?

dordale · 10-05-2019, 02:24 AM

It's worth a call to Amazon to see if they are willing to do for you...but in my opinion, you bought the 2013 dictionary (well, I guess if you want to be technical, you bought a license to use the 2013 dictionary. You didn't buy the 2019 dictionary. It's similar to if you bought the 2013 dictionary as a physical book--you wouldn't expect that the publisher/seller would replace it when they release an updated version.

In my opinion (again), I think the only updates one should be entitled to when purchasing an e-book are updates that correct printing or other errors in the version of the book they purchased.

Little.Egret · 10-05-2019, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dordale

It's worth a call to Amazon to see if they are willing to do for you...but in my opinion, you bought the 2013 dictionary (well, I guess if you want to be technical, you bought a license to use the 2013 dictionary. You didn't buy the 2019 dictionary. It's similar to if you bought the 2013 dictionary as a physical book--you wouldn't expect that the publisher/seller would replace it when they release an updated version.

In my opinion (again), I think the only updates one should be entitled to when purchasing an e-book are updates that correct printing or other errors in the version of the book they purchased.

I have had dictionary update notifications (on a Fire)

Amazon's policy seems to be you can have the current version of any book provided the ASIN hasn't changed. However only error correction update are automatic, others need a call to CS

Quoth · 10-05-2019, 01:03 PM

Sometimes Amazon only gives a previous version when you download again, even when the publisher has only updated. It seems the publisher has to also contact Amazon to enable existing purchasers to get newer version. Smashwords is automatic.
A later date dictionary might not be regarded as an update of the same book, unlike a novel. I've had 3 versions of Magician, no auto update, but going to my content to download via USB, the updates were flagged there.
So worthwhile checking your Amazon Account Content and also perhaps contacting publisher.
However not likely to be much difference to a 2019 vs 2013 dictionary even paper versions. They are also not likely to sell 2019 versions to 2013 - 2018 purchasers on Kindle.

Amazon doesn't seem to decide these things, but Publishers.
There is nowhere on the KDP upload to indicate what kind of update and updated content for an existing ASIN title is. CS has to be contacted by publisher. Also seems true to have series titles actually linked on the web page.

10-02-2019, 05:57 PM	#1
ntamas Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 875040 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hungary Device: Kindle paperwhite 3 + Kindle keyboard	Dictionary update availability Hi! Let's say you bought a dictionary from Kindle Store. Its publication date is 2013. Then after years, Amazon makes a new version available on Kindle Store with an updated version from 2019. The title is the same, but the version from 2013 is no longer available. You don't get a notification, email or message about the newer version. There is no update menu for the bought dictionaries in the Contenct and devices part either. Is this acceptable? Shall I buy all the newer versions once more?

10-05-2019, 01:03 PM	#8
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,158 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	Sometimes Amazon only gives a previous version when you download again, even when the publisher has only updated. It seems the publisher has to also contact Amazon to enable existing purchasers to get newer version. Smashwords is automatic. A later date dictionary might not be regarded as an update of the same book, unlike a novel. I've had 3 versions of Magician, no auto update, but going to my content to download via USB, the updates were flagged there. So worthwhile checking your Amazon Account Content and also perhaps contacting publisher. However not likely to be much difference to a 2019 vs 2013 dictionary even paper versions. They are also not likely to sell 2019 versions to 2013 - 2018 purchasers on Kindle. Amazon doesn't seem to decide these things, but Publishers. There is nowhere on the KDP upload to indicate what kind of update and updated content for an existing ASIN title is. CS has to be contacted by publisher. Also seems true to have series titles actually linked on the web page. Last edited by Quoth; 10-05-2019 at 01:06 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kobo Forma. Does its screen update after dictionary use?	dtp	Kobo Reader	5	03-06-2019 09:01 PM
Dictionary missing in N96 after firmaware update to 1.8.1	malaga.1979	Onyx Boox	16	11-02-2017 02:07 AM
K4 Mac or PC Kindle for Mac update adds dictionary support	cynthia627	Amazon Kindle	0	03-08-2011 10:22 AM
PRS-600 Dictionary not working after firmware update	pakiyabhai	Sony Reader	1	10-24-2009 09:02 PM
Update Problem and Dictionary Question	barryp	Sony Reader	8	09-22-2008 05:56 AM

10-02-2019, 06:02 PM	#2
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	I believe a quick chat with Kindle CS usually resolves that kind of thing to your advantage.

10-02-2019, 06:05 PM	#3
ntamas Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 875040 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hungary Device: Kindle paperwhite 3 + Kindle keyboard	Oh, thanks. Good to know. I mean: it seems as though the dictionaries have nothing to do with each other. I just searched for them in the Kindle Store and surprised to find there is a newer version of those I bought years ago.

10-02-2019, 10:27 PM	#4
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I ran into something a bit similar some time back. I had bought 7 books by the same author back when I had an Audible subscription so I also got the audiobooks for future use. It's a favorite author. This was all about 10 years ago before they had Whispersync. I think it might have even been before Amazon bought Audible but I'm not sure. Anyway last year I decided to listen to one of the books and keep the Kindle version on my phone to sync with it and it wouldn't sync. It seems they've updated the audiobook to one that syncs but they've changed the part number or whatever they call it so I didn't get the new version of the audiobook. I still have the old version. I no longer have a subscription so correcting it was going to be expensive. Support, I forget if it was Amazon or Audible, said they'd be glad to replace the current one for me at no charge but they couldn't do that with the rest. Basically they would do one as a favor. So no syncing beyond that one. I don't really care that much. Since I got my Kindle I mostly read and only listen from time to time. It's nice if I can sync a book and an audiobook but it's not very important to me. Anyway I wonder if the same thing happened to you, that they changed the part number when they did the update. Barry

10-03-2019, 08:44 AM	#5
ntamas Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 875040 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hungary Device: Kindle paperwhite 3 + Kindle keyboard	Where can I have a look at that "part number"? Are you referring to the book ID?

10-05-2019, 02:24 AM	#6
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	It's worth a call to Amazon to see if they are willing to do for you...but in my opinion, you bought the 2013 dictionary (well, I guess if you want to be technical, you bought a license to use the 2013 dictionary. You didn't buy the 2019 dictionary. It's similar to if you bought the 2013 dictionary as a physical book--you wouldn't expect that the publisher/seller would replace it when they release an updated version. In my opinion (again), I think the only updates one should be entitled to when purchasing an e-book are updates that correct printing or other errors in the version of the book they purchased.

Advert

Advert