New and upcoming Kindle features

jhowell · 09-11-2021, 12:40 PM

Amazon posted some information about the new features in the recent 5.13.7 firmware and some other changes that will be coming later this year.

Quote:

Your reading experience, reimagined
Enjoy a new, intuitive, and easier Kindle reading experience with our latest software update that will be rolling out over the coming weeks to Kindle (8th Gen and above), Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen and above) and Kindle Oasis devices.

I notice that the Voyage is not mentioned here.

Quote:

An easier and more intuitive way to navigate on your device (coming in the next few weeks)
Now you can adjust your device brightness, turn on Airplane Mode, and get to All Settings with a simple swipe down from the top of your screen.

Easily switch between Home and Library, or your current book using the new bottom navigation.

These features are in 5.13.7.

Quote:

An improved Home and Library experience (coming later this year)
When in your Library, enjoy new filter and sort menus, a new collections view, and an interactive scroll bar.

On Home, access more (up to 20) of your recently read books with a left swipe.

These will be coming after 5.13.7. It sounds like they are making the Kindle user interface closer to that of the iOS and Android apps.

Quote:

Always getting better
These new experiences are in addition to Kindle reading updates we have made over the past year, including:

Faster - From clicking download to opening a book, start reading faster than before.
Display - display the cover of the book you’re reading on your lockscreen (Without-Ads devices only).

These were features released prior to 5.13.7.

Sirtel · 09-11-2021, 02:11 PM

Oh joy. More swiping.

I really, really hate swiping.

Seems like I may never update my Oasis from now on.

Anyway, thanks for letting us know.

j.p.s · 09-11-2021, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Oh joy. More swiping.

I really, really hate swiping.

Seems like I may never update my Oasis from now on.

Anyway, thanks for letting us know.

I have lots of practice not updating. What I'm dreading is my readers giving up the ghost and having to get replacements. Maybe the PineNote will be usable by then.

Sirtel · 09-11-2021, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I have lots of practice not updating. What I'm dreading is my readers giving up the ghost and having to get replacements. Maybe the PineNote will be usable by then.

I guess I'll just stick to Kobo then. Hopefully they continue to improve their ereaders. Unless Amazon releases something really tempting, hardware-wise. In that case I may give Kindle another try.

Badcatalex · 09-11-2021, 04:06 PM

Closeups of the photos at "An improved Home and Library experience (coming later this year)"
NGL, I like it. Especially the return of page progress meters on list view. Nice to see Amazon finally caring about Kindle again.

j.p.s · 09-11-2021, 04:35 PM

Covers in list view? Ugh!

jhowell · 09-11-2021, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badcatalex

Closeups of the photos at "An improved Home and Library experience (coming later this year)"
NGL, I like it. Especially the return of page progress meters on list view. Nice to see Amazon finally caring about Kindle again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Covers in list view? Ugh!

It looks very similar to the Kindle for iOS app. I prefer the new look.

rcentros · 09-11-2021, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

Amazon posted some information about the new features in the recent 5.13.7 firmware and some other changes that will be coming later this year.

I notice that the Voyage is not mentioned here.

That's a relief. If that's true than I have no kindles that will go beyond 5.13.6 (as my 7th generation Paperwhite updates have been "frozen" at 5.9.7). I would like to continue to use my Voyage's WiFi features, however.

The article lost me when it mentioned... "The first update will introduce smartphone-like navigation ..."

rcentros · 09-11-2021, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I have lots of practice not updating. What I'm dreading is my readers giving up the ghost and having to get replacements. Maybe the PineNote will be usable by then.

I'll convert more books to be read on my PocketBook HD3.

Sirtel · 09-12-2021, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I'll convert more books to be read on my PocketBook HD3.

Is it true that there is no boldness adjustment on Pocketbooks, like there is on Kindles, Kobos and even Nooks? That has been the main reason I haven't been interested in them (I read it somewhere in the Pocketbook forum).

Josieb1 · 09-12-2021, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Is it true that there is no boldness adjustment on Pocketbooks, like there is on Kindles, Kobos and even Nooks? That has been the main reason I haven't been interested in them (I read it somewhere in the Pocketbook forum).

I have the app, and on that there is not a bold option

tomsem · 09-12-2021, 04:26 PM

So both cover and list view will scroll (presumably collections as well).

Note that you do not have to swipe, as there are are scroll up/down buttons you can tap (something I have wanted for awhile). Hopefully, on Oasis, these will be hooked up to the page buttons (but I would not hold my breath).

To the extent there are other scrolling views (search results, XRay etc) it would be nice if they added the scroll buttons there as well (and wired them up to page turn buttons if the Kindle has them).

Scrolling with swipe has always been a bit finicky: tends to open things if finger lingers over something at beginning or end of swipe. So +1 for adding buttons to do this.

Unfortunately List with thumbnails now shows only 4 things, unless there is some option to show without thumbnails and show more items. Not a show stopper for me, as I have recently converted to using cover view. If they offer a ‘naked’ list view that would be good.

rcentros · 09-12-2021, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Is it true that there is no boldness adjustment on Pocketbooks, like there is on Kindles, Kobos and even Nooks? That has been the main reason I haven't been interested in them (I read it somewhere in the Pocketbook forum).

Yes, it's true. But, fortunately, it allows you to install fonts and Constantia is nice and bold without having to be made darker. With the Nook, when I haven't embedded Constantia, I use Georgia with the "thicker" setting. But Constantia is actually a little darker even without having the option to use "thicker."

junioryoudare · 09-16-2021, 03:06 AM

they try to use more scrolling and hand gestures but current e-ink screens on kindles are not smooth with swiping and other hand gestures. I am not sure if it is software base but it seems more like due to the nature of screens.

j.p.s · 09-16-2021, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junioryoudare

they try to use more scrolling and hand gestures but current e-ink screens on kindles are not smooth with swiping and other hand gestures. I am not sure if it is software base but it seems more like due to the nature of screens.

I'm pretty sure it is the screens. Scrolling is a miserable experience on e-ink.

09-11-2021, 04:06 PM	#5
Badcatalex I draw. Posts: 128 Karma: 4278578 Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Midwestern US Device: K1, K4B, KPW3, KOA3, KF7 (2019)	Closeups of the photos at "An improved Home and Library experience (coming later this year)" NGL, I like it. Especially the return of page progress meters on list view. Nice to see Amazon finally caring about Kindle again. Attached Thumbnails

09-12-2021, 04:26 PM	#12
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,464 Karma: 25996225 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	So both cover and list view will scroll (presumably collections as well). Note that you do not have to swipe, as there are are scroll up/down buttons you can tap (something I have wanted for awhile). Hopefully, on Oasis, these will be hooked up to the page buttons (but I would not hold my breath). To the extent there are other scrolling views (search results, XRay etc) it would be nice if they added the scroll buttons there as well (and wired them up to page turn buttons if the Kindle has them). Scrolling with swipe has always been a bit finicky: tends to open things if finger lingers over something at beginning or end of swipe. So +1 for adding buttons to do this. Unfortunately List with thumbnails now shows only 4 things, unless there is some option to show without thumbnails and show more items. Not a show stopper for me, as I have recently converted to using cover view. If they offer a ‘naked’ list view that would be good. Last edited by tomsem; 09-12-2021 at 04:55 PM.

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09-11-2021, 02:11 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,071 Karma: 224450762 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Oh joy. More swiping. I really, really hate swiping. Seems like I may never update my Oasis from now on. Anyway, thanks for letting us know.

09-11-2021, 04:35 PM	#6
j.p.s Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,275 Karma: 98804578 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: pb360	Covers in list view? Ugh!

09-16-2021, 03:06 AM	#14
junioryoudare Member Posts: 12 Karma: 20 Join Date: Aug 2021 Device: Kindle Paperwhite Last gen	they try to use more scrolling and hand gestures but current e-ink screens on kindles are not smooth with swiping and other hand gestures. I am not sure if it is software base but it seems more like due to the nature of screens.

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