Firmware Update Is there any method to downgrade kindle paperwhite from 5.4.4 to 5.3.5?

[mycityofsky]

Today I upgraded my kindle paperwhite(1st generation) to 5.4.4, but I found many settings not comfortable with me. For example:

1. Dictionary. I have several dictionaries in my kindle. When I look a word up on 5.3.5, it would search all the dictionaries and display the meaning of it if any of those dictionaries contains the definition of the word. But on 5.4.4, it would only search the main dictionary, and I have to switch to other dictionary to see if it contains the word.

2. Highlight. When I click one word on 5.3.5, the left button is "Highlight", which I use frequently. But now on 5.4.4, it is a "search" button, and I have to click one more button to reach the "Highlight" button, which is very inconvenient to me.

With the expression of those troubles, I just hope someone could tell me if I can do something to change it. If I these are just the characteristics of 5.4.4, could anyone tell me how to downgrade 5.4.4 to 5.3.5? I have downloaded the update_kindle_5.3.5.bin file from the Internet and put in the root directory, then unplugged the USB cable. But I found that the "update" button in settings was grey. Plugging USB again, I found that Kindle had automaically deleted the file. I have tried different bin files from 5.3.1 to 5.3.6, none works. Does Amazon forbid Kindle from downgrading on this version? Thanks a lot!

[eschwartz]

Don't know if the Kindle stops you from downgrading it, but can you confirm you got the update.bin from a reputable source? Like this one: http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-updates.php

There are a few PW1 updates you didn't mention...

[tomsem]

That's a bummer about the dictionaries. I rather liked the 'cascade'. Somebody blew it there. I'll be sending kindle-feedback. They should fix this.

You highlight single words? That's a bit unusual I would say, at least in my experience. The default behavior (show definition, with highlight under More) seems good to me. If you highlight more than one word, you get highlight option right off. Finally too you can extend/change the selection with handles as well.

Neither of these things would make me want to revert to 5.3.5, or even close to it. There are so many improvements that I cannot be without now.

[HeBuguM]

Hm that's strange, the dictionary feature came up with PW1 and I was very disappointed when I find out it's missing on my new PW2, but with that last update they brought it back. It's weird to remove it from PW1 with this update that bring you all new PW2 features. The difference on PW2 is that the switch "button" is on the bottom of definition not on Dictionary tab like PW1 (screenshot), is there any chance you've missed that?

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Don't know if the Kindle stops you from downgrading it, but can you confirm you got the update.bin from a reputable source? Like this one: http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-updates.php

There are a few PW1 updates you didn't mention...

Even more reputable source: Play with Amazon's URL

Firmware 5.3.5

You could also try 5.3.9; I assume that only contains bug fixes and works the same:

Firmware 5.3.9

[Antoinekamel]

I didn't got it yet, but I suppose the non-cascade dictionary search is a battery plus. I search too much, and felt that the feature of searching every dictionary of the language was draining it all up fast.

[mycityofsky]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Don't know if the Kindle stops you from downgrading it, but can you confirm you got the update.bin from a reputable source? Like this one: http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-updates.php

There are a few PW1 updates you didn't mention...

Oh, doesn't work still.

[mycityofsky]

Originally Posted by HeBuguM

Hm that's strange, the dictionary feature came up with PW1 and I was very disappointed when I find out it's missing on my new PW2, but with that last update they brought it back. It's weird to remove it from PW1 with this update that bring you all new PW2 features. The difference on PW2 is that the switch "button" is on the bottom of definition not on Dictionary tab like PW1 (screenshot), is there any chance you've missed that?

Yes, I have noticed that. But kindle would only search in the main dictionary. Though I can switch it by that button, it isn't as convenient as the 'cascade' searching, in which case it can automatically search all the relevant dictionaries.

[mycityofsky]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Even more reputable source: Play with Amazon's URL

Firmware 5.3.5

You could also try 5.3.9; I assume that only contains bug fixes and works the same:

Firmware 5.3.9

Thank you for your even more reputable source, but it doesn't help. The button is still gray.

[mycityofsky]

I made it! First install DuoKan, and then copy the bin file in DuoKan, and then restart, it will update the bin automatically. Hope it will help for those who want to downgrade.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by Antoinekamel

I didn't got it yet, but I suppose the non-cascade dictionary search is a battery plus. I search too much, and felt that the feature of searching every dictionary of the language was draining it all up fast.

Perhaps, but I think it is more likely that they failed to merge code properly to retain the existing feature (cascade) while adding the new one (ability to choose a different dictionary on the dialog). It did not search all of the dictionaries, it stops with the first definition it finds (starting with default dictionary).

Or maybe cascade is good in theory but not in practice. For example, if you wanted to use a dictionary with specialized legal terms, it is not clear which is better: if you are reading medical literature, clearly you'd want it to be the default so the more precise definition comes up. But if you are reading in general, you'd just want it as a supplemental dictionary in case you encounter a medical term in what you are reading. But even then, it might pick up a more generic definition first and then you'd want to visit the other definition to get a more precise one. Which is what we can do now.

In the one case where I've played with cascade, I have 2 Russian-English dictionaries, one is crap, one is not so bad. If the crap dictionary is default it usually winds up finding the word in the good one. And if the good one is default, it almost never uses the crap one. So at least in that case cascade is not necessary.

[Katsunami]

Very good. Now search for one of the posts in this forum on how to prevent the kindle from updating, even if wifi is on

[ameho]

Download this file http://pan.baidu.com/s/1qW8nWwk

Extract to your kindle root path.
Paste the update file to the folder: update.
Update your kindle in the setting menu

[NiLuJe]

@ameho: That would indeed do the trick in a much nicer way than what we used to do ^^.

If the device is jailbroken, you could also do it from a proper 'real' update.

Nitpick²: And no need to remount the rootfs rw, either .

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Even more reputable source: Play with Amazon's URL

Firmware 5.3.5

You could also try 5.3.9; I assume that only contains bug fixes and works the same:

Firmware 5.3.9

Wait, they still have those available??? I though they delete all the old firmware...