Does 'special offers' feature FORCE wifi/3g to turn on - affecting battery?

timpearson26 · 06-02-2011, 04:42 AM

Prospective kindle buyer here... a question...

Does the 'special offers' feature of the kindle FORCE the wifi/3g on to download the latest advertisements? I was thinking if you don't use the wifi or 3g for a long period because, say, you are reading a long book, how would you get the updated advertisements or special offers downloaded to you device?

Also it says your kindle will display advertisement screen savers. Does this affect the batter life of the kindle by the screen saver always being on? For example, on my iPad, when I am done using it, I click the button at the top and the screen goes blank. When you are done with your kindle and switch it off, does the screen go blank or is it constantly displaying an advertisement, which I would imagine would affect the battery life?

Tim

SamuraiXSendai · 06-02-2011, 05:32 AM

I doubt if the Kindle would force a connect, but I do know your conjecture about wasting battery power on a screen saver ad is incorrect. There is no power used to keep a display on, unlike on an LDC screen. Power is only needed to rearrange the eink in the first place.

timpearson26 · 06-02-2011, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamuraiXSendai

I doubt if the Kindle would force a connect, but I do know your conjecture about wasting battery power on a screen saver ad is incorrect. There is no power used to keep a display on, unlike on an LDC screen. Power is only needed to rearrange the eink in the first place.

Thanks for the reply. That makes sense about the screen saver thing, I didn't know that about the eink screen.

I'm curious if anybody else has thought about the 1st issue raised or knows the answer.

tubemonkey · 06-02-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timpearson26

Does the 'special offers' feature of the kindle FORCE the wifi/3g on to download the latest advertisements? I was thinking if you don't use the wifi or 3g for a long period because, say, you are reading a long book, how would you get the updated advertisements or special offers downloaded to you device?

No, the offers are loaded during registration. The offers then appear on a predetermined schedule. This past midnight, offer #10 appeared on the Special Offers and Sponsors page and also as a screensaver. My WiFi was off and only went on when I claimed the offer. Not sure how many offers are already loaded or when new ones might be added.

Screensavers are always on. It doesn't matter if you have the ad version or the dead authors version.

tubemonkey · 06-02-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timpearson26

Prospective kindle buyer here... a question...

Welcome to the board. Enjoy your stay.

volwrath · 06-02-2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

No, the offers are loaded during registration. The offers then appear on a predetermined schedule. This past midnight, offer #10 appeared on the Special Offers and Sponsors page and also as a screensaver. My WiFi was off and only went on when I claimed the offer. Not sure how many offers are already loaded or when new ones might be added.

Screensavers are always on. It doesn't matter if you have the ad version or the dead authors version.

I would be worried about missing out on an offer if I left my wifi off for more than a few days.

tubemonkey · 06-02-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volwrath

I would be worried about missing out on an offer if I left my wifi off for more than a few days.

You won't. My WiFi stays off for days on end and I never miss an offer. The reason for that is that the offers are already loaded on your Kindle; how far in advance, I have no idea. They're triggered to appear at 0000 hours on set dates (currently every 4 days).

The current offer appeared today and the next one should drop on 06 Jun.

futurebear · 06-02-2011, 07:12 PM

No, it does not turn on automatically. As soon as you turn it on it downloads ads, or new ads.

JSWolf · 06-02-2011, 07:15 PM

delete this post

timpearson26 · 06-02-2011, 07:27 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone. Just one other question regarding the advertisement screensavers....

As mentioned above, I understand that no matter which kindle you have, it always displays some kind of screensaver, either an advertisement or something selected by you. But, how often does the advertisement screensaver change? Does it refresh to a new ad every few minutes, or hour, or day? or does it just stay the same until you switch the device back on? (thinking about battery life again here with this question)

timpearson26 · 06-02-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Welcome to the board. Enjoy your stay.

Thanks!

metoo999 · 06-03-2011, 01:01 AM

I think it acts like any other screensaver. It only changes the next time you put it into sleep mode (correct me if I'm wrong, KSO users). My friend uses one.

futurebear · 06-03-2011, 08:52 AM

You don't have to worry about battery life. It downloads a png file to the kindle, and displays it just like it does a regular screen saver. The ad does not change until you awake the kindle and put it back asleep again. Basically they act just like the regular screen savers.

chas0039 · 06-04-2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

No, the offers are loaded during registration. The offers then appear on a predetermined schedule. This past midnight, offer #10 appeared on the Special Offers and Sponsors page and also as a screensaver. My WiFi was off and only went on when I claimed the offer. Not sure how many offers are already loaded or when new ones might be added.

Screensavers are always on. It doesn't matter if you have the ad version or the dead authors version.

Wonder how long it is before someone finds out where these are and figures out how to see them in advance or triggers the internal clock to see what is coming? Also, has anyone determined whether or not these take up any substantial amount of memory?

Daveoc64 · 06-04-2011, 05:47 PM

For the device to be able to turn the Wireless on automatically would be a potential hazard in some situations.

In places where any wireless communications are not allowed (like Hospitals or Airplanes) it could be dangerous.

I don't see them adding such functionality.

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06-02-2011, 04:42 AM	#1
timpearson26 Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 252616 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: ipad	Does 'special offers' feature FORCE wifi/3g to turn on - affecting battery? Prospective kindle buyer here... a question... Does the 'special offers' feature of the kindle FORCE the wifi/3g on to download the latest advertisements? I was thinking if you don't use the wifi or 3g for a long period because, say, you are reading a long book, how would you get the updated advertisements or special offers downloaded to you device? Also it says your kindle will display advertisement screen savers. Does this affect the batter life of the kindle by the screen saver always being on? For example, on my iPad, when I am done using it, I click the button at the top and the screen goes blank. When you are done with your kindle and switch it off, does the screen go blank or is it constantly displaying an advertisement, which I would imagine would affect the battery life? Tim

06-02-2011, 05:32 AM	#2
SamuraiXSendai Addict Posts: 229 Karma: 1234 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Earth Device: Kindle 1. Kindle 2. IPAD. KDXG. Kindle 3.Fire	I doubt if the Kindle would force a connect, but I do know your conjecture about wasting battery power on a screen saver ad is incorrect. There is no power used to keep a display on, unlike on an LDC screen. Power is only needed to rearrange the eink in the first place.

06-02-2011, 07:12 PM	#8
futurebear Member Posts: 17 Karma: 132 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Louisiana, Unfortunately. Device: Kindle 3	No, it does not turn on automatically. As soon as you turn it on it downloads ads, or new ads.

06-02-2011, 07:15 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	delete this post

06-02-2011, 07:27 PM	#10
timpearson26 Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 252616 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: ipad	Thanks for the replies everyone. Just one other question regarding the advertisement screensavers.... As mentioned above, I understand that no matter which kindle you have, it always displays some kind of screensaver, either an advertisement or something selected by you. But, how often does the advertisement screensaver change? Does it refresh to a new ad every few minutes, or hour, or day? or does it just stay the same until you switch the device back on? (thinking about battery life again here with this question)

06-03-2011, 01:01 AM	#12
metoo999 Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 Wifi	I think it acts like any other screensaver. It only changes the next time you put it into sleep mode (correct me if I'm wrong, KSO users). My friend uses one.

06-03-2011, 08:52 AM	#13
futurebear Member Posts: 17 Karma: 132 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Louisiana, Unfortunately. Device: Kindle 3	You don't have to worry about battery life. It downloads a png file to the kindle, and displays it just like it does a regular screen saver. The ad does not change until you awake the kindle and put it back asleep again. Basically they act just like the regular screen savers.

06-04-2011, 05:47 PM	#15
Daveoc64 Groupie Posts: 169 Karma: 21142 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bristol, UK Device: Kindle Oasis 3 (LTE)	For the device to be able to turn the Wireless on automatically would be a potential hazard in some situations. In places where any wireless communications are not allowed (like Hospitals or Airplanes) it could be dangerous. I don't see them adding such functionality.

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