Kindle 1.2 update makes boat anchor

scotty1024 · 02-11-2009, 05:19 PM

I'm home recovering from having steent number 6 installed this past weekend (what a birthday present that was) and was finally feeling good enough today to fiddle with the Kindle again. (rather than just sleep all day long).

Imagine my surprise to discover software 1.2 was attempting to sneak it's way into my Kindle along with my stack of new ebook purchases.

Imagine my surprise when the update reported an error F000 and instructed me to call customer service.

Imagine my horror when customer service informed me the unit had to come back to them to be fixed e.g. there is no emergency re-flash capability!

Yikes!

Then imagine my attempt to follow my cardiologist's directions (heart rate to be kept between 60 and 100 at all times) when they told me my launch day unit was now out-of-warranty and they'd have to charge me for a replacement unit.

Fortunately it was Amazon and when they looked up my account and saw a 2.0 on pre-order, a couple hundred purchased Kindle books and Amazon Prime on my account they decided to over night me a new unit.

Cardiac crisis averted.

Anyway, I didn't see anyone else posted anything about software 1.2 for the Kindle? So I'm guessing this came out since Monday?

Deets here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200226050

Promised features if my unit hadn't committed suicide:

Image zoom: Zoom in on any image in Kindle books or periodicals using the scroll wheel.

Enhanced content management: Delete items directly from the Home screen with a new short-cut key--scroll to the item and push the "backspace" key.

Improved character and font support: New support includes Greek characters and monospace fonts.

Looks like a nice set of updates, assuming you can get your unit to survive the update process.

I must say I am a bit astonished that Amazon doesn't have an emergency re-flash ability in the Kindle. You'd think they had iRex cobble together the software or something.

Ervserver · 02-11-2009, 05:22 PM

no issues with the update here...Amazon is treating you good at least

daffy4u · 02-11-2009, 05:25 PM

Wow!

I'm so sorry your birthday present was surgery though I'm glad you're well.

Good on Amazon so you can have your Kindle while recovering. I installed the upgrade myself and luckily had no problems.

Take care of yourself.

pilotbob · 02-11-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty1024

Imagine my horror when customer service informed me the unit had to come back to them to be fixed e.g. there is no emergency re-flash capability!

Dude, that is not right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty1024

Anyway, I didn't see anyone else posted anything about software 1.2 for the Kindle? So I'm guessing this came out since Monday?

Actually it's been out for a while. There was a thread about it here a few weeks ago.

BOb

lilac_jive · 02-11-2009, 05:28 PM

And people wonder why it takes me months to download updates!

Glad to hear they took care of you.

Nate the great · 02-11-2009, 05:38 PM

I had no trouble.

wallcraft · 02-11-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty1024

Anyway, I didn't see anyone else posted anything about software 1.2 for the Kindle? So I'm guessing this came out since Monday?

See Kindle Upgrade and Kindle now Zooms AZW Images.

There was a teleread post over the weekend on how easy it was to reflash the Kindle. I guess it is easy until it breaks.

scotty1024 · 02-11-2009, 05:41 PM

A few weeks ago sounds about right. Last time they released an update it took several weeks of waiting for my unit to come up in the rotation.

Fortunately I can hit up Baen for the latest Lt. Leary ARC in BBeB format and read that on my PRS-700.

Nickfdr · 02-11-2009, 06:23 PM

Nice to see amazon is treating you well! They probably just wanted to get rid of one of their old kindle 1s lieing around though

badgoodDeb · 02-11-2009, 07:13 PM

I tried the image zoom on an image that didn't improve. So I'm withholding judgement on that feature so far.

But the "delete from home screen" is GREAT, for me. Sooo much easier.

So -- if they are overnighting one to you -- will you be the FIRST of us to actually get the Kindle 2? Or are they shipping a K1?

Alisa · 02-12-2009, 02:27 PM

I've only tried image zoom on previously illegible tables and diagrams in one of my tech books and it worked quite well there.

badgoodDeb · 02-12-2009, 03:09 PM

Hey -- glad to hear it does help, sometimes! I'll keep trying it then.

scotty1024 · 03-11-2009, 10:01 PM

Well I tracked the return via UPS to Amazon and thought that was the end of it when they signed for it.

But alas it was not to be so.

Instead of it being processed as a returned dead unit to cancel out a "we'll bill you in 30 days if we don't get the dead unit back invoice" it was processed as a customer return.

I get an email yesterday informing me that they were crediting me for $399 minus the re-stocking fee.

I hit the "comment on this refund" link in the email and politely express my desire to not be charged a re-stocking fee for a Kindle they screwed up with their firmware update.

I hear nothing back.

This morning I call and get a woman whom evidently got up on the wrong side of her bed.

After getting a "supervisor" I learn that Amazon didn't just credit me $399 minus restocking fee + sales tax: they put it back on my credit card.

Of course now that I'd called in: Amazon wanted their money back.

No heart burn on my part so I ask if they need my credit card number and they say "Oh no, we'll just take it off the card ending XXXX that we mistakenly put the money back onto."

Only problem: that card was skimmed last year and was canceled (with extreme prejudice) by the bank.

You could hear a pin drop on their end of the phone.

So maybe I don't have their money but they don't have any record of the refund having been refused by the bank. So they'll have to investigate and send me an email when they get it figured out.

So seven hours later I get an email asking me if I'm satisfied with the resolution of the incident.

What resolution?!!?

So I punched the "No, I'm not happy" link and left them a lengthy text box full of explanation of my un-happiness.

My advice: don't let the Amazon firmware updater toast your Kindle, you have no idea what a pain it may be to get it all resolved.

sirbruce · 03-11-2009, 11:04 PM

Well at any rate it's not your problem... they put the money on the credit card and didn't mean to; now it's between them and the bank who didn't refuse it. I don't know why you're that unhappy; you got your Kindle 2 (free!) and I don't think Amazon can come after you for more money.

PS - I got my first two stents last month. Cardiologist says my arteries are wide open now though so I'm good as new. Stupid genetics.

RickyMaveety · 03-11-2009, 11:23 PM

Just checked my primary Kindle. It is updated to version 1.2, but now I'm more than a little leery of updating the other two.

I certainly don't want to have to send any of them back and be charged for damage that Amazon caused.

02-11-2009, 05:19 PM	#1
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	Kindle 1.2 update makes boat anchor I'm home recovering from having steent number 6 installed this past weekend (what a birthday present that was) and was finally feeling good enough today to fiddle with the Kindle again. (rather than just sleep all day long). Imagine my surprise to discover software 1.2 was attempting to sneak it's way into my Kindle along with my stack of new ebook purchases. Imagine my surprise when the update reported an error F000 and instructed me to call customer service. Imagine my horror when customer service informed me the unit had to come back to them to be fixed e.g. there is no emergency re-flash capability! Yikes! Then imagine my attempt to follow my cardiologist's directions (heart rate to be kept between 60 and 100 at all times) when they told me my launch day unit was now out-of-warranty and they'd have to charge me for a replacement unit. Fortunately it was Amazon and when they looked up my account and saw a 2.0 on pre-order, a couple hundred purchased Kindle books and Amazon Prime on my account they decided to over night me a new unit. Cardiac crisis averted. Anyway, I didn't see anyone else posted anything about software 1.2 for the Kindle? So I'm guessing this came out since Monday? Deets here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200226050 Promised features if my unit hadn't committed suicide: Image zoom: Zoom in on any image in Kindle books or periodicals using the scroll wheel. Enhanced content management: Delete items directly from the Home screen with a new short-cut key--scroll to the item and push the "backspace" key. Improved character and font support: New support includes Greek characters and monospace fonts. Looks like a nice set of updates, assuming you can get your unit to survive the update process. I must say I am a bit astonished that Amazon doesn't have an emergency re-flash ability in the Kindle. You'd think they had iRex cobble together the software or something.

03-11-2009, 10:01 PM	#13
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	The shaggy dog story that grows more hair Well I tracked the return via UPS to Amazon and thought that was the end of it when they signed for it. But alas it was not to be so. Instead of it being processed as a returned dead unit to cancel out a "we'll bill you in 30 days if we don't get the dead unit back invoice" it was processed as a customer return. I get an email yesterday informing me that they were crediting me for $399 minus the re-stocking fee. I hit the "comment on this refund" link in the email and politely express my desire to not be charged a re-stocking fee for a Kindle they screwed up with their firmware update. I hear nothing back. This morning I call and get a woman whom evidently got up on the wrong side of her bed. After getting a "supervisor" I learn that Amazon didn't just credit me $399 minus restocking fee + sales tax: they put it back on my credit card. Of course now that I'd called in: Amazon wanted their money back. No heart burn on my part so I ask if they need my credit card number and they say "Oh no, we'll just take it off the card ending XXXX that we mistakenly put the money back onto." Only problem: that card was skimmed last year and was canceled (with extreme prejudice) by the bank. You could hear a pin drop on their end of the phone. So maybe I don't have their money but they don't have any record of the refund having been refused by the bank. So they'll have to investigate and send me an email when they get it figured out. So seven hours later I get an email asking me if I'm satisfied with the resolution of the incident. What resolution?!!? So I punched the "No, I'm not happy" link and left them a lengthy text box full of explanation of my un-happiness. My advice: don't let the Amazon firmware updater toast your Kindle, you have no idea what a pain it may be to get it all resolved.

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02-11-2009, 05:22 PM	#2
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	no issues with the update here...Amazon is treating you good at least

02-11-2009, 05:25 PM	#3
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Wow! I'm so sorry your birthday present was surgery though I'm glad you're well. Good on Amazon so you can have your Kindle while recovering. I installed the upgrade myself and luckily had no problems. Take care of yourself.

02-11-2009, 05:28 PM	#5
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	And people wonder why it takes me months to download updates! Glad to hear they took care of you.

02-11-2009, 05:38 PM	#6
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	I had no trouble.

02-11-2009, 05:41 PM	#8
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	A few weeks ago sounds about right. Last time they released an update it took several weeks of waiting for my unit to come up in the rotation. Fortunately I can hit up Baen for the latest Lt. Leary ARC in BBeB format and read that on my PRS-700.

02-11-2009, 06:23 PM	#9
Nickfdr Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 34 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Device: Sony PRS-700	Nice to see amazon is treating you well! They probably just wanted to get rid of one of their old kindle 1s lieing around though

02-11-2009, 07:13 PM	#10
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	I tried the image zoom on an image that didn't improve. So I'm withholding judgement on that feature so far. But the "delete from home screen" is GREAT, for me. Sooo much easier. So -- if they are overnighting one to you -- will you be the FIRST of us to actually get the Kindle 2? Or are they shipping a K1?

02-12-2009, 02:27 PM	#11
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I've only tried image zoom on previously illegible tables and diagrams in one of my tech books and it worked quite well there.

02-12-2009, 03:09 PM	#12
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Hey -- glad to hear it does help, sometimes! I'll keep trying it then.

03-11-2009, 11:04 PM	#14
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	Well at any rate it's not your problem... they put the money on the credit card and didn't mean to; now it's between them and the bank who didn't refuse it. I don't know why you're that unhappy; you got your Kindle 2 (free!) and I don't think Amazon can come after you for more money. PS - I got my first two stents last month. Cardiologist says my arteries are wide open now though so I'm good as new. Stupid genetics.

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03-11-2009, 11:23 PM	#15
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	Just checked my primary Kindle. It is updated to version 1.2, but now I'm more than a little leery of updating the other two. I certainly don't want to have to send any of them back and be charged for damage that Amazon caused.