Question for Kindle 1 and 2 owners re: direct sunshine

MsAstoria · 03-02-2009, 07:31 PM

Hey guys,

Imagine the horror

when I turned on my Kindle 2 while walking downtown today and the screen immediately faded and turned blotchy from the sun hitting it! Is this normal? I thought that the Kindle could be read in direct sunlight and this is only weak spring strength sunlight!

So what we have here is whenever the screen is refreshed by page turning and it's in direct sunlight, the text is washed out. But step into the shade and turn a page forward or back, and then back to the original page, it comes up fine. Although I do note some letters may be a little distorted but a pixel or two. See attached photos to view this phenomenon.

Boston · 03-02-2009, 07:51 PM

Nope..you can read the Kindle in direct sunlight. I would call Amazon.

daffy4u · 03-02-2009, 08:26 PM

You may have a defective unit. There wee a few folks who reported this with K1 as well. I never had that problem.

astromusic · 03-02-2009, 08:58 PM

My K2 works fine in direct sunshine.

MsAstoria · 03-02-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsAstoria

Hey guys,

Imagine the horror

when I turned on my Kindle 2 while walking downtown today and the screen immediately faded and turned blotchy from the sun hitting it! Is this normal? I thought that the Kindle could be read in direct sunlight and this is only weak spring strength sunlight!

I saw a posting on the same thing from another K2 owner on Amazon forum, so should I call tech support

So second call to Amazon support got me a new Kindle to be sent to replace this one. It's obviously defective and the gal was very nice and handled the situation well. Seems they have had a few K2's being returned with this same issue. So, new K2 owners, be sure and check your Kindle out in direct sunlight before you start loading it up with all your MP3's and doc, urls. Guess I will be copying my urls to my main computer or maybe I can just cope the document folder in K2 Drive? Does that work? Hmm, good thing all Amazon purchases are backed up on Amazon.com and I will just have to put back on my FreeBooks and other freebies on the new unit. Just a minor inconvenience.

freecia · 03-03-2009, 07:20 PM

I had a similar problem with the screen looking washed out in areas. I think it was the screensaver and a partial refresh.

Will have to try the kindle in sunlight except it has been raining or cloudy non-stop.

Update: Bummer. Mine exhibits this behavior. I have a new one on the way and this will be the first thing I check after registering it.

lilac_jive · 03-03-2009, 07:21 PM

This happens to my 505, if the sun is bright. It goes away after you turn it off.

It doesn't usually bother me (I usually get my head shadow to block the light), but I will know better when I come back from the sunny Bahamas

DebraSeattleGrrl · 03-09-2009, 01:59 PM

It's good to know that Amazon backs it's product with customer service

Rontonio · 03-09-2009, 05:07 PM

I’ve contacted Amazon customer service to return my second Kindle. Both of them had the same problem. After 30 seconds to a minute indirect sunlight the E-Ink print degraded to only partial readability. This is 2 Kindles. The first I received on Friday, and noticed the problem on Saturday. Customer service was very nice, and they send a replacement out. I received that one today, charged it, took it outside on and watched my happiness fade away. I also own a Sony 505, and although it is affected by sunlight, it only happens when the Reader gets very warm. When I tilt the screen, or refresh, the print looks all right again. On the Reader, the font seem to “thin”, and thicken again after a refresh. With the Kindle the font softens and shortly “breaks-up”. It looks like a printed page that was produced with a copier low on ink. I am not a sunbather. The Kindle problem happens when I’m outside having a coffee and reading with my back to the sun. As soon as it hits the screen the degradation starts. Customer service will send both Kindles to their “development team” and get back to me. Amazon was patient and helpful, and exhibited great customer service.

MsAstoria · 03-09-2009, 06:53 PM

I had the same problem and Amazon replaced mine. My replacement seems to be fine in the sunshine (which is at a premium this week as I look out at the gray skies and blowing snow). Now if only the whispernet would work! I am really regretting selling my PRS-505 but I am hoping all issues will be resolved soon.

RickyMaveety · 03-09-2009, 07:48 PM

I've got three K1s and never had this problem with any of them.

NavyDad6 · 03-11-2009, 06:30 PM

Ok... so after reading this thread.... I of course ran outside to test mine in direct sunlight. Then I remembered that I live in Washington and we were in the middle of a snow storm.

So, I waited two days and then did the test. No problems here (whew!), except everyone on my block thinks I am "challenged".

freecia · 03-11-2009, 10:22 PM

My exchanged unit is fine and even better, the contrast is a bit better on the new unit. I asked a few impartial observers which had better contrast or was easier to read and they all pointed to the new unit.

AnemicOak · 03-13-2009, 09:02 PM

Mine is showing this same problem, although not as bad as the OP's. I was just reading where Amazon CS is now telling folks to just return them for a refund instead of exchange. Don't know if I'll return it or try to get it replaced yet. It's having other issues too.

TallMomof2 · 03-13-2009, 09:15 PM

If the sun ever comes out I'll test mine but as far as I can tell mine doesn't have that problem.

03-02-2009, 07:31 PM	#1
MsAstoria Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 47344 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, Oregon, USA Device: Kindle Fire HDX, iPhone (yes, I read on my phone)	Question for Kindle 1 and 2 owners re: direct sunshine Hey guys, Imagine the horror when I turned on my Kindle 2 while walking downtown today and the screen immediately faded and turned blotchy from the sun hitting it! Is this normal? I thought that the Kindle could be read in direct sunlight and this is only weak spring strength sunlight! So what we have here is whenever the screen is refreshed by page turning and it's in direct sunlight, the text is washed out. But step into the shade and turn a page forward or back, and then back to the original page, it comes up fine. Although I do note some letters may be a little distorted but a pixel or two. See attached photos to view this phenomenon. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by MsAstoria; 03-03-2009 at 01:57 PM.

03-03-2009, 07:20 PM	#6
freecia Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 378 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: CA Device: kindle 3 3g+wifi, kindle 2, kindle 1	I had a similar problem with the screen looking washed out in areas. I think it was the screensaver and a partial refresh. Will have to try the kindle in sunlight except it has been raining or cloudy non-stop. Update: Bummer. Mine exhibits this behavior. I have a new one on the way and this will be the first thing I check after registering it. Last edited by freecia; 03-09-2009 at 05:26 PM. Reason: response updated

03-13-2009, 09:02 PM	#14
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Mine is showing this same problem, although not as bad as the OP's. I was just reading where Amazon CS is now telling folks to just return them for a refund instead of exchange. Don't know if I'll return it or try to get it replaced yet. It's having other issues too. Last edited by AnemicOak; 03-13-2009 at 09:25 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Question for Canadian Kindle 3 Owners	Dwayne_Matheson	Amazon Kindle	80	10-08-2010 11:35 AM
Question to both kindle DX and 6" owners	Papi	Amazon Kindle	20	08-10-2010 03:30 PM
Question for kindle owners outside the US	RosiHorrorShow	Amazon Kindle	11	07-09-2010 06:49 AM
Question for Kindle Owners	Nate the great	Amazon Kindle	12	03-26-2008 10:57 PM
A Question for new Kindle Owners	NatCh	Amazon Kindle	28	12-02-2007 01:13 AM

03-02-2009, 07:51 PM	#2
Boston Fanatic Posts: 555 Karma: 40032 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Boston :) Device: Kindle, Kobo Aura H20, Pixel XL	Nope..you can read the Kindle in direct sunlight. I would call Amazon.

03-02-2009, 08:26 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	You may have a defective unit. There wee a few folks who reported this with K1 as well. I never had that problem.

03-02-2009, 08:58 PM	#4
astromusic Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 2	My K2 works fine in direct sunshine.

03-03-2009, 07:21 PM	#7
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	This happens to my 505, if the sun is bright. It goes away after you turn it off. It doesn't usually bother me (I usually get my head shadow to block the light), but I will know better when I come back from the sunny Bahamas

03-09-2009, 01:59 PM	#8
DebraSeattleGrrl Member Posts: 24 Karma: 162 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle Device: Kindle 2	It's good to know that Amazon backs it's product with customer service

03-09-2009, 05:07 PM	#9
Rontonio Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: Sony Reader	I’ve contacted Amazon customer service to return my second Kindle. Both of them had the same problem. After 30 seconds to a minute indirect sunlight the E-Ink print degraded to only partial readability. This is 2 Kindles. The first I received on Friday, and noticed the problem on Saturday. Customer service was very nice, and they send a replacement out. I received that one today, charged it, took it outside on and watched my happiness fade away. I also own a Sony 505, and although it is affected by sunlight, it only happens when the Reader gets very warm. When I tilt the screen, or refresh, the print looks all right again. On the Reader, the font seem to “thin”, and thicken again after a refresh. With the Kindle the font softens and shortly “breaks-up”. It looks like a printed page that was produced with a copier low on ink. I am not a sunbather. The Kindle problem happens when I’m outside having a coffee and reading with my back to the sun. As soon as it hits the screen the degradation starts. Customer service will send both Kindles to their “development team” and get back to me. Amazon was patient and helpful, and exhibited great customer service.

03-09-2009, 06:53 PM	#10
MsAstoria Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 47344 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, Oregon, USA Device: Kindle Fire HDX, iPhone (yes, I read on my phone)	I had the same problem and Amazon replaced mine. My replacement seems to be fine in the sunshine (which is at a premium this week as I look out at the gray skies and blowing snow). Now if only the whispernet would work! I am really regretting selling my PRS-505 but I am hoping all issues will be resolved soon.

03-09-2009, 07:48 PM	#11
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	I've got three K1s and never had this problem with any of them.

03-11-2009, 06:30 PM	#12
NavyDad6 Reading is FUNdamental Posts: 233 Karma: 1516 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: WA state Device: Kindle 2	Ok... so after reading this thread.... I of course ran outside to test mine in direct sunlight. Then I remembered that I live in Washington and we were in the middle of a snow storm. So, I waited two days and then did the test. No problems here (whew!), except everyone on my block thinks I am "challenged".

03-11-2009, 10:22 PM	#13
freecia Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 378 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: CA Device: kindle 3 3g+wifi, kindle 2, kindle 1	My exchanged unit is fine and even better, the contrast is a bit better on the new unit. I asked a few impartial observers which had better contrast or was easier to read and they all pointed to the new unit.

03-13-2009, 09:15 PM	#15
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	If the sun ever comes out I'll test mine but as far as I can tell mine doesn't have that problem.