Firmware Update Kindle Firmware 5.15.1.1

[jhowell]

Amazon's Source Code Notice page is showing entries for new firmware version 5.15.1.1.

It applies to the same Kindle models that support the current 5.15.1 release. The Voyage and Scribe are excluded.

It is available for download on the Kindle E-Reader Software Updates page.

Version 5.15.1.1 February 2023
Here's what's new:

Performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements.

There is a change in this firmware that affects jailbroken devices. Anyone who has a jailbroken Kindle should avoid this update for now. See this post for more information.


I will update this post with more information as it become available.

[tekkasit]

Now the update files can be direct access.

Oasis 3 (10 Gen) https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredow...2_5.15.1.1.bin

[jhowell]

I took a look at the new Kindle firmware to see what has changed.

The files pubprodkey01.pem and pubprodkey02.pem have been moved from /etc/uks to a new archive named etc/uks.sqsh. I believe that these files have something to do with Kindle jailbreaking. Anyone who has a jailbroken Kindle might want to avoid this update until someone with more knowledge of the jailbreak process has had a chance to review this.

There is a new icon for Microsoft Word documents. This may relate to the announced upcoming ability to send documents directly from Microsoft Word to a Kindle Scribe. It is unknown whether this icon will represent an actual Word document on the device. I believe that it is more likely that it will be used for Kindle format docs converted from Word.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I believe that it is more likely that it will be used for Kindle format docs converted from Word.

Yes, or else you'd be annotating real PDFs, which is ever so much simpler than editing Word documents. Of course it will be a special KFX. They've had the SW tools for that since KFX was created.

[DenS]

Unfortunately I updated and I think I lost the jailbreak. When trying to open KUAL I get an error message. When using the ";log mrpi" command to install KUAL, I get the message "hush, little baby" and then "Destroying package...ng". Kindle restarts and KUAL is not installed.

Fortunately this was a Kindle with a defective screen and I use it more for testing. My main Kindle I will not update.

[DenS]

The issue was resolved by placing the hotfix_1.16.N files and the KUAL installer in the mrpackages folder and using the ";log mrpi" command. Strangely, installing the files separately doesn't seem to work.

[NiLuJe]

Yeah, this will break UYK [regardless of the actual issue you encountered being an outdated hotfix package, which is perfectly normal when running a hotfix built before the release of a FW version] (i.e., an initial jailbreak), but will (probably) *NOT* affect MRPI (i.e., an update, for which, I have to repeat this every single time: you don't need to do *anything* about except reboot. *twice*. Reinstalling the hotfix does nothing for you except doing the same job as the first reboot and tripping the second one by virtue of being an update. It is only actually necessary when there are code changes required (which will *now* be the case, I guess xD)).

I haven't looked into it, but I assume it works like any of the other squashfs images in there, so it's a bit of a bitch to deal with (it's a read-only fs image inside a ro fs, (with none of the tools required to build one shipped, IIRC) ;D).

The usual recommendation still apply: don't <expletive> ever update a <expletive> jailbroken Kindle, <expletive>!

[hleo12]

The update can now be downloaded from Amazon's software update page.

Is there anything new that's not on the release notes?

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by hleo12

Is there anything new that's not on the release notes?

Amazon added a MS Word document icon that is apparently not used at present. Other than that the only files modified only affect those with a jailbroken device. (Linux command line utilities were updated and security keys were relocated.) There are no changes at all to the user experience.

[boyunayim]

I think new firmware made it: battery drain. Last night my pw 5th gen was %22 when I turned it off and in the morning it went zero. Anyone faced same problem?

[Badcatalex]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Amazon added a MS Word document icon that is apparently not used at present.

This must be why: https://www.neowin.net/news/microsof...on-next-month/

[davedeacon]

Originally Posted by Badcatalex

This must be why: https://www.neowin.net/news/microsof...on-next-month/

Hopefully the next Kindle upgrade will include a virus checker.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by boyunayim

I think new firmware made it: battery drain. Last night my pw 5th gen was %22 when I turned it off and in the morning it went zero. Anyone faced same problem?

Leave it on charger for a day or two, and it should go away. Such a big drain is usually associated with a busy Kindle doing indexing stuff.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Badcatalex

This must be why: https://www.neowin.net/news/microsof...on-next-month/

Simply web interface or private API to Amazon, who then has a copy (security, privacy) and then converts it to something else (azw3 or KFX).

I'd rather do my own conversion and send to Kindle via USB. I suppose the MS-Amazon agreement on this is a trade secret.

[stanislav2000]

Originally Posted by boyunayim

I think new firmware made it: battery drain. Last night my pw 5th gen was %22 when I turned it off and in the morning it went zero. Anyone faced same problem?

I have Kindle Paperwhite 3 and faced the same problem. Battery drains much much faster than with firmware 5.15.1. Yesterday I upgraded the firmware, today the battery has 20% less charge.