Update v2.6 for Kindle for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad - Real page numbers etc

The Kindle for iPhone (also for iPod Touch and iPad) app has been updated with version 2.6 with the following new features:

• Real page numbers for thousands of books in the Kindle Store.  Now you can make proper citations in the classroom or follow along with people reading print books in a book club.
• View your percentage completed while reading [new for iPhone/iPod Touch].
• Home screen now shows your progress through books in list view.
• Look up words on Google and Wikipedia without leaving the app.
• Instant word lookup on included dictionary with 250,000 entries and definitions

You can see full details and download the new update by clicking the top image at the Kindle for iPhone/iPod Touch app page.  You'll get the same info at the Kindle for iPad app page except that it doesn't include "View your percentage completed while reading" as a new feature for the iPad (it may have been included before).

Thanks to Golf11 (Randall) again for the alert Sunday.


Kindle 3's   (UK: Kindle 3's),   DX Graphite

---

Check often: Temporarily-free late-listed non-classics or recently published ones
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.
UK-Only: recently published non-classics, bestsellers, or highest-rated ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

Kindle Software Update v2.52 broad rollout IS starting! - Update3

AMAZON KINDLE SOFTWARE UPDATE VERSION 2.5  IS being received by customers, including a person at Kindleboards.com who received version 2.52 and also Frankie Sutton at the Amazon forum.  The first alert I saw was from @mykindlestuff.

Particulars will be reported later. See earlier report about planned roll-out as described by a tech rep to ebook addict and to an earlier hands-on report. Will return soon.

UPDATE - Kindle forum members are continuing to see delivery-reports for software update v2.52.  No one knows if this is the 'final' version but at least reports of receipt keep coming in after 3-4 days of no activity.

  Some details -
    . The much anticipated alphabetical-sorting of listed Collections on the Home Page is not part of the update in this roll-out, sad to say - this was tested and reported by edward boyhan in the ongoing software-update thread linked to before but now over 2,100 notes long.

    . One thing not mentioned previously but a feature of 2.5 is that a long book title expands to full title now (in smaller font) when the file is highlighted, so that now it'll be easier to differentiate between files with the same beginning title despite the lack of room to show it on the first line.

    . While v2.5 users experienced some slowdowns and more battery drain than before, the v2.52 users have had only positive reports so far (but it hasn't been long).  The organization folder-like tagging system has been 'wished for' (in Amazon language) for over 2 years, so this is a big and much-anticipated change for Kindle users.

UPDATE2 - Countries added as they're heard from. At the forums, people have been wondering if the update is being delivered to Kindles outside the U.S., and so far we've heard from Taiwan, Argentina, Spain, Canada, So. Africa, India, and the UK.  Whispernet-delivered software dates to now millions of Kindles, globally, can take 3-4 weeks to be distributed. Most of those on the message boards are hoping a file will be made available for manual download and side-loading to the Kindle's root folder soon.

UPDATE3 - A file for Kindle 2 Int'l (only) is making the rounds, pointed to at both MobileRead and Amazon Kindle forums.  Some say it works if the K2i has version 2.3.4 on it or the update to v2.3.4 to install first -- earlier files are provided by other customers along with the K2i's v2.52 file, reported to run okay.

  But I don't know...Customer Support had said that only some Kindles needed v2.3.4 when they sent a few out.  So, my DX did get it but my Kindle U.S. (v2.3.3) did not.
  I'm surprised that an update Amazon file would work only if certain updates had been installed previously, which would mean that the new software update would depend on the software version currently used by the Kindle.  That hasn't been true in the past.
  I encourage caution, but those are the links to files, from known long-time Kindle owners, being offered for people who can't wait and who take responsibility for any risk involved in using a user-offered file (in case it's the wrong file for their Kindles, though that usually just produces no action but you never know).  I'm not recommending anything here, just reporting it.

Since Kindle owners are reporting left and right at the Amazon forums that they are getting the update, globally, Amazon should post the official files as well as the User Guide that goes with it.

What's unusual is tbat no new Users Guide or note has been or is going with the update to people who don't know it's coming (as of today).  The update changes are quite intuitive, but a quick guide or accompanying e-notice with a link to the help-guides at Amazon would be good.
  If you suddenly see "Collections" at the top right of your Kindle, that will be the most easily-noticed indicator you have the update.

  Those reading the web blog can search in the top-right searchbox for "v2.5" to find Kindleworld blog articles and features guide for the general update even if the current update is named v2.52.

  Kindle-Edition blog subscribers can just start typing, on the Kindle (while reading the blog), '"v.25" and use the 5-way button to click on 'find' (or press the Return/Enter key at bottom right of keyboard) and you'll get a list of results with links to all recent v2.5 info, since your Kindle will have the last 25 blog articles.
  To find out exactly which update is currently on your Kindle, press Menu button, select Settings and then look at the number at the bottom right.  Earlier updates before this update include versions 2.33 and 2.34 (or lower).

---

 Guide to finding Free or Low-Cost Kindle books and Sources  Top 100 free bestsellers
   Check often:  Latest temporarily free non-classics or late-listed ones.

Kindle Software Update v2.5 broad rollout may be starting

AMAZON KINDLE SOFTWARE UPDATE VERSION 2.5 
is said to be ready for roll out, per a conversation with a Kindle support staffer that was reported in a Kindle forums post by ebook addict

The basic Amazon description of the Kindle Software Upgrade version 2.5 features is at the v2.5 help page.

  My (1) intro and hands-on look at the new Kindle features explaining further some of the most interesting features, along with Amazon screen shots pertaining to what's described plus (2) an excellent hands-on look from another website, are both in another Kindleworld blog article on Update v2.5, which will help when getting the suddenly appeairng software update (over Whispernet).   It wasn't said when a file for manual download for those in non- or low-Whispernet areas (or who'd rather not wait) might be ready for 'on-demand' download.

HISTORY
  On April 28, Amazon announced, on their help pages, that a version 2.5 Kindle update was to be sent out to a "limited group of users," presumably to obtain feedback and reactions to the update, with a "broad release date in late May this year."

  On May 28, Amazon modified the message to say that they'd "...received great feedback from the early customers.  Based on this feedback, we are making some small adjustments to improve the experience further.  We will be rolling out the 2.5 software update to more users over the coming weeks. '

UNOFFICIAL WORD TODAY, JUNE 3
As mentioned at the top, Kindle owner ebook addict posted a report of a talk with a Kindle Tech Support representative who readily gave her good news about the update and said that the announcement should be up on the Amazon help pages (it isn't, about 2 hours later, but could be up tomorrow, I guess).

   Here is the gist of what the rep said in ebook addict's own words.

' I just got off the phone with a very nice young man from Kindle Tech support and he told me the bugs have been worked out of the 2.5 update and they are beginning the new roll out now! Here are the specs he gave me:

The update is rolling out over the course of this month by geographical region. No download link as of yet.

The download is large and takes a while but will download all in one file and not over the course of several days as previously posted. At least according to what he knows.

It will update when whispernet is on and has been in extended sleep mode but they are attempting to push [it] out overnight due to the size.

Clicking on "sync and check for items" will not check for updates, only your kindle content like books, blogs, etc. so don't bother wasting your time on this.

Tech support has not been told any order of regions, but someone please post if you get the update after or slightly before this post and tell us what part of the country you are in. I am sure we will begin to see a trend ... '

---

 Guide to finding Free or Low-Cost Kindle books and Sources  Top 100 free bestsellers
   Check often:  Latest temporarily free non-classics or late-listed ones.

Kindle v2.5 update delayed - Also, a thinner B/W Kindle may come in August

AMAZON KINDLE SOFTWARE UPDATE VERSION 2.5

From the Kindle Software Upgrade v2.5 help page today, at the top, where Amazon asks users to monitor the page for further news, we see:

' Kindle Version 2.5 Overview

We know Kindle customers are anxious to receive the 2.5 software update, so we wanted to provide you with some details about its status. We've rolled out the 2.5 software release to a set of Kindle customers and have received great feedback from these early customers. Based on this feedback, we are making some small adjustments to improve the experience further. We will be rolling out the 2.5 software update to more users over the coming weeks. '

The broader delivery of the new update was to be in late May (which is now), but as of 5/28 they're continuing to roll out the software slowly to more (not all) users 'over the coming weeks' after small adjustments.  Forum members are a bit restless.

No real bugs have been reported on the forum, but it is clear that most who received it recently really need to have the Home page listing of Collections in alphabetical order (they're shown the listing in that order when users do the Add files to Collections process).

Also, there is some slowness in load time that is probably caused by the association of any file with several Collection categories -- so, the info needs to be gathered and in place for the screen display by Collections, which are user-set and changeable -- in my case, I am changing things frequently as it's flexible and it takes time to know what works best for the individual.

A POSSIBLY THINNER, FASTER KINDLE IN AUGUST?
Bloomberg's Peter Burrows and Joseph Galante report today (May 28) that Amazon "plans to introduce the next version of its Kindle electronic-book reader in August, according to two people familiar with its plans."

' The device will be thinner and have a more responsive screen with a sharper picture, the people said, who didn’t want to be identified because the plans aren’t public. The new Kindle won’t include a touch screen or color, they said. [Emphases mine.]

...Sony also added a service that lets users download books wirelessly, matching a feature of the Kindle. '

Sony's doesn't involve free global access to Wikipedia 24/7 nor the free basic web browser in the U.S. and Japan for accessing mobile-device-optimized websites but the Sony (Daily Edition) costs $400 to the Kindle's $257.

Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos, earlier this week, said that the company was still concentrating on committed book readers who would gravitate toward very portable, less expensive dedicated e-readers and that the committed book readers comprise about 10% of households.  He seems to be lowering expectations in the face of writers who keep comparing small dedicated e-book readers that use eye-relieving e-Ink (similar to print on paper and superior when reading outdoors) to the larger and more costly multi-function iPads, including the $629 iPad that has the 3G cellular wireless capability which then requires a data plan by the month costing $15-$30/mo.

 Also, a color display screen isn't in the offing for the Kindle for some time because '“I’ve seen some stuff in the laboratory, but it’s not quite ready for prime-time production,” Bezos said May 25 at the company’s annual shareholders meeting. '  The Bloomberg report continues:

' The new version will have sharper contrast that makes e-books look more like real books, the people familiar with the product said. The delay during page turns also will be shortened... '

What's interesting is that, despite purchasing Touchco recently, Amazon says that it's not going to touch-screen technology yet (which some Kindle owners are glad about as they don't look forward to fingerprints on the screen but I don't see why Amazon can't make one Kindle with a touch screen and one without.

To contact the reporters on this story: Peter Burrows in San Francisco at pburrows@bloomberg.net; Joseph Galante in San Francisco at jgalante3@bloomberg.net Last Updated: May 28, 2010 20:20 EDT

---

 See the ongoing Guide to finding Free or Low-Cost Kindle books and Sources
   Check often:  Latest temporarily free non-classics or late-listed temporarily free nonclassics.

Kindle Software Update v2.3.3 and v2.3.4 (maintenance updates)

This is an update to the earlier blog article written when the Amazon Kindle software update v2.3.3 first came out for Kindle 2 and Kindle DX models.
  Update v2.3.4 is one that is done only for Kindle devices that need it, for whatever reasons, and is not being offered in manual-update version.

Software Update Version 2.3.4
 Yesterday, I found out from a Kindle Community forum thread (with specific info from the watchful mom2karen there) that one difference is that the automated and rarely installed v2.3.4 software update identifies the IMSI or International Mobile Subscriber Identity and notes the radio's serial number.  Again, it seems to be needed for few Kindles and the Kindles that get the update tend to be both Kindle DX's and the Kindle 6" Global.  Possibly, it is used only for certain modem types.  Customer Service has told those phoning them that it's not needed for most Kindles.

  When you're due for a software update, they're normally received over Whispernet, which means your wireless would have to be On to get it and your Kindle quietly updates, which you will notice if you're nearby because it reboots when the update is completed.

Checking Which Firmware or Software Version Your Kindle is Using
  You can always see your latest firmware version by pressing the Menu button, clicking on Settings and looking at the bottom status line.

Doing a Manual Update for Version 2.3.3
While these are normally maintenance updates that are done over Whispernet when you have wireless On, I've found that quite a few just never received the v2,3.3 update, though that one was to go to all.  When I alerted a couple of people writing about the Kindle's PDF display because I thought they'd like the wider Landscape-orientation font placement (to the edges), they found that their Kindles had not received the update.  As you can see below, with instructions from Amazon that I link to, the manual update is actually not difficult, and a forum member today said she was surprised to find it was so easy.

  At the time of the v2.3.3 update, I went to look at what the latest was all about, and I saw only that they were saying

" We're sending automatic wireless 2.3 series updates to all eligible devices.  Our most recent version update is 2.3.3.

If you want to start enjoying it now, you can download and install the update manually from the Applying Kindle Software Updates Manually section below.

Automatic Wireless Updates
We send out wireless software updates in batches, so rest assured that you'll receive updates automatically. "

They go on to explain how that works and again give the option to do it yourself, manually.  As many say, it's not difficult - but if you need help, you can ask at the Amazon Community forum where a lot of help is available 24/7 from many other Kindle owners.  Another place you can ask for help and get very good support from Kindle owners is at the Kindleboards forum

MOST IMPORTANT - CHOOSING THE RIGHT FILE FOR THE MODEL OF KINDLE YOU HAVE
You can find the serial number on the back of your Kindle.  If it starts with:

B002... it's a 6" Kindle 2, U.S. version, using Sprint's wireless network
B003, it's an International or Global version of the 6" Kindle 2 version and uses AT&T's wireless network - released October 19, 2009
B004, it's a 9.7" Kindle DX, U.S. version
B005, it's a 9.7" Kindle DX, Global version - released January 6, 2010.

Another way to get the serial number is to have Wireless On, press Menu button, click on Settings and then input the numbers 411

The 4th line of info that then displays at the top will give you your Kindle serial number (just as small as it is on the back of your Kindle, so a magnifying glass may be in order).

The basic or main software version 2.3 and a description of it
The basic version 2.3 firmware update was first explained on their software update page.

The maintenance updates for version 2.3
  The "v2.3.2" and "v2.3.3" updates would be "maintenance" updates or refinements to make the recent main v2.3 update work a bit better, after feedback from customers and what they find themselves.
  They don't give details on that, though I wish they would.  But I'm also glad they're continuing to send updates to people or making them available to us to install ourselves.

What v2.3.3 improved
  After downloading the v2.3.3 file, I noticed that the awake-process takes less time and provides a quicker stop to the spinning activity indicater at the top left.  The Kindle seems more responsive again when starting out and in general.
  Several Kindle owners felt the contrast ratio seemed better.

If you want to get these wirelessly when they're released officially for all, just remember they're done in batches and it can take WEEKS for them to get this on everyone's Kindle.  Reminder: these updates are for the Kindle and Kindle DX (US & Global) models) but not for the Kindle 1, as the v2.3 update did not apply to that model due to the hardware on the Kindle 1 having a slower processer limiting users to indirect access to words on the screen and because it has less internal storage memory.

  If, instead, you do want to do this type of update yourself, manually, by moving a file from Amazon to your Kindle with the USB cable that is part of the basic power cable (except for Australia), follow their quite good instructions on the software-update page.

IMPORTANT - File must be placed above the 'documents' folder, at the top or 'root.'
  It's essentially the the way you'd move a file to your Kindle for reading EXCEPT that you'd put the software-update file ABOVE the "documents" file, at the "root".   If your Kindle is assigned "f:\" on your computer, then you'd put the file right on "f:\" but it can be assigned any drive letter from "e:\" to "i:\" usually.

TROUBLESHOOTING
Amazon also says at the page:

" If you cannot successfully update your Kindle software using the instructions above or encounter any difficulty with your software update, please contact Kindle Support.

The very best, and quickest, way is to PHONE Kindle Customer Support.

  * Inside the United States:   1-866-321-8851
  * Outside the United States: 1-206-266-0927

  Otherwise, click the "Contact Us" button in the right-hand column of the Amazon Kindle software-update page to ask for a callback from Amazon (usually done pretty quickly).

---

See the ongoing Guide to finding Free or Low-Cost Kindle books and Sources
  Check often: Latest free non-classics, shortcut http://bit.ly/latestfreenonclassics.)

Kindle Software Update v2.3.3 (maintenance update)

My Kindle quietly updated from v2.3 to 2.3.2.

  I went to look at what the latest was all about, and I saw only that they are saying

" We're sending automatic wireless 2.3 series updates to all eligible devices. Our most recent version update is 2.3.3.

If you want to start enjoying it now, you can download and install the update manually from the Applying Kindle Software Updates Manually section below.

Automatic Wireless Updates
We send out wireless software updates in batches, so rest assured that you'll receive updates automatically. "

They go on to explain how that works and again give the option to do it yourself, manually.  It's not difficult - but if you need help, you can ask at the Amazon Community forum where a lot of help is available 24/7 from many other Kindle owners.  Another place you can ask for help and get very good support from Kindle owners is at the Kindleboards forum

The basic version 2.3 firmware update was first explained on their software update page.

 The "v2.3.2" and "v2.3.3" updates would be "maintenance" updates or refinements to make the recent v2.3 update work a bit better, after feedback from customers and what they find themselves.  They don't give details on that, though I wish they would.  But I'm also glad they're continuing to send updates to people.

All right, having downloaded the file, I see that the awake-process takes less time with less of that spinning thing at the top left.  It seems more responsive again when starting out and in general.

If you want to get it wirelessly, just remember it's done in batches and it can take WEEKS for them to get this on everyone's Kindle.  These updates are for the Kindle and Kindle DX (US & Global) models) but not for the Kindle 1, as the v2.3 update did not apply to that model due to the hardware on the Kindle 1 having a slower processer limiting users to indirect access to words on the screen and because it has less internal storage memory.

  If, instead, you want to do this update yourself, manually, by moving a file from Amazon to your Kindle with the USB cable that is part of the basic power cable (except for Australia), follow their quite good instructions on the software-update page.

  It's essentially the the way you'd move a file to your Kindle for reading EXCEPT that you'd put the software-update file ABOVE the "documents" file, at the "root".   If your Kindle is assigned "f:\" on your computer, then you'd put the file right on "f:\" but it can be assigned any drive letter from "e:\" to "i:\" usually.

TROUBLESHOOTING
Amazon also says at the page:

" If you cannot successfully update your Kindle software using the instructions above or encounter any difficulty with your software update, please contact Kindle Support.

The very best, and quickest, way is to PHONE Kindle Customer Support.

  * Inside the United States:   1-866-321-8851
  * Outside the United States: 1-206-266-0927

  Otherwise, click the "Contact Us" button in the right-hand column of the Amazon Kindle software-update page to ask for a callback from Amazon (usually done pretty quickly).

Kindle 2 firmware update 2.03 coming in

Well, an update is coming in for sure, distributed in batches but no one seems to know how Amazon decides who gets updates first and why.

Three people on forums (Amazon's and Mobileread's) have already said that they think they are imagining a noticeable increase in screen contrast; of course they (and I) hope it's not their imaginations.  Wishing upon an Amazon user-rating star...

 Others think it may just be making it possible for Amazon to disable text-to-speech, when the publisher insists on that, and fixing minor bugs.

If a person doesn't want to wait, the update can be done manually.  For those eager enough to do this (it's not difficult) they must remember to UNinstall any changes they made, such as for personalized screensavers and for font-replacements they themselves may have installed.  These personalized customizations need to be UNinstalled, latest one first. Only then will a new Amazon update work correctly.  I'd do it now before Amazon tries to change your settings overnight -- or, keep your wireless off until you uninstall personalized installs.

A guide for a MANUAL install of the Amazon update file for those who can't wait is at MobileRead forums, thanks to Bruce Woodcock, but they (and I) don't take responsibility for what others decide to do.  I'm just reporting its availability in a Kindle world :-).