general quality defects in my Kindle 4

[joblack]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Page skipping sounds like a "bouncing" switch contact. That's a hardware issue, and I'd suggest contacting Kindle CS to get a replacement.

I did try to reset the Kindle 4. And I did try both forward buttons (the button for lefties aren't used that much before) so I don't think it's a hardware issue (what are the chances that both buttons (even the much less used one) are having both the same hardware problem?).

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by joblack

I did try to reset the Kindle 4. And I did try both forward buttons (the button for lefties aren't used that much before) so I don't think it's a hardware issue (what are the chances that both buttons (even the much less used one) are having both the same hardware problem?).

What did you install on it that may have caused this problem? Hacks and custom modifications are NOT removed by a factory reset.

You could try the "simple debricking" method to set it back to TRUE (fresh-out-of-the-box) factory conditions. That will get rid of all changes you may have made to it. It will also let you step back to previous firmware versions.

After doing that, does it work now?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by joblack

Personally I think the reason they moved the WLAN/mobile on/off option to the settings is that Amazon want to track your movements (most people will be too lazy to switch in 'offline mode' through several steps).

Amazon kitteh iz trakin' yur evry moves

[joblack]

Originally Posted by geoffwood

Really?

Time to break out the tin foil hat

All the newer Kindles do have a GPS units included. You may remember privacy problems in mobile apps where the apps sent more information than needed. Some apps even sent addresses from your address book.

So why do you need a GPS unit in an e-book reader anyway? What value does it get you while reading a book?

I think your answer should be more objective to be worth discussing.

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by joblack

All the newer Kindles do have a GPS units included.

The eink kindles do NOT have GPS. Some 3G modems allow location tracking, either with onboard GPS or with cell tower triangulation. It is possible for a wifi-only device to use Google location services that can fairly accurately locate you from the information leakage from wifi routers in your neighborhood (which they gather while photographing streets for the google maps street view). But there is no evidence that amazon uses that google service. The best they can do without installing any extra software on your kindle is to do IP geolocation on your IP address when you connect to a wifi hotspot.

EDIT: Even though android devices normally have GPS, even the android-based Kindle Fire does NOT have a GPS. However, you can use other wifi-based location services using an app like this:
http://gigaom.com/mobile/kindle-fire...without-a-gps/

You could wrap a tin-foil hat around your kindle like the kitty in the photo, but to prevent any information leakage, you need the foil wrapping to also cover the eink screen.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by joblack

All the newer Kindles do have a GPS units included. You may remember privacy problems in mobile apps where the apps sent more information than needed. Some apps even sent addresses from your address book.

So why do you need a GPS unit in an e-book reader anyway? What value does it get you while reading a book?

I think your answer should be more objective to be worth discussing.

Huh??? No, they do not.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Amazon kitteh iz trakin' yur evry moves

LMAO!!!!

Originally Posted by geekmaster

You could wrap a tin-foil hat around your kindle like the kitty in the photo, but to prevent any information leakage, you need the foil wrapping to also cover the eink screen.

LOL! I think the OP might already be living inside a Faraday cage so-to-speak.

[Zeebra]

Originally Posted by joblack

I did try to reset the Kindle 4. And I did try both forward buttons (the button for lefties aren't used that much before) so I don't think it's a hardware issue (what are the chances that both buttons (even the much less used one) are having both the same hardware problem?).

I have the Kindle 4 with the latest firmware and it's never skipped more than 1 page turn for me, like ever. Perhaps you're quickly pressing the button twice?

[geoffwood]

Originally Posted by joblack

All the newer Kindles do have a GPS units included. You may remember privacy problems in mobile apps where the apps sent more information than needed. Some apps even sent addresses from your address book.

So why do you need a GPS unit in an e-book reader anyway? What value does it get you while reading a book?

I think your answer should be more objective to be worth discussing.

I think your answer needs a lot more facts and a lot less paranoia. As others have pointed out, there is NO current Kindle with a GPS chip.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by geoffwood

I think your answer needs a lot more facts and a lot less paranoia. As others have pointed out, there is NO current Kindle with a GPS chip.

Exactly. Not even the Kindle Fire has GPS, and that's an Android tablet, which generally do have it.

[hippy dave]

Originally Posted by Zeebra

I have the Kindle 4 with the latest firmware and it's never skipped more than 1 page turn for me, like ever. Perhaps you're quickly pressing the button twice?

i do actually get the double page turns once in a while on my k4, it's not just him

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by hippy dave

i do actually get the double page turns once in a while on my k4, it's not just him

Perhaps the "switch de-bounce" time in the firmware needs to be increased a little. That would require a firmware patch though...

If the de-bounce time is too large, a quick "double-click" would be interpreted by the firmware as a single click, so adjusting it requires a compromise to allow low-quality inexpensive switches to be pressed in quick repetition without missing or extra detected button presses.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by geekmaster

If the de-bounce time is too large, a quick "double-click" would be interpreted by the firmware as a single click, so adjusting it requires a compromise to allow low-quality inexpensive switches to be pressed in quick repetition without missing or extra detected button presses.

Does the Kindle use "double click" for anything?

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Does the Kindle use "double click" for anything?

Not as a gesture by itself, but it could be used to move forward two pages. Trying to quickly move many pages with a long de-bounce time could be annoying.

I have to do that every time I switch between reading my ebook on my Kindle 3 or my wife's Nook Simple Touch (depending on which one we have with us when I want to resume reading my current ebook).