Firmware Update 5.16.7 out

[Ebookus]

As always, Amazon seems to have forgotten to indicate what the changes are.

[cvkemp]

I have updated my basic kindle and PW I see nothing has changed the update says bug fixes and performance updates

[arturg]

Maybe now side loaded books are not deleted randomly any more?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by arturg

Maybe now side loaded books are not deleted randomly any more?

That would not help older devices such as the PW3.

[TheSmitty]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That would not help older devices such as the PW3.

True, but I believe the device is out of support?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by TheSmitty

True, but I believe the device is out of support?

Doesn't matter. Amazon should not be removing side loaded eBooks regardless of what firmware is in use or what Kindle it is.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That would not help older devices such as the PW3.

It might be a server side issue?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

It might be a server side issue?

I would hope so.

[jhowell]

I examined the Scribe firmware and there are a lot of small changes compared with the previous release. As usual most changes in the firmware that affect the user interface do not take effect until enabled remotely by Amazon. Here is a partial list:

• Per-page Scribe notebook templates and an advanced notebook template selector.
  
• Enhanced Manga navigation: "For faster navigation, press-and-hold page turning in Manga has been replaced by Page Flip. To use Page Flip, tap the icons in the bottom navigation toolbar."
  
• Pinyin deprecation, affects reader and Aa menu.
  
• Changes related to book synchronization. (Why they haven't been able to get it right after all this time is a mystery.)
  
• Changes related to the handling of page numbers.
  
• Possible selective export of notebook pages.
  
• Updates to chromium web browser.
  
• Changes to asset management related to types of content on the device and its organization.
  
• A process named Minerva for recording and reporting metrics to Amazon.
  
• An app watchdog for the main interface application, possibly to help detect failures.

[DenS]

That was more informative than Amazon's Release Notes. Thank you!

[colinsky]

On my device, the "settings" menu has reverted to the pre-5.6.16 layout (more depth, larger fonts)

[DenS]

Originally Posted by colinsky

On my device, the "settings" menu has reverted to the pre-5.6.16 layout (more depth, larger fonts)

The same thing happened here. I had to turn on the Wi-Fi and the settings menu was updated.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by jhowell

As usual most changes in the firmware that affect the user interface do not take effect until enabled remotely by Amazon.

They need to stop doing that. It's so wrong!
They should
1) Only update FW OTA if you accept
2) Only push deliver content OTA if you ask (and accept on Kindle)
3) Change or remove nothing automatically by remote
4) Allow local Kindle and PC corrections of Metadata (i.e. series) and edit of collections by PC.

It's worse than Apple iOS now.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Changes related to book synchronization. (Why they haven't been able to get it right after all this time is a mystery.)

I'm guessing convoluted logic throughout the firmware from early on with lots of mutual dependencies, side effects, and hardwired assumptions. And that all that has increased over time.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Quoth

3) Change or remove nothing automatically by remote

I think the current remote deletion problem isn't remote explicit commands to to delete, but that database syncs cause the kindle itself to conclude that the user used the web site to order removal from device. Or the kindle date is wrong and the book never got entered in the server database is considered newer than the on kindle database. Of course the book info should be propagated to the server, but bugs happen.