Current Firmware Version of New Paperwhite or Voyage

victoryhollow · 06-10-2015, 08:22 AM

So, I managed to mess up the jailbreak on my Kindle Paperwhite, which I bought new from Amazon.com around this time last year. Basically, I turned on wifi for the first time in ages without checking to see if the jailbreak needed to be updated (I didn't have the version that comes with the KUAL thing), and Amazon updated it to 5.6.x. I tried the jailbreak recovery, but it didn't work. So I tried resetting the Kindle, naively thinking that might roll it back to the version it was shipped with, but it didn't, it just erased all my content, PLUS all the jailbreak files from the main directory... I have 0 technical skills, and just jailbreaking it the first time was a headache, so it seems like that was basically game over for me on that Kindle.

Which is why I'm considering giving it to a family member and just buying a new one, with a lower, jailbreakable firmware. All I really want the jailbreak for is to change the screensavers and customize the fonts, but it's really important to me - I really hate all the fonts the Kindle Paperwhite comes with, and the screensavers are all incredibly ugly. I also am not happy with the way the Paperwhite manages collections when I have wifi off, constantly notifying me that things won't be synced to their cloud service, which I don't care about at all. So if the Kindle Voyage handles that differently, I'd probably that one instead.

So my questions are, what firmware does a new Kindle Paperwhite or Voyage from Amazon ship with, or where might I find one (new) with a lower firmware, and does the Voyage handle fonts/screensavers/collections any differently from the Paperwhite?

Thanks!

HarryT · 06-10-2015, 10:04 AM

The Voyage and the PW2 use the same version 5.6.x firmware. Any new Voyage or PW2 will have 5.6.x firmware.

dhdurgee · 06-10-2015, 10:26 AM

I am afraid your only option if you want a Kindle you can customize without hardware modifications is to search eBay and other used markets for an older model unit. There are still plenty of them out there and you can get them at a good price if you are willing to wait a bit. I picked up a K3W on eBay for under $30 a few months ago as I wanted one I could customize.

Dave

knc1 · 06-10-2015, 12:07 PM

Your choices are:
*) A new one, plus find a friend or service shop that can open it up and jail break it for you.

or

*) A used Kindle, still running an earlier firmware that you can jail break using one of our JB packages.

The choice:
New and able to JB without technical skills does not exist.

HarryT · 06-10-2015, 12:19 PM

Easy enough to buy a PW1, which can be jailbroken.

victoryhollow · 06-10-2015, 09:06 PM

Okay, thanks. I think I might be better off trying a different ereader altogether, then...

knc1 · 06-10-2015, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victoryhollow

Okay, thanks. I think I might be better off trying a different ereader altogether, then...

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=123

Rizla · 06-11-2015, 06:23 AM

http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-find-...8527954/g.html

I think anything before the PW1 can be jailbreaked. After that, watch out! Personally, I think I'd get a cheap soldering iron...If you decide to get a new e-reader, I'd personally recommend the Kobo H2O. I have an Aura HD, and the extra size is luxurious, a real upgrade. Also it can be hacked to death and has an absurd amount of font options. But be aware, you do have to frig around with it a bit to get it just right. It's not as easy to use out of the box as the Kindles. The new Glo HD is all right and well priced. It's pretty comparable to the PW2, though I think the light doesn't go down quite as far.

HarryT · 06-11-2015, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

I think anything before the PW1 can be jailbreaked.

Anything before and including the PW1.

But, to be perfectly honest, if the OP isn't happy with the Kindle "out of the box", he probably would be better off with something else. I'd always buy a device on the basis of what it can already do, not on what you might be able to make it do in the future.

I agree that the Kobo H2O is a nice reader, although (at least on mine) the touchscreen wasn't nearly as accurate as that of the Kindle, which made tapping small hyperlinks such as those for footnotes, rather frustrating.

JSWolf · 06-11-2015, 06:55 AM

Can the PW1 with the current firmware be jailbroken?

HarryT · 06-11-2015, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can the PW1 with the current firmware be jailbroken?

Yes, it can be.

JSWolf · 06-11-2015, 07:00 AM

Current firmware for the PW1 is 5.4.4.2.

HarryT · 06-11-2015, 07:06 AM

Never having had a desire to jailbreak any device I've owned, I don't know whether that particular firmware version can be jailbroken, but I do know that the PW1 can be jailbroken, perhaps by installing an earlier firmware version first. But I'm 99.9% sure that there is a way to JB any PW1. I'm sure that one of our developers can supply details, if anyone needs to know more.

JSWolf · 06-11-2015, 07:07 AM

If I am not mistaken, it's the 5.6+ firmware that's locked down tight.

HarryT · 06-11-2015, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If I am not mistaken, it's the 5.6+ firmware that's locked down tight.

Correct. Which means the basic Kindle (whatever the hell Amazon call it now), the PW2, and the Voyage.

06-10-2015, 08:22 AM	#1
victoryhollow fiction-enthusiast Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo Glo HD	Current Firmware Version of New Paperwhite or Voyage So, I managed to mess up the jailbreak on my Kindle Paperwhite, which I bought new from Amazon.com around this time last year. Basically, I turned on wifi for the first time in ages without checking to see if the jailbreak needed to be updated (I didn't have the version that comes with the KUAL thing), and Amazon updated it to 5.6.x. I tried the jailbreak recovery, but it didn't work. So I tried resetting the Kindle, naively thinking that might roll it back to the version it was shipped with, but it didn't, it just erased all my content, PLUS all the jailbreak files from the main directory... I have 0 technical skills, and just jailbreaking it the first time was a headache, so it seems like that was basically game over for me on that Kindle. Which is why I'm considering giving it to a family member and just buying a new one, with a lower, jailbreakable firmware. All I really want the jailbreak for is to change the screensavers and customize the fonts, but it's really important to me - I really hate all the fonts the Kindle Paperwhite comes with, and the screensavers are all incredibly ugly. I also am not happy with the way the Paperwhite manages collections when I have wifi off, constantly notifying me that things won't be synced to their cloud service, which I don't care about at all. So if the Kindle Voyage handles that differently, I'd probably that one instead. So my questions are, what firmware does a new Kindle Paperwhite or Voyage from Amazon ship with, or where might I find one (new) with a lower firmware, and does the Voyage handle fonts/screensavers/collections any differently from the Paperwhite? Thanks!

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06-10-2015, 10:04 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The Voyage and the PW2 use the same version 5.6.x firmware. Any new Voyage or PW2 will have 5.6.x firmware.

06-10-2015, 10:26 AM	#3
dhdurgee Guru Posts: 846 Karma: 2525050 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: K3W, PW4	I am afraid your only option if you want a Kindle you can customize without hardware modifications is to search eBay and other used markets for an older model unit. There are still plenty of them out there and you can get them at a good price if you are willing to wait a bit. I picked up a K3W on eBay for under $30 a few months ago as I wanted one I could customize. Dave

06-10-2015, 12:07 PM	#4
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	Your choices are: ) A new one, plus find a friend or service shop that can open it up and jail break it for you. or ) A used Kindle, still running an earlier firmware that you can jail break using one of our JB packages. The choice: New and able to JB without technical skills does not exist.

06-10-2015, 12:19 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Easy enough to buy a PW1, which can be jailbroken.

06-10-2015, 09:06 PM	#6
victoryhollow fiction-enthusiast Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo Glo HD	Okay, thanks. I think I might be better off trying a different ereader altogether, then...

06-11-2015, 06:23 AM	#8
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-find-...8527954/g.html I think anything before the PW1 can be jailbreaked. After that, watch out! Personally, I think I'd get a cheap soldering iron...If you decide to get a new e-reader, I'd personally recommend the Kobo H2O. I have an Aura HD, and the extra size is luxurious, a real upgrade. Also it can be hacked to death and has an absurd amount of font options. But be aware, you do have to frig around with it a bit to get it just right. It's not as easy to use out of the box as the Kindles. The new Glo HD is all right and well priced. It's pretty comparable to the PW2, though I think the light doesn't go down quite as far.

06-11-2015, 06:55 AM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,395 Karma: 136466962 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Can the PW1 with the current firmware be jailbroken?

06-11-2015, 07:00 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,395 Karma: 136466962 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Current firmware for the PW1 is 5.4.4.2.

06-11-2015, 07:06 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Never having had a desire to jailbreak any device I've owned, I don't know whether that particular firmware version can be jailbroken, but I do know that the PW1 can be jailbroken, perhaps by installing an earlier firmware version first. But I'm 99.9% sure that there is a way to JB any PW1. I'm sure that one of our developers can supply details, if anyone needs to know more.

06-11-2015, 07:07 AM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,395 Karma: 136466962 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If I am not mistaken, it's the 5.6+ firmware that's locked down tight.

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