Firmware Update 2.5.6 & K2i - No web browsing any more

[bear4hunter]

It seems that amazon killed a bug in FW 2.5.3 - with K2i and FW 2.5.3, registered in Germany, web browsing was all of the sudden possible.

Since with FW 2.5.6 I get the usual message "due to local blablabla...", so my guess is that with FW 2.5.3 amazon accidentally enabled it for international customers...

Any other oberservations out there?

[jol12]

Hi there,
Yesterday my KDXI got updated to 2.5.6. Web browsing still available - I'm in the UK

[bear4hunter]

From the UK-Product page for the new Kindle 3:

HSDPA modem (3G) with a fallback to EDGE/GPRS; utilises Amazon Whispernet to provide wireless coverage via Vodafone's 3G high-speed data network in the UK and partner networks outside of the UK.

So it looks like you are lucky, and amazon already has a local carrier - instead of roaming via AT&T USA. Too sad Amazon still has no provider in Germany, at least not that I know of. They are about to start a Kindle Office here, but really from scratch - publishers already rely on ePub, ADE and Sony and the like - it will be hard to talk them in to Kindle Publishing.

As of today, I really don't see a chance for Amazon to start a German Kindlestore soon

[Nemoi]

@bear4hunter: How do you know about the German kindle office? Would at least be a sign that they are planning to build a German kindle store eventually...

[jglerner]

Unless I have a "positive" report about Brazilian access at Internet on 2.5.6 and/or other people reporting "no issues" at Internet blockage I´ll stick on 2.5.3.

Thanks for the heads up, Bear!

Happy Kindle 3 for everybody!

[bear4hunter]

@nemoi: a job offer I saw for the Amazon office Munich, they search a senior account manager to establish contacts with publishers, and to expand the german amazon store with Kindle products (books, newspapers, magazines.

The Job Description in German.

[kathrsa]

My k2i updated to 2.5.6 today, and I still have Internet access in South Africa. I have had it since I got my kindle in April

[bear4hunter]

No luck so far, downgrade not possible, and now waiting for a reply from Amazon.

I bought the K2i at the day it was released internationally, knowing internet wouldn't work, but I gave them credit and thought, with time passing they would contract carriers around the world, and for a couple of weeks I even believed they did, as FW 2.5.3 gave me a working 3G connection.

Now I'm really pissed off, and not even thinking about upgrading to K3 or DXG - as long as it is crippled! I think I've been patient enough....

[notimp]

Autoupdate is the problem... If anyone of the more tech savvy users could look into disabling autoupdates on the Kindle 2i 2.5.3, it would help out many of us...

Technically it seems possible.

See:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51371

-

Thanks in advance!

[bear4hunter]

If you turn wireless of, you get no updates
but can't buy books from your device or send them from the website to your device

I googled long enough: there really seems no way of downgrading !?

[rapidblue]

Originally Posted by kathrsa

My k2i updated to 2.5.6 today, and I still have Internet access in South Africa. I have had it since I got my kindle in April

Schweeet!! Good to know - just turned my wireless on - hope it updates soon

[Balerion]

For those that wanted to know why 2.5.4 was a 30MB file yet didn't seem to do much... I've no idea, but I have noticed one thing... the keyboard interrupts (the actual action that a keyboard key does... for the newbies) are a hell of a lot quicker I've noticed. They were a bit sluggish before (noticed it most when putting in my power-on password... I'd have to slow down for my kindle to catch up), but now they are a lot more responsive to my speed :-)

[Balerion]

Originally Posted by rapidblue

Schweeet!! Good to know - just turned my wireless on - hope it updates soon

Hey Rapidblue, thought you should know... our Kindles automatically check for update and download them as soon as the wireless is turned on. They then install the next time the Kindle goes into standby. So its not really a matter of hoping that it updates soon, more so the time it takes for the file to come through the whispernet.

Unless ofcourse you were referring to the batch release and you're just waiting for your Kindle to get it.... in which case... sorry... and I've just made an ass of myself :-S

_______________

Just got 2.5.6 after leaving the wireless on for a couple of minutes and then checking the menu link for the update... it only took 10 seconds to install, so just a bug fix obviously, and yes, my free web browsing is still working here in Australia

[rapidblue]

Originally Posted by Balerion

Hey Rapidblue, thought you should know... our Kindles automatically check for update and download them as soon as the wireless is turned on. They then install the next time the Kindle goes into standby. So its not really a matter of hoping that it updates soon, more so the time it takes for the file to come through the whispernet.

Unless ofcourse you were referring to the batch release and you're just waiting for your Kindle to get it.... in which case... sorry... and I've just made an ass of myself :-S

_______________

Just got 2.5.6 after leaving the wireless on for a couple of minutes and then checking the menu link for the update... it only took 10 seconds to install, so just a bug fix obviously, and yes, my free web browsing is still working here in Australia

Just turned my wireless on - will see if it pulls down the update (I'm still on 2.5.3)
In the past I've had some updates come through on their own, some not...
We'll see

[johndoesecond]

The new Kindle seems to have some exciting new PDF features (hightlights and note taking, among others).

Could you please check if these come with 2.5.6?

Thanks.