Since I bought my 3G Kindle in the autumn I haven't experienced a software update so it I was interested to see now the 3.1 installation would happen. Couldn't have been easier: Make sure the Kindle is connected to wifi and the software is automatically downloaded in the background. The next time the unit went to sleep the update was installed.
The new features include "real" page numbers (in those books that support this feature), public notes, new magazine and newspaper layouts and "before you go…", a system of rating books after you have finished reading them.
When I switched on and moved to my current book I was rather surprised to find that the locations details had disappeared from the bottom line. All you now see is a progress bar with a percentage. Page numbers and locations appear only when you press the Menu button. Frankly, I am not sure if this is an improvement or a step backwards.
After the break I've reproduced Amazon's instructions in full in case you want to tackle your own Kindle.
Kindle Software Update Version 3.1
We have a new, free software update available for your Kindle that is being delivered via a Wi-Fi connection over the next few days. To receive the update, please turn your wireless on and connect to an available Wi-Fi network (learn how to set up Wi-Fi on your Kindle). The software update will automatically download in the background and install the next time your Kindle goes into sleep mode. You can also manually download the update to your Kindle right now.
Kindle Version 3.1 Overview
Some of the features included in this update are:
- Public Notes – This feature lets Kindle users choose to make their book notes and highlights available for others to see. Any Kindle user — including authors, their fans, book reviewers, professors and passionate readers everywhere — can opt-in to share their thoughts on book passages and ideas with friends, family members, colleagues, and the greater Kindle community of people who love to read. This is a new way for readers to share their excitement and knowledge about books and get more from the books they read. To review and turn on Public Notes in your own books, view the Public Notes of people you follow, track your reading activities, see Popular Highlights and your annotations, and view your full library of books, go tohttps://kindle.amazon.com. Learn more.
- Real Page Numbers – Our customers have told us they want real page numbers that match the page numbers in print books so they can easily reference and cite passages, and read alongside others in a book club or class. We've already added real page numbers to tens of thousands of Kindle books, including the top 100 bestselling books in the Kindle Store that have matching print editions and thousands more of the most popular books. Page numbers will also be available on our free "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle apps in the coming months. As with all of Kindle's features, we want you to lose yourself in the author's words, so page numbers are only displayed when you press the Menu button. Learn more.
- Before You Go … – When you reach the end of the book, you can immediately rate the book, share a message about the book with your social network, get personalized recommendations for what to read next, and see more books by the same author. Learn more.
- New Newspaper and Magazine Layout – We're introducing a new and improved layout for newspapers and magazines. This new layout gives you a quick snapshot of the news and helps you decide what you want to read first. Learn more.
Yes, there’s a lot of space on that progress bar going begging. I got quite used to seeing the location statistics and on more than one occasion it’s got me out of trouble when I’ve messed up Whispersync and lost my place. Somehow I could always remember roughly what location was showing. I suppose the percentage could be just as easy but I’l have to retrain myself.
So I just received my 3.1 update and all I have to say is that I am disappointed by the fact that now I have to press the menu button in order to see the page number. Amazon states ” so you can get lost in the authors words” on their FAQ about the new update. I just don’t understand why they just couldn’t display the page number instead of the %.