Amazing. I'd been waiting for this, and the last shoe to drop would be support for ePub. Since they own Lexcycle, who makes Stanza, which focuses on ePub, it should not take long to make that decision as it'll be key this coming year.
Amazon adds native PDF support to Int'l Kindles and boosts battery life 85% in that model 85%. They will also upgrade existing Kindle 2's to varying degrees.
' "Kindle, already the #1 bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product on all of Amazon.com, is now even better" with 85 percent more battery life and a built-in PDF reader," said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. "These two significant enhancements are available now."The language is somewhat confusing. They mention "previous purchasers of the NEW Kindle" getting the firmware update while the native-PDF support "will also be available for some earlier versions of Kindle" via the Whispernet update.
Amazon also announced today that previous purchasers of the new Kindle will also receive the 85 percent battery life improvements with wireless on, and native PDF support via a firmware update automatically delivered via Whispernet wireless.
Native PDF support will also be available for some earlier versions of Kindle via an automatic Whispernet wireless firmware update." '
I suspect the Kindle 1 won't be included in the native PDF support.
There's no mention of the battery improvements for older Kindle models.
I'll be looking at this further.
UPDATE 1. - 11:06 AM. (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM)
Here's much more info at the Amazon Kindle Updates page. I've added emphases in bold or italics for items affecting older models for the U.S.
' Kindle Version 2.3 Highlights
The latest update brings several improvements to Kindle (Global Wireless), Kindle (U.S. Wireless), and Kindle DX devices.
Kindle (Global Wireless) and Kindle (U.S. Wireless)
* Built-in PDF reader: Your Kindle can now display PDF documents without losing the formatting of the original file. Send PDF documents directly to your Kindle (via your @Kindle address) or drag and drop PDF files from your computer to your Kindle (when connected via USB). Learn more.
* Longer battery life for Kindle (Global Wireless): You can now read for up to 1 week on a single charge with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks.
[ Does not include older U.S. Kindle 2. ]
* Manual screen rotation: The Kindle screen can now manually rotate between portrait and landscape views so you can see the entire width of a web page or magnify the page of a PDF file. The page-turn buttons work the same in either orientation, and the 5-way controller movements are switched to match the orientation. Learn more.
* Option to convert PDF files to Kindle format. If you prefer to have your personal PDF documents converted to the Kindle format (so that they can reflow), type "Convert" in the subject of the e-mail when you submit your personal document to your @kindle.com address.
[ Excellent. We'd keep the original to check layout and use reflowed text for a copy that we can mark up or annotate, be able to use the inline-dictionary for, and search the Kindle for the content within that PDF. ]
Kindle (U.S. Wireless) and Kindle (Global Wireless) users can go to Archived Items on their Kindle and download the Kindle User's Guide, 4th Ed., which now documents all the features of Kindle Software 2.3.
Kindle DX
* Better cropping of PDF files: In landscape orientation, white margins of PDF documents are automatically cropped to maximize the amount of content shown on the screen.
* Option to convert PDF files to Kindle format. If you prefer to have your personal PDF documents converted to the Kindle format (so that they can reflow), type "Convert" in the subject of the e-mail when you submit your personal document to your @kindle.com address.
* View pages longer: We've extended the time before Kindle DX switches into screensaver mode — from 5 minutes to 20 minutes — giving you more time for reviewing your content.
[ Also excellent. ]
Here's the page and section for getting the update manually if you don't want to wait for the automatic updates.
Well, *I'm* jazzed !
UPDATE 2 - 12:15 PM. (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM)
Kindle forums are reporting that the PDF enhancements really work well, with the landscape option and margins-handling improvement having very good effect.
HOWEVER, those who are using screensaver- and font- "hacks"
1. will have to uninstall them before being able to do the update
2. will not be able to re-install them with the new firmware update until the authors of the unofficial improvements (erroneously called 'hacks') can make them work for the new firmware version.
UPDATE 3 - 8:42 PM. (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM)
A Screensaver re-install fix was announced, at MobileRead Forums, by jyavenard, who has updated the packager to create firmware for Kindles with version 2.3, linked the packager with additional instructions for those providing unofficial improvements, and has already repackaged and linked to the screensaver enhancement for Kindles using the new firmware update -- Kindle 2 U.S., the Kindle Global, and the DX.
Re the alternate, darker font sets by Ted Inoue, it will take some time for him to run through the various sets but he's planning on it.
UPDATE 4 11/26 - 10:29 AM (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM) -
(Am not changing official posting time for this one.)
Alternate Font Sets for firmware update v2.3
These work for v2.3.2, v2.3.3 and v2.3.4 as well.
Edge777 at MobileRead forums has posted links to font files he made for alternate darker font sets that work with the new firmware update. Ted Inoue will be working on his very popular set as well.
UPDATE 5 11/30 (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM)
Ted Inoue has completed the updating of all alternate font-sets from his popular series, and you can see the descriptions and download links on his site.
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