Amazon has unleashed a new firmware update for Kindles that at this point does basically nothing, but some big changes could be coming soon.
The new 5.12.4 software update for February 2020 is going to lay the groundwork for a redesigned font and reading settings menu.
Presently the update doesn’t change the Aa menu, but the changelog says not to expect to see any changes for a couple of weeks.
Here’s the quote verbatim from the release notes for the 5.12.4 update:
Here’s what’s new:
Aa Menu: Over the next couple of weeks, you will see an updated Aa menu that makes it easier to access all font, layout and reading options without leaving your book.
Performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements.
This is another one of those features that will be activated remotely at a future date (they’ve been doing that more often lately).
But the big news is hidden in the code for the new update.
Once again jhowell from over at MobileRead has pointed out some interesting findings in the new software. It looks like Kindles may finally be getting the option to set book cover images on the sleepscreen, but at this point we still don’t know if or when the feature will be implemented.
The 5.12.4 update is available for Kindles dating back to the Kindle Voyage from 2014, but once again the Kindle Paperwhite 2 and 7th gen Kindle are still showing the older 5.12.2 software. It looks like the Kindle team is drawing a line on which models will be getting new feature updates moving forward.
The Kids Kindle firmware has been bumped up to 5.13.0.9 from 5.13.0.5, but no update file is available to download for it—the Kids Kindle can only be updated automatically via WiFi.
Like usual, your Kindle will install the new software automatically over WiFi at some point in the coming days or weeks. Or you can install the update now manually.
You can find the download file for each specific Kindle model from Amazon’s Kindle Software Updates page.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I’m so tired of these shitty screensavers! Let me show off the book I’m reading! I’m not reading War and Peace for nothing! 😛
Jacob…. totally agree. They are way, way behind in letting the book cover be the “screen saver”. Also… good job at being aware of your motives.
Lol Jacob I’m not reading war and peace for anything! 😀😀😀
I could car less about covers. I use my kindle strictly for reading books as I hate Amazon apps and resent they won’t play nice with Google and Bookfunnel.
Hopefully they will add more margin and font size options.Covers…long overdue…would be great!
Totally agree. Kindles need a serious massive overhaul with their font sizes. Going from too small to too large with only an increment adjustment is ridiculous. There are many sideloaded fonts that I like but can’t use due to size issues. Hopefully this update eventually fixes this flaw
Yes, I don’t need to lose 10mm on either side to additional margins.
I barely can read on my Kindle 10. Font is too small. I go back to my older kindle to read, makes me wonder why I bought the 10.
You do know that you can change the font size, right? The easiest way is to use “pinch and zoom” just like you do when zooming in on a picture on your phone. The pinch and zoom will change the font size by a single increment but also a slider will pop up temporarily so that you can use the slider for a bigger incremental change.
Go into your font settings and increase the size. It will remember the setting for each book you read.
“This is another one of those features that will be activated remotely at a future date (they’ve been doing that more often lately).”
Why? Can you make an article on the subject? If I were suspicious, I would say that making connection mandatory give Amazon the possibility to get your data…
I hope it has a button to switch the unit off. It will save the battery rather that having to keep charging it. I bought a white screen but have gone back to using my old faithful kindle. It does what it says on the box and stays charged up for a long time.
Will I be able to get the updates I have Kindle Fire
Sorry, Fire tablets aren’t Kindles. They called them Kindle Fires many years ago when they first came out but it was too confusing so now they’re just called Fire tablets. They haven’t added any new reading features to Fires in years, it seems.
Despite the name change, Fire tablets do count as Kindles if you have Amazon Prime and borrow from the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library. They have the Kindle app built into the OS, and this has had new features added to it recently. Taking a look at it, I saw both the Read/Unread filter and the Kindle Unlimited filter, which were both recently added to Kindles and the app. However, the changes described in this article sound like they are mainly for Kindle devices and not for the app. The way the two handle the Aa menu are very different, and the app cannot control the lock screen on an Android or Fire OS device.
I always hated the “Kindle” branding on the now rebranded Fire Tablets—so confusing!
In my mind I still wouldn’t think of Fire Tablets as “counting as Kindles” anymore than I would think of my cell phone or iPad “counting as Kindles.” Yes, it is true that most tablets and smart phones (iPads, iPhones, android phones and tablets) as well as computers (Mac, PC) have Kindle Apps—but that doesn’t make them Kindles. They are simply general purpose tablets, phones, and computers which have a Kindle reading app available.
I understand the reluctance to call an LCD tablet a Kindle. I prefer e-ink myself. Given how much I use it for Kindle books, my Likebook Mars counts as my de facto Kindle. But if I get a book from the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library, my Fire will count as a de jure Kindle, and my Likebook Mars will not. Both run the Kindle app, which does some things worse and some things better than a dedicated Kindle ereader.
Not so interested to leave my book for everybody to see whatI’m reading.
I would like to lock my device with a password, when I have some critical documents there.
More important things:
-Possibility to set translation from/to at device level and not book level as it is now.
– Possibility to build folders and load books to them, while the device is connected to a PC.
– Deleting books does not work too well
– Some books open with microscopic font
– Some PDF open totally broken.
I’m wondering about the Kindle app running on my android phone.
Its not just a cunning plan to introduce adverts onto the screensaver of the Kindle?
They have had screensaver ads for a long time already on Kindles. You can purchase your Kindle without ads by paying a small additional cost of $20 or, for the same price differential, remove the ads permanently at any time. I suspect they may require you to pay this one-time ad removal fee of $20 for the book cover to become the screensaver.
If you call amazon, especially if you are a prime member they will remove ads for free.
It is possible to put a password on your Kindle. Google it.
Thank you for posting info — in a more informative manner — about the Kindle updates.
Looking forward to “easier to access all font, layout and reading options without leaving your book” feature.
Not sure about the book cover option, especially since publishers often change a book cover and you may prefer an older image. Curious if the book cover option is by book or an ALL choice?
If I do download the update directly, how can I then get it onto the kindle and engage the update, please?
Copy the downloaded .bin file to the root folder of your kindle via USB. Eject your device. Then the Update Your Kindle menu will be enabled in Settings – Device Options – Advanced Options menu.
I would like to be able to access books by author arranged in alphabetical ordet by choosing the first letter of the author’s name and not having to scroll through hundreds of pages to get there.
Also would like fiction and non fiction separated.
Why should I upgrade 5.12.4 if it’s only a pre sequel?
^ this
Sounds like a big update – I’m curious how it will go and when everything will roll out.
“makes it easier to access”
means just an easier way to open the font menu, nothing else
I took the update from amazon.com manually and saw no changes what so ever. No new screensavers ( book cover) nothing. I now have an “Aa” icon but thats about it. You can download the update now on amazon.com
The update broke my Kindle. Home screen is blank. I have no way to access my content.
Same problem here, at least you can access the content from the search bar if you remember the name
I would like to see an option to keep on screen saver I like the one with the pencils.
My Kindle app changed literally last night while I was reading. I am very peeved. Here’s what’s different:
1. No more bookmark to tap
2. No more time/battery bar at the top without clicking the screen
3. Bottom margin allows text to run into bar when touching screen (it used to sit above it)
4. Dictionary takes too long to load
5. Screen goes brighter when on power-saving mode while perusing dictionary (it used to stay on power-down mode until I neglected to turn the page for too long).
Also, and just generally, I am unable to delete any books from my Kindle library. Major hassle when you’re running out of space on tablet.
Sorry, Kindle, this time you did not impress me. You’re just making something simple and pleasurable like reading harder and more stressful.
does any one know what happens to the read and listen to on the kindle fire ?seems to have been taken off is this so that customers that use the service especially since I have kindle unlimited which supported quite a lot of the read and listen to go over to amazon audable ?