Four months ago in August Amazon released a software update for Kindle ereaders, version 5.13.7, that made a lot of changes to the user interface.
Soon after that Amazon put up a page on their website explaining some of the new navigation options and layout changes. On that page they say a new improved Home and Library experience is coming soon, and there’s the picture above showing what it will look like.
They say new filter and sorting options will be added to the library, along with a new collections view, and it will have an interactive scroll bar instead of pages. The homescreen is supposed to get a list of up to 20 recently read books that you can swipe through.
That page has been up for several months now so whatever happened to that?
I expected the updated homescreen and library view to be available from the get-go on the new Kindle Paperwhite, but for some reason that didn’t happen.
At the latest I would’ve expected the new homescreen to get released before Christmas, but that’s not looking very likely at this point either.
To me it seems like a weird thing to do to release a new Kindle and then change the homescreen and library view soon after release once people have already gotten used to the current layout.
A bunch of people will be getting new Kindles for Christmas and they’ll get used to the current homescreen and library view so why change things soon after?
A lot of people really dislike the changes Amazon is making to the Kindle’s user interface and I’m sure they’re receiving a ton of complaints about it. Did Amazon reconsider making more changes? To me the new homescreen layout looks a lot better than the current one that shows more recommendations than books you actually own. What happened to the new homescreen?
Personally, I have never liked the swiping aspect of changing pages in my library. I often have many pages in list view, and when I attempt to swipe, I inadvertently open a book that I am not currently interested in reading. I then have to go back and start again.
This hapoens to me way too often. I’ll be scrolling fir a specific book and accidentally click on a different one because it thinks I tapped a book instead. Then it messes up the thing on the homescreen where it shows my 3 most recent reads.
Yes, I have the update on my Kindle Oasis 2017 version.
This happens to me too! I wish we could downgrade to the prior version. I want my list view!
Trying to find and buy books on my paperwhite is so difficult I just give up on it. I go to my computer and easily find what I want and send it to my paperwhite. Amazon needs to get with the program and soon. I’m waiting for the update before purchasing the New Signature paperwhite. When the update is up my order will be sent. So get with it Amazon. I read everyday and my ereader is very handy so they need to make purchasing books easier. It shouldn’t take forever to make changes. I used to write computer programming and I know how long it takes. Not long if you have a boot in the ass, so let’s get it done.
Had my kindle 2 months, looks exactly like the picture above since day one
I really hate Kindle. I don’t what’s the hipe about it. Slowwwww device no fun using it. I wish I never bought it.
Four months ago Amazon really ruined a good thing with unneeded changes in 5.13.7. We don’t need any more “updates” and “upgrades” to an unbroken system. Unless they are returning to the better prior system.
I like my Paperwhite but I have two gripes. 1. It is frustratingly slow in its operation. Ordering books is pretty straightforward on it, but forget about browsing through the Kindle store. And general navigation within the books themselves can be sluggish. 2. I wish I had more control over the color of the backlight. For my part, I wish it were whiter with a higher contrast and not the bluish/grayish tone that it has now.
I stopped using my Kindle Paperwhite when the update hit in September. I specifically bought a more expensive Kindle so I wouldn’t get ads. So what does Amazon give me? Ads! The whole update is like this. In the Library instead of being able to see 7 titles I can only see 5. Once upon a time it was 10. The drop-down menu takes up way too much space (About 3/4 of the screen) and the touch-buttons are way too spread out (Over half of the drop-down menu). This was nothing less than an update done to justify someone keeping their job. It doesn’t improve the Kindle in any way, instead it’s made everything a lot worse.
The updated format is a pain in the xxx. Almost impossible to navigate.
I agree completely.
I just want to be able to hide the home screen that I will never use and see more than 5 books in a list. Have reverted to using my old kindle
even though it has a flaw in the screen where I dropped my keys on it and the charge only last a few days now, will side load new books instead of connecting. Its less annoying than navigating the awful new layout on my newer kindle.
I hate the new Kindle format. 1). How to go to the beginning of a book?
2). How to delete books?
Why didn’t you leave us alone?
Same as a lot of the above complaints. These Updates are killing us. I want no pictures ever… can’t read the covers! LIST view doesn’t seem to work at all. After all these years of great Kindles….. it” now very hard to read or view my m a NY books….
I miss having the default “ALL” or “DOWNLOADED” prompts at the top of the library screen like I still have on my iPad and iPhone apps, but I can live with having to select ‘DOWNLOADED” from the filter prompt on my Kindles. First world problems…
I HATE the new display. Why couldn’t Amazon give us a choice?
Let me join the chorus of Kindle users irritated by the latest update.
1) Why make the Go To so annoying to find?
2) Why am I locked into the Cover view? It’s much harder for my older eyes to read than the List view. I’ve tried Google hunts for hints and the woefully out-of-date Amazon user guides. The drop-down and button options that are referred to don’t appear on my 10th-gen Paperwhite.
Grrrr.
I use a kindle because I’m partially sighted. Since the update I am completely unable to navigate the device. I had have used kindle since it first came out because of my sight problems, I have loved and treasured it. But now I just can’t find anything, and I feel like crying.
I agree. very hard bro navigate. can’t change home screen. don’t want to see all those recommendations etc.