Earlier this week Amazon started rolling out a new software update for Kindles, version 5.18.1, and one of the new advertised features for the 12th gen Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft is the ability to turn pages and scroll by double-tapping the sides and back of the Kindle.
It turns out that feature is only available on the Signature Edition Paperwhite, even though Amazon doesn’t bother mentioning that fact anywhere in the release notes. In fact, my non-SE Paperwhite shows the double tap feature on the “What’s New” pop-up so it’s basically just false advertising.
This is really annoying because I would’ve liked to use that feature. Now I wish I would’ve returned my regular Paperwhite and upgraded to the Signature Edition like I had talked about to get rid of the ads and smudge-prone back, but it’s too late for that now. Thanks a lot for dragging your feet on the release of this feature, Amazon.
It’s great for Signature Edition owners to get a new way to turn pages without touching the screen, but apparently everyone else is left out on that feature.
There’s no mention of the double tap setting being available on the 11th gen Signature Edition either so it looks like it’s only available on the 12th gen model and the Kindle Colorsoft.
Amazon updated the Kindle’s user manual to add a part about the new double tap feature, and the manual makes a point of specifying it’s available on the Signature Edition model.
Somebody at Amazon really should update the release notes to clarify that the double tap feature is only for SE models or it’s just going to cause a lot of needless confusion. I’m surprised they bothered adding it to the release notes at all since they usually don’t even mention what’s changed.
The manual also says the double-tap scrolling feature works on the home and library, and when using the Kindle’s web browser, but it doesn’t work in the Store or with Goodreads. They also mention the feature has been tested to work with Amazon’s covers, but it might not work when using third-party covers.
It seems possible that it requires a hardware sensor, an accelerometer perhaps, that only the Signature Edition supplies.
The weird thing is the SE doesn’t have an accelerometer for rotating the screen, just an ambient light sensor.
People don’t want buttons they said. The future of our devices is touching the screen they said.
Cant make an official bluetooth page turner to sell instead? Cant bring back the voyage style buttons?
Yes. I have been looking forward to a Bluetooth page turner for sell without one that has to physically touch the screen. One that can simulate the Apple Watch touch features. Double taps using the index finger and thumb to reverse page; one tap to turn the page forward, and triple tap to return to the library. Maybe these features can be added to the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. Amazon doesn’t really think any more about features the customers can actually use.
Ha ha ha. That’s so lame.
Meanwhile, back in Kobo : Yes, all Kobo have double tap.
I could not agree more. It all started when they made such a selling point of having a 25% or whatever brighter backlight.
Kobos have never had this feature.
Ah, yes, you’re right. Sorry. A single tap only. That said, I don’t see the point of a double tap. I only use swipe and disabled tap to change pages.
And what this important thing might be?
The feature the Kindle added is the ability to double-tap the back or sides of the device itself, not the display, to turn pages, like where your hand naturally rests instead of having to contort to touch the screen to turn the pages.
While it may or may not be technically possible for Kobo to add this feature to their existing lineup using the accelerometer, to date no Kobo has ever had this feature.
Bummer, this would be a great feature to have. I don’t “need” another Kindle device and the trade-in value of my Signature PW is only $30. My Oasis trade-in value is $35 but I don’t want to trade that in. It’s something that I probably would have upgraded for if they had said it was “coming” but I guess I don’t really REALLY need it, you know? I’ve already solved my “need” for buttons with the Oasis for day reading and I have a page turner for night reading on one of the Signature PWs. The other Signature PW just sits in a drawer. (Although now that spring is here, I guess I can move it to the living room and move the Oasis so I can grab-and-go for outside reading.)
Updated to latest version and the double tap not available on the scribe1st gen!!
Yeah, it’s not available on the Scribe at all, which makes no sense.
They’re going to have to come up with something better than that to overlook their ecosystem lock-in with the newest generation of Kindles. If I can’t download to back up or reformat, I won’t bite.
Newer Kindles aren’t any more locked in than older Kindles. They were initially by not having the Download and Transfer option, but none of the older models have that now either. You can still get your purchased ebooks off of old and new Kindles alike to make backups so it doesn’t really matter unless Amazon shuts that down too, but people always find ways around Amazon’s methods anyway.
From what I read, the newer Kindles can’t directly connect as a drive to your computer making it harder for the average user to get the files off them. If you can find them and export them, they are in KFX format which is harder or impossible to convert to ePub to load in other devices. At least the download and transfer option gave us easily reformattable ASW3 files.
You can use the Kindle for PC app. It has to be a certain version (dont forget the prevent auto update .bat file too) and you’ll need the KFX plugin for calibre. I still preferred D&T (may those responsible for it’s removal have one hangnail a week) but the pc app isn’t that bad.
It sounds like he’s using a Mac so Kindle for PC won’t be an option, but getting ebooks off Kindles still works too.
It’s not any harder. They just use MTP now instead of USB mass storage, which requires installing additional software on Macs, but Amazon released their own option now so you can use the Send to Kindle for Mac app to easily transfer files via USB. And it’s not hard to import KFX books either. You just need to use the KFX import and DeDRM plugins for Calibre.
I guess us peons that only have a “basic” PW will continue accidentally tapping the screen while adjusting our position in bed, or picking it up/laying it down for a quick break.
What a stupid option for Amazon to withhold from ALL Kindles…greedy morons.