Kindle Software Update 3.4

Woke up this morning, turned on my kindle and Amazon pushed Kindle Software update version 3.4 to my Kindle 3G. Make sure your Kindle is plugged into wall power before updating your Kindle or you could have problems. My update went smoothly and I’ve noticed no problems so far this morning.

The Amazon update includes the following (from the Amazon Kindle Update website):

Kindle 3.4 Update

• Improved Font: We’ve improved the reading font to have more contrast and be more crisp.
• Parental Controls: With the latest software update for Kindle Keyboard, parents can restrict access to the Experimental Web Browser, the Kindle Store, and Archived Items. While the Kindle Store and Archived Items are locked with Parental Controls, you can continue to buy books from a computer and send them to the Kindle wirelessly for a child to read.
• Kindle Format 8: KF8 makes books look even better with support for author specified fonts and more book styling options.
• Comic Books: Kindle Keyboard now supports comic books with Kindle Panel View. Supported titles can be purchased from the Kindle Store. Books open in Kindle Panel View by default (a view that allows you to read a comic book panel by panel).
• Children’s Picture Books: Kindle Keyboard supports children’s picture books with Kindle Text Pop-Up. Supported titles can be purchased from the Kindle Store.
• Whispersync for Voice: Now you can switch back and forth between reading and listening without losing your place. Whispersync for Voice will synchronize what you read on any Kindle platform device with Audible playback on Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Fire, or on Audible apps for iPhone and Android.

I’m working on a book of my own, and I have an interest in personal Internet security.  The features I’m personally most concerned with is the new author-specified font support, and the Parental Controls.

New Font / K8 Format

The Kindle was pretty ‘readable’ before they refined the font.  However, support for author specified fonts is a nice addition.

New: Parental Controls

Kindle Parental Controls

The Kindle update includes a new feature, Parental Controls for the experimental web browser.   The Parental Controls manage access to the Experimental Web Browser, the Amazon Kindle Store and to Archived Items.   The controls are extremely primitive:  you can turn access on, or off, but not do any filtering by keyword.

For more information about this update:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_left_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200529700