Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Amazon has launched v5.16.4 to 6 of its latest Kindle e-readers.
- This replace vastly improves the net browser expertise.
- Most web sites now show correctly with Javascript, HTML 5, CSS, and all the things because it’s supposed in a contemporary browser.
When you’re something like me, you’ve most likely opened the net browser in your Kindle e-reader as soon as, realized it was absolute rubbish, and swore to by no means use it except you had no different choice. That’s now not the case now, although, as Amazon has simply pushed a serious, however silent improve to its Kindles that brings a large enchancment to the built-in net browser.
The model in query is v5.16.4, which is now rolling out to Amazon’s giant e-ink pill, the Kindle Scribe, in addition to the smaller Kindle Paperwhite (tenth and eleventh era), Kindle (tenth and eleventh era), and Kindle Oasis (tenth era). Though the changelog solely mentions enhancements to the Goodreads integration, it additionally brings a complete new searching expertise, as noticed by Good e-Reader.
The brand new Kindle net browser is constructed for the trendy net, not the 90s net.
The browser is now quick — virtually as quick as every other fashionable browser. I don’t have to learn a bodily encyclopedia whereas ready for Wikipedia to load. It now not freezes and runs out of reminiscence when opening giant and demanding pages like AndroidAuthority or TheVerge, for instance. Better of all, it now correctly hundreds most web sites, with HTML5, Javascript, CSS, Webp photos, and all the things required from a contemporary browser. Mainly, it may possibly deal with the trendy net as a substitute of the 90s net.
Try the distinction on our personal AndroidAuthority website. The browser was freezing and working out of reminiscence earlier than even loading article titles or the positioning’s header. Neglect about format, correct picture sizes, or the rest.
The brand new browser shows the right AndroidAuthority format, plus all the things else. Polls, Disqus feedback, purchase widgets; all of it works similar to it does in your fashionable laptop or Android telephone.
Right here’s one other delicate instance with Wikipedia. The outdated model was purposeful however nonetheless missed numerous format particulars. The brand new browser will get all the things proper.
Some websites nonetheless have a number of minor points, although, like The Verge, which reveals a little bit of overlap between the positioning’s brand and the featured article on high, however the remainder of the web page is superb. A constructive departure from no matter was displayed earlier than the older browser froze and by no means recovered.
The Kindle’s net browser is now usable for its authentic objective of searching. I received’t cringe every time I have to open it to analysis one thing or obtain books. It’s nonetheless removed from a wonderful expertise, although, with no a number of tabs and no search engine within the URL bar — options we take as a right on every other cell browser these days.
The way to examine your Kindle software program model
Go to Settings > System Choices > System Information and see which model your Kindle is working underneath Firmware model.
The way to replace your Kindle to the newest model
There are two methods to replace your Kindle to the newest model, should you don’t have it but.
The best one is to go to Settings > System Choices > Superior Choices > Replace Your Kindle:
- If the choice is clickable, it means the replace was downloaded however wasn’t utilized but. Simply faucet it to replace.
- If the choice is greyed out, it means your Kindle hasn’t acquired the replace but. However fret not, you possibly can nonetheless apply it manually.
To manually apply the replace, comply with the steps on this Amazon tutorial. You’ll first have to confirm which Kindle you’ve gotten, obtain the newest firmware for it in your laptop, switch it to your Kindle over a USB cable, after which repeat the steps above to use it.
