KINDLEFIRE SOFTWARE UPDATE VERSION 6.2.1 IS READY
Kindle Fire Software Update, V6.2.1 is available online, and downloadable at the link, in case the update isn't already on your Kindle Fire and you decide you want it right away.
The announcement was made by Amazon on a Kindle Forum thread. Mine is still at v6.2 and the 'Update your Kindle" button for "System Version" setting is grayed out. So I'll be updating instead of waiting, though the latter will be easier for most. I don't think they'll take their time on sending this to the devices.
IN FACT, while typing this, I noticed my Kindle Fire updating in that my screen was 'on' when it should be off, so I checked the Menu settings and saw that it had already updated my Kindle Fire to v6.2.1, so, yes, they are apparently 'on' this one. Since I am usually among the last to get any over-the-air update, I recommend that most wait for it to happen unless they need to have it now and haven't been updated yet. See further below on that.
The forum announcement in whole (bold face emphases mine):
Initial post: Dec 20, 2011 7:25:14 PM PST
The Amazon Kindle team says:
(AMAZON OFFICIAL)
We have a new, free over-the-air software update available for Kindle Fire. This update enhances fluidity and performance, improves touch navigation responsiveness, gives you the option to choose which items display on the carousel, and adds the ability to add a password lock on Wi-Fi access. The update will be automatically delivered to your Kindle Fire.
For more information about the software update go to www.amazon.com/kindlesoftwareupdates.
As mentioned, here's the actual software update page for the Kindle Fire update v6.2.1 rather than have you choose from several possible ones on the page they cite. They are sending these out pretty quickly, I think, as in doing the forum I encountered an unusual slowdown in Amazon server request time which just about never happens on the forums.
On the forum thread, some people had slower downloads to start, in getting the new software, while others had normal download times -- probably because they're busy sending these out probably a few million devices.
With respect to Carousel changes, Q points out that "Unfortunately, to clean books off your carousel is still one book at a time. But it does go fairly fast."
Amazon's directions on the software update page:
' If you are not sure what software version you're running, tap the Quick Settings icon, tap "More," then tap "Device." If your System Version is "Current version: 6.2.1," you are running the latest software. If your System Version is "Current version: 6.0, 6.1, or 6.2" follow the instructions [at that page] to take advantage of all of the features available for Kindle Fire.
. . .
To update your Kindle, ensure
. you are connected to a Wi-Fi network and that
. your battery is fully charged.
Tap the Quick Settings icon in the upper right corner of your device,
then tap "Sync."
The software update will automatically download in the background and will be applied once download is complete and the device is asleep. '
The above describes a semi-automated update.
However, if you don't have a WiFi connection at the time and want to do this, you can do a MANUAL update at the software update page for Kindle Fire, where Amazon has step-by-step directions, for doing this with a USB cable to transfer the update to your Kindle Fire.
This time, Amazon did provide some notes on what is being updated.
If you have reactions to these changes or find any other ones, and have time, please let us know what you find. Thanks.
Kindle Touch 3G Kindle Touch WiFi Kindle Basic (UK: KBasic) Kindle Fire
Kindle Keybd 3G (UK: Kindle Keybd 3G) K3 Special Offers K3-3G Special Offers DX
Check often: Temporarily-free recently published ones
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers. Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.
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If you have a file manager on the Fire (such as the free "ES File Explorer" available in the Amazon App Store), you can manually download the update directly without having to hook up to USB. All you have to do is download it from the link and then, when the download is finished, use the file manager to copy it from "Downloads" to the "Kindle Updates" folder.
ReplyDeleteAs you noted, waiting for the OTA update is probably sufficient with this one, though. It actually happened on mine while I was waiting for the manual download to complete.
Thanks, JeffGr,
ReplyDeleteGood point. Normally, I've hooked it up but had the download go to the Kindle device.
Amazon has certainly been aggressive with this one. I did Check and Sync but thought nothing was happening. I was certainly wrong.
Really enjoyed your story at your blog about trying to answer your 7 year old's questions about 9/11 on his calendar.
Frank, your post was word for word what Jeff's was when it was posted a few days ago, and I've replied to Jeff.
ReplyDeleteI should have added I was reporting what Amazon itself suggests in its upgrade instructions. But Jeff's is a better way to do it although it won't work when applying it to some webpages, so I think Amazon goes the most 100% successful way to minimize support calls.