Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Kindle News: Kindle Touch security update v5.1.2 - more info on it

Kindle Touch Software Upgrade to v5.1.2 - a security update

Commenter Todd yesterday reminded us about the new Kindle Touch software upgrade.  It was announced by the Amazon Kindle Forum's Community Manager, Kevin G., on Monday afternoon, although Mobile Forum members mentioned on 7/16 that it was available.

From the Amazon US update page
"If your Kindle Touch has software version 5.1.0 or 5.1.1 installed, there is an update available that addresses a known bug.  We recommend that you install 5.1.2 to bring your Kindle Touch software up-to-date.
  You must first have version 5.1.0 or 5.1.1 installed to install version 5.1.2.

Which Version do I Have?

     
  1. From Home, tap Menu and then tap Settings.
  2.  
  3. On the Settings screen, tap Menu and then select Device Info. Your software version is listed under Firmware Version.
"

The Kindle Touch Software update page for both v5.1.0 and v5.1.2 (U.S.) then leads you through what to do, depending on which Firmware Version is showing for your KTouch.
  UK Kindle owners: UK-only page

After you've confirmed that you already have 5.1.0 or 5.1.1 installed, then download the v5.1.2 at that page.
  UK Kindle owners:(UK-only page)


The reason for the upgrade - Amazon wasn't specific, but Nate Hoffelder of The Digital Reader wrote on July 16 about a German Security firm's posting of "a proof of concept hack which exploits a security hole in the web browser on the Kindle Touch" which had been identified in late May in a Mobileread forums thread.  It was a serious security hole but was so complicated that few would use it.




US:
Kindle Fire  7" tablet - $199
Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $79/$109
Kindle Touch, WiFi
- $99/$139
Kindle Touch, 3G/WiFi - $149/$189
Kindle Keybd 3G - $189, Free, slow web
Kindle DX - $379, Free, slow web
UK:
Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £89
Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - £109
Kindle Touch 3G/WiFi, UK - £169
Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149
  Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB
OTHER International
Kindle NoTouch Basic - $109
Kindle Touch WiFi - $139
Kindle Touch 3G/WiFi - $189
Kindle Keybd 3G - $189
  Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB

  For daily free ebooks, check the following links:
Temporarily-free books - Non-classics
USA: by:
   Publication Date  
   Bestselling   High-ratings

UK: PubDate   Popular
The Kindle Daily Deal
What is 3G? and "WiFi"?       Battery Care
Highly-rated under $1,  Newest: $1-$2, $2-$3
Most Popular Free K-Books
U.S. & Int'l (NOT UK):
   Top 100 free
UK-Only:
   Top 100 free
USEFUL for your Kindle Keyboard(U.S. only, currently):
  99c Notepad 1.1,   99c Calculator,
  99c Calendar,   99c Converter


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4 comments:

  1. Mine still has v5.1.0. I never got the 5.1.1 update. I don't browse to sketchy websites on my KTouch, so I'll wait for the update to reach me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SK, mine has only v5.1.0 also. Haven't heard what v5.1.1 was about. What you say makes sense. I may update it just to get any benefits from small bug fixes since v5.1.0 but by the time I do it they probably will have sent it over the air :-) Sometimes it can take weeks though.

      Delete
  2. There are no visible changes as far as I can tell. It seems to me the web browser scrolls better now, requires fewer swipes to navigate an article.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom, if there are any other changes, you'll find them :-) That's good news re the probably more fluid movement. Thanks!

      Delete

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