Amazon has announced that a major software overhaul is coming to the Kindle range this month.
The update will revamp the home screen experience of Amazon’s e-reader devices, as well as modifying the UI and making it easier to purchase ebooks directly from the Kindles.
The first enhancement mentioned by Amazon in the related web post is a personalised home screen. This will push your most recent books to a section in the upper left of the screen, represented by their front cover art. Tapping on the related My Library link will take you to your complete library.
To the right of this is a new section entitled My Reading Lists, which shows the books on your Amazon Wish List, any samples you might have downloaded, as well as any books on your Goodreads Want to Read shelf (if you’re a member).
Below these two sections is a Recommended For You section, which is pretty self-explanatory. There’s also an involved recommendation system that takes you through various questions and ratings to establish a list of books you might enjoy.
Elsewhere, Amazon has enhanced the UI experience. One distinctly Android-esque touch is the addition of popular settings toggles, such as airplane mode, to the toolbar.
Related: Kindle Voyage vs Kindle Paperwhite
Amazon has also made it possible to share quotes directly to Facebook or Twitter. What’s more, those reading that shared quote can read a free web-based preview of the source book without even having to sign into an Amazon account.
This latest Kindle software update will be rolling out automatically over the coming weeks. It’s coming to the second and third generation Kindle Paperwhite models, the 2014 Kindle, and the Kindle Voyage.
Next, take a look at our Kindle Voyage review video:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
