Amazon finally adds epub support to the Kindle

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It's taken so long (like 15 years), but Amazon's Kindle will finally support the widely-used epub format on its e-reader by the end of the year. It will allow the Send to Kindle function to convert epub files into a file format that can be opened on the Kindle. This news will be widely welcomed by Kindle users who have had to grapple with manually converting their ebook library just so it can work on a Kindle device.

This update means that Kindle will lose support for the MOBI format. This older French file format served as Amazon's proprietary ebook format, which it got when it acquired Mobipocket in 2005. The company then rebranded that to AZW. Those old files will still be accessible on your Kindle, but there won't be any new ebooks in that format.

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Amazon wants to make it easier to use its Kindles

Amazon is rolling out a software update in the coming weeks that's meant to improve the experience on its Kindle, Oasis, and Paperwhite devices. You will be able to swipe down from the screen to adjust brightness, go to All Settings, and toggle Airplane, Sync, and Bluetooth modes. There will be a new bottom navigation bar that will let you switch easily between Home, Library, and the book you're currently reading. These changes are coming to 8th-generation Kindles or later, 7th-generation or newer Paperwhites, and the Oasis series.

Later this year, Amazon plans to offer "an improved Home and Library experience." The Library will get "new filter and sort menus, a new collections view and an interactive scroll bar." Meanwhile, the Home portal will get a Recently Read section that shows up to 20 items.  

Source: Engadget

Some Kindles will let you display the cover of what you're reading on the lockscreen

Amazon has finally realized some people want to show off what they're reading at the moment. And so, some Kindle models can now show the book cover of the title you're reading as your ereader's lockscreen paper. It's rolling out globally, and most books, magazines, comics, and manga are supported. As long as you have a non-ad device, Display Cover works on 8th and 10th generation Kindle, 7th and 10th gen Paperwhite, 8th to 10th gen Oasis, and 7th gen Voyage. You can check out if yours is compatible here. The feature is accessible through the Kindle's settings menu. Toggle the "Show Cover" option to activate it.

Source: Engadget

Amazon redesigns Kindle app

You might have noticed a new look to Amazon’s Kindle app. If you haven’t, well, we’re bringing your attention to it. The app from the icon to its user interface has a newer, sleeker look. There are new things like larger book covers, new fonts, as well as a new light or dark background theme options. The bottom bar has been revamped too to show what book you’re currently reading, making it easier to go back to what you’ve been reading at any time. It also shows you Kindle’s more popular features like Home, Library, Store, and more. Search is also easier with the revamped app as it appears everywhere within the app. The redesign is available for both iOS and Android.