Amazon makes major change to popular product (users are upset)
According to The Street, In 2024, if you’re an active internet user, you’ve likely made an online purchase, with many opting for Amazon (AMZN). Amazon’s vast network of 200 million Prime members significantly fuels the retailer’s innovations and acquisitions. Prime membership, which costs around $140 annually, grants access to exclusive sales, deals, and promotions, including notable events like Prime Day.
Amazon’s extensive range of innovations includes popular products such as the Alexa voice-enabled home device, the Ring doorbell security system, the Kindle e-reader, the Fire TV, and Fire tablets. Even if you’re not a Prime member, you can still enjoy many of these devices and their benefits.
Kindle: A Favorite Among Readers
Amazon’s Kindle e-reader remains a standout product. It allows book and magazine enthusiasts to store thousands of publications on a single, glare-free screen, reducing eye strain. Although Kindles rarely go on sale, the Kindle Scribe saw a significant discount—about 30%—during Amazon’s July Prime Days. This model, known for its glare-free display and long battery life, typically retails around $340 for the 16GB version.
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With estimates of between 20 million and 90 million units sold, Kindles are among Amazon’s top-selling hardware devices.
New Kindle Update Sparks Controversy
Despite their popularity, Kindles are not immune to issues. Amazon frequently updates its devices, but the latest 5.16.10.0.1 firmware update has caused frustration among users. Key changes in this update include:
- A new font for reading progress
- Slower updates to reading progress
- Changes affecting margin sizing and page formatting
- Display of time in military format (currently unchangeable)
Some users have also reported faster battery drain following the update.
One Reddit user expressed their discontent, saying, “The latest update 5.16.10.0.1 made my 10th gen Paperwhite insufferable. The device was perfect before but now the touch functionality is unreliable, the screen is glitchy, and page refreshes are lagging. I just want my device back to how it was a few days ago.”
Another user noted similar issues: “I’ve had to restart my Paperwhite over 10 times this weekend because it kept freezing on the cover.”
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While some users appreciate the update, including the clock and time left in chapters, they wish there were options to customize these features.
Amazon has not yet responded to these complaints. However, when similar issues have arisen in the past, Amazon has typically issued subsequent software updates to address the problems.
