Amazon has launched a software program replace, model 5.17.3, for each the 2022 and 2024 Kindle Scribe that provides a brand new strategy to write notes inside ebooks and Phrase paperwork, and it additionally provides a brand new visually-distracting icon on the display screen that may’t be eliminated (how enjoyable).
Mainly, the brand new characteristic provides you the choice to open a panel alongside the facet of an book for writing notes. You possibly can have the panel overlap the textual content of the ebook or reflow the textual content round it so you possibly can view each on the similar time.
The dimensions of the panel will be adjusted by two increments in portrait mode and three increments in panorama mode. You possibly can open the panel by urgent a brand new icon that all the time seems on the facet of the display screen within the margin. You possibly can set the icon and panel to look on the left or proper facet (it’s all the time reverse of the place you place the writing toolbar).
The one drawback with that is the facet panel icon is all the time seen now and I’ve been via all of the settings and might’t discover an choice to cover it wherever. I had hoped it could go away when hiding the writing toolbar, as that appears logical, however there’s no strategy to do away with it so far as I can inform.
Personally, I dislike having icons seen on-screen whereas studying as a result of it distracts my eye and a spotlight. I actually hope they add the choice to cover the writing panel icon with the following replace. Why pressure people who don’t even need to use this new characteristic, or solely need to use it sparingly, to stare at an icon on the display screen on a regular basis? That is the form of stuff that makes me surprise if the software program builders even use Kindles outdoors of labor.
The earlier 5.17.2 replace added the power to put in writing notes straight inside Kindle ebooks by means of resizeable packing containers that actively wrap the textual content round them, and now Kindle Scribe house owners have the choice to put in writing notes on facet panel margins too. It’s been over two years for the reason that Scribe was launched and it’s lastly getting some good in-book notetaking options.
You possibly can obtain the 5.17.3 replace from the Kindle Software program Updates web page at Amazon, or you possibly can anticipate the replace to mechanically set up by itself in some unspecified time in the future over the following few days or even weeks. There are separate hyperlinks for the 2022 and 2024 fashions so be sure to obtain the proper replace.
Listed here are the complete launch notes:
Model 5.17.3 – January 2025
Right here’s what’s new:
Aspect Panel Margin: Now you can open a facet panel margin to put in writing notes in eBooks with enhanced typesetting and Phrase paperwork. Select between docked or overlay settings, and faucet the caret to regulate its width.
Efficiency enhancements, bug fixes, and different basic enhancements.
