The Kindle Scribe - A REALLY helpful software update!

[@mark_kelly]

I recorded a Short showing you how to manually update your Kindle Scribe if it hasn’t yet automatically updated. I hope it is useful to you - kzbin.infoPVh4rniF8cY?feature=share If you enjoyed this video, a sub to the channel would mean the world to me! Please support the channel by tapping the ‘Thanks’ button or becoming a member. 🤩And if you like to read quality content, please subscribe to my Substack - markdkelly.substack.com

[@joshuafp5727]

I can't believe after all the updates that have added, the ability to just write on any book still isn't a priority

[@mark_kelly]

A shame that one. Let’s keep hoping!

[@mrefranklin]

The ability to write on books within Kindle is a challenge due to the ability to adjust font sizes. Most Kindle books do not have fixed page sizes. There is not really a concept of page.

[@martinvickers9690]

​@@mrefranklin, But doesn't Kobo allow writing in a book? Is there a difference in how the two devices function?

[@shalahmadi]

​@@mrefranklin You are roght. But it can be done.

[@philologus6577]

Thanks for this! I got the update last night and I was wondering what was new. I hope they continue improving features. I really wish they would go the Kobo route and support in ebook writing and underlining.

[@mark_kelly]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. Glad to be of service 🤩. Writing directly into any book is a commonly requested feature, if my KZbin comment sections are anything to go by. Maybe one day?

[@macjim]

It would have been better if they’d let you annotate the book page than have the note open in the app but I suppose it’s a step forward. I just wish they’d let me move my imported PDF documents out of my library and into the notebooks and, let me email a PDF document directly to whoever I want to send it to and not a link for a download. I’ve gone back to using Goodnotes and my Apple Pencil Pro instead of my Kindle Scribe for my documents as it’s much more convenient, and less hassle, and time saving than using the Kindle Scribe. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 PS I love using the Scribe for reading my books on though so I haven’t wasted my money on it.

[@mark_kelly]

Thanks for your comment. Appreciate all that you’ve said. There’s still some ways to go isn’t there? But I’m grateful with what we’ve got so far. I like using Goodnotes on the iPad too and in fact my wife has used it for all her recent studies (retrained to be a midwife!) and she loves it.

[@maryl.7226]

@@mark_kellyDo you feel there are pro’s and con’s between Scribe and iPad with Kindle app and GoodNotes, that make one better than the other? Thank you.

[@DaiTwice]

My husband just ordered me a scribe for our 18 year wedding anniversary to replace my basic kindle i use daily, and i have been watching all of your videos and have to thank you! Your videos have helped me so much to understand, what to me, is a behemoth of a device that i have been dreaming of having since it released! Great videos! Subbed for sure to keep myself updated on the updates and how to use them!

[@mark_kelly]

This has got to be one of the loveliest comments I’ve read for a while 😀 Enjoy your gift when you receive it - I’ll try to keep on top of and alert you to any future features. Happy Anniversary! ❤️

[@graham1735]

I got an email from Amazon about the new page templates today, but the written notes in the app and the ability to see annotations (of either type) is completely new to me! Thanks for that!

[@mark_kelly]

Glad I could share something new with you! Those new features are pretty handy, aren't they? Thanks for watching! 🤩

[@eco909]

Bought a Kindle Scribe this prime day since the price for 64GB Version with the premium pen was 307€. Thanks for your review, this sealed the deal for me

[@mark_kelly]

That’s brilliant! Enjoy 🤩

[@Hdtjdjbszh]

SO GLAD I've just seen your video! My kindle has been offline a few days and I missed this! This is something I've wished for

[@mark_kelly]

I’m so glad you watched it and left a comment! 🤩

[@maryl.7226]

These are indeed great updates - thanks for the demo! I just ordered a Scribe today (great Prime Day deal!), and your videos have helped me so much in both making my decision, and also feeling much more informed as to how to start making it the more versatile workhorse I need it to be! Thank you - I subscribed as well! 👍👏👏👏👏👏😊

[@mark_kelly]

I’m glad to be of help! 🤩 Comments like yours make making videos all worthwhile. And thanks so much for the sub 😁

[@thomashirschmann5033]

Thanks for sharing the new features! How lovely that I can now choose a different template for each page!

[@mark_kelly]

🤩

[@IAmSam_TheMan]

Great video! I didn't know my Scribe had updated. These are some Killer Features! so happy Amazon added them. Thanks for the video update!

[@mark_kelly]

Thanks for commenting and appreciate your kind words. Some great features!

[@massimocapoccia]

We need a very good desktop app for organizing the files and do screen sharing!

[@mark_kelly]

Agreed - that would be very helpful wouldn’t it?

[@KevinChee]

Great looking thumbnail. And that title... woah !

[@mark_kelly]

I’m trying Kevin, I’m trying! 😆

[@KevinTspirit]

Thank you for showing this update.

[@mark_kelly]

🤩 You’re welcome!

[@davis9971]

Thanks for this video. A very useful update.

[@mark_kelly]

No worries Ralph, appreciate your comment!

[@jezamania]

Thanks, waiting for an update that allows me to save my notebooks to another scribe or laptop to second scribe?

[@mark_kelly]

That would be an interesting!

[@ConradMurkitt]

I think Amazon are miles behind the likes of Boox. If you look at something like the Boox Air 3C it is light years ahead in features for notebooks. Not sure whether the Scribe is powerful enough to have some of these features but I wonder whether Amazon’s heart is really in developing the Scribe, they seem to be so slow with adding new features.

[@mark_kelly]

‘Tis True Conrad that the Boox has a lot going for it that Amazon simply must catch up on! On the slowness of the updates, however, I’m not so convinced by your point - the last update with some great added features was in March (that video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5PYmoyVoa-fmMk) and just 3 months later they put out this one. Could they be quicker?

[@ConradMurkitt]

@@mark_kelly I think they need to be if they are to offer any real competition. I mean if you were looking now at an eINK device the Boox is more feature rich than the Scribe. So Amazon are playing catch up and could lose market share. After all the Air 3C is an Android device so you can read Kindle books using the Android Kindle app. So Amazon don’t have Kindle compatibility as a point in their favour.

[@ConradMurkitt]

@@mark_kelly I just think they are slow with their features roll out and they maybe need to focus on new features and get them out there. Other devices are already way ahead of them at this stage so that could influence people to by other products instead of Kindles.

[@oerthling]

​@@mark_kellyYes, they could be quicker. PDF needed a performance upgrade from day 1 (obviously the hardware can't get faster, but the format could be optimized to help with the rendering) to handle PDFs better. Paging through a PDFs with lots of images (e.g. boardgame rulebooks) is often unbearably slow to borderline unusable.

[@caerolleclaudel1768]

Ugh I was hoping they finally made it possible to use it landscape with two pages side by side. That would get me but this won’t

[@mark_kelly]

That would be great!

[@caerolleclaudel1768]

@@mark_kelly I can’t see it ever happening though. They don’t even sell a premium Kindle anymore, and the Paperwhite is so slow that I will only use it to read straight through a book; search, notes, all that are just too painful to use. In the end I wind up reading most of my Kindle books on my iPad Mini or iPad Air (which *does* allow me to read a Kindle book with two side-by-side pages). If they ever did and if the device was fast enough for me to search and use Notes, I would buy one immediately though.

[@MathewCarter]

Do your hand written notes (or written to text transcriptions) make it over to Readwise? How in general is the Scribe to Readwise functionality any benefits?

[@mark_kelly]

Great question Mathew! As far as I can see handwritten notes do not sync to Readwise. Readwise supports text-based highlights and notes from Kindle eBooks, not handwritten content. The Scribe to Readwise functionality benefits users primarily through the integration of eBook highlights and annotations. You can highlight text in your eBooks on the Kindle Scribe, and these highlights can sync to Readwise, where you can review, organise, and export them.

[@challafletcher2508]

This isn't available to me yet (In US) Can't wait for these updates! Exactly what I need!

[@mark_kelly]

I’m shocked! The US generally gets new features for Amazon products way before we do in the UK - if ever! (They are particularly bad at bringing parity to some great Echo device features you have in the States.) I’m sure you’ll get the update soon 😄

[@mzmel1]

This is definitely available in the US. I’ve been able to do it for weeks.

[@SheriGraham]

I am in the US, just got my scribe, all updates installed, but do not have the feature yet to only change one page. Hopefully it'll update soon!

[@jakibotham5600]

@@SheriGraham you can manually update it if you have a normal laptop, which is what i have had to do and I'm in the UK

[@flethacker]

excellent video thank you!!

[@mark_kelly]

Thank you so much! 🤩

[@slyassi]

i was hoping you could help me out, i have received my Scribe today, checked afor all updates (it say's i'm up to date) but the different template feature is not there for me? edit; would you believe, the update has just come through, great channel, thank you

[@mark_kelly]

Glad it’s sorted! Thanks for watching 🤩

[@Belgarathe]

Don’t know why boox 3 allows you to write on any format including epub while kindle scribe still can’t do it. It isn’t a technology issue but a software one that someone else already solved

[@mark_kelly]

Many commentators have said a similar thing. An investigation is required!

[@rivera42johnson]

Mine won’t let me do this! Any troubleshooting ideas to help?

[@mark_kelly]

I recorded a Short showing you how to manually update your Kindle Scribe if it hasn’t yet automatically updated (should be on software version 5.16.9 at least). I hope it is useful to you - kzbin.infoPVh4rniF8cY?feature=share

[@jaysfarrell]

My scribe says it’s up to date but I haven’t got the feature to change an individual page - it’s something I really need

[@mark_kelly]

I recorded a Short showing you how to manually update your Kindle Scribe if it hasn’t yet automatically updated to version 5.16.9. I hope it is useful to you - kzbin.infoPVh4rniF8cY?feature=share

[@jaysfarrell]

Thank you - I just turned airplane mode on and off and restarted and there it was - makes it even more useful!

[@bobdilferson1498]

it would be useful if it had a program that converts handwritten letters and numbers into computer letters and numbers. As some others have electronic papers

[@mark_kelly]

If I understand you correctly - you’re suggesting it would be helpful if the device could convert handwritten text into digital type? If so I’m happy to tell you that it can do this. Although it can’t do this on the Scribe it has to be emailed. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=TxYYWu3ZLZPBSTgp9H#:~:text=Go%20to%20the%20Notebook%20tab,%5Bto%20your%20registered%20email%5D.

[@user-wr4yl7tx3w]

Can you read and highlight pdf?

[@mark_kelly]

Yes you can!

[@damonpthomas]

Thanks for the video. These are really wonderful updates. Other than writing on books, I think another important one will be layer support for the people who rely on that. The kindle is far more constrained in its options and tools than something like the Boox Android eReaders, but I like it for its simplicity. To be fair, they probably should have some of these features from the beginning, but they're better late than never.

[@mark_kelly]

Thanks for watching! I agree with both your points, I think folks would find these features incredibly useful. There’s very little excuse as, like you say, Boox seems to do these things with ease. On the flip side, I don’t want the Scribe getting too ‘busy’ though. For example, I’m trying to gather my thoughts for my Boox review and I’m finding myself a little distracted about where to start as there is SO MUCH going on! (Check out that unboxing and initial impression video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpfYgZp4hryAZpY)

[@jasonm4480]

It would be helpful if you mentioned (or better yet, type in your description area) what version you are referring to. I believe Amazon rolls out slowly at different times. Here it is July 5 in the Midwest of the USA and these updates aren’t appearing. 5.16.6.1 is my version and Amazon claims it’s up to date.

[@mark_kelly]

A great point! I’ll add it to the description shortly.

[@jakibotham5600]

This feature doesn’t work on mine and I’ve just got it and it updated the software but still doesn’t work. What update is this on?

[@mark_kelly]

What feature are you specially saying doesn’t work? The software update version number is in the description of the video. And in the pinned comment I have a link for a Short I recorded showing how you might manually update the Scribe. Hope this is helpful.

[@jakibotham5600]

@@mark_kelly it was the individual templates in a notebook in particular. I've manage to manually update the software so it is available now, just a bit annoying it didnt update automatically

[@jakibotham5600]

@@mark_kelly mine was still on 5.16.6 but now updated to 5.16.10 but not sure what extra there is on top of the the .9 version

[@cristianmicu]

i didnt understand if all the features were only on your kindle scribe or what and if some had anything to do with the IPAD mentioned( i dont wanna buy an ipad to complimemt my scribe if you know what i mean)

[@mark_kelly]

The features are on your Scribe and you don’t need an iPad to use them. The sticky notes were previously only viewable on the Scribe but you can now view them on the Kindle app should you wish. Hope that is the clarification you’re looking for.

[@sungerbopvedostlar4610]

Hello, I want to ask an important question about kindle scribe; All of the devices I saw in a local shop in Istanbul had frame gaps. I couldn't buy a Kindle because dust and dirt could get in. Does your device have these gaps or can you recommend a case that can cover the gaps? Thank you.

[@mark_kelly]

I would possibly suggest that they weren’t genuine products. Kindle Scribes do not, and should not, have ANY frame gaps!

[@leidercastrogarcia4087]

Kindle Scribe has shape recognition?

[@mark_kelly]

Unfortunately, not yet! 🙁

[@nolongerhavetowork]

What the hell is happening with Amazon and Kindle? Are they gonna make more?

[@mark_kelly]

No idea! But you’re right, come on Amazon give us a colour enabled Kindle! 😁

[@dmillerterp]

Hmm mine is updated. I just got it, and this is not a feature I can use. It doesn't show up the same

[@jasonm4480]

Same with me. Says it is the latest version (5.16.6.1)

[@mark_kelly]

The software version I have (based in the UK) is 5.16.9

[@mark_kelly]

A slow rollout from Amazon?

[@jasonm4480]

@@mark_kelly in as much as I’ve seen others mention updates before and it was weeks before mine showed availability for updating? Not sure what’s behind that but thank you for software version.

[@BenThorp]

@@mark_kelly Looks like it. My Scribe arrived yesterday, updated itself out of the box, but only to 5.16.6.1 and now says it's up-to-date. Either it's a slow rollout or they've quietly rolled it back for some reason...

[@sebastian8374]

still... as long as the Kindle Scribe can´t write on Docs or imgages its quite useless... i cant believe they dont implement it... i see why i cant write on PDFs but the rest is ridiculous and a online service (like a cloud) that can export to pdf, i mean whats the reason you make such a good working device, when it´s so limited... i really dont understand Amazon with this...

[@mark_kelly]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I totally get the frustration. Just to clarify, you can write on PDFs with the Kindle Scribe, which is a big plus for many users. However, you’re right that it doesn’t support direct annotation on images or Word documents natively, and that can be limiting depending on your needs. As for cloud services, Amazon does offer some ways to send and store documents through their email feature and cloud, but I agree that more robust exporting options could make the device even better. Hopefully, Amazon will consider these features in future updates to make the Kindle Scribe even more versatile!