Skip to main content

Kindle Fire updated to version 6.3.1, featuring many requested features

If you have a Kindle Fire, go ahead and fire up software update to grab Amazon’s latest update that it pushed out this afternoon. Version 6.3.1 is now available and features many upgrades that have been requested among users. The biggest, perhaps, is the ability to completely block the use of Amazon’s Silk Browser that allows for a safer browsing instance. Also on the subject of the browser, there is a new family setting that can keep youngsters off those, ya’ know… bad sites. Other new features include a new reading view, which is much like the reading view on Safari on both iOS and Mac. The reading view allows for clearer reading and ridding of any scripts that will put in content which just gets in the way. We have the full release notes after the break for your perusal. Check ’em:

We have a new, free software update available for Kindle Fire.  This update brings additional parental controls to Kindle Fire, including the ability to password-protect purchases, disable access to specific content libraries, and block access to the Silk web browser. As with all software updates, these new features will be delivered automatically to your Kindle Fire.

  • Sharing: Easily share favorite passages and notes from books directly from Kindle Fire. Simply highlight a passage and select “Share,” add a note, and choose which social network you’d like to post to.
  • Book Extras: Powered by Shelfari, Amazon’s community of book lovers, Book Extras make it easy to see supplemental material about the book you are reading, without leaving the book. View descriptions of characters, a glossary of common terms used in the book, information on the authors and common locations referenced in the book, and more. To view Book Extras within your book, tap the bottom of the screen to bring up the options bar, tap the menu icon and select “Book Extras.”
  • Archive of Personal Documents: Your personal documents are stored in the Amazon Cloud and available for redownload at any time from the Docs content  library on your Kindle Fire. Just as with Kindle books, Whispersync automatically syncs notes, highlights and furthest page read for personal documents.
  • Print Replica Textbooks: Students can buy thousands of print replica textbooks to read on their Kindle Fire and save up to 60% off the list price of the print textbook. Print replica textbooks maintain the rich formatting, color and layout of the print editions, with features including notes and highlights, zoom and pan, linked table of contents, real page numbers, and Whispersync of notes, highlights and furthest page read.
  • Reading View for Amazon Silk: With Reading View on Silk, the content that you’re interested in is elevated above the clutter in a reading-optimized, single screen view (even for multi-page articles). The full page is still available in the background, allowing you to easily toggle back to a traditional view to see other interesting features on the page.
  • Movie Rentals: The rental period for movie rentals downloaded to Kindle Fire now starts when you starts watching the movie, rather than  at download.
  • Additional Enhancements: Faster re-connect of Wi-Fi after your Kindle Fire has been asleep, and general performance enhancements. 

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel