Indeed, and just as importantly the Apple costs a fraction of the Amazon charger. Amazon really are taking the mickey with the price they charge. Last time I looked it was about £12. You can get an Apple plug for a few pound (and on Amazon at that. )

The latest software update for the Kindle 4 is now available. If you don't wish to wait for Amazon to send it to you, you can download it manually.

The text is supposed to be clearer but, to be honest, I didn't notice any difference.

One useful new feature is there is now a zoom. One of the weaknesses of the Kindle was that many maps were essentially unreadable. You can now enlarge them to fit the screen.

And one downside is that they have removed the switch wireless on and off feature and replaced it by a cumbersome airplane mode, which means that everything is back to front - you have to switch the airplane mode off to switch the wireless on and vice versa.

That seems a bit daft. But then I guess at the rate I read, they could release another update to revert back to the original method long before I finish all the books I've got on mine

It's just a label, if it makes them happy then be it. Maybe they want people to keep wireless on all the time for some reason. I have no problem to have my Kindle in airplane mode even if I am in fact on a train

I've managed to acquire 3 official Amazon chargers, all of which were included in with Kindles - my original non-3G Kindle Keyboard, a warranty replacement when that one broke, and a third when I decided to get a 3G Keyboard.

Should keep me fully stocked with chargers for a while.

I bought the original Kindle charger as there was no one to advise me that any USB charger would do. But I got over it And I would not want the cheapest of the cheapest one anyway. They seem to charge less money for the device itself, but then make you cough up a lot on the accessories.

As far as a charger goes, I grabbed this from ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1708433448...84.m1439.l2649

Just so I can plug the data cable in and charge it from the mains whenever I need to.

Just had a look for the software update and it appears i'm running the current version anyway - 5.1.0. No "Airplane Mode" though ..

What model are you? The update (Ver 4.1.0) is for the Kindle 4 - the keyboardless one that came out last year.

I've got the Kindle Touch.

I might be in the wrong thread, but does anyone have experience of a Kindle breaking down in less than six months? Mine gave me a 'Kindle needs repair' message last night, and I haven't got anything out of it since.

So, has anyone had to send theirs back for repair? Any idea how long this usually takes or how good the communication with Amazon is?

I'm getting withdrawal symptoms already. This is not good.

My Kindle hasn't broken down but Amazon's customer service is among the best there is IME.

They will probably send you a new one, you won't have to wait for your one to be repaired. Ask them about the logistics of it. I have mine for almost 2 years and apart from random resets that were tracked down to rogue unlighted covers I never had any issues with mine, knock wood.

Thank you, both - that's quite cheering! I'll see what they have to say, and hopefully it'll be resolved soon.

Just to update, the posters above weren't joking about the service. I emailed Kindle Support at 8.30, got a reply just after 10am, did an online chat with them 30 minutes ago and they're sending me a replacement to arrive on Monday, plus a label to send the old one back. Truly superb service.

I had superb service when mine "froze". Sent me a replacement immediately and all I had to do was return the old one in box with the label provided.