Amazon’s Kindle devices are great e-book readers, they don’t really argue about it. But Amazon is not the most agile company when it comes to introducing new software features to its Kindles.
A simple feature has been, in particular, in the wish list of users for years: having the cover of a book you are currently reading on the lock screen of the device. So far, the display has shown some automatically chosen wallpapers when the device is asleep. There was a way to make the Kindle look like the cover of your current book, but it involved jailbreaking the Kindle (which some people actually did).
Now, according to GoodEReader, the feature has become available for Kindle e-readers running the latest firmware (5.13.5). The function has already started in India and Mexico, but Amazon confirmed to the press that it will be available globally “in a few weeks”. I tried it on a device in the UK and the function was there.
It works!
Picture: Shannon connellan / Mashable
To activate it, go to Settings – Device options and activate the “Show cover” option.
Being able to see which book you’re currently reading when your Kindle is asleep may sound like a tiny feature, but it’s actually natural – if for no other reason, then because it’s similar to reading a physical book.
The feature will be available for Kindle 8th gen and higher, Kindle Paperwhite 7th and higher, Kindle Oasis 8th and higher and Kindle Voyage 7th. One caveat is that the Kindle must be an ad-free version for this feature to work, as these devices display ads on the screen when it sleeps.