[S.Reid]

Hi Everybody,
I have never switched on automatic book update. Is this something that is widely used? How does it work and does it work well?

 

[history_lover]

Yes, it works so well I don't even notice it unless one of the updates is a new cover for a book.

 

[hamerfan]

I like this! It means never having to check manually for an updated book. Three of my books were recently updated and they came through fine when I turned on the wi-fi. When a book is updated, it moves to the front of the reading queue, that's the only way I knew the books had been updated.
As it says on the MYD page on Amazon, if you use highlights, notes, bookmarks, and furthest read locations, turn on the Annotation Back Up on your Kindle(s).

 

[Ann in Arlington]

Yes, it works so well I don't even notice it unless one of the updates is a new cover for a book.

This . . . . .

 

[Eltanin Publishing]

In case you're curious from a publisher's viewpoint... I uploaded a new version of one of our Oz books. I didn't see any way to indicate this was an important update and should be pushed to users. So I emailed Amazon. Their response:

1. If we find the changes you made to your content are critical, we'll send an e-mail to customers who own the book to notify them of the update and improvements made. These customers will be able to choose to opt in to receive the update through the Manage Your Kindle page on Amazon.com (www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/manage).

2. If the changes made to your content are to correct minor quality issues, we won't notify customers by e-mail, but we'll activate their ability to update the content through the Manage Your Kindle page on Amazon.com.

They later emailed to say:

We've completed our review of your book changes and we consider the content updates to be critical quality corrections.

We've sent an e-mail to customers who own the book to notify them of the update and improvements made. These customers are able to choose to opt in to receive the update through the Manage Your Kindle page on Amazon.com.

I think, but I'm not positive, that customers who had opted in generally to receive updates got the book automatically or whether they had to take action after getting the email. Note that, for KDP authors, at least, readers do NOT automatically get the new version any time a new version is uploaded - the author/publisher has to request this (I think...) . Anyway, I just found the process interesting and though others might, also.

 

[Atunah]

I turned off the auto update when I noticed stuff happen with 2 books I was not happy with. Those are just the ones I noticed. One book was basically a full book when I got it, then it was updated and turned into a chopped part of a book as the author decided to chop it up in 4 parts. So they basically took back what I had already and gave me a sample. I didn't pay for that book.

The other book I did pay for and the author decided to do a PC cleaning on a back list title book. It was from the late 80's or early 90's I believe, I read it and then found out the update took out scenes and changed the tone of the book. There is a reason I love the back list stuff. Thankfully, I had already "liberated" that book in calibre so I'll always have the true unbutchered version. But all this made me very concerned about what else I missed, what other books were mangled and I hadn't noticed yet.
Now I decide on a case by case, but no auto for me. I actually don't know anymore when there is an update, I don't get the emails anymore and they removed the drop down they used to have for updates. So I read the books the way I acquired them. If errors need to be noted in a review, I will do so. I guess I expect the version I buy to be as good as it can be, just like when I buy a paperback. I only go buy the version I have.

So I don't notice anymore.

 

[Ann in Arlington]

In case you're curious from a publisher's viewpoint... I uploaded a new version of one of our Oz books. I didn't see any way to indicate this was an important update and should be pushed to users. So I emailed Amazon. Their response:

They later emailed to say:

I think, but I'm not positive, that customers who had opted in generally to receive updates got the book automatically or whether they had to take action after getting the email. Note that, for KDP authors, at least, readers do NOT automatically get the new version any time a new version is uploaded - the author/publisher has to request this (I think...) . Anyway, I just found the process interesting and though others might, also.

Yes!

If you already have auto update enabled it'll happen.

If you don't, they may email you about a 'significant' update, but if not, you can browse your content and there will be a notation next to any book that has an update available.