Kindle adds Page Numbers (and more)

You can get in on the early preview of the newest Kindle update by downloading the new firmware from the Kindle Software Update Version 3.1 -- Early Preview Release page. This update ONLY works with the Kindle 3 (there is a different update available for the DX, but it doesn't add these new features or the enhanced PDF handling of the K3). Finally, those who protest against the lack of page numbers can be happy - for some (perhaps most) books, a new feature on the Menu will show which page you are on, based on the text at the top left corner of the screen (since you could be viewing text from more than one page at a time). A "definitive" edition has to be specified by the publisher and the page numbers embedded (which most likely means that DTP titles won't have page numbers).  Other than a few reading clubs where some are still using paper, though, it's hard to see whether many will find it useful. Even which school reading assignments, the chances you have the correct edition in order to keep the page numbers consistent is relatively slim (better with classics, where you can buy the ubiquitous Penguin Classics edition, but that'll cost you more than just grabbing a free copy from Gutenberg or the Kindle store).

Here are some of the highlights and updated help screens from Amazon:

Kindle Version 3.1 Overview

We're excited to announce that a new, free software update is available for Kindle (Latest Generation). It's free and easy to download. Some of the features included in this update are:

• Public Notes -- This feature lets Kindle users choose to make their book notes and highlights available for others to see. Any Kindle user -- including authors, their fans, book reviewers, professors and passionate readers everywhere -- can opt-in to share their thoughts on book passages and ideas with friends, family members, colleagues, and the greater Kindle community of people who love to read. This is a new way for readers to share their excitement and knowledge about books and get more from the books they read. To review and turn on Public Notes in your own books, view the Public Notes of people you follow, track your reading activities, see Popular Highlights and your annotations, and view your full library of books, go to https://kindle.amazon.com. Learn more.
• Real Page Numbers -- Our customers have told us they want real page numbers that match the page numbers in print books so they can easily reference and cite passages, and read alongside others in a book club or class. We've already added real page numbers to tens of thousands of Kindle books, including the top 100 bestselling books in the Kindle Store that have matching print editions and thousands more of the most popular books. Page numbers will also be available on our free "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle apps in the coming months. If a Kindle book includes page numbers, press the Menu key in an open Kindle book to display page numbers. Learn more.
• Before You Go ... -- When you reach the end of the book, you can immediately rate the book, share a message about the book with your social network, get personalized recommendations for what to read next, and see more books by the same author. Learn more.
• New Newspaper and Magazine Layout -- We're introducing a new and improved layout for newspapers and magazines. This new layout gives you a quick snapshot of the news and helps you decide what you want to read first. Learn more. 

Page Locations and Page Numbers

Kindle's page numbers match the page numbers in print books so you can easily reference and cite passages, and read alongside others in a book club or class.
If your Kindle book includes page numbers, you'll see page numbers displayed next to locations when you push the Menu button. Page numbers and locations are only displayed when the Menu button is pushed.
Not all Kindle books include page numbers. Kindle books that include page numbers will list "Page Numbers Source ISBN (the print book identification number)" for the matching print edition under "Product Details" on the detail page at Amazon.com. If the Page Numbers Source ISBN (the print book identification number)" listed under "Product Details" on the product detail page is the same edition as your print book, the Kindle page numbers will match the page numbers in the printed edition.
Because Kindle books allow you to change font size and other features, you may be able to view more than one page on your screen at once. Only the corresponding page number for the text displayed at the top left of the screen will be shown.

Public Notes

Public Notes allow you to connect with fellow readers by seeing what passages they found meaningful in books you are both reading.
You can search for and follow other readers at https://kindle.amazon.com.
If someone you follow has highlighted a passage in a book and has turned on Public Notes for the book, you'll see that passage highlighted along with the name of the person who highlighted it. The"@" symbol will be displayed in the text where any notes were made.
Public Notes will also appear in a list with your personal annotations if you select "View Notes and Marks" from the menu while reading. By default, Public Notes are displayed in your books but you can turn them off if you don't want to see them.
To turn Public Notes on and off:

1. Navigate to Kindle’s Home screen and press the Menu button.
2. Select “Settings”.
3. Select the desired option next to “Public Notes.” 

Turning Public Notes on or off from your device will not make your notes visible. You have to turn on Public Notes for a book through our website before anyone else can see your highlights and notes in that book. Go to https://kindle.amazon.com/your_reading make your highlights and notes visible through Public Notes.
Following other readers to see their Public Notes
Authors, book club members, thought leaders, passionate readers, professors and all Kindle users can opt-in to sharing their notes with other readers.
To follow other readers:

1. Visit https://kindle.amazon.com
2. Log in using your Amazon account details.
3. Search for the name of the person you would like to follow in the search bar in the top right corner.
4. Click the “Follow” button. If you’d like to stop following this person in the future, simply select the “Stop Following” button.

Sharing your Public Notes

1. Visit https://www.kindle.amazon.com and select “Your Books” from the options on the top of the screen.
2. Check the boxes to select what information you would like to share about any of your books.

You can also make a single note a Public Note and share it with people following you by selecting "save & share." This will also post the highlighted passage and any comment you add to the social media networks you have associated with your Kindle account.

To share a single Public Note:

You can make any highlight or note a Public Note, without setting Public Notes for that book online.

1. Place the cursor at the beginning of the passage using the 5-way controller and press down to anchor it.
2. Highlight the passage using the 5-way controller.
3. Enter your note or comment about the passage you highlighted. (There is a 100 character limit.)
4. Select "save & share" from the options at the bottom of the note window when finished.

Only this single highlight or note will be shared with other readers following you. You have to turn on Public Notes for the entire book to make all your notes and highlights from that book public.
If you don't have a Facebook or Twitter account associated with your Kindle account, you'll automatically be prompted to manage your social network registration before your message is posted. If you choose not to link your Kindle account to your social media networks, your highlights and notes will still be saved in the book, as well as at https://kindle.amazon.com.

To rate a book and share via social media:

On the final page of your book, you'll be given the opportunity to share what you thought of it via Twitter or Facebook.

1. Use the 5-way controller to select "Rate this book."
2. Select the number of stars you'd use to rate the book, then select “save & share.”

You can rate the book at any time just by going to the final page. Press the "Menu" button, select "Go to" and select the "End" button.
You can also select "Tweet/share that you've finished this book" to let everyone know you've read it.
You can rate a book even if you haven't linked your Amazon.com account to your social media accounts. Ratings are displayed at https://kindle.amazon.com/your_reading or https://www.amazon.com/gp/yourstore.
Note: You can only rate Kindle books purchased from the Kindle Store.

Navigating Within a Periodical

At the bottom of a newspaper or magazine you will see options for quickly navigating within an issue. When viewing a blog, you will see similar options for navigation.

Previous Article: takes you to the previous article when you move the 5-way controller to the left.
View Sections List: takes you to the sections list of a newspaper or magazine when you press the 5-way controller.
View Articles List: takes you to the articles list of a blog when you press the 5-way controller.
Next Article: advances you to the next article when you move the 5-way controller to the right.
By default, "View Sections List" for newspapers and magazines is highlighted and when you press the 5-way controller, a list of the sections will appear. If you are viewing a blog, "View Articles List" is highlighted and pressing the 5-way controller shows a list of the blog's articles.
In the Sections & Articles view, you see the headlines of all the articles in each section. To see the Articles List of a particular section, navigate using the 5-way controller to "View Articles List" at the bottom of the screen.

To navigate to a particular section, use the 5-way controller to underline the section title and then press the 5-way to select. To dismiss this view and return to where you were last reading in the magazine or newspaper, select "Close Sections List" located at the bottom of the screen. Selecting the number to the right of the section title will take you to a list of articles found within that section.