Anyone used one or played with one? I am thinking of getting one.
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1226688478&sr=1-3 (http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1226688478&sr=1-3)
I'd consider it if I could get the Baltimore Examiner on it. Well, and if it were $300 cheaper.
I have been reading up on a lot of hacks for it and this is interesting.
http://kindlehacks.blogspot.com/2007/11/amazons-director-of-kindle-has-no.html (http://kindlehacks.blogspot.com/2007/11/amazons-director-of-kindle-has-no.html)
http://kindlehacks.blogspot.com/2007/11/reading-feeds-on-kindle-for-free.html (http://kindlehacks.blogspot.com/2007/11/reading-feeds-on-kindle-for-free.html)
Jessi wants one. They are running a special with Borders, I think. 100 free ebooks. She's lovin' that it looks like something out of Star Trek! heh.
But I think Santa is planning on bringing her a GPS this year...sooo.....
Quote from: Saxon on November 14, 2008, 01:53:14 PM
Jessi wants one. They are running a special with Borders, I think. 100 free ebooks. She's lovin' that it looks like something out of Star Trek! heh.
But I think Santa is planning on bringing her a GPS this year...sooo.....
The GPS has saved our butts numerous occasions. The wife no longer is afraid to go out of town by herself and when we went to Atlanta and made a wrong turn into one of the bad sides, we got out of there in no time. GPS rocks; be sure to get one of the ones that actually speaks the name of the streets (turn left on Highland Avenue).
Well... I bit the bullet and laid out almost $400 bones (including tax) for it. I'll post a review after I've used it for a while.
Quote from: TinkTanker on November 14, 2008, 01:58:26 PM
Quote from: Saxon on November 14, 2008, 01:53:14 PM
Jessi wants one. They are running a special with Borders, I think. 100 free ebooks. She's lovin' that it looks like something out of Star Trek! heh.
But I think Santa is planning on bringing her a GPS this year...sooo.....
The GPS has saved our butts numerous occasions. The wife no longer is afraid to go out of town by herself and when we went to Atlanta and made a wrong turn into one of the bad sides, we got out of there in no thyme. GPS rocks; be sure to get one of the ones that actually speaks the name of the streets (turn left on Highland Avenue).
I was just looking at the GPS capabilities on the phones we can get when we upgrade in a couple of weeks...they say 'turn by turn', directions. It's VZ Navigator through Verizon. Anyone know anything about it? For just a little bit more per month, and the cost of upgrading the phones (buy one at $150 and get the other two free), we can have that and internet access. I know my girls, especially Gingi...I'm thinking having the service on something she's already carrying will be better than another gadget to lose. (they never forget their phones or ipods).
Quote from: Spooky on November 14, 2008, 02:13:02 PM
Well... I bit the bullet and laid out almost $400 bones (including tax) for it. I'll post a review after I've used it for a while.
Ooh, yay.
My Kindle shipped! Should be here next Tuesday. :happy:
How fun! We'll be expecting a 'review'!
Quote from: Saxon on November 26, 2008, 02:07:45 PM
How fun! We'll be expecting a 'review'!
I'll write a review that can only be read on a Kindle. :rofl:
Anyhoo, I made by first Kindle book purchase... Neuromancer by William Gibson. It's my favorite Sci-Fi book and even though I've read it a dozen times, I know I'll read it a dozen more. I've purchased the paperback version 3 or 4 times and wore them out.
Buying Kindle books is so easy. See the book you want in the Amazon Kindle library and 'click' it gets sent to your Kindle via wireless connection (a connection that uses any available cell tower and is free). The book I just ordered will download as soon as I turn on my Kindle. Pretty cool!
Off to browse more books. :)
This Kindle is going to be a wallet killer, I've already ordered 10 books...
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/35681 (http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/35681)
Quote from: TinkTanker on November 26, 2008, 04:41:49 PM
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/35681 (http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/35681)
QuoteUsually ships within 11 to 13 weeks.
Amazon said 3-4 weeks for me. I ordered on Nov 14th and will have mine on Dec 3rd. I guess I ordered at the right time. The Article (and comments) come off as whiny to me..
New toy is said to be 'Delivered' by Amazon tracking. Must. Go. Home. Now! I need to play with my new toy!!!!!
Jessi has not mentioned it again...hopefully I can put it off till next year.
Quote from: Saxon on December 01, 2008, 12:40:35 PM
Jessi has not mentioned it again...hopefully I can put it off till next year.
What's her email address so I can remind her? >:D
I've seen other brands of these before. $360?? NOT! Then I guess you'd have to "buy" each book seperately? I think I'll stick with paper and ink. I'm just too cheap!
ETA: WTF?? I replied to the "Moved to" thread and it put me in here?~ Nevermind.
Quote from: Spooky on December 01, 2008, 12:42:32 PM
Quote from: Saxon on December 01, 2008, 12:40:35 PM
Jessi has not mentioned it again...hopefully I can put it off till next year.
What's her email address so I can remind her? >:D
*thwap*
Don't forget, the naughty and nice list is being compiled up North right about now!!
Quote from: SerenityValley on December 01, 2008, 07:08:31 PM
$360?? NOT!
It does have a lot of cool features. Some are documented and some are not. ;)
* Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
* Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
* Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you're in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
* Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
* More than 190,000 books available, including more than 105 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers.
* New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
* Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.
* Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
* Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
* More than 1000 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day.
* Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.
* Holds over 200 titles.
* Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.
* Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.
* No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.
* Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.
* Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.
* Included in the box: Kindle wireless reader, Book cover, Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA (http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle)
Quote from: SerenityValley on December 01, 2008, 07:08:31 PM
I think I'll stick with paper and ink.
Ahhhhh... But can you be listening to music and think... Hmmm I would love to have a copy of '
The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin', then buy it (for 25 cents) and then start reading it less than a minute latter all while sitting on the lieu? Didn't think so! I can and did. ;) :loloeo:
The downside is the DRM and other assorted licensing crap. Fer instance, you cannot sell your 25 cent copy or Huckleberry Finn nor can you sell your $30 copy of The Stand. I come from the school of once I buy it, I own it and I can by God sell it to whomever I choose.
Quote from: Spooky on December 01, 2008, 08:05:55 PM
Quote from: SerenityValley on December 01, 2008, 07:08:31 PM
$360?? NOT!
It does have a lot of cool features. Some are documented and some are not. ;)
* Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
* Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
* Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you're in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
* Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
* More than 190,000 books available, including more than 105 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers.
* New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
* Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.
* Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including thyme, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
* Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
* More than 1000 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day.
* Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.
* Holds over 200 titles.
* Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.
* Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.
* No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.
* Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.
* Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.
* Included in the box: Kindle wireless reader, Book cover, Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA (http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle)
Yes, but can it take out the trash?? :haha:
Now I want one!!!
When I told Gingi about them (who is a voracious reader) she said she liked the 'feel' of a book. Jessi had seen that they offer a 'cover' that allows you to hold it like a book! I dunno...they will still have to go alot cheaper before we can get one.
Quote from: Saxon on December 02, 2008, 08:49:17 AM
Now I want one!!!
When I told Gingi about them (who is a voracious reader) she said she liked the 'feel' of a book. Jessi had seen that they offer a 'cover' that allows you to hold it like a book! I dunno...they will still have to go alot cheaper before we can get one.
I love it so far. I don't like the cover that came with it. I can see where the Kindle might slip out and fall to the ground, but there are a couple of 3rd party choices in that regard. I have read more than half of Glenn Beck's 'The Christmas Sweater' (started reading it 5 minutes after I unboxed the Kindle) and the pages seem to fly by. It is easier on my eyes that a regular book, to me any way. I adjusted the font size to +1 and my eyes fly through the words with ease.
When I was on the couch reading last night, I found a comfy position and didn't have to move at all. My finger was all snugged up to one of the 'Next Page' buttons and with a, almost effortless, twitch of my finger, the next page appears before your eyes.
As far as price goes, it is a little steep, but the rumor is that the Kindle v2.0 will be out some time next year. That should lower the price on v1.0 and I hope that they made enough money on v1.0 to be able to sell v2.0 at a lower price.
Article on v2.0
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10107649-1.html (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10107649-1.html)
I used to read ALOT...but with my eyesight changing every year, I got to where I just couldn't read most printed pages. I love the idea of adjustable font/print size. Another thing that was problematic for me, even before the eyes started giving me trouble was the fact that my hands go numb just from holding a book. The idea of having something I don't have to do that 'hold the book open, flip a page' thing (which Gingi loves) is actually a plus to me.
Yeah, maybe next year.
I'm with Sax. Maybe when the price comes down I'd look into it. Between myself, my mom and my sister, we pass all our books around, so we'd ALL have to get one so we could continue sharing!! That'd be cool, though, if I could just beam it to them rather than having to drive the LONG 10 miles to my mom's or 2 miles to my sis' house!
Quote from: SerenityValley on December 02, 2008, 10:05:28 AM
That'd be cool, though, if I could just beam it to them rather than having to drive the LONG 10 miles to my mom's or 2 miles to my sis' house!
That is a problem. On some books there is DRM in place that would prevent 'sharing' of the book, but I am sure there are ways around it. ;) I will become versed in all the tricks and hacks that become available for the Kindle. >:D
Quote from: Spooky on December 02, 2008, 10:12:08 AM
Quote from: SerenityValley on December 02, 2008, 10:05:28 AM
That'd be cool, though, if I could just beam it to them rather than having to drive the LONG 10 miles to my mom's or 2 miles to my sis' house!
That is a problem. On some books there is DRM in place that would prevent 'sharing' of the book, but I am sure there are ways around it. ;) I will become versed in all the tricks and hacks that become available for the Kindle. >:D
yay...then, by the time I can afford it, I can get info from you!
How brave of you to be our trailblazer...facing the unknown, hacking out a path for us...wow, I'm inspired.
Quote from: Spooky on December 02, 2008, 10:12:08 AM
Quote from: SerenityValley on December 02, 2008, 10:05:28 AM
That'd be cool, though, if I could just beam it to them rather than having to drive the LONG 10 miles to my mom's or 2 miles to my sis' house!
That is a problem. On some books there is DRM in place that would prevent 'sharing' of the book, but I am sure there are ways around it. ;) I will become versed in all the tricks and hacks that become available for the Kindle. >:D
That's okay, we could always just swap units! Whatever works, right?!
How E-Ink works...
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/e-ink.htm/printable (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/e-ink.htm/printable)
So, you can give your Kindle a name. I called mine Spookynomicon in reference to one of my favorite books 'Cryptonomicon' by Neal Stephenson. :D
(http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp14/spookier/Untitled-1.jpg)
Another great thing about the Kindle. I am at work with nothing to do. I have been reading my Kindle and no one knows! When I hear someone walking down the hall, I flip the cover closed and it looks like a day planner sitting on my desk. :ninja:
Quote from: Spooky on December 23, 2008, 10:17:37 AM
Another great thing about the Kindle. I am at work with nuthin' to do. I have been reading my Kindle and no one knows! When I hear someone walking down the hall, I flip the cover closed and it looks like a day planner sitting on my desk. :ninja:
Oh my, Gingi would love that!
Quote from: Saxon on December 02, 2008, 09:21:34 AM
Another thing that was problematic for me, even before the eyes started giving me trouble was the fact that my hands go numb just from holding a book. The idea of having something I don't have to do that 'hold the book open, flip a page' thing (which Gingi loves) is actually a plus to me.
Thank happened to me and it took a while to figure out why my hand was so sore. Apparently I hold the book open with 1 hand with my thumb and pinky holding each side.
I was reading a series that was thick so it required more effort.
Simple remedy, use 2 hands. I'm with Gingi, I love turning the page. I just love books.
I'm hoping after my surgery my hands don't do that. I miss reading. I think the ease of having a 'new book' would be easily traded by Gingi though...she goes through books like a little 'book worm' devouring pages! lol.
In fact, yesterday she announced that she was almost done with her current book...a broad hint since we were all going out to do our shopping. heh.
Verizon to help Kindle rivals
Posted on January 6, 2009 by switch11
Verizon Wireless is planning to help Kindle's competitors negate one of the Kindle's big advantages i.e. wireless downloads. Ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2009), Tony Lewis of Verizon spoke with Reuters and detailed Verizon's plans. Here's a snippet -
"Competitors to the Kindle are out there and ready," said Lewis, who declined to name the company's e-reader partners. "In 2009 I'd expect them to come to the market."
There was a huge wireless spectrum auction battle between Google and Verizon and other carriers, and Google had managed to get part of the spectrum open for all wireless devices and applications. Verizon is saying that they're going to open that part of the spectrum to not only phones, but also ereaders.
This is actually not the biggest Verizon news this week - Verizon will also make its 5.9 billion acquisition of AllTel Wireless official on January 9th, and become the largest wireless carrier in the US with 78 million subscribers.
Which means - The single largest wireless carrier in the US is opening up part of its wireless spectrum for ANY ereader (or for that matter any ereading application on any phone) to use for wirelessly downloading books and media.
Amazon still has the biggest range of ebooks to offer and a lot of other advantages - however, if Verizon starts offering instant downloads to Sony and other Kindle competitors, things are going to become very interesting.
http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/verizon-to-help-kindle-rivals/ (http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/verizon-to-help-kindle-rivals/)
http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/the-kindle-as-trojan-horse/ (http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/the-kindle-as-trojan-horse/)
The Kindle as Trojan Horse
Posted on January 11, 2009 by switch11
The Kindle is just the first step in Amazon's strategy to create a direct channel to customers and go from being an Internet retailer to becoming an intrinsic part of every single sale - any time, any place.
Researching for my 2009 predictions post, I ran into one of the best Kindle posts I've ever found - David Berlind's Kindle Big Picture post at Information Week. This one sentence is the single best description of the future of the current kindle -
By 2015, the Kindle (who knows what version by then) will be just one of many client-side arrows in Amazon's quiver.
Amazon found the least competitive niche.
Books are not sexy and the marketplace is not ultra-competitive. The competition in the games marketplace is fierce. Apple rules mp3s. The competition for movies is also fierce, and dominated by Netflix. On the other hand, very few people want anything to do with books because everyone considers it to be a dying marketplace.
Even though amazon has done some truly revolutionary things i.e. a device that is always connected, free internet, lower priced books (often times half priced), ordering through the device, delivery to the device - no one is really paying attention. Because it's just books and there's no sex appeal.
The Sales Channel can be used for anything.
What people don't fully understand is -
1. Amazon means "buy" to people - just as Microsoft means Windows + Office, Apple means iPod + Mac, and Google means search.
2. Amazon is selling a huge variety of items and more and more items - they're even letting people and other companies sell through them. Their sales are up even during the current recession.
3. Once people get used to buying books via the Kindle, it's an easy jump to getting them to buy other products.
Amazon already has Amazon Remembers for the iPhone which lets people take a snapshot of anything and then buy it. The app also lets iPhone users shop and buy anything on Amazon. Why wouldn't they release it for their own device, the Kindle? Simple - they don't want to bring people's attention to the fact that they already have a direct channel to customers. You don't have to worry about the PC, or the browser, or the search engine. You own the whole link.
Discretion is the better part of Valor
Amazon isn't disclosing sales figures or future plans for the Kindle -
They don't want to reveal just how big their plans are and scare/alert competitors.
Every kindle owner that buys books from Amazon is a potential customer that will buy music, and movies, and clothes, and groceries. The sooner Amazon starts highlighting this, the sooner competitors will understand the threat. That's why it's being dubbed as a simple ebook reader - who cares about an ebook reader - ebooks are a less than $1 billion a year market.
What people are missing is that Amazon is testing out (on a grand scale) the most advanced direct to customer sales, marketing and distribution channel ever created. Not to mention user behavior tracking.
Amazon has much bigger plans
Amazon has big, big plans -
1. Amazon's DRM free music and low prices have already forced Apple to come out with DRM free mp3s.
2. Along with Netflix, the other major player in video on demand is Amazon - signing deals with Panasonic, Sony, Microsoft, Roku, TiVo and many more distribution channels.
3. Amazon's Cloud computing web services are the #1 service available.
Amazon is developing the infrastructure, know-how and channels to become the marketplace for everything bought and sold.
The Kindle is a huge part of this because its the first example where Amazon really does control its destiny. For the Kindle, Amazon is not just a retailer, it is -
1. The Device Manufacturer.
2. Owner of the Channel to the customer.
3. It still is the retailer.
4. Its also a publisher.
An entry into any other type of device category would have brought huge scrutiny - by doing it in the form of the kindle - an unsexy device in an unsexy niche - Amazon has managed to get all the feedback and experience, not to mention create a great sales channel, without raising too many flags.
What the next 5 years will bring
Amazon will -
1. Release at least 2 devices that will use Whispernet and lessons from the Kindle and target different niches. My money is on movies and music.
2. Focus more and more on selling everything under the sun.
3. Use the recession to buy up a few troubled device and technology companies. Not to mention websites that get a lot of traffic of good intent like review sites and niche communities.
4. After hitting a few million kindles sold, start selling everything via the kindle.
5. Continue to focus on being to buying, what Google is to searching. If google is the king of Traffic of Good Intent, amazon is becoming the king of Traffic of Great Intent.
The Kindle is a small step towards a much, much bigger plan. All these years of single digit profits are just a stepping stone to Amazon's eventual aim - to earn a cut on every single thing bought and sold. Amazon want to become an integral part of the sales process - for everything - and at the moment it's looking inevitable.
http://i.gizmodo.com/5140106/amazon-preparing-to-drop-kindle-2-on-february-9 (http://i.gizmodo.com/5140106/amazon-preparing-to-drop-kindle-2-on-february-9)
If an invitation for an event at New York's, ahem, Morgan Library is to be believed, Amazon's new-and-improved Kindle could soon see the light of day.
The date meshes exactly with the previously assumed Q1 '09 release date, and rumored pictures of the new device have been flowing since before the holidays. And we generally know what happens when gadget makers schedule press events at literary-themed NYC locactions.
We'll be there, of course, to bring you all the news as it drops.
Beat me to it! I don't like that the k2 looks bigger than the k1, but if it has cool new features I might upgrade.
Quote from: Spooky on January 27, 2009, 09:29:40 AM
Beat me to it! I don't like that the k2 looks bigger than the k1, but if it has cool new features I might upgrade.
When they decide to sell it for ~ $200, I might get one. Until then, I get by fine with audiobooks on the iPod. Ann would like one though.
the Kindle, Books 2.0 and evolved literary forms
Posted on January 28, 2009 by switch11
Len will be covering this in a future Kindle Chronicles podcast – However, I couldn't resist writing about it. Tim (via Kindle Chronicles) suggested a really interesting topic for discussion.
How the Kindle might affect literary forms in general ... Netflix and DVDs have changed my viewing habits considerably (shows rather than movies)... how then might the kindle affect books? I also wonder what the special features of digital books might end up being.
Here's my take on why the Kindle has basically unlimited potential to change literary forms, and what some of those forms might be.
What the Kindle Really Is
It's really important to see the Kindle for what it is - A device optimized for reading that still incorporates big technological advances that books do not have. Here are a few elements that creators and authors should take advantage of.
1. The Internet – An always-on connection to the internet.
2. Non Linearity - The option to have hyperlinks and create non linear books.
3. Audio - The option to incorporate audio into books. Imagine having audio snippets as footnotes.
4. Touch (soon) - Down the line adding the option of touch.
5. Communication - Having communication between readers. Instant 'while you read the book' communication.
6. Social – Connection with other people. When Amazon does open this up, it'll create an extremely powerful well knit community.
7. Direct Feedback - Having feedback for authors and publishers.
8. Moving Images (down the line). Hitting yet more of our senses.
The Kindle is giving creators much more powerful tools and giving readers a much more varied experience involving more of the senses than a book.
How will the Kindle's features be used?
Having all these new tools and means to tell your story creates an interesting problem – there is not much precedent here. In many ways we're still thinking too in the box. We're still thinking – a better book. We should be thinking in much bigger terms.
We are beginning to see, mostly on the internet, some examples of new creative forms – blogs, podcasts, life-streaming, home made movies, multi-player games, virtual worlds, crowd-sourced websites.
The Kindle creates the possibility of having advances of this scale in the world of reading and books.
Three big trends I see
The Kindle will result in a few trends (which, to be fair, started with the internet) -
1. Network Effects - Very strong network effects with good books becoming runaway successes much quicker and at a larger scale than ever before.
2. Socialization of Reading - Readers will be much more connected with each other and will start depending on each other much more for reading decisions.
3. Democratization of Publishing – A lot more varied books and media will be published giving readers and authors unprecedented freedom and choice.
These are important – however, equally important is the possibility that entirely new literary forms and new forms of media emerge.
Big new literary and media forms
The Kindle does allow for new forms and my money is on -
1. Micro News – snippets of news delivered every few hours that will supplant newspapers.
2. A new type of 'collage book' that while it retains the essence of what it is to be a book i.e. some variant of "a book comprehends a treatise written on any material ... put together in any portable form", it uses all the means at the Kindle's disposal to create a fuller, richer treatise. Example - I'm a musician and my book is a collection of my songs, samples from the songs that inspired me, pictures of my loves, my essays on music, and snippets from books and movies that made me.
3. Social Recommendations – a crowd sourced recommendations and ratings engine that will help you decide what to read next. It'll be bigger than YouTube because it'll not just determine what you watch (read), it'll determine what you buy.
4. Audio-Text Hybrids – Plays with context, Books with ambient sound, Game Books with sound effects, and other combinations.
5. Micro Radio - some variant of Podcasts. Again, I believe that shorter, consume when you want micro-radio with updates every few hours is what will become popular here.
In addition to the new products that I see here, I also see the Kindle 2.0 becoming an important purchase device. Buying straight from the device is an important, important part of the Kindle eco-system.
Alongside Netbooks, Kindle 2.0 and future iterations have the most potential to become primary devices and purchase devices. Phones are just too small, and laptops and desktops aren't mobile enough. The Kindle 2.0 and Netbooks really do hit the sweet spot and have the most potential to become our connections to the internet and by extension the world.
http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/the-kindle-books-20-and-evolved-literary-forms/ (http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/the-kindle-books-20-and-evolved-literary-forms/)
http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/kindle-store-now-has-4700-free-public-domain-books/ (http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/kindle-store-now-has-4700-free-public-domain-books/)
The Kindle Store just added 4,700 public domain books. For how long? No Idea.
Quite an interesting change – I'd always find 10 or so free books when I searched the Kindle Store by low to high priced books. Now the first 389 pages of results are full of free public domain books – that's approximately 4,700 free public domain books. I ordered one and it does show up as free.
Quite a cool addition. Authors covered include H.G. Wells (The First Men in the Moon), Nietzsche, Sir Walter Scott, P. G. Wodehouse, Tesla, Mark Twain, Samuel Pepys, Winston Churchill and many more.
A rather nice gesture by Amazon. And they do need to do more things like this since Google is threatening to play already playing the 'being good and sharing books' card. Google at the moment has scanned a total of 1 million public domain books, 1 million in print books, and 7 million out of print, not in public domain books. The focus on out of print, sellable books clearly shows exactly where Google's intentions lie with Google Books.
If you find any good free books in the list – do leave a comment so others can download it too. Also, the number of free books seems to be increasing – it increased by something like 20 or 30 books just in the time it took me to write this – so perhaps I caught them right in the middle of this 'free books' addition. Yes - it does seem that way - they're now up to over 7000.
Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)
Say Hello to The New Kindle
Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines
Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback
Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images
Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging
More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books
Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns
Read-to-Me: With the new Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud to you
Large Selection: Over 230,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available
Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise
Technical Details
Display: 6" diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 16-level gray scale.
Size (in inches): 8" x 5.3" x 0.36".
Weight: 10.2 ounces.
System requirements: None, because it doesn't require a computer.
Storage: 2GB internal (approximately 1.4GB available for user content).
Battery Life: Read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
Charge Time: Fully charges in approximately 4 hours and supports charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable.
Connectivity: EVDO modem with fallback to 1xRTT; utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide U.S wireless coverage via Sprint's 3G high-speed data network (check wireless coverage). See Wireless Terms and Conditions.
USB Port: USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) for connection to the Kindle power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer.
Audio: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, rear-mounted stereo speakers.
Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, Audible (formats 4, Audible Enhanced (AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.
Included Accessories: Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable, rechargeable battery. Book cover sold separately.
Documentation: Quick Start Guide (included in box) [PDF]; Kindle 2 User's Guide (pre-installed on device) [PDF].
Warranty and Service: 1 year limited warranty and service included. Optional 2 year Extended Warranty sold separately.
Kindle Features
Advanced Design
Sleek & Trim
At 10.2 ounces, Kindle is lighter than a typical paperback and as thin as most magazines. Barely a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle fits perfectly in your hands.
Improved Ergonomics
Kindle is as easy to hold and use as a book. We designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions and often like to read with one hand. Kindle's page-turning buttons are located on both sides, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably with one hand from any position. The page-turn buttons now flex inward to prevent any accidental page turns when picking up or handling Kindle.
New 5-way controller
Kindle has a new easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words.
Simple to Use, No Computer Required
Kindle is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box--no setup, no cables, no computer required.
Even Longer Battery Life
25% Longer Battery Life - Read for Days Without Recharging
With Kindle's 25% longer battery life, you can read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
Charge via USB
Kindle supports wall charging via the included Kindle power adapter, and charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable. Kindle fully charges in approximately 4 hours.
Wireless Access with Whispernet
Fast 3G Network - Get Books in Under 60 Seconds
Whispernet utilizes Amazon's optimized technology plus Sprint's national high-speed (3G) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, and download content on the go. Your books and periodicals are delivered via Whispernet in less than 60 seconds. And unlike WiFi, you never have to hunt for a hotspot.
Expanded National Coverage
We expanded Kindle's national coverage to include more cities and areas in all 50 states, enabling wireless downloads of books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Check our wireless coverage map for availability.
No Wireless Bills
No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle's wireless connectivity so you won't see a wireless bill. There is no wireless setup--you are ready to shop, purchase and read right out of the box. See Wireless Terms and Conditions.
Carry Your Library in 10.2 Ounces
Holds Over 1,500 Books
The ultimate travel companion, Kindle weighs 10.2 ounces and holds more than 1,500 books. No longer pick and choose which books fit in your carry-on. Now you can always have your entire library with you.
Automatic Library Backup: Download Your Books Anytime for Free
A copy of every book you purchased is backed up online at Amazon.com in case you ever need to download it again. You can wirelessly re-download books for free anytime. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle, knowing that Amazon is storing your personal library. We even back up your last page read and annotations, so you'll never lose those, either. Think of it as a bookshelf in your attic--even though you don't see it, you know your books are there.
Enhanced Reading
Lose Yourself in Your Reading
The most elegant feature of a physical book is that it disappears while you're reading. Immersed in the author's world and ideas, you don't notice a book's glue, the stitching, or ink. Our top design objective was to make Kindle disappear--just like a physical book--so you can get lost in your reading, not the technology.
Paper-like Screen
Utilizing the latest in electronic-ink display technology, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white 6" screen with the same appearance and readability of printed paper. Sharp and natural with no glare or backlight, reading on Kindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Those who see it for the first time always do a double-take. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. And unlike a laptop or smart phone, Kindle never gets warm so you can comfortably read as long as you like.
Sharper Display of Images and Photos
Kindle's high-resolution screen now boasts 16 shades of gray, so images and photos are sharper and clearer than ever.
Read in Sunlight with No Glare
Kindle's screen reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.
Adjustable Text Size
Because one size doesn't fit all, you can increase the text size of your favorite book or periodical with the push of a button. If your eyes tire, simply increase the font size and continue reading comfortably. Kindle has six adjustable font sizes to suit your reading preference. Now every book in your library can be large print.
Read-to-Me Feature
Now Kindle can read to you. With the new Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud to you. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can choose from both male and female voices which can be sped up or slowed down to suit your preference. Anything you can read on Kindle, Kindle can read to you, including books, newspapers, magazines, blogs and even personal documents. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.
Improved Newspaper Experience
Using Kindle's new 5-way controller, you can quickly flip between articles, making it faster and easier to browse and read the morning paper. Want to remember the newspaper or magazine article you just read? Clip and save entire articles for later reading with a single click.
Faster Page Turns
Pages now turn 20% faster on average.
Bookmarks and Annotations
By using the QWERTY keyboard, you can add annotations to text, just like you might write in the margins of a book. And because it is digital, you can edit, delete, and export your notes. Using the new 5-way controller, you can highlight and clip key passages and bookmark pages for future use. You'll never need to bookmark your last place in the book, because Kindle remembers for you and always opens to the last page you read.
Full Image Zoom
Images and photos display crisply on Kindle and can be zoomed to the full size of the screen.
Personal Documents
Kindle makes it easy to take your personal documents with you, eliminating the need to print. Each Kindle has a unique and customizable e-mail address. You can set your unique email address on your Manage Your Kindle page. This allows you and your approved contacts to e-mail Word, PDF documents, and pictures wirelessly to your Kindle for a small per document fee--currently only 10¢ per document. Kindle supports wireless delivery of unprotected Microsoft Word, PDF, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI files.
You can email your PDFs wirelessly to your Kindle. Due to PDF's fixed layout format, some complex PDF files may not format correctly on your Kindle.
If you are not in a wireless area or would like to avoid the fee, you can send attachments to "name"@free.kindle.com to be converted and e-mailed to your computer at the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.com account login. You can then transfer the document to your Kindle using your USB connection. For example, if your Kindle email address is Jay@Kindle.com, send your attachments to Jay@free.kindle.com.
Built-in Dictionary with Instant Lookup
Never get caught without a dictionary. Kindle includes The New Oxford American Dictionary with over 250,000 entries and definitions, so you can seamlessly look up the definitions of words without interrupting your reading. Come across a word you don't know? Simply move the cursor to it and the definition will automatically display at the bottom of the screen. Never fear a sesquipedalian word again--simply look it up and keep reading.
Wireless Access to Wikipedia
Kindle also includes free built-in access to the world's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia--Wikipedia.org. With Kindle in hand, looking up people, places, events, and more has never been easier. It gives whole new meaning to the phrase walking encyclopedia.
Search
Kindle makes it easy to search within a book, across your library, in the Kindle Store, or even the Web. To use the Search feature, simply type in a word or phrase you're looking for, and Kindle finds every instance in your book or across your Kindle library. Looking for the first reference of a character in your book? Simply type in the name and search. You can extend your search to the Kindle Store to find related titles you may be interested in. Explore even further by searching Wikipedia and the Web.
Audiobooks
With Kindle, you are able to download and enjoy more than 50,000 audio titles from Audible.com, including bestselling audio books, radio programs, audio newspapers, and magazines. Due to their file size, audiobooks are downloaded to your PC over your existing Internet connection and then transferred to Kindle using the included USB 2.0 cable. Listen via Kindle's speaker or plug in your headphones for private listening.
Whispersync
Have more than one Kindle? Our new Whispersync technology allows you to seamlessly switch back and forth between your Kindle devices while keeping your reading location synchronized--simply pick up reading right where you left off.
Experimental Features
The experimental category represents features we are still working on to enhance the Kindle experience even further. Try them out and let us know what you think.
Read-to-Me
Now Kindle can read to you. With its new Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud to you. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can speed up or slow down the reading speeds or choose a male or female voice. Anything you can read on Kindle, Kindle can read to you, including books, newspapers, magazines, blogs and even personal documents. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.
Basic Web Browser
Kindle's Basic Web browser works well to read simple, text-centric Web sites such as Google and Wikipedia. Need to find a movie listing or look up a sports score? Now it's easier than ever to find the information you're looking for right from your Kindle.
PDF Document Conversion
You can email your PDF documents wirelessly to your Kindle, just like other personal documents. Due to PDF's fixed layout format, some complex PDF files may not format correctly on your Kindle.
Listen to Music & Podcasts
Transfer MP3 files to Kindle to play as background music while you read. You can quickly and easily transfer MP3 files via USB by connecting Kindle to your computer.
Included in The Box
Kindle electronic reader, power adapter, and USB 2.0 cable (for connection to the Kindle power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00154JDAI/ref=amb_link_83626371_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=0H8WTK7YGCHWMJZZ5YMG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=469548931&pf_rd_i=507846 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00154JDAI/ref=amb_link_83626371_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=0H8WTK7YGCHWMJZZ5YMG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=469548931&pf_rd_i=507846)
(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/turing/photos/feat-pencil-300px._V251249385_.jpg)
Been reading blogs about the new Kindle and I can't believe the number of people who are po'd that the new Kindle has been announced. You'd think that the announcement has some how magically made their current Kindle worthless POS that doesn't do what it did before?!? LOL
That same thing happens every time the game engine company we work with releases a new engine. You have one person complaining because they just bought the engine for every fifteen who are ecstatic.
Granted, there's an upgrade path with software that there isn't with hardware such as Kindle, but still....
People always want the newest and best especially if they just bought what they thought was the newest
only to find that something better comes out just a few weeks later. They feel like they were took and I
kind of agree with them if the price is the same.
Quote from: Phyll33 on February 09, 2009, 10:01:23 AM
People always want the newest and best especially if they just bought what they thought was the newest
only to find that something better comes out just a few weeks later. They feel like they were took and I
kind of agree with them if the price is the same.
If news that Kindle 2.0 would be out 'soon' hadn't been around for months, I could understand people being po'ed. But everyone knew this was coming. Buyer beware.
I knew there was a reason I was waiting! *Well, besides the cost!! I've signed up for a few sweeps to win one in the past month! Wish me luck... :PSA:
Showdown: Kindle 2 vs. Sony Reader
Amazon's Kindle 2 has undergone a liposuction and is slimmer, sleeker and a has better profile than its predecessor. The new Kindle also sports a 25 percent longer battery life, says Amazon, and has a better keyboard making it easier to flip pages.
Even as Kindle 2 tries to convert some of the traditional book buyers, the device's biggest competition will come from the Sony e-book Reader. Other competitors such as Plastic Logic which is also making an e-book reader are yet to launch their product.
Sony introduced its e-book Reader in 2006. The device uses the same E-ink electronic paper display as the Kindle. But it has more versions including a touchscreen and non-touchscreen one available and has so far has been appreciated for its better design.
Now that Kindle 2 has gone through a redesign it is time to take a look at how it stacks up against the latest Sony Reader PRS-700BC. The biggest difference between the two e-book readers is the availability or the lack of wireless connectivity.
Kindle 2 doesn't have Wi-Fi but uses Sprint's EVDO wireless data network to search and download books. Sony Reader users have to via the USB cable to their computer. After a one-time download of the e-book software they can browse the online store using their Internet connected PC and download titles to the Reader. It's a cumbersome process and its the one area where the Kindle truly rules.
Here's how the Kindle 2 and the latest Sony Reader PRS-700BC compare. We haven't reviewed the Kindle 2 yet but based on a feature comparison our winner is for the Kindle 2. The Kindle's wireless connectivity and the basic web browsing feature that makes it more powerful. It also has a bigger e-book store available and the better screen is likely to make it easier for readers.
(http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp14/spookier/kindle2vssonyreader.jpg)
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/02/showdown-kindle.html (http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/02/showdown-kindle.html)
http://kindleville.blogspot.com/2009/02/they-just-don-get-it.html (http://kindleville.blogspot.com/2009/02/they-just-don-get-it.html)
They just don't get it
You'd think book publishers would have learned something. After seeing the recording industry ignore then dig in and fight new technology to the extent that now they're struggling to maintain their current business model, one would guess that book publishers and authors would see the folly and strive to avoid repeating it.
Not so much.
Before the floor of the Morgan Library in NY had even cleared after the press conference heralding the coming of Kindle 2.0, some in the business were already proving that they would not go gently into the good e-book night.
Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, raged against the Kindle's new "Read to me" feature. ""They don't have the right to read a book out loud," Aiken told the Wall Street Journal. "That's an audio right, which is derivative under copyright law" (Fowler).
Attaboy, Paul! Cling to that vague copyright language! Even if it means alienating a growing percentage of your customer base. Who cares that it's only a "GPS voice," as Stephen King called it at the press conference, and not a true reading of the text?
Meanwhile Carolyn K. Reidy, chief executive of Simon & Schuster, was crying to the New York Times about the pricing of e-books. "We do not agree with their pricing strategy. I don't believe that a new book by an author should ipso facto be less expensive electronically than it is in paper format" (Stone).
As the young'uns today say: "O RLY?" The fact that there is no paper, no ink, no electricity to run the presses, no packaging, no shipping, and no money paid to retailers when unsold books are returned should have no effect on price? Interesting. Ipso facto indeed.
As John Siricusa at ars technica observes in his excellent (albeit too cozy with Apple for my taste) essay, "The once and future e-book: on reading in the digital age,"
In short, the terms [of e-books] are unbelievably favorable for publishers. It essentially moves them from print publishing margins to software publishing margins: pay once for the creation of the content, sell an infinite number of times with no additional per-unit cost.
So why do some publishers and authors continue to fight against the future? Fear? Greed?
They certainly should take some time to study the recent history of technology and media distribution. Maybe even have a lunch date or two with some record executives before they, too, learn too late and grieve their industry on its way.
The future is coming, with or without you.
Paul
The Kindle's Dirty Secret
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/02/the-kindles-dir.html (http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/02/the-kindles-dir.html)
(http://blog.wired.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2009/02/25/kindle.png)
Amazon Backs Off Text-to-Speech Feature in Kindle
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/amazon-backs-off-text-to-speech-feature-in-kindle/?apage=4 (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/amazon-backs-off-text-to-speech-feature-in-kindle/?apage=4)
----------------
Amazon retreats on Kindle's text-to-speech issue
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10184406-93.html (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10184406-93.html)
------------------
I understand that Amazon is doing this to keep in the good graces of the publishers and that they need the publishers to continue to release books in electronic form for the eBook reader market to grow, but I might balk at buying a book, if/when I get the Kindle2, that would not allow me to use the "text to speech" feature. I would also email the publisher and tell them so.
Kindle gets laser-etched
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/3349541577_d7b5673cb5_b.jpg)
I'd love to buy one so I can read in the dark (if it's backlit), but $400 for the K2 is a bit more than I'd want to spend.
$400 is a chunk of change, especially these days. Price it at $199 and they'd fly off the shelves.
Whoops. $360 for the K2. Not that it matters that much.
Quote from: TinkTanker on March 13, 2009, 07:58:44 AM
$400 is a chunk of change, especially these days. Price it at $199 and they'd fly off the shelves.
The eInk screens are to expensive right now. I've read that they Cost Amazon in the $150-175 range for each Kindle
We need more rich people like Spooky to buy them and bring down the costs for those of us in the unwashed masses. :laugh:
Amazon needs to adopt the 'razor blade' concept of marketing these. IMHO.
Quote from: Eric on March 13, 2009, 07:53:36 AM
I'd love to buy one so I can read in the dark (if it's backlit), but $400 for the K2 is a bit more than I'd want to spend.
They are not back lit. It's impossible with the eInk screens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink)
I use this light.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JA37DM (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JA37DM)
Quote from: Spooky on March 13, 2009, 08:18:57 AM
Quote from: Eric on March 13, 2009, 07:53:36 AM
I'd love to buy one so I can read in the dark (if it's backlit), but $400 for the K2 is a bit more than I'd want to spend.
They are not back lit. It's impossible with the eInk screens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink)
I use this light.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JA37DM (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JA37DM)
Apple just ordered a buttload of ten inch touch screens for 3rd quarter delivery. Which are back-lit. Hurmm.
While I'd miss the tactile response, this does look very nice (on my screen, anyway):
(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/turing/photos/feat-sharper-screen-300px._V249745954_.jpg)
Quote from: TinkTanker on March 13, 2009, 08:26:38 AM
Quote from: Spooky on March 13, 2009, 08:18:57 AM
Quote from: Eric on March 13, 2009, 07:53:36 AM
I'd love to buy one so I can read in the dark (if it's backlit), but $400 for the K2 is a bit more than I'd want to spend.
They are not back lit. It's impossible with the eInk screens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink)
I use this light.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JA37DM (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JA37DM)
Apple just ordered a buttload of ten inch touch screens for 3rd quarter delivery. Which are back-lit. Hurmm.
Those screens are probably for an Apple Netbook mini laptop.
Quote from: Spooky on March 13, 2009, 08:18:57 AM
Quote from: Eric on March 13, 2009, 07:53:36 AM
I'd love to buy one so I can read in the dark (if it's backlit), but $400 for the K2 is a bit more than I'd want to spend.
They are not back lit. It's impossible with the eInk screens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink)
I use this light.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JA37DM (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JA37DM)
Looks like the lights for the old Gameboys!! It's not any better than the light I use for my "paper" books. C'mon, $400 and I can't read in the dark?? :angel:
Quote from: Spooky on March 13, 2009, 08:41:55 AM
Those screens are probably for an Apple Netbook mini laptop.
JP Morgan predicts a $499 price point for a 10 inch touchscreen 32 gig netbook with 3G/WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, $599 64 gig. Plus it is backlit.
Quote from: TinkTanker on March 13, 2009, 12:04:30 PM
Quote from: Spooky on March 13, 2009, 08:41:55 AM
Those screens are probably for an Apple Netbook mini laptop.
JP Morgan predicts a $499 price point for a 10 inch touchscreen 32 gig netbook with 3G/WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, $599 64 gig. Plus it is backlit.
Not surprising Apple will be $200-300 more than the other Netbooks. It does have a touch screen and built in 3G which most of the other Netbooks don't have, but you'd think they'd at least throw in a 160 GB HD (Vs. 32 or 64) like most of the other Netbooks and not charge $100 for a 32 GB jump. That's just crazy! You can get 160 GB drives for $75. I guess it's just a prediction so who knows what the actual price points will be.
But I could buy a netbook for that!
Friday, March 13, 2009
A few weeks ago my old television died. I decided to finally take the plunge into the world of high definition television. I shopped around and found an HDTV that suited me perfectly.
But then it hit me. For the same amount of money, or less, I could have bought so much more. I paid good money for something that does only one thing -- display video -- when I could have spent a little less and had a machine that not only displays video but also plays DVDs and VHS tapes! What was I thinking?! Surely the machine that does it all is much better.
That's the mentality that pervades many who scoff at the Kindle's steep price tag and uni-tasking nature. Read an internet forum about the Kindle and without fail some naysayer will eventually bring up netbooks as a better alternative. After all, the Kindle only does one thing well: display e-books. Why wouldn't you prefer a netbook for the same money since it can do so many other things in addition to that?
The problem is, we avid readers don't want another device that does all those things. We want something designed specifically for reading books. Period. And while netbooks can certainly do the job, the quality of the screen, the battery life, and the ease of purchasing new reading material can't begin to compare to the Kindle.
Dan Ackerman of C-Net's "The Download Blog" discovered just that recently when he pitted an Acer Aspire One against the Kindle as an e-book reader.
"In the end, our Netbook was not a perfect substitute for the $359 Amazon Kindle 2. The Acer Aspire was heavier and harder to hold onto, and while the screen was bigger, unlike the Kindle's muted grey-on-grey, the bright glow of the LCD is tiring to the eyes after a while."
Ackerman still views netbooks as a suitable alternative, especially given the price of the Kindle, but as a pure e-book reader he admits that the Kindle wins.
Don't get me wrong. I like netbooks and would love to have one someday. But not for reading.
Multi-purpose devices are handy, but sometimes you want something that just does one thing -- and does it better than anything else.
---
Currently reading on my Kindle: Silas Marner by George Eliot.
Follow me on Twitter @phigginbotham.
Posted by Paul Higginbotham
http://kindleville.blogspot.com/2009/03/but-i-could-buy-netbook-for-that.html (http://kindleville.blogspot.com/2009/03/but-i-could-buy-netbook-for-that.html)
Ha! You go Sony! :loloeo:
http://ireaderreview.com/2009/03/11/sony-helps-re-kindle-your-love-of-reading/ (http://ireaderreview.com/2009/03/11/sony-helps-re-kindle-your-love-of-reading/)
I like some of the features of the "Future" eReader.
Txtr eBook Reader Video + Image Gallery
Posted on March 12, 2009 by switch11
There has been speculation that Txtr might just be vaporware - However, the prototype displayed at CeBit and the accompanying video pretty much proves its an actual product.
Wizpac (the company behind Txtr and Txtr.com) has released some more details -
1. They say its based on Open Standards. They're going to throw it open to developers and hope no one breaks the essential functionality.
2. It has a 6 inch screen.
3. That you can connect to the Internet over WLAN, GPRS or UMTS. Also supports Bluetooth.
4. Internet usage and data transfer is NOT free.
5. Like how they say that the Txtr's frame just has a clickpad on the left and is free of the plethora of buttons of the Sony PRS-505 and the keyboard of the Kindle from Amazon.
6. Measures 146 x 128.2 x 8 mm and weighs 260 grams.
7. Its orientation changes according to how you hold it - obviously a function of the accelerometer.
8. Connects to PCs via MicroUSB and has a MicroSD slot.
9. Battery is not interchangeable.
10. Txtr to Txtr communication and texting.
11. First releasing in Europe, and contracts in the US still being negotiated (Verizon Wireless' offer probably).
12. Say they will price it based on competitors and also see a sharp fall in costs in the medium term, or as Google Translate so succinctly interprets it -
"One day the car dealership the car manual as an e-book reader settle."
Here's the Txtr Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmjlhATvxkY# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmjlhATvxkY#)
You know what - I've never been able to figure out why all the people who take videos of eBook Readers only seem to devote 25% of the actual video screen real estate to the reader and the rest to irrelevant things like their arms, and the conference hall floor and other people's legs.
The image gallery is available at golem.de.
My favorite part of the translation -
Andreas Steinhauser, who has co-founded Wizpac, sporty: "Given the large tankers, we are the speedboat," he says.
And finally technical specifications -
Technical Specifications for the Txtr eReader
1. Freescale CPU 532MHz – that's a faster processor.
2. Capacitive slider interface – basically one of those sliding touch interfaces – think like an iPod's scroll wheel, except not circular.
3. Next generation Epson display controller.
4. Linux kernel
5. Integrated 3D accelerometer for automatic orientation detection – Now this is really interesting.
6. Full integration with txtr online community platform
7. eInk-optimized power management system, and Li-Ion battery
8. 64MB SDRAM onboard
9. MicroSD memory card slot with 4GB MicroSD card included.
10. Internal 3G/GPRS modem
11. USB 2.0 cable connection
12. Bluetooth 2.1 for audio, external keyboard and future enhancements
13. WiFi
14. Low power 2.4GHz near range communication
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmjlhATvxkY&eurl=http://ireaderreview.com/2009/03/12/txtr-ebook-reader-video-image-gallery/# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmjlhATvxkY&eurl=http://ireaderreview.com/2009/03/12/txtr-ebook-reader-video-image-gallery/#)
Expensive toys. I sure wish I could hit the lotto.
It sounds like Spooky's getting his money's worth. I'm not sure I would, unless it got me back into reading fiction regularly again.
The backlight thing is a concern, though. lol
Quote from: Eric on March 14, 2009, 12:00:44 PM
It sounds like Spooky's getting his money's worth. I'm not sure I would, unless it got me back into reading fiction regularly again.
The backlight thing is a concern, though. lol
I've saved nearly $300 on the price of Kindle books Vs. their dead tree counterparts since I received my Kindle. I also find I am reading a lot more now. Having a library of books with me every where I go is very shiny indeed!
Quote from: Spooky on March 14, 2009, 12:25:22 PM
I've saved nearly $300 on the price of Kindle books Vs. their dead tree counterparts since I received my Kindle. I also find I am reading a lot more now. Having a library of books with me every where I go is very shiny indeed!
Wow, now I'm jealous.
Quote from: Rosie on March 14, 2009, 12:38:26 PM
Quote from: Spooky on March 14, 2009, 12:25:22 PM
I've saved nearly $300 on the price of Kindle books Vs. their dead tree counterparts since I received my Kindle. I also find I am reading a lot more now. Having a library of books with me every where I go is very shiny indeed!
Wow, now I'm jealous.
One of the many reason for EVERYONE to be jealous of me!!! :neener:
Quote from: Spooky on March 14, 2009, 12:25:22 PM
Quote from: Eric on March 14, 2009, 12:00:44 PM
It sounds like Spooky's getting his money's worth. I'm not sure I would, unless it got me back into reading fiction regularly again.
The backlight thing is a concern, though. lol
I've saved nearly $300 on the price of Kindle books Vs. their dead tree counterparts since I received my Kindle. I also find I am reading a lot more now. Having a library of books with me every where I go is very shiny indeed!
Gingi is the only other person I know who could rival that I'm thinkin'. She 'bout died when we were driving in North & South Dakota...with nothing in sight but prarie and she finished the book she'd brought along. I dare anyone to find a Borders/Starbucks out there! lol!
Quote from: Saxon on March 14, 2009, 12:50:30 PM
Quote from: Spooky on March 14, 2009, 12:25:22 PM
I've saved nearly $300 on the price of Kindle books Vs. their dead tree counterparts since I received my Kindle. I also find I am reading a lot more now. Having a library of books with me every where I go is very shiny indeed!
Gingi is the only other person I know who could rival that I'm thinkin'. She 'bout died when we were driving in North & South Dakota...with nuthin' in sight but prarie and she finished the book she'd brought along. I dare anyone to find a Borders/Starbucks out there! lol!
If I'm on a roll, I can read a book and a half to two books a day. Between my Mother, my Sister and I, we have over 3000 books... the last count was well over five years ago... :angel:
QuoteGingi is the only other person I know who could rival that I'm thinkin'. She 'bout died when we were driving in North & South Dakota...with nuthin' in sight but prarie and she finished the book she'd brought along. I dare anyone to find a Borders/Starbucks out there! lol!
Lucky! I can't read in the car, get carsick.
Barnes & Noble, Foxconn planning Kindle 2 rivals?
Posted on April 9, 2009 by switch11
There are 2 rumors making the rounds -
1. Barnes & Noble is banding with Sprint and an unknown manufacturer and rushing to release an eBook reader. This would make a lot of sense since Barnes & Noble has made a lot of moves recently, like buying Fictionwise, which indicate its intentions in the eBook marketplace.
2. Foxconn, the Original Design Manufacturer of the Kindle 2 and Kindle, is also rumored to be working on a Kindle 2 rival. This is based on DigiTimes' scoop -
Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) has recently hired several software technicians to work on an e-book product line, according to market sources. However, Foxconn declined to comment on the speculation.
Foxconn is the manufacturer of Amazon's Kindle 2 e-book device.
Of course, there is the slight chance that the 'unknown manufacturer' is Foxconn and they're hiring the software developers on behalf of B&N.
Would Foxconn build both Kindle 2 & Barnes and Noble's eReader?
The possibility of Foxconn manufacturing both Kindle 2 and B&N's eReader might not be as far-fetched as you think -
1. Foxconn manufactures Xbox 360s, Sony PlayStation 3s, and Nintendo Wiis.
2. They manufacture Apple iPhones, and also Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson cellphones.
So, Yes! Foxconn would be very likely to be the unknown manufacturer B&N is working with.
Would Foxconn really make their own Kindle 2 Killer?
Foxconn is not completely new to creating and selling its own branded products.
1. They do manufacture Graphics Cards - the only consumer product sold under their own brand. They mostly compete on low price and high clock-speeds.
2. Low price and high clock-speeds in eReader terms would mean a sub $250 eReader with fast, fast refresh speed.
3. Perhaps Foxconn would even work-in a better screen and potentially make their eReader open to all formats.
However, something's not quite right with the idea of a Foxconn eReader. DigiTimes are almost certainly wrong about Foxconn creating their own eReader.
Amazon must have had Foxconn sign an NDA and a non-compete of some form so it seems unlikely that Foxconn would enter the same market. It would also send the wrong signal to all of Foxconn's other customers.
This one sounds like it's just a rumor.
Which Means ...
Foxconn would at most be the manufacturer for the B&N Kindle Killer. They would lose the trust of their customers if they started competing with Amazon who are, after all, a customer.
Kindle 2 is definitely going to see a rival. A potential rival from FoxConn would have actually been scarier since they'd undercut Kindle 2 massively on price.
Barnes & Noble bring a different sort of threat - an established brand name, existing relationships with publishers, and a chain of retail outlets. Their desperation is probably going to lead to bad decisions and turn their BNReader into much less of a threat to Amazon & Kindle 2.
http://ireaderreview.com/2009/04/09/barnes-noble-foxconn-planning-kindle-2-rivals/ (http://ireaderreview.com/2009/04/09/barnes-noble-foxconn-planning-kindle-2-rivals/)
I'm banking on whichever one is backlit.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/17/bridgestones-13-inch-color-e-paper-display-handles-pen-input-h/ (http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/17/bridgestones-13-inch-color-e-paper-display-handles-pen-input-h/)
Pretty cool, but it's not back lit. ;)
The New York Times Laments Forward Progress with the Kindle
The Kindle prevents you from learning more about the stranger sitting next to you on the subway, or so this New York Times article suggests. Gone are the days when you could tell whether that person was into sci-fi, sports or politics, for example. Well how about just knowing they're an early adopter who loves the portability, power and flexibility of an e-reader?!
I've had more people ask me about my Kindle (in airports, conferences, etc.) than I've ever had ask me about the print book I happened to be reading; and don't forget I've had a Kindle for less than a year but I had been reading print books all my life prior to that.
How about this little gem from the article?:
Will they (Kindles) help or hurt book sales and authors' advances? Cannibalize the industry?
It's called "progress", people, and it's not a bad thing. The same fears probably kept some people from making that scary jump from horses to automobiles 100+ years ago. I'm glad nobody squashed that idea, although current GM shareholders might disagree.
I laughed out loud when I read this excerpt:
Publishers will no longer get the bump that comes when travelers see someone reading, say, the latest James Patterson and say to themselves: "I've been meaning to get that. I think I'll buy a copy at Hudson News before I hop on the train."
Just how many people does the typical commuter influence like this? And isn't that number kinda tiny when compared to the more modern forms of e-promotions, including e-mail blasts, Twittering, etc.? Maybe this Times columnist is living in the era of horse-and-buggy transportation after all.
I nearly cried though when I read the part about David Rosenthal, EVP and Publisher at Simon & Schuster. Here's a publishing executive who owns a Sony Reader, uses it to read manuscripts but won't read a published book on it. Yeah, you read that right. I wonder if he trusts his computer's spreadsheet to analyze P&L's or if he still insists on doing things the old-fashioned way, with a sliderule, pencil and paper.
Meanwhile, back to the snobbishness of carrying around a book rather than reading it electronically. Maybe there's a market for someone to produce an e-reader cover with a see-through slot in front where you can print out and insert whatever book cover you want to impress everyone with. I'd put a Mad magazine cover on mine, just to be different.
Posted by Joe Wikert
http://kindleville.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-york-times-laments-forward-progress.html (http://kindleville.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-york-times-laments-forward-progress.html)
Can you get D&D books for the kindle ?
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on April 29, 2009, 04:38:25 PM
Can you get D&D books for the kindle ?
And are they backlit?
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on April 29, 2009, 04:38:25 PM
Can you get D&D books for the kindle ?
The BW low res graphics on most all eReaders would make it kind of useless for the D&D books, but when the larger, higher res screens make their way to eBook readers, anything goes. :)
Quote from: Spooky on April 29, 2009, 04:45:37 PM
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on April 29, 2009, 04:38:25 PM
Can you get D&D books for the kindle ?
The BW low res graphics on most all eReaders would make it kind of useless for the D&D books, but when the larger, higher res screens make their way to eBook readers, anything goes. :)
I was talking with the gang the other day and floated the idea that'd be kewl to collate all the rule books/manuals into one spiffy kindle .
New Kindle DX
(http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-DX-Amazons-Wireless-Generation/dp/B0015TCML0/ref=amb_link_84277971_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=1K11DY12FWP80BR6NZWN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=476842251&pf_rd_i=507846)
No, it's not Tink. :rofl:
Quote from: Spooky on May 06, 2009, 04:37:57 PM
New Kindle DX
(http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-DX-Amazons-Wireless-Generation/dp/B0015TCML0/ref=amb_link_84277971_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=1K11DY12FWP80BR6NZWN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=476842251&pf_rd_i=507846)
No, it's not Tink. :rofl:
Man, it's twice the size! I thought,
where technology is concerned, smaller was better??
Quote from: Spooky on May 06, 2009, 04:37:57 PM
New Kindle DX
(http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-DX-Amazons-Wireless-Generation/dp/B0015TCML0/ref=amb_link_84277971_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=1K11DY12FWP80BR6NZWN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=476842251&pf_rd_i=507846)
No, it's not Tink. :rofl:
I got Ann an iPod Touch for her birthday and she loves it. She likes being able to flip through a book or listen to it being read. She's on the new Harry Dresden book and it's being read by James Marsters. And it not only backlit, but in color as well. :neener:
Quote from: TinkTanker on May 07, 2009, 07:22:27 AM
Quote from: Spooky on May 06, 2009, 04:37:57 PM
New Kindle DX
(http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-DX-Amazons-Wireless-Generation/dp/B0015TCML0/ref=amb_link_84277971_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=1K11DY12FWP80BR6NZWN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=476842251&pf_rd_i=507846)
No, it's not Tink. :rofl:
I got Ann an iPod Touch for her birthday and she loves it. She likes being able to flip through a book or listen to it being read. She's on the new Harry Dresden book and it's being read by James Marsters. And it not only backlit, but in color as well. :neener:
You can get books on the Touch??
Quote from: SerenityValley on May 07, 2009, 08:13:17 AM
You can get books on the Touch??
Yep. Check out Stanza (http://www.lexcycle.com/).
Quote from: TinkTanker on May 07, 2009, 08:31:55 AM
Quote from: SerenityValley on May 07, 2009, 08:13:17 AM
You can get books on the Touch??
Yep. Check out Stanza (http://www.lexcycle.com/).
Amazon bought Lexcycle (makers of Stanza). Interesting move on their part.
Wow!
For books available for Kindle, Kindle Editions account for 35% of sales
That is a staggering number. There was a chart showing that when the Kindle 2 was released it was around the 13% mark and now, after three months of Kindle 2, it's at 35%.
This is what Mr. Bezos said -
Kindle sales are now 35% of books where we have Kindle editions — that's coincident with the launch of Kindle 2.
That's just stunning - 35%. Physical Retailers need to get really, really worried. Given that Amazon owns 8-10% of the books market, that means as more and more Kindle Editions become available we'll see 3-4% of all books sold be Kindle Editions. And this is before Kindle DX and its impact.
http://ireaderreview.com/2009/05/03/kindle-dx-paperless-society-kindle-editions-35-of-sales/ (http://ireaderreview.com/2009/05/03/kindle-dx-paperless-society-kindle-editions-35-of-sales/)
Quote from: TinkTanker on May 07, 2009, 07:22:27 AM
Quote from: Spooky on May 06, 2009, 04:37:57 PM
New Kindle DX
(http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-DX-Amazons-Wireless-Generation/dp/B0015TCML0/ref=amb_link_84277971_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=1K11DY12FWP80BR6NZWN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=476842251&pf_rd_i=507846)
No, it's not Tink. :rofl:
I got Ann an iPod Touch for her birthday and she loves it. She likes being able to flip through a book or listen to it being read. She's on the new Harry Dresden book and it's being read by James Marsters. And it not only backlit, but in color as well. :neener:
James Marsters in a Spike voice ?
James Marsters in a Spike voice ?
James Marsters in a James Marsters voice.
Quote from: TinkTanker on May 07, 2009, 07:21:37 PM
James Marsters in a Spike voice ?
James Marsters in a James Marsters voice.
Bummer
;)
Gingi has 'misplaced' her ipod (we still have tons of boxes, bags, and stacks of her junk from the move back)...and she wants to get the 'touch' too. If she finds out it doubles as a book, look out!
Quote from: Saxon on May 08, 2009, 01:38:55 AM
Gingi has 'misplaced' her ipod (we still have tons of boxes, bags, and stacks of her junk from the move back)...and she wants to get the 'touch' too. If she finds out it doubles as a book, look out!
We got Victoria a Touch for Christmas last year. It's pretty freakin awesome! She has Price Is Right on there and I LOVE it! You can not only add songs, but videos, movies, and (as I just learned) books! Now I want one!
Quote from: Saxon on May 08, 2009, 01:38:55 AM
Gingi has 'misplaced' her ipod (we still have tons of boxes, bags, and stacks of her junk from the move back)...and she wants to get the 'touch' too. If she finds out it doubles as a book, look out!
It is more like a mini-computer than an iPod. You can watch videos, view pictures, read books, listen to audiobooks, play games, surf the internet, send & receive email, and tons more stuff. Last night while we at the ER, Ann played Bejeweled, Yahtzee, bowling, and read her latest Harry Dresden book. And the cool thing about the ebook reader is you can choose the font, the font size, background color and text color. So if you like yellow letters on a black background or blue letters on a white background or whatever, you can do that. It remembers where you left off, you can view it horizontally or vertically, to flip a page you slide your finger across. To flip back, slide the other way. Very cool.
Plus it is backlit. :deadhorse:
ETA: Oh, and you can listen to music on it as well.
When we got Pearl's, I couldn't stop playing with it (even though it was her gift -- lol ). IMHO, it's one of those 21st Century things we'd been promised. Now I'm just waiting for my flying car.
BTW, Tink, does the LCD bother her eyes at all? I had read that might be one drawback vs something like the Kindle.
Ha!
http://www.geekologie.com/2009/05/sneak_preview_the_third_genera.php (http://www.geekologie.com/2009/05/sneak_preview_the_third_genera.php)
And it looks backlit! :haha:
too many expensive toys out there!
(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/07/kindle-deletion-rm-eng.jpg)
What are you talking about? 1984 was never on your Kindle.
(shamelessly stolen from a Volokh poster)
Yep. I won't be buying a Kindle. I really should rethink my Amazon policy while I'm at it.
Well, after all the grief I gave Spooky, I went and bought Ann a Kindle this weekend. She loves reading, she loves reading on her iPod Touch but she was complaining about her eyes being strained by the end of the day. Anyway, it does not do everything but it does what it was designed to do very well indeed.
Quotebut it does what it was designed to do very well...
Now if I can just get it to synch those books that fell off the internet and landed on her Kindle and iPod...
Amazon announced a $139 Kindle, available in late August. I think Ann will be upgrading hers and giving me the old one.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/web_services/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=226300291 (http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/web_services/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=226300291)
I'm going to upgrade mine sometime this year and give the old one to my stepdad.
Yeah, that's perty cool.
I just wish I knew how to read.
Got a Nook instead of the Kindle.
Howdy stranger! How do you like the Nook? Looks like a nice reader.
Passenger records TriMet driver reading Kindle on I-5
http://www.kgw.com/news/Rider-records-Trimet-driver-reading-Kindle-on-I-5-103101244.html (http://www.kgw.com/news/Rider-records-Trimet-driver-reading-Kindle-on-I-5-103101244.html)
------
The Kindle 2 will be on sale on Amazon on Black Friday for $89 starting at 9AM Pacific.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2411010 (http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2411010)
Time to upgrade!
I'll try to pick one up for half an hour or so. I've tried these BF lightning deals before and never had any luck. But hope springs eternal.
Ann sure as hell loves hers.
I hope I can get one. I'll hand off my old one to my parents if I do.
Thinking about picking up one of these. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nookcolor/index.asp (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nookcolor/index.asp)
BB has them for $249 with returns through the end of January. Supposedly B&N will be supporting this with a limited app store early next year, with an Android 2.2 upgrade. That will make it snappier with better battery life. Plus Flash support.
Essentially it is the bastard child of an e-reader and a tablet. You can surf the web, check email, and look at documents, though not edit them. But the 2.2 upgrade will allow use of Google documents, so you'll be able then. It weighs less than a pound, roughly 5x7, comes with 8GB installed (5GB available), you can throw it a 32GB microSD card if need be. I tried one out at BB and reading this site and HSX was a hell out a lot easier than on my smartphone. The ebooks look nice, you can adjust to several fonts and a variety of sizes and color schemes. Battery life is 8-10 hours. Backlit LCD screen is really bright with lots of contrast. Someone said they have no problem playing mp4 video files.
I'd like an iPad, but this is half the cost and I think the sweet spot for screen size. I'd love to play Angry Birds on it, but you can't have everything.
Is this a sign that a Kindle Tablet is on the way?
http://ireaderreview.com/2011/01/05/is-this-a-sign-that-a-kindle-tablet-is-on-the-way/ (http://ireaderreview.com/2011/01/05/is-this-a-sign-that-a-kindle-tablet-is-on-the-way/)
Quote from: Spooky on January 05, 2011, 02:02:29 PM
Is this a sign that a Kindle Tablet is on the way?
http://ireaderreview.com/2011/01/05/is-this-a-sign-that-a-kindle-tablet-is-on-the-way/ (http://ireaderreview.com/2011/01/05/is-this-a-sign-that-a-kindle-tablet-is-on-the-way/)
By the time anyone else figures out how to build a better tablet than the iPad, Apple will have the market sewn up. Oh wait, they already have.
Quote from: TinkTanker on January 05, 2011, 04:55:23 PM
Quote from: Spooky on January 05, 2011, 02:02:29 PM
Is this a sign that a Kindle Tablet is on the way?
http://ireaderreview.com/2011/01/05/is-this-a-sign-that-a-kindle-tablet-is-on-the-way/ (http://ireaderreview.com/2011/01/05/is-this-a-sign-that-a-kindle-tablet-is-on-the-way/)
By the time anyone else figures out how to build a better tablet than the iPad, Apple will have the market sewn up. Oh wait, they already have.
I gave my granddaughter the 3G Wifi Kindle for Christmas and the grandson the 32GB iPod Touch. So I know
what you mean about Apple and it looks like the Kindle has got that market right now. I think I liked it better
when they were little, their toys were a lot cheaper. :)
Kindle owns the e-reader market. There is none better. If all I wanted was an e-reader, that is what I would get. I did buy a Nook Color, played around with it for a few days, returned it. It wasn't as user friendly as a Kindle. Ann would not take anything for hers. In the six months or so since she's had it, I think I've seen her with a dead tree book two or three times. On the Kindle, she's read two or three books a week, minimum.
Apple owns the tablet market right now. The few competitors have smaller tablet that do less and cost more. To get one approaching the iPad price point, you have to sign up for a data contract, which adds another $30 a month for two years to the price. At which point you end up paying more for the data than the actual device. Samsung just cut the price on their 7" tablet to the same price as the 9.7" iPad. Providing you spend another $30 a month for data. The iPad does not replace a desktop or laptop computer. It is however the near-perfect casual computing device. IMHO.
:haha:
QuoteComplaint: My Kindle is an awful ice-scraper!
I tried to use my K3 to scrape ice off the windshield. What a disappointment. First off, with the cover closed, no ice was even loosened. When I took the Kindle out of the cover and tried again, it worked slightly better, but still didn't get the deeply embedded ice to budge. So next, I thought that if I warmed the Kindle it might work better. So I carefully heated it all around with a hand-held propane torch. Well, you're not going to believe this, but the Kindle started to melt! I stopped before the screen was completely damaged. Still, my Kindle now looks, in a word, "different." My question: do you think I might have voided the waranty?
http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_rss_f_view?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdPage=1&cdThread=Tx1EXG5D1EBXHEP (http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_rss_f_view?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdPage=1&cdThread=Tx1EXG5D1EBXHEP)
lol, silly.
Quote from: Spooky on January 20, 2011, 04:15:42 PM
:haha:
QuoteComplaint: My Kindle is an awful ice-scraper!
I tried to use my K3 to scrape ice off the windshield. What a disappointment. First off, with the cover closed, no ice was even loosened. When I took the Kindle out of the cover and tried again, it worked slightly better, but still didn't get the deeply embedded ice to budge. So next, I thought that if I warmed the Kindle it might work better. So I carefully heated it all around with a hand-held propane torch. Well, you're not going to believe this, but the Kindle started to melt! I stopped before the screen was completely damaged. Still, my Kindle now looks, in a word, "different." My question: do you think I might have voided the waranty?
http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_rss_f_view?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdPage=1&cdThread=Tx1EXG5D1EBXHEP (http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_rss_f_view?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdPage=1&cdThread=Tx1EXG5D1EBXHEP)
Stolen and now on my FB .
:D
QuoteJust announced: Kindle books have now overtaken paperback books as the most popular format on Amazon.com. Thanks to all of our Kindle fans and customers!
http://www.facebook.com/kindle/posts/196818347001058 (http://www.facebook.com/kindle/posts/196818347001058)
A newer version of the Kindle is due out May 3rd for $25 less ($114) through Amazon and Target. It will feature ads on the home page and 'screen saver', though not in the e-books themselves. Sounds like a heckuva deal to me.
(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/04/amazon-special-offers-kindle.jpg)
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/ad-supported-kindle-to-ship-may-3rd-saves-25-adds-lot-of-enti/ (http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/ad-supported-kindle-to-ship-may-3rd-saves-25-adds-lot-of-enti/)
Ah. That's a bit nicer. I honestly had visions of Google ads showing up in the middle or bottom on the book pages itself as you read.
I can imagine nothing worse than reading Atlas Shrugged and seeing a political ad in the middle of paragraphs ...
In book ads, not no but hell no.
The "screen saver" or home page, I really don't have a problem with that. Especially if I could buy a dozen or so $20 Amazon gift cards for $10 a pop. :D
Still, I don't know how many people will bite for just 25 bucks. These days, $25 just isn't that much. That's what, half a tank of gas? If they priced it at $50 off or threw in Prime for a year, I think they'd get a lot more to bite. And I am being so generous with their money and their promotions.
Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books
Customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 local libraries to read on Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
Whispersyncing of notes, highlights and last page read to work for Kindle library books
SEATTLE, Apr 20, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
(NASDAQ: AMZN)-- Amazon today announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps.
"We're excited that millions of Kindle customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from their local libraries," said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle. "Customers tell us they love Kindle for its Pearl e-ink display that is easy to read even in bright sunlight, up to a month of battery life, and Whispersync technology that synchronizes notes, highlights and last page read between their Kindle and free Kindle apps."
Customers will be able to check out a Kindle book from their local library and start reading on any Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. If a Kindle book is checked out again or that book is purchased from Amazon, all of a customer's annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.
"We're doing a little something extra here," Marine continued. "Normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we're extending our Whispersync technology so that you can highlight and add margin notes to Kindle books you check out from your local library. Your notes will not show up when the next patron checks out the book. But if you check out the book again, or subsequently buy it, your notes will be there just as you left them, perfectly Whispersynced."
With Kindle Library Lending, customers can take advantage of all of the unique features of Kindle and Kindle books, including:
Paper-like Pearl electronic-ink display
No glare even in bright sunlight
Lighter than a paperback - weighs just 8.5 ounces and holds up to 3,500 books
Up to one month of battery life with wireless off
Read everywhere with free Kindle apps for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry and Windows Phone
Whispersync technology wirelessly sync your books, notes, highlights, and last page read across Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
Real Page Numbers - easily reference passages with page numbers that correspond to actual print editions
Amazon is working with OverDrive, the leading provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, to bring a seamless library borrowing experience to Kindle customers. "We are excited to be working with Amazon to offer Kindle Library Lending to the millions of customers who read on Kindle and Kindle apps," said Steve Potash, CEO, OverDrive. "We hear librarians and patrons rave about Kindle, so we are thrilled that we can be part of bringing library books to the unparalleled experience of reading on Kindle."
Kindle Library Lending will be available later this year for Kindle and free Kindle app users. To learn more about Kindle go to www.amazon.com/kindle (http://www.amazon.com/kindle).
Amazon and Google are going to be the two political parties in the future.
Quote from: TinkTanker on April 20, 2011, 06:34:42 AM
Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books
Customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 local libraries to read on Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
Whispersyncing of notes, highlights and last page read to work for Kindle library books
SEATTLE, Apr 20, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
(NASDAQ: AMZN)-- Amazon today announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps.
"We're excited that millions of Kindle customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from their local libraries," said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle. "Customers tell us they love Kindle for its Pearl e-ink display that is easy to read even in bright sunlight, up to a month of battery life, and Whispersync technology that synchronizes notes, highlights and last page read between their Kindle and free Kindle apps."
Customers will be able to check out a Kindle book from their local library and start reading on any Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. If a Kindle book is checked out again or that book is purchased from Amazon, all of a customer's annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.
"We're doing a little something extra here," Marine continued. "Normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we're extending our Whispersync technology so that you can highlight and add margin notes to Kindle books you check out from your local library. Your notes will not show up when the next patron checks out the book. But if you check out the book again, or subsequently buy it, your notes will be there just as you left them, perfectly Whispersynced."
With Kindle Library Lending, customers can take advantage of all of the unique features of Kindle and Kindle books, including:
Paper-like Pearl electronic-ink display
No glare even in bright sunlight
Lighter than a paperback - weighs just 8.5 ounces and holds up to 3,500 books
Up to one month of battery life with wireless off
Read everywhere with free Kindle apps for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry and Windows Phone
Whispersync technology wirelessly sync your books, notes, highlights, and last page read across Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
Real Page numb3rs - easily reference passages with page numb3rs that correspond to actual print editions
Amazon is working with OverDrive, the leading provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, to bring a seamless library borrowing experience to Kindle customers. "We are excited to be working with Amazon to offer Kindle Library Lending to the millions of customers who read on Kindle and Kindle apps," said Steve Potash, CEO, OverDrive. "We hear librarians and patrons rave about Kindle, so we are thrilled that we can be part of bringing library books to the unparalleled experience of reading on Kindle."
Kindle Library Lending will be available later this year for Kindle and free Kindle app users. To learn more about Kindle go to www.amazon.com/kindle (http://www.amazon.com/kindle).
This is really neat!
It is a feature the Barnes & Noble Nook has had since day one.
Quote from: Spooky on April 20, 2011, 07:48:53 AM
Amazon and Google are going to be the two political parties in the future.
Amazons and Googles? Ynot? We did have Whigs, Tories and Anti-Nebraskans, an offshoot of the Know Nothings. (wiki-wiki)
Apple says, "Wha?"
Stupid question
Can these e-readers play audio books ?
'cause that'd kinda cool ....
I know the Nook Color can. Has a speaker and everything, along with headphone jack. I know the Kindle has some sort of robotic text-to-speech reading of their books. It sounds like that computer from War Games.
ETA: It looks like you can purchase audiobooks from Audible and they will play back through the Kindle and the sound like regular audiobooks. I don't know if you can add audiobooks from other sources *ahem* or not. Spooky probably knows.
Also, it looks like Barnes & Noble will be introducing a new e-book reader in late May. So there's that as well.
Not a fan of the Stephen Hawking style voice .
Does the iPad do audio books ?
I'm just thinking I might want to try one of these products out but don't want to squander money just to not use the blasted thing(s) .
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on May 05, 2011, 05:08:46 AM
Stupid question
Can these e-readers play audio books ?
'cause that'd kinda cool ....
The Kindle has speakers (not very good) and a headphone jack and can play MP3's, so if your audio book is an MP3 then you are golden. The Kindle also has a text to speech feature that will read your kindle books (and other digital books) back to you. Obviously this isn't ideal, but I have used it when driving to work and once you get used to the voice. Here is a sample vid of the voice.
Kindle 2 Text to Speech Demo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3bv0C8IS-I#)
A taste of nostalgia for books (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-barbour-kindles-20110617,0,5490224.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary+%28L.A.+Times+-+Commentary%29).
Some people hate and like to murder trees. Not me. To each their own. >:D :P
My Kindle told me to write that. My Kindle is my friend. My Kindle is my savior. All Hail, Kindle!
Word on the street is that trees are a renewable resource, but that's probably just some fringe tree-hating group saying that.
But what about the tree's feelings?!? THE FEELINGS!!!
I'll be reading those dead trees until the day I die. I don't care what you all do after that. :)
Quote from: Phyll33 on June 18, 2011, 02:23:51 PM
I'll be reading those dead trees until the day I die. I don't care what you all do after that. :)
(http://rlv.zcache.com/i_concur_tshirt-p235089396038200982trlf_400.jpg)
So I have $27 on a Borders card I'd like to use before the bookstores go away. Part of me wants to buy an ereader, whether Kindle, Nook or Kobo ereader Touch. The other part is tempted to get paperbacks or hard covers.
Does Kindle3 yet reign supreme?
Nook Colors can be hacked to run full Android, making them one hell of a small tablet. Ann loves hers and if I didn't already have an iPad, that is what I would buy.
Quote from: Eric on July 21, 2011, 06:28:51 PM
Does Kindle3 yet reign supreme?
If all you want to do is read a book, then YES! I don't have an informed opinion on the other readers. I can say the two Kindles I've owned were worth every penny.
Thanks guys. The Nook Simple Touch Reader actually looks pretty nice too, and with a touch screen.
Quote from: Eric on July 21, 2011, 09:11:29 PM
Thanks guys. The Nook Simple Touch Reader actually looks pretty nice too, and with a touch screen.
The big boss got one of those for his birthday and he loves it. If I were going with strictly an e-reader, that's the one I'd go with.
I bit the bullet on a Nook Simple Touch Reader. The Kindle almost got me, as Best Buy was running a $139 Kindle 3G with free $30 Best Buy card, but a touch screen was on my want list.
I'm not sure I'm sold on it, though. It seems so... sterile.
Pretty frustrated because I can't unlock a book I purchased. Might not keep this thing after all.
Never had that problem with my Kindle. Just sayin' ;)
Finally tried shutting it off and back on. Probably should have done that ages ago, since it worked. :doh:
Now to give reading an actual try. lol
It seems to be a pretty solid reading tool. In fact, most of the negatives are probably typical amongst most e-Ink readers.
The "dark grey on light grey" of the e-Ink Pearl screen now tells me why the Nook Color's black and white text screen looked so pretty in-store.
I like the small form-factor and touch screen controls, though the latter can sometimes get in the way if one touches the screen accidentally or lets his thumb rest in a margin. Letting a finger rest on the screen highlights the closest word so that the definition could be looked up, the word (or passage) semi-permanently highlighted like one might do in a book, shared via social sites, etc.
I would like a way to easily zoom in on images. Any maps in A Game of Thrones are pretty useless on the small 6" screen. Changing font size is easy though.
I find myself missing the tactical parts of reading a paper book--especially the feel of the paper itself. E-readers seem to be more for books one thinks he may never again read, and as-such not weighed down by many physical books. On the other hand, the cost savings don't seem to be that fantastic and nil if the physical book is on sale but I can see a voracious reader such as Spooky getting enough savings to pay for the reader. There's no going to a used book store to trade for other stories to read, and it's not like I'll be able to hand Pearl a copy of GoT once I move on to the second in the series (unless we buy a second reading device). It does allow for library loans, but the new ones seem hard to get (e.g., all 17 GoT copies are already loaned from our library).
It's a luxury item I'm yet debating on keeping.
There's no going to a used book store to trade for other stories to read, and it's not like I'll be able to hand Pearl a copy of GoT once I move on to the second in the series (unless we buy a second reading device).
Not an ideal solution, Pearl can install the Nook app on her iPod Touch and you can loan her the book that way (I think).
There are pros and cons with everything. Me personally, I don't miss the feel of paper at all. I like having dozens if not hundreds of books to carry around with me. I like less clutter around the house. We got rid of maybe 300+ books recently and could probably get rid of another 7 or 8 hundred. Most of them paperbacks, but still. I like being able to change font styles and sizes for easier reading (wait another 10 or 15 years and you'll see how important this can be). I like being able to look at the bottom of the page and see I'm four pages into a chapter of 22 pages.
You can pinch and zoom with the Nook Color easily. And with rooting it, it is a damn good tablet. But it is also $249, unless you can catch a refurbed unit for less than $200. Still, that's a chunk of change. But Ann is a voracious reader, going through a couple of books a week sometimes.
That said, e-readers aren't for everyone, obviously.
Yep! You list some definite marks for the positive side.
Sadly, Pearl's Touch died a slow, agonizing death after getting some liquid spilled on it (one of the negative aspects of electronics, unfortunately).
She'll eventually get a new one or iPhone but I don't think she's yet sold on ebooks either.
The Nook Color was probably closer to what I'm looking for, with higher-contrast and pinch-zooming. I stare at an LCD all day long though, so I thought something different would be good for the eyes. Not to mention, I bought the Nook, the book-like hardcover and light accessories for less than the price of the Color.
Maybe I can glue a piece of paper in the hard-cover case when I get to missing its feel. :D
I just walk around pretending I'm holding a PADD from ST:TNG and I don't have to deal with that delightfully quaint paper.
Yeah,
Quote from: TinkTanker on August 01, 2011, 07:28:24 AM
I just walk around pretending I'm holding a PADD from ST:TNG and I don't have to deal with that delightfully quaint paper.
Yeah, well, when the zombie apocalypse comes and you run out of power, we'll see who has the last laugh!
Quote from: Eric on August 01, 2011, 07:44:51 AM
Yeah, Quote from: TinkTanker on August 01, 2011, 07:28:24 AM
I just walk around pretending I'm holding a PADD from ST:TNG and I don't have to deal with that delightfully quaint paper.
Yeah, well, when the zombie apocalypse comes and you run out of power, we'll see who has the last laugh!
Hey, I've read The Zombie Survival Guide (on my iPad). :P
Amazon introduces the Kindle Cloud Reader, which apparently works for your iPad: https://read.amazon.com/ (https://read.amazon.com/)
My Nook Simple Touch is growing on me. There are definitely books I'd rather have only electronically (I doubt I'll ever re-read some). OTOH, I still have concerns about the eventual apparent death of the paper book. That idea concerns me. Who needs to burn books when it can be done with the touch of a button (e.g. Amazon's deletion of 1984), or if stories are subtly changed to reflect an ideology or made-up history?
Still, it's terribly convenient. My only real complaint is that the sales pictures of the Nook's screen (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/index.asp?PID=35699#productimg) always show black text and white background, whereas this is simply not true --at least not in normal light. Darn you advertising! You got me again!
I ordered a microSD card to attempt to root my Nook. Maybe rooting will give it a few features I'm missing (zoom, for one). The night-time reading mode looks interesting, where it's white text on black background. Not to mention the ability to add Kobo and Amazon apps (my GoT copy came from Kobo/Borders and was side-loaded).
I also come hat-in-hand. Last week I went to the eye-doc with the 20/10 vision I've always had and came back with a bruised ego and some modest reading glasses. :P
Rooting was interesting. I like being able to easily check my email or look something up on the Internet, or even to read the occasional editorial. The black/white flashing is a bit disconcerting, but I'm getting used to it. I'm now using Adiko (http://www.aldiko.com/) to read ebooks, as it has the nighttime reading function, a more extensive dictionary and even a way to look up subjects via Wikipedia.
In Android/Nook news, perhaps I jumped the gun by a couple of months. Eep:
The next Kindle will be an LCD color tablet (http://www.pdfdevices.com/nook-color-2-with-e-ink-screen-in-the-making-hp-touchpads-last-run-in-october/), priced at around $250 and competes with the Nook Color, but with a free Prime membership. They are also working on a dual-mode tablet would run in eInk or color modes.
The Nook Color 2, possibly out this month, may be a color eInk device. (http://www.pdfdevices.com/nook-color-2-with-e-ink-screen-in-the-making-hp-touchpads-last-run-in-october/) Not much more seems to be known.
I knew I should have waited. ;) Shoulda, woulda, coulda.
I'm waiting for a chip in my brain .
:Borg:
Eric, what rooting method did you use? I ask because Ann volunteered me to root one of her coworker's Nook Color. Of course, Nook has upgraded their firmware and the method I used on Ann's no longer works. Or something.
I used Touchnooter v1.6.24, following these directions: http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-touch-root.html (http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-touch-root.html)
(Main Touchnooter dev. thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14915570 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14915570))
It looks like the same programmer offers Manualnooter for the Nook Color 1.2 & 1.3: http://www.lockergnome.com/media/2011/07/17/root-nook-color/ (http://www.lockergnome.com/media/2011/07/17/root-nook-color/)
(Main dev. thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054027 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054027) )
Thanks so much. I'd forgotten you have the Touch and not the Color. But I really appreciate the info. :headbang:
Quote from: Eric on September 06, 2011, 07:14:11 AM
I used Touchnooter v1.6.24, following these directions: http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-touch-root.html (http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-touch-root.html)
(Main Touchnooter dev. thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14915570 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14915570))
It looks like the same programmer offers Manualnooter for the Nook Color 1.2 & 1.3: http://www.lockergnome.com/media/2011/07/17/root-nook-color/ (http://www.lockergnome.com/media/2011/07/17/root-nook-color/)
(Main dev. thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054027 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054027) )
Worked like a charm. Many thanks!
Awesome!
The more I use it, the happier I am I followed your lead on rooting the ereader.
Best-selling author of A Song of Ice and Fire series sells more than 1 million Kindle Books
SEATTLE, Sep 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
(NASDAQ:AMZN)--Amazon.com, Inc., today announced that best-selling author George R.R. Martin is the latest author to sell more than 1 million Kindle books in the Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore (http://www.amazon.com/kindlestore)). Martin's most recent novel in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, "A Dance with Dragons," debuted in the #2 spot on the Kindle Best Seller list and has remained in the Top 50 for more than 100 days. Martin joins Stieg Larsson, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Charlaine Harris, Lee Child, Suzanne Collins, Michael Connelly, John Locke, Janet Evanovich and Kathryn Stockett in the Kindle Million Club.
"George R.R. Martin's series is simply epic," said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President of Kindle Content. "And an elaborate series like this is great on Kindle because you can turn the last page of book three at 10:30 at night, then buy book four and be on its first page at 10:31."
"Groucho Marx once said, 'I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member,' but even Groucho might have made an exception for the Kindle Million Club," said George R.R. Martin. "It's a real thrill to be inducted into this one. There are no dues, no meetings, and I'll be in some wonderful and exclusive company. But really, all the credit here goes to the people who made it possible - to Amazon, my publishers, my editors, and most of all, my readers. I owe this to everyone who ever read one of my books and recommended it to a friend. Thanks... and keep reading. The best is yet to come."
George R.R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally ever since. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots. In the mid '90s he returned to prose, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, which now includes five books: "A Game of Thrones," "A Clash of Kings," "A Storm of Swords," "A Feast for Crows" and "A Dance with Dragons." The series was recently adapted for television on HBO, titled Game of Thrones.
Kindle books are "Buy Once, Read Everywhere"-- customers can read them on their Kindle, on the web with Kindle Cloud Reader and on free Kindle reading apps for Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Blackberry, Windows Phone, PC and Mac. With Kindle Worry-Free Archive, books purchased from the Kindle Store are automatically backed up online in customers' Kindle libraries on Amazon, where they can be re-downloaded wirelessly for free, anytime.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?ID=1607936&p=irol-newsArticle&c=176060&highlight= (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?ID=1607936&p=irol-newsArticle&c=176060&highlight=)
You are welcome, Mr. Martin. :)
Quote from: Spooky on September 19, 2011, 12:04:14 PM
You are welcome, Mr. Martin. :)
To show his thanks, he'll kill your next favorite character.
If he kills Arya or Tyrion, I'll stop reading. OK. Not really, but I'll think about it.
Amazon announcements today. All available for preorder now. Press release can be found at http://www.amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com) front page
Kindle Keyboard for $99 (renamed and down from $114). Other versions discounted as well.
Kindle for $79 (ads version) or $109 (sans ads)
Kindle Touch 3G for $99/$149
Amazon Kindle Touch Official Demo Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMFPINdOWik#)
Kindle Fire announced for $199. 7-inch IPS panel, Gorilla Glass coating, a dual-core CPU and a chassis that weighs 14.6 ounces. Full access to Amazon Appstore, though no Google Market. IPS is a higher-quality, more-accurate screen. Android 2.x, but proprietary user interface.
Kindle Fire TV Commercial—Amazon's New Kindle Ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUtmOApIslE#ws)
Engadget has initial impressions of the Fire (http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-kindle-fire-impressions)
Kindle Fire comes with a totally new browser, known as Silk (http://amazonsilk.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/introducing-amazon-silk/):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u7F_56WhHk&feature=player_embedded# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u7F_56WhHk&feature=player_embedded#)!
While the $79 Kindle is tempting, the $99 Kindle Touch is a steal. And word is that the upcoming 10" tablet is going to be awesome, perhaps the first real competition to the iPad.
Looks like my parents are going to be getting another Kindle hand-me-down after I get my Ktouch.
One small correction: The wifi-only $79/109 version is available
today.
Quote from: TinkTanker on September 28, 2011, 09:23:02 AM
While the $79 Kindle is tempting, the $99 Kindle Touch is a steal. And word is that the upcoming 10" tablet is going to be awesome, perhaps the first real competition to the iPad.
Were I making my decision today, I don't know which route I'd go. I'd probably take the Kindle Touch over the Nook Simple Touch if for nuthin' but the price ($99 vs $139). The Fire would be really tempting too. Granted, I'm enjoying my rooted NST, but I wouldn't have known that while shopping.
Barnes and Noble's stock fell about 9% on the news of this, Amazon up nearly five per cent.
Another correction: The $79 version is not a touch screen. It only uses the very simple set of buttons at the bottom.
Video: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-kindle-2011-impressions/ (http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-kindle-2011-impressions/)
Quote from: Spooky on September 28, 2011, 09:31:57 AM
Looks like my parents are going to be getting another Kindle hand-me-down after I get my Ktouch.
Three downsides for a touch screen are finger-smudges, accidental page flips and a keyboard that can be challenging for fat fingers.
The only upsides to touch screens I can think of is for highlighting/looking up a word or making page-swipe motions. Others' mileage may vary.
I don't know about the Nook Simple Touch, but Ann's Kindle has something of a matte finish and smudges aren't an issue. The physical keyboard on the Kindle is a nightmare, IMHO. On her Nook Color, she usually flips it to landscape mode for typing. Both have their pros and cons, but I'm a big fan of touchscreens.
I agree with Tink on the smudges. The matte screen makes finger prints and smudges much less obvious, but I can only guess if the Ktouch has the same screen or not.
Now fingerprints show up in the iPad like crazy, just as they do on my phone. I keep one of those eyeglass cloths on the iPad case to clean it up when it gets too bad.
I would imagine the $79 Kindle and $99/$149 KT would have the matte finish screens (being e-ink readers) and the Fire would have a glossy screen, being backlit LCD.
Yeah, the NookST has a matte screen too and is far better than a glossy screen. If the smudges don't bother you, then you're golden. I find myself cleaning mine every so often, but I could just be being anal. Most of the time I don't notice them. Or maybe I should cut back on the Cheetos while reading?
Ann usually wears a hazmat suit while reading hers, so that might have something to do with it.
Why, on the Kindle forums, are some many people asking how you would turn the page on a Kindle Touch or asking if it has buttons to turn the page?
Quote from: Spooky on September 28, 2011, 04:54:27 PM
Why, on the Kindle forums, are some many people asking how you would turn the page on a Kindle Touch or asking if it has buttons to turn the page?
They're as dumb as me ?
:D
Quote from: Spooky on September 28, 2011, 04:54:27 PM
Why, on the Kindle forums, are some many people asking how you would turn the page on a Kindle Touch or asking if it has buttons to turn the page?
The NST has manual buttons on either side of the screen for people who prefer to turn it that way, too.
Comment from the Amazon Kindle forum in regard to the Kindle Fire.
QuoteOur data is on the cloud so the angels can watch our movies
:haha:
Ad-supported $79 Kindle has $30 upgrade option (http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/ad-supported-kindle-4-has-built-in-30-upgrade-gets-rid-of-em/) to go ad-free.
Pretty awesome, and one I'd definitely would have tried given the chance (when I was shopping for an eReader, I was concerned the ad-supported Kindle would have bugged me).
I still tend to believe the non-touch is better than the touch when it comes to only needing to turn pages or the occasional definition look-up, but I know that's personal preference. It's also hugely frustrating when the touch doesn't register to turn a page, or does register from an accidental tap, or decides to turn several pages for no apparent reason (or hundreds, if you accidentally bring up the slider), but all that will be different with a Kindle, right?
:neener: :beercheer:
It's also hugely frustrating when the touch doesn't register to turn a page, or does register from an accidental tap, or decides to turn several pages for no apparent reason (or hundreds, if you accidentally bring up the slider), but all that will be different with a Kindle, right?
I don't have a problem with the iPad and Ann doesn't have a problem with her Nook Color. Don't have a problem with our iPods either, though we really don't use them for reading that much.
Maybe
(http://bouncer.nl/pic/1770.jpg)
:neener:
:haha:
Perhaps.
The NST's stock eReader seems to work much better than Aldiko's eReader app. I think a couple of my issues had to do with that--such as skipping many pages or not registering a touch.
Glad to see that the problem may have been resolved.
Amazon introduces The Kindle Owner's Lending Library (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?ID=1625426&p=irol-newsArticle&c=176060&highlight=) as yet another addition to your $80 Amazon Prime membership.
QuoteWith an Amazon Prime membership, Kindle owners can now choose from thousands of books to borrow for free - including over 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers - as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000739811 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000739811)
Was just about to post that.
Nook news today.
Nook Simple Touch now 25% faster, crisper and ad-free (http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/nook-simpletouc.php) for $99.
Nook Tablet is similar to the older Nook Color but sligtly thinner, 30% lighter, 1GHz dual-core proc, 1GB RAM and 16GB Internal Flash storage and a micro SD card slot to add up to 32GB more. Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Netflix and Hulu+ apps come standard. $250 price. http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/barnes-noble-ta.php (http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/barnes-noble-ta.php)
QuoteI did it all for the nookie, c'mon. The nookie, c'mon. So you can take that cookie. And stick it up your yeah!
Quote from: Eric on November 07, 2011, 11:36:44 AM
Nook Simple Touch now 25% faster, crisper and ad-free (http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/nook-simpletouc.php) for $99.
It would seem I can get the faster/crisper update via a software update (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/Software-Updates-NOOK-Simple-Touch/379003175). Sweet.
Well, except that the current version of the root isn't yet compatible. Not sweet.
"SEATTLE, Nov 09, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- (NASDAQ: AMZN) - When Kindle Fire customers across the country open their boxes next week, they will be able to choose from several thousand of the most popular Android apps and games, including Netflix, Rhapsody, Pandora, Twitter, Comics by comiXology, Facebook, The Weather Channel and popular games from Zynga, EA, Gameloft, PopCap and Rovio. "
http://t.co/nlfNFGpj (http://t.co/nlfNFGpj)
:fbshiny:
Amazon orders 1M additional Kindle Fire tablets
QuoteAmazon had previously ordered 4 million Fires, but has bumped that number up to 5 million in light of heavy demand for the $199 tablet
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/11/11/amazon-orders-1m-additional-kindle.html?ana=yfcpc (http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/11/11/amazon-orders-1m-additional-kindle.html?ana=yfcpc)
A quick comparison (http://www.pcworld.com/article/243463/spec_showdown_transformer_prime_vs_ipad_2_vs_kindle_fire_vs_nook_tablet.html) of the Transformer, iPad2, Fire and Nook Tablet:
This one from PC Magazine (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2395979,00.asp#fbid=SDCt75DTA9j) works too:
More storage, better battery life, previous model very easily rooted, more memory... Sounds like the Nook Tablet is a no-brainer.
Quote from: TinkTanker on November 11, 2011, 03:58:34 PM
More storage, better battery life, previous model very easily rooted, more memory... Sounds like the Nook Tablet is a no-brainer.
I am not buying a tablet of any kind but I am just wondering. Don't you think Amazon as a brand is better than Barnes and Noble in general. I guess I am wondering why Borders failed and Barnes and Noble is still here. What if B&N fails?
Amazon Fire has no additional memory because if you buy it through Amazon you get free Cloud storage. I have been spendign more time on Amazon and none on B&N sites.
For the average consumer, the Fire would be a better deal. For the technogeek, the Nook Tablet. I'm torn.
B&N sells theirs through Books-A-Million as well, as well the Buy-More. If B&N went tango uniform, Amazon would probably buy the B&N brick and mortar stores and support it.
Quote from: TinkTanker on November 12, 2011, 08:36:06 AM
For the average consumer, the Fire would be a better deal. For the technogeek, the Nook Tablet. I'm torn.
B&N sells theirs through Books-A-Million as well, as well the Buy-More. If B&N went tango uniform, Amazon would probably buy the B&N brick and mortar stores and support it.
Thanks for the feed back. I just love Amazon and I don't love B&N.
This reviewer doesn't think the Nook Tablet is worth the extra $50 (http://dvice.com/archives/2011/11/is-the-nook-tab.php).
Some of the commenters say that it's not only got more memory, but it has a better screen and the microSD support that Fire lacks. And, of course, that the Nook Color could be rooted, as Tink mentioned.
It'd definitely be a toss-up for me, were I in the market.
I had a bunch of money in my amazon account... And I buy from them lots... So I ordered the kindle fire a bunch of days ago... I've been wanting a smaller tablet for home and traveling... And I'm going to use the iPad for video making only...
I'm not happy about the 8gb plus cloud... Since the wifi doesn't reach very well into my bedroom... But I ordered it before I knew about the new nook tablet... But I still prefer amazon to B&N, so I don't know which I would choose...
Kindle Touch shipping a week early (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/psa-kindle-touch-shipping-a-week-early/)
Kindle Touch review (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/kindle-touch-review/)
Kindle Fire review (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/amazon-kindle-fire-review/)
Wow... The kindle fire sounds like a big ole disappointment...
Quote from: Consigliere5 on November 14, 2011, 04:42:30 AM
Wow... The kindle fire sounds like a big ole disappointment...
Cancelled my Fire preorder. I might pick one up once I get my hands on one, but I might settle for the Nook Tablet.
Then on the other hand...
http://gizmodo.com/5858779/kindle-fire-review-the-ipad-finally-has-serious-competition (http://gizmodo.com/5858779/kindle-fire-review-the-ipad-finally-has-serious-competition)
Honestly, they still look like a toss-up to me. If you're keen on the Amazon Prime experience, possibly go with that?
Hmmm... What to do? What to do?
Quote from: Consigliere5 on November 14, 2011, 06:57:35 AM
Hmmm... What to do? What to do?
I'm going to wait until I can go hands on with both. But right now I'm leaning to one or the other.
NYT Gadget Guru Rips The Kindle Fire, Says It Needs 'A Lot More Polish'
The Kindle Fire isn't ready for primetime, says New York Times gadget reviewer David Pogue.
Other than the $200 price tag, there isn't a lot that sounds compelling about Amazon's disruptive tablet after reading Pogue's review.
He says the Fire isn't as "versatile as a real tablet," and it's mostly made for consuming content. The problem with that is the Fire isn't good for content consumption.
This is the nut of Pogues problems with the Fire:
Most problematic, though, the Fire does not have anything like the polish or speed of an iPad. You feel that $200 price tag with every swipe of your finger. Animations are sluggish and jerky — even the page turns that you'd think would be the pride of the Kindle team. Taps sometimes don't register. There are no progress or "wait" indicators, so you frequently don't know if the machine has even registered your touch commands. The momentum of the animations hasn't been calculated right, so the whole thing feels ornery.
He also says Amazon's vaunted Silk browser isn't particularly fast: "nytimes.com takes 10 seconds to load, eBay.com takes 17 seconds, Amazon.com takes 8 seconds. The iPad took about half as long each time."
The bottom line: Kindle Fire needs "a lot more polish," and you're best to wait for the Kindle Fire 2.0, which will be less buggy and sleeker.
http://www.businessinsider.com/pogue-review-of-kindle-fire-2011-11 (http://www.businessinsider.com/pogue-review-of-kindle-fire-2011-11)
Being an early adopter is fun/can suck.
Another Bad Review For The Kindle Fire: Crappy Hardware, Laggy Software
Joshua Topolsky at The Verge has done a deep dive review of the Kindle Fire.
While his final score sounds good at 7.5 our of 10, if you read what's written, it sounds like the product is a 5 out of 10.
He says the hardware design is unoriginal and uninspired. The Silk browser isn't all that impressive, and it's pretty laggy overall.
However, here is the biggest warning sign in the review:
"I am confused about a number of decisions here, however. Unlike the PlayBook, iPad, or pretty much any other tablet on the market, the Fire has no hardware volume controls, meaning that you have to go through a series of taps (especially if the device is sleeping) to just change the volume. The Fire also has no "home" button — simply a small, hard-to-find nub along the bottom used for sleeping and waking the device, and powering up and down. That means that Amazon had to create software navigation for getting around the tablet, which would be fine... if the home button wasn't always disappearing into a hidden menu. Also, I found myself accidentally pressing the power button when I was typing or holding the tablet in certain positions, causing the Fire to think I wanted to shut it down. I'm not sure why it's located where it's located, but it seems like a poor choice to me."
http://www.businessinsider.com/kindle-fire-review-topolsky-2011-11 (http://www.businessinsider.com/kindle-fire-review-topolsky-2011-11)
ETA: Full review at The Verge (whatever that is) http://www.theverge.com/2011/11/14/2560084/kindle-fire-review (http://www.theverge.com/2011/11/14/2560084/kindle-fire-review)
Not everyone says it sucks.
Early reviews of the Kindle Fire are running a wide range of opinion.
Engadget barely has a skeptical word to say about it. Gizmodo and Mashable acknowledge its advantages as readily as its flaws. And Wired totally refuses to buy the hype.
Here are some highlights from each review of the tablet that refuses to allow for consensus.
Engadget says:
"This thing feels incredibly solid, as if Amazon simply put a chisel to a big piece of slate, gave it a good whack and then put the resulting slab into a Frustration-Free box."
The 8 GB storage capacity: "You won't need much since Amazon so thoughtfully lets you re-download anything you've bought any time you want, and is quite happy to stream all your music to you as well. But, if you're the type who likes to load down your tablet before spending a few hours or days offline, you might find this single, tiny capacity a bit restrictive."
The display: "What isn't so impressive is the 169ppi pixel density. With more and more smartphones starting to offer 1280 x 800 resolutions in displays that are four and five inches we might have hoped for a bit more here."
On launching apps: "You swipe left or right through the carousel and then tap whatever you want to launch. But, if your finger moves even a pixel or two in any direction when tapping the chosen item won't launch...You have to be annoyingly precise to get your chosen thing to launch."
Gizmodo says:
"The Fire doesn't feel like any other Android tablet—and that's a very, very good thing. From the minute you turn it on, the device is puzzlingly simple."
"Oh, and that much bandied browser, Silk? It works just as well as Amazon said—pages rendered fine and rapidly, thanks to the cloud-crunching, and can be bookmarked, emailed (via Amazon's capable little native client), Facebook shared—and yes, tabbed."
"But when it's not [responsive], it's awful. There's absolutely no excuse for a machine with these guts to be unable to turn pages with zero lag. It has two cores, for Chrissake."
"It's not as powerful or capable as an iPad, but it's also a sliver of the price—and that $200 will let you jack into the Prime catalog (and the rest of your media collection) easily and comfortably."
Mashable says:
"The $199 Amazon Kindle Fire is a worthy device. It's not an iPad slayer, but it could be the first tablet to ably stand atop Mount Tabulous with Apple's industry-dominating slab computer."
"From the moment you turn it on to the first time you download music from your own personal cloud to the minute you start watching a movie on the device and then continue watching on your HDTV...you're hooked. This is a smart tablet with a fully thought-out ecosystem. It is...very Apple-like in its insistence in keeping you within the Amazon playground."
"Sometimes the accelerometer gets stuck and the page you're looking at remains upside down. This happened to me repeatedly. Wi-Fi was easy to set-up, but was often slow to return after sleep. The device also does its own minicrashes. It does not shut down, but simply drops you out of what you were doing — reading a book or magazine, or looking at the home screen. The latter sometimes blanked out and reappeared."
Wired says:
"The Fire is a fiendishly effective shopping portal in the guise of a 7-inch slate."
"For every sin it commits as a reading device, the Fire atones with a good deed in video playback."
"When your web page has loaded, it's still too small to really appreciate on the 7-inch screen. Pretty much all text must be tapped into a magnified view, and that's a telling indicator of why so many people avoided 7-inch tablets the first time they were floated to the public last year: They suck for web browsing. And that's a problem because web browsing is a key tablet responsibility."
"The press has definitely supercharged Amazon's product launch with a level of hype and enthusiasm that would make Apple proud."
http://www.businessinsider.com/kindle-fire-reviews-2011-11 (http://www.businessinsider.com/kindle-fire-reviews-2011-11)
Quote from: TinkTanker on November 14, 2011, 05:17:49 AM
Quote from: Consigliere5 on November 14, 2011, 04:42:30 AM
Wow... The kindle fire sounds like a big ole disappointment...
Cancelled my Fire preorder.
Are you sure? Pre-orders have already shipped: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/kindle-fire-shipping-a-day-early-for-those-that-pre-ordered/ (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/kindle-fire-shipping-a-day-early-for-those-that-pre-ordered/)
Cancelled it last night when they said it was wonky when reading comics.
Quote from: TinkTanker on November 14, 2011, 10:20:09 AM
Cancelled it last night when they said it was wonky when reading comics.
Ah. Good deal on the cancellation, then -- sucky about the wonkiness.
Don't get me wrong, comics is not the only thing I'd buy it for. But it is one of the things. There were conflicting reports about how zooming worked and I just got a bad feeling. I just had a gut feeling Amazon *might* ship early so those who ordered early would get theirs the same day they hit the Buy More and what not. I know I could send it back, but I just thought it would be a good idea to have my hands on one first.
The Kindle fire is the bestest thing evuh and if you don't think so you are a poopyhead!
The Fire user guide.
http://kindle.s3.amazonaws.com/Kindle_Fire_Users_Guide.pdf (http://kindle.s3.amazonaws.com/Kindle_Fire_Users_Guide.pdf)
E-Reader Display Shows Vibrant Color Video
Mirasol's reflective display is being tested by device manufacturers, and could appear on shelves next year.
By Tom Simonite
Even as the processing power and download speeds of mobile devices surge, one component still lags behind: the screen. LCD panels use significantly more power than any other component of a phone or tablet because of their need to pump out bright light to form an image.
The only practical alternative is e-ink, the technology used in the Amazon Kindle; it consumes orders of magnitude less power but sacrifices color and the ability to change images fast enough for video playback or smooth game play.
Now, after years of waiting, alternative technology that promises the best of both approaches is finally edging closer to commercialization. During a recent visit to mobile chipmaker Qualcomm's headquarters in San Diego, Technology Review tried out a full-color, 5.7-inch Android tablet with a display that offers rich colors under bright light, close to those of an LCD and not unlike the pages of a magazine. The prototype screen was also responsive enough for video playback and for a game of Angry Birds; it can deliver up to 30 frames per second.
Because the device's screen uses ambient light, like a printed page or e-ink display, the power consumption is a tenth or less of that of a comparable LCD, although the display also features a built-in light for use in the dark. Known as Mirasol, the technology was created by a startup company, Iridigm, acquired by Qualcomm in 2004.
"In the market today, you have the iPad at one end and things like e-ink at the other end. This is really meant to bridge both of those worlds," says Clarence Chui, who leads the group at Qualcomm developing the new technology. "It is extremely low power, full color, and can be looked at wherever you go."
The Mirasol display makes color in the same way as the wings of iridescent butterflies or peacock feathers—by being an imperfect mirror that tunes the color of incoming light before reflecting it back to the viewer.
In a Mirasol display, this is done by small cavities known as interferometric modulators, tens of microns across and a few hundred nanometers deep, beneath the display's glass surface. "It's the air gap between the back of that glass and a mirror membrane at the bottom of the modulator that sets the color," says Chui. Each modulator's mirror membrane can snap upward against the glass when a small voltage is applied, closing the cavity and displaying a black color to the viewer. Mirasol modulators are made using techniques similar to those used to pattern metals and deposit materials in computer chip manufacturing.
Modulators come in three types: for red, green, and blue. Each pixel in a Mirasol display is actually made up of several modulators that display the three basic colors at different brightness levels. Switching these modulators on and off in the right combination offers full color at different brightness. In dark conditions, light is directed onto the panel's modulators from LED lights at the edge of the panel.
A study by Pike Research published last year estimated that a 5.7-inch Mirasol display like the one seen by Technology Review would allow for at least twice as much Web browsing as an equivalent device with an LCD screen. Qualcomm plans to sell the displays to the same device makers—including HTC, LG, and Samsung—that already buy its mobile chips.
Chui says displays will be made to serve both full-size tablets and phones and that demonstration tablets and display components have already been provided to various partners.
However, Qualcomm is far behind its own previous public predictions of when the technology would appear in products. Technology Review and others were shown an e-reader last year, and were told that devices would be on shelves in 2011. Chui said that the Mirasol technology needed significant modifications before it would make economic sense to manufacture it.
The device seen by Technology Review was made in a pilot factory in Taiwan that has mostly produced sample displays distributed to potential partners and customers, although a relatively small number of commerical displays will be made there. Chui says that a second, larger factory in Taiwan, big enough for production at a very large scale, is under construction and will come online in mid-2012. With the larger factory incomplete, truly mass-market devices with Mirasol displays can only appear in the second half of next year. Qualcomm is planning to invest up to $975 million in the new factory.
Jennifer Colegrove, who follows new display technologies for the analyst company DisplaySearch, says that despite the delays to mass production, the Mirasol technology lacks much serious competition. "It's really a very unique kind of display," she says, citing its ability to match LCD for experience at much less power.
One possible rival is an electrowetting display technology being developed by Samsung. It uses voltage to move colored liquids. However, demonstration displays of the technology have so far been less polished than those shown by Qualcomm, says Colegrove.
Colegrove guesses that Mirasol's debut in products has been hampered by the challenge of ensuring a near-perfect "yield" of the modulators that make up a display. Because millions are required to make each display, even a very low error rate would be problematic. "The LCD industry went through this same problem with yield, and it took years to solve," says Colegrove.
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/39135/ (http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/39135/)
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/barnes-and-noble-nook-tablet-unboxing-and-hands-on-video/ (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/barnes-and-noble-nook-tablet-unboxing-and-hands-on-video/)
Kindle Fire gets rooted with 'one click,' paves the way for Amazonian adventures (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/kindle-fire-gets-rooted-with-one-click-paves-the-way-for-amaz/)
I wonder if it retains the core Amazon functionality, like the Nooks keep their basic functions?
Also, AFAIK B&N doesn't fight rooting. Amazon may want tighter reign. Not that it'll help them. ;)
Typing this with the kindle fire... haven't tried it enough yet to say anything more...
I think it's safe to say that I'll end up preferring the ipad, but at least this is working out much better in my bedroom with the wifi...
Limited edition of Nook Simple Touch to be $79 (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/nook-simple-touch-gets-79-limited-edition-for-black-friday-mak/) on "Black Friday".
Anyone who's in the market for an e-Ink eReader first, browser second might consider this over the Amazon Touch. Rooted, I'm able to check email or browse web pages via Opera Mini/Mobile, as well as some games. Core functionality isn't changed.
If eInk doesn't matter or websurfing and color LCD screens comes first, then the Fire or Nook Tablet probably are the way to go.
Or wait for the Asus Transformer Prime, which I believe C5 has posted about.
My mother is getting me the Kindle Fire for Christmas (and birthday). :D She got one and really likes it. Since we're not that tech savy, she thinks it's going to work fine for my needs.
I'll let you know what I think after I get it.
Got my Kindle Fire on Thursday. And I love it. It does what I expected and a bit more. I do with it had 3G for when I'm not at home, but that is just a very minor quibble for me. It's easy enough to download the books and apps I need before I leave the house.
My main complaint is that my mother, who gave me the shiny present, told me to download Angry Birds. And now I'm stuck on a level and the damn pigs are so smug.
Gonna put the Song of Ice and Fire books on it on payday. :)
:fbshiny:
I'll be getting the Kindle Touch 3G. I played with my younger brother's KT3G and I loved the feel of it, the ease of turning pages and the size. I think my current Kindle will go to my parents and I'll take back my original Kindle (that I gave them when I got my current Kindle), box it up and save it in hopes some collector will want to buy it in 20 years or so.
Got my KT3G last night! I love the touch screen. I love the size. Other than that it's just a Kindle like my other one.
Amazon Kindle, ca. 1935
(http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17fpqkcznodu1jpg/original.jpg)
http://gizmodo.com/5891266/an-ereader-from-1935 (http://gizmodo.com/5891266/an-ereader-from-1935)
That's awesome!
And it appears to be backlit! :rofl:
Amazon's running a special today for a "Certified Refurbished" Fire @ $139 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0051VVOB2/ref=xs_gb_A3EDEHCUHY7K39?ie=UTF8&qid=1327619743&sr=8-1&condition=refurbished&pf_rd_p=441937901&pf_rd_s=right-1&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=20&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=13HVFW57P3EZ0Q9GY5DE).
I love my Fire. Heckuva deal.
Broke down and bought a Fire. Just ordered it and it will be her today. First time I'd seen this at Amazon, but at checkout the had an option that if I ordered before Noon PST I could have it delivered today to my work address for $3.99.
Dang, I wished I'd known. I would have made you a deal on mine.
Delivered!
http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/ (http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/)
Quote from: TinkTanker on June 15, 2012, 10:25:34 AM
http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/ (http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/)
That's what I paid for mine.
Quote from: TinkTanker on June 15, 2012, 10:25:34 AM
http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/ (http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/)
Spooky hardest hit?
Quote from: Eric on June 15, 2012, 11:03:34 AM
Quote from: TinkTanker on June 15, 2012, 10:25:34 AM
http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/ (http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/)
Spooky hardest hit?
:towubbahuh:
Quote from: Spooky on June 15, 2012, 10:43:32 AM
Quote from: TinkTanker on June 15, 2012, 10:25:34 AM
http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/ (http://www.bgr.com/2012/06/15/amazon-kindle-fire-rumor-price-cut/)
That's what I paid for mine.
You picked up a refurbed unit, I take it then?
Nope. Got an email from Amazon the other day saying the fire was on sale for $149 and I bought one. Looks like it's back to $199.
Quote from: Spooky on June 15, 2012, 11:23:30 AM
Nope. Got an email from Amazon the other day saying the fire was on sale for $149 and I bought one. Looks like it's back to $199.
Oh, that's great. :D
It always bites to finally buy some tech only to find out a month or two later a newer-better-cheaper version is coming out soon.
Quote from: Spooky on June 15, 2012, 11:23:30 AM
Nope. Got an email from Amazon the other day saying the fire was on sale for $149 and I bought one. Looks like it's back to $199.
(http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15411992/images/1309300880715.jpg)
Amazon introduces, among other things, a front-lit e-reader called the Amazon Paperwhite. Front lit so it is easier on the eyes. E-ink for crispiness. So you can read even in the dark, finally. It even sees how fast a reader you are and tells you how long it will be before you finish a chapter, not counting the time you get distracted by shiny objects. EIGHT WEEK BATTERY LIFE!!! Even with the light on. Ann loves her Nook, but she is always running the battery down. Only $119. 9.1mm thick.
(http://www.geekzenith.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpeg)
looks like I will be buying my 5th Kindle product.
Like I said, Ann loves her Nook because she can read in bed. But she's always having to switch to her iPhone because the Nook's battery dies before her day is out. From what I've seen, I'm in love with this device and I know she's getting one. I might be as well.
With Amazon's trade-in program, I can trade in my iPhone 4S and get enough credit to get a Galaxy SIII, a new Kindle Fire, and about half of a Paperwhite.
I doubt it will, but if this new Kindle flops it will be called the Kindle Paperweight.
Yo, Bezos! How come I can't order one yet? I'm seeing your face all over the internets holding one and I can't even find a reference to it on Amazon.com. Except for some enterprising Amazon sellers renaming their Kindle covers to Kindle Paperwhite covers.
Yeah, I'm wanting to go ahead and get in line for the preorder. They have a history of slipping these out a bit early from time to time.
'Bout frickin' time.
My mother-in-law is wanting a 7" tablet she can take w/her on trips so she can check email and whatnot. I may just recommend the new $159 Fire to her.
I liked mine when I had it, wish I had not sold it. It is a really nice device. I like the iPad, but the Fire I could drop in my back pocket.
I am really weighing trading in the iPhone while I still can get such a deal on it. I mean I can get a much more advanced phone and an e-reader and a Fire, if I throw in another $40 or so.
Quote from: Eric on September 06, 2012, 01:08:11 PM
My mother-in-law is wanting a 7" tablet she can take w/her on trips so she can check email and whatnot. I may just recommend the new $159 Fire to her.
I use my Fire mostly for streaming Netflix in bed when I am having a hard time sleeping. I haven't used it for reading at all.
Have you guys seen the new specs? Supposedly 40% better than gen 1.
Although, I may just recommend her spending the extra $50 for the Fire HD @ $199.
Quote from: TinkTanker on September 06, 2012, 01:07:20 PM
'Bout frickin' time.
Haha. Have you put in your order yet?
Eric, do check out the specs on the HD model. For another $40, you double the memory plus the screen is somewhat sharper. Front facing camera for Skype, if that is a factor. If I was buying one, I'd go with this. But that's me.
And yes, my pre-order for the Paperwhite has been placed. :D
This is an e-reader only ?
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on September 06, 2012, 03:18:54 PM
This is an e-reader only ?
The Fire models are pretty complete tablets (web browse, netflix, email, read books, etc) and the Paperwhite and other Kindles are ereaders.
I don't know if the new ereader models can do basic web browsing or email.
Quote from: Eric on September 06, 2012, 03:22:26 PM
I don't know if the new ereader models can do basic web browsing or email.
I would guess that they have the very, very basic crappier than crap, crappy browser that the other kindle e-readers have. Did I say it was crappy? Buy a
Fire if you want to use it to browse the web.
Quote from: Spooky on September 06, 2012, 03:32:44 PM
Quote from: Eric on September 06, 2012, 03:22:26 PM
I don't know if the new ereader models can do basic web browsing or email.
I would guess that they have the very, very basic crappier than gao se, crappy browser that the other kindle e-readers have. Did I say it was crappy? Buy a Fire if you want to use it to browse the web.
Yeah. The only caveat being that some people may find an ereader screen easier to read than an LCD screen.
The comparison chart at the bottom of this page says there's an "experimental web browser" for the ereaders: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GGCAVM/ref=fs_ta (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GGCAVM/ref=fs_ta)
Quote from: Eric on September 06, 2012, 03:44:41 PM
Quote from: Spooky on September 06, 2012, 03:32:44 PM
Quote from: Eric on September 06, 2012, 03:22:26 PM
I don't know if the new ereader models can do basic web browsing or email.
I would guess that they have the very, very basic crappier than gao se, crappy browser that the other kindle e-readers have. Did I say it was crappy? Buy a Fire if you want to use it to browse the web.
Yeah. The only caveat being that some people may find an ereader screen easier to read than an LCD screen.
The comparison chart at the bottom of this page says there's an "experimental web browser" for the ereaders: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GGCAVM/ref=fs_ta (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GGCAVM/ref=fs_ta)
I use mine to browse from time to time, but it gets old very fast. Good in a pinch, but not something you want to use fro web browsing every day.
ETA: No Flash, color, video, animations or sound.
Kindle 3 - experimental web browser (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF0hDoJqkIk#)
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on September 06, 2012, 03:18:54 PM
This is an e-reader only ?
The base model of the Fire for $159 is a good deal for a tablet/e-reader/hand-held gaming device. You can do web browsing, Facebook, Twitter, read books, comics, play Angry Birds, all the good stuff. For another $40 you get twice the memory so if you are in the market and can spare another $40, that's the way I'd go.
The Paperwhite is strictly an e-reader. They say it has a web browser, but that's like trying to use a pocket knife to cut down a 80 ft. pine. Technically it probably could be done, but...
Ann's getting the Paperwhite because she wants an e-reader that she can read in bed with the lights off and not have to worry about it running out of juice today or tomorrow.
QuoteYour Amazon.com order of "Kindle............has shipped!
[spoiler]Your Amazon.com order of "Kindle US Power Adapter has shipped!
:wall:
[/spoiler]
I love that I can already buy books and send them to a Kindle that I won't have until next month.
Quote from: Spooky on September 06, 2012, 04:28:01 PM
I love that I can already buy books and send them to a Kindle that I won't have until next month.
I'm sure Amazon is more than happy to take your money!
Very good write-up on the Paperwhite. Looks to be a very nice device.
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/09/06/paperwhite-is-the-amazon-kindles-retina-display/ (http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/09/06/paperwhite-is-the-amazon-kindles-retina-display/)
Quote from: TinkTanker on September 07, 2012, 10:35:18 AM
Very good write-up on the Paperwhite. Looks to be a very nice device.
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/09/06/paperwhite-is-the-amazon-kindles-retina-display/ (http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/09/06/paperwhite-is-the-amazon-kindles-retina-display/)
And it is indeed a nice device!
Mine will be here tomorrow.
The light is not quite as perfectly even along the bottom as I would have hoped though. But if Ann does not mind, all is good.
Love my new Kindle!!!!
Got an interesting email from Amazon today.
QuoteDear Kindle Customer,
We have good news. You are entitled to a credit for some of your past e-book purchases as a result of legal settlements between several major e-book publishers and the Attorneys General of most U.S. states and territories, including yours. You do not need to do anything to receive this credit. We will contact you when the credit is applied to your Amazon.com account if the Court approves the settlements in February 2013.
Hachette, Harper Collins, and Simon & Schuster have settled an antitrust lawsuit about e-book prices. Under the proposed settlements, the publishers will provide funds for a credit that will be applied directly to your Amazon.com account. If the Court approves the settlements, the account credit will appear automatically and can be used to purchase Kindle books or print books. While we will not know the amount of your credit until the Court approves the settlements, the Attorneys General estimate that it will range from $0.30 to $1.32 for every eligible Kindle book that you purchased between April 2010 and May 2012.
QuoteBecause you are pre-qualified, you do not need to do anything to receive your credit. It will be applied to your account by Amazon.com automatically, and you will receive another email letting you know when it's available.
1st Gen Kindle Fire on sale for $129 in Amazon's Gold Box Deal. Act fast if you want one.
http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=5492400&sdop=1&sdpid=54742086&sdfid=9&lno=1&trd=http+www+amazon+com+gp+goldbox+r&u2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fgoldbox%2Fref%3Dko2_ld_pop (http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=5492400&sdop=1&sdpid=54742086&sdfid=9&lno=1&trd=http+www+amazon+com+gp+goldbox+r&u2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fgoldbox%2Fref%3Dko2_ld_pop)
I think 4 kindles is enough for now. ;)
Amazon buys text-to-speech software company Ivona
http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/24/amazon-ivona/ (http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/24/amazon-ivona/)
100 kindle Books for $3.99 or less.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&plgroup=1&ref_=br_lf_m_1000706171_pglink_1&docId=1000706171&plpage=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&plgroup=1&ref_=br_lf_m_1000706171_pglink_1&docId=1000706171&plpage=1)
Quote from: Spooky on March 01, 2013, 11:06:37 AM
100 kindle Books for $3.99 or less.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&plgroup=1&ref_=br_lf_m_1000706171_pglink_1&docId=1000706171&plpage=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&plgroup=1&ref_=br_lf_m_1000706171_pglink_1&docId=1000706171&plpage=1)
:like:
Lowest-priced Kindle model is on sale for $49 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HCCNJU/ref=gw_c1_gotd_ks?ie=UTF8&nav_sdd=aps&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1AWWZX4Y94536KC787N5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1693782722&pf_rd_i=507846), today only.
Ad-supported; not back-lit; not 3G.
Today only: Kindle Fire HD refurb for $70 off (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AFKCBQQ/ref=gb1h_img_c-2_1842_e63ab4e5?t=slickdeals&tag=slickdeals&ascsubtag=dyROiK9TEeOSYh6tB_wLuw0_IL6-3_0_0_0&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_s=center-new-2&pf_rd_r=02B7R23HSPZEJKK24EXG&pf_rd_i=20&pf_rd_p=1725241842); making it $129 total.
Quote from: Eric on March 19, 2014, 03:47:49 AM
Today only: Kindle Fire HD refurb for $70 off (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AFKCBQQ/ref=gb1h_img_c-2_1842_e63ab4e5?t=slickdeals&tag=slickdeals&ascsubtag=dyROiK9TEeOSYh6tB_wLuw0_IL6-3_0_0_0&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_s=center-new-2&pf_rd_r=02B7R23HSPZEJKK24EXG&pf_rd_i=20&pf_rd_p=1725241842); making it $129 total.
Dammit, Eric! I can't afford this! OTOH, I can't afford not to get it, seeing as how Ann took my iPad and made it her own.
In for one.
I want to impulse buy it, but I don't even use my original Kindle Fire.
Apparently some people are eligible for fantastic deals on Kindles -- as low as $19 for the regular model ($44 for PaperWhite).
I don't know what constitutes eligibility, but I seem to be able to get the deal. It'll tell you if you're eligible or not (must be signed in):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1002406751 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1002406751)
and
https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1002406861 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1002406861)
Apparently I'm human scum to them.
:dontlike:
I have too many Kindles already.
Quote from: Spooky on April 28, 2014, 11:43:40 AM
I have too many Kindles already.
But what if you want to read something more than once?
Quote from: TinkTanker on April 28, 2014, 12:44:24 PM
Quote from: Spooky on April 28, 2014, 11:43:40 AM
I have too many Kindles already.
But what if you want to read something more than once?
I hand write everything I read so I have a hard copy. ;)
Quote from: Spooky on April 28, 2014, 01:06:24 PM
I hand write everything I read so I have a hard copy. ;)
Thief! Thief! IP thief!
Spooky, in case you're interested: https://www.amazon.com/oc/launchevent (https://www.amazon.com/oc/launchevent)
Quote from: Eric on June 04, 2014, 04:35:53 PM
Spooky, in case you're interested: https://www.amazon.com/oc/launchevent (https://www.amazon.com/oc/launchevent)
Thanks! I just submitted my request.
Kindle Unlimited
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&docId=1002872331
What's better than Kindle Unlimited for $120? This free alternative. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-31/what-s-better-than-kindle-unlimited-for-120-a-year-this-free-alternative.html?utm_content=buffer38154&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)
Library-loaned ebooks.
:like: