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Kindle Updates Kindle, Amazon’s bestselling product, is now smaller, lighter, and faster. The new Kindle features built-in Wi-Fi, all for just $189. Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology Amazon has also introduced a Wi-Fi only model for just $139. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

What Could Be New With the Kindle 2?

Amazon has sent-out press releases for a big announcement on February 9th in New York City hosted by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Since the event is being held in the Morgan Library, the big rumor is that the new Kindle 2 will debut. For Amazon this is big news since the Kindle was one of the big bright spots of the depressing 2008 holiday selling season.

One of the other interesting reasons that the Kindle is great for Amazon is that it appears to be incremental sales for the company. During a recent earnings call, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos claimed that for every physical book Kindle owners purchase from Amazon they also purchase 1.6 to 1.7 e-books for their Kindle. It seems that the Kindle really gets owners even more involved in reading.

So what’s in it for people like you and me that might buy a new Kindle 2? We’ve done a little research on the rumors and some sites like The New York Times and The Boy Genius Report have some interesting details.

1. According to The New York Times the big feature is the improved responsiveness of the display on the new Kindle. One of the key irritants owners of the Kindle 1 have is that when you click the “Next Page” button the Kindle screen goes dark for a second before the next page displays. The new display uses a new microchip and digital ink technology that – reportedly – does away with this issue.

2. Keyboard is larger – based on “leaked” pictures posted on The Boy Genius Report, the new Kindle 2 keyboard is larger making it easier to work with the keys.

3. In addition to improving responsiveness for reading, the new display also improves responsiveness for doing things OTHER than reading – for example browsing the Web and working with e-mail. The Kindle 1 Web browser was an “experimental” feature that handled text-based sites best. You could use G-Mail for example, but in the “mobile phone mode” which is primarily text vs. graphics based. The new screen technology seems to remove this barrier.

4. The scroll wheel is replaced with a track-ball. Again – checking out the “leaked” pictures of the Kindle 2 it appears the scroll wheel is replaced by a track-ball. We expect this means the way you might interact with the new Kindle 2 screen will be significantly different than the Kindle 1. Rather than using the screen in a “linear” fashion, the track ball will allow you to roam the screen and select text more easily for bookmarks, notes, etc. The new Kindle 2 track-ball might also make it easier to interact with web pages vs. the current scroll wheel.

Let’s think about what we’d like to see in the new Kindle 2 as well!

A. Better web browsing – this seems to be covered

B. Built-in ability to read .pdf files – Adobe .pdf is a universal file format for a lot of e-books. You can now read .pdf files by e-mailing them to your Kindle e-mail address. Google will convert them for a small charge.

C. Built-in Media Player – allow selecting and playing of mp3 files vs. random play

And the big question – will those people who now have Kindle’s on back order get the new Kindle 2 when it is released?

We can only wait until February 9th to find-out!

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By Michael Piston

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Kindle Updates Kindle, Amazon’s bestselling product, is now smaller, lighter, and faster. The new Kindle features built-in Wi-Fi, all for just $189. Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology Amazon has also introduced a Wi-Fi only model for just $139. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Best E-Readers Compared – The Kindle 2 and 3

How does the Kindle 3 stack up against my questions?

In my previous article I articulated a number of questions to guide my search for an E-Reader. My initial thoughts were influenced by my personal need which was to have a device to be able to read my favourite books on long-haul trips of up to 10 or 12 hours.

After identifying what I considered were baseline guidelines I decided to look further for an E-Reader that might double as a work-related item. With my strategy in mind this is what I discovered on the internet.

The Kindle 3

I read or rather saw the kindle probably about a year ago whilst browsing thought Amazon. My initial reaction was hmmm what can I use that for? I never gave another thought to it until I arrived in Waikiki last month and happened upon the Apple Mac shop on Kalakaua Ave. It was there that I saw the iPad and had a play on it; I was impressed to say the least but I didn’t buy one. I am an apple fan but only of the devices and not the prices. With this in mind, I checked out the kindle 3 and see if meets my personal needs. Incidentally, I was actually writing about the Kindle 2 and then the Kindle 3 pops up.

Is it lighter than a 500 page hardcover book and Is it smaller than A4 (11.7″x 8.3″) so that it slips into my on-board luggage?

The Kindle 3 is a step up from the original Kindle and is a mere 0.335″ thick (thin), 4.8″ wide and 7.5″ high and weighs in at a measly 8.5 ounces. It is sleek and slim and much smaller than an A4 piece of paper.

The rationale behind the first two questions is that I want to pack or rather slip the device into my carry-on luggage to read while on long-haul flights. The Kindle 2 was slimmer than the iPhone and the Kindle 3 is smaller than the Kindle 2 so it meets both criteria. The Kindle 2 has a 6″ diagonal electronic paper display (and so does the Kindle 3), measures 8″x 5.3″ x 0.36″ and weighs a measly 10.2 ounces.

Does the battery power last at least 5 hours?

I am impressed with the battery power of the kindle 2. On a single charge with wireless on you have 4 days of reading; with wireless off you have up to two weeks of reading time. Obviously, wireless usage chews up your battery power. The kindle 3 battery life is very impressive; it boasts a battery life of a month on a single charge with Wi-Fi turned off. With Wi-Fi enabled it lasts 3 weeks which is still impressive.

Something else that caught my attention about the kindle 2 battery pack is that it is not removable which means you cannot replace it yourself. You need to send it into Amazon for replacement at a cost of $60. At this stage I don’t know what the life span of the battery is.

Can I read it in the dark and in the direct sunlight on the beach in Waikiki or Turtle Bay?

Both the kindle 2 and Kindle 3 come with 16 levels of gray scale which means you can read it in full sunlight. The kindle 3 is equipped with an E-Link screen that provides a sheet of paper reading experience and is designed to eliminate glare. This means that the device can be read in sunlight and inside without worrying about light. I wonder if this means I don’t need a light to read in the dark?

What is the storage capacity?

The Kindle 2 has 2GB internal capacity which renders down to approximately 1.4GB of user space. How many books is that? Apparently up to 1500 books. The kindle 3 has an impressive 4GB of internal memory of which 3GB is available to the user; this equates to 3,500 books. Not bad at all – although I would hate to drop the device into water!

How long does it take to charge and Can I charge the device up on the plane via USB?

It is nice to know that the Kindle 2 fully charges in approximately 4 hours and has a USB 2.0 port (cable supplied) so it can be charged up from a laptop and from the USB connection on the plane. It can also be charge via the kindle power adapter (which is handy if you don’t have your PC or laptop with you). The kindle 3 can be fully charged in 4.5 hours and like the kindle 2 via USB cable.

What types of formats does the device support?

As it turns out the kindle 2 and 3 supports the following formats: Kindle (AZW), TXT audible enhanced (AAX), MP3, unprotected MOBI and PRC. However, DOC, HTML, PDF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP files need to be converted by Amazon before they will work on the Kindle 2. Now that’s a hassle but I bet if we take a look around Youtube we will find someone who has already done this, then we won’t need to pay Amazon for that service.

What accessories come with the device?

You get a power adapter, USB 2.0 cable and a rechargeable battery for both the Kindle 2 and 3. The cover is sold separately

Can I purchase my e-books from any provider with this e-reader?

The kindle stable has an impressive 700,000 books; add to that the 1,000,000 books that Amazon has available for users to read for free. As far as I can tell – the Kindle can only access books from the Amazon store (I need to check that out thoroughly)

How much does the device cost?

For the kindle 2 the prices are $259 (permits downloads with the US) and $279 (the international version which allows for content downloads in over 100 countries). The Kindle 3 is $139 which in my opinion is a great price! (I can spend more than that on books is a single shot)

Good to know

- Amazon keeps a back up of your books so that if you accidentally erase a book from your device you can download it again at no cost to you

- Enhanced PDF reader with a facility for dictionary lookup, notes and highlights
both 3G and Wireless available

- Car charger accessory available for just under $10

I have always loved reading from when I can remember as a very young boy. The only thing that has changed since then is my choice of book or rather genre of book; and more recently how I can maintain my habit while I travel from country to country. On-board luggage is weight restricted and on-board movies are sometimes lacking in good content; for me the obvious choice is a good book. If you enjoy reading like I do then the e-Readers and eBooks for iPads are a viable option. I am on the hunt for an e-Reader to see if it will fill the spot. And the Kindle 2 and 3 look very slick!

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By Hauiti Hakopa

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Kindle Updates Kindle, Amazon’s bestselling product, is now smaller, lighter, and faster. The new Kindle features built-in Wi-Fi, all for just $189. Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology Amazon has also introduced a Wi-Fi only model for just $139. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Reading on the Go: Kindle Vs iPad Vs Nook

If you have someone on gift or Christmas list who would really like an e-reader, you have three main options to choose from. Each of these options; The Kindle, The iPad, and The Nook are great gift options for someone wanting an e-reader for the holidays.

Let’s look at the basics for each of the three in reference to features, durability, and price. When determining which reader to choose, keep in mind the age and maturity of the person you are buying for. You want to make sure that you are buying the most user-friendly for the recipients age and you get the best fit for the person on your gift list at the best price.

E-Reader Features of the Kindle, Nook, and iPad

The Kindle

The e-reader craze started with the Kindle several years ago. When the first Kindle came onto the market it was very expensive and very basic. Since that time the Kindle has come out with the 3rd Generation Kindle that comes equipped with Wi-Fi as the standard, but you can buy an advanced Kindle that comes with an AT&T 3G bundle package.

The Kindle has over 600,000 books currently in the Amazon Kindle book library and it is still very quick to download books (usually around 30 seconds for an entire book). The page turning rate on a Kindle is very fast as well and after a single charge, with the Wi-Fi turned off, you can get about 14 days’ worth of battery life on the Kindle. This is because the screen is made with e-Ink and power is only used when you use the buttons on the Kindle.

Currently the Kindle retails for under $150. You can do basic web browsing on the Kindle but the Kindle remains only black and white.

The iPad

The iPad is not just an e-reader but more of a flat touch screen laptop of sort. However, it does have an e-reader application on it that is full of features. Since the iPad was only recently released, it only has about 60,000 books available for purchase and the prices of books on an iPad are generally higher than on the Kindle or Nook. It is suspected that the library of choices will increase.

Also, on the iPad you can download the Kindle application that will give you access to the hundreds of thousands of titles that the Kindle has available. The iPad is more of a computer with an e-reader “feature” built into it. It also retails at the start price of $500 and more loaded iPads retail for about $800.

If you are looking for a basic e-reader then the Kindle 3rd Generation still appears to be on top of the e-reader craze. The pages turn quickly just as if you were reading a book and you have more of a selection of books to purchase. The Nook costs the same as a Kindle but has the touch-screen at the bottom for purchasing books. Both of these e-readers are good choices but for the avid reader the Kindle would be the better choice between the two according to most reviewers of the products.

The iPad probably shouldn’t be bought just for the sole purpose of using it as an e-Reader. It has full internet capabilities and can be used as a laptop along with having the feature of an e-reader on it. For the price, it is not advisable to purchase an iPad for someone on your gift list that wants an e-reader-you should opt instead for either the Kindle or the Nook.

The Nook

The Nook retails for about the same price as the Kindle and has many of the same features. It has Wi-Fi and basic web browsing, an e-Ink screen to reduce battery life, and also has 3G capabilities. Books downloaded from the Nook come from Barnes & Noble.

A couple of advantages of the Nook over the Kindle are that you can share a downloaded e-book with someone else who has a Nook for free for at least two weeks. This is something that the Kindle does not offer as of yet. The bottom portion of the Nook has a color touch screen to type; whereas the Kindle has a full built-in keyboard.

Some people prefer the keyboard over the touchscreen and the touch screen does take up more of the battery life of the Nook than the Kindle. The Nook is on an Android OS system and customer reviews point that the page turning is slower on the Nook than on the Kindle. It may take approximately a couple of seconds to turn a page-which can be a major downside for some readers.

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By Blair Cooper

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Kindle Updates Kindle, Amazon’s bestselling product, is now smaller, lighter, and faster. The new Kindle features built-in Wi-Fi, all for just $189. Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology Amazon has also introduced a Wi-Fi only model for just $139. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

New Designs With the Amazon Kindle 2 Leather Cover

The first version of the Amazon Kindle came with a leather case. Unfortunately for most Kindle owners, this leather case was lacking in some functionality and features. Some of the most common complaints were that the cover was flimsy and did not last very long. There were also complaints that the design allowed the Kindle to slip out of the cover.

Some people have had experiences with their Kindle sliding out of its cover and hitting the ground, thus damaging the expensive electronic device. The very thing the Kindle cover was supposed to prevent was completely negated by the design. A large percentage of the original Kindle owners ended up getting a brand new cover from a different manufacturer all together.

Other popular manufacturers for the original Kindle were M-edge and Bobarra. There were many different styles and colors offered within these brands that were favorites of the original Kindle owners.

Now that the new Kindle has made its way to the market and there have been a few changes required for Kindle cover designs.

Firstly, the new Kindle’s have a completely different design. They are thinner than the original Kindles and therefore the old Kindle covers will not work with the new Kindle covers. Many of the manufacturers of the old Kindle covers have made covers for the Kindle 2 as well.

So what about the Kindle 2 from Amazon?

Over 1600 Kindle owners have weighed in on this subject. Well, the biggest difference is that the new Kindle cover made by Amazon is not included with the Kindle electronic reader. Because of this, Amazon can now put some extra cost into creating a higher quality cover.

Like the 1st generation covers, the new Amazon Kindle cover is made out of leather. This model seems to be made out of higher quality leather. Amazon also seems to have taken to heart, some of the original Kindle owners have complained about. For one thing, the new cover now secures the Kindle within the cover.

The second thing many people have complained about that seems to have been addressed with the new Amazon Kindle Cover is that it doesn’t add bulk to the new more streamlined model. This is especially important for those that love that new streamlined design

One remaining complaint is that doesn’t seem to have been addressed from the 1st model is that there is no latch to keep the leather cover closed. If you want to have a latch you would need to add one yourself or use a popular solution of using Velcro to keep the leather cover together.

The significant changes in design of the Kindle 2 are enough to warrant a new Kindle cover design. Amazon, amongst other manufactures came out with their own Amazon Kindle 2 leather cover.

Overall, it weighs in positively with a few people focusing on what still needs to be done to fully update the cover.

The consensus is in. Amazon certainly took several steps in the right direction, but they stopped short on a complete delivery. Even though Amazon stopped short on the delivery in some areas, their new cover is still a worthwhile investment.

Find out more about the Amazon Kindle and Kindle 2 leather covers.

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By B Hopkins

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Kindle Updates Kindle, Amazon’s bestselling product, is now smaller, lighter, and faster. The new Kindle features built-in Wi-Fi, all for just $189. Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology Amazon has also introduced a Wi-Fi only model for just $139. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

What To Do If Your Kindle’s Frozen

You just got your new Kindle and have loaded it up with e-books and audio books. After playing a while you decide to make a few phone calls. When you come back, you find your Kindle screen is frozen! Unresponsive.

The Next Page and Previous Page buttons don’t work. The (Aaa) doesn’t “wake it up.” Nothing seems to bring your Kindle back to life. That old-school screen saver just stares back at you.

First of all – don’t panic. As with any other electronic device, the Kindle occasionally has a few hiccups. There are a few things you can do to get your Kindle running again good as new.

1. Plug-in your charger. Sometimes the Kindle battery can get run-down enough so that it will “freeze.” Plugging the charger in and giving your Kindle battery some much needed power often will un-freeze the screen.

2. If that doesn’t work, try what is called a “soft reset.” To do a soft reset on your Kindle press the , , and keys simultaneously. Your Kindle screen should go blank or dark and then slowly come back to life.

3. When doing a soft reset doesn’t work, you will occasionally have to do a “hard reset.”

To do a hard reset –

- Make sure your Kindle’s battery is charged (about an hour of charging time should do it)

- Remove the charger cord from your Kindle

- Open the back of your Kindle

- Locate the small hole under the word “Reset”

- Open a small paper clip

- Insert the paper clip end into the hole and press GENTLY for about 10 seconds

- Your Kindle screen should go blank (or black) and then the Kindle should re-start

4. When a hard reset doesn’t work you can try to remove and replace the battery in your Kindle. This is a bit more complex but not too difficult –

- Turn your Kindle off

- Remove the charger cord from your Kindle

- Open the back of your Kindle

- Locate the gray battery, and the finger-notch for removing the battery

- Gently press the battery toward the back of its compartment, then lift the battery out

- Locate the connector that attaches the battery to the Kindle

- GENTLY pull the battery connector out of the Kindle

- With the battery out of the Kindle turn it on for about 5 seconds

- Replace the battery and close the back cover of your Kindle

- Turn the Kindle on

If your Kindle is still “frozen” after completing the steps above, your next move is to contact the Amazon Kindle support team. Go to your Amazon account page – select “Manage my Kindle” and contact the support team from there. You can find the link at the top of the “Manage my Kindle” page on the far right side.

There is a good chance, however, that the steps above will get your Kindle un-frozen and by now you’ll be back enjoying your favorite e-book or audio book.

Congratulations! You’ve now learned how to do a soft and hard reset on your Amazon Kindle wireless reading device.

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By Michael Piston

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Kindle Updates Kindle, Amazon’s bestselling product, is now smaller, lighter, and faster. The new Kindle features built-in Wi-Fi, all for just $189. Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology Amazon has also introduced a Wi-Fi only model for just $139. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Latest Kindle Reader to Capture the E-Book Reader Market

Finally, Kindle 3 is officially launched on 28 July 2010 for ordering. With Kindle 3 being the latest kindle, it is to outbeat its competitors including iPad, Ereader and The Nook in terms of the offered prices and features. Kindle 3 review will be shared here to compare its fantastic improvements over the 2nd generation Kindle 2.

Kindle 3 Size and Weight

Kindle 3 is really 21% smaller and 17% lighter than its former Kindle 2 family model. The 6″ display size still remain as it is even with this smaller form factor. This has greatly enhanced Kindle’s portability and to outshine against all of its other competitors in the similar category. With only 8.7 ounces in weight, Kindle 3 can be read comfortably with only one hand as it is even lighter than a typical paperback and slimmer than a magazine.

Kindle 3 Screen Display And Size

This 3rd generation of 6″ kindle reader has the same improvement of over 50% contrast than any other e-reader for the optimum reading experience. Kindle 3 can be read with its latest, high contrast E-ink for the sharpest texts and images. With this latest display feature, the reading experience can be almost the same like reading on printed book. Its screen display is also sharper and more natural with no glare or backlight.

Therefore, it is even more comfortable to read on Kindle than reading on a computer screen. Those who know Kindle 3 for the first time will love it at the first sight.

Kindle 3 Battery Life

Former Kindle 2 battery life is about 14 days without wireless connection. The new Kindle 3 has certainly pushed its battery life even further to a longer period of one month without wireless condition. In real reality, its battery life may be even longer than its official stated specifications.

Kindle 3 Fonts

Besides having a better display quality, its proprietary font technology has also improved to make pages turn faster even with more sharper fonts. This better feature has led to the making of words and letters more crisp, clear and natural looking. Kindle 3 also comes with 2 additional font options of condensed Caecilia and Sans Serif.

It can also allow a broader range of characters like Cyrillic used in Russian, Tajik, Bulgarian and dozens of other languages like Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Greek and etc.

Kindle 3 Storage, Wireless Connectivity And Price

Kindle 3 now has a bigger 4GB of internal flash memory for storing about 3,500 books. This is more than double of the Kindle 2′s storage capacity. Similarly to Kindle 2, it has eliminated external memory card storage.

For Kindle 3 with both 3G and Wi-Fi option pricing at US$189, its faster 3G connectivity has removed the need for large internal buffer storage. It can now also take advantage of its neighbouring 3G Wi-Fi hotspots for quicker download speed and to download stuffs without telco coverage.

For Kindle 3 with only Wi-Fi option, it only cost US $139 and 0.2 ounces lighter to match the expectation of budget conscious book readers.

Other Kindle 3 Features

Kindle 3 has the similar social features for supporting Facebook and Twitter integration. It also gets voice-accessible menus along with text-to-speech feature to make Kindle a fully accessible device that can be used in a classroom.

In summary, the launch of Kindle 3 is a clear evidence that the kindle reader product roadmap is well planned and it is on track to capture more market share of Ebook Readers.

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By Royston Chen

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Kindle Updates Kindle, Amazon’s bestselling product, is now smaller, lighter, and faster. The new Kindle features built-in Wi-Fi, all for just $189. Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology Amazon has also introduced a Wi-Fi only model for just $139. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Kindle Vs iPad – Which is More Beneficial to Readers?

There are common questions raised regarding the comparisons between Amazon Kindle And Apple iPad. These are the most popular brands of ebook readers well received by avid ebook readers.

Below listed points are some known facts that Kindle Reader is still far better than iPad as an ebook reader.

1. Kindle street price is lower than iPad. The cost comparison with the assumption of built-in 3G capabilities: Kindle 2 – US$259, Kindle DX – US$489, iPad – US$629.

2. The next factor is the unit weight for easy portability. Kindle DX only weighs 10.2 ounces while iPad weighs nearly a pound and a half. This causes iPad less attractive to be used as book readers because people may be holding it for a longer duration when reading a novel.

3. Battery life results for the duration of portable usage. Kindle battery can lasts nearly two weeks as compared to only 12hours for the case of iPad battery. Usage duration is especially important for heavy travellers on the move. It may not be easy to get power point for charging the device battery in remote areas or onboard the airplane.

4. It is better to do night reading via Kindle than iPad. This is because Kindle device does not have any built-in backlight on it. Its display brightness works best for bedside reading in the night. On the other hand, iPad’s brightness may cause tireness for the reader’s eyesafter some reading.

5. Book readers must also consider its readability under outdoor conditions. Most readers like to read books during the day time under a tree or even under direct sunlight.Kindle hardware is especially designed to best read under direct sunlight and therefore it enables the ease of usage regardless of where the reader wants to read it. Similiarly, like other smart webpads, iPad does not read well under direct sunlight conditions.

6. Power consumption can limit where to read. Kindle device’s power consumption is quite low and therefore it is suitable to work under direct sunlight. iPad may have power consumption issue under hot weather conditions. Its power consumption will need to be improved in order to catch up with Kindle.

7. The size of magazine and journal resources is larger for the case of Kindle. The more popular ones like Economist, Atlantic, Times and Reader Digest can be read via kindle but not on kindle iPad applications. Kindle also supports the best newspapers like The New York Times and etc.

8. The size of the book resources can determine your reading scope. If you are an active reader in many different topics, it is essential to select kindle as the right device because Kindle can support over 450,000 kindle titles and these can be further read via iPad application.

9. Kindle purchase is bundled with free internet access in US and other supported countries.

10. Audio enabled reading feature of Kindle is not always necessary to use but it is convenient to readers whenever they are busying doing some other things. If the reader get tired after long hours of reading, this feature can be turned on to carry on reading. Kindle will make a better reading experience.

Having said all the above advantages of Kindle over iPad, they are mainly emphasised for better reading. If reading usage is not a major consideration, then iPad is still quite compelling. It is just another larger piece of iPhone. If one has a higher budget with lesser reading usage and more computing requirements, then iPad is certainly a good buy.

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By Royston Chen

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Kindle Updates Kindle, Amazon’s bestselling product, is now smaller, lighter, and faster. The new Kindle features built-in Wi-Fi, all for just $189. Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology Amazon has also introduced a Wi-Fi only model for just $139. Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Kindle 3 – The New Features For the Kindle 3rd Generation (And What They Left Out)

The announcement for the Kindle 3 is now official, and no doubt orders for the new eReader are piling up by the thousands. For those of you who don’t know what a Kindle is; simply put, it’s an electronic book from Amazon which is about the height of a large novel and as slim as half a pencil.

Is all the excitement for the Kindle 3 merited or is it just the same old device in a new graphite case? Let’s look at what Kindle 3 brings to the table and what Amazon decided to leave out. However, before we do that we need to put some focus on the eReader market and what Amazon is trying to achieve with the Kindle.

Yes, Amazon – it’s a jungle out there

It’s no surprise to say that Amazon is facing a very different world compared to when it first released the Kindle. The competition for the eReader market is getting crowded at both the budget end and the high-end. Additionally, there has been a lot of talk about “kindle-killers’ which are looking to dethrone the Kindle king as the number one eReader. The Kobo eReader was released earlier this year, with a price tag significantly less than the Kindle at $149, and it will be news to nobody that Apple launched its attack into the eReader market with the media-rich iPad.

As well as a tough market, Amazon is faced with a strange situation where the implicit consumer demands are contradictory to the explicit demands. On the one hand, the unspoken implicit demands are telling Amazon that readers want an easy to use device that doesn’t distract from the reading experience. Something very “book-like.” On the other hand, the explicit demands are requesting a new state-of-the-art device with multi-media functionality, with touch screen technology, video viewing, etc…

How has Amazon responded to these challenges?

Firstly, they weren’t tempted to create an eReader which does everything and distracts from its main task; namely reading. The Kindle 3 has kept its simple interface and is still very “book-like”.

Secondly, Amazon has counter-attacked the budget eReaders entering into the market by launching two versions of the Kindle 3. These being, a Kindle with 3G Wifi ($189) and a Kindle with Wifi ($139). The Kindle 3G Wi-Fi device maintains the previous price tag of the Kindle 2 while adding a bunch of new functionality. The Kindle Wi-Fi undercuts a large majority of other eReaders on the market, while delivering a mature product which is backed up the Amazon book store with millions of titles to choose from.

Given the situation where Amazon finds itself, let’s look at what features they put into the Kindle 3 and what they decided to leave left out.

Kindle 3 – what they put in.

Amazon focused on improving the Kindle’s basic functionality, by letting the Kindle do what it does best: reading.

Amazon has improved on the readability of the device, which by all standards was already very good. They claim 50% better contrast than any other eReader, better readability under bright sunlight, and some new improved fonts to read your books with.

The physical device itself has also been improved. The size of the Kindle has been reduced while maintaining the same dimensions for the reading area. The battery life has also not been neglected. A simple charge can last up to one month.

The capacity for the Kindle 3 is now 3500 books which can be down loaded in under 60 seconds.

Wi-Fi is added to the 3G as a way of connecting with your Kindle so that you can browse the Amazon bookstore and the net with the new web-kit based browser.

Kindle 3 – what they left out

After the release of Apple’s iPad the expectations for the Kindle were sky-high. In a nut-shell people wanted an Amazon iPad. Now that some time has passed, the iPad is a slightly less attractive as a device for reading books. People are realizing it’s too heavy to hold for hours, and the display which is LCD is not easy on the eyes over long periods of time.

A lot of people were predicting color screens for the Kindle 3. There was a lot of sense with this, as there are currently a lot of eReaders coming to the market that have color. A non-color device next to a color device looks quite dull in comparison.

However, to include color is not as easy as first thought. This would involve leaving the e-Ink technology behind which is responsible for the “book-like” text on the Kindle display. A possibility is that the eInk technology could be radically improved to incorporate color into the display, but Amazon and there R&D teams are not there yet.

Another alternative is to use LCD technology as found in the iPad, but then you increase eye-strain over long reading periods and the inability to read in direct sunlight.

Touch screen technology was another rumor that was circulation for the Kindle 3. It seems logical that readers can flick through the pages of an eBook by swiping screen of their device.

Earlier this year Amazon brought Touchco, a New York start up that, which specializes in… yes you guessed right… touch screen technology. It seems that Amazon is moving in that direction, or at least investigating the possibility to include this type of interface in the future.

Lastly, another conspicuous absence is innovation. Amazon was 100% right to focus on the core features for the Kindle. However, it could have added at least one new innovative feature to the device.

The eReader market is no longer a side-show; it’s a central part of Amazon’s strategy and sales volumes. Ebook sales have passed hard-cover sales, and the CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos, recently predicted that eBook sales will exceed paperbacks in the next 12 months. Given the importance of this market and the resources to develop these products, it is not unreasonable to expect the unexpected.

A possible example of a new innovation might be to develop the social networking functionality for the Kindle. The Kindle has integrated networking with Facebook and Twitter, however there exists a lot more scope within the social networking for people who are passionate about authors or subject areas and want to share their thoughts about what they read.

Another example could be location based services, where content is delivered to your Kindle depending on where you are in the world. These are just a couple of examples, which may not be even practical after a “real-life” analysis has been conducted, but they do show that the Kindle could think out of its new graphite colored box, and get more creative.

Kindle 4?

The Kindle 3 has successfully improved on an already mature product, in response to increasing tough market conditions and growing consumer demands. While the Kindle 3 will not surpass expectations, it nevertheless provides an improved reading experience that will not disappoint.

Jeff Bezos recently declared that the Kindle is in for the long haul and that he expects that there will be dozens more generations of Kindle ahead. Let’s hope that the Kindle 4 will do that little bit more than the Kindle 3.

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Blog: Amazon Tablet

By Christopher Auriol

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