Posts Tagged ‘amazon kindle’
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Behind The Technology Of The Amazon Kindle
February 15, 2010
There are plenty of reviews on Amazon’s Kindle reader available right now. It’s way ahead of the other e-book readers available right now, and is very much the “must have” gadget of the moment. Most reviews concentrate on the Kindle’s technical aspects, which is quite understandable. It’s a piece of high tech personal electronics after all. Even so, a brief look at the actual user experience with the Kindle might not be a bad idea.
First of all, a very quick look at the spec. The Kindle 2.0 has a ticket price of $ 259. It’s approximately the size of the average paperback and about as thick as a glossy magazine. It weighs a little over 10 ounces and has enough memory to store approximately 1500 books. One of its key features is its e-ink technology display. This produces less eye strain than reading on a PC screen – and has a much lower power requirement.
My first impression, when I got my Kindle a few weeks ago, was that the button positioning wasn’t right. There are two buttons on the left hand side – “prev page” and “next page”. There are a further two buttons on the right hand side – “home” and “next page” (again). At first I thought that one of the “next page” buttons was redundant. I thought that the left hand one wasn’t required.
However, after using the Kindle reader for just a few minutes, it made perfect sense. Sitting propped up in bed, on a crowded bus, in the metro or drinking coffee in Starbucks, it’s ideal. You can easily hold the Kindle in one hand and leaf through the pages, forwards or back, using your thumb. As a matter of fact, it’s much easier to use than a real book.
Before I bought my Kindle, I had tried a display model e-book reader in my local bookstore. I must confess, I didn’t really like the way the page refreshed. Once again, after using the Kindle for just a few minutes, I didn’t even notice this anymore. It’s exactly like flipping the page in a “normal” paper book for me now.
When it comes to the actual reading experience itself, the e-ink display is fantastic. The background is a light grey instead of the traditional white or cream of paper – but you get used to this very quickly. Compared to reading on a back-lit PC monitor, it produces a lot less eye strain. All I can say is that, whenever I’m reading a good book on the Kindle, I’m totally oblivious to the fact that I’m using it rather than reading a conventional book.
The low power requirement of the e-ink display is another big bonus. Although I read a fair amount of books, I find that the Kindle will usually go for around three weeks between charges – that’s with the wireless turned off. I usually turn the wireless connection on only when I’m buying books – which is a very simple process. In fact, it might be just a little too easy – I am very definitely guilty of a few impulse buys. According to Amazon’s official product description, books will download in less than a minute. From my own experience I would say that it’s way less than this. Of course, this isn’t a big deal really – but think about how annoying it can be when you PC takes an extra thirty seconds or so to boot up one day and you’ll get the point. It’s just another positive aspect to the overall user experience.
Just to try to give you some idea of what a pleasurable experience reading on the Kindle is, a few days ago I got an e-mail from Amazon to tell me that my order had shipped. I went to check it out as I knew that I hadn’t ordered anything. I found that it was a book by a favourite author of mine which I had pre-ordered some weeks ago and then forgotten about. Frankly, the thought of going back to manhandling a heavy book – even one written by one of my favourite authors – was less than appealing. Holding a book in my left hand and turning pages with my right seems like something out of the stone age to me now.
Find out more about the Amazon Kindle for yourself and view the wide range of Kindle accessories available to help you personalise your reader.
Redefining Reading And Publishing With E-Book Readers
January 20, 2010
E-Book readers were certainly hot news in 2009. Internet giant Amazon launched both the Kindle 2.0 and the Kindle DX, causing quite a stir and gaining a lot of publicity for e-book readers in general and the Kindle in particular. Competitors like Sony and Barnes and Noble fought back with readers of their own, whilst others such as Microsoft and Apple continued to develop their own hardware for future release.
Since e-book readers are consumer electronics devices – and relatively new ones at that – it’s easy to become swept away in the analysis of the technical specification of the various individual readers. The Kindle can download books wirelessly with no need for a broadband connection, a Wi-Fi hotspot or a computer of any kind. Barnes and Noble’s Nook has a color screen, the Daily Edition reader from Sony lets you borrow books from participating libraries – and so on.
However, it’s just possible that e-book readers could represent the biggest change in our reading habits since Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440. This innovation allowed books to be mass produced using paper instead of expensive parchment or vellum. The cost of book publishing fell dramatically and books were, literally, placed in the hands of the common man.
There really haven’t been any significant changes in the way that books are read since that time. There have certainly been efficiency improvements in printing technology. Word processors and computers have reduced costs further. Even so, the end product has remained remarkably similar to what Gutenberg produced – printed text on paper.
Publishers have been operating within certain confines as a result of the constant nature of their end product for centuries. They have produced a physical product, with print run costs and delivery fees associated with it.
The difference with e-book readers is that they do not simply offer a way of carrying out the existing process more efficiently. They totally rewrite the rules – both for the publishers and the readers. There is no physical product which means that fewer materials are consumed. No ink, paper, chemicals, bindings etc. are required. There are also serious savings in the cost of delivery.
What this means is that not only do e-books cost less to publish and deliver, but they are – even when taking the materials used in the production of the e-book reader devices into account – less harmful to the environment.
It also means that publishers have more options available to them in order to market both books and authors. For example, if a publisher wants to highlight a particular author, then they can offer a selection of their titles at very low prices – or completely free – for a short period of time. Another increasingly common tactic is to offer the first title in a series free in the hope that the reader will buy subsequent titles or possibly other books by the same author. Whilst not completely impossible, this would be a much riskier and more costly undertaking using a traditional print run.
On the Amazon website there are a large number of free Kindle books on offer. Other Kindle books on the site generally have the first chapter available as a free download. Prospective readers can try before they buy. This may well encourage readers to experiment a little and try new authors that they might otherwise have overlooked.
The strong focus on the new, sexy, hardware is perfectly understandable. However, in the longer term it will be the increased marketing opportunities and the ease of access afforded to readers that will make the difference in the way books are both published and read in the not too distant future.
Learn more about the Amazon Kindle reader and find out how you can save money by downloading free Kindle ebooks straight from Amazon’s Kindle store.
Electronic Reading Devices Reviews – 3 Different Choices to Consider Before Purchasing
January 12, 2010
In this article we will compare 3 different choices to consider before purchasing an ebook reader. The electronic reading device reviews below will outline the many features and specifications of each item; this will hopefully make it easier for you to decide between them.
1. Amazon Kindle: The Amazon Kindle is a portable reading device that can hold up to 1500 books. It has global wireless coverage and is lightweight measuring at only 10.2 ounces and is just over 1/3 of an inch. Downloads are fast, taking only 60 seconds, and 3G wireless gives you access to books just about everywhere without having to worry about any contracts or monthly fees. The screens are a paper like display which will compensate for glare in every kind of light, even sunlight, so you’ll never have difficulty reading. Don’t feel like reading? Use the read-to-me function and have your books read to you and also enjoy a built-in dictionary. Each Kindle offers a large selection of books, magazines, blogs and newspapers, and you have access to low book prices even New York Times Best Sellers and new releases.
2. Sony Digital Reader: Most of the same features are offered with this electronic reading device, but this one has touch screen navigation too. It will allow you to turn pages with the swipe of a finger; take freehand notes or highlight sections of text that you might want to look at again later. Also inclusive is an ebook library software that allows you to export your notes to your computer. The Sony Reader supports both industry standard formats, ePub and PDF; this comes in handy as you have access to a wider number of books and the places you get them from. The capacity is a bit smaller though and it can only hold up to 350 books at one time.
3. Amazon Kindle DX: A variation of the Amazon Kindle, the DX comes with a larger 9.7 inch screen display. It holds 3500 books and periodicals at one time, but is limited to U.S. Wireless. A bonus to this Kindle is it offers 16 shades of gray which results in sharper images and text and also has an auto-rotating screen so you can switch between landscape and portrait easily.
In this article we discussed 3 different electronic reading devices and outlined their different specifications. Before purchasing any of the above ebook readers, checkout the differences between the Amazon Kindle, the Sony Reader and the larger screen and storage option of the Amazon Kindle DX.
Want more information?
Vince Knightley, an avid Techie, has reviewed one of the hottest pieces of technology to date. Visit Portable Ebook Reader to learn more about the best electronic book reader.
Best Portable Ebook Reader – 3 Awesome Features to a Wireless Reading Device
January 11, 2010
This article will discuss 3 awesome features to a wireless reading device and why they have become such a popular option for avid readers and frequent travelers. While the best portable ebook reader includes many features, this article will focus on just the top 3 features that are very popular among consumers.
1. 3G Wireless Capabilities: An extremely important feature of a portable ebook reader is the 3G Wireless capability and being able to download the books you want wherever you go. What’s the bonus of enjoying their small size and storage capacity, if you can’t gain access in order to download what you want?
Download books with ease directly onto your reading device with 3G Wireless; no need to worry about annual contracts, monthly fees or needing to hunt for Wi-Fi hotspots.
2. Global Coverage: Most of the portable ebook options come with global coverage, this allows you access to the books you want at home as well as in over 100 countries. Some websites offering these products display maps of their coverage so you can see exactly where you will have the best connectivity options.
The standards for coverage include the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, Norway, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom and many more.
3. Long Battery Life: A single charge will generally give you the capability of reading for up to 1 week; this is a huge improvement on the previous battery that only lasted 4 days. To read for up to 2 weeks on a single charge, simply turn the wireless off.
Battery life can vary depending on the wireless usage, when you are shopping the store for books and downloading content, you will eat up the battery faster than if you are simply reading. Beware of lower coverage areas as well since the wireless usage will also quickly consume the battery life.
This article discussed 3 desirable features of a portable ebook reader. From 3G wireless capabilities, global coverage and a long battery life, wireless reading devices are fast becoming one of the hottest products on the market for anyone who loves to read.
Want to learn more?
Vince Knightley, an avid Techie, has reviewed one of the hottest pieces of technology to date. Visit Portable Ebook Digital Reader to learn more about the best portable ebook reader system.
Digital Textbooks – Saving Money And Benefiting Students
December 16, 2009
The world of academic publishing is perhaps not the first thing that many people would think of when considering new and innovative technology. So it may be somewhat surprising to learn that it is exactly this very arena which is driving huge changes in the way that we read books.
The Amazon Kindle ebook reader was first launched in November 2007. At that time, it didn’t really register in the academic community. When the new Kindle 2 was released in February 2009 there was perhaps a little more interest – but not that much.
It was only with the announcement of Amazon’s Kindle DX that it became clear that our reading habits were about to be subject to major modification. The large screen of the DX, coupled with its native pdf file handling ability, made it ideal for academic textbooks containing large quantities of graphs and pictures.
Educational establishments quickly cottoned on to the fact that they could save money by using digital textbooks and e-book readers. Without the cost of paper or ink, and with none of the distribution fees which would normally be required for a physical product, e-books are a much cheaper alternative to a conventional paper book. Considerable financial savings could be made by schools, colleges and universities by making the switch to electronic textbooks.
In addition to financial considerations, updating of electronic media is much faster and easier. Currently, there is an average gap of seven years between revisions of standard textbooks. A change to digital textbooks would allow much more frequent revision and help to keep textbooks up to date and current.
Another benefit which is of interest to many academic establishments is the environmental aspects of electronic books and e-book readers. Even considering the materials used in the manufacture of the readers and the electricity required to operate them they are much more eco-friendly than the normal paper based alternative.
Whatever way you choose to look at it, the introduction of electronic textbooks makes perfect sense. They are already in use in many educational establishments and, when you look at all the potential benefits outlined above, it seems highly likely that their usage can be expected to increase rapidly in the near future.
Find out more about Amazon’s Kindle reader – including how to save money by downloading free Kindle ebooks.
E-Book Readers – What Does The Future Hold?
November 25, 2009
In February 2009, when Amazon updated their Kindle e-book reader with the release of the improved and enhanced Kindle 2 reader, it was the only reader offering the facility of wireless connection. It took until June of this year for another reader to offer a similar wireless connection service. Even then, that competing reader was Amazon’s large format Kindle DX, which was specifically aimed at the newspaper, magazin and academic textbook audience.
It looked like the only competition to Amazon was Amazon itself. There were certainly no other serious challengers in sight.
Even now, in late November 2009, there are no readers outside of the Amazon Kindle family which offer wireless functionality. Amazon have enjoyed a commanding lead for some time now.
But that is about to change. Sony will be launching their new Daily Edition reader around about the middle of December and Barnes and Noble’s Nook is planned to hit the stores at approximately the same time.
Both of these readers have wireless functionality and some additional features, such as touch screen controls which will, in many people’s eyes, put them ahead of the current Kindles. The Daily Edition reader even allows users to borrow e-books from participating public libraries.
The Nook will allow its users to access a collection of over 1,000,000 e-books on the Barnes and Noble website. Users will even be able to lend e-books to friends and family – just like a real book.
Whether you consider the situation from the viewpoint of technical specification or from the user features and usability angle, the Kindle may find itself in the unaccustomed role of the second, or even third place option.
Next year competition will increase even more as manufacturers start to launch large format readers to slug it out with the Kindle DX. The good news is that consumers will benefit from increased competition which will tend to force prices lower. Considering that the Kindle has now become the number one selling product for Amazon, it seems highlylikely that they will respond to this competition in a positive manner. Expect to see further device enhancements and quite possibly new services. 2010 will see convergence on a standard e-book format – probably ePub – and this, combined with reduced prices and improved functionality – should be enough to allow e-book readers to morph from high tech toys into mainstream consumer products.
Discover the Amazon Kindle reader and see the full range of Amazon Kindle accessories.
Ten Good Reasons To Treat Yourself To An Amazon Kindle
November 25, 2009
E-book readers have been available for ten years now. The original reader – the Franklin Ebookman – launched in’99, and it’s still on sale today. However, 2009 has been the year when these devices really entered into the mainstream marketplace. Right now, the Amazon Kindle reader family are the front runners. E-book readers and the downloadable books to read on them are the perfect product for Amazon. So maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that they launched two new readers in the first half of 2009.
The first to launch, in February 2009, was the Kindle 2. The large format Kindle DX – with its 9.7″ display – followed in June. If you haven’t taken any notice of these devices thus far, or if you’ve been wondering if an e-book reader is a sensible choice for you, then here are ten reasons why you might want to consider putting one of these devices on your Christmas wish list?
1. Never find yourself without something to read again. You can download a book from the Amazon website in less than a minute.
2. E-books don’t use ink, paper or bindings – and there’s no distribution. That means that your e-book is better for the environment than the equivalent traditional printed volume.
3. No need to worry about “getting connected”. Amazon use a fee free 3G wireless technology to download Kindle books.
4. You can carry a small library of book with you wherever you go. There’s enough room in the Kindle 2′s memory for 1500 books. The DX can store a mammoth colection of 3,500 books.
5. Customize your Kindle and express your personality. You can even get beautiful leather covers that will make your Kindle look more like a “real” book if you like.
6.There are over 300,000 books at the Amazon website for you to choose from – and that number is increasing every single day. There’s bound to be something that you’ll like.
7. The Kindle reader can store and play mp3 music files – so you can enjoy a little background music whilst you read your latest bestseller.
8. As well as being environmentally friendly, no printing costs and no distribution means that you will pay less money for an e-book than the equivalent print version.
9. Save money by downloading free Kindle books straight from the Amazon site. Many of these are out of copyright classics – 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Sherlock Holmes etc. – but modern books are available also.
10. Try before you buy. Download the fist chapter of most Kindle books for free so that you can be sure you’re going to like a book before you spend your hard earned cash.
Check out the Kindle soon – it’s the future of reading.
Learn more about the Amazon Kindle ebook reader, and discover how to save money by sourcing free Kindle books direct from the Amazon website.
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