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| Study finds Kindle more eco-friendly than actual books, maybe |
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A mass-produced piece of plastic and electronics more environmentally-friendly than a simple book? Possibly, at least according to a new study released by the Cleantech Group. While the group found that the Kindle's upfront environmental impact was indeed fairly significant, they also found that the numbers can change dramatically over the course of the device's lifecycle -- depending largely on the users' reading habits, of course. More specifically, they say that the Kindle can produce a potential savings of 1,074 kg of CO2 if it replaces three books a month for four years, or a whopping 26,098 kg of CO2 if the Kindle DX is used to its fullest capacity. They also found that the Kindle would still break even if it replaced just 22.5 books over its lifespan, although they're quick to point out that its impact can turn to a negative if folks continue to buy books and print periodicals in addition to e-books and don't recycle them.
Filed under: HandheldsStudy finds Kindle more eco-friendly than actual books, maybe originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/31/2009 4:44 PM (84d 16h 49m ago) |
| How would you change Amazon's Kindle DX? |
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You didn't have to read much of our recent Kindle DX review to get a handle on our opinions of the super-sized e-reader, but as you've likely gleaned from the headline, this one's not about us. Instead, we're asking you to chime in with your take on this here device during this week's How Would You Change. Did you really gain anything from the larger screen? Have you found it useful in your line of work / education? Are you down on the keyboard? Given Amazon's history, we can't imagine that the DX will stay in this form forever, and listen, wouldn't you want to have a say in what gets changed on Revision B? Drop your most intimate thoughts on the matter below -- who knows, maybe Sir Bezos is tuning in just to cash in on your two pennies.Filed under: HandheldsHow would you change Amazon's Kindle DX? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/10/2009 12:44 PM (105d 20h 50m ago) |
| Sony Reader Pocket and Touch editions lower cost of entry, online e-book store follows suit |
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As it turns out, those Sony Reader leaks from earlier this week were spot on. The company just went official with the PRS-300 and 600, which will more affectionately be known as the Pocket and Touch editions, respectively. The latter (pictured left, not to scale) is the 6-inch resistive touchscreen model replacing the PRS-700, with Memory Stick / Duo and SD card slots. The backlighting layer from its predecessor has been dropped to improve touch responsiveness and to alleviate concerns of glare. It also comes packing a stylus and a digitized copy of the Oxford American English Dictionary and will be available in red, black, and silver. The Pocket Edition, on the other hand, is your standard fare with no touchscreen or expandable disk port, and palettes including blue, silver, and rose. Both models have USB 2.0, 512MB internal memory, and no WiFi whatsoever -- Sony assures us a WiFi version is coming and there'll be news on those coming soon, but this isn't it. There's also Mac compatibility, a first for the series, that's trickling down to older models via a firmware update. Touch and Pocket will be available by the end of August and will retail for $299 and $199, a substantially more competitive price point than its previous generation. Speaking of which, as of tomorrow, the Sony's e-book store is dropping the prices of its bestsellers from $11.99 to $9.99. A win all around, but will it be enough to make a dent in Kindle's stronghold? Things are certainly getting more interesting.
Gallery: Sony Reader Pocket and Touch editions lower cost of entry, online e-book store follows suitFiled under: HandheldsSony Reader Pocket and Touch editions lower cost of entry, online e-book store follows suit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/05/2009 11:31 PM (110d 10h 3m ago) |
| Design your own Kindle (and win it) with Engadget, Amazon, and Adafruit Industries! |
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Reading isn't just about the text that you're reading, it's an intimately personal experience in every sense of the word -- the way the book feels, the crease of the pages, the wear on the cover, it's all totally unique to your copy at the time that you're reading it. Put simply, it's an experience no one else will ever have. Between three models, dozens of accessories, and countless e-books, no two Kindles are alike, either -- but Engadget has partnered with Amazon and the DIY experts over at Adafruit Industries to hook up five extraordinarily lucky readers with truly unique reading devices. These guys are the laser etching experts -- see one of the Kindles they've done here!Here's the deal: we're asking you to think of a design that would look great on the Kindle's brushed metal back -- something that means a lot to you, something that'll make passers-by drool with envy when you casually hold up your new toy while reading The Economist from the comfort of your train, plane, or bus seat. Draft up that design (seriously, make sure it's awesome, because you'll be facing some stiff competition) and send it to us. We'll post some of our favorites and hand the reigns over to you -- our dear readers -- to select five finalists who will have their designs laser-etched into reality on the backs of their very own Kindles!The rules:
Send your design to us by emailing it to contests [at] engadget [dawt] com with the subject "I want my custom Kindle!" (no quotes). Submissions must be in EPS or AI format, must be in black and white only, and must be composed strictly of vector graphics with all fonts converted to curves. We can scale your design as necessary, but keep in mind that you'll be dealing with an etchable area roughly five inches by seven inches. You can find a (very large) image of the back of the Kindle 2 here for your reference.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified... |
| | 7/14/2009 4:19 PM (132d 17h 14m ago) |
| Rupert Murdoch staying out of the e-reader business, Red Eye sadly still on the air |
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With the news biz in obvious (and some might say terminal) disarray, of course folks in the business will be looking for ways to stay afloat in the age of the e-reader -- and it's long been rumored that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is looking to launch a device of its own (if by "long" you mean "since early April or thereabouts"). When asked yesterday if this was the case, Murdoch answered: "I don't think that's likely. We're looking and talking to a lot of laboratories and big companies around the world like Sony, Fujitsu, Samsung. We're all working on wireless readers for books or for newspapers or for magazines. I think they're a year or two away, being marketed in a mass way, high quality ones. And we will be absolutely neutral. We're very happy to have our products distributed over any device provided it's only going to subscribers who are paying for it." Of course, the man may have some sort of diabolical scheme up his sleeve (when doesn't he, really?), but for the time being, he says, the Wall Street Journal is doing "very well... you've got the wallstreetjournal.com and you pay for it. And there is 1.25 million people nearly who are doing that. And we get a lot of advertising with it. It's a big business for us." So it's more likely that we'll see more News Corp papers adopting an online subscription model before the advent of any Fox News e-ink device. But if it does get in the hardware business, we'll gladly shell out for a Glenn Beck signature model. But only if it's ironic. [Via GigaOM]
Filed under: HandheldsRupert Murdoch staying out of the e-reader business, Red Eye sadly still on the air originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 7/10/2009 6:31 PM (136d 15h 2m ago) |
| Amazon Kindle DX review |
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Here's the one-line summary of the Kindle DX: It's Kindle 2 with a larger screen, hair-trigger orientation sensor, and an awful keyboard. Seriously awful. Yes, we know we should be focused on things like PDF support or even content partners like newspapers and textbook publishers, but we're having a hard time getting over the keyboard -- it's emblematic of some puzzling design choices Amazon made with the Kindle DX. What do we mean? Read on.Continue reading Amazon Kindle DX reviewFiled under: HandheldsAmazon Kindle DX review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/20/2009 12:12 AM (157d 9h 21m ago) |
| Amazon puts code where its mouth is: releases Kindle source to the world |
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Well, here's a nice start to what Jeff Bezos was saying about giving the Kindle reader team some competition: Amazon just released source code for all its Kindle devices. It's fairly basic Linux underneath (kernel 2.6.22 on the latest 2.1 software), but obviously includes E Ink drivers and other relevant hardware support. What's unclear without compiling one of these and booting it up (to our untrained eyes, anyway) is whether Amazon stripped out its various DRM and licensed codec support -- MP3 and Audible seem very likely candidates for explosion, even if turns out Amazon did leave in its own Kindle Book DRM. We're also lacking an actual specific license for the code, though the folder we unpacked the OS to is called "gplrelease," so hopefully we're looking at the GNU General Public License -- which would mean manufacturers can take and repurpose this code to build their own Kindle clone / destroyer / gentle homage.Filed under: HandheldsAmazon puts code where its mouth is: releases Kindle source to the world originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/17/2009 4:17 PM (159d 17h 17m ago) |
| Amazon Kindle DX to start shipping on June 10th |
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Amazon just dropped word that the new Kindle DX will start shipping out on June 10th, a pleasant improvement on the perviously vague "summer" release date. The device is still available for pre-order, and shipments of the $489, 9.7-inch, PDF-capable ebook will be on a first-come, first-served basis.Filed under: HandheldsAmazon Kindle DX to start shipping on June 10th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/01/2009 8:42 PM (175d 12h 51m ago) |
| PVI to buy E Ink for $215 million |
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You may not know who Taiwan-based Prime View International is but the makers of the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader sure do. See, PVI is the company that builds the electronic paper displays for the world's most popular ebook readers. Now, it's also the expectant owner of US-based E Ink and all the associated patents that come with. The deal, if approved by government regulators, is expected to close by October.Filed under: DisplaysPVI to buy E Ink for $215 million originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/01/2009 4:38 PM (175d 16h 55m ago) |
| A color Kindle is years away, buyers remorse here to stay |
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Hey, Kindle 2 owners, remember when Amazon made the device official and you thought: "Well, it took them a year and a half to replace the old one, so I can buy this one without fears of immediate obsolescence." And then remember how three months later they announced the Kindle DX and you thought: "Oh." Well, if you're now fearing a color Kindle will come sauntering along in a few months to make everyone jealous, fear not, as Jeff Bezos is saying the tech is still "multiple years" away, adding "I've seen the color displays in the laboratory and I can assure you they're not ready for prime time." From the few prototypes we've seen we'd tend to agree. So, anyone still on the fence about a Kindle, go ahead and buy now with confidence, as your devices won't be made to look quaint any time soon -- at least until that pizza box-sized reader Amazon's been working on in secret is announced in July. Did we mention it actually cooks pizza?Filed under: HandheldsA color Kindle is years away, buyers remorse here to stay originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/29/2009 8:02 PM (178d 13h 32m ago) |
| Amazon Launches iPhone-Optimized Kindle Store |
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Amazon today announced the launch of an iPhone-optimized Kindle Store accessible via the iPhone's Safari browser. The store is accessible through the "Get Books" button on the free Kindle for iPhone application made available in early March. |
| | 5/12/2009 5:12 PM (195d 16h 21m ago) |
| Switched On: Big Kindle on Campus |
| | Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
Amazon's Kindle DX includes a few tweaks such as automatically rotating the orientation of the screen when it is placed in landscape mode and adjustable page margins because... well, CEO Jeff Bezos seems to like the feature. Literally, though, the biggest change is the new 9.7-inch electronic ink screen, which displays two and a half times more content than the 6-inch screen on the Kindle 2 and Sony Reader. The expanded display allows more detailed graphics to be seen without zooming or panning, and is better suited to a wide range of source material including maps, technical diagrams, and sheet music. But textbooks and newspapers were singled out as two printed sources that are particularly significant for the forthcoming device.
These publications both benefit from the larger Kindle screen size, but each face different challenges in finding success on the Kindle DX. For newspapers, the Kindle DX cuts down on the costs of printing. Newspapers, though, are already struggling against competitors that did away with that expense years ago, including blogs that break stories and online entities such as Craigslist, eBay and Google that have siphoned away advertising revenue. Textbooks, on the other hand, have no major electronic competition, and print still retains advantages such as better readability and color. But digital textbooks must compete with used textbooks, a major market on college campuses, and likely will not be able to be resold if other digital content is a predecessor.
At the Kindle DX launch, representatives from The New York Times Company and Case Western Reserve University both characterized their involvement with the Kindle DX as a trial or experimentation. What's behind the arm's length embrace?Continue reading Switched On: Big Kindle on CampusFiled under: HandheldsSwitched On: Big Kindle on Campus originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 May 2009 17:12:00... |
| | 5/11/2009 3:45 PM (196d 17h 48m ago) |
| Kindle 2 gets the Colorware treatment, prepares to burn some retinas |
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We know that the only reason you're holding out on buying a Kindle 2 is your aversion to that sterile plastic shell. Well, you're in luck, aesthete... 'cos the folks at Colorware will happily sell you a model that lives out loud for a song (and $599, baseline). Or you can send in your own e-reader, in which case a cool $199 will get you the paint job you deserve. It will be 2-3 weeks before you get your device back in your hot hands, but when you do you'll be ready to read The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby in pop art style. Hit that read link to get started.[Via Slash Gear]
Filed under: HandheldsKindle 2 gets the Colorware treatment, prepares to burn some retinas originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 May 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/11/2009 3:38 PM (196d 17h 55m ago) |
| Amazon takes 70 percent of Kindle newspaper revenues |
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The Kindle DX launch might have sparked a wave of hype about the next generation of newspapers, but not everyone's so quick to agree: Dallas Morning News CEO James Moroney told a Senate subcommittee yesterday that the Kindle isn't a "platform that's going to save newspapers in the near term." According to Moroney, Amazon demands 70 percent of subscription revenue from newspapers, and further requires content owners to grant Amazon the right to republish content to other devices -- like, say, the iPhone. That's a pretty inequitable split, and while we understand that Amazon has to pay for Whispernet somehow, it's hard to imagine newspaper publishers lining up to wager 70 percent of their digital subscription revenues and a perpetual license to their content on devices that are far from proven. On the other hand, it's innovate or die time for these guys, so we'll see what happens -- with all the competitors out there poised to make a move, things are about to get interesting.Filed under: HandheldsAmazon takes 70 percent of Kindle newspaper revenues originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/08/2009 1:50 AM (200d 7h 43m ago) |
| Poll: Will you buy a Kindle DX? |
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Now that the dust is beginning to settle, we here at Engadget are wondering how all of you are feeling about your new Kindle options. With the Kindle 2 still in its infancy, and the newborn Kindle DX ready to hit the scene (not to mention the host of other e-reader options), how are you likely to spend all that cash you normally shell out on paper and ink Neal Stephenson novels? Will you make the leap to e-ink, or are you still bound and determined to cart The Baroque Cycle around in a Radio Flyer? We've already shared some of our thoughts -- tell us how you feel in the poll below -- and feel free to quote The Diamond Age in the comments.
View PollFiled under: HandheldsPoll: Will you buy a Kindle DX? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/07/2009 4:00 PM (200d 17h 33m ago) |
| Report: Rupert Murdoch forms global team, looks into hardware for content revenue stream |
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In case you didn't think Rupert Murdoch was serious about e-book readers before, The Daily Beast has it from its sources that the News Corp mogul has assembled a global team, with members hailing form London, New York, and Sydney, to find some way to better monetize / charge for online content. Unsurprisingly, that leads to hardware and possibly creating a more "user-friendly way" to deliver content that'll incentivize consumers to pay -- Kindle does it, Hearst wants to do it, so why not the world's biggest media conglomerate? As for the mythical device itself, let's recap what we've heard so far, from the man himself: a bigger screen than Amazon's now-antiquated models, a four-color pallette, and"you can get everything there." Now how about putting a name to the manufacturer, hm?
[Via Electronista]Filed under: HandheldsReport: Rupert Murdoch forms global team, looks into hardware for content revenue stream originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 21:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/07/2009 3:59 PM (200d 17h 34m ago) |
| Amazon Kindle DX announced: $489, ships this summer |
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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Official_Amazon_Kindle_DX_is_9_7_inches_489'; Just as with the Kindle 2, Amazon posted the Kindle DX product page while the launch event was underway. Specs-wise, there's not much here we didn't know: the big changes are a larger 9.7-inch screen that rotates to landscape display, a PDF reader, and more storage space at 3.3GB. The big news is actually the flat $489 price tag, which seems on the high-side of realistic to us -- although the subsidy-pricing rumors weren't totally inaccurate, as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Boston Globe will offer subsidized on-contract Kindles to customers who can't get at-home delivery when the DX ships this summer. (Yes, that's a pretty lame restriction.) Amazon's also announcing a wide range of textbook publishing partnerships, with tomes from Addison-Wesley, Wiley Higher Education, Longman & Prentice Hall and many others available -- and what's more, Arizona State, Case Western Reserve, Princeton, Reed, and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia have all signed on to distribute "hundreds" of Kindle DXs to students this fall. We're hunting for more info, stay tuned.Gallery: Amazon Kindle DXGallery: Kindle DX NYC eventRead - Kindle DX product pageRead - Kindle DX PR[Thanks, Jason G]Filed under: HandheldsAmazon Kindle DX announced: $489, ships this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/06/2009 3:59 PM (201d 17h 35m ago) |
| Live from Amazon's Kindle event in NYC! |
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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Engadget_live_from_the_Amazon_Kindle_DX_launch'; We're on the ground for Amazon's latest, crazy shindig at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University in NYC. We're expecting nothing short of a large (and in charge) Kindle today, but you never know what kind of surprises we might run into. Stay tuned here for the events as they unfold!Continue reading Live from Amazon's Kindle event in NYC!Filed under: HandheldsLive from Amazon's Kindle event in NYC! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/06/2009 3:58 PM (201d 17h 35m ago) |
| Amazon Kindle DX first hands-on |
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We just got a quick first in-person look at Amazon's new Kindle DX. It looks bigger! Stand by for impressions.Gallery: Amazon Kindle DX first hands-onFiled under: HandheldsAmazon Kindle DX first hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/06/2009 3:58 PM (201d 17h 35m ago) |
| Amazon press event Wednesday: See you and the bigger Kindle then |
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Looks like the rumor of a new larger Kindle is true. Amazon just sent us an invitation to a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 at 10:30am ET. You know what Amazon does at press events? It launches new Kindles!As noted by Peter Kafka over at All Things Digital, the location of the Amazon event -- Pace University -- is the historic, 19th century HQ to the New York Times which is said to be partnering with Amazon on the larger Kindle. That makes for a perfect symbolic bridge from old to new media. We'll have to wait and see if newspaper subscribers can be lured across.Update: We have a reliable tip that Barbara Snyder, president of Case Western Reserve University, and Arthur Sulzberger, top man at the New York Times will join Amazon's Jeff Bezos on stage Wednesday. So it looks like a new Kindle focused on textbooks and newspapers is a lock.Filed under: Misc. GadgetsAmazon press event Wednesday: See you and the bigger Kindle then originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 May 2009 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/04/2009 4:47 PM (203d 16h 46m ago) |
| Amazon has acquired Stanza |
| | Filed under: Software, iPhone, iPod touchLast month Amazon released the free Kindle application for the iPhone in the US [App Store link], shortly after the Kindle 2 hit the market. If you haven't used it yet, it works quite well. Users can buy books (but not subscriptions) from the Kindle Store via Mobile Safari for reading on their iPhones, although the purchasing process is easier from a desktop browser. Unlike the Kindle, the iPhone app is able to display color images, but it lacks text-to-speech as well as a direct connection to the Kindle Store. Whispersync, which synchronizes ebooks between the iPhone app and Kindle, works as advertised.A few weeks ago, we posted a comparison of ebook readers featuring, among others, the iPhone app Stanza [App Store link]. As Steve mentioned, Stanza works with nearly every ebook format, even Project Gutenberg etexts. I only used Stanza briefly to check it out and I can say that the UI was very nice. Additionally, the folks who created Stanza have an existing relationship with ebook seller Fictionwise. In fact, Fictionwise created an ebook store just for Stanza users.This week, we've learned that Amazon has acquired the company behind Stanza. We can only assume that aspects of Stanza will make it into a future release of Kindle for the iPhone.TUAWAmazon has acquired Stanza originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/01/2009 4:24 PM (206d 17h 9m ago) |
| Informal poll suggests nearly 70% of Kindle owners are over 40 |
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There's already been some anecdotal evidence that the Kindle appeals to a slightly older set than your average newfangled gadget, and a new poll culled from responses on the Amazon forums is now shedding a bit more, if still not entirely scientific light on the matter. According to the Kindle Culture blog, the single largest group of Kindle users (broken down by decade) is folks in their 50s, with those in their 40s and 60s coming in second and third -- all of which adds up to nearly 50% of users being over 50, and close to 70% being over 40. Broken down into some broader demographics, that translates to adults 35-54 accounting for 38.4% of the user base, with older adults (over 54) representing a healthy 37.3%, while young adults (18-34) manage a mere 22%. Still looking for more numbers? Then hit up the link below for the complete breakdown, plus a bonus pie chart.[Via Crave]
Filed under: HandheldsInformal poll suggests nearly 70% of Kindle owners are over 40 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 May 2009 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/01/2009 4:13 PM (206d 17h 20m ago) |
| Amazon to charge per megabyte to send personal documents OTA to your Kindle |
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So far, sending files to your Kindle cost a flat fee -- one dime per document for conversion and download over Whispernet. Looks like that honeymoon is over, as Amazon's announced that as of May 4th, the Personal Document Service will be a variable fee of $0.15 per megabyte, rounding up. It's still free of charge if you transfer the documents over via USB, and sending them to "name"@free.kindle.com will return converted files to your email address gratis. If you're trying to be frugal, we might suggest combining all those pending transfers into one fat PDF and sending it off sometime this weekend.
[Via GearDiary]
Filed under: HandheldsAmazon to charge per megabyte to send personal documents OTA to your Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 4/30/2009 3:46 PM (207d 17h 47m ago) |
| Video: Blade Runner starring the iPod shuffle and Kindle 2 |
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You've probably heard the text-to-speech capabilities of the Amazon Kindle 2 and iPod shuffle by now. But you probably haven't heard them act out Leon's VK test from Blade Runner. Check the newest nerd-legend after the break, then come back and tell us about your mothers.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading Video: Blade Runner starring the iPod shuffle and Kindle 2Filed under: Handhelds, Portable AudioVideo: Blade Runner starring the iPod shuffle and Kindle 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 4/24/2009 4:07 PM (213d 17h 26m ago) |
| For the lazy: DIY Kindle stand to read in bed |
| | (Credit: Randall Munroe)
Munroe's Kindle stand makes it easy to read while lying in bed.(Credit: Randall Munroe)
XKCD's creator Randall Munroe has come up with a pretty ingenious solution to those of us who have a Kindle, and who like reading sideways when lying in bed (... |
| | 4/20/2009 9:19 PM (217d 12h 14m ago) |
| Amazon suspends Kindle account after too many product returns |
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The Kindle should be a pretty straight forward proposition, but this just goes to show you how sometimes folks can stir up controversy even with something as innocuous as an e-book reader. First there was the hassle with the Writers Guild over text-to-speech, and then Amazon threatened MobileRead with legal action for merely linking to software they didn't take kindly too. And now we're hearing alarming tales of Kindle owners who have had their accounts turned off when inadvertently running afoul of company policy. Case in point, a user on the MobileRead forums reports being locked out of his account for what was termed an "extraordinary" rate of returns (that is, he returned electronics that arrived damaged or defective). Because of this, our man was unable to purchase new books for his device, or even check out magazine / newspaper / blog subscriptions he had already paid for. Luckily, this gentleman was able to plead his case and get his account reactivated -- but other users haven't been quite so fortunate. We'll be keeping an eye on you, Amazon -- so let's try and play nice for now on.[Via Channel Web]
Filed under: HandheldsAmazon suspends Kindle account after too many product returns originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 4/16/2009 10:42 PM (221d 10h 51m ago) |
| Barnes & Noble working on an e-book reader of its own? |
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Everyone else is doing it, so why not Barnes & Noble too? That's the talk following last week's CTIA at least, where mysterious "insiders" were reportedly abuzz about the possibility of a B&N e-book reader that, like the Kindle, would supposedly be tied to a cellular carrier for some Whispernet-like connectivity. According to one of those insiders, Barnes & Noble had apparently first been in talks with Verizon about a partnership, but those seem to have fallen apart for one reason or another, and it now looks like Sprint (Amazon's partner, coincidentally) is the top contender. Some "observers" apparently still aren't ruling out AT&T as a possibility, however, especially in light of its recent expression of interest about getting into the e-book reader game. No word about the actual device itself just yet, but there's no shortage of ready-made options out there (like Plastic Logic's e-reader above) should B&N decide to go that route.[Thanks, Tim]
Filed under: HandheldsBarnes & Noble working on an e-book reader of its own? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 4/09/2009 4:53 PM (228d 16h 41m ago) |
| Savory for Kindle 2 automates PDF and EPUB conversions, doesn't make James Patterson any more enjoyable |
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We've seen surprisingly few Kindle 2 hacks 'round these parts, and therefore few apps that run on the beloved e-reader itself. One notable exception is Savory, which monitors the device's Documents directory for files sporting either the .epub or .pdf extensions -- when one of these guys rears its ugly head, it's converted to a Kindle filetype. The only hitch is that the program (as currently available) chokes on image-based PDFs -- according to the author, images in PDFs are fine, as long as there is some text to extract. Sure, the software doesn't do anything that Amazon doesn't already do for free -- but it does make the conversion quick and painless. Ready to give it a go? Hit the read link for the files, and you'll be mere moments away from all those terrific Left Behind books someone scanned and posted on The Pirate Bay. You're welcome.
Filed under: HandheldsSavory for Kindle 2 automates PDF and EPUB conversions, doesn't make James Patterson any more enjoyable originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 4/06/2009 3:53 PM (231d 17h 41m ago) |
| Newsweek: In defense of the Kindle |
| | Why should a civilization that reads electronically be any less literate than one that harvests trees to do so? |
| | 3/23/2009 6:53 PM (245d 14h 41m ago) |
| Kindle 2 gets its first firmware update |
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Looks like Amazon's widely rolling out the first Kindle 2 update -- we've actually been getting sporadic tips about it for a couple days now, but our unit didn't have an update option until today. Nothing huge to report here, but we're guessing that 2.0.2 allows publishers to selectively disable text-to-speech, which isn't exactly thrilling news. Anyone notice anything happy we should know about?Filed under: HandheldsKindle 2 gets its first firmware update originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 3/20/2009 1:59 AM (249d 7h 34m ago) |
| Discovery sues Amazon over Kindle, rushes reality show into production to cover trial |
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It's not exactly one of the usual suspects you'd expect to see taking umbrage with the Kindle, but it looks cable programming empire Discovery Communications has some issues of its own with the handheld, and it's now taking its complaints to court. Apparently, Discovery thinks that the Kindle infringes on one of its patents that covers the "secure, encrypted system for the selection, transmission, and sale of electronic books," which it received on November 20th, 2007 -- coincidentally just a day after the first Kindle launched on November 19th, 2007. As a result, Discovery is seeking some "fair compensation" from Amazon, although it isn't completely harsh on the Kindle and Kindle 2, saying that they are "important and popular content delivery systems." For its part, Amazon is unsurprisingly staying mum on the matter, and the lawsuit is now in the hands of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.[Via Broadcasting & Cable]
Filed under: HandheldsDiscovery sues Amazon over Kindle, rushes reality show into production to cover trial originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 3/18/2009 3:30 AM (251d 6h 4m ago) |
| Amazon Threatens Legal Action Against Those Increasing the Kindle's Usefulness [Kindle] |
| | Amazon recently threatened the smackdown on a site offering instructions on how to trick the Kindle into reading other types of files. This isn't a question of copyright infringement, it's a question of control. Amazon invoked the decade-old Digital Millenium Copyright Act, or DMCA, as proof of the wrongdoing of a Russian hacker who discovered a way to view non-proprietary files on the Kindle. Interestingly, they went after a site that provided instructions on how to use the hack, rather than the personal site where the software is actually hosted. The software, kindlepid.py, allows e-books purchased legally from other stores to play nice with the Kindle, which admittedly screws Amazon's gameplan a bit. But should Amazon really be able to sue someone for increasing the functionality of their device? We're conflicted. [Mobile Read via CNET]
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| | 3/15/2009 9:24 PM (253d 12h 9m ago) |
| Amazon using DMCA to restrict Kindle content sources |
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Oh, Amazon. Just a couple weeks after the Authors Guild's overzealous copyright-maximalist stance forced the bookseller to modify the Kindle 2's text to speech feature, the company's lawyers have had a fit of irony and sent out a DMCA takedown request to MobileRead, claiming that the site's links to a Python script that enables Kindle owners to shop at Mobipocket-format ebook sites constitutes circumvention of the Kindle's DRM. There's all kinds of corporate-lawyer idiocy at play here: MobileRead was just linking out to another site hosting the script, which can't actually be used to break Kindle DRM, and the only people using it are the people who want to buy more books -- not exactly the sort of customers you'd want to piss off. Amazon's sole motivation here seems to be the fear that people might buy Kindle content from somewhere besides Amazon, and it appears to be using copyright law to try and prevent that. Another corporation driven mad with DRM power? Say it ain't so.[Via TechDirt]Filed under: HandheldsAmazon using DMCA to restrict Kindle content sources originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 3/14/2009 2:03 AM (255d 7h 30m ago) |
| Comparing Kindle 2 with Kindle's iPhone app |
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Kindle for iPhone
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| | 3/04/2009 5:45 PM (264d 15h 48m ago) |
| The rumors were true -- you can turn your iPhone into a Kindle |
| | Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touchYou knew it was going to happen. Today Amazon is offering a free app [App Store link] for the iPhone/iPod touch that will give owners of those devices access to all the books Amazon sells for the Kindle eBook reader. The Kindle, which was updated last month, costs US $359.00. Amazon says it has a library of more than 240,000 eBooks for sale. The app does not make a direct connection to the Kindle store. You'll have to use Safari on the iPhone, iPod touch, or computer to actually buy the content. If you own a Kindle already, you will be able to sync the books you have over to the iPhone. Amazon says it has been working on the software for months, and sees it as a gateway to get people interested in buying a Kindle. One of the advantages of the Kindle app is that you will be able to see color illustrations in books, something not possible on the Kindle hardware, which only shows images in shades of gray. The iPhone version of the software does not have the controversial text to speech feature that has raised the eyebrows of companies selling audio books. Friday, Amazon said it would let publishers selectively turn off that feature on the Kindle.Thanks to everyone who sent this in.TUAWThe rumors were true -- you can turn your iPhone into a Kindle originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 3/04/2009 5:41 PM (264d 15h 52m ago) |
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| Amazon Kindle DX unboxing and hands-on! |
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Well, well -- what's this? Amazon's Kindle DX just arrived a little earlier than we expected, looking every bit like the big brother to the Kindle 2 it did at launch. Seriously -- apart from new, less comfortable keyboard, externally you're just looking at a Kindle 2 with a bigger screen. Turn it on, though, and you immediately notice the orientation sensor, which is almost too sensitive. We're loading this thing up with content and putting it through its paces right now, but in the meantime hit up the gallery below for the unboxing and some comparison shots.Gallery: Amazon Kindle DX unboxing and hands-onFiled under: HandheldsAmazon Kindle DX unboxing and hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 6/11/2009 3:57 PM (165d 17h 36m ago) |
| TUAW ebook reader smackdown: Kindle 2 vs. iPhone |
| | Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Reviews, iPhone, TUAW Faceoff, App Store
Before the release of the original Amazon Kindle a little over a year ago, there were a number of electronic book readers that tried to create and capture the market for a replacement to traditional "dead tree" books. There have been readers for just about every handheld unit since the Newton, as well as a series of devices that all required would-be readers to hook their book to a PC or Mac to transfer the content. Amazon changed all that with the Kindle by creating a device with built-in 3G networking that delivers books to you the minute you buy them. I was one of the people who purchased the first-generation Kindle, and though it delivered on wireless purchase of books, it was a clunky, poorly designed device.In the meantime, Apple introduced the iPhone 3G and the App Store, and several ebook reader apps have worked their way onto the home screens of millions of iPhone owners. So, is Steve Jobs right? Is there no need for a dedicated electronic book device like Kindle? I've used both the original Kindle and the new Kindle 2, and I've also read my share of electronic books on the iPhone. Which of the reigning champions of the ebook world is the winner? Read on to find out.Continue reading TUAW ebook reader smackdown: Kindle 2 vs. iPhoneTUAWTUAW ebook reader smackdown: Kindle 2 vs. iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 3/17/2009 3:46 PM (251d 17h 47m ago) |
| First Look video: Kindle for iPhone |
| | If you don't feel like spending more than $300 on the Kindle 2, Amazon's free Kindle ebook application for the iPhone and iPod Touch may be a much more affordable, if imperfect, solution.
loadUniversalPlayer({playerType: 'small',lumiereQueryType: 'id',lumiereQueryValue: '50005399',useCurrentPageUrl: true,relatedVideo: false,preRollAd: true,hideLeftTab:true,... Originally posted at The Download Blog |
| | 3/05/2009 6:01 PM (263d 15h 32m ago) |
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| Amazon Kindle DX to feature 9.7-inch display? Update: Pictures! |
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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Amazon_Kindle_DX_photos_leak_out'; It's still an elusive target for our old friend Mr. Blurrycam, but We just got some basic specs on the new, decidedly more newspaper- and college textbook-friendly Amazon Kindle DX. Here's what we know: it's got a 9.7-inch display (as opposed to the current six-inch unit), a long-requested built-in PDF reader, and the ability to add annotations in addition to notes and highlights -- whatever that means. We're also hearing that New York Times will be offering a $9.95 / month subscription, a little lower than the current $13.99. Honestly, that all sounds to us like this really is just a Kindle with a larger screen, not the newspaper savior it's being hyped as, but ol' Jeffy B. might still have surprises in store, so we'll see. Seriously, can't Wednesday just hurry up and get here already?
Update: Looks like Mssr. BC decided to throw down -- check out some pics in the gallery!
Update 2: Some more details care of the Wall Street Journal. Chief information officer for Cleveland-based Case Western Reserve University -- the college whose president will be taking the stage with Jeff Bezos -- Lev Gonick said select students are being issued the new, larger screen Kindles (doesn't specify DX) in the fall semester with pre-installed textbooks for chemistry, computer science and a freshman seminar. Five other universities including Pace, Princeton, Reed, Arizona State, and Darden School at the University of Virginia are also said to be signed up for the trial. As for the new details on the device itself, the report states it's got a more functional web browser, with no word on how that'll jibe with Whispernet.
Gallery: Amazon Kindle DX to feature 9.7-inch display?Filed under: HandheldsAmazon Kindle DX to feature 9.7-inch display? Update: Pictures! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 May 2009 22:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 5/05/2009 3:40 PM (202d 17h 53m ago) |
| Is Amazon developing a larger screen Kindle? |
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With raging success, you can always count on one thing: copycats and rivals. Okay, so maybe that's two, but you catch the drift here. Not long after Amazon launched its Kindle 2 to much fanfare, Hearst confessed that it was looking to produce a competitor with a screen that was about the size of a standard sheet of paper. In a presumed effort to keep up with the Joneses, The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Amazon is looking to develop yet another Kindle (something we've definitely heard before) with "a larger screen," which would obviously help it appeal to newspaper companies looking to easily transition their content to a large form factor e-reader. Not surprisingly, Amazon refused to comment on the "speculation," but the report did note that there was at least some chance that the newfangled device would debut before the 2009 holiday season.[Thanks, bo3of]Filed under: Displays, HandheldsIs Amazon developing a larger screen Kindle? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 4/13/2009 4:44 PM (224d 16h 49m ago) |
| Rupert Murdoch Likes The Kindle And He Is Looking For A Competitor |
| | Apparently News Corp. chairman and multi-billionaire Rupert Murdoch likes the Kindle. He likes it so much that while he's not trying to buy the company, he is instead trying to buy any competition that could undermine it and perhaps ultimately send it into financial ruin. Okay, so he's probably not trying to take down Amazon, but he does want in on the e-reader action, looking to invest in someone, anyone, who might be the next e-book contender. It makes perfect sense, what with print newspapers failing left and right and magazines not faring any better, but just which company might be the lucky recipient of Murdoch's favor and finances? We're guessing he has no shortage of willing recipients. |
| | 4/03/2009 4:53 PM (234d 16h 40m ago) |
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