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Amazon Kindle

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"Kindle" redirects here. For other uses, see Kindle (disambiguation).
Amazon Kindle
ManufacturerAmazon.com
Availability by regionUnited States November 19 2007
Compatible networksAmazon Whispernet
Dimensions5.3" × 7.5" × 0.8"
Weight10.3 oz
Operating systemLinux (2.6.10 kernel)
CPUMarvell PXA255.
Memory64 MB RAM,
256 MB (180 MB available) internal storage,
SD expansion slot.
Complete back up archive of all purchased material archived on Amazon Cloud.
Battery3.7V, 1530mAh lithium polymer, BA1001 model.
Display6" diagonal,
3.6"(W) × 4.8"(H),
600×800 pixels or 0.48 megapixels,
167 ppi density,
4-level grayscale
Electronic paper,
LCD side scroller.
ConnectivityEVDO/CDMA AnyDATA wireless modem, USB 2.0 port (mini-B connector),
3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, built-in speaker,
AC power adapter jack.
Data inputsQWERTY keyboard,
select wheel,
next/prev/back buttons.

Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader–an embedded system for reading electronic books (e-books)–launched in the United States by prominent online bookseller Amazon.com in November 2007. It uses an electronic paper display, reads the proprietary Kindle (AZW) format, and downloads content over Amazon Whispernet, which uses the Sprint EVDO network. The Kindle can be used stand alone without a computer. Whispernet is accessible through Kindle without any fee.[1] Amazon does not sell the Kindle outside the United States as Whispernet only works in the U.S.[2] On the release day, the Kindle Store had more than 88,000 digital titles available for download, but that number has steadily increased.[3][4] Amazon's first offering of the Kindle sold out in five and a half hours[5] and the device remained out of stock until late April 2008.[6] At launch, the device retailed for $399; Amazon subsequently lowered the price to $359.

Content

The internal memory of the Amazon Kindle can hold approximately 200 non-illustrated titles.[2] Users can download content from Amazon in the proprietary Kindle format (AZW), or load unprotected Mobipocket (PRC, MOBI) or plain text content. Amazon offers an email-based service that will convert HTML, DOC (Microsoft Word), PDF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP documents to AZW.[7] It also supports audio in the form of MP3s and Audible 2, 3, and 4 audiobooks, which must be transferred to the Kindle over USB or on an SD card.

Users can download content through the Kindle Store. The Kindle Store is accessed through Whispernet, over Sprint's EVDO network, which Amazon provides free of charge. New releases and New York Times bestsellers are offered for approximately $10. Classics like Bleak House sell for around $1.99. The first chapters of many books are offered as a free sample. Subscriptions to newspapers cost between $5.99 and $14.99 per month, magazines between $1.25 and $3.49 per month, and blogs for $0.99-$1.99 per month.[8] Users can send documents to a conversion service which will send a Kindle-formatted file to the device directly for $0.10 or to a personal e-mail account for free. Users can transfer converted documents from a computer to the Kindle via a USB cable or an SD card. Access to Wikipedia is offered at no additional charge.[9]

The device comes with electronic editions of its owner's manual and the New Oxford American Dictionary.

The Kindle also contains several free experimental features. These include a basic Web browser and NowNow, an online research service which can produce answers to simple research questions (customer support questions are not answered).[10] Users can also play music from MP3 files in random order in the background.

Operating system updates are received over the air and installed automatically.

File formats

Although it supports unprotected Mobipocket books (.MOBI, .PRC), plain text files, and HTML and Word documents, Kindle also uses its own proprietary, DRM-restricted format (AZW). It does not fully support Portable Document Format (PDF), but Amazon provides "experimental" conversion to the native AZW format.[11] Users may also convert PDF files to supported formats using third-party software.

Using the experimental web browser, it is possible to download books directly on the Kindle (.mobi, .prc and .txt). Hyperlinks in a Mobipocket file can be used to download e-books[12] but cannot be used to reference books stored in the Kindle's memory.

The Kindle charges monthly for RSS subscription to select blogs, even though users may use the experimental web browser to navigate to and read blogs or any other web pages free of charge.[13]

Annotations

The user can bookmark, highlight and lookup content. Pages can be dog-eared for reference, notes can be added to relevant content, and text can be highlighted. While a book is open on the display, menu options allows users to search for synonyms and definitions from the built in dictionary. It also remembers the last page read for each book. Pages can be saved as a "clipping", which is a text file containing the text of the currently displayed page. All clippings are appended to a single file; the clipping file can be downloaded over the USB cable.[14]

Undocumented features

Text is fully justified but without hyphenation.[15] Text can, however, be displayed left-justified via an undocumented feature.[16]

The game Minesweeper is available on Amazon Kindle by pressing and holding the ALT, Shift keys, and M button.[16]

Product development

The Kindle device hardware was developed by a team led by Gregg Zehr and the Kindle software was developed by a team led by Thomas Ryan. The combined team was based in Cupertino and was known as Lab126 during product development.[17]

Criticism

Many reviewers have expressed concern with the ergonomics of the Kindle. [18] Without its cover, it is difficult to hold onto without accidentally pressing one of the buttons. Wired.com referred to the Kindle's design as 'hideous.'

The Kindle Terms of Use forbid transferring eBooks to someone else or using them on a different device.[19] This has been criticized by the Free Software Foundation[20] and free software advocates including Mark Pilgrim.[21]

Digital Text Platform

Concurrently with the Kindle device, Amazon launched the Digital Text Platform, a system for authors to self-publish directly to the Kindle. Currently in open beta, the platform was promoted to established authors by e-mail.[22] Authors can upload documents in several formats for delivery via Whispernet and charge between US$0.99 and $200 per download.[22] The authors receive 35% of revenues based on their list price, regardless of discounts by Amazon.[23]

  • Amazon Kindle with the Back Cover removed.
    Amazon Kindle with the Back Cover removed.
  • Amazon Kindle with an open carrying cover.
    Amazon Kindle with an open carrying cover.
  • Amazon Kindle Back cover.
    Amazon Kindle Back cover.

See also

References

  1. ^ What is the Amazon Whispernet wireless feature and how does it work?, Amazon.com
  2. ^ a b "Amazon Kindle FAQ". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  3. ^ Electronic Device Stirs Unease at BookExpo - NYTimes.com
  4. ^ Steven Levy (2007-11-26). "The Future of Reading". Newsweek. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  5. ^ Nilay Patel (2007-11-21). "Kindle sells out in 5.5 hours". Engadget. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  6. ^ Charlie Sorrel (2008-04-21). "Amazon's Kindle Back In Stock". Gadget Lab. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  7. ^ "Reading Personal Documents on your Kindle". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  8. ^ Thomas Ricker (2007-11-19). "Amazon Kindle available now on Amazon". Engadget. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  9. ^ "Kindle: Amazon's New Reading Device". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  10. ^ "Accessing Basic Web and Kindle NowNow". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  11. ^ Amazon (2007). "Amazon.com: Help > Digital Content > Amazon Kindle Support > How to Use Your Kindle > Reading Personal Documents on Your Kindle". Amazon. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  12. ^ Feedbooks. "Kindle Download Guide". Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  13. ^ Joel Johnson (2007-11-19). "15 Things I Just Learned About the Amazon Kindle". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  14. ^ "Kindle user guide" (PDF).
  15. ^ Glenn Fleishman. "Hands on with Kindle". TidBits. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  16. ^ a b Igor Skochinsky. "Reversing Everything". Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  17. ^ "Amazon Grows A Startup In Cupertino". Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  18. ^ David Carnoy (2007-11-20). John P. Falcone (ed.). "Amazon Kindle, CNET editors' review". CNET.
  19. ^ "Amazon Kindle: License Agreement and Terms of Use". Amazon. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  20. ^ "The Kindle Swindle". Free Software Foundation. 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2007-12-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Pilgrim, Mark (2007-11-19). "The Future of Reading (A Play in Six Acts)". Retrieved 2007-12-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ a b Rick Aristotle Munarriz (2007-11-27). "Why Kindle Will Change the World". Motley Fool. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  23. ^ "Amazon DTP Support:Terms & Conditions". Retrieved 2007-12-07.
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