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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" (134.62 x 190.5 x 20.32 mm)
Weight10.3 oz (292 grams)
Operating systemLinux-2.6.10 based
CPUMarvell PXA255 running at 400 MHz.
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. The Kindle was developed by Amazon's Lab126.[1] It uses an electronic paper display and downloads content over Amazon Whispernet using the Sprint EVDO network. The Kindle can be used without a computer, and Whispernet is accessible without any fee.[2] It also provides free internet access to Wikipedia.[3]

Release

The text can also be displayed in larger sizes

Upon the initial launch, the Kindle Store had more than 88,000 digital titles available for download, with the number of titles steadily increasing.[4][5] Amazon's first offering of Kindle sold out in five and a half hours[6] and the device remained out of stock until late April 2008.[7]

At launch, the device retailed for $399; Amazon subsequently lowered the price to $359. Amazon does not sell the Kindle outside the United States as Whispernet only works in the U.S.[8] Plans for a launch in the UK and other European countries are being delayed by problems with signing up suitable cellular operators.[9]

Reviews of Kindle have been generally favorable, although a reviewer from CNET expressed concern with the ergonomics of the device.[10]

Kindle 2

On Monday, February 9, 2009, Amazon announced the Kindle 2, which became available for purchase on February 23, 2009. Price of the unit is $359.00. The new Kindle features improved battery life, 20 percent faster page-refreshing, a text-to-speech option to read the text aloud, [11] and overall thickness reduced from 0.8 to 0.36 inches (9.1 millimetres).[12] The available memory is limited to 1.4 Gigabytes, which Amazon estimates will hold about 1500 books. Unlike the original Kindle, Kindle 2 does not feature a slot for SD memory cards.[13] To promote the new Kindle, author Stephen King has written a novella called UR, which is available exclusively as a Kindle download.[14]

Content

The internal memory of the Amazon Kindle can hold approximately 200 non-illustrated titles.[8] 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.[15] 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. Kindle Terms of Use forbid transferring eBooks to another user or on a different device.[16]

Users can select reading material through the Kindle or through a computer at the Amazon Kindle store, and can download content through the Kindle Store. 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.[17] 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.

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, including a basic Web browser.[18] 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

Kindle supports unprotected Mobipocket books (.MOBI, .PRC), plain text files, and Amazon's proprietary, DRM-restricted format (AZW). It does not fully support Portable Document Format (PDF), but Amazon provides "experimental" conversion to the native AZW format.[19] Amazon will also convert Microsoft Word files and structured HTML files through the same e-mail based mechanism. Users may also convert PDF files to supported formats using third-party software.

Initially Kindle 1 only supported the ISO-8859-1 (Latin 1) character set for its content and unicode characters and non-western characters were not supported. The firmware update of February 2009 supports additional character sets including ISO 8859-16.

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[20] 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.[21]

Annotations

The user can bookmark, highlight, and look up content. Pages can be dog-eared for reference and notes can be added to relevant content. While a book is open on the display, menu options allow users to search for synonyms and definitions from the built-in dictionary. The device also remembers the last page read for each book. Pages can be saved as a "clipping", or a text file containing the text of the currently displayed page. All clippings are appended to a single file, which can be downloaded over a USB cable.[22]

Summary of content availability

Link Formats Wireless Transfer Wired Transfer notes
http://www.amazon.com AZW Yes Yes Amazon.com claims to have over 230,000 titles now available with more being added almost daily.
http://www.gutenberg.org TXT No Yes Project Gutenberg contains over 20,000 titles. Mostly classics and titles that no longer have copyrights. Multiple languages. Site runs on donations.
http://www.freekindlebooks.org MOBI No Yes This is a site that has mostly Gutenberg books automatically formatted for the Kindle.
http://www.pdfbooks.co.za PDF No Yes This site contains 7,000 Project Gutenberg titles in PDF version. Each title also available in PDF version formatted for mobile devices. No subscription required.
http://www.worldlibrary.net PDF No Yes Approximately 400,000 titles. Classics, modern, government, multiple languages. Membership costs $8.95/year; members can access all titles.
http://www.fictionwise.com MOBI Yes Yes Fictionwise is one of the largest independent electronic book sellers in north America with an estimated 1.5 million ebook content units sold in 2008. Fictionwise sells ebooks in various formats. Fictionwise sells both encrypted and unencrypted ebooks. Books can be delivered wirelessly through the site by the "email to kindle" feature. This costs an additional ten cents per book.
http://www.mobipocket.com MOBI No Yes Mobipocket has lots of titles, most you can find on http://www.amazon.com in the Kindle section for less.
http://www.webscriptions.net MOBI/PRC, RB, RTF, LRF, LIT, HTML Yes Yes Webscriptions sells books published by Baen, E-Reads, Night Shade, Subterrean and Tor, mostly in the Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Mystery genres. None are encrypted, and many older Baen titles are available for free. Choose Kindle compatible for the download. Books can be delivered wirelessly through the site by the "Email book to my Kindle " feature. This costs an additional ten cents per book.
http://www.wowio.com PDF No Yes You will need to register and can download up to three books a day for free. Only available to people in the US, due to copyright and licensing restrictions. EDIT - site has since changed. Only free books are if viewed online, otherwise must pay for non-DRM .pdf downloads. Most books now available to global audience as a consequence.
http://www.fictionpress.com TXT No Yes FictionPress contains over 100,000 titles. Mostly original works, as in unknown, normally unpublished authors. Displays in text. Cut, paste and email to yourself, or save in .txt file and upload it to your Kindle.
http://www.manybooks.net AZW No Yes Over 20,000 titles. Has a Kindle format automatically generated from Gutenberg Ascii texts, without author listings or tables of contents.
http://www.mnybks.net MOBI Yes* Yes An extension of Manybooks above. *If you access it through the basic WebBrowser in the Kindle, you can download directly to your Kindle, similar to the way you would an Amazon book. Choose the Mobipocket format.
http://www.feedbooks.com ??? Yes Yes Share books, self published books and a make-it-yourself newspaper. With a little manipulation of the tools, you can get your own newspaper. You could probably even directly email it to your Kindle in the morning if you allow that site to send you stuff. Registration is required, but free. There is now a "Kindle Download Guide" from www.feedbooks.com that includes links to many classics, including many in foreign languages. Titles possess author listings (for sorting in Kindle) and tables of contents.
http://feedbooks.mobi/ PDF, PRC (Mobi), LRF, Epub Yes Yes Mobile interface to feedbooks, as above. Access through the "experimental" web browser for direct download to Kindle.
http://www.ccel.org PDF, DOC, TXT No Yes Christian Classics Ethereal Library are Christian-centered works readily transferable to Kindle.
http://www.munseys.com .prc, .htm, .pdf, .lit, .lrf, .pdb, .rb, .imp, .epub Yes Yes Over 28,000 free books, both classic and contemporary. Titles possess author listings (for sorting in Kindle) and tables of contents.
http://www.munseys.com/joomla .prc Yes Yes The kindle-ready version of Munsey's, has 25,000 books, isn't updated as often as the non-mobile site. Access through the "experimental" web browser for direct download to Kindle.
http://www.mobileread.com MOBI (.prc), .lrf, some epub Yes* Yes Free out-of-copyright books, quality handcrafted by volunteer uploaders. Approximately 2,500 .prc titles at the moment (Jan. 09). Has quite a few books in non-English languages. Titles possess author listings (for sorting in Kindle) and tables of contents. *Able to download directly to Kindle if you install an optional guide (updated daily).
Link Formats Wireless Transfer Wired Transfer notes

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.[23] Authors can upload documents in several formats for delivery via Whispernet and charge between US$0.99 and $200 per download.[23] The authors receive 35% of revenues based on their list price, regardless of discounts by Amazon.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Amazon Grows A Startup In Cupertino". Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  2. ^ What is the Amazon Whispernet wireless feature and how does it work?, Amazon.com
  3. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Text "Product Promotional Video" ignored (help)
  4. ^ Electronic Device Stirs Unease at BookExpo - NYTimes.com
  5. ^ Steven Levy (2007-11-26). "The Future of Reading". Newsweek. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  6. ^ Nilay Patel (2007-11-21). "Kindle sells out in 5.5 hours". Engadget. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  7. ^ Charlie Sorrel (2008-04-21). "Amazon's Kindle Back In Stock". Gadget Lab. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  8. ^ a b "Amazon Kindle FAQ". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  9. ^ No UK Kindle launch before Xmas
  10. ^ David Carnoy (2007-11-20). John P. Falcone (ed.). "Amazon Kindle, CNET editors' review". CNET.
  11. ^ "Kindle 2". Amazon. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  12. ^ "Amazon press event: Kindle 2 announced". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  13. ^ "Kindle 2 Frequently Asked Questions". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  14. ^ "UR, Exclusively on Amazon's Kindle". Stephen King. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  15. ^ "Reading Personal Documents on your Kindle". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  16. ^ "Amazon Kindle: License Agreement and Terms of Use". Amazon. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  17. ^ Thomas Ricker (2007-11-19). "Amazon Kindle available now on Amazon". Engadget. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  18. ^ "Accessing Basic Web". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Feedbooks. "Kindle Download Guide". Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  21. ^ Joel Johnson (2007-11-19). "15 Things I Just Learned About the Amazon Kindle". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  22. ^ "Kindle user guide" (PDF). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  23. ^ a b Rick Aristotle Munarriz (2007-11-27). "Why Kindle Will Change the World". Motley Fool. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  24. ^ "Amazon DTP Support:Terms & Conditions". Retrieved 2007-12-07.
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