Amazon’s Kindle eBook Reader November 20, 2007

Read more Entertainment , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Mobile Devices , Online , Portable Media

The e-book hype has never been matched by the reality, with people doggedly hanging onto their dead trees over electronic books.

Amazon wants to change all of that with its high profile launch of Kindle, a slinky portable reader for around £200. The Kindle has a number of innovative touches to it though, not least of which is the ability to dial-up Amazon’s Whispernet network – just like with a mobile – and have a book downloaded in less than a minute. No PC, no network, no Wi-Fi and Amazon will be picking up the tab for your call.

The device weighs in at 10.3ozs and measures 7.5in x 5.3in x 0.7in – not very small, but reasonably light and will hold 200 titles on its internal 256Mb of memory – expandable with SD Cards. Battery life is good for a week without wireless or a full day if the wireless connectivity is on. A full recharge takes two hours.

There are 90,000 books on offer now – including most of the New York Times Top 100, as well as subscriptions to many leading papers and magazines. New books will cost around £5.

"We've been working on Kindle for more than three years. Our top design objective was for Kindle to disappear in your hands -- to get out of the way -- so you can enjoy your reading," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "We also wanted to go beyond the physical book. Kindle is wireless, so whether you're lying in bed or riding a train, you can think of a book, and have it in less than 60 seconds. No computer is needed -- you do your shopping directly from the device. We're excited to make Kindle available today."

There’s no indication when, or if, Amazon will launch this outside the US yet but it’s likely if it takes off. Jump for more details.-Martin Lynch

FEATURES

* Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
* Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
* Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
* Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
* More than 88,000 books available, including 100 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers.
* New York Times® Best Sellers and all New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
* Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
* Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times.
* More than 250 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post.
* Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.
* Holds over 200 titles.
* Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.
* Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.
* No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.
* Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.
* Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.

gadgets books ebooks amazon