Archive for the ‘Geek Out!’ Category

Kindle vs. Hardcover.. And The Winner Is…

July 20th, 2010

Kindle’s Digital Sales Overtake Hardcover

The battle has been ragging for a while now, Kindle vs. Hardcover, but it was unclear until this morning who the winner would be. While Amazon boast a very vague “millions” of Kindle’s sold it was still unclear if the eBook would topple the well establish bound copies. Sure… Millions of people own a Kindle, but are they actually purchasing books or using it as a very fancy coaster? Well…the numbers are in! Since Amazon’s decision to drop the Kindle price from a whopping $259 to the more reasonable $189 they have been selling like hot cakes. What is “hot cakes” exactly? How about this…the sale of the Kindle hardware has TRIPLED! (Wowza!) In the last 3 months alone Amazon has sold 143 Kindle downloads to every 100 hardcovers, and that number does NOT include the number of FREE copies readers have been gobbling up! So…for those of you who are still on that “eBooks are just a phase” train, it’s time to grab your bags and get off at the next station. Remember: It’s still reading… it’s just reading in a brand new way!

Comments ( 4 )

, , , , ,

Graphite Kindle DX? Snazzy!!

July 1st, 2010

Kindle DX Graphite Amazon has always been known for it’s options… need socks, gummy bears and a good book? No problem, 1 stop shopping with lots of variations, but up until now their Kindle lineup has been 1 dimensional. Not anymore. Just 1 week after Amazon dropped the price of their Kindle 2 they are releasing a snazzy new DX. (Lets just pretend that this is the original DX’s hot girlfriend.)

With a sleek new graphite exterior and a stunning list of new features. (including social networking options) this little beauty is bound to turn some heads. (Especially since the price is a shocking $379 compared to the previous $489) And, although she won’t be leaving her comfy home in the Amazon warehouses until July 7th, you can pre-order her today, (weather you’re a domestic or international customer.)

Check out what she has to offer and you be the judge. Stick with old faithful or trade her in for a new model.


Features:

Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback

Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered wirelessly in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

3G Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle; no annual contracts, no monthly fees, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Global Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries.

Paper-Like Display: Reads like real paper without glare, even in bright sunlight

Carry Your Library: Holds up to 1,500 books

Long Battery Life: Read for up to one week on a single charge with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two weeks.

Social Networks: Share your passion for reading with friends and family by posting favorite passages to Twitter and Facebook directly from your Kindle

Built-In PDF Reader: Carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go. Now with Zoom capability to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics

Read-to-Me: With the experimental Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read content out loud to you, unless the rights holder made the feature unavailable

Large Selection: Over 620,000 books and the largest selection of the most popular books people want to read, including 109 of 112 New York Times® Best Sellers, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs. For non-U.S. customers, content availability and pricing will vary.

Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases from $9.99

Out-of-Copyright, Pre-1923 Books: Over 1.8 million free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are available to read on Kindle, including titles such as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice, and Treasure Island.

Free Book Samples: Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy

You can read More about the New Graphite Kindle DX at Amazon.com or click the image above

Comments ( 2 )

, ,

Kindle App Gets Audio & Video

June 28th, 2010

Amazon’s Kindle App for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch Gets Embeddable Audio and Video


BY Dan NosowitzToday

Amazon doesn’t really care if the Kindle hardware dies. They’d rather it didn’t, of course, but Kindle is much more than a couple of e-ink e-book readers. Kindle is much more important (and more profitable) as a store, available from tons of different devices–so just because its Kindle 2 and Kindle DX can’t handle audio or video (or, um, color), that doesn’t mean Amazon can’t keep pushing the medium forward.

Amazon thus announced today that its Kindle app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch is receiving a significant update, allowing the embedding of audio and video inside books. Says Dorothy Nicholls, director of the Kindle team, in a press release:

“Readers will already find some Kindle Editions with audio/video clips in the Kindle Store today–from Rose’s Heavenly Cakes with video tips on preparing the perfect cake to Bird Songs with audio clips that relate the songs and calls to the birds’ appearances. This is just the beginning–we look forward to seeing what authors and publishers create for Kindle customers using the new functionality of the Kindle apps.”

This has some pretty fantastic possible uses–Amazon also mentions that a guide of London will include embedded audio narration from the book’s author, which is a great idea. You could read the book on your iPad, then listen to the tour on your iPhone or iPod Touch as you walk around Olde London-Towne. Finally, a compelling reason to have an e-book reader app on a 3.5-inch screen!

No word on what other devices might be supported. Windows, Mac, and BlackBerry all have Kindle apps, and can all support video, but were not mentioned in the press release.

The newest update also includes higher resolution images for the iPhone 4′s eye-searingly sharp screen. It’s available in the App Store now.

Comment ( 1 )

, , ,

Where For Art Thou Kindle 3

May 30th, 2010

Where For Art Thou Kindle 3?

James Mulroy, PC World May 30, 2010 11:25 am

For those of you who think that the Kindle’s 1/3 of an inch thick architecture is just too thick, you may be able to check out a new slimmer Kindle come August this year. According to a Bloomberg.com article, Amazon.com plans to introduce the next version of the Kindle electronic-book reader.

The Kindle is a fashionably slim e-book reader that weighs in at only 10.2 onces, or lighter than your typical paperback book. It has 3G Wireless worldwide, and an impressive paper-like display that truly looks like paper, even in bright light.

Besides the book-sized Kindle, Amazon markets a magazine-size Kindle DX. But apparently another model is in the works.

According to Bloomberg via two people who wish to remain anonymous, “The device will be thinner and have a more responsive screen with a sharper picture” and “The new Kindle won’t include a touchscreen or color.”

As a matter of fact, Amazon states that while color prototypes are in the works, they are not ready for production. The two people who wish to remain anonymous are reportedly close to Amazon’s plans but do not wish to be public because the plans are not yet public.

For an added bonus, the Kindle uses its state of the art e-paper technology, giving the Kindle up to a week of battery life with the Wi-Fi on (much shorter than the Apple iPad LCD screen competitor) and the delay between page turns will also be shortened in the new version.

Comments ( 2 )

, , ,

Kindle for Android!

May 24th, 2010

Kindles Kindles EVERYWHERE. For those of you that have chosen to take the Android route… Have no fear, your day will come. Introducing Kindle for your Android phone!

Read Kindle books on your Android phone

  • Get the best reading experience available on your Android phone. No Kindle required
  • Access your Kindle books even if you don’t have your Kindle with you
  • Automatically synchronizes your last page read and annotations between devices with Whispersync
  • Adjust the text size, add bookmarks, and view the annotations you created on your Kindle, computer, or other Kindle-compatible device
  • Read in portrait or landscape mode
  • Tap on either side of the screen or flick to turn pages

Shop for books in the Kindle Store optimized for your Android phone

  • Buy a book from the Kindle Store optimized for your Android phone and get it auto-delivered wirelessly
  • Search and browse more than 500,000 books, including more than 96 of 110 New York Times bestsellers. If you are a non-U.S. customer, book availability may vary
  • Find New York Times® Best Sellers and new releases from $9.99
  • Get free book samples. Read the beginning of books for free before you decide to buy
  • Books you purchase can also be read on a Kindle, computer, or other Kindle-compatible mobile devices
  • Kindle newspapers, magazines and blogs are currently not available on Kindle for Android

Technical Details

  • Requires Android OS 1.6 or greater
  • Requires an SD card
  • Supports Droid Incredible, Google Nexus One, HTC MyTouch, Motorola CLIQ, Motorola Droid, and many more Android phones

Comments ( 0 )

,

Product Review – *Speck* Kindle 2 Cover

April 22nd, 2010

Evening All!  I know that I promised to post a video review for this cover and I assure you that I will, but to cover all of my basis it is important that I actually WRITE a review as well.  So for those of you who want to wait to see my goofy face… you will have your moment… for the rest of you (aka my Amazon subscribers) here is the low down.

Edith from Speck contacted me about a week ago and asked if I would like to review their new DustJacket for the Kindle 2.  My first thought (of course) was “Hell Yeah!! Free loot” but after a few minutes (and a not so quiet moment of self lecturing) I decided I should actually take a look at what I was getting myself into.  I hopped on the their website, did a little research and then waited (not so patiently) for the cover in the mail.

Here is the 1st thing I noticed.

IT IS BIG.

The cover I currently use (created by Amazon) is very thin and very sleek. Speck’s DustJacket is significantly bigger, but bigger does not necessarily mean bad.

The padding on the DustJacket leaves Amazon’s cover in the dust boasting not only thicker padding on the exterior of the cover but a micro fleece interior (to protect your screen from scratches.)

Now, I know what you are thinking…How exactly do I know that the padding is worth a dang? Well for starters I dropped it. (GASP!!!) yes… that’s right, I attached my Kindle, and commenced to purposely dropping it on the floor. End result? I pretty huge sigh of relief when I didn’t hear a crack and more importantly a scratch free Kindle!

Dropping my Kindle on the floor brought up another plus.

SECURE.

Yes, Amazon’s product securely attaches the Kindle to the case, but unfortunately the design (clasp) allows the Kindle to flop around.

Speck’s DustJacket has sort of a Kindle “cradle” that is permanently attached to the rear interior of the case allowing 0 movement, making it feel as though your Kindle is nice and snug.

The design of the cradle also allows easy access to all of your Kindle’s function buttons, as well as it’s charging port and speakers (which is important if you use the Text To Speech function – like me – in the car).

The only flaw I noticed is that the opening for the charge port should have been scooted up just a tad allowing more room for you to plug it in.  It works, but it is snug.

BUILT IN STAND

One feature the DustJacket has that my current cover lacks is a built in stand.  While most of you may think this feature insignificant, for some of you..this may actually be the clencher.  With one quick flip of your wrist your cover instantly turns into a book stand.

Here is just a few benefits to having this feature:

  • 1.  If you read while eating lunch, having your book propped up not only allows you to see the screen easier, but it can actually open up your eating area, and deplete your fear of food splatter on your screen.
  • 2.  If you download cookbooks, propping your Kindle up will open up your workspace and make it easier for you to read your recipe.

Wow!! I sound a little like a pig after those examples, but you get my point.

And last…

PRICE & VARIETY

Speck’s DustJacket is priced at $34.95 and while some of you are gasping right now, I want you to stop and think about this for a second.

  • 1.  The case I currently have (that I would never willingly drop with my Kindle in it) is $39.99
  • 2.  You have 2 colors to choose from not just 1 (even though I love black)
  • 3.  You are getting more bang for your buck! (Case + Stand = happy camper)

Overall, I’m more than pleased, and trust me when I say… I’m keeping this case!  My Kindle was not cheap, and if I can spend an extra $40 bucks and not have to worry about it cracking when my 1 year old throws it across the room I’m game.



Comments ( 0 )

, ,

Will The iPad Kill Ebooks?

April 19th, 2010

Will The iPad iBooks Kill The Ebook Reader?

by Ebook Doctor on April 1, 2010

 

ipad-ibook

In typical Apple fashion, the iPad has generated a huge amount of interest. Steve Jobs has described the device as “magical”, “extraordinary” and sees the device as redefining the personal computer.

This tablet type device launches on the 3rd of April in the US, and will hit the UK at the end of April. Featuring a glossy 9.7” LED, touch screen, the device which resembles a large Iphone will support email, web browsing, all the main features (except the phone bit) of the Iphone as well as an eBook reader built in.

But is it an eBook reader killer?

Lets first look at what makes eBook readers so popular:

  • The ability to carry a near unlimited amount of books around
  • The sharp E-Ink screen, which reads like a real book (so you don’t get eye fatigue and you can read under any environment)
  • The long battery life (most eBook readers can get over 2 weeks of use)
  • The ability to purchase books from the device (available on the Kindle, Nook, Bebook Neo for example)
  • The ability to load up any pdf, pre purchased eBook, or document into the device for reading later
  • The compact form factor
  • Varying price points (you can pick up an ebook reader for as little as $100, and as much as $500)

Add to these the fact that you can use your eBook reader as a note taking device, you can annotate text, and on some readers actually listen to music or audio books on the go.

kindle-dx

How does the iPad compare?

  • The iPad has a huge memory capacity (starting at 16GB)
  • The iPad features a high resolution glossy colour screen, but this is the same as what you will find on most laptops. Which means you won’t be able to read as comfortably as on an E-Ink device (think about it as reading text from a laptop screen)
  • The iPad has 10 hours of battery life which is great, but simply cannot compare to 2+ weeks of use on standard ebook readers. If you travel a lot this will be a huge issue.
  • The iPad comes with an improved Itunes which will include an ebook store. Although you won’t get as many ebooks as say on Amazon or Borders, you will be able to purchase eBooks on the go.
  • You can import any unlocked (non DRM) epub ebooks into your iPad through Itunes but you can’t read your ibooks from any other device then the iPad.
  • The device will be bigger than most eBook readers, but definitely compact: (height: 9.56-inches, width: 7.47-inches, depth: 0.5-inches, weight: 1.5 pounds (1.6 for the 3G model).)
  • Price wise, the iPad will start at $499, which is much more expensive than most ebook readers out there, but in line witht the pricing of the Kindle DX.

The iPad also innovates by providing interactive magazine content and tailored news content which mixes text and multimedia.

The verdict?

So is the iPad the next eBook reader? We don’t think so yet, but its definitely going to be a key player, and Amazon definitely acknowledges that by releasing a Kindle App for the iPad.

If you are a keen book reader, and you like having your books with you when travelling there is no better device than an E-Ink eBook reader. You won’t get eye fatigue, you will be able to read indoors and outdoors and you will be able to read for weeks without having to recharge the device.

But the iPad will change the landscape of eBook readers.

The start of a revolution?

So the iPad isn’t yet an EBook Reader Killer, but it is an impressive device which will force many eBook reader companies to push more innovative features.

What we will start to see in the next 3 to 12 months is:

  • The introduction of colour E-Ink screens
  • Faster refresh rates on E-ink screens
  • Downloadable & purchasable eBooks available from the eBook reader as standard
  • More magazine content becoming available for eBook readers
  • More news based content becoming available for eBook readers
  • Larger screens (more 8”+ devices to compete with the Ipad)

Comment ( 1 )

, ,

BookChatter Interview!

March 5th, 2010

In case you missed it…here is my brilliant panelist debut on BookChatter…. Disclaimer: My Texas accent is thick. (I had NO IDEA how bad it is until I listened to myself.)

Enjoy! :-)   Misty


BookChatter

Comments ( 0 )

, , , , , , ,

Battle Of The E-readers!

March 1st, 2010

After scrambling to finish my book today…and being unsuccessful, I thought I would let y’all ponder an article I read today. Just 1 more reason to be in love with my Kindle.  Happy Reading!

Battle of e-readers shows Kindle books much cheaper than Nook, Sony

Tom Barlow

Mar 1st 2010 at 3:00PM

After reviewing various e-readers recently in one of our savings experiments, I thought I would compare the cost of a variety of books currently sold by the three dominant forces in the e-book field, Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), and the Reader Store, which sells books for the Sony Reader.

For this study, I chose the New York Times selection of the 10 best books of 2009; five fiction, five non-fiction. I avoided current bestsellers, since they are often subject to price wars and loss-leader pricing.

The results of my survey were startling. Since Amazon recently came to an agreement with major publishers, agreeing to sell e-books in Kindle format at a price closer to that of of the printed versions (a sop to the brick and mortar book business), I wasn’t surprised the prices had risen on Amazon above what had been $9.99.

Book Amazon for Kindle Barnes & Noble for Nook Reader Store for Sony
Chronic City by Jonathan Letham $15.37 $20.76 $9.99
Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy $14.27 $18.53 $18.16
A Gate At The Stairs by Lorrie Moore $14.27 $19.27 $9.99
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls $9.99 $9.99 $9.99
A Short History Of Women by Kate Walbert $9.99 $17.82 $9.99
The Age Of Wonder by Richard Holmes $23.76 $29.71 $40.00
The Good Soldiers by David Finkel $9.99 $18.57 $9.99
Lit: A Memoir by Mary Karr $9.99 $22.27 $9.99
Lords Of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed $9.99 $9.99 $9.99
Raymond Carver: A Writer’s Life by Carol Sklenicka $19.25 $26.00 $24.50
Total $136.87 $192.91

$152.5


What did surprise me was how many books remained at that low price, and the shocking difference in price between Amazon, the Reader Store and Barnes & Noble. In just these 10 books, books for the Sony Reader were 11.5% more expensive, while the Nook cost 41% more.

I asked Mary Ellen Keating, senior vice president of corporate communications and public affairs for Barnes & Noble, about this price disparity. She replied via e-mail “eBooks are an emerging category and many pricing models are being tested by both publishers and retailers. What’s important is that we are committed to providing our customers with the widest catalog of digital books and eperiodicals, that they can read and take with them on their computers and most (or mobile) devices. We are not focused on any one device, rather we’re about giving consumers choices as to where they want to read their digital content. We are also committed to offering these ebooks and periodicals at a very competitive price.” Take from that what you will.

Is Amazon continuing to sell these books at a loss to build its Kindle business? That would be my guess. In the meantime, those of us who read books on another platform, Blackberry in my case, have a choice between versions of the Nook and Kindle readers. Guess which one I’ll be using.

Comments ( 2 )

, ,

Amazon Launches Kindle For BlackBerry

February 20th, 2010

Amazon Launches Kindle For BlackBerry

The retailer said user demand spurred them to develop the e-book reader software for BlackBerry smartphones.

By Antone Gonsalves – InformationWeek

Amazon on Thursday launched its Kindle application for the BlackBerry, making it possible for users of the smartphone to read digital books purchased from the online retailer and synchronize bookmarks with the Kindle electronic reader and other supported devices.

The Research In Motion smartphone joins Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch with a Kindle app, which is also available for Windows PCs. Amazon also plans to release applications for the Mac and Apple iPad, a tablet computer set to be released at the end of March.

Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin wow the crowd at the New York City intro of T-Mobile’s G1 Android Google phone. Video by InformationWeek’s Alex Wolfe.

E-books purchased from Amazon can be downloaded to the Kindle using its Whispersync wireless technology or to any other device with the Kindle application. E-books purchased on one device can also be accessed by other devices through Amazon.

In releasing Kindle applications, Amazon does not tie customers to its own e-reader or hamper the reseller from selling as many e-books as possible. Amazon said it chose to support the BlackBerry because of user demand.

“Since the launch of our popular Kindle for iPhone app last year, customers have been asking us to bring a similar experience to the BlackBerry, and we are thrilled to make it available today,” Ian Freed, VP of Amazon Kindle, said in a statement.

Customers using BlackBerry devices on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and other U.S. carriers will be able to use the Kindle application. Amazon has 420,000 e-books available, including 102 of the 112 New York Times bestsellers. However, because Amazon uses proprietary copyright protection technology, the retailer has fewer than half the e-books available from competitors, such as Sony and Barnes & Noble, which support an open e-book standard in their e-readers, the Reader and Nook, respectively.

Nevertheless, the Kindle leads the e-reader market, with Sony’s Reader a distant second. In releasing fourth-quarter financial results last month, Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said the retailer sells six books for the Kindle for every 10 physical books with the same titles. The total number of Kindle books downloaded would be higher, if Amazon counted free books.


Comments ( 0 )

, ,

RSS Feed

  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Furl
  • Stumble
  • Technorati
  • Yahoo