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* Text is fully [[Justification (typesetting)|justified]] but without [[hyphenation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.tidbits.com/article/9329|title=Hands on with Kindle|author=Glenn Fleishman|publisher=TidBits|accessdate=2007-11-27}}</ref> Text can, however, be displayed left-justified via an undocumented feature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://igorsk.blogspot.com/2007/12/hacking-kindle-part-3-root-shell-and.html|author= Igor Skochinsky|title=Reversing Everything|accessdate=2007-12-22}}</ref>
* Text is fully [[Justification (typesetting)|justified]] but without [[hyphenation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.tidbits.com/article/9329|title=Hands on with Kindle|author=Glenn Fleishman|publisher=TidBits|accessdate=2007-11-27}}</ref> Text can, however, be displayed left-justified via an undocumented feature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://igorsk.blogspot.com/2007/12/hacking-kindle-part-3-root-shell-and.html|author= Igor Skochinsky|title=Reversing Everything|accessdate=2007-12-22}}</ref>
* 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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.feedbooks.com/help/kindle#guide|title=Kindle Download Guide|author=Feedbooks|accessdate=2008-02-07}}</ref> but cannot be used to reference books stored in the Kindle's memory.
* 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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.feedbooks.com/help/kindle#guide|title=Kindle Download Guide|author=Feedbooks|accessdate=2008-02-07}}</ref> but cannot be used to reference books stored in the Kindle's memory.
*The name Kindle is a reference to [[Ray Bradbury]]'s [[science fiction]] [[novel]], ''[[Fahrenheit 451]]'', in which books are destroyed by fire, because Amazon believes the Kindle may well replace printed books.
*The name Kindle is a reference to [[Ray Bradbury]]'s [[science fiction]] [[novel]], ''[[Fahrenheit 451]]'', in which books are destroyed by fire, because Amazon believes the Kindle may well replace printed books.{{citation needed}}


==Digital Text Platform==
==Digital Text Platform==

Revision as of 20:24, 20 May 2008

"Kindle" redirects here. For other uses, see Kindle (disambiguation).
Amazon Kindle
ManufacturerAmazon.com
Compatible networksAmazon Whispernet
Availability by regionUnited States November 19 2007
Dimensions5.3" × 7.5" × 0.7"
Mass10.3 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 electronic book (e-book) device launched in the United States by 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] On the release day, the Kindle Store had more than 88,000 digital titles available for download.[2] Amazon's first offering of the Kindle sold out in five and a half hours[3] and the device remained out of stock until late April 2008.[4] It retails for $399 from Amazon.com.

Technical specifications

The Kindle features a 6" diagonal, 4-level grayscale electrophoretic display (E Ink material) with a resolution of 600×800 pixels (167 ppi), although the largest graphic image that can be displayed without being resized in a publication is 450x550 pixels.[5] It measures 5.3 inches × 7.5 inches × 0.7 inches (134.5 mm × 190 mm × 19 mm) and weighs 10.3 ounces (295 grams). The Kindle has 256 MB of internal storage, of which 180 MB is available on a new device. An SD memory card expansion slot is present, officially supporting cards up to 4 GB in size.[6] It has 64 MB of RAM. The battery lasts roughly two days with wireless on, and one week with wireless off. The battery charges in about two hours. A USB 2.0 port (mini-B connector) is available for connecting to a computer (where it acts as a USB flash drive). The Kindle features a headphone jack and one-year warranty. The device runs on a modified version of Linux based on the 2.6.10 kernel.[7]

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), JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP documents to AZW.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

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).[12] Another experimental feature was added to allow you to play MP3 files in the background while reading. It is limited to random shuffle play at this time.

Product development

The Kindle was developed by a team led by Gregg Zehr. The team was based in Cupertino and was known as Lab126 during product development.[13]

Useful Information

  • Amazon does not sell the Kindle outside the United States, and Whispernet only works in the U.S.[8] U.S. owners traveling abroad have the option of managing their Kindle purchases via PC and can then in turn download items from the PC to their Kindle.
  • The game Minesweeper is available on Amazon Kindle: simply press and hold the ALT and Shift keys, and press the M button.
  • Many reviewers have expressed concern with the ergonomics of the Kindle. Without the use of its cover it is often difficult to hold onto and accidental compression of one or more buttons is frequent.
  • 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 the widely accepted PDF format, but Amazon provides "experimental" conversion to the native AZW format.[14] Users may also convert PDF files to supported formats using third-party software.
  • The Kindle Terms of Use forbid transferring eBooks to someone else or using them on a different device.[15] This has been criticized by the Free Software Foundation[16] and free software advocates including Mark Pilgrim.[17]
  • The Kindle charges monthly for RSS subscription to select blogs, even though one may use the experimental web browser to navigate to and read blogs without cost.[18]
  • Text is fully justified but without hyphenation.[19] Text can, however, be displayed left-justified via an undocumented feature.[20]
  • 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[21] but cannot be used to reference books stored in the Kindle's memory.
  • The name Kindle is a reference to Ray Bradbury's science fiction novel, Fahrenheit 451, in which books are destroyed by fire, because Amazon believes the Kindle may well replace printed books.[citation needed]

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]

See also

References

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

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amazon_Kindle&oldid=213781885"