New Kindle comes with microphone, seeds of possibility
By Sean Hollister 
posted August 2nd 2010 7:16PM
posted August 2nd 2010 7:16PM
posted August 2nd 2010 7:16PM
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I've always wondered why companies dont announce all of the features on their products.
@Firewave
It's an easter egg dood!
@Firewave Under promise, over deliver.
@Firewave def for customer service help via kindle or people who dont wanna give out CC over the web, so they go and use it like a phone to talk to a rep.
This could work for people who would like to turn pages without even moving a finger!
"Next......Next....."
@deleted
NAH!
Still too much work I won't be happy till I can control it with my brain...Better yet! I wont be happy till I can upload the whole book into my brain and read it in an instant.
@PathogenX Where's the fun in that?
@PathogenX
I think you want this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FuCRuXLzSw#t=00m58s
@PathogenX
You woudnt be able to read it instantly, your brain can only handle a certain number of words per minute. You'd probably be able to read at the same speed at which you think.
@deleted
I remember there being something about accessibility complaints for users with disabilities. This may be Amazon's way of providing for such users. It would be a great way of doing so.
@Anku
I thought I remembered something about people complaining that the Kindle DX wasn't accommodating to blind people....I could see this helping is if it allows full menu navigation.
@deleted I hope that's supposed to be a funny joke or something...
I'm wondering if I can USB tether this to my EVO 4G so I don't need 3G on the Kindle (just get the WiFi version, which is $50 cheaper)...
@Tumbleweed
no, kindle 3g is very limited only work basic (black and white) web and email. is provided by AT&T.
@techlord - I think you misunderstood me. I want to get the wifi-only kindle, but if I'm not near a wifi hotspot, i want to connect the new kindle via _USB_ and use the net connection from my phone (which is an EVO 4G running on another network).
I'm wondering if you can connect the new Kindle to the net via a USB connection, is the question.
@Tumbleweed
Just create a wi-fi hotspot with your Evo 4G... And then the "Wi-Fi" Kindle will work!
@Tumbleweed evo 4g mobile hotspot supports up to 8 devices
Yes, I know about the wifi hotspot, but that's an extra $30 I'd rather not have to pay or illegally route around by rooting. I was hoping Froyo would bring a free 'wifi' tethering (to 1 device), but that doesn't appear to be the case, though the 2.2 version I have isn't the final. I'm not gonna hold my breath for that.
The question remains, I guess - can I access the Kindle store on the new Kindles by USB tethering?
@Tumbleweed
Will you be buying content that you would like access to immediately that often? I can't see myself needing 3G that often. Books take a while to read, and daily deliveries are usually done overnight when you are sleeping.
Maybe you travel and read a lot?
@gittenlucky - I have no idea if I'll be buying content that often, but I'm just trying to get a question answered, not change my lifestyle to accomodate the lack of an answer. :)
I may very well wind up rooting my EVO, but that's not the question at hand, really, though I appreciate all the answers. It's going to be my first Kindle (when it arrives - doesn't ship until like Aug 31, I think), so this is all new to me.
What will wind up being the biggest issue by far is that I'm finding lots of books that I wanted to carry around with me all the time aren't even available in Kindle format, which is ... disappointing. Fortunately, $139 is an impulse purchase for me these days, so I'm good. At least the Millennium Trilogy by Larsson is available (and relatively cheap) in ebook format, so I'll be good for awhile.
@Tumbleweed
Its not illegal :) in fact, its probably more illegal for sprint to charge for mobile hotspot than you do it for free; and we wont know USB tethering until someone actually tries it, and it is kind of a new device...I would guess that your question will be answered in a future engadget article in about 2-3 weeks :)
@Tumbleweed
I have a 3G/WiFi Nook, and I can't tether my EVO to it for internet capability through USB. I would imagine that the Kindle is the same way.
Hotspot yes. Tethering, no.
@Tumbleweed
Check out http://calibre-ebook.com/
Calibre lets you convert just about any ebook into mobi format to be read on a kindle.
>we're dreaming of Skyping across that free 3G connection already
dream on
@HansImGlueck
Indeed. There will never be a functional skype over free 3G. Connection is simply too slow. Not sure it it's limited on purpose, but it's not even practical for "basic" web browsing. This is the reason I returned my Graphite Kindle last week, just a few days after I bought it. 3G was useless for anything other that ordering books.
@spass
I can't understand why you'd buy something designed for reading, and then return it when the function that lets you purchase books can't do more.
if you wanted something more full-featured for web browsing, why'd you buy it in the first place?
@jrm125
Well, it does come with a browser, which I do expect it to work a little, even no matter how "basic" they claim it to be. I would have not include this feature if it was not fully worked out.
@jrm125
The form factor of the Kindle would make it pretty nice as an always-connected internet device for basic browsing.
It unfortunately doesn't do that nearly as well as a lot of people hope (or expect), and the book-reading functionality isn't compelling enough to compensate. They don't even support decent typesetting, unless you get PDFs, which are not standard fare through the Kindle store, IIRC.
Regardless of the pompous statements from ebook reader purity advocates trying to justify their purchases by "educating" others that flaws are features, the Kindle is in reality whatever the hardware and service allow it to be. It could be a lot more than what Amazon and their insecure customers claim it to be, so it's no wonder that some people buy it for its potential, rather than its marketed limitation.
@spass
Well it's marked as "experimental". I just think an ounce of research could have saved you some trouble.
That said, I wouldn't mind if the browser was better. I have the Kindle 2...and I've found the browser is best suited for things like RSS feeds...so you avoid the heavy graphics, etc but still get the text stories.
@BubbaJ
"the book-reading functionality isn't compelling enough to compensate."
I'd consider that completely opinion. I went in knowing full well I was purchasing a device with the purpose of allowing me to read. I didn't expect a web experience from a $150 device and labeled as an e-reader. I wanted books, and a device that lets me read them in a nice format with essentially limitless battery life.
I've found it to be one of the best gadgets I've purchased in quite some time...allowing me to read far more than I would have bothered to before, and using Calibre, automatically download all my favorite blogs and periodicals daily.
Eye of the beholder I guess. I'm not insecure about it, just genuinely impressed and happy with my purchase. Sorry you guys were disappointed, I wish you were as happy with it as I am.
@spass
It's advertised and sold as an Ebook reader with some minor secondary features that are primarily designed to enhance the ebook experience. And from what I've seen, it and the Nook do their primary function very well. And yet you returned it, not because you didn't like the ebook reading, but because you couldn't surf the web fast enough for your liking, and on free 3g to boot. It's akin to returning your top of the line giant LCD TV because it's Twitter app isn't quite as good as the one on your iphone.
If web browsing on your ereader is that important to you, then you most probably need the ipad.
Now you can voice-over your e-books! YA-HA!
Finally!.....Kindlephone
"we're dreaming of Skyping across that free 3G connection already. "
And getting the 3G connection killed for the rest of us. No way Amazon is going to foot the 3G bill for free Skype calling.
iPad has a microphone...
Voice over IP is not allowed at the moment. Also wireless MegaBytes are not free.
From the Kindle Development Kit beta:
"
Revenue Share
User revenue will be split 70% to the developer and 30% to Amazon net of delivery fees of $0.15 / MB. Remember that unlike smart phones, the Kindle user does not pay a monthly wireless fee or enter into an annual wireless contract. Kindle active content must be priced to cover the costs of downloads and on going usage.
[...]
Developer Guidelines
Voice over IP functionality, advertising, offensive materials, collection of customer information without express customer knowledge and consent, or usage of the Amazon or Kindle brand in any way are not allowed. In addition, active content must meet all Amazon technical requirements, not be a generic reader, and not contain malicious code.
We will work to refine the above guidelines throughout the beta.
"
I've always wanted to make phone calls on my Kindle...wait no, I've never needed a microphone on my Kindle. Actually I have a nook, and could see that using a voice recording app or something considering its Android, but how do you expect to Skype over the free 3g, isn't that locked down to only allow access to the Kindle store, similar to the nook being locked down to the b&n store via the 3g??
Having read all of the comments, the solution here is obvious.
Buy a Wifi Kindle, set up a mobile hotspot with your EVO, connect your Kindle to the hotspot, and then make all of your calls via Skype from your Kindle at fast 3G speeds. Could it possibly get any easier?
I wouldn't expect Skype (or for it to last long) for the reasons given.
But while the access is slow for all but text-based mobile-device-optimized websites, the ability to go anywhere with the web browser has been true for 2 years. It's just that the news has not mentioned that much for some reason. Yes, the Nook and the Sony's wireless on a couple of models were restricted to their stores. The experimental web browser has always been able to go anywhere but complex sites with lots of or large images won't be giving much back.
Here's a file of sites that you CAN go to and actually get some info and that includes ESPN, CNN and even NY Times. It's at http://bit.ly/mobiweb
Useful things include getting step by step driving instructions when you're in the car and lost w/no GPS.