Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Self-published Kindle author breaks one million in sales, legs might have something to do with it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/self-published-kindle-author-breaks-one-million-in-sales-legs-m/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/self-published-kindle-author-breaks-one-million-in-sales-legs-m/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/self-published-kindle-author-breaks-one-million-in-sales-legs-m/#comments Our big, bad digital era's been caught red-handed overturning media industry business models before, so it comes as no surprise that publishing houses have a new headache on-hand. Straight outta sunny Seattle comes word that Amazon has welcomed its first self-published author to the "Kindle Million Club." John Locke (so this is where he wound up after going to that quasi-'heaven') is the lucky dude who gets to claim the prize, and that's not all -- Mr. independent-author-from-Kentucky now shares bold-face status with the likes of Stieg Larsson and Nora Roberts. By churning out action / adventure novels on the $0.99 cheap and making heavy use of some leggy lady models, Locke easily blew past the one million mark, and even has a book to tell you how he did it. Take that evil publishing overlords. Hit the break for Amazon's official PR spiel.

Continue reading Self-published Kindle author breaks one million in sales, legs might have something to do with it

Self-published Kindle author breaks one million in sales, legs might have something to do with it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleamazon kindle 2amazon kindle 3amazonkindleAmazonKindle2AmazonKindle3authorauthorse booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readerskindleKindle Direct Publishingkindle self publishingkindle2kindle3KindleDirectPublishingKindleSelfPublishingself-publishingTue, 21 Jun 2011 17:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's back to school guide: E-readers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-e-readers/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-e-readers/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-e-readers/#commentsWelcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we have e-readers in our sights -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month.
Engadget's back to school guide: E-readers
Yes, it's the next round of buying advice for those of you condemned to start hitting the books at the end of the summer. But, with one of these e-readers, you might just have fewer books to hit -- or at least lighter ones. Sadly most schools are still dependent on texts of the pulpy variety, but that doesn't mean an e-reader can't make your life a lot easier at school, and possibly even save you some money if you're reading the classics.

Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide: E-readers

Engadget's back to school guide: E-readers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010alexamazonback to schoolback to school guideBackToSchoolBackToSchoolGuidebarnes nobleBarnesNoblebebookbebook neoBebookNeodaily editionDailyEditione booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersfeaturefeaturedfeatureskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxnookpocket editionPocketEditionsonysony readerSonyReaderspring designSpringDesignFri, 13 Aug 2010 13:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon's Kindle conveniently falls to $189, Nook looks stunned and bitter]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/amazons-kindle-conveniently-falls-to-189-nook-looks-stunned-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/amazons-kindle-conveniently-falls-to-189-nook-looks-stunned-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/amazons-kindle-conveniently-falls-to-189-nook-looks-stunned-a/#comments Oh, snap! Merely hours after Barnes & Noble came out swinging with a $149 WiFi-only version of its Nook and a price-reduced $199 3G Nook, along comes Amazon to rip a massive hole in B&N's billowing sails. As of this very moment, the $259 Kindle 2 -- complete with global 3G and the 6-ink E Ink display you've come to know and love (or hate) -- is now the $189 Kindle 2. Oh, and there's also free 2-day shipping. Looks like the undercutter just got undercut, huh?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Amazon's Kindle conveniently falls to $189, Nook looks stunned and bitter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleamazon kindle 2AmazonKindleAmazonKindle2breaking newsBreakingNewse booke bookse readere readerse-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-bookse-readere-readerskindlekindle 2Kindle2priceprice dropPriceDroppricespricingMon, 21 Jun 2010 15:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Slim Amazon Kindle 'Shasta' to be first with WiFi?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/slim-kindle-shasta-to-be-first-with-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/slim-kindle-shasta-to-be-first-with-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/slim-kindle-shasta-to-be-first-with-wifi/#comments You know what Amazon's Kindle doesn't have? No, we're not talking about color, the other thing. Right, WiFi. That looks set to change when the rumored slimster -- codenamed "Shasta" -- launches in August. The screencap above displaying the results of an internal Amazon device query shows entries for "Shasta" and "Shasta WiFi." That would seem to indicate that Amazon's next reader will launch in two flavors: WiFi + 3G and 3G-only (our source isn't sure). There's even an outside chance that one could be a WiFi-only device. Another grab after the break.

Oh, and here's an interesting footnote: the original Kindle was apparently codenamed "Fiona" after Fiona Hackworth in Neal Stephenson's novel The Diamond Age. Many of the names in the device list above -- Nell (the protagonist), Miranda (mother figure to Nell), and Turing (i.e., Turing Machines) -- are all related to that very same story. What we can't figure out is how the word "Shasta" fits into all this so lay it on us Cyberpunks if you know.

Update: Freddo411 seems to have nailed it in the comments: Shasta, Lassen, and Mazama are all volcanoes in the Cascades.

Continue reading Slim Amazon Kindle 'Shasta' to be first with WiFi?

Slim Amazon Kindle 'Shasta' to be first with WiFi? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 May 2010 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazoncodenamee booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersexclusivefionakindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxklamathlassenmazamamirandaNeal StephensonNealStephensonnellreddingshastathe diamond ageTheDiamondAgeMon, 31 May 2010 08:41:00 EST<![CDATA[E-Ink Shocker! Amazon CEO says color Kindle is 'still a long way out']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/e-ink-shocker-amazon-ceo-says-color-kindle-is-still-a-long-way/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/e-ink-shocker-amazon-ceo-says-color-kindle-is-still-a-long-way/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/e-ink-shocker-amazon-ceo-says-color-kindle-is-still-a-long-way/#comments Well, if it isn't a surprise to end all surprises. Amazon's head honcho Jeff Bezos recently grabbed a mic at the outfit's annual shareholder meeting in Seattle, and when speaking about the "millions" of Kindle e-readers that he's sold, he pointed out the obvious when questioned about the possibility of a color version. In addressing concerns that LCD-based tablets may seem more attractive due to their ability to showcase color images and video, he noted that developing color electronic ink remains a challenge, and while he's seen things "in the laboratory," the prototypes are simply "not ready for prime-time production." He also stated that these lust-worthy, mythical displays were "a long way out," but that the Kindle would remain focused as a dedicated e-reader moving forward. Hear that, Mirasol? That's the ear-piecing sound of a market opportunity waiting to be exploited.

E-Ink Shocker! Amazon CEO says color Kindle is 'still a long way out' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlecolorcolor e inkcolor e-inkColorE-inkColorEInke booke bookse inke papere readere readerse-booke-bookse-inke-papere-readere-readerseinkelectronic inkelectronic paperElectronicInkElectronicPaperEPaperjeff bezosJeffBezoskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxshockerTue, 25 May 2010 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon's Kindle 2.5 software update begins to roll out]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/amazons-kindle-2-5-software-update-begins-to-roll-out/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/amazons-kindle-2-5-software-update-begins-to-roll-out/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/amazons-kindle-2-5-software-update-begins-to-roll-out/#comments We knew it was destined for a late-May release, and it looks as if Amazon's going to make its deadline after all. Following a preview of the 2.5 software update a few weeks back, we've got pictorial proof that the new code is being pushed out as we speak. This particular unit is a Kindle DX, and it's not hesitant in showing off the social networking features we were promised. Feel free to poke around in the gallery below, and then fire up your own Kindle to see if you've received an OTA surprise. Let us know either way in comments below, won'tcha?

[Thanks, Andreas]

Gallery: Amazon's Kindle 2.5 software update begins to roll out

Amazon's Kindle 2.5 software update begins to roll out originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 May 2010 02:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazone booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersEReaderexclusivekindlekindle 2kindle 2.5kindle dxKindle2Kindle2.5KindleDxsoftwaresoftware updateSoftwareUpdateupdateMon, 24 May 2010 02:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle coming to Target on April 25?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/kindle-coming-to-target-on-april-25/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/kindle-coming-to-target-on-april-25/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/kindle-coming-to-target-on-april-25/#comments We've always wondered if and when Amazon would get the Kindle into brick-and-mortar stores to counteract the see-it-with-your-eyes marketing advantage held by competitors like Barnes and Noble, and it looks like we just got our answer -- this is a shot of a Target inventory handheld showing a listing for Amazon's e-reader. We're told that the in-store date is April 25, so we'll be keeping an eye out -- and we're definitely curious to see if Amazon's retail packaging for stores is any flashier than the current Kindle box.

[Thanks, zeroleonheart]

Kindle coming to Target on April 25? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazone booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readerskindlekindle 2Kindle2leakleaksrumorrumorstargetWed, 07 Apr 2010 14:51:00 EST<![CDATA['Millions of people' now own Kindles, says Amazon in its most non-vague sales statement yet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/millions-of-people-now-own-kindles-says-amazon-in-its-most-no/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/millions-of-people-now-own-kindles-says-amazon-in-its-most-no/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/millions-of-people-now-own-kindles-says-amazon-in-its-most-no/#commentsAmazon has been notoriously and aggravatingly mum on releasing concrete sales figures for its Kindle series. Last tidbit we heard was that it was the most gifted item in the retail company's history. Or maybe there was some indication by AT&T's note today that 1 million non-phones have been activated, which at this point includes newer Kindles, Nooks, and Sony Readers. At any rate, CEO Jeff Bezos let out the tiniest smidgen of Kindle's sales today in its fiscal report, saying that "millions of people now own Kindles." If we're lucky, next earnings call we'll get to play a "higher or lower" guessing game. Maybe.

'Millions of people' now own Kindles, says Amazon in its most non-vague sales statement yet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlebezosbusinessfinancejeff bezosJeffBezoskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxsalesThu, 28 Jan 2010 19:41:00 EST<![CDATA[iPad or Kindle: will our wallets decide?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/ipad-or-kindle-will-our-wallets-decide/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/ipad-or-kindle-will-our-wallets-decide/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/ipad-or-kindle-will-our-wallets-decide/#comments In quite a few ways, Apple's iPad and iBooks announcement today was a shot across the bow of Amazon's Kindle. Sure, Apple played nice, even saying that Amazon has done a "great job of pioneering" the e-book space, but you can't help but think that Apple thinks of itself as the evolution of the Kindle, not mere competition. Steve Jobs says that Apple is going to "stand on their shoulders," and that doesn't sound quite as benign as perhaps he meant it. So, how do the devices stack up, specifically as book consuming devices? Well, for starters, one of these things costs a whole lot more than the other... let's break it down after the break.

Continue reading iPad or Kindle: will our wallets decide?

iPad or Kindle: will our wallets decide? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadAppleIpade-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-bookse-readere-readersipadkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxWed, 27 Jan 2010 18:18:00 EST<![CDATA[InstaPaper for Kindle now more Kindle-like]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/instapaper-for-kindle-now-more-kindle-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/instapaper-for-kindle-now-more-kindle-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/instapaper-for-kindle-now-more-kindle-like/#comments
InstaPaper's "read later" bookmarking service was already a pretty handy way to get any article or web page onto your Kindle, but it looks like the company's now taken a considerable leap forward in usability with its latest update. Nothing's changed in the way you actually get articles onto the Kindle (via wireless delivery or .mobi files), but once they're loaded up you'll now have a decidedly more Kindle-like experience. That includes being able to tap left or right between articles downloaded from a site and, perhaps most notably, you'll also now get a convenient table of contents that can be accessed from any article by pressing the back button. Those using wireless delivery will also now see old InstaPaper files moved to the "Periodicals: Back Issues" folder as new ones come in, rather than see them fill up their home screen. Sound like just the thing you've been waiting for? Hit up the link below to get started.

InstaPaper for Kindle now more Kindle-like originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-booke-readerinstapaperkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxreadingFri, 22 Jan 2010 12:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle most gifted item in Amazon's history, e-books outsell physical tomes on Christmas Day]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/27/kindle-most-gifted-item-in-amazons-history-e-books-outsell-phy/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/27/kindle-most-gifted-item-in-amazons-history-e-books-outsell-phy/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/27/kindle-most-gifted-item-in-amazons-history-e-books-outsell-phy/#commentsWe're still not about say the e-book reader industry has branched out beyond the infancy stage, but one of its flagship products certainly has reason to celebrate. Amazon has announced it's hit some pretty big milestones with the Kindle. The two bullet points it's currently touting loudest is that the reader has become "the most gifted item" in the company's history -- quite an achievement given the size of the online retailer, but what's missing here is any quantitative sales data to give us even a ballpark of the number of units sold. The other big news is that on Christmas Day (we're guessing not Christmas Eve, else the press release surely would've mentioned it, too), e-book sales actually outsold physical books. Those brand new Kindle owners needed something to read, right? It'll be interesting to see if that momentum is maintained through next year, especially with some major publishers starting to show some teeth with digital delays.

The Kindle bits were all part of Amazon's annual post-holiday statistical breakdown, so in case you're wondering, besides Kindle, the company is claiming its other top-selling electronics were the 8GB iPod Touch and Garmin nuvi260W, and in the wireless department the honor goes to Nokia's unlocked 5800 XpressMusic, Plantronic's 510 Bluetooth headset, and AT&T's edition of the BlackBerry Bold 9700.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Kindle most gifted item in Amazon's history, e-books outsell physical tomes on Christmas Day originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlebookchristmase booke book readere inke readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-inke-readerEBookEBookReaderEInkEReaderholidayholidayskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxsalesalesSun, 27 Dec 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon beefing up Kindle's functionality for vision-impared users as B&N's Nook stays silent]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/amazon-beefing-up-kindles-functionality-for-vision-impared-user/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/amazon-beefing-up-kindles-functionality-for-vision-impared-user/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/amazon-beefing-up-kindles-functionality-for-vision-impared-user/#commentsWhile the Amazon Kindle's text-to-speech functionality might seem like a gimmick for some, it's anything but for blind, vision-impaired and dyslexic users. Unfortunately, the device's accessibility so far hasn't extended to the menus. That's set to change next year, however, with Amazon promising to release an audible menuing system for navigating the unit look-free. Amazon's also prepping a new "super size" font, that doubles the current largest font in height and width. It all sounds great, but it also seems like a subtle dig at Barnes & Noble, whose brand new Nook reader is skipping out on text-to-speech (for this generation, anyway). Barnes & Noble claims that it's due to the sub-par experience on "other devices," but for now that means the Kindle might just be most accessible dedicated e-reader around -- at least once this new software rolls out, supposedly by summer 2010.

Amazon beefing up Kindle's functionality for vision-impared users as B&N's Nook stays silent originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazone-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxtext to speechTextToSpeechMon, 07 Dec 2009 11:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle 2.3 software update available, generation 1 owners need not apply]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/kindle-2-3-software-update-available-generation-1-owners-need-n/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/kindle-2-3-software-update-available-generation-1-owners-need-n/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/kindle-2-3-software-update-available-generation-1-owners-need-n/#commentsWe gadget nerds have to endure unspeakable atrocities in order to slake that early adoption jones: first-run gear shipped DOA, buggy pre-release software, and months of waiting after a product leaks only to be greeted by a jacked-up price premium at launch. So we feel your pain, original Kindle owners, after Amazon announced a major firmware update that brings native PDF support to the 6-inch Kindle 2 and DX readers with the promise of a staggering 85% increase in battery life to all Kindle 2 devices -- if you haven't already received it OTA, the 2.3 software update is now available for download and installation via USB tethering. At least owners of "some earlier versions of Kindle" (quote from the press release) will receive native PDF support whenever the 1st generation firmware update (currently at version 1.2) is released. It's worth noting that Amazon's PDF reader lacks a zoom function which makes many PDFs entirely unreadable on the device. Good thing Amazon's store is chock full of easily zoomable books in a proprietary format then, huh?

Kindle 2.3 software update available, generation 1 owners need not apply originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.36-inchamazonbatterydxfirmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdatekindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxotaover the airOverTheAirpdfsoftwaresoftware updateSoftwareUpdatezoomWed, 25 Nov 2009 06:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle firmware update promises 85 percent battery boost, native PDF reader]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/kindle-firmware-update-promises-85-battery-boost-native-pdf-re/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/kindle-firmware-update-promises-85-battery-boost-native-pdf-re/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/kindle-firmware-update-promises-85-battery-boost-native-pdf-re/#commentsWe're not quite sure what sort of black magic it's worked to make it happen, but it looks like Amazon is really taking the art of firmware updates to a new level with the latest upgrade for the Kindle. Not only does it finally add native PDF support (which would have gotten folks rightly excited on its own), but it promises to boost battery life by a full 85 percent. That translates to about seven days of use with the wireless on, and is apparently the result of a six month firmware improvement and testing program -- can we get these folks working on other devices? Naturally, the latest firmware will be shipping on all new Kindles right away (just not the DX, it seems), and it will be pushed as a free update to existing Kindle 2s via Whispernet, although there's no ETA on that just yet.

Kindle firmware update promises 85 percent battery boost, native PDF reader originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlefirmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdatekindlekindle 2Kindle2Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle coming to the UK in October? Amazon might just tell us next week]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/01/kindle-coming-to-the-uk-in-october-amazon-might-just-tell-us-ne/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/01/kindle-coming-to-the-uk-in-october-amazon-might-just-tell-us-ne/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/01/kindle-coming-to-the-uk-in-october-amazon-might-just-tell-us-ne/#comments Wanna know what we love? Authoritative sources. That fine breed of people who don't like keeping important secrets is back with another hit, this time suggesting that Amazon has finally tied up all the loose ends and is ready to bring the Kindle to Blighty. This implies Qualcomm has done its rumored job of putting together a 3G and WiFi connectivity package with one of the UK's mobile operators, and all that remains to be done now is the old dotting and crossing of i's and t's. An official announcement -- which should tell us whether the Kindle 2 will be joined by the chunkier Kindle DX -- is expected some time ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair, which commences on October 14.

[Via Pocket lint]

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Kindle coming to the UK in October? Amazon might just tell us next week originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmazonAmazon KindleAmazonKindlee booke bookse readere readerse-book readerE-bookReadere-bookse-readerE-readersebookebook readerEbookReaderebooksereaderKindleKindle 2Kindle DXKindle2KindleDxQualcommUKUnited KingdomUnitedKingdomThu, 01 Oct 2009 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Study finds Kindle more eco-friendly than actual books, maybe]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/study-finds-kindle-more-eco-friendly-than-actual-books-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/study-finds-kindle-more-eco-friendly-than-actual-books-maybe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/study-finds-kindle-more-eco-friendly-than-actual-books-maybe/#comments
A mass-produced piece of plastic and electronics more environmentally-friendly than a simple book? Possibly, at least according to a new study released by the Cleantech Group. While the group found that the Kindle's upfront environmental impact was indeed fairly significant, they also found that the numbers can change dramatically over the course of the device's lifecycle -- depending largely on the users' reading habits, of course. More specifically, they say that the Kindle can produce a potential savings of 1,074 kg of CO2 if it replaces three books a month for four years, or a whopping 26,098 kg of CO2 if the Kindle DX is used to its fullest capacity. They also found that the Kindle would still break even if it replaced just 22.5 books over its lifespan, although they're quick to point out that its impact can turn to a negative if folks continue to buy books and print periodicals in addition to e-books and don't recycle them.

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Study finds Kindle more eco-friendly than actual books, maybe originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookscleantech groupCleantechGroupe-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-bookse-readerenvironmentkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxstudyFri, 28 Aug 2009 17:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's Kindle design contest: we have winners!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/engadgets-kindle-design-contest-we-have-winners/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/engadgets-kindle-design-contest-we-have-winners/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/engadgets-kindle-design-contest-we-have-winners/#comments The votes are in, dear readers, and you've spoken loud and clear: from our original 23 finalists, your votes have boiled it down to five well-deserved winners who've clearly put time, effort, thought, determination, and old-fashioned elbow grease into their designs for gracing the metal back of Amazon's 6-inch Kindle.

So what happens next? We'll be working with winners and coordinating with the good folks at Adafruit Industries to turn these designs into reality thanks to some insanely high-powered precision lasers -- picture that scene in Goldfinger where the film's namesake tries to cut 007 in half to get an idea of just how high-powered we're talking about here -- and rest assured, we'll be posting plenty of pictures as they come out of the workshop! Follow the break for the lucky five (presented in order with the most votes first).

A huge word of thanks to Amazon, Adafruit Industries, everyone who submitted entries, and the voters who figured out where these Kindles belong!

Continue reading Engadget's Kindle design contest: we have winners!

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Engadget's Kindle design contest: we have winners! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industrieAdafruitIndustrieamazoncontestfeaturesgiveawaykindlekindle 2Kindle2Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Student sues Amazon after Kindle eats his homework]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/30/student-sues-amazon-after-kindle-eats-his-homework/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/30/student-sues-amazon-after-kindle-eats-his-homework/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/30/student-sues-amazon-after-kindle-eats-his-homework/#comments It seems we have yet another reason to volley complaints in Amazon's directions. 17-year old high school student Justin Gawronski had apparently been taking electronic notes and annotations on his Kindle for a summer assignment on George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. Yeah, you can probably guess where this is going -- after the retailer remotely pulled the plug on that particular version of the book, Gawronski's notes were lost in the ethers, rendered useless. The suit, which is seeking class action status, asks that Amazon be legally blocked from improperly accessing users' Kindles in the future and punitive damages for those affected by the deletion -- and if he asks nice, we're pretty sure Jeff would write his teacher a note. [Warning: read link is a PDF]

[Via Trading Markets]

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Student sues Amazon after Kindle eats his homework originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazone booke book readere readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerEBookEBookReaderEReaderkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxlaw suitLawSuitsuesuitThu, 30 Jul 2009 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Kindle design contest: now it's your turn to decide who wins!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/amazon-kindle-design-contest-now-its-your-turn-to-decide-who-w/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/amazon-kindle-design-contest-now-its-your-turn-to-decide-who-w/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/amazon-kindle-design-contest-now-its-your-turn-to-decide-who-w/#comments Our Kindle contest that we're running in cooperation with our good friends at Adafruit Industries and Amazon has drawn to an epic conclusion, and there's simply no other way to put it -- we're blown away. We received literally dozens upon dozens of incredible, art gallery-worthy entries and it was all but impossible to narrow them down to a group of finalists -- but after an entire weekend of mulling, debating, and hand-wringing, we've done the dirty work and narrowed it down to a group of just twenty-three. Now, dear readers, the fate of five Kindles lies in your hands and your hands alone. The laser awaits.

So here's what we need from you: pick your favorite by 11:59PM ET on Monday, August 3rd. That's it. We'll take the five top vote-getters and award each with a 6-inch Kindle engraved with their design -- and of course, we'll post pictures of the finished products before they go out to their lucky owners.

Follow the break to see the entries (which you can click to see in larger form). Below each design, you'll see a number -- these correspond to numbers in the poll, which you'll find directly below the entries. Just choose your favorite by number and we'll take care of the rest.

Good luck, contestants -- and good luck picking from all of these amazing entries, readers!

Update: The contest is now closed. No votes have been counted since August 3rd at 11:59PM ET. Stay tuned for the winners!

Continue reading Amazon Kindle design contest: now it's your turn to decide who wins!

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Amazon Kindle design contest: now it's your turn to decide who wins! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesamazoncontestfeaturesgiveawaykindlekindle 2Kindle2Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Entelligence: Two strikes for Kindle is enough for me]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/23/entelligence-two-strikes-for-kindle-is-enough-for-me/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/23/entelligence-two-strikes-for-kindle-is-enough-for-me/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/23/entelligence-two-strikes-for-kindle-is-enough-for-me/#commentsEntelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.
I like books. No: I actually love books. In virtually every room in my home there are bookcases that are filled to overflowing. I like to purchase them, hold them as I read words written to inform, delight, and transport the reader into different times, new experiences, and enlighten them in ways they could not have imagined. Like the worst hot dog I've eaten and the worst beer I've drunk, the worst book I've read was wonderful... but books do have a downside. They're bulky to store, hard to travel with (paper is really, really heavy), and paperbacks in particular tend to not hold up well over time. So, in addition to books, I've been a fan of e-Books. My former venture capital firm did one of the first investments in Peanut Press (long sold and re-sold many times and now owned by Barnes and Noble) and more than a decade ago I struggled with reading fiction by Dan Brown on a Palm V device with low resolution and on backlight. It was a struggle -- but it was better than schlepping paper.

Continue reading Entelligence: Two strikes for Kindle is enough for me

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Entelligence: Two strikes for Kindle is enough for me originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1984amazonamazon kindleamazon kindle 2amazon kindle dxAmazonKindleAmazonKindle2AmazonKindleDxanimal farmAnimalFarmcolumncolumnsDRMe booke book readere readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerEBookEBookReadereditorialentelligenceEReaderfeaturedfeaturesgeorge orwellGeorgeOrwellkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxThu, 23 Jul 2009 16:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: don't forget to design your own Kindle and take it home!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/reminder-dont-forget-to-design-your-own-kindle-and-take-it-hom/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/reminder-dont-forget-to-design-your-own-kindle-and-take-it-hom/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/reminder-dont-forget-to-design-your-own-kindle-and-take-it-hom/#comments
We know you've been wracking your brain for the past week trying to dream up that perfect etching for the Kindle's hindquarters, but time's running out -- Friday at 11:59PM EDT is the deadline -- so put digital pen to digital paper and get your entry submitted on the double!

Need a refresher? Head on over to the announcement to learn all about our awesome Kindle design contest -- and a big thanks to Amazon and Adafruit Industries for making it possible!

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Reminder: don't forget to design your own Kindle and take it home! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesamazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlecontestdesigngiveawaykindlekindle 2Kindle2Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon drops $200 replacement fee for cracked Kindle screens ]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/16/amazon-drops-200-replacement-fee-for-cracked-kindle-screens/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/16/amazon-drops-200-replacement-fee-for-cracked-kindle-screens/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/16/amazon-drops-200-replacement-fee-for-cracked-kindle-screens/#comments
In a little bit of about face, Amazon's nixed its hefty $200 charge to replace cracked Kindle screens, and now says it will do so for free. The change comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by a Kindle owner, who claims that the cover designed for the Kindle by Amazon caused a crack in the screen where it attaches to the device. Amazon's story had been that cracked screens weren't covered under the warranty, and while the company wouldn't comment on the lawsuit, which is still active, the company issued a statement saying that anyone "who has an issue with the cover attachment mechanism to return the cover and device for a free replacement so we can investigate further." The original plaintiff is asking that a federal court in Seattle make the case a class-action lawsuit, and his lawyers have said that they will still go forward with the complaint even though Amazon is dropping the fee. So what about you -- have you cracked up your Kindle screen?

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Amazon drops $200 replacement fee for cracked Kindle screens originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazoncrackedcracked screenCrackedScreenkindlekindle 2kindle screenKindle2KindleScreenlawsuitreplacement feeReplacementFeescreenThu, 16 Jul 2009 22:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon reportedly close to deal for UK Kindle]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/15/amazon-reportedly-close-to-deal-for-uk-kindle/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/15/amazon-reportedly-close-to-deal-for-uk-kindle/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/15/amazon-reportedly-close-to-deal-for-uk-kindle/#comments
This one isn't a done deal just yet, but Mobile Today is reporting that Amazon is "close to finalizing a launch date" for the Kindle in the UK, and that it's now in "advanced negotiations with a mobile operator for an MVNO." From the sound of it, however, Amazon is taking a somewhat hands-off approach this time around, with it not only tapping Qualcomm to manufacture the device, but to secure connectivity for it with a carrier as well. What's more, it seems that the UK Kindle will include both 3G and WiFi connectivity which, as SlashGear notes, would seem to suggest that either T-Mobile or O2 would be likely partners, considering that each already has some sizable WiFi networks of their own in place.

[Via SlashGear]

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Amazon reportedly close to deal for UK Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazon kindleAmazonKindlee-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxUKWed, 15 Jul 2009 13:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Design your own Kindle (and win it) with Engadget, Amazon, and Adafruit Industries!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/14/design-your-own-kindle-2-and-win-it-with-engadget-amazon-and/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/14/design-your-own-kindle-2-and-win-it-with-engadget-amazon-and/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/14/design-your-own-kindle-2-and-win-it-with-engadget-amazon-and/#comments
Reading isn't just about the text that you're reading, it's an intimately personal experience in every sense of the word -- the way the book feels, the crease of the pages, the wear on the cover, it's all totally unique to your copy at the time that you're reading it. Put simply, it's an experience no one else will ever have. Between three models, dozens of accessories, and countless e-books, no two Kindles are alike, either -- but Engadget has partnered with Amazon and the DIY experts over at Adafruit Industries to hook up five extraordinarily lucky readers with truly unique reading devices. These guys are the laser etching experts -- see one of the Kindles they've done here!

Here's the deal: we're asking you to think of a design that would look great on the Kindle's brushed metal back -- something that means a lot to you, something that'll make passers-by drool with envy when you casually hold up your new toy while reading The Economist from the comfort of your train, plane, or bus seat. Draft up that design (seriously, make sure it's awesome, because you'll be facing some stiff competition) and send it to us. We'll post some of our favorites as finalists and hand the reigns over to you -- our dear readers -- to select five winners who will each have their designs laser-etched into reality on the backs of their very own Kindles!

The rules:
  • Send your design to us by emailing it to contests [at] engadget [dawt] com with the subject "I want my custom Kindle!" (no quotes). Submissions must be in EPS or AI format, must be in black and white only, and must be composed strictly of vector graphics with all fonts converted to curves. We can scale your design as necessary, but keep in mind that you'll be dealing with an etchable area roughly five inches by seven inches. You can find a (very large) image of the back of the Kindle 2 here for your reference.
  • We can't print anything you don't have the rights for, so to be safe, original work is the best!
  • You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
  • Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  • Five (5) winners will each receive one (1) Amazon Kindle 6" Wireless Reading Device customized by Adafruit Industries. Approximate retail value is $299.00.
  • If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
  • Design entries can be submitted until Friday, July 24th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
  • Full rules can be found here.

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Design your own Kindle (and win it) with Engadget, Amazon, and Adafruit Industries! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adafruitadafruit industriesAdafruitIndustriesamazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlecontestetchinggiveawaykindlekindle 2Kindle2laser etchingLaserEtchingTue, 14 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon's Kindle 2 gets a $60 price cut, now at $299]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/08/amazons-kindle-2-gets-a-60-price-cut-now-at-299/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/08/amazons-kindle-2-gets-a-60-price-cut-now-at-299/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/08/amazons-kindle-2-gets-a-60-price-cut-now-at-299/#comments
Nearly five months to the day after Amazon introduced its Kindle 2 e-reader, the company has decided to hack a full $60 off of the price tag in order to offer it to US consumers for $299. Sneaking under that magical $300 mark could allow the outfit to move an awful lot more of these buggers, and with the competition finally heating up, we'd say it's probably a solid defensive move as well. So, are you interested in pulling the trigger now that the Kindle 2 is under three bills? Or is that e-book app on your smartphone doing just fine?

[Thanks, Michael]

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Amazon's Kindle 2 gets a $60 price cut, now at $299 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbooke booke book readere inke readere-book readerE-bookReadere-inke-readerEBookEBookReaderEInkEReaderkindlekindle 2Kindle2priceprice droppricedPriceDroppricespricingWed, 08 Jul 2009 13:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle's German launch stalled by T-Mobile and Vodafone?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/kindles-german-launch-stalled-by-t-mobile-and-vodafone/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/kindles-german-launch-stalled-by-t-mobile-and-vodafone/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/kindles-german-launch-stalled-by-t-mobile-and-vodafone/#comments A news item is circulating the internet reportedly from German business weekly Wirtschaftswoche claiming Amazon is facing a major hurdle in trying to bring its Kindle to Deutschland. The problem at hand? The two big wireless providers in the country, Vodafone and T-Mobile, are both saying "nein" to providing Whispernet service, and apparently the issue has to do with how much money Amazon was willing to give -- unsurprising, if true. Another, very likely reason for T-Mobile's unwillingness is that parent company Deutsche Telekom is rumored to be working on its own e-book reader, and we gotta believe those company picnics would be mighty awkward if a large subsidiary was given the competition a major boost. We can't imagine this stopping Amazon for long, and we'd be very surprised if the Kindle didn't find some way to sneak itself into the region sooner or later.

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Kindle's German launch stalled by T-Mobile and Vodafone? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleAmazonKindledeutsche telekomDeutscheTelekome booke book readere-booke-book readerE-bookReaderEBookEBookReaderimmanuel kantImmanuelKantkantkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxt mobilet-mobileTMobilevodafonewhisper netWhisperNetWed, 01 Jul 2009 01:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Kindle DX review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/kindle-dx-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/kindle-dx-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/kindle-dx-review/#comments Here's the one-line summary of the Kindle DX: It's a Kindle 2 with a larger screen, hair-trigger orientation sensor, and an awful keyboard. Seriously awful. Yes, we know we should be focused on things like PDF support or even content partners like newspapers and textbook publishers, but we're having a hard time getting over the keyboard -- it's emblematic of some puzzling design choices Amazon made with the Kindle DX. What do we mean? Read on.

Continue reading Amazon Kindle DX review

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Amazon Kindle DX review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazondxfeaturedfeatureskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxreviewFri, 19 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bezos suggests Kindle books will appear on more devices, compete with Kindle readers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/bezos-suggests-kindle-books-will-appear-on-more-devices-compete/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/bezos-suggests-kindle-books-will-appear-on-more-devices-compete/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/bezos-suggests-kindle-books-will-appear-on-more-devices-compete/#comments
Amazon already sent a pretty clear signal that it has grander plans for Kindle than just its own devices when it launched its iPhone app earlier this year, but Jeff Bezos has now made those intentions clearer than ever, and dropped a few hints of things to come. Speaking at a Wired-sponsored conference yesterday, Bezos all but confirmed that Amazon sees Kindle books and Kindle readers as two separate businesses, and he even went so far as to say that "we are going to give the device team competition" by making Kindle books available on "mobile devices and other computing devices, although he obviously didn't specify other e-book readers. Interestingly, Bezos also confirmed that Amazon had considered selling the Kindle with a monthly subscription plan to lower the cost, or require a minimum number of books purchased, but said that he preferred the simplicity of providing one flat up-front cost, which he says has helped account for the Kindle's success.

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Bezos suggests Kindle books will appear on more devices, compete with Kindle readers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlebezose-booke-book readerE-bookReaderjeff bezosJeffBezoskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxTue, 16 Jun 2009 13:22:00 EST<![CDATA[A color Kindle is years away, buyers remorse here to stay]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/29/a-color-kindle-is-years-away-buyers-remorse-here-to-stay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/29/a-color-kindle-is-years-away-buyers-remorse-here-to-stay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/29/a-color-kindle-is-years-away-buyers-remorse-here-to-stay/#commentsA color Kindle is years away, buyers remorse here to stay
Hey, Kindle 2 owners, remember when Amazon made the device official and you thought: "Well, it took them a year and a half to replace the old one, so I can buy this one without fears of immediate obsolescence." And then remember how three months later they announced the Kindle DX and you thought: "Oh." Well, if you're now fearing a color Kindle will come sauntering along in a few months to make everyone jealous, fear not, as Jeff Bezos is saying the tech is still "multiple years" away, adding "I've seen the color displays in the laboratory and I can assure you they're not ready for prime time." From the few prototypes we've seen we'd tend to agree. So, anyone still on the fence about a Kindle, go ahead and buy now with confidence, as your devices won't be made to look quaint any time soon -- at least until that pizza box-sized reader Amazon's been working on in secret is announced in July. Did we mention it actually cooks pizza?

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A color Kindle is years away, buyers remorse here to stay originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleamazon kindle 2amazon kindle dxAmazonKindleAmazonKindle2AmazonKindleDxbezoscolor e-inkcolor kindleColorE-inkColorKindlee-inkjeff bezosJeffBezoskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxFri, 29 May 2009 07:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Random House now disabling text-to-speech function of Kindle e-books]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/random-house-now-disabling-text-to-speech-function-of-kindle-e-b/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/random-house-now-disabling-text-to-speech-function-of-kindle-e-b/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/random-house-now-disabling-text-to-speech-function-of-kindle-e-b/#comments
The much-touted and extremely controversial story of the text-to-speech function of Amazon's Kindle 2 could fill a very large e-book. The tale continues to get longer still, as at least one major publisher -- Random House -- has thrown the dreaded "kill switch" on about 40 of its titles, including authors such as Toni Morrison, and, ironically, Stephen King (who you will remember was part of the Kindle 2's launch). Random House disabled the function without much fanfare, or an official announcement, but you can be sure this isn't the final chapter.

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Random House now disabling text-to-speech function of Kindle e-books originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 21:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlecopyrighte booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readerE-readersebook readerEbookReaderebookskindlekindle 2Kindle2publishingrobot voicesRobotVoicestext to speechTextToSpeechThu, 14 May 2009 21:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle 2 gets the Colorware treatment, prepares to burn some retinas]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/11/kindle-2-gets-the-colorware-treatment-prepares-to-burn-some-ret/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/11/kindle-2-gets-the-colorware-treatment-prepares-to-burn-some-ret/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/11/kindle-2-gets-the-colorware-treatment-prepares-to-burn-some-ret/#comments
We know that the only reason you're holding out on buying a Kindle 2 is your aversion to that sterile plastic shell. Well, you're in luck, aesthete... 'cos the folks at Colorware will happily sell you a model that lives out loud for a song (and $599, baseline). Or you can send in your own e-reader, in which case a cool $199 will get you the paint job you deserve. It will be 2-3 weeks before you get your device back in your hot hands, but when you do you'll be ready to read The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby in pop art style. Hit that read link to get started.

[Via Slash Gear]

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Kindle 2 gets the Colorware treatment, prepares to burn some retinas originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 May 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleamazon kindle 2AmazonKindleAmazonKindle2colorwarecustomizationkindlekindle2Mon, 11 May 2009 10:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon takes 70 percent of Kindle newspaper revenues]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/amazon-takes-70-percent-of-kindle-newspaper-revenues/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/amazon-takes-70-percent-of-kindle-newspaper-revenues/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/amazon-takes-70-percent-of-kindle-newspaper-revenues/#comments
The Kindle DX launch might have sparked a wave of hype about the next generation of newspapers, but not everyone's so quick to agree: Dallas Morning News CEO James Moroney told a Senate subcommittee yesterday that the Kindle isn't a "platform that's going to save newspapers in the near term." According to Moroney, Amazon demands 70 percent of subscription revenue from newspapers, and further requires content owners to grant Amazon the right to republish content to other devices -- like, say, the iPhone. That's a pretty inequitable split, and while we understand that Amazon has to pay for Whispernet somehow, it's hard to imagine newspaper publishers lining up to wager 70 percent of their digital subscription revenues and a perpetual license to their content on devices that are far from proven. On the other hand, it's innovate or die time for these guys, so we'll see what happens -- with all the competitors out there poised to make a move, things are about to get interesting.

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Amazon takes 70 percent of Kindle newspaper revenues originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazondallas morning newsDallasMorningNewsdxe booke readere-booke-readerEBookEReaderjames moroneyJamesMoroneykindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxnewspapernewspapersThu, 07 May 2009 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle DX college plans revealed: only 300 students total]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/kindle-dx-college-plans-revealed-only-300-students-total/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/kindle-dx-college-plans-revealed-only-300-students-total/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/kindle-dx-college-plans-revealed-only-300-students-total/#comments
We knew the Kindle DX pilot programs at Arizona State, Case Western Reserve, Princeton, Pace, Reed, and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia would be limited in number, but it sounds like students at those schools will have be extremely lucky or well-connected to get their hands on Amazon's latest -- according to Pace reps at today's launch event, each school will only receive around 50 Kindle DXs for the trial. That's just about 300 total Kindles, and it makes Amazon's crowing about revolutionizing education seem a little hasty. Not only that, but it's not like the program is particularly ready to go, either: the schools still haven't figured out which classes they'll try and switch over to the Kindle, instructors have yet to be brought on board, and it's still not clear whether Amazon or the schools themselves will pay for the Kindles, although students will definitely have to shell out for the books. That's a lot of dealmaking to get done -- looks like Amazon just gave itself some summer homework.

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Kindle DX college plans revealed: only 300 students total originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonArizona Statearizona state universityArizonaStateUniversitycase western reservecase western reserve universityCaseWesternReserveCaseWesternReserveUniversitydardendarden school of businessdarden school of business at the university of virginiaDardenSchoolOfBusinessDardenSchoolOfBusinessAtTheUniversityOfVirginiae booke-bookebookkindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxPacePace UniversityPaceUniversityPrincetonReedReed Collegeuniversity of virginiaUniversityOfVirginiaWed, 06 May 2009 16:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: Engadget on the Kindle DX]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/engadget-on-the-kindle-dx/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/engadget-on-the-kindle-dx/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/engadget-on-the-kindle-dx/#comments
You wouldn't think what amounts to a screen-size upgrade over the Kindle 2 would provoke such heated debate, but discussion at Engadget HQ has been at fever pitch since Bezos & Co. announced the Kindle DX this morning. Rather than try and condense the opinions of the staff into one Grand Unified Theory of The Ebook Market, we thought we'd let everyone speak for themselves -- check it out below.

Update: Paul tacked on his thoughts as well.

Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on the Kindle DX

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Editorial: Engadget on the Kindle DX originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazondxfeaturedfeatureskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxWed, 06 May 2009 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Kindle DX announced: $489, ships this summer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/amazon-kindle-dx-posted-early-489/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/amazon-kindle-dx-posted-early-489/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/amazon-kindle-dx-posted-early-489/#comments
Just as with the Kindle 2, Amazon posted the Kindle DX product page while the launch event was underway. Specs-wise, there's not much here we didn't know: the big changes are a larger 9.7-inch screen that rotates to landscape display, a PDF reader, and more storage space at 3.3GB. The big news is actually the flat $489 price tag, which seems on the high-side of realistic to us -- although the subsidy-pricing rumors weren't totally inaccurate, as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Boston Globe will offer subsidized on-contract Kindles to customers who can't get at-home delivery when the DX ships this summer. (Yes, that's a pretty lame restriction.) Amazon's also announcing a wide range of textbook publishing partnerships, with tomes from Addison-Wesley, Wiley Higher Education, Longman & Prentice Hall and many others available -- and what's more, Arizona State, Case Western Reserve, Princeton, Reed, and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia have all signed on to distribute "hundreds" of Kindle DXs to students this fall. We're hunting for more info, stay tuned.

Gallery: Amazon Kindle DX


Gallery: Kindle DX NYC event


Gallery: Amazon Kindle DX first hands-on


Gallery: Amazon Kindle DX close-ups



Read - Kindle DX product page
Read - Kindle DX PR

[Thanks, Jason G]

Other Kindle DX reading:
Read - Editorial: Engadget on the Kindle DX
Read - Live from Amazon's Kindle event in NYC!
Read - Amazon Kindle DX first hands-on (with video!)
Read - Kindle DX college plans revealed: only 300 students total
Read - Poll: Will you buy a Kindle DX?

Continue reading Amazon Kindle DX announced: $489, ships this summer

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Amazon Kindle DX announced: $489, ships this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbreaking newsBreakingNewskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxWed, 06 May 2009 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[NYT: Big-screen Kindle coming from Amazon "as early as this week"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/03/nyt-big-screen-kindle-coming-from-amazon-this-week/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/03/nyt-big-screen-kindle-coming-from-amazon-this-week/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/03/nyt-big-screen-kindle-coming-from-amazon-this-week/#comments

Go ahead and grab the salt shaker, 'cause this one's nowhere near carved in stone... or is it? A breaking report from The New York Times has it that Amazon will introduce a larger version of its Kindle e-reader "as early as this week," one that's tailored for "displaying newspapers, magazines and perhaps textbooks." If you'll recall, magazine publisher Hearst made its intentions public to produce such a device earlier this year, noting that a larger panel would be more conducive to traditional print media layouts, and thus, additional revenue from ads. The article also notes that Plastic Logic will "start making digital newspaper readers by the end of the year."

Coincidentally (or not), the Wall Street Journal also published a report this evening that dug deeper into the aforementioned Hearst deal. As the story goes, a number of big-shots in the publishing industry are banding together to set their own subscription rates (rather than go through a middleman such as Amazon), and this writeup asserts that Plastic Logic's reader won't actually roll out until "early next year" (as we'd heard previously). If you're seriously able to handle yet another twist in this madness, WSJ also points out that "people familiar with the matter" have stated that Apple is "readying a device that may make it easier to read digital books and periodicals," but it's hard to say if this is simply regurgitation of unfounded rumors already going around or something entirely more legitimate.

All in all, it's clear that flagging print publications are desperate for a device that caters to its layout and allows them to regulate rates -- only time will tell if there's room for two, three or possibly more of these so-called "big-screen e-readers" in the world, but this week definitely just got a whole lot more interesting.

Update: Press event invite just received, it's on for Wednesday!

Read - New York Times report
Read - Wall Street Journal report

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NYT: Big-screen Kindle coming from Amazon "as early as this week" originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 May 2009 23:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleAmazonKindleapplebreaking newsBreakingNewse booke book readere readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerEBookEBookReaderEReaderhearstKindlekindle 2kindle 3Kindle2Kindle3medianewspaperprint mediaPrintMediapublicationtabletSun, 03 May 2009 23:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Informal poll suggests nearly 70% of Kindle owners are over 40]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/informal-poll-suggests-nearly-70-of-kindle-owners-are-over-40/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/informal-poll-suggests-nearly-70-of-kindle-owners-are-over-40/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/informal-poll-suggests-nearly-70-of-kindle-owners-are-over-40/#comments
There's already been some anecdotal evidence that the Kindle appeals to a slightly older set than your average newfangled gadget, and a new poll culled from responses on the Amazon forums is now shedding a bit more, if still not entirely scientific light on the matter. According to the Kindle Culture blog, the single largest group of Kindle users (broken down by decade) is folks in their 50s, with those in their 40s and 60s coming in second and third -- all of which adds up to nearly 50% of users being over 50, and close to 70% being over 40. Broken down into some broader demographics, that translates to adults 35-54 accounting for 38.4% of the user base, with older adults (over 54) representing a healthy 37.3%, while young adults (18-34) manage a mere 22%. Still looking for more numbers? Then hit up the link below for the complete breakdown, plus a bonus pie chart.

[Via Crave]

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Informal poll suggests nearly 70% of Kindle owners are over 40 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 May 2009 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleamazon kindle 2AmazonKindleAmazonKindle2demographice-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerkindlekindle 2kindle salesKindle2KindleSalessalesFri, 01 May 2009 03:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon to charge per megabyte to send personal documents OTA to your Kindle]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/amazon-to-charge-per-megabyte-to-send-personal-documents-ota-to/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/amazon-to-charge-per-megabyte-to-send-personal-documents-ota-to/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/amazon-to-charge-per-megabyte-to-send-personal-documents-ota-to/#comments So far, sending files to your Kindle cost a flat fee -- one dime per document for conversion and download over Whispernet. Looks like that honeymoon is over, as Amazon's announced that as of May 4th, the Personal Document Service will be a variable fee of $0.15 per megabyte, rounding up. It's still free of charge if you transfer the documents over via USB, and sending them to "name"@free.kindle.com will return converted files to your email address gratis. If you're trying to be frugal, we might suggest combining all those pending transfers into one fat PDF and sending it off sometime this weekend.

[Via GearDiary]

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Amazon to charge per megabyte to send personal documents OTA to your Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon kindleamazon kindle 2AmazonKindleAmazonKindle2doce booke book readere inke readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-inke-readerEBookEBookReaderEInkEReaderkindlekindle 2Kindle2otaover the airOverTheAirpdfpersonal documentpersonal document servicePersonalDocumentPersonalDocumentServicertfwhispernetThu, 30 Apr 2009 03:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Blade Runner starring the iPod shuffle and Kindle 2]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/video-blade-runner-staring-the-ipod-shuffle-and-kindle-2/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/video-blade-runner-staring-the-ipod-shuffle-and-kindle-2/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/video-blade-runner-staring-the-ipod-shuffle-and-kindle-2/#comments You've probably heard the text-to-speech capabilities of the Amazon Kindle 2 and iPod shuffle by now. But you probably haven't heard them act out Leon's VK test from Blade Runner. Check the newest nerd-legend after the break, then come back and tell us about your mothers.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Video: Blade Runner starring the iPod shuffle and Kindle 2

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Video: Blade Runner starring the iPod shuffle and Kindle 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonappleblade runnerBladeRunneripod shuffleIpodShufflekindle 2Kindle2portable audioportableaudiovideoFri, 24 Apr 2009 05:25:00 EST<![CDATA[iSuppli: $359 Kindle 2 costs $185 to build, Whispernet says shhh]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/isuppli-359-kindle-2-costs-185-to-build-whispernet-says-shhh/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/isuppli-359-kindle-2-costs-185-to-build-whispernet-says-shhh/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/isuppli-359-kindle-2-costs-185-to-build-whispernet-says-shhh/#comments Ever wonder how Amazon was able to bundle unlimited Whispernet (Sprint EVDO) with the Kindle 2? To start with, eBooks are small, really small in the context of digital media downloads (music, audio-books, movies) so there's little impact to the Sprint network. Kindle 2 is also sporting a pretty healthy markup to cover the data fees. After conducting its own teardown and analysis, iSuppli estimates that the Kindle 2 costs just $185.49 for materials and manufacturing. The estimate does not include the costs related to marketing, distribution, class-actions, or the pain you feel at having learned the true definition of free. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading iSuppli: $359 Kindle 2 costs $185 to build, Whispernet says shhh

iSuppli: $359 Kindle 2 costs $185 to build, Whispernet says shhh originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbomcostsisupplikindlekindle 2Kindle2teardownWed, 22 Apr 2009 08:42:00 EST