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This Weeks Feature Product is: The Kindle 2Welcome to The E-Book Assistant! Our Focus is to Educate You about E-Book Reading Devices, Portable E-Book Reading Devices and their Accessories before you decide to invest your hard earned money on these exciting New Technologies. The E-Book Assistant will provide you with Honest and Detailed Product Reviews, Syndicated Articles and a Truthful Personal Analysis of Each Product to further Assist You in weighing the Pro's and Con's Between these Readers and their Essential Ebook Reader Accessories. This Site Provides Recreational Reading E-Books, Website Design E-Books, as well as Education and Business E-Books and Profitable E-Books for Resale. We offer Newspaper and Magazine Subscriptions and Many other forms of Media in Various Formats to Utilize with your E-Book Reader/Computer. If you are New to the Concept of E-Books and their Purpose see Our FAQ section listed Above. This Site also Provides Links to Stores that include: Computer/Electronics, Clothing/Footwear, Hunting/Fishing, Health/Beauty, Useful Products/Services that may Help Serve You in Many Facets of Every Day Life. Feel Free to Shop or Browse at your own pace and Please Leave Any and All Suggestions/Requests in The Feedback section listed Above. To Better Serve the You with Knowledge, Education and Understanding of Products and Services Offered on this Website and Our Affiliates Sites; we will be Updating this site on a Weekly Basis and Offer You a Free Gift in turn for Your Interest in Visiting this Website. Thank You Very Much for Your Valuable Time and Attention, Please Enjoy this Site and the Views and Perspectives that make it suitable to Better Serve You, Your Friends and Family with Truth/Technology and Products/Services that in short, offer Piece of Mind, Education and A Certain Sense of Security that Enables You to Move Forward in a Productive Manner with Life, Business, and Recreation with Confidence through Research and Education.
Say Hello to The New Kindle 2
Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines
Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback
Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images
Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging
More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books
Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns
Read-to-Me: With the new text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog, and book out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder
Large Selection: Over 245,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available
Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise
Earth's Biggest Electronic Book Store: 250,000 Books
We know that even the best reading device would be useless without a massive selection of books. Today, the Kindle Store has more than 250,000 books available, plus top newspapers, magazines, and blogs. This is just the beginning. Our vision is to have every book ever printed, in any language, all available in under 60 seconds on Kindle. We won't stop until we get there.Whether you prefer biographies, classics, investment guides, thrillers, or sci-fi, thousands of your favorite books are available, including 103 of 111 books currently found on the New York Times® Best Seller list. New York Times Best Sellers and most new releases are $9.99, and you'll find many books for less. Technical Details
Display: 6" diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 16-level gray scale.
Size (in inches): 8" x 5.3" x 0.36".
Weight: 10.2 ounces.
System requirements: None, because it doesn't require a computer.
Storage: 2GB internal (approximately 1.4GB available for user content).
Battery Life: Read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
Charge Time: Fully charges in approximately 4 hours and supports charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable.
Connectivity: EVDO modem with fallback to 1xRTT; utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide U.S wireless coverage via Sprint's 3G high-speed data network. Check our wireless coverage map for availability. This expanded coverage is only available for Kindle 2. See Wireless Terms and Conditions.
USB Port: USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) for connection to the Kindle power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer.
Audio: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, rear-mounted stereo speakers.
Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, Audible (formats 4, Audible Enhanced (AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.
Included Accessories: Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable, rechargeable battery. Book cover sold separately.
Documentation: Quick Start Guide (included in box) [PDF]; Kindle 2 User's Guide (pre-installed on device) [PDF].
Warranty and Service: 1 year limited warranty and service included. Optional 2 year Extended Warranty sold separately. Even Longer Battery Life 25% Longer Battery Life--Read for Days Without Recharging
With Kindle's 25% longer battery life, you can read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly. Charge via USB Kindle supports wall charging via the included Kindle power adapter, and charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable. Kindle fully charges in approximately 4 hours. Wireless Access with Whispernet Fast 3G Network--Get Books in Under 60 Seconds
Whispernet utilizes Amazon's optimized technology plus Sprint's national high-speed (3G) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, and download content on the go. Your books and periodicals are delivered via Whispernet in less than 60 seconds. And unlike WiFi, you never have to hunt for a hotspot. Expanded National Coverage We expanded Kindle's national coverage to include more cities and areas in all 50 states, enabling wireless downloads of books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Check our wireless coverage map for availability. This expanded coverage is only available for Kindle 2. No Wireless Bills No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle's wireless connectivity so you won't see a wireless bill. There is no wireless setup--you are ready to shop, purchase and read right out of the box. See Wireless Terms and Conditions. Carry Your Library in 10.2 Ounces
Holds Over 1,500 Books
The ultimate travel companion, Kindle weighs 10.2 ounces and holds more than 1,500 books. No longer pick and choose which books fit in your carry-on. Now you can always have your entire library with you.
Automatic Library Backup: Download Your Books Anytime for Free
A copy of every book you purchased is backed up online at Amazon.com in case you ever need to download it again. You can wirelessly re-download books for free anytime. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle, knowing that Amazon is storing your personal library. We even back up your last page read and annotations, so you'll never lose those, either. Think of it as a bookshelf in your attic--even though you don't see it, you know your books are there.
Enhanced Reading
Lose Yourself in Your Reading
The most elegant feature of a physical book is that it disappears while you're reading. Immersed in the author's world and ideas, you don't notice a book's glue, the stitching, or ink. Our top design objective was to make Kindle disappear--just like a physical book--so you can get lost in your reading, not the technology.
Paper-like Screen
Utilizing the latest in electronic-ink display technology, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white 6" screen with the same appearance and readability of printed paper. Sharp and natural with no glare or backlight, reading on Kindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Those who see it for the first time always do a double-take. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. And unlike a laptop or smart phone, Kindle never gets warm so you can comfortably read as long as you like.
Sharper Display of Images and Photos
Kindle's high-resolution screen now boasts 16 shades of gray, so images and photos are sharper and clearer than ever.
Read in Sunlight with No Glare
Kindle's screen reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.
Adjustable Text Size
Because one size doesn't fit all, you can increase the text size of your favorite book or periodical with the push of a button. If your eyes tire, simply increase the font size and continue reading comfortably. Kindle has six adjustable font sizes to suit your reading preference. Now every book in your library can be large print.
Read-to-Me Feature
With the new text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog and book out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can choose from both male and female voices which can be sped up or slowed down to suit your preference. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.
Improved Newspaper Experience
Using Kindle's new 5-way controller, you can quickly flip between articles, making it faster and easier to browse and read the morning paper. Want to remember the newspaper or magazine article you just read? Clip and save entire articles for later reading with a single click.
Faster Page Turns
Pages now turn 20% faster on average.
Bookmarks and Annotations
By using the QWERTY keyboard, you can add annotations to text, just like you might write in the margins of a book. And because it is digital, you can edit, delete, and export your notes. Using the new 5-way controller, you can highlight and clip key passages and bookmark pages for future use. You'll never need to bookmark your last place in the book, because Kindle remembers for you and always opens to the last page you read.
Full Image Zoom
Images and photos display crisply on Kindle and can be zoomed to the full size of the screen.
Personal Documents
Kindle makes it easy to take your personal documents with you, eliminating the need to print. Each Kindle has a unique and customizable e-mail address. You can set your unique email address on your Manage Your Kindle page. This allows you and your approved contacts to e-mail Word, PDF documents, and pictures wirelessly to your Kindle for a small per document fee--currently only 10¢ per document. Kindle supports wireless delivery of unprotected Microsoft Word, PDF, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI files.
You can email your PDFs wirelessly to your Kindle. Due to PDF's fixed layout format, some complex PDF files may not format correctly on your Kindle.
If you are not in a wireless area or would like to avoid the fee, you can send attachments to "name"@free.kindle.com to be converted and e-mailed to your computer at the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.com account login. You can then transfer the document to your Kindle using your USB connection. For example, if your Kindle email address is Jay@Kindle.com, send your attachments to Jay@free.kindle.com.
Built-in Dictionary with Instant Lookup
Never get caught without a dictionary. Kindle includes The New Oxford American Dictionary with over 250,000 entries and definitions, so you can seamlessly look up the definitions of words without interrupting your reading. Come across a word you don't know? Simply move the cursor to it and the definition will automatically display at the bottom of the screen. Never fear a sesquipedalian word again--simply look it up and keep reading.
Wireless Access to Wikipedia
Kindle also includes free built-in access to the world's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia--Wikipedia.org. With Kindle in hand, looking up people, places, events, and more has never been easier. It gives whole new meaning to the phrase walking encyclopedia.
Search
Kindle makes it easy to search within a book, across your library, in the Kindle Store, or even the Web. To use the Search feature, simply type in a word or phrase you're looking for, and Kindle finds every instance in your book or across your Kindle library. Looking for the first reference of a character in your book? Simply type in the name and search. You can extend your search to the Kindle Store to find related titles you may be interested in. Explore even further by searching Wikipedia and the Web.
Audiobooks
With Kindle, you are able to download and enjoy more than 50,000 audio titles from Audible.com, including bestselling audio books, radio programs, audio newspapers, and magazines. Due to their file size, audiobooks are downloaded to your PC over your existing Internet connection and then transferred to Kindle using the included USB 2.0 cable. Listen via Kindle's speaker or plug in your headphones for private listening.
Own an iPhone?
The iPhone is a perfect companion for your Kindle. To read Kindle books on your iPhone or iPod touch, simply download our free Kindle for iPhone application. Our new Whispersync technology saves and synchronizes your reading location across your Kindle(s) and your iPhone. Now you can read a few pages on your iPhone and pick up right where you left off when you return to your Kindle.
Experimental Features
The experimental category represents features we are still working on to enhance the Kindle experience even further. Try them out and let us know what you think.
Read-to-Me
With the new text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog and book out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can choose from both male and female voices which can be sped up or slowed down to suit your preference. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.
Basic Web Browser
Kindle's Basic Web browser works well to read simple, text-centric Web sites such as Google and Wikipedia. Need to find a movie listing or look up a sports score? Now it's easier than ever to find the information you're looking for right from your Kindle.
PDF Document Conversion
You can email your PDF documents wirelessly to your Kindle, just like other personal documents. Due to PDF's fixed layout format, some complex PDF files may not format correctly on your Kindle.
Listen to Music & Podcasts
Transfer MP3 files to Kindle to play as background music while you read. You can quickly and easily transfer MP3 files via USB by connecting Kindle to your computer.
Included in The Box
Kindle electronic reader, power adapter, and USB 2.0 cable (for connection to the Kindle power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer).
The Kindle Store: Over 245,000 Books, Plus Newspapers, Magazines, and Blogs
Shop the Kindle Store Right on Your Kindle
You can search and shop the Kindle Store wirelessly right from your Kindle, allowing you to click, buy, and start reading your purchases within a minute. The Kindle Store offers the same great Amazon.com customer experience you're used to, including customer reviews, personalized recommendations, and low prices. We auto-deliver your selections wirelessly, so the next time you hear about a great book, just search, buy, and read.
If you are out of wireless coverage, such as traveling overseas, you can download books to your PC or Mac and transfer via USB to your Kindle.
More than 245,000 Books
Our vision is to have every book ever printed, in every language, available on Kindle. The Kindle Store currently has more than 245,000 titles and we are adding more every day. Whether you prefer biographies, classics, investment guides, thrillers, or sci-fi, thousands of your favorite books are available. The Kindle Store offers 103 of 111 books currently found on the New York Times® Best Seller list. New York Times Best Sellers and most new releases are $9.99, and you'll find many books for less.
Free Book Samples
No need to judge a book by its cover. Kindle lets you download and read first chapters for free. Sample a new author or book--if you like what you read, simply buy and download the whole book with 1-Click, right from your Kindle, and continue reading.
Read Kindle Books on Your iPhone
The iPhone is a perfect companion for your Kindle. To read Kindle books on your iPhone or iPod touch, simply download our free Kindle for iPhone application. Our new Whispersync technology saves and synchronizes your reading location across your Kindle(s) and your iPhone. Now you can read a few pages on your iPhone and pick up right where you left off when you return to your Kindle.
Kindle 2.0 High Points
1. WhisperNet and Amazon's great range of book titles (over 230,000 titles including 7,000+ free public domain classics etc.) are still the #1 feature and make the Kindle 2.0 the best eReader available.
2. WhisperSync - synchronize across Kindle 1.0, Kindle 2.0, and soon across other mobile devices. Not only can you share books, you can also share the exact position in the book you were/are reading at - pretty cool.
3. Read to Me feature. Text to Speech is very cool and should be fun. Note: Amazon has now given publishers the option to turn this off for their titles.
4. Its very slim (0.36 inches), and sleeker with a metallic back. Opinion is divided on whether this looks better than Kindle 1 - However, Kindle 2.0 is definitely sleeker.
5. 16 level gray scale screen is much sharper than the original Kindle's 4 shade gray-scale. A few reviewers have been very taken by the improvement in the screen, and I have to admit it looks much better.
6. Much better button placement and an end to accidental button clicks. The next page and previous page buttons are smaller and also you have to press them from the inside edge so holding the kindle by their outside edge does not cause page turns.
7. 25% more battery life - This isn't a plus since it's balanced out by not being able to replace the battery.
8. 2 GB internal storage - This isn't really a high point though because of the lack of adding more storage severely restricts things.
9. Still saving trees.
Kindle 2.0 Low Points
1. Still Expensive at $359.
2. Still not pretty. Some people do find it pretty now - Perhaps I'm biased by the plain white color and plain design.
3. The lack of a colour screen is another problem I have.
4. No Next Gen technology like touch screen. Kindle 2 actually is a little behind in terms of latest screen technology - however, have to admit that touch screen doesn't really work well with eInk and perhaps not having touch screen is a good decision.
5. No International versions. Amazon is majorly missing out on the international markets.
6. Lack of a replaceable battery.
7. Not being able to upgrade to a new memory card. This is a huge mistake - why would Amazon so severely restrict the flexibility the Kindle offers as a potential storage device for personal files and documents. With an SD card slot I can expand storage infinitely (multiple SD cards) and also transfers to SD cards are easier as Dennis pointed out in the comments.
8. There is no cover included. It retails separately for $30. That's a $30 price increase in a way.
9. Still No PDF support - you can email and have PDFs converted - however, that's a weak solution.
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