For Kindle 2 Review, Kindle DX Review …

Posted on April 19, 2009 by switch11

Filed under: reviews | Tagged: , | 9 Comments »

Big Surprise – Free Kindle Book

Posted on November 10, 2009 by switch11

Yet more free kindle books. Today, we have for you -

  1. Skinny: A Novel by Laura L. Smith. Its rated 4.5 stars on 15 reviews.  It’s about eating disorders and reviewers seem to think it does a decent job. They also think it would appeal to middle school girls and that its Christian focus (discussions of prayer, Jesus, scriptures) might rule it out for some people.
  2. Heaven: Biblical Answers to Common Questions by Randy Alcorn is free. It is a sampler though and the full book, Heaven, is only available in Hardcover.

These are the 7th and 8th free religious books this month and the 16th and 17th overall.

Filed under: free books | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Kindle Vs Kindle for PC Vs Kindle for iPhone

Posted on November 10, 2009 by switch11

Kindle Vs Kindle for PC Vs Kindle for iPhone becomes a really interesting choice if you’re not sure you want to spend $259 on a dedicated eReader like Kindle 2.

Here’s a video contrasting the three options -

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each -

Where does the Kindle shine?

The Kindle does great at reading – exactly what you’d expect in an eReader. It also has a lot of benefits that the PC and iPhone offerings don’t i.e. Read To Me, Free Internet Access, etc.

Kindle – Pros

  1. The Screen is great for reading and works in all lighting conditions.
  2. The Screen does not hurt your eyes.
  3. There are zero distractions.
  4. In-built dictionary and Search.
  5. Free Wikipedia access and Free Internet access for reference.
  6. Good sized screen i.e. 6″.

Kindle – Cons

  1. You have to buy a Kindle for $259.
  2. No Color.
  3. No Touch.
  4. Not as compact as an iPhone.
  5. Screen isn’t as big as a laptop or PC.

Please check my Kindle 2 Review if you’re thinking of getting a Kindle.

Where does Kindle for PC shine?

Kindle for PC lets you read all your Kindle Books (or any book in the Kindle Store) on any PC, anywhere in the world.

Kindle for PC – Pros

  1. Very, very simple and easy to use.
  2. It’s free.
  3. Color (and on Windows 7 multi-touch).
  4. Lots of font sizes and lots of options for number of words per line.
  5. Works on almost every netbook and PC (Kindle for Mac is slated for release in a few months).
  6. Works on Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.
  7. Windows 7 optimized i.e. multi-touch etc.
  8. Screen is as big as your monitor.
  9. Lets you shop the Kindle Store and buy books. Though the ‘Shop in Kindle Store’ button doesn’t seem to be working for me.

Kindle for PC – Cons

  1. Portability is limited to portability of your PC (none) or Laptop (good) or Netbook (much better than a PC).
  2. The Screen hurts your eyes – although if you disagree feel free to leave a comment.
  3. For the moment you can’t add notes and highlights.
  4. No Text To Speech.
  5. It’s more of an add-on than an independent offering.

Check my detailed review of Kindle for PC if you want more details.

Kindle for iPhone

Kindle for iPhone recently added support for notes and highlights and made it a better product.

Kindle for iPhone – Pros

  1. You have your phone with you nearly all the time.
  2. Fits in your pocket.
  3. Free.
  4. Color and Multi-touch.
  5. Bright LCD screen for reading without light at night.
  6. Sepia theme/color setting is great.
  7. 5 Font Sizes and 3 text color settings.

Kindle for iPhone – Cons

  1. Doesn’t work well in bright light (sunshine).
  2. Screen is too small.  
  3. Screen hurts your eyes – again, leave your comments if you feel compelled to disagree.
  4. Lots of distractions.
  5. Battery life doesn’t compare with the Kindle.  

Check my iPhone Reading App Reviews for more on iPhone reading.

The big takeaway after contrasting the three is -

Amazon is creating Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone as Starting Points (Add-On Services for Owners)

Amazon is making it a point to make the Kindle the focal point and create Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone as starting points from which you can graduate to buying a Kindle.

For Kindle owners, they become valuable add-ons. Think of the features -

  • The ability to sync your book location across the devices.
  • The ability to make notes and highlights on the Kindle and the iPhone (and soon on the PC).
  • Access notes and bookmarks across devices.
  • Buy books and access your books from all three.

These features combine to create a very compelling overall offering.

How do Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone rate as independent products?

By themselves, both Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone are starting points – they are good enough for reading. As you begin to read more you’ll probably want a Kindle.

There are going to be people who curse me for writing that a PC or an iPhone can not be as good for reading as a Kindle.

However, ‘good enough’ is not the same as ‘great’.

  1. Reading on the Kindle is 8.5 stars (8.75 stars if you’re generous).
  2. Reading using Kindle for iPhone is 7 stars – Amazon intentionally leave a few features out to not make it too good. There are other apps that hit 7.5 despite the eye-strain and small screen size.
  3. Reading using Kindle for PC is perhaps 7 to 7.5 – haven’t done enough of it to say for sure. Again, you get the feeling Amazon left out some features to ensure it’s a stepping stone to the Kindle and not a substitute.

If you love to read and can afford it, get a Kindle. If $259 is out of your reach, get Kindle for PC or Kindle for iPhone.

Where does that leave us?

  1. Well, lots of people will download and read on one or both of Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone.
  2. Some of them, especially the ones who read a lot, will end up deciding to buy a Kindle.
  3. The books they’ve bought already and the use of a Kindle offering ties them to Amazon.
  4. Even people who don’t buy a Kindle will associate ‘Kindle’ with ebooks and reading.

Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone are great for Amazon

Amazon is already doing great with eReaders.  

  • If the skeptics are right and eReaders disappear then Amazon still owns the main reading channels and can sell ebooks.
  • If the skeptics are wrong, then Amazon owns the main channel i.e. eReaders and also owns the other important channels (PCs, netbooks, iPhones).

Barnes and Noble have become a real threat to Amazon (something Sony never was). Kindle for PC is a necessary measure – expect a few more Kindle features and improvements before Christmas.

As far as Kindle Vs Kindle for PC Vs Kindle for iPhone – all of them are simple to use and great products. The range of books in the Kindle Store and the low prices make each a compelling option.

If you read a book a week (or more), the Kindle is worth the $259. If you read just one book a month, get Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone and enjoy the Kindle store.

Filed under: reviews | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Ridiculous Stream of Free Kindle Books Continues

Posted on November 10, 2009 by switch11

Another day, another free kindle book.

This time it’s The Pawn by Steven James. It’s Book 1 of the Patrick Bower Files.

cover of free kindle book - The Pawn by Steven James

Simple and Pretty Cover - Like Kindle for PC

Free Book Offers are taking over.

10 days into November and we have as many free books as we usually have in a month. Plus we have a lot more sub $1, $1, and $2 books than ever before (and from main-stream authors).

It certainly seems like -

  1. First Book Free has become a popular marketing tactic.
  2. Authors and Publishers are eager to buy mindspace before the important holiday shopping.
  3. A Race to Zero has been set in motion.
  4. Main stream publishers are also beginning to embrace $1 and $2 price points.

Soon, the $1 price point will be lost to independent authors.

Filed under: free books | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

Now Available – Kindle for PC

Posted on November 10, 2009 by switch11

Amazon have released a Beta Version of Kindle for PC. They take pains to point out its free and Winnie the Pooh gets prime real estate.

Here’s a quick video (almost falling asleep here so please excuse the lack of finish) –

Kindle for PC – Features

  1. Read on the PC without needing a Kindle. 
  2. Access your Kindle books on any PC.
  3. Shop for Books in the Kindle Store. All 360K Kindle books are available.
  4. WhisperSync for synchronization of last page read and annotations. 
  5. Create bookmarks and view notes and highlights.
  6. Lots of font size options.
  7. Sliding scale for words per line.
  8. Books you buy also work on Kindle and iPhone (via Kindle for iPhone).
  9. Very simple and painfully easy to use.
  10. Use mouse scroll wheel or arrow keys to turn pages.

There are some limitations -

  1. Newspapers, magazines and blogs are not available on Kindle for PC at the moment. 
  2. No highlights or notes are possible – although you can refer to notes you’ve made on the Kindle or the iPhone.
  3. Not much customization. 
  4. In international countries book availability varies i.e. different countries have different number and range of books available (thanks to rapidblue for the update).

Kindle for PC – Minimum System Requirements

System requirements for Kindle for PC -

  • A PC with a 500MHz Intel or AMD processor or faster
  • At least 128MB of RAM
  • Screen resolution of 800×600 or greater
  • Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, or Windows Vista or Windows 7
  • 100MB of available disk space

    • If you can’t match that you probably need a new PC anyways. It’s interesting to note that this fits in very well with most Netbooks.

    Is Kindle for PC targeted at Netbooks (in addition to Nook)?

    You have to wonder.

    While adding Kindle for PC negates an advantage the Nook would have had, the bigger opportunity/possibility might be how well Kindle for PC fits with netbooks.

    • There are projected to be 20-30 million netbooks sold in 2009.
    • Kindle for PC’s very low system requirements make it ideal for netbooks.
    • The super-simple design and extreme ease of use help make it ideal for netbooks.

    How important are netbooks going to be for ebooks and reading?

    Perhaps a lot. They cost only a little more than eReaders. Plus there are tens of millions of them and they are very portable and have great battery life.

    By releasing Kindle for PC early, and having more brand recognition, will Amazon steal a lead here too? That would make Amazon the front-runner in -

    • Dedicated eReaders. 
    • iPhone Reading Apps. 
    • PC Reading Software. 

    Putting it in great position to sell a ton of ebooks in the future.

    Kindle for PC and Piracy

    All you need is your Amazon log-in. That’s a little too easy.

    • This is going to get abused a lot.
    • Amazon are hoping people don’t share their account since people might buy something else.
    • Kindle for PC also gives a lot of hackers a chance to try and crack the DRM and crack the program.

    Should be interesting to see how soon cracks/hacks appear – my money’s on 3 days.

    You can get Kindle for PC (Beta) at Amazon.

    Hat tip to TeleRead and Welt for catching Kindle for PC availability news first.

    Filed under: kindle | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

    Intel Reader – eReader for Blind, Visually Impaired

    Posted on November 10, 2009 by switch11

    Kudos to Intel for creating the Intel Reader – the first eReader built specifically for the blind, visually impaired and dyslexic.

    Here is a video –

    The demo persons great voice contrasted with the awkward eReader voice highlights one of the flaws.

    Intel Reader Features

    1. Price is a hefty $1,499.
    2. 4.3 inch LCD display.
    3. Has Folders – though they call them categories.
    4. 5 megapixel Camera to take picture of any printed pages or materials. Includes Flash and auto-focus LED for low light conditions.
    5. Then have it read the item out to you or view the captured images (including zoom).  
    6. The spoken words are highlighted on the screen.
    7. It can generate audiobooks out of printed material which can then be played on mp3 players etc.
    8. Changeable Speech Speed.
    9. You can change the Voice Gender and Pitch.
    10. Changeable Font Sizes. You can go right to one word per page – just beautiful.
    11. Supports plain text (ascii) and these Formats: Daisy 2.02, NISO 2002, NISO 2005, NIMAS 1.1.
    12. Plays mp3 and wav music files.
    13. Text to speech feature.
    14. Good, clean button layout and easy to use buttons and button layout.
    15. Very durable with magnesium chassis.
    16. No WiFi.
    17. Does not work with street signs and certain newspaper layouts.
    18. Does not recognize handwriting – only print.
    19. Mini USB and Standard USB ports.
    20. You can use a keyboard or mouse with the Intel Reader.
    21. You can use an external drive too.

    Device is available in US (although the Intel Reader link is not working on the Intel.com site) and will be available in UK in a week.

    There are also some nice touches  -

    1. You can take pictures while the Intel Reader is in its case.
    2. The Case has a lid you can open up for easy access to keys and screen.
    3. Shoulder strap and the safety wrist cord that cameras have.
    4. Replaceable battery.
    5. Charges in 3 hours.
    6. There is a Hold button that lets you lock the other buttons.

    Intel Reader Project Details

    • The Intel eReader Project was spearheaded by Ben Foss who grew up with severe dyslexia.
    • He compares the Intel eReader to a ramp that makes buildings wheelchair accessible.
    • The Intel Reader comes out of Intel’s Digital Health Group.
    • Tested with 400 plus visually impaired users.
    • Available through Intel and also resellers like CTL, Don Johston, GTSI, Howard Technology Solutions and Human Ware.
    • You can add-on an Intel Portable Capture Station to capture images of an entire book.

    The device is aimed at the 55 million people in the US who have eyesight problems. You have to suspect the price does put it out of reach of most of those people.

    The usage is claimed to be great -

    Foss said he was able to scan a 262-page book in a half hour and listen to the first chapter of the book while he was doing it. The device can read text in the DAISY format, plain text, as well as MP3 music files.

    Intel Reader – eReader Technical Specifications

    • Intel Atom processor.
    • 2 GB Flash Memory.
    • 5 megapixel camera.  
    • 4.3 inch LCD display. 
    • 6 cell battery – 4 hours of text to speech, 5 days standby). 
    • Formats: Daisy 2.02, NISO 2002, NISO 2005, NIMAS 1.1, Ascii Text.
    • Audio Formats: Wav and MP3.
    • 2 USB ports.
    • Audio Jack.

     Sources include Venture Beat and Ubergizmo.

    Thoughts and Preliminary Intel Reader Review

    The really big positives -

    1. Custom built for blind and visually impaired people.
    2. Changeable font sizes with a huge range.
    3. Changeable Text to Speech rate of speech.
    4. 5 MP camera to take pictures and convert pictures to text to speech.
    5. Good design.
    6. The feature to create audiobooks out of any printed material is great.
    7. You can add pages to an existing text file any time.

    The negatives -

    1. The Price – almost makes it a non-starter.
    2. The Screen is too small.
    3. Battery Life is definitely short.
    4. Lack of PDF and ePub and other formats.

    Overall Grade: 8 out of 10. In spite of its horrendous price (and a few limitations) the Intel Reader is a great addition to eReaders.

    Thoughts

    1. If Kindle does a good job with text to speech on its menu and a few software features it kills this device. 
    2. The camera to book to speech is a great feature.  
    3. It really is more of a companion device than an eReader. 
    4. The price is terrible. Why does it have to cost so much – you can get color eInk and high-end laptops at that price.  
    5. Lack of PDF etc. does limits the utility.
    6. Suddenly expands the market for reading by a lot.
    7. The Authors Guild is going to have a major fit.
    8. The device does seem to be rather complicated. So many buttons. So many options.
    9. The manual is well done though its short in illustrations and images.
    10. The average IQ of YouTube commenters never ceases to surprise me.

    It really is a strangely priced device and the selection of features is rather strange though. It does get a lot of things right and is a huge step forward for reading.

    Filed under: eBook Reader Devices | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

    Next Page »