Kindle FAQ: Answers to the Most Popular Questions Regarding the Amazon E-Reader

E-readers, such as the Amazon kindle, are becoming more and more popular. Millions have been sold, and chances are you know somebody with one. If you're thinking of joining that club, you may want to do some research before deciding if this is the right device for you. The following are frequently asked questions about the kindle:

Do you have to buy a kindle in order to read Amazon ebooks?

No! In fact, a lot of people with ipads and other readers get apps so they can download kindle books because the Amazon store has such a large selection (and sometimes ebooks are cheaper there as well).

If you don't have an e-reader at all, you can still read kindle books. Google "kindle pc" or "kindle mac" to find Amazon's download page, and grab the software for free. Most smart phones also have kindle apps. Download one and then when you shop in the online bookstore, just click the tab to have your ebook "sent" to your kindle app (and you can even sync everything so you can read the same ebooks on your computer, phone, and ebook reader).

How much do ebooks cost? Are they less than traditional print books?

You can find a huge range, everything from free or 99 cents to $9.99 and up for new releases from mainstream authors. Self-published or indie authors tend to have lower priced offerings (just browse at Amazon to find loads of $0.99 to $2.99 ebooks in every genre and non-fiction as well), though quality can be hit or miss. Make sure to download the free sample before shelling out any money.

To find extra affordable offerings, try Smashwords.com. It's easy to browse for freebies there too. Whether you're looking for a $3 thriller or a free fantasy ebook, you can find quite the selection there. While it's predominantly a marketplace for indie authors, some mainstream authors are e-publishing older titles where the rights have reverted back to them.

Can I read my kindle in the dark?

No. The screen isn't backlit, so it's more like reading an actual paperback book than a computer screen. This choice was made to emulate the true reading experience and also to keep people from developing the eye strain sometimes associated with looking at computer monitors.

Can you check ebooks out from the library and read them on the kindle?

Sadly, no. Not at this time. The kindle uses a different file format (mobi) than most online library pages offer. The epub format issued by libraries is compatible with Sony readers, ipads, nooks, etc., but you will have to download Calibre or some other software in order to convert a library ebook for kindle use (and it may not be possible at all if the ebook has DRM-digital rights management - a form of protection to keep people from sharing files).

Can you borrow or lend books to friends?

Amazon has recently implemented a lending program, though there are quite a few limitations. First off, you can only lend each title once (ever). Second, this is optional for publishers (and a lot of them aren't allowing it for now). Lastly, lending an ebook means you can't read it yourself during the 14-day period it's on loan.

Can you "gift" kindle books?

Yes. It took them a while to get the program online, but Amazon now lets you email electronic gift certificates for titles in their marketplace. Just make sure the person on the other end wants the book (a general gift certificate may be another choice), so your money isn't wasted.

Can you sell your titles when you're done with them?

No, unfortunately there's no "used ebook market" for kindle offerings.

Can you change font size?

Yes, this is one of the more appealing features about e-readers. If you prefer to read without your glasses or you're just more comfortable with a larger font, it's only a matter of touching a button to increase or decrease text size.

Can you read PDF files on the kindle?

Yes, but you can't adjust the font, so pdfs aren't as reader-friendly as mobi files.

Is paying for the 3G kindle worth the money, and does the service cost extra each month?

There are no monthly fees associated with the 3G kindle. If you travel a lot and like the idea of being able to download books anywhere you can use your cell phone, then you may like this feature. That said, it's not all that hard just to do your shopping when you're somewhere with wifi (home, coffee shop, library, etc.), so if you're looking to save $50, just go with the wifi version.

Can you buy a used kindle and get someone else's ebooks?

Yes and no. You can sell your old model kindle or buy one from someone else, but the ebooks on that device that were purchased from the Amazon store will disappear once the kindle is registered to a new account.

Kindle Extended Platform: Users can Upload eBook Sales Outside the U.S

According to foreign media reports, on January 15 Amazon expanded its service platform, expanded from the United States outside of the user can also in the Amazon Kindle Store in electronic books to upload and sales.Amazon's service platform called "Kindle Digital Text Platform (Digital Text Platform) ", in January 15 on the platform extension, from the United Kingdom, Germany and France, users can use this platform to sell e-books. The January 15, the user would like to sell e-books, you must use the Amazon Services platform based on the United States.The expanded service platform initiatives in line with Amazon's development strategy: in addition to Kindle e-book reader and digital, the Amazon is also toward more business expansion. Amazon to create a complete ecosystem, the eco-system includes not only book lovers, the same authors and publishers also.

Amazon's Kindle reader is among the world's first electronic reader, followed by production of Sony Reader. Although the Sony Reader and Kindle reader still has some distance, the reader is quietly on the market increased competition. Bookseller Barnes & Noble launched last October Nook reader. And this year's Consumer Electronics Show in the world, many manufacturers have launched their own reader.According to market research firm Forrester estimates that 2009 U.S. sales of electronic reader 300 million, and sales will soar in 2010 to 1,000 million.

Amazon e-reader market experienced a setback. In the United States Department of Justice, under pressure from the decision of four American universities are no longer in the classroom to promote the Amazon Kindle DX reader to use until the reader can develop a student for the blind and visually impaired students to function. U.S. Department of Justice and the four universities is based on the agreement made ��by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities.

And the original compared to Kindle reader, Kindle DX with a larger display, can be used to browse professional documents, text and other content. Students in a portable device to carry all the useful information, readers can give students a view of the benefits, analysts said, read the manufacturers will eventually be in high school and college campuses to find an attractive market. However, in order to enter this market, manufacturers of electronic readers publishers must pull the boat to find a profit model in the former, the publisher would have hesitated to join e-reader market. It is reported that Amazon will be in its service platform to provide more language options.

Kindle app updated for Android Honeycomb tablets

Amazon.com has updated its Kindle Android app with features designed to tap into the Honeycomb interface currently found on the Motorola Xoom and T-Mobile's LG G-Slate.

Available now at Amazon's Appstore for Android, Kindle for Android 3.0 is geared for all Android devices but takes special advantage of the larger displays and other attributes offered by Honeycomb-powered tablets.

The updated version offers a virtual bookshelf that stretches across the screen to let people visually browse and view titles at the Kindle store. The new interface also provides quicker access to customer reviews, recommendations, and other items of interest to book buyers. Further, Amazon has tweaked the layout for magazines and newspapers so that readers can now see full color images on their tablets.

Beyond the improvements for large-screen tablets, the Kindle Android Tablet app now gives people the ability to pause and resume downloads of any item. A built-in dictionary with more than 250,000 entries and definitions is also included, according to Amazon. Finally, the update throws in a slew of bug fixes and support for the German language.

The Kindle 3 review. What is best and worst about the new kindle 3 ereader?

This current (3rd) generation of the Kindle comes in two 'flavours' - the ?109 Wi-Fi only version (which I own) or a Wi-Fi + 3G version, which clocks in at ?149. Other than the addition of the 3G (allowing you to download books over cellphone signals, rather than having to use wi-fi), there are no differences between either device, bar a slight weight increase in the 3G version (241 grams for the wi-fi only version, compared to 247 grams for the wi-fi + 3G version).

Both devices contain the same 6" e-ink Pearl display, backlight free, and come equipped with 3.3Gb of usable storage space, which Amazon claims is enough for around 3,500 books, which seems about right, given that most books are around the 1Mb size. Unlike other devices, such as the Nook and the Sony range of e-readers, the Kindle doesn't allow for the addition of additional storage space (though unless you load it with .mp3s, you're unlikely to fill the devices' storage capacity, imo).

Compa red to other devices, particularly the Nook, the Kindle can, at first, appear to be the 'ugly ducking' of the group. There's no touch screen, no colour, and the keyboard doesn't exactly look brilliant. If you're after something aesthetically pleasing, then I wouldn't recommend the Kindle. If, however, you actually plan to use one of these devices for it's primary purpose - the reading of actual books, then the Kindles' 'failings' suddenly become amongst it's strong points.

First - the big one - the screen. Most e-book devices on the market contain displays that aren't really suited to heavy reading, unless you want to strain your eyes. Most displays are backlit, which, imo, really doesn't make them suitable for prolonged periods of reading. The Kindle (and the Nook) both contain, non-backlit e-ink screens, which are designed to be as close to the printed page as possible (the Nook also contains a small colour touchscreen at the bottom). They'll never get the displ ay 100% perfect, but - well the best way I can put it, is that, I've yet to sit there and think "I'm reading on a screen", whilst reading a book.

Because the device is designed to mirror a physical book, you can't read it in low-light / the dark - in the same way that you can't with a physical book. I've done a lot of my reading in my bedroom, sitting on bed, with a small bedside lamp, and have had absolutely no problems with glare.

From an Accessibility point of view, the Kindle scores major points. Font size, Font Width, and line spacing, are all easily adjustable, and you can have the device read to you, if you want - either via the speakers at the back of the unit, or through the headphone jack. You can also rotate the screen orientation, so if you're reading a text more suited to widescreen - click a few buttons, and you're reading in widescreen.

Amazon also includes, under the experimental options a Voice Guide, so not only will the Kin dle read the books for you, it'll read anything on the screen - including the devices user interface - speaking of which.

The On screen User Interface is a bit clunky. Granted, I didn't expect it to resemble an i-Device (Apple probably sends more money designing their UI icons, than Amazons' entire research budget), but it is a lil bit 'awkward'. Fortunately, you're not in that interface all that long - just selecting which book you wanna read, then it goes away. From the Homescreen, you can select which book you wanna read, as well as access the Kindle store, the system menus, etc, etc.

The one problem I can see with the user interface, is that if you do go ahead and load the device with 100s of books, it might take a while to navigate through them. Say you've got 20+ Michael Connelly books (which you should, he's brilliant), and you wanna read The Reversal. You can't simply type in 'The Reversal', to find the book - you have to click through the pages of titles, until you find it, before starting it (unless it's the latest book you've added to your device, in which case it's easier to find).

As for the physical interface - the buttons on the exterior of the device - they're perfectly fine. Personally, when I first started to use the device, I thought the buttons 'were in the wrong place', as each of the bigger buttons, on the left & right, are 'page forward buttons' where as the smaller ones above, are page back buttons. As a 'rightie' I thought the big button on the left was the page back, with the one on the right being page forward. However, obviously Amazon have designed the unit to be equally easy to use for both 'lefties' and righties.

Kindle Vs apple ipad Vs audio tracks Books

I have been completely looking at many testimonials concerning the Kindle from Amazon as well as the apple ipad from Apple. I can see some within of the benefits for producing utilization of those electronic products however the basic price tag just doesn't appear best suited for us standard readers.

Flying on an airplane to France and spending a calendar month there is awesome for the person of an apple ipad or Kindle. The writer within of the testimonial indicated that she experienced lost numerous publications that she left in France when she finished reading through them. another concern with cardstock publications was that to hold 5,7 or perhaps a complete whole lot more publications was really stressful because of in the direction of the additional baggage you must hold using the additional weight.

And using the announcement just these times that an airline is going to cost flyers $45 for each and every CARRY-ON luggage, it is not going for gett ing a specific thing one would need to undertake even although flying. But producing utilization of the Kindle or apple ipad can be useful.

BUT! How numerous of us holiday on airplanes to France. How numerous of us are in planes generally adequate to warrant buying one of those electronic devices. How numerous of us do adequate traveling to warrant extraordinary products that people telephone call for to hold around.

Kindle Vs apple ipad audio tracks Books

I have been completely looking at many different evaluations concerning the Kindle from Amazon as well as the apple ipad from Apple. I can see some in the benefits for producing utilization of those electronic products however the all round cost just doesn't appear best suited for us standard readers.

Flying on an airplane to France and spending a 30 days there is great using the person of an apple ipad or Kindle. The writer in the testimonial indicated that she experienced lost many guides that she left in France when she finished studying them. one other problems with cardstock guides was that to hold 5,7 or an ideal offer more guides was really stressful many thanks toward extra baggage you need to hold using the additional weight.

And using the announcement just nowadays that an airline is going to demand flyers $45 for each and every CARRY-ON luggage, it is not going for getting one thing just one would need to hold out while flying. But produc ing utilization of the Kindle or apple ipad will be useful.

BUT! the number of of us getaway on airplanes to France. the number of of us are in planes ordinarily enough to warrant buying just one of those electronic devices. the number of of us do enough traveling to warrant specific products that people need to hold around.

Not many. And now we get best suited back again toward qualified prospects for you need to "listen" for the books. You can fill an audio tracks e book for the mp3 or iPod gamers and consider your guides with you along with one another with your music anyplace you need to go. You can listen while driving, walking, jogging, bicycle riding, operating near to the house, operating in your job, on and on.

With your busy existence you just don't have time to look at a novel or an ideal e book as well as a newspaper or any of those people other stuff because you are carrying out one thing else. That is why audio tracks guides started to be so popular, they are able to afford you the chance to "read" a e book while carrying out one thing else.

You undoubtedly are a multi-tasker extraordinaire and just cannot locate time to look at a book, Kindle or iPad. if you actually are just one of those people that could want to possess the newest electronic gadget then may the force be with you. But like I just saw in the Amazon website there are 61 Kindles that come going to be utilized and available at significantly cheaper prices. Some are "like new", which means you can choose up a superb deal.

But, even in the cheaper prices, just photo the number of audio tracks guides you can purchase and have as element of your collection. Oh and from the way, you do need to purchase your guides in the Kindle store or apple ipad store for roughly $10 every book. affordable but include that for you $400 or $500 purchase in the electronic gadget it is really expensive.

Also you canno t store them within your computer, which means you turn out receiving a e book within your e-device that cannot be exchanged or loaned to anybody else unless you bank loan them your e-device. Don't believe that will happen, specifically at any time you have invested extra money for an extended ensure plan.

I believe that there are individuals like you that will see that these new products are just that, NEW. audio tracks guides could be near to for just about any extended time and so will the qualification for them. Your existence is not going to acquire any much less hectic which means you will nonetheless qualification for getting in a placement to multi-task. audio tracks guides will help you do that much better then any gadget in current history. look at by hearing for the wanted guides nowadays earlier for you forget.

Finest Wireless Reading through Unit - Amazon Kindle Versus Sony Ereader

This could be the battle of the century. Is the Amazon Kindle or the Sony Ereader the greater book storage and wireless studying machine? The fact is that they are the two excellent, and it will be up to you to choose which is very best. Let's glimpse at the details that will aid you choose which you like greater - the Sony Ereader or the Amazon Kindle.

Both equally the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Ereader arrive in various types, from smaller versions to greater sized readers that may well even supply touch screen technologies. The Amazon Kindle is the granddaddy of electronic readers, to be certain. But even although the Sony Ereader is newer on the scene, it's received a lot heading for it.

The Amazon Kindle arrives in its very first generation type, the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX. The first era Kindle gives looking at comfort to the tune of wireless connectivity to the Kindle store, giving you accessibility to over 360,000 publications and publicati ons, and can hold around 200 books in memory. It weighs only 10.3 ounces and can be packed conveniently in your purse or briefcase.

The Kindle two is the newest of the standard Kindle readers. Backed by the strong Amazon title, this is the ideal wireless studying equipment that is roughly1/3 of an inch thick and about the bodyweight of a paperback book. You can get publications delivered wirelessly with out contracts, charges (other than the value of the guide) and no require to uncover a Wi-Fi hotspot. You can even get textbooks overseas. The Amazon Kindle two reads just like a book and holds up to one,500 textbooks. Go through-to-Me technologies lets your Kindle 2 go through out loud to you.

The Amazon Kindle DX is a amazing reader for the individual who is heading to be downloading and looking at PDF files on his or her reader. Other readers need to have a PDF converter, but not the DX and some take into account it the finest wireless reading through machine. The DX has a greater display than the Kindle 2, but is nonetheless slim and lightweight. You get all the similar fantastic functions as the Kindle 2 as properly, with the exception of getting in a position to download guides abroad.

When it comes to the Sony Ereader, you have many to pick from. The Touch, the Pocket Edition, and the PRS-505 are all on the roster of Sony readers. Each and every can connect to and download from your Personal computer or Mac, and of course, download publications and publications wirelessly, also.

The Touch utilizes touchscreen technologies to make navigation effortless. Turn pages with a finger swipe and take notes with the incorporated stylus. Entry to books and publications is by means of Sony's ebookstore, along with entry to about 500,000 public domain titles via Google. Carry up to 350 publications health insurance forum on your Sony Touch Reader at a time.

The Sony Pocket Edition presents the exa ct same characteristics as the Sony Touch, except you don't get a touchscreen with the Pocket Edition. As an alternative, controls are positioned on the front of the unit. The show is somewhat scaled-down, also, at 5 inches, producing the Sony Pocket Edition truly portable and practical.

The PRS-505 has a 160-guide potential with additional credit card memory slots if you want to add to your digital book assortment. This reader can also act as a portable drive with its USB-primarily based storage capacity.

As you can see, each the Amazon and Sony readers have a great deal to offer. It's all about what you want and what performs for you. Just before you obtain an digital reader, check out the two the Kindle and the snow boot shop Sony Reader out for oneself. You'll uncover a reader that fits your type just completely!