THE MOBILE HORNET … for those who get turned on by mobile devices

UNDERSTANDING THE KINDLE …
WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT

Mike Elgan of Computerworld gave a very good account of the Kindle.  He tells you what the Kindle is and what it is not in very clear terms.  Read below an extract of his article:

” Beyond all this, it’s important to realize that Amazon’s Kindle isn’t just an e-book reader. It’s a surprising new kind of device.

Here are some of those surprises:

What you knew: Kindle can access Amazon.com and the Web to search Wikipedia via it’s free wireless connection.

What you didn’t know: You can just surf the Web in general. Kindle comes with a Web browser called Basic Web, which supports cookies, JavaScript and SSL, but doesn’t support plug-ins like Flash or Shockwave or Java applets. Basic Web lets you type in a URL, click on links and generally surf the Web like you would on a PC.

What you knew: You can download and read any of the 88,000 books from Amazon.com — and the list is growing.

What you didn’t know: You can download a much larger selection of free e-books using the Kindle’s Web browser — many in Kindle-friendly .MOBI and .PRC formats. Text-based books are available, too. And if you don’t like how these look in text-format (which you won’t), you can convert to .MOBI and .PRC formats on your PC using free or cheap tools available online.

What you knew: Kindle connects free to Sprint’s EV-DO 3G network.

What you didn’t know: Where EV-DO isn’t available, Kindle connects via a second protocol called 1xRTT, which is an older 144Kbit/sec. standard. The addition of 1xRTT increases the number of locations where you have wireless access.

What you knew: Kindle’s Search feature lets you find words or phrases on Wikipedia, the Kindle Store and the Web.

What you didn’t know: Kindle gives you access to an experimental and free service called Kindle NowNow, which is a search engine powered by actual humans. You send any question, and a human being will research it for you, then send the best three answers, usually, Amazon says, within five minutes.

What you knew: Kindle’s wireless service works only in or near the U.S.

What you didn’t know: You can buy books from anywhere in the world from your PC, and sync to the Kindle.

What you knew: The Kindle can read only four text-document file formats: .AZW (Kindle-specific), .TXT, .MOBI and .PRC. In addition, every Kindle gets its own e-mail address for receiving Amazon-converted Word, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP files for 10 cents per document. You send the original to your Kindle’s address and your device receives the converted document (only e-mail addresses you authorize can send to your Kindle).

What you didn’t know: If you have Amazon send converted documents to your regular e-mail account instead of your Kindle account, the conversion is free. You then have to download the attachment and sync via USB.

What you knew: Amazon keeps a copy of all your subscriptions online so, if you upgrade or replace a Kindle, you won’t lose purchased books, newspapers or magazines.

What you didn’t know: The Kindle also automatically and wirelessly backs up online all your notes, bookmarks, clippings and even “last location read.”

What you knew: Kindle is an e-book reader.

What you didn’t know: Kindle is also an audiobook reader and MP3 player, and has both speakers and a headphone jack. Amazon lets you buy audiobooks directly from Audible.com by going to a dedicated Web site where you can download and install Kindle-specific software for connecting to and buying from Audible.com. You can listen to music while reading, although only in “shuffle” mode.

What you knew: The Kindle comes with a built in dictionary — The New Oxford American Dictionary.

What you didn’t know: If you prefer another dictionary, you can buy it from Amazon.com, then tell your Kindle via an option setting that the new dictionary is now your “preferred” dictionary for instant lookups.

What you knew: You can subscribe to newspapers and magazines.

What you didn’t know: Your subscriptions arrive hours or, in the case of some magazines, days before print subscribers get theirs.

What you knew: Newspaper and magazines are not retained permanently by default on Amazon’s Your Media Library. Amazon’s contract with these content providers typically allows just seven issues, although the number varies.

What you didn’t know: You can download periodicals to your PC or Kindle and retain them forever. Amazon can’t retain them beyond seven issues, but you can.

What you knew: You can read for about two days on a single charge (which takes two hours).

What you didn’t know: If you turn off the wireless feature, you can read every day for more than a week on a charge.

What you knew: The Kindle is sold out already.

What you didn’t know: You can order now, and they’ll ship it to you after Nov. 29.

What you knew: You have to pay for books and magazines downloaded from the Kindle Store.

What you didn’t know: You can try before you buy. Magazines and newspapers come with a 14-day free trial and can also be purchased one magazine at a time without a subscription. You can read the first chapters of books free.

What you knew: Amazon charges $2 per month to subscribe to each RSS feed.

What you didn’t know: You can read any RSS feed, including those they charge for, free of charge via the Kindle’s Web browser by going directly to the sites.

What you knew: Amazon does not support PDF files for conversion.

What you didn’t know: Free PDF-to-Word converters exist, and Amazon will convert those to its Kindle format, so PDF files on the Kindle are merely inconvenient, not impossible.

What you knew: You can “dog ear” pages to bookmark them, save “clippings” (copies of entire pages) and notes on Kindle, all of which are backed up as part of your books.

What you didn’t know: You can also “highlight” text — like using a highlighter pen, but without the bright color. Highlights are also backed up.

What you knew: The Kindle Store is functionally similar to the Amazon bookstore.

What you didn’t know: You can use Kindle’s keyboard and wireless connection to write book reviews on the Kindle Store.

The Amazon Kindle isn’t perfect. It’s ugly as sin and needs a light for reading in the dark, and the Kindle Store could use a far greater selection of newspapers and magazines.

But, broadly speaking, the Kindle is a game-changing revolution in buying, reading, managing and using electronic books and other content. It’s also the hottest holiday gift you can buy this year for anyone who loves to read.

I’ve always been skeptical about e-books, but Amazon has made a believer — and a customer — out of me. “

Never in the history of eBook reader device was there a SOLD OUT announcement!  Sony has never got into this situation.  I do not know how many KINDLEs were sold but the Amazon.com site announced that they were out of stock.  Imagine only 2 days after its release … SOLD OUT!

 THAT’S A GREAT START!

I believe Kindle’s success is mainly due to the company that created it, which is, Amazon, the gigantic online bookstore !

MY KINDLE 

Yes, I have my version of the Kindle in my Dopod U1000 aka HTC Advantage and mine is in full colour and backlit unlike the Kindle.  With the right software like Mobipocket, E-Reader Pro, Acrobat Reader the U1000/HTC Advantage can turn out  to be a better E-Reader than you think.  The fonts size are customisable and the big 5″ VGA screen makes reading a pleasure.

I came across a posting by Jenn K. Lee at Pocketables titled “HTC Advantage X7501 as mobile entertainment” and find it to be very interesting.  Jenn concluded with the following comments:

“Boasting great battery life (considering its flexibility), an extensive catalog of compatible games and various media applications, support for just about any media format, a bright and colorful 5-inch display, and versatile usage scenarios (held with both hands in landscape mode, held with one hand in portrait mode, or angled on its magnetic keyboard on a tray table), the 12.7-ounce HTC Advantage X7501 is a fantastically versatile mobile entertainment center.”

Get the full review on why Jenn think the U1000/HTC Advantage is a versatile mobile entertainment  device by clicking on the images below:

THE KINDLE™ IS AVAILABLE NOW
FOR US$399.00 (RM1,356.00) 

Product Overview

• Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.

• Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.

• Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.

• Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.

• More than 88,000 books available, including 100 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers.

• New York Times® Best Sellers and all New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.

• Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.

• Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.

• Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times.

• More than 250 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN’s Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post.

• Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.

• Holds over 200 titles.

• Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.

• Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.

• No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.

• Includes free wireless access to the planet’s most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.

• Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.

CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO ORDER :

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE KINDLE:

Paper-like Screen

Utilizing a new high-resolution display technology called electronic paper, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white screen that resembles the appearance and readability of printed paper. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. It 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.The screen never gets hot so you can comfortably read as long as you like.

See what others are saying about the Kindle screen:

James Patterson, author of You’ve Been Warned, “The screen is fabulous. You would expect that, with a screen, there would be a glare, it would be hard to read but it’s not. There’s no glare. It’s not backlit, which is kind of magical. I think people are going to be very, very surprised and delighted. This is a lot easier to read than a lot of books are these days.”

Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball, “I’m telling you, after five minutes I’ve ceased to think I’m looking at a screen. It’s not like reading a computer screen. It’s more like reading a piece of paper. I think it’s actually clearer, easier on the eye than the printed word.”

Neil Gaiman, author of Stardust, “It’s like paper and it’s very interesting. It’s very, very crisp. Very functional. Very readable.” 

Wireless Access with Whispernet™

Whispernet utilizes Amazon’s optimized technology plus Sprint’s national high-speed (EVDO) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, download, and read content on the go. Unlike WiFi, you don’t have to find a hotspot. Amazon pays for Kindle’s wireless connectivity so you will never see a monthly wireless bill for shopping the Kindle Store. There is no wireless setup—you are ready to shop, purchase and read right out of the box. 

Carry Your Library in 10.3 Ounces

At 10.3 ounces, Kindle is lighter and thinner than typical paperbacks, and fits easily in one hand. Its built-in memory stores hundreds of titles. An optional SD memory card lets you hold even more. For instance, a 256MB SD memory card holds over 300 titles. From Melville to Morrison, your favorite authors can always be with you. In addition, a copy of every book you purchase is backed up online in Your Media Library in case you ever need to download it again. This allows you to make room for new titles on your device, knowing that Amazon is storing your personal library, which can always be re-downloaded wirelessly. Think of it as a bookshelf in your attic—even though you don’t see it, you know your books are there.

Ergonomic Design

We wanted Kindle to be as easy to hold and use as a book, so we designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions often. Kindle’s full-length, vertical page-turning buttons are located on either side, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably from any position. Navigation on both sides means both “lefties” and “righties” can easily use Kindle with one hand. And at only 10.3 ounces, Kindle is lighter and thinner than a typical paperback. 

Shop the Kindle Store Right from Your Device

You can shop the Kindle Store wirelessly right from your device, 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. Simply search for the title or author you’re interested in reading, or browse the store to discover titles and download your reading choices. We auto-deliver your selections wirelessly, so the next time you hear about a great book, just click, buy, and read.

Search

Kindle makes it easy to search across your library. To use the Search feature, simply type in a word or phrase you’re looking for, and Kindle will find every instance across your Kindle library. Looking for an article you read a couple of days ago about hybrid cars but can’t remember where? Simply type in hybrid and Kindle will search your library for each reference, making it easy to jump directly to what you’re looking for. You can extend your search to the Kindle Store to find related titles you may be interested in. Explore even further by searching Wikipedia.

Keyboard

Kindle’s QWERTY keyboard puts the Kindle Store at your fingertips. Simply type in a title, author, or keyword to find the book, newspaper, or magazine you are looking for. From there, click to buy, and begin reading your selection in under a minute. The keyboard also enables you to do a full text search across your entire library or within a specific title. To find the article you read last week on globalization, simply type in globalization to locate each relevant reference. You can then jump to Wikipedia to learn more about it. The keyboard also means you can annotate text and utilize Kindle’s built-in dictionary without interrupting your reading. 

Bookmarks and Annotation

By using the 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, 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. 

Built-in Dictionary

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 meanings of words without interrupting your reading. Never fear a sesquipedalian word again—simply look it up as you go. 

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.

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. 

Long Battery Life

Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. 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. Kindle fully recharges in two hours.

What’s included in the box?

Kindle Electronic Reader
Book cover
Power adapter
USB 2.0 cable

Introducing Kindle™
 

We designed Kindle to provide an exceptional reading experience. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips. It never becomes hot and is designed for ambidextrous use so both “lefties” and “righties” can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time.

We wanted Kindle to be completely mobile and simple to use for everyone, so we made it wireless. No PC and no syncing needed. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, we deliver your content using our own wireless delivery system, Amazon Whispernet. Unlike WiFi, you’ll never need to locate a hotspot. There are no confusing service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills—we take care of the hassles so you can just read.

With Whispernet, you can be anywhere, think of a book, and get it in one minute. Similarly, your content automatically comes to you, wherever you are. Newspaper subscriptions are delivered wirelessly each morning. Most magazines arrive before they hit newsstands. Haven’t read the book for tomorrow night’s book club? Get it in a minute. Finished your book in the airport? Download the sequel while you board the plane. Whether you’re in the mood for something serious or hilarious, lighthearted or studious, Kindle delivers your spontaneous reading choices on demand.

And because we know you can’t judge a book by its cover, Kindle lets you download and read the beginning of books for free. This way, you can try it out—if you like it, simply buy and download with 1-Click, right from your Kindle, and continue reading. Want to try a newspaper as well? All newspaper subscriptions start with a risk-free two-week trial.

Kindle’s paperback size and expandable memory let you travel light with your library. With the freedom to download what you want, when you want, we hope you’ll never again find yourself stuck without a great read.

We’re very proud to introduce Amazon Kindle and we hope you like it as much as we do.”

- The Amazon Kindle Team

REINVENTING THE BOOK

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos sums it up:
“This isn’t a device, it’s a service.
You should be able to get any book—not just any book in print, but any book that’s ever been in print—on this device in less than a minute.”

THAT’S AWESOME!

KINDLE information:

• Price for US399.00 (RM1,356)
• 6″ screen
• Will hold 200 books on board but you can supplement with unspecified memory cards. 
• 30 hours of reading per charge
• Weighs 10.3 ounces
• 88,000 books available at launch
• New York Times bestsellers and hardback at $9.99 each
• Classics as low as $1.99
• Newspapers (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post) and magazines are also available

The Kindle can do what a book cannot.  You can enlarge the font size to suit your reading. 

Get more information after the launch TOMORROW!

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”

Today is the beginning of The Mobile Hornet. The Mobile Hornet will be the place where you will get the latest on mobile devices … be it a Pocket PC phone, a smartphone, a PDA, or a cellphone or ….