Kindle 3 Features
With the Kindle 3 shipping out to people who have placed pre-orders, it is necessary to look at the most prominent features that you can enjoy. Amazon is claiming that this is the best selling ebook reader of all time, based on pre-orders alone, and once we run through the specifications of this device, it is no surprise why.
Ebooks have changed the way we view our literature today, and this is a market that is only going to expand further. There are not many Americans who do not have access to a fast Internet connection today, and this has further highlighted the utility of these magnificent ebook readers. They give you the opportunity to carry thousands of ebooks in your bag, download them from anywhere around the world, and enjoy them on a futuristic electronic device that resembles a real book, as best as it can.
Release Date
The Kindle, which is Amazon's flagship device, was and is the true pioneer of this revolution. This was first released to the world in November 2007, and today there are 4 models of Kindle available in the market - the Kindle, the Kindle 2, the Kindle DX and the Kindle 3. On July 28, 2010 Amazon announced that they would be taking pre-orders for the Kindle 3 and this saw a surge of demand from people dying to get their hands on this device. Amazingly, the device sold out within 5 days of this announcement. It finally started shipping out on August 27, 2010 and the next shipment will be made on or before September 17, 2010.
So what is it about this 3rd generation of Kindle readers that has people so excited. Here we will list out some of the prominent features, even though it is too soon to be making a judgment call on it.
Kindle 3 2010
First the physical specifications. It is 0.5 inches shorter and narrower than the Kindle 2, and this supposedly makes the device easier to grip in one's hand. The graphite finish as seen on the Kindle DX and the rubber back further prevent the device from slipping out of one's grasp. The screen size is still 6 inches (diagonally), but the kind of E Ink that is used has changed the manner in which the words appear completely. This will make it easier for users to read, and it will also improve sunlight legibility. The weight of the device has reduced to 8.5 oz, thus making it 15% lighter than the Kindle 2 as well. Moreover, the battery life of the device has been enhanced as well, letting the machine run for an entire month at a stretch (with the wi-fi switched off).
Another great feature is that the memory has been increased to 4 GB, (up from 2 GB in the Kindle 2), thus giving the user the option to store around 3500 ebooks on the device. The battery life has also been significantly vamped up. The biggest advantage of the Kindle 3 though is the price. If you opt for the wi-fi enabled one it will cost you a meager $139, and if you opt for the wi-fi and 3G enabled model, it will cost you $189. Compare this to the $499 price of the Apple iPad, and it is easy to see why it has been so well received.
Here are some other notable features that will come as a welcome boost to the utility and the popularity of the device.
- The Kindle 3 comes with an attached microphone, which suggests that we could soon be dictating notes into the device.
- The PDF reader has been significantly enhanced. Now you can also email a PDF file to the file by tacking @free.kindle.com to your email address, and you will not be charged any 3G delivery fees for this.
- It has a new Webkit browser, that will enhance the browsing capabilities of the machine.
- You can also monitor and watch the ebooks currently being downloaded on the it.
- You can also set the time on the device manually, see more text at a time due to the auto-hide function, refer to 2 dictionaries instead of one (The New Oxford American Dictionary and The Oxford Dictionary of English), and also transfer audio books to the device over a wi-fi network.
These features combined with the economical price of the device, make this an ereader that gives you complete value for your money. The Kindle Store is the largest in the world, and there are thousands of titles, newspapers, magazines and publications that you can acquire from there. If you are looking for a standalone best ebook reader that fulfills all your needs, look no further than Amazon's Kindle 3.
