Amazon?has bumped the battery life and added native PDF support for its 6-inch?Kindle?ebook reader on Tuesday via a firmware update following a 6 month firmware improvement and testing program.

The news means that the Kindle now has battery life of up to 7 days with wireless turned on, compared to 4 days. According to the company, battery life with wireless turned off can be up to 2 weeks.

Amazon has also announced that the 6-inch Kindle now has a built-in native PDF reader that enables Kindle customers to read their own documents, something other ebook readers have been able to do from the start.

To read their personal or professional documents, Kindle customers will have to email PDFs to their Kindle email address or move them over using a USB connection.

Customers that prefer to have their PDF documents converted to the Kindle format simply type "Convert" in the subject of the e-mail when sending documents to their “@kindle.com” address.

The firmware update, which will come as standard to all new Kindles will be sent out automatically via Whispernet wireless to models already in use.

However not all will get the Native PDF support, says Amazon.

"It will also be available for some earlier versions of Kindle via an automatic Whispernet wireless firmware update", the company said in a statement.

Related links:

• Shop - Amazon.com

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Amazon Amazon Kindle Adobe

Amazon Kindle gets better battery and PDF support originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:26:39 +0000

Ebook fans hoping to get one for Christmas in the US are seeing their options dwindle by the day as Barnes & Noble announced that it has sold out of the?Nook, which hits shops at the end of the month.

"The hottest gift of the season may be sold out, but with our elegant nook holiday certificate you can still let loved ones know it’s coming", said the company to prospective customers looking to pre-order the dual screen ebook on their website.

The news comes as Sony announced earlier in the week that its 7-inch 3G sporting Sony eReader Daily Edition wouldn't ship until 18 December, or possibly after.

Barnes & Noble says customers ordering a Nook will receive their devices the week starting 4 Jan.

Amazon, having sorted out stock issues it experienced last year, is saying it has plenty of stock.

However with more ebook readers confirmed for January at CES 2010 and Qualcomm showing off a colour ereader, out sometime in 2010, it might be the reason you need to get them something else in the meantime.?

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Barnes and Noble Nook Barnes and Noble Amazon Sony

Barnes & Noble Nook sold out originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:47:27 +0000

The countdown to?CES 2010, the biggest electronics trade show on the planet, has begun, but what can we expect from the show, and what should we start to get excited about? Here are six areas that are going to dominate the news come January.

Don't forget, Pocket-lint will be bringing you all the news, reviews, comment, photos and video as it happens in the run up to CES and live from Las Vegas for the duration of the show.

You can bookmark our CES coverage at pocket-lint.com/CES2010

Digital Living

Technology has gone mainstream supposedly, so that means the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center will be filled with technology launches that embrace all of us rather than just a select few. In real terms that means everything from gadgets for kids, gadgets for mums and dads that look after kids, and gadgets for the silver surfer. Expect new toys for health, parenting and higher education.

Apple

Don't get too excited,?Apple isn't attending CES, regardless of how many rumours you hear, but that doesn't mean companies that work in the Apple eco-system aren't going to be in Vegas launching new gadgets. With a whole area dedicated to the iPod,?iPhone?and Macs, expect a fair share of iPod speakers, cables to connect to something else in your life and the usual array of cases to protect it all.

eBook readers

If you're planning on getting an ebook reader for Christmas you might want to think again. The ebook market has exploded in the US with Amazon,?Barnes & Noble?and?Sony?all fighting over each other to offer you the digital reader you supposedly need. Plastic Logic has already confirmed that it will be launching a new ebook at CES and there is bound to be other manufacturers like?Spring Design?and iRex offering new models.

3D

Riding on the wave of euphoria that Avatar will no doubt give the industry, consumer electronics manufacturers like?Sony, Toshiba, LG?and?Samsung?will be likely to be pushing?3D TV?hard at CES 2010. IFA 2009 already showed us the concepts, CES will show us the reality. Expect new televisions, announcements from the Blu-ray Disc Association, television makers, graphics card companies like Nvidia and movie companies all trying to get in on the action.

Netbooks

While most people have surely moved on from the popularity of netbooks, CES organisers CEA believe netbooks are going to still be big news at CES 2010. What that means is a barrage of computers that don't do much but let you surf the Web and write the odd document. Of course manufacturers will be trying to tell us otherwise with improved graphics courtesy of Nvidia and ATI. You should also probably expect a barrage of tablet devices with touchscreens allowing you to surf the Web around the home.

Green

With the economy making a comeback, manufacturers can once again turn their eyes to saving the planet. Although the idea of being green for green's sake is still very niche, generally manufacturers will be trying to tell you to ignore the thousands they are spending on lighting their booths and the sheer carbon emissions the show creates, by concentrating instead on how they've made advancements in the glass they use or the boxes your favourite gadgets go into. At least you can sleep at night knowing that we haven't had to chop down any trees to let you read this.

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Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness CES2010 ebooks Televisions Netbooks Sony LG Samsung Toshiba Apple iPod iPhone 3DTV Laptops Eco Amazon Barnes and Noble Spring Design

CES 2010: What new gadgets will be announced? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

A survey of 2000 internet users in the UK from GfK NOP has found that iTunes still remains by far the most popular music service, but that new entrant Spotify is shooting rapidly up the charts, despite having only just celebrated its 1st birthday.

The survey asked participants which music services they used, and 11% said Spotify. That puts it in fourth place behind Real Player (13%), Amazon (24%) and iTunes sitting at the top with 50% approval rating. Spotify sits ahead of the slightly older Last.fm (7%), MP3.com (5%) and Napster (4%). 60% of users stream music direct from the Web.

In the navigation arena, Google Maps dominates with 72% of those surveyed saying they used it. The AA came in second place with 40% and Multimap was third with 35%. Behind that came Mapquest (7%), MSN Maps (4%), Yahoo Maps (4%) and Streetmap (3%).

When it comes to social networking, new boy Twitter draws for second place with MySpace - but both only have 4% of people who use them as their main social network. Bebo is even lower with 2%, but Facebook romps home with over 74% of users picking it as their favourite.

IM is similarly dominated by one provider - Windows Live Messenger. 50% picked it as their main provider, with 16% going for Facebook chat, Yahoo IM coming in third with 8%, Skype at 6%, AIM at 5% and Google Talk coming in at just 2%.

Webmail is closer - 33% opt for Hotmail, but Yahoo Mail was chosen by 14%, 10% picked their own ISP's service, and only 6% have "Gone Google" and picked up a Gmail account. Interestingly, a further 6% said they used email provided by a social network - is this MySpace mail?

Lastly, Skype wins out when it comes to VoIP - 60% of respondents picked it as their favourite online voice-calling app. Google Talk was second with 13%, and VoIP.com and Gizmo came in third with 3% each.

Of course, while the best provider is winning the day in some categories, others are dominated by bloated former giants commanding the attention of people who are too lazy to make a change. Which would you pick as your favourite in each category? Let us know in the comments below.

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Tags: Software Online Websites Music IM Mapping Software Social Networks Email iTunes Spotify MySpace Twitter Facebook Amazon Lastfm Gmail Hotmail Skype Yahoo Microsoft Google Statistics

iTunes still most popular music service by far originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:41:43 +0000

Amazon.com has announced that its free software "Kindle for PC" is now available to download for Windows computers with a Mac version said to be "coming soon".

The application means Kindle-less readers around the world can pay to download the more than 360,000 Kindle ebooks to read on their PCs or laptops.

For those that do have a Kindle, the PC software offers the ability to read some of a book on a PC, read some on the Kindle, and always pick up right where the reader left off thanks to the Whispersync functionality.

The software is compatible with Windows XP SP2 and above, Windows Vista or Windows 7 - the latter of which gets touch functionality with compatible hardware including pinching fingers to zoom and coming soon - the ability to turn pages with the swipe of a finger.

Tags: Software Kindle Amazon PC software ebooks

Free "Kindle for PC" software available now originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:17:04 +0000

Amazon has announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has broken all of its previous records for pre-sales of video games. The title has eclipsed the previous record-holder, GTA IV, by 50% - quite a feat, considering how much hype there was around that title.

Modern Warfare 2 is due on 10 November, but many shops have begun selling it early, with Gamestop in the States getting special permission. A supposedly watertight embargo for journalists hasn't stopped reviews getting published early - most notably by Charlie Brooker on Twitter, who blasted through it in one sitting, and said: "it's very good, but it's not the flippin' messiah or anything. And it has the intellectual depth of Die Hard 4".

Amazon currently offers Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 for just ?32 at the time of writing, with PC owners getting short shrift and having to stump up ?35. Still, they get superior graphics and performance, so perhaps that'll make up for it.

Which version are you getting, and are you excited? Let us know in the comments below.

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Tags: Gaming Statistics Activision Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare 2 Amazon GTA

Modern Warfare 2 breaks Amazon pre-order records originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:03:42 +0000

Amazon has announced the introduction of its "Frustration-Free Packaging" scheme in the UK with a letter from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos blazoned across the UK homepage.

Launched in the States back in 2008, the scheme hopes to end what Amazon calls "wrap rage", described as "the frustration we humans feel when trying to free a product from a nearly impenetrable package".

34 items from SanDisk and Hama, as well as the Amazon Basics range will now offer "products inside smaller, easy-to-open, recyclable cardboard boxes with less packaging material and no plastic clamshells or wire ties".

Tags: Eco Amazon Online SanDisk Hama

Amazon launches "Frustration-Free Packaging" in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:19:30 +0000

Amazon has announced a new initiative that aims to make it easier to pay for things on the Web. The online retail giant is launching "PayPhrase", which is a service that lets you replace usernames, passwords, etc with a simple, but unique, catchphrase.

Customers on Amazon can create up to 20 of these phrases, and associate them with a pin number, shipping address and credit card. Then, when you want to buy something, you can just enter the phrase for a quick checkout experience. You don't have to share any info with the third party site.

The difficulty comes when all the good phrases are snapped up. You can bet "this one goes up to 11" will be taken pretty quick. As might "You are not prepared!". You'll have to start making up random statements that might prove tricky to remember.

While this isn't going to destroy PayPal, or Google Checkout, overnight, it'll be interesting to see what happens in the longer term - will consumers prefer this approach over having to maintain endless site logins? Time will tell.

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Tags: Software Online Amazon

Amazon PayPhrase announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:58:47 +0000

While PC-owning book worms wait for Amazon's release of its new "Kindle for PC" software, it seems Mac users have not been forgotten, confirming to the Fast Company magazine's blog that it will be offering a similar software solution for Macs.

With the short but sweet "Yes, we are working on a Kindle app for Mac" statement, an Amazon spokesperson has revealed Mac users won't be left out in the cold - just as well considering Amazon boss Jeff Bezos' plans to make the Kindle "the iPod of reading".

The Kindle for PC software is due next month as a free download for those with Windows-based PCs. It will mean Amazon customers without a Kindle device will be able to buy Kindle ebooks to read via their computers.

The move will mean Kindle books will soon be able to be read on the Kindle and the larger Kindle DX, on the iPhone and iPod touch, on PCs and laptops and (hopefully) soon - on Macs too.

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Tags: Software Mac software Kindle Amazon Amazon Kindle ebooks eBook readers

Amazon to offer Mac version of "Kindle for PC" software originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:00:40 +0000

Amazon.co.uk has announced its Amazon App for iPhone and iPod touch, launched in the States back in 2008, is now available from the App Store to users in the UK.

The Amazon App connects customers to their Amazon.co.uk account and offers purchasing using Amazon's 1-Click ordering and Amazon Prime, the ability to tracking packages or modify orders via "Your Account", personalised recommendations and Wish List access.

The "Amazon Remembers" feature uses the iPhone camera to "find and remember" items available for sale on Amazon.co.uk - photos taken by the camera are automatically uploaded to Amazon.co.uk to then search for similar-looking products.

The Amazon App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch now.

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Tags: Phones iPhones apps Amazon shopping App Store

Amazon offers iPhone shopping app in UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:32:24 +0000

Amazon.com has announced "Kindle for PC", describing the release as "a free application that lets readers around the world enjoy Kindle books on their personal computers".

The US Kindle Store currently offers over 360,000 books, including new releases and most of the New York Times Bestsellers, which the company says are typically $9.99 or less and is apparently the only place to find some books in the digital format, Amazon is opening the store up to those who haven't bought into the Kindle system.

This move means Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle and the larger Kindle DX, on the iPhone and iPod touch thanks to the Kindle iPhone app, and now on PCs and laptops.

For those that want to read ebooks on both mobile devices and their PC, the Kindle for PC features Amazon’s Whispersync technology that automatically saves and synchronises bookmarks and last page read across devices.

"Kindle for PC is the perfect companion application for folks who own a Kindle or Kindle DX", said Ian Freed, vice president, Amazon Kindle.

"Kindle for PC is also a great way for people around the world to read the most popular books of today even if they don't yet have a Kindle".

Amazon says Kindle for PC will be available to customers around the world as a free download next month.

Tags: Software Amazon Amazon Kindle Kindle ebooks eBook readers Gadgets

Amazon announces Kindle for PC originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:19:12 +0100

Amazon has quietly dropped the price of the Kindle international edition by $20 to bring it in line with the original Kindle price in the US.

UK customers wanting to sign up for the ebook reader that was announced just weeks ago, and only?just available this week, will now only have to pay $259 instead of the launch price of $279.

Amazon hasn't stated a reason for the drop in price, however the price drop could be down to the ebook market heating up in the run up to Christmas.

On Tuesday Barnes & Noble, Amazon's biggest competitor in the book selling market, launched the Nook, an ebook reader with a colour android-powered touch screen for navigation.

Amazon has confirmed that users who paid $279 will get a $20 refund.

"Due to strong customer demand for the new Kindle with U.S. &?International Wireless, we are consolidating our family of 6-inch?Kindles. As part of this consolidation, we are lowering the price of?our Kindle with US & International wireless down to $259. The new?Kindle with 3G wireless that works in the U.S. and globally in over?100 countries is in-stock and available for immediate shipment.?Customers who purchased the device at $279 will be automatically?refunded the $20 difference in price. They don't need to do anything?to receive this refund, it's automatic and they will receive an email?from us confirming the refund". Amazon told Pocket-lint when asked.

The news comes as Amazon launches a free application that lets readers around the world enjoy Kindle books on their personal computers called Kindle for PC.

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Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle International edition gets price cut originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:17:11 +0100

Whilst here in the UK Amazon is highlighting the pre-order sales success of American company Microsoft's Windows 7 OS, in the States, Amazon.com has announced that Brit Susan Boyle's upcoming album, "I Dreamed a Dream," has become the biggest ever CD pre-order in the history of the Amazon.com music store.

The $9.99 album, "I Dreamed a Dream," will not be released from Sony Music Entertainment until 23 November, but has already beaten the likes of U2, Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen to get the pre-order top slot.

Boyle became a reality star here in the UK, and an internet star globally, after her appearance in April on "Britain's Got Talent," which quickly became a YouTube hit and subsequently the fifth most viewed video online.

To see who Boyle beat to the US top slot, here's the list of the top 10 CD pre-orders of all time in the Amazon.com music store:

1. Susan Boyle, "I Dreamed a Dream" (2009)
2. Norah Jones, "Not Too Late" (2007)
3. U2, "No Line on the Horizon" (2009)
4. Bruce Springsteen, "Magic" (2007)
5. Dixie Chicks, "Taking the Long Way" (2006)
6. Coldplay, "Viva La Vida" (2008)
7. U2, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" (2004)
8. David Cook, "David Cook" (2008)
9. Diana Krall, "Quiet Nights" (2009)
10. Clay Aiken, "A Thousand Different Ways" (2006)

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Tags: Audio CD Amazon Statistics Susan Boyle YouTube

Susan Boyle album becomes biggest ever CD pre-order on Amazon.com originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:07:59 +0100

Amazon.co.uk has revealed that Windows 7 is now the biggest grossing pre-order product of all-time, having eclipsed? pre-orders of both "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and the Nintendo Wii.

"The launch of Windows 7 has superseded everyone's expectations, storming ahead of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' as the biggest-grossing pre-order product of all-time at Amazon.co.uk, and demand is still going strong", says Brian McBride, MD of Amazon.co.uk.??? ?

"Over the past three months, only Dan Brown's 'The Lost Symbol' has sold more copies than Windows 7 which is an incredible achievement for a Software product".

Amazon says it sold more pre-order copies of Windows 7 in the first 8 hours of its release than Windows Vista managed in its entire pre-order period, stats echoed by the DSGi group.

Tags: Software Windows 7 Amazon Statistics shopping Microsoft

Windows 7 beats pre-order records at Amazon.co.uk originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:37:06 +0100

Barnes & Noble is expected to launch a new ebook, called the Nook, today in New York according to sources who've seen a yet unannounced advert.

According to both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, the device will feature a colour touchscreen display and a separate e-ink powered screen for reading.

"It will cost $259, matching Amazon.com’s most recent price cut for its latest edition of the Kindle," cites the NYT article.

The NYT is claiming the information has been garnered from an advert Barnes & Noble have placed in the Oct. 25 issue of The New York Times Book Review and comes after pictures of the device supposedly appeared last week.

It's been a busy week for ebook launches with Monday seeing an announcement from Plastic Logic?for a new ebook that will be shown off at CES 2010,?and a from fairly unkown company Spring Design who's Alex concept, which will supposedly be coming to market later this year, also features two screens.?

Rumours first surfaces earlier last week, while other sources are suggesting a 22 October, the same day as Windows 7, launch date, making it perfect Christmas stocking fodder in time for the holidays.

Earlier in the year, Barnes & Noble announced the launch of an ebook store that offers over 500,000 ebooks as well as free Wi-Fi in its stores, presumably to encourage the use of the new devices.

Pocket-lint will be at the Barnes & Noble?event?on Tuesday 20 October bringing you all the news as it happens.

Tags: Gadgets ebooks Barnes and Noble Amazon Amazon Kindle Spring Design Plastic Logic eBook readers Barnes and Noble Nook

Barnes & Noble Nook leaked originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:05:32 +0100

Google has revealed plans to launch its own online ebook store, due to open its virtual doors in the first half of 2010.

Although the online giant is currently embroiled in legal wrangles over its Google Books book scanning project, it hasn't stopped it from announcing the new "Google Editions" scheme.

The store will initially offer around half a million ebooks in formats suitable for any device with a web browser.

While Google will host the ebooks and make them searchable, it's said consumers will be able to buy titles direct, or go through the likes of Amazon - a big player in the market thanks to its Kindle reader range, or Barnes & Noble which has ambitions to make it big.

Google has ruled out making hardware to go along with the launch of the content store - "We're not focused on a dedicated e-reader or device of any kind", Google's director of strategic partnerships told Reuters at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

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Tags: Software Websites Google ebooks Google Books Google Editions Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble

Google Editions ebook store announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:34:02 +0100

The blurb on the Amazon website describes the Asus Eee PC S101 as an "exquisitely designed netbook for fashion forward individuals who view style as much of a factor of success as substance".

However, if you are not one of those "fashion forward individuals" then it may interest you instead that they are selling the previously-priced ?479 netbook for a rather more palatable ?279.99.

This "ultra-portable" netbook gets a 10-inch screen with an Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and 16GB hard drive. Battery life seems decent, giving you over 5 hours of use between refills, whilst the 4-in-1 card reader will help make sure all your data is backed up.

Connectivity is catered for with Bluetooth, 802.11 a/g/n along with three USB 2.0 ports, and a headphone port while you'll be using Windows XP Home Edition as your OS.

Amazon is also offering free delivery and we'll have another tech deal for you tomorrow.

Tags: Hardware Laptops Netbooks Asus Asus EPCS101 Amazon Daily Tech Deal Eee

Daily Tech Deal: Asus Eee S101 netbook from Amazon originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Amazon in the UK has slashed the price of Nintendo's Wii console, even though the game's maker hasn't reduced the official RRP in the UK for the console on its own.

Gamers keen to get some Wii Sports action can now do so from Amazon for ?140, ?40 cheaper than the RRP being touted elsewhere on the Internet and high street.

Nintendo promised at the end of September a price reduction was coming, however that appeared in the high street in a range of bundles priced at ?180 featuring Wii Resort or Mario Kart.

"We will be reducing the trade price of Wii to retailers from 2 October 2009. In the UK and Republic of Ireland we are also introducing a new configuration of Wii hardware from 2 October 2009 which will replace the current offering and will include the Wii console and Wii Sports with the new Wii Sports Resort game and Wii MotionPlus accessory. This will be available to retailers at the newly reduced trade price", a Nintendo spokesperson told us at the time.

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Tags: Gaming Nintendo Nintendo Wii Amazon

Amazon cuts Nintendo Wii price in UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:40:33 +0100

Amazon has u-turned on its launch promise not to charge international Kindle users more than it does US consumers, in a rip-off Britain move familiar to UK-based gadget fans who often suffer from inflated pricing.

Despite Amazon stating that "there are no additional fees for international customers" when the Kindle was announced for the UK market, the Guardian has discovered that UK users will in fact be charged 40% more than those in the States.

From the paper: "An Amazon.co.uk spokesman revealed that foreign customers would be paying $13.99 (?8.75) per book instead of the American price of $9.99 (?6.25). That amounts to a 40% premium for the same title".

Although UK users won't be charged the $1.99 roaming fee that Americans will have to pay for using the device abroad, it seems this is how the etailer will recuperate the costs of data charges from AT&T's global partners for the OTA downloads.

Whether UK consumers will be happy to stump up almost half as much again as Americans pay for a digital product is yet to be seen - it certainly never hurt iTunes. Have your say on the matter in the comments box below.

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Related links:

• News - Amazon Kindle DX UK bound too
• Feature - Five good reasons to buy an Amazon Kindle

Tags: Gadgets Amazon Kindle ebooks eBook readers Biz Books

UK Kindle owners to be charged 40% more for content originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:04:18 +0100

Amazon in the US and UK has confirmed that it plans to take its other Kindle, the Kindle DX, international next year as well.

In the US the comments come from Amazon.com spokesman Drew Herdener who when asked simply said: "sometime next year".

Meanwhile in the UK Amazon.co.uk PR man Ben Howes has also confirmed the move to gadget site Electricpig. Rather than the standard "no comment" the site was expecting, Howes said: "we expect to add a Kindle DX family member with international roaming sometime next year".

The Kindle DX, comes with a 9.7-inch electronic paper display, a new built-in PDF reader, auto-rotate capability, and 3.3GB storage for up to 3500 books, Amazon has upped the price tag for the new model by $100 to $379.?

Amazon has announced that it is launching the Amazon Kindle in the UK and around the world as we reported it would last week.

"We have millions of customers in countries all over the world who read English-language books", said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Kindle enables these customers to think of a book and download it wirelessly in less than 60 seconds".

Announced earlier in the week, the new 3G enabled Kindle International edition will sport a 6-inch screen, come in at just over a third of an inch thin (0.36 inches) and weigh just over 10 ounces according to Amazon. It will come with 2GB of memory allowing up to 1500 books to be stored on the internal drive.

Users will be able to access over 250,000 books to download over the air via the Kindle Store, including UK newspapers such as The Times and The Telegraph.

Kindle with U.S. & International Wireless edition will cost $279 and will be available for shipment to customers in over 100 countries around the world on 19 October, although currently users will have to purchase the Kindle from the US store and?import the Kindle into the UK.?

"In the future, we plan to introduce a UK-centric Kindle experience, enabling you to purchase Kindle and Kindle books in sterling from our Amazon.co.uk site", said Bezos in a letter to Amazon.co.uk customers published on the UK site.

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle DX UK bound too originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:57 +0100

Amazon has confirmed to Pocket-lint that International customers won't have to pay for roaming charges on the new Kindle International edition.

"No they won’t", a spokesman for the company from the UK office told Pocket-lint after we asked if the company could confirm whether or not UK customers will have to pay the $1.99 download charge, before adding "Wireless delivery is included in the price of the book for international customers so there are no additional charges".

The confusion has arisen over how UK customers and those in other countries will be able to access books over the 3G connection Amazon is promising, as Amazon has confirmed that the Kindle will be roaming on the AT&T Global network.

However, UK users will still only be able to order the new Kindle via the US Amazon site and pay customs tax on the purchase.

At the moment the Kindle will be sold on an import basis to customers in the UK from Amazon.com. The price for the device is $279, and when import fees and shipping is added the total comes to $344.98, which works out at ?216.85 at today's rates.

Tags: Gadgets Kindle Amazon ebooks eBook readers

Amazon: International Kindle owners won't have to pay roaming charges originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:59:37 +0100

Amazon has announced that in the States it will be offering digital access codes for more than 200 PlayStation Network games and related content for the PS3 and PSP.

This follows the similar news back in April that Amazon customers would be able to buy Xbox LIVE games, subscription cards and Microsoft Points cards.

"We are excited to expand our current library of video game platform downloads", said Paul Ryder, vice president of consumer electronics for Amazon.com. ?

"PlayStation Network games are an important addition and we plan to continue making it easier for customers to instantly enjoy new content as well as their favourite games from the comfort of their living rooms".
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Digital access to PlayStation Network games works on a code-redemption system and is live over on Amazon.com now.

Tags: Gaming PS3 Sony Amazon Playstation Network

Amazon offers digital access codes for PlayStation Network content originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:07:45 +0100

Huzzah! It's finally arrived. It's never fun to sit and drool while other cats in other countries get to play with all the best tech and, at last, we in the UK can get our clutches on the Amazon Kindle 2. So, it's here but so are one hell of a lot of eBook readers. The question is, do we still want it? See if this helps to make up your mind one way or the other.

Get it now

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1. It's Cheap
As premium eBook readers go, the Kindle 2 is a bit of a bargain. There's a slew of budget models out there at the same ?200 mark but none of those have the connectivity and over the air book store access. You can argue that the hardware on the Sony readers and the recently released iRex is better, but the tops of their lines are only available in the US at the moment and they're $100 dearer anyway.

2. Epic Kindle Store
Probably the biggest advantage in opting for the Kindle is access to the epically large Amazon Kindle book store which currently houses 350,000 plus titles. Google is looking to redress the balance somewhat by scanning a million books for free into the public domain, but it still doesn't change the fact that currently it's only Amazon in the UK that allows users to access and download from a store over 3G direct to their reader. Very useful.

3. Good Storage
It may seem strange to big up the internal storage on the Kindle 2 when there's the elephant in the room, namely the fact that it doesn't have an SD card slot or any other kind of removable media unlike most other readers. But, what Amazon does do is offer 2GB of internal space which is double what most manufacturers have come up with. That gives you room for around 1500 books which should be enough to get from London Paddington to Calcutta several times over and without both the added expense and faff of SD cards.

4. Text to Speech
The use of the text to speech function for most people is debatable, but there's a huge population of partially sited users in the world who'll be able to plug their headphones into the Kindle and have the device read their books to them. Whether you use it or not, it's good to know that the company you've signed up for is trying to cater for as many people as it can.

5. The Apple Effect
Arguably one of Apple's greatest factors for success is that they make the devices and they make the software that goes with them. Amazon has a similar thing going on in with eBook readers in that they make the device and the sell the books too. Many readers rely on sideloading through online stores like Waterstones and, as good as they are, these stores simply can't be tailor made to fit one device and its software. Of course, the other side of it is that you're not tied into any one ecosystem but then there's no need for financial negotiations or deals of any sort in the background with the Amazon solution which tends to make for a smoother and often slightly cheaper end service.

Give it a miss

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1. Screen Issues
Firstly, none of the Kindles has a touchscreen which is beginning to make gadgets look like they were built in the last century. One of its main rivals over here, the Sony Reader Touch edition, as its name suggests, does. The Kindle 2 does have a QWERTY if you don't mind getting old school - and indeed, some people prefer it - but there have also been some complaints with the quality of the contrast, and the 16 shade grey-scale has made some people feel so ill that they've switched back to the original Kindle.

2. Size Issues
Manufacturers like Sony and iRex are starting to offer readers in different sizes. Of course, Amazon offers the 10-inch DX but that has a fairly specific market and isn't the size that most people are after. A six-inch eBook reader may be the standard at the moment but it rules a section of the public out who'd rather choose from something more pocket size to the new wave of 8.1-inchers.

3. Limited File Support
Amazon has chosen a closed DRM file system for the Kindle, meaning that it only supports a very small number of strange sounding file types - .AZW, .MOBI, .AAX and .TXT plus MP3s as well. If the Google scan project does go ahead, which looks likely, the files offered by the internet giant will be PDFs and EPUBs, neither of which currently work on the Kindle 2. Amazon is looking to introduce PDFs and they do provide a file conversion service, but it can cost money and adds a certain pain-in-the-arse factor.

4. Too Specific
As Steve Jobs pointed out, in this age of convergence, something as specific as an eBook reader might not be worth your money even in the relatively short term. According to the Apple supremo, it's usually more general devices that are successful, with a possible hint towards the much rumoured and probably similar sized iTablet. One obvious reaction to his words are that it's the e-paper that makes readers what they are, but then perhaps that's a clue to just one of the features in the forthcoming Apple gadgets? Nobody's perfect but Jobs has made an immense career out of some well-judged calls. He may have a point.

5. Who needs a reader?
eBooks aren't just the preserve of readers. You can download them onto your phone or your handheld games console. They may not be so easy on the eye to read but it's an option. Another choice, of course, is to buy a paperback. There's still plenty to be said for hard copy books. They're cheaper than a reader, not such a problem if you loose them, harder to damage and they look pretty good on a shelf once you're done with them.

Related links:

• News - Amazon Kindle comes to UK
• Feature - The complete guide to eBook readers

Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Amazon Amazon Kindle 2 Features Kindle

Five good reasons to buy an Amazon Kindle... originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:35:00 +0100

Following the news from Amazon that it is to offer an "International Edition" of the Amazon Kindle in 200 countries, Amazon's UK homepage is promoting the pre-order of the device, due to launch 19 October, with a "letter" from the founder of the etail site, Jeff Bezos.

At the moment the Kindle will be sold on an import basis to customers in the UK from Amazon.com. The price for the device is $279, and when import fees and shipping is added the total comes to $344.98, which works out at ?216.85 at today's rates.

This compares favourably with Sony's rival Reader offerings purely on a price basis. The latest Readers to hit the UK are priced at around ?250 for the comparable 6-inch version and ?190 for the budget 5-incher.

It seems at present content will also have to be bought in dollars. In Bezos' homepage letter, he reveals a "UK-centric Kindle experience" is planned for the future, "enabling you to purchase Kindle and Kindle books in sterling from our Amazon.co.uk site", but for now purchases will be in US currency.

Related links:

• News - Amazon Kindle comes to UK

Tags: Gadgets Kindle Amazon ebooks eBook readers

International Kindle will cost £217 to import originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:29:17 +0100

Amazon has announced that it is launching the Amazon Kindle in the UK and around the world as we reported it would last week.

"We have millions of customers in countries all over the world who read English-language books", said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. "Kindle enables these customers to think of a book and download it wirelessly in less than 60 seconds".

The new 3G enabled Kindle International edition will sport a 6-inch screen and come in at just over a third of an inch thin (0.36 inches) and weigh just over 10 ounces according to Amazon. It will come with 2GB of memory allowing up to 1500 books to be stored on the internal drive

Users will be able to access over 250,000 books to download over the air via the Kindle Store?including UK newspapers such as The Times and The Telegraph.

Kindle with U.S. & International Wireless edition will cost $279 and will be available for shipment to customers in over 100 countries around the world on 19 October, although currently users will have to purchase the Kindle from the US store and import it into the UK.?

"In the future, we plan to introduce a UK-centric Kindle experience, enabling you to purchase Kindle and Kindle books in sterling from our Amazon.co.uk site", said Bezos in a letter to Amazon.co.uk customers published on the UK site.

The decision to do so means that legally, UK customers will have to pay import tax on the Kindle as it is over the ?145 price threshold bringing the price after current exchange rates to around ?200.?

Additionally, it is not yet sure whether UK customers will have to pay a wireless roaming fee of $1.99 per book as stated in the small print on the product page on Amazon.com. It says:

"When travelling abroad, you can download books wirelessly from the Kindle Store or your Archived Items for a fee of $1.99".

Amazon has also announced that it will be dropping the price of its US only Kindle model to $259.

The news adds to the growing ebook market, that has seen plenty of activity in the last couple of weeks from company's such as iRex, Sony with it's Sony Reader and Cool-er.

We will keep you posted.

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Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Amazon Kindle ebooks

Amazon Kindle comes to UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:33:14 +0100

The Sony PSP has been out less than a week, but already retailers are slashing the prices of the PSP Go in the UK.

Amazon.co.uk, Play.com, HMV and GAME have cut 11% off the RRP taking the price of the console from its original ?225 down to ?199.

The move appears to be an attempt to lure gamers away from other handheld consoles like the Nintendo DS and Apple iPod touch and make it the console of choice in the Christmas stocking.?

However, the price drop still makes it more expensive than both the Nintendo DSi (priced at ?139.99) and the 8GB Apple iPod touch (priced at ?149.99).

Sony is hoping that the bigger screen compared to its rivals, and downloadable content will be the killer application to help it win the handheld console battle this Christmas, retailers it seems, aren't so sure.

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Tags: Gaming PSP Sony Amazon Play HMV GAME PSP Go

Sony PSP Go price cut originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:37:32 +0100

Amazon's decision to remotely delete digital copies of George Orwell's 1984 from customer's Kindles has cost it $150,000.

The figure - a settlement amount reached between Amazon and a high school student - is in addition to the $30 compensation it offered each affected customer.

The lawsuit was filed by a 17-year-old high school student in the States in July. As well as losing the digital copy of the book, the student lost electronic notes he had made for an assignment.

Amazon had deleted 1984, and Animal Farm, as it found out the correct rights had not been obtained. In an apology Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos called the move "stupid".

The $150,000 is to be donated to "a charitable organization that promotes literacy, children's issues, secondary or post- secondary education, health or job placement".

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Related links:

• News - Amazon pulls 1984 from Kindle
• News - Student sues Amazon over Kindle deletion

Tags: Gadgets Amazon Kindle Lawsuits Biz

Amazon settles for $150,000 over Kindle deletion originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:19:30 +0100

The Kindle's UK launch has been a much talked-up affair, but "authoritative sources" are now backing up previous whispers that the device will debut in October.

Those sources, speaking to The Bookseller, suggest the Kindle's arrival to the UK market will be announced next week, ahead of the Frankfurt book fair, with consumer availability during October.

The Bookseller reports a source stating: "The key things they needed to tie up have been tied up", suggesting a wireless operator deal has been done in the UK after Qualcomm has developed a wireless solution that would work over here.

Whether Amazon will launch both the Kindle 2 and the larger and more expensive Kindle DX is yet to be seen. In the States the 6-inch Kindle 2 is priced at $299 which works out as around ?187, which could mean a ?199 price tag is likely here.

Amazon has not revealed sales figures for the Kindle, but it appears to be a popular product and partly responsible for the surge of the new ebook readers hitting the market.

Although the Kindle was far from the first - and some would argue far from the best - such device around, it's thought Amazon's Apple-like bundled offering of hardware and content has seen greater consumer interest in ebook readers in the US.

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Related links:

• News - Amazon Kindle 2 launches

Tags: Gadgets Kindle eBook readers Amazon Rumours

Amazon to make UK Kindle announcement next week originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:20:45 +0100