New Software Update for Kindle Keyboard (Kindle 3)

Like most of us were expecting, a new software update, the 3.3 version,  was released today for the Kindle Keyboard (or Kindle 3 for those used to its old name). We saw this one coming as soon as Amazon launched the kindle 4 with a new software.


But what are we getting from this new update? Let's see what Amazon tell us about the new features included:

Download your archived Personal Documents on Kindle Keyboard: You can now view and download your archived personal documents to your Kindle Keyboard conveniently anywhere at any time. Your personal documents will be stored in your Kindle library until you delete them.

Whispersync for Personal Documents on Kindle Keyboard: Just as with Kindle books, Whispersync automatically synchronizes your last page read, bookmarks and annotations for personal documents (with the exception of PDFs) across the Kindle devices. Learn more about Kindle Personal Document Service on www.amazon.com/kindlepersonaldocuments  

AmazonLocal deals on Kindle Keyboard with Special Offers: Kindle Keyboard with Special Offers users in many regions can now view,purchase, and redeem AmazonLocal deals directly from Kindle Keyboard -- no computer, no printer, no hassle. AmazonLocal offers savings up to 75% off products and services from businesses in your city, national chains and online merchants. Learn more about AmazonLocal on www.amazonlocal.com.  

Voice Guide Shortcut: Kindle Keyboard users can now quickly turn the Voice Guide feature on and off by holding the Shift key and pressing Spacebar. Voice Guide reads aloud menu options, content listings and item descriptions. 

To download and install the new update click here and follow Amazon´s guidelines.

This update makes, IMHO, the Kindle Keyboard even more appealing than it was already with its legacy software. Inf here was any doubt for me wether I liked the Kindle 3 better than the Kindle 4, they´re all gone. Here´s a couple of pictures, one of my Kindle Keyboard updating, the other of how the new menu looks like.

Click images to enlarge

So now, wth this new update, Kindle Keyboard has access to Amazon's cloud, making it super easy to sync all of your books, notes and clippings.

Get in the cloud with your Kindle Keyboard!

Kindle Fire: more searches and news than all other Kindles combined

To say that Kindle Fire has gained terrain over it's siblings is an understatement, even though it hasn't been yet released. As we learned last Tuesday, the "Fire" is melting Amazon's lines with 50,000 pre-orders a day, but that's  not the only stat that's being dominated by this new player.

"switch11" from ireaderreview.com did a great job at analysing this phenomena, and also wonders about the effect of the Kindle Fire 10" (if the rumors that it's gonna be launched by 2012 are true).

Take a look at this image to see just how dominant Kindle Fire is (in terms of search interest and news coverage)

The Blue line represents Kindle Fire interest. The upper graph is for Internet Searches and the lower graph is for News Articles. You can take a look at it at Google Trends. By the way, the other device that is getting a lot more attention than eInk Kindles (though much less than Kindle Fire) – Nook Color. 

Analyst Estimates and Forecasts are all claiming Kindle Fire is selling more than all other Kindles combined 

While estimates vary, the common thread is that all of them suggest that Amazon is currently selling a lot more Kindle Fires than Kindles.

There’s still the 10″ Kindle Fire 

There are very strong rumors that a 10″ Kindle Fire Tablet will arrive early in 2012. And that too at a low, low price of $299. If the 7″ Kindle by itself is selling more than eInk Kindles, it’s a safe bet to assume that the two Kindle Fire tablets together will dwarf the eInk Kindles in total sales.

Are people going to start associating ‘Kindle’ with the Tablets? 

Probably. If we have a lot more people buying Kindle Fire and a lot more people searching for Kindle Fire and a lot more people asking questions about Kindle Fire – ‘Kindle’ will start being associated with Kindle Fire.

Source: http://ireaderreview.com/2011/10/07/kindle-fire-stealing-kindles-thunder/ 

There's no doubt that Kindle Fire is a tablet. What it's still yet to be seen is Amazon's marketing approach for the whole Kindle line. Will they be promoted as two different products, or as "individuals" with different features but with a same lineage?
We'll be able to tell very soon.

Make sure you get your Kindle Fire or Kindle 4 through Amazon.com

Until tomorrow!

 Eric

First Glimpse of the Kindle Touch: Great for Students!

Although they look very similar, the Kindle Touch appears to be quite a different product when you compare it to the new Kindle "4" (click here to watch yesterday's review). Although I was a bit disappointed with the features on Kindle 4, I must say that the guys at Amazon (well... the guys at Lab 126 to be honest) really put some thought into the new features of the Kindle Touch.

 Just to mention some of them:

• Move Pages forward or backwards: for the first time in Kindle history this is not done through buttons; you either tap anywhere in the screen to move pages forward, or next to the left or right edges to move them backwards or forward respectively. Also you can swipe your finger through the screen in one or the other direction to serve the same purpose.
• Pinch in/out will make font smaller or bigger.
• An improved menu, quite different to what we were used to.
• Virtual Touch keyboard
• Search option: this is a cool feature, very useful for finding the locations of concepts, terms or characters.
• Access to Wikipedia articles with one tap
• And the coolest new feature, the X-Ray: Allows you to automatically see in a very schematic way the main characters, concepts, phrases or content of a book.

Let's take a first glimpse and see how all of these features look like in this video brought by the people of TechCrunch



It really seem like the Kindle Touch is directed towards more active users. People that need to take notes, research a book thoroughly, look for terms, know what's the backbone of the text right away (thanks to the X-Ray feature), access to Wikipedia immediately, etc.

All of these features makes the Kindle Touch a great option for students -of all ages, those attending school and those who are constantly learning and reading from the computer and the Internet... Kindle is a great way to protect your eyes!

If you are interested in having a Kindle Touch of your own, make sure you get yours directly through Amazon.com 

More to come on Monday.

Cheers,

Eric

Best Kindle 4 Video Review

The guys from Mobile Tech Review did a great job on the Kindle 4th generation review. Remember, this is not the Touch version (see table with all of today's available Kindles) Already a lot of people are calling it "Kindle 4", and it makes sense given the that what we call Kindle Keyboard today was known as the Kindle 3.

Without a doubt, the main benefit to the Kindle 4 is its price: $79. It would have been unthinkable some months ago that you could get such a good piece of technology, with such a valuable use, for just that.

There are two major differences in the Kindle 4 when you compare it with its predecessor:

• Lack of a physical keyboard, you need to use the 5 way controller to select each character from the display (not being a touch device you'll have a hard time typing notes)
• Does not support audio (so forget about the TTS or the MP3 capabilities you got with the Kindle 3)

But let's see it more in detail in this very good review that Lisa, from Mobile Tech Review brings us:




Once again, price wise: Awesome for what you get. But a bit on the downside, being a newer generation and having less features, as important as the audio and the ability to type in a comfortable fashion, is somewhat disappointing.

As always, it's just a matter of taste. Personally? I'm in love with my Kindle 3. But I must say I'm a big note writer, so the keyboard is a must for me. Plus you still get a very good price if you buy the Special Offers option.

As usual, if you are planning on getting either of these beauties, I recommend you do it through Amazon.com

Until tomorrow,

Eric