Amazon's Most Recent Kindle Devices

By Sam Jaim

Amazon Kindle

The Amazon Kindle is simply a handy e-book reader. More specifically, it is, in itself, a hardware, software, and network platform developed by Amazon which makes use of wireless connectivity enabling users to download, browse, shop, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media. 

Several other hardware devices support this platform which includes a main “Kindle” line, and a parallel “Kindle DX” line. The latest Kindle device is the third version of the main line, officially termed as “Kindle”, but more often referred to as Kindle 3. It was made public on the 27th of August in 2010. Consumer reports state that the new display, polished with the E Ink Pearl Technology, is certainly superior to previous generations. 

The Kindle DX line, on the other hand, offers larger screens than the main line. The previous is advertised as more suitable for displaying newspaper and textbook content; but, no model preserves the print edition page numbers used when citing sources in school papers and scholarly research. Moreover, Amazon has introduced Kindle software for use on various devices and platforms, which include iOS, BlackBerry, Mac OS X, Android and Windows Phone 7, and Microsoft Windows. 

Another feature of Kindle hardware is its use of e-ink electronic paper display which features 16 shades of grey. This, in turn, allows for a longer battery life and easy readability. Contents for this device can be purchased over the web and downloaded wirelessly, in some countries, with the aid of either Wi – Fi or Amazon’s 3G Whispernet network. 

Whispernet is accessible without any fee or wireless subscription, although it can cost consumers for the delivery of periodicals when roaming internationally. Through a service called “Whispersync”, users can synchronize reading progress, bookmarks, and other information across Kindle hardware devices and other mobile devices. 

Kindle devices are available at Amazon. The 3rd generation version is initially priced at US$139. It connects to the internet exclusively via public or private Wi – Fi networks. Kindle DX, on the other hand, costs US$379. It has a larger screen and is the thinnest Kindle, to date. It is marketed as more suitable for displaying newspaper and textbook content.