An EReader Face-Off

Sony Preparing New E-Book Reader to Challenge Amazon

2011-07-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Sony Corp. (SNE), Japan’s largest exporter of consumer electronics, plans to introduce a line of upgraded digital book readers in the U.S. as early as next month to challenge Kindle maker Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)

The current Sony Reader, now priced from $180 to $300, will probably be offered with hardware and software improvements in August, Phil Lubell, vice president of digital reading at Sony Electronics, said yesterday in an interview in San Francisco.

The new products will be introduced to U.S. consumers before Sony’s first tablet-computer models, which are scheduled to go on sale later this year. The Tokyo-based company, whose readers trail behind the Kindle and Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS)’s Nook, plans to continue its push to sell dedicated digital readers because they are cheaper than tablets, Lubell said.

“Sony appears to be struggling to expand its e-reader business as fast as it had originally planned,” said Nobuo Kurahashi, an analyst at Mizuho Financial Group Inc. in Tokyo. The digital-book operation may be pressured further with the introduction of tablets later this year, he said. “There are some overlaps between tablets and e-readers.”

Sony’s American depositary receipts fell 33 cents to $26.73 at 4:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have dropped 25 percent this year, compared with a 4.1 percent gain for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

The number of Americans who own an electronic reader such as Kindle doubled in the six months to May as college graduates and adults in the highest income category choose the devices over tablet computers, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.

Less Expensive

Twelve percent of those surveyed owned an e-reader in May, up from 6 percent in November 2010, while 8 percent owned tablets in May, up from 5 percent six months earlier.

The reason for the faster adoption of e-readers may be that they are often less expensive than tablets, with the Kindle starting at $114, compared with the iPad 2’s $499.

“We think there will still be a market for dedicated readers as long as tablets remain in the $500 price range,” Lubell said.

Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s cheapest iPad is 67 percent more expensive than Sony’s high-end reader.

Sony also plans to incorporate its online book store and e-book technology into its two tablet-computer models, code- named S1 and S2, later this year as part of a group of Sony multimedia applications, Lubell said.

Tablet Latecomer

As a latecomer to the tablet market, Sony is betting on Google Inc.’s Android operating system to help it compete in the fastest-growing segment of the computer industry. The company plans to differentiate its products from rival Android-equipped devices made by Samsung Electronics Co., HTC Corp. (2498) and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. by adding the ability to download PlayStation Suite games, movies and music from its subscription services, Phil Molyneux, president of Sony Electronics, told reporters yesterday in San Francisco.

Sony may price its two tablets -- one clamshell-style with dual 5.5-inch screens and the other with a 9.4-inch touchscreen -- higher than some rival products, he said, without elaborating.

Sony, which expects the global tablet-computer market to reach annual sales of 50 million to 60 million units this year and 70 million to 80 million in 2012, is also considering developing a model with three-dimensional display, the company said in April.

To contact the reporter on this story: Cliff Edwards in San Francisco atcedwards28@bloomberg.net; Mariko Yasu in Tokyo at myasu@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net

A visitor uses a Sony Corp. Reader Pocket Edition e-reader electronic book at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) consumer electronics trade fair in Berlin, Germany. Photographer: Michele Tantussi/Bloomberg

Sony Reader Touch Editions on display at the Sony Corp. stand at the IFA technology and consumer electronics trade fair in Berlin, Germany. Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Amazon Tablet On The Way, According to Sources

2011-07-13T23:09:00.000-07:00

oday, there are more rumors about Amazon’s leap into the tablet market.

The Wall Street Journal has cited “people familiar with the matter” in predicting that the online retailer will release its iPad rival sometime before October.

This new information seems to corroborate rumors reported last month by DigiTimes. Their sources were Taiwan-based component makers who said that Amazon planned to launch their tablet in the fall in order to capitalize on the upcoming holiday season.

They reported that Amazon had a sales goal of 4 million units by the end of the year.

According to the WSJ’s sources, the new Amazon tablet will have a roughly 9-inch screen and will run on Android OS. As you would expect, the tablet will provide easy access to Amazon’s ebooks, music and app store. The sources also said that the Amazon tablet will not be sporting a camera.

According to the sources, Amazon will also release two new members of the Kindle family around the same time. The first will be a touchscreen model that will be poised to go up against Barnes & Noble’sNew Nook “Simple Touch” e-reader.

The second new Kindle will be a cheaper version of the current basic Kindle. If the rumors prove true, both will try to compete in a crowded field of e-readers during this holiday shopping season.

Can an Amazon tablet compete with the dominance of the iPad? It’s hard to say. Nothing has really been able to challenge the iPad’s place atop the throne. According to other rumors, the newest iPad will debut this fall under the name “iPad HD.” It will sport an incredibly high-res screen (2048 x 1536) and would be primarily for professionals who wish to do serious work on their tablets.

iPad 3 Release Date & Features – Sizzling Rumors

2011-07-09T03:09:00.001-07:00

Apple’s iPad is holding over 80% of the market share of the US tablet market. Not only in the US but across the world, people have gone crazy to have the new iPad 2. Although being the best tablet ever, Apple’s followers are still looking for an even greater iPad 3 and eagerly exploring the Internet for “iPad 3 release date.” Nowadays, numerous rumors about iPad 3 are being spread in the market; of course it is about iPad 3 release date and features.

Update (1st July 2011) : Apple is planning to gear up iPad 2 shipments for the third quarter of this year. Does this mean we are not going to see iPad 3 this year? Find out more.

Update (2nd June 2011) : According to DigiTimes, iPad 3 release date should be scheduled to somewhere in 2012. However, Apple has already started certifying process of components for the iPad 3. Here is you will detailed update on iPad 3 release date.

Various sources predict that the iPad 3 release date would be scheduled somewhere in September 2011. The Apple employee said, “They’ve had a number of problems along the way, and the third-generation iPad is the one to make a song and dance about.“

John Gruber, an Apple watcher, is supporting the statement by adding that the iPad 3 release date will be in September. He also stated in his blog, “Summer feels like a long time away. If my theory is right, they’re not only going to be months behind the iPad 2, but if they slip until late summer, they might bump up against the release of the iPad 3. And they didn’t only announce this with a distant ship date; they did it with no word on pricing.” On other hand Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs says 2011 is the year of the iPad 2.

The Apple iPad 2 is getting such a huge response that Apple is unable to meet the demand. Let us assume that iPad 3 will release in September 2011 in US. However, the UK buyer will get a chance to see iPad 3 after a month or two.

iPad 3 Features Expectation

Retina Display: People were expecting a retina display with the iPad 2; but the iPad disappointed them with the same display of the previous iPad. Now followers are waiting for an iPad 3 with a retina display. There is a rumor that the iPad 3 may offer a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels.
SD Card Slot: People are expecting a revolution in Apple iPad 3 with an SD card slot. Hopefully Apple may introduce SD card slot with the third generation iPad.
Improved HDMI: Yes iPad 2 also supports HDMI playback but you need to have Apple digital AV adapter, and that comes at an additional cost of $39. So it is much expected from iPad 3 to have an HDMI port that eliminates additional requirement of the HDMI cable.
Camera Flash: A camera with flash is a much-waited feature of the iPad; people were expecting iPad 2 to have camera flash; now we would be wondering if iPad 3 will have camera with flash.
Thunderbolt: The iPad 3 may have a Thunderbolt port. That will offer power, video and data connectivity using the same connector at lightning speed.
Wireless Synchronize: People are expecting iPad 3 to offer wireless sync of content rather than the traditional wired connectivity.

Apple’s Fifth-Generation iPhone to Begin Assembly in “Mid to Late August”

2011-07-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

According to Katy Huberty, an analyst with brokerage firm Morgan Stanley, Apple’s manufacturing partners will begin assembling the next generation of iPhone handsets in August, ahead of a projected launch late in the third calendar quarter, which ends September 30.

After attending meetings with unnamed sources in Taiwan, Huberty issued a note to her clients stating that “Apple’s next iPhone will begin production in mid-to-late August and ramp aggressively”, indicating that the iPhone 4S (or iPhone 5, as the handset is yet unnamed) will be ready to ship for launch in September. Huberty confirmed this timeline, stating that according to her sources the handset will launch to consumers “sometime near the end of the third calendar quarter of the year”.

Rumors have swirled for months around the release date for the next iPhone, and most have pointed to the handset getting out the door sometime in September. As a result of this launch being later than Morgan Stanley had originally advised, Huberty moved the expected sales of 2 million iPhone handsets from third quarter estimates to the fourth quarter while keeping expected annual sales firm at 72 million iPhones. Of course, the analyst stated that if she were incorrect and the next iPhone was to launch earlier in September, it would simply drive “upside” to these estimates.

Also in the report were suggestions that an Apple-branded television was being developed, as is an iPhone that is intended for lower-priced and prepaid markets. “We also believe Apple is in the early design stages for a TV, which could add $19 billion and $4.50 of annual revenue and EPS longer-term,” Huberty states, updating her March 2011 report that some of her intelligence checking in Asia had suggested that Apple was developing a “Smart TV prototype” of some sort. This is on top of speculation that has been circulating throughout the past couple of weeks that Apple has been developing a television that runs its mobile iOS software, apparently leaked by an ex-Apple executive.

In regards a cheaper iPhone, the report stated that Apple is expecting to see a huge increase to iPhone sales figures in 2012 thanks to “new products and potentially lower price points.” It’s no secret that Apple has been working on ways to improve their market segmentation, and could easily make an updated iPhone 4 model their new prepaid or value option if the iPhone 5 is another industry leader.

With increased iPhone production, rumors of TVs and a holiday season fast approaching, it would be amiss to neglect mentioning the iPad as well. Morgan Stanley states that they see iPad shipments resuming to full steam, now that the supply problems associated with the Japan earthquake earlier this year have been mostly solved. Earlier this month a report surfaced indicating that Apple was demanding a price cut of somewhere around ten percent from its iPad parts suppliers as their orders increase, which Huberty echoed could “boost margins modestly in the June quarter and more in the September quarter”.

While Apple’s stock price has been sagging of late, dropping more than six percent throughout June, Morgan Stanley sees this as an opportunity to get in while the price is low. The brokerage kept its Overweight rating for AAPL, targeting a stock price of $428, which is more than $100 per share higher than the price today. If these rumors end up being true, Apple very well might see its stock increasing throughout the remainder of the year.

Analyst: Kindle tablet to support streaming video

2011-06-21T13:05:00.001-07:00

Amazon is prepping a new 10-inch color Kindle tablet that would support streaming video and sell for around $399, according to a report recently released by investment firm Detwiler Fenton.

Will Amazon's next Kindle be a color tablet?

(Credit: Amazon)

Code-named Hollywood, the new Kindle tablet would include a promotional video service with Amazon reportedly offering the same movie service that it now offers for free to its Prime customers. The service would be free to Hollywood buyers for a certain amount of time, according to Detwiler Fenton.
The new Kindle would be powered by a more robust processor than is found in the smaller Kindle e-book readers and is expected to debut in time for the holiday season.
E-book readers and rival tablets alike have faced strong competition from the iPad, but Detwiler Fenton said it believes Hollywood's $399 price tag should be low enough to give it some traction against the iPad. This could put pressure on more expensive tablets, such as Motorola's Xoom and RIM's BlackBerry Playbook, each of which is expected to sell around 1 million units this year, said the investment firm.
It comes as no secret that Amazon has reportedly been busy readying its own lineup of tablets, according to various sources and some hints from CEO Jeff Bezos. One of the reports refers to "Hollywood" as the code name for a new 10-inch tablet from Amazon, to be powered by Nvidia's quad-core Kal-El chipset.

Kindle 4

2011-06-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

Color Kindle 4

There is no doubt that the Kindle 4 is going to be even more popular than the Kindle 3. Although with news of the new Amazon tablet coming out this year too it is going to be hard to choose for many. Especially as the new Amazon Prime account allows you to get 5,000 movies streamed live for FREE!

See HERE for this amazing service which is more than worth getting for the free movies alone, let alone free 2 day shipping for all orders!

But as far as Kindles go surely it will be a color Kindle 4 release, won't it? And possibly a Kindle touch too! The Amazon Kindle really has been an incredibly popular item and has changed the way many people actually live their life. A color Kindle touchscreen would be amazing.

But when it will be released is a totally different matter. We may see the new Kindle 4 release date some time in 2011, but so far this is all just speculation. But the great news is that we are still able to buy the amazing Kindle 3 so we can still get all the great benefits of this most popular of e-book readers.

An Amazon tablet and a new Kindle 4 in one year, the choices we have to make!

New Kindle 4

Kindle 4 Reader

Until the Kindle 4 is released we can still buy the Kindle 3 and download all of our favorite books in less than a minute.

Amazon Kindle 4 Specs

Will it be a color Kindle or Kindle touchscreen

Although the new Amazon Kindle 4 specs are firmly under wraps there has already been a lot of speculation. Will it be in color or still just in shades of gray?

It seems unlikely that Amazon will not take advantage of the growing market for Magazine subscriptions that can be read on portable devices. So it does seem likely that the new Kindle 4 will be able to give us a great color display for reading Magazines and other publications that are better suited to a high quality color option.

Kindle 4 Release Date

Kindle 4 2011

When will the Kindle 4 be released?

We really do not yet have any way of knowing.

Hopefully there will be a color Kindle 4 late in 2011 but we will just have to wait and see. Until then we can still take advantage of the very low prices for the Kindle 3 and read all our favorite books and more on the best e-book reader available.

Amazon Tablet

2011-06-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

The Amazon tablet is due out around September time and there is no doubt that if we want to buy the New Amazon tablet 2011 when first released then we need to get on the pre-order list as soon as possible.

Leave your details HERE and you can be the very first to own what is going to be the best tablet on the market, yes, better than the iPad 2.

With the new Kindle 4 also out this year there sure is going to be a lot to choose from.

Amazon Tablet 2011

All rumors suggest that not only is the new Amazon tablet going to be released in 2011 but there are actually going to be 2 releases!

If all online rumors are to be believed then we are going to be getting both a 7 and 10 inch tablet, plenty to choose from.

The code names, Coyote and Hollywood, are currently being used and each tablet is different. The smaller version is going to be perfect for those that simply want a convenient Amazon tablet to do the usual things we do on such devices, email, audio, video etc. But the larger option is set to have great processing power for high quality video.

Amazon Tablet Features

With the larger Amazon tablet we should be able to get live streaming of HD video on demand if we get an Amazon Prime account. See HERE for details of this amazing service. It is already available for anyone who pays for a Prime account, so you can get more than 5,000 videos streamed live, and all for free.

This is going to be amazingly popular for those that buy the larger Amazon tablet, no more need to pay for Netflix, simply hook up the tablet to the TV.

If that is not enough then there are plenty of other reasons why the Amazon tablet may well be more popular than the iPad 2.

Amazon Tablet Apps

With so many FREE Amazon apps HERE once they have a tablet of their own there is no doubt that this feature is going to be greatly expanded. The Amazon app store has already been a huge success and there is no doubt that this has been developed as a pre-cursor to being able to offer their apps for use on their own, "in-house" device.

Take a look at what is currently on offer, almost reason enough to buy an Amazon tablet on its own, let alone being able to get thousands of free movies and tv shows as well, this is going to be great!

Amazon Tablet PC

The new Amazon tablet PC 2011 is certainly going to be amazingly popular. There is no doubt that it is going to give the iPad 2 a real run for its money. As discussed above the amazing features that are already on offer from Amazon such as free apps, free movies on demand and so much more, not to mention being able to transfer Kindle books to your Amazon tablet is going to make it a sure fire success.

The Amazon tablet for 2011 is going to also be more than affordable.

Amazon Tablet Release Date

Although nothing in this world is definite it does seem likely that by September we will have an Amazon tablet release. So don't forget to Leave your details HERE so that you can get on the pre-order list. Whenever Amazon have a new release such as this there is a major backlog of orders and those that have not booked a place will find that it will then be months before new stock arrives and is shipped. And with the Amazon tablet due to be a rival to the Kindle in terms of sales numbers it is going to be hard to get when first available.

Sony's E-Reader vs. Kindle: 5 Reasons Amazon Should Worry

2011-06-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

By Jared Newman, PCWorld Aug 26, 2009 7:59 AM

Sony has been all about the e-reader lately, announcing the Digital Reader Pocket Edition and Touch Edition earlier this month, then following up yesterday with the Digital Reader Daily Edition, a high-end product with a touch screen and 3G connectivity. It's clear that Sony's approach is anything but half-hearted, and I think the company is in prime position to knock Amazon's Kindle e-reader of its perch. Here are five reasons why:

More Choice:

Simply put, Sony will be selling three current-generation e-readers, and Amazon sells only two. More isn't necessarily better, but each reader offers a distinct improvement over the last, allowing buyers to save money by abandoning features they don't need.

Touch:

Old-schoolers lament how e-readers lack the tactile pleasure of a print book, but touch screens are as good a consolation as it gets. Two of Sony's readers, the Touch Edition and the Daily Edition, have this feature, while Amazon's Kindles are stuck with buttons. Who presses their way through a book, anyway?

It's Cheaper:

For $300, it's a toss-up between the Kindle's 3G connectivity and the Touch Edition's touch response, but Sony's clearly got the upper hand when you move up or down in price. The Pocket Edition seems more desirable for $200 than a first-generation Kindle, and at $400 Sony offers a 3G reader with a 7-inch touch screen. That's not as large as the 9.7-inch Kindle DX, but it's also $89 cheaper.

Open Format:

Sony has apparently learned from the ATRAC days that open file formats are more preferable than proprietary ones. By supporting the ePub format, Sony's essentially guaranteeing that your digital library will always have a home. Stick with Kindle's proprietary format, and you're forever a slave to Amazon's device.

Cool Features:

Remember libraries? If you buy a Sony e-reader, you won't have to give them up thanks to the company's partnership with OverDrive -- an e-book provider that works with a network of public libraries. Sony's Daily Edition reader is also connected to a Scribd site called "Words Move Me," where people can post and share their favorite book passages. If an e-reader's going to connect to the Internet, it might as well be social about it.

iPad Vs Kindle

2011-06-21T09:27:00.001-07:00

In our Kindle Vs. iPad battle, we pit the best features of each gadget against each other to determine a clear winner. Who are you placing your bets on?

Updated 9/15/2010

Only a year ago, Amazon’s Kindle unquestionably towered over its e-reading competitors with a sleek design, low price and always-on 3G access built right into the purchase price. Then along came Apple. Although the iPad differs in many ways from a dedicated e-reader, Apple’s marketing has depicted it as a suitable replacement for books. Can it do the job as well as the e-reading champ? We compared both in all the relevant categories to see which you should build your digital library atop.

Readability

Winner: Amazon Kindle

The foundation of all e-readers prior to the iPad started with e-ink and for good reason: Nothing comes closer to the smooth, comfortable look of paper. While the iPad’s IPS LCD screen technically boasts better contrast, the Kindle manages an excellent approximation of newsprint, you can read it easily even in direct sunlight, and the lack of a 60Hz refresh rate makes it easier on the eyes over many hours.

Graphics

Winner: Apple iPad

As a drawback to all the Kindle’s newspaper-like qualities, it’s also cursed with graphics capability that makes the print version of USA Today look like a technological triumph. The reader offers just 16 shades of grey in comparison to the iPad, which boasts full color, not to mention the ability to refresh up to 60 times per second for fluid video. For magazines and interactive features, the Kindle truly can’t compare.

Portability

Winner: Amazon Kindle

We would take either of these devices compared to a sagging backpack full of books and magazines, but the Kindle has the iPad beat by a mile when you start counting specs. Measuring only 0.34 inches thick and weighing 8.7 ounces, the Kindle makes the 0.5-inch thick, 1.5-pound (24-ounce) iPad look and feel like an anvil.

Battery Life

Winner: Amazon Kindle

Apple’s iPad actually offers impressive 10-hour battery life, which is more than most folks will even be able to read in a sitting before tossing it back on the charger, but the Kindle can go days and weeks without a charge. The company estimates the 3G version will last up to a month with the wireless off, and up to 10 days with wireless on. The Wi-Fi version? Three weeks.

Library

Winner: Apple iPad

You could pile numbers to the ceiling comparing Apple’s iTunes book library to Amazon’s Kindle library, but the simple fact is this: The Kindle can only access Amazon’s library, the iPad can access Apple’s iTunes store, the Amazon Kindle store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook library, and more, all through apps. In an unusual twist, Apple actually has the more platform here, and until that changes, iPad owners have access to more printed content than any other e-reader can deliver.

Price

Winner: Amazon Kindle

Like comparing a motorcycle and a muscle car, comparing the Kindle to the iPad is unfair for a couple of reasons, but for most folks, the most glaring will be price. The Kindle now runs for only $139 for a Wi-Fi-only version, and $189 for a version with lifetime 3G access for downloading books on the go. The cheapest Wi-Fi iPad runs for $499, and adding 3G spikes that number to $629, plus data charges of at least $15 monthly from AT&T. The total price disparity after using a Kindle and an iPad for two years? $800.

Overall Winner: Amazon Kindle

The Kindle was designed to do one thing and do it very well. And it does. When it comes to reading digitally, the Kindle owns the humble iPad, thanks in no part to a screen designed specifically for reading. Fair comparison? Not really, considering the iPad comes with a full Web browser, e-mail client, and can made to perform pretty much any other conceivable task with apps. Magazine lovers and those with a taste for obscure titles should also take note, since its color screen and access to three major media libraries give it a real reader’s edge of the Kindle, too. That said, anyone looking to trade in well-worn copies of Othello, Huck Finn and maybe even a fresh copy of Stephen Hawking’s The Grand Design for a digital device should reach for the Kindle, unless a super-sized iPhone sounds like it could be handy, too.

Want the best of both worlds? Then download the Amazon Kindle app for the Apple iPad. Yup, you can have your cake and eat it too! So where is the Barnes & Noble Nook in all of this? Well, we pitted the Amazon Kindle against the Nook, and well, the Nook just didn’t fair too well – so it’s out of the equation.

Kindle vs Nook

2011-06-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

It's the latest-generation Amazon Kindle versus the Barnes & Noble Nook Color. We weigh specs and reviews. What e-reader do you think reigns supreme?

So you want an e-reader, huh? Maybe you’ve decided to get back on the literary horse and start reading again, or maybe you’ve decided it’s just time to ditch trees and go digital. Either way, you’ve got a tough decision ahead of you. There may only be two big e-reader devices in the market, but they both offer some unique benefits. Do you care more for style and options, or are you just in it to read that novel you’ve been putting off? The newest Nook and Kindle are as different as they are similar. Some may say it’s not even fair to compare them, but if you’re looking for an e-reader, these are your two most prominent options. In the end, choosing an e-reader is more about personal taste than anything, but let’s give it a go.

Longform reading

If your goal is to read long novels and spend hours with your e-reader, the Kindle is probably the device for you. Unlike your laptop, smartphone, or almost any electronic device, the Kindle uses an E-Ink display, which isn’t pretty or in color, but it does look just like ink. The first time you see a Kindle, you may wonder if you’re just looking at a fake screen or a store display, but believe it or not, this is a digital display. Aside from its screen, the Kindle’s size, design, battery consumption, and entire interface is built to cater to those who love the act of reading text and are willing to sacrifice a bit of prettiness for the written word.

Winner: Kindle

Variety

With its backlit, color LCD touchscreen and app store, the Nook Color is the e-reader for those who love to read, but not 100 percent of the time. If you’re a Nook Color owner, you’re likely looking to buy a device that’s designed for reading or have a budget that prohibits a tablet purchase (sub $450), but you want a few bells and whistles anyway. The Nook Color has long-form books just like the Kindle, but it also has illustrated books, magazines, newspapers, and children’s books, all of which are in full color. You’ll need a Wi-Fi connection to download all of this, of course, but those who do can also check their email, play some popular Android games (the Nook runs on Android) like Angry Birds, browse the Web, and use “enhanced” e-books, which are e-book apps with more interactive elements than traditional books, which only let you turn the page.

Winner: Nook Color

Outdoor reading

The Kindle’s E-Ink screen is better than any LCD screen if you’re outdoors. Though the Nook Color has a good LCD screen with a fair amount of brightness, on a sunny day, you’ll be squinting to see your book.

Winner: Kindle

Reading in the dark

On the flipside, if you’re reading in bed, the Kindle’s reading light accessory is nice, but it can’t compare to a fully backlit LCD screen. If you do most of your reading in the dark, the Nook Color, or a tablet, may be more convenient.

Winner: Nook Color

Connectivity

The Nook Color only comes with Wi-Fi, and the cheapest Kindle is Wi-Fi only as well. However, those willing to spend but those who are willing to cough up an extra $50 can buy a Kindle with lifetime 3G included. Granted, the Kindle can’t do much with its 3G connection except download books from anywhere, but the freedom from the constraints of Wi-Fi is worth the cost to us. If Wi-Fi is your connection method of choice, this category is meaningless to you. In a world where carriers are charging $30 a month to connect a device to 3G, it’s very cool that the Kindle still has this feature.

In addition, the Kindle offers e-book lending, allowing you to borrow and lend books to friends. Integration with many libraries means you can actually visit a library and borrow books for free. Barnes & Noble counters this offer by letting Nook Color users download and read any book for free for up to one hour per day, as long as they’re in a B&N store.

Finally, both the Nook and Kindle service allow you to read your book purchases on more than just your Nook Color or Kindle. Each have smartphone apps, tablet apps, as well as Web readers for the PC so you can read your books anywhere. Your books, and the page you’re on, are stored in the cloud and accessible from anywhere.

Winner: Kindle

Library

Barnes & Noble claims that the Nook has the most books, with more than 2 million to choose from, with 1 million of those being free, but Amazon claims about as many, with 1.2 million free books and 900,000+ books for purchase. They both have a great library. Our recommendation: try them out (Nook store/Kindle Store) and see which one has the books you want to read most.

Winner: Tie

Portability

The Kindle has a 6-inch screen and the Nook Color has a 7-inch screen. Overall, the Kindle measures 7.5 x 4.8 x 0.335 (height by width by depth, in inches) and the Nook Color is 8.1 x 5.0 x .48. So the Nook color is a bit taller, wider, and thicker, but the difference is hardly noticeable when you use them. If you have a hard time storing one of these devices in your purse or backpack (you shouldn’t), you’ll likely have trouble with the other as well.

Winner: Tie

Price

The Nook Color costs $249. The Kindle, however, has a variety of price points. If you’re buying on the cheap, you can opt for an ad-supported “Kindle with Special Offers,” which costs only $114, but forces you to look at sponsored screensavers and ads that display when you’re not reading. They aren’t too obtrusive, but a Wi-Fi Kindle without the offers costs only $139. If you want a unit with always-on 3G connection so you can download a book anytime, anywhere (except a bunker or the subway), the Kindle 3G is $189. Finally, the Kindle DX, which has 3G and a 9.7-inch screen (same as the iPad) is available for $379.

Winner: Kindle

Battery Life

What the Nook Color gains in, well, color, it loses in battery efficiency. One of the best attributes of the Kindle’s E-Ink display is how little power it draws. If you don’t have your wireless on, a single charge could last up to a full month on the Kindle. The Nook Color, meanwhile, has a solid 8 hours of battery life, which is great for an LCD device running Android, but it’s a device you will need to charge each day. Think of it this way: if the world ended tomorrow, you’d have a month to read your Kindle and about 8 hours to read your Nook Color. Luckily, we don’t think the world is ending anytime soon –though some books may lead you to believe otherwise.

Winner: Kindle

Conclusion

There is no absolute winner here. Whichever categories mean more to you will sway your decision. The Kindle is definitely more adept at text reading, but the Nook Color is the most flexible e-reading device on the market, allowing you the option to read a wider variety of book types, and giving you a few extras like email, Web browsing, and some apps to boot. Do your research, too. If there’s a category we didn’t touch that you care more about, ask. At less than $250, both are great deals for those who can’t afford a full tablet, or don’t want one. However, if reading books isn’t as big a deal to you, but you need a big touchscreen device, perhaps you should consider other options like the iPad 2 or Acer Iconia Tab.

点燃你的阅读热情——Kindle

2011-06-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

Kindle有几个功能特别吸引我：

1. 可以在太阳底下读书，没有眩光，待机时间长：

以前一直使用iPodTouch的Stanza看电子书，虽然更好携带，可以装在牛仔裤口袋里，图书资源也算多，但是阳光下的眩光令我不悦，偶尔读长篇的时候，Touch的电量也无法满足需求。而Kindle可以给我更舒适和长久的阅读体验。Kindle的广告所炫耀的也就是这一点。

Read in Bright Sunlight – No glare

2. Kindle3的Push功能和3G网络：

发送文件到@free.kindle.com，Amazon会在1min内将内容Push到Kindle3的个人文档库。通过这个功能，可以随时把正在浏览的网页Push到Kindle3上，或者通过Calibre抓取新闻Push到Kindle3上。推荐Calibre和Chrome插件SEND TO KINDLE，当然也可使用instapaper，只是通过instapaper推送的中文网页偶尔会出现乱码情况。

Kindle3的3G版本，在美国用的是AT&T网络，在其他国家用的是当地的3G网络，即AT&T漫游网络(国内是AT&T租用联通的CDMA)。于它而言，没有墙的概念。所谓眼界决定境界，这个优势，不言而喻。另外，Kindle可以保存下你读书时所有Highlight的内容或者通过Twitter分享书摘。

Free 3G Wireless

3.除了阅读，什么功能都没有：

假若没有这个看起来是缺点的优点，那么无论Kindle上网如何方便，下书如何迅速，待机时间多长，都不足以如此诱惑我。

ipad-vs-kindle-vs-rock

这个时代可以用来娱乐的东西太多了，每一时刻我们都在想尽办法表达自己的存在感，一个个都是刷新强迫症，数不清的电影和游戏重新定义曾经让我们浮想联翩的故事，若能随时静下来专心阅读一本书，沉浸在柴郡猫、多萝西或者刀光剑影的世界中，是多么美好的事。

就像Kindle3广告——【女孩的梦想】那样，读书，幻想，和漂亮的衣服一样，多姿多彩。
女孩的梦想

如果读到一本精彩的小说，什么重力感应，什么多点触摸，什么视频游戏，都只是浮云。一切脱离阅读本身所附加的酷炫的娱乐功能最终效果必定是分散你阅读的注意力，不仅不会增加你的阅读体验，反而，我倒是相信，“一切文化内容都心甘情愿地成为娱乐的附庸，而且毫无怨言，甚至无声无息，其结果是我们成了一个娱乐至死的物种”。

【购买】

关于购买和注册激活的攻略就不多说了，总之在官网上买加运费加关税和在中关村买价格差不了太多，而如果选择了Kindle3，就没有必要选择便宜一两百却不能注册的版本，不能注册的Kindle3就没有上文提到的功能2，倒不如直接买台国产的机子(当然也可以假注册，但是真折腾)。

小提示，Kindle3分为黑白两色，只有3G的才有白色版本。

amazon_kindle_p03
Kindle3包装盒上并没有直观的wifi/wifi+3G的信息，可以通过序列号来判断：
k3g = K3 3G US (序列号开头是B006)
K3w = WiFi (序列号开头是B008)
k3gb = K3 3G UK (序列号开头是B00A)
建议注册时管理地址为米国，完整注册流程可点我看看。

【格式】

Kindle3可支持Kindle(.azw)、文本(.txt)、Mobi(.mobi*、prc*)、PDF等格式。
*有数字版权保护(DRM)的不能读。

由于编码种类原因，Kindle3对中文的文本（.txt）支持欠佳，同时Kindle3目录中也经常会将中文标题显示为方格儿们。
解决方式为：
设置系统中文环境，在Home下面按任意键呼出搜索栏（search my items）输入以下命令：

；debugOn 回车
~changelocale zh-CN.utf8 回车
；debugOff 回车

注意大小写，输完命令之后， Home > Menu > Settings > Menu > Restart, 重启即可。
命令的解释就是：第一句启用调试模式，第二句修改区域为中国，内编码为utf8，第三句就是关闭调试模式。如果不关闭调试模式，系统会反应速度很慢。

文本文件（.txt）、Word文档（.doc）、PDF、HTML均可通过小于5M的附件发送至注册时获得的@free.kindle.com邮箱，但是发送邮箱的地址必须已添加至Amazon”Your Kindle Approved E-mail List“中。然后从注册邮箱中下载转换好的文件通过USB传到Kindle3或者直接打开wifi，或通过无线方式在一分钟内将文件发到Kindle3上。而转换后的Word文档是.azw格式的，多看系统并不支持。
其他格式可参见让你的kindle能读.pdf,.doc,.xls,.chm,.lit电子书

【多看】

多看http://www.duokan.com/forum/
多看的几个优势：
1. 可以设置局刷和瞬刷，也就是说不会出现Kindle3翻页时的短暂的黑屏现象。
2. 可以支持CHM和epub，以及直接读取Zip中的Text等。
3. 可以对纯文字的PDF智能排版。
4. 书摘时可直接输入中文。
5. 支持中文TTS。
同样的也有缺点：
1. 不支持Kindle的.azw格式。
2. 不支持Kindle的3G网络。
3. 不能同步保存摘要和书签。
4. 不稳定，有风险。

而我认为，如果不是过于要求翻页效果，Kindle3的原生系统就足够了。在原生系统下，选择横屏看PDF体验并不差，并且Calibre可以很方便的把epub格式转换成mobi格式。

【上网】

Kindle 3G 兼容HSPDA/UMTS/EGDE/GPRS数据网络。USIM卡隶属美国AT&T网络，可全球漫游（包括中国）。在中国地区使用的是中国联通3G网络，客户无需支付任何费用。一般情况下，在北京地面上，3G信号都算好，Kindle3G下载速度大概为200~400kbps，但是网页载入速度很慢。另外，在我使用的过程中，3G信号一到地铁里，就变成了GPRS，那时基本上很难打开网页。而Kindle内置的浏览器也只支持单窗口，像新浪这样多窗口的是无法浏览的，这时就愈发觉得豆瓣的设计真是简单快捷。经测试通过3G网络不间断下载数据，使用时间大概在8个小时。而由于之前提到的Kindle对东方字库的局限，很多网页打开也是乱码，可以通过上文修改Locale的方法改进。

1. Twitter，Facebook，wiki
T和F绑定后可以分享自己的书摘，但是只是发布链接到Amazon同步书摘的短网址。
非常喜欢wiki，可以在读书时随时查阅。
2. QQ，飞信，Gtalk, 新浪微博，Google ReaderKindle的浏览器基于wbkit核心，和Chrome/搜狗浏览器是一个核心的。也能看Google Reader，用GTALK可以利用KINDLE的3G聊天。
首先，浏览器要打开JAVASCRIPT, 然输入M.GOOGLE.COM，不过，浏览器的设置一定是要JAVA SCRIPT OPEN的。

同理，也可以登录WebQQ http://web2.qq.com 和飞信 http://webim.feixin.10086.cn/。其中WebQQ右下角有云输入法的图标，可以直接输入中文。

Kindle 微博客户端，http://mckindle.sinaapp.com/ 但是貌似评论和回复功能有Bug。优点是内置云输入法，方便发布微博。

Google Reader，https://www.google.com/reader/
a.) 快捷键操作 http://bbs.mydoo.cn/thread-8740-1-1.html/
b.) 也可使用这个网站阅读GR https://nowsci.com/reader/kindle3/login.php
c.) 我的GR Shared https://www.google.com/reader/shared/lazy.chao
3.其他Kindle网络应用服务http://webonyourcell.com/
http://www.haygo.com/
http://kindle.feelingme.cn/

【输入】

Kindle使用快捷键 http://www.tinghai.org/ziyuanfenxiang/202/
页面上输入中文调用Google来进行搜索 http://crazy4l.webs.com/S.htm

“另外，传说中在Kindle浏览器调用书签中收藏的http://pinyin.sogou.com/cloud网页可实现搜狗云输入法的方法经测试是不可行的。”

【软件】

Kindle Collection Manager 分类管理【下载地址】：
http://cid-5ef49e197af0f32c.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.Public
Calibre 电子书管理软件【下载地址】：
http://calibre-ebook.com/download
Kindle for PC Amazon官方软件【下载地址】：
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311
Kindle for iPhone Amazon官方软件【下载地址】：
http://itunes.apple.com/app/kindle/id302584613?mt=8
Softwares

其他如Mobi Reader 、ePub格式转换软件，一些浏览器插件以及Kindle的其他官方软件可自行下载，上面提供的已经可以覆盖平日阅读的需求。

【越狱】

原生系统下修改字体，更改页边距，增加屏保，甚至把kindle 3用作Modem共享3G上网。如果没有字体强迫症……我看就别折腾了。
可参考：
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88004
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kindle_HowTo:_Change_Margin
http://www.wincold.com/archives/116.html

【附件】

皮套
亲眼目睹过一个屏幕破碎的Kindle，实在惨烈啊。建议购买一个皮套保护它，而且即使有了皮套也不要看完书后就随手放在枕头下！否则，绝对是梦破碎的感觉。
国产皮套很便宜，二十就可以拿下，当然做工粗糙，而且使Kindle很厚，小手拿着挺累的。不差钱当然买原装皮套了，Kindle左侧可以和原装带灯皮套两个金属小钩相接。Kindle可以点亮皮套上的小灯，看起来非常温馨，但是偶尔会导致短路死机。

硅胶套
硅胶套会薄很多，但是会覆盖左右的翻页键，看书快的时候觉得翻页按键非常不爽。另外硅胶套也很难起到保护屏幕的作用。

灯
淘宝上的国产灯我看就别买了，都挺劣质的，电池也不是太耐用。原装的小灯也太贵了，完全没有必要。我一直使用均匀发光的平板书灯，放在纸质书上看书的效果非常好，一点也不刺眼，在Kindle上试了试效果也很好。类似这种

1251VOVItBqrL._SS400_
“阅之星平板阅读灯”，卓越亚马逊上有。

贴膜
我觉得对于一些吃饭时看书的同学，一定要贴膜，否则一定会溅到屏幕上的，相信我。而且甚至有人为了保护这块屏幕在Kindle上装了块有机玻璃……当然怎么保护都不过分，但是如果贴了块玻璃变得又厚有重降低阅读冲动我就觉得没有必要了。就仿佛女人为了性感穿特别复杂的内衣一样，达到了”感”但是不好实现”性”。

我只给Kindle贴了个膜，平时不带硅胶套也不装皮套，直接拿在手上非常舒服。

【资源】
八元代购Amazon书店中的图书 http://enbook.taobao.com/
订阅书 http://dingyueshu.com/
Gutenberg【版权过期图书】 http://m.gutenberg.org
书仓 http://www.shucang.com
掌上书苑【需要书币】 http://www.cnepub.com/
苦瓜书盘【六寸PDF】 http://kgbook.com/
七彩英语【英文PDF】 http://www.qcenglish.com
dogear【杂志订阅】 http://dogear.mobi
Feedbooks【也可制作杂志】 http://www.feedbooks.com/
豆瓣【豆瓣直接下载图书的方法】 http://book.douban.com/
中文精排mobi/prc共享计划 http://dl.dbank.com/c0sicsy5on#
子午书简 http://book.zi5.me/
三千本英文Mobi http://www.douban.com/group/topic/18447809/
皮皮书屋[专业相关注册需懂编程] http://www.ppurl.com/login/
免费资源指南 http://www.douban.com/group/topic/4693358/

如果在店里买Kindle，店家一般都会送几张资源盘，有大量的书和字典。我不知道有多少人买Kindle3 wifi+3G是为了进草榴社区的，但是店家给我的三张盘里有一张全部都是现代色情小说，给寝室其他女生念了一下标题，都觉得很无语，让我很是尴尬。根据Kindle屏保图片的显示效果，我觉得去草榴看色情图片还不如直接看文艺复兴时的壁画。奉劝广大男同学，不如专心读书，要知道，Smart is a new sexy!

【其他】

Kindle的网络同步功能很强大，甚至可以找回购买后删除的书。
Kindle的text-to-speech还算好用，读出来的英语能听出点调调，不算生硬。但是不支持中文。比如我用TTS背GRE单词的时候，有些书可以很有节奏的读出单词，有些书就会跳过中间的中文解释，把所有的单词一长串的读出来……多看倒是可以支持中文朗读。
Kindle不需要关机，待机时候几乎不耗电，短滑一下电源键，就会进入待机状态。关机和重置的方法点我。
将图片打成ZIP压缩包，直接放到documents文件夹下，Kindle3会识别为一本书籍，可以直接打开看。按下alt + shift + G，即可截取当前的屏幕。
原装的字典已经足够好了，mobi格式的字典放入/document目录中即可自动识别。安装字典可以看这里。

【结束语】

Kindle3 wifi+3G 的确可以使阅读成为一种享受，但是无论它有多么方便实用，最重要的还是使用它阅读。不能下载了无数的书，装了无数本字典，最终成为了资料整合症患者，一点儿也没有专心致志读书。与其那样，倒不如淘本旧书，花几天时间读读来的实在。

分享下Kindle的屏幕保护图片，看看你都认识几个，读过他们的哪些书。

Kindle Screensavers

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“坠落之光”登陆香港

2011-06-18T14:22:00.001-07:00

▀ “坠落之光”登陆香港

从

21世纪最初几年在伦敦皇家艺术学院(Royal College of Art)学习的日子开始，三人行设计工作室这个团队走过了很长一段路程。这个工作室由设计师康妮•弗赖尔(Conny Freyer)、伊娃•鲁奇(Eva Rucki)和赛巴斯提安•诺埃尔(Sebastien Noel)组成，其作品曾在2010年上海世博会(Shanghai World Expo 2010) 、伦敦的维多利亚和阿尔伯特博物馆(Victoria and Albert Museum)以及芝加哥艺术学院(Art Institute of Chicago)展出。他们以水晶打造而成的装置艺术品“坠落之光”(Falling Light)在迈阿密首次登场，现在又来到香港展出。

新技术背后令人恐惧的真相

2011-06-18T13:29:00.001-07:00

▀ 新技术背后令人恐惧的真相

Amazon Kindle 4

2011-01-21T13:06:00.000-08:00

Amazon Kindle 4

By Juan Bell

We do not yet have a firm idea about when the Amazon Kindle 4 reader will be ready. Before the 3rd generation reader was released, it was able to be pre-ordered. It will likely be the same with the next version of this device. But both current Kindle users and people who do not yet own an electronic reading device have a host of questions regarding this newer model. For example:

Will it have a color screen?
If it does, will this mean a move away from electronic paper in favor of an LCD display?
Will it offer touch functionality similar to the iPad?
How much will it cost?
When will it be ready?

Some of these questions are a bit easier to answer than other. For some, we simply have to wait for an announcement from Amazon. However, we can certainly take an educated guess at most of them simply from the information that is already available online. For example, by looking at media reports and going direct to the websites of companies involved in the innovation of technology that the Kindle uses, we can glean a lot of useful information.
Firstly, there is every chance that we shall be reading using a color Kindle 4 in the not so distant future. This is more than just a dream. The fact of the matter is that a color electronic display is already a reality. At the moment, it is a company called E Ink who make the screens for the Kindle 3. The version that is used for this model is called Pearl. Their newer version which can display more than 4,000 different colors is called Triton. Since Amazon already have a relationship with this company and are comfortable using their inventions, it is a logical step that they will move to use the most up to date electronic paper display technology.
Whether or not a color screen will add a great deal to the user experience is debatable. That said, it will be a major marketing device to be able to compare the Kindle reader, at its lower cost, to the flashier iPad tablet devices. The fact of the matter is that the Kindle and the iPad are only really in competition with each other to the extent that they are both hand held electronic gadgets. But the thing is, they are really designed to do different tasks. The Kindle has one primary function, to allow its users to read electronic books. The iPad on the other hand offers a wider range of capabilities but does not have one specific function. The Kindle is more functional while the iPad is cooler. Bringing out a Kindle with a color screen might not add too much functionality but it certainly gives this gadget an improved coolness factor.
As you will have gathered from the preceding paragraphs, a color screen does not necessitate an LCD display. There is no doubt that LCD screens can operate at higher resolutions. After all, this is the type of screens that computers use. But electronic paper displays offer some advantages of their own. These include a far superior battery life when compared to devices like laptops, mobile phones and the iPad. The current version of the Kindle reader can go for one month between battery charges. Secondly, reading with the Amazon Kindle really is just the same as reading a book, as far as your eyes are concerned. I have yet to get a headache or feel the effects of eye strain from using my Kindle. They are definitely more relaxing to use than looking at a computer screen for a long time.
Another cool feature that the iPad offers is its touch ability. The 3rd generation Kindle makes use of a small QWERTY keyboard that sits at the bottom of the device. However, whether the Kindle 4 will still have a keyboard or not is still unknown. Developments in this area include Amazon's purchase of a company called TouchCo in 2010. This firm was developing touch functionality for electronic paper displays. Indeed, at the time of their purchase, it they had already invented working prototypes. Therefore, making another assumption, it may well be the case that this technology is now fully operational. We do not know for sure whether Amazon will choose to include this in their Kindle 4 reader but as long as they have it working correctly, it would be surprising if they did not make use of this innovation.
So it may well be the case that Amazon will be able to steal some of the thunder of the iPad device. As far as the marketing of their next hand held reader is concerned, having both a color screen and touch functionality would be of major value. The question is whether these features will add much, if anything, to the price of the device itself.
At the moment there are three different models of Kindle. Two 6" versions (Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G) as well as the larger DX device. We could say that the 6" Kindles are the standard type while the DX is a luxury version. The cost of the Kindle DX is about twice the price of the cheapest model and double the price of the one with 3G. Will Amazon be able to sell a color and touch version of their product for less than $150? A massive part of the appeal of the Kindle reader is its affordability. It would be a shame if the price had to rise to over $200, for instance. This would certainly limit some people's ability to be able to purchase the hand set.
As I mentioned at the start of this article, we do not know exactly when the Kindle 4 will be released. There has been no announcement from Amazon other than to say that it is still a long way off. To date, there have been three versions of the Kindle so far. The first one came on sale in November 2007. That was just over three years ago. So if they stick to a similar sort of time scale it may be possible to purchase a Kindle 4 before the end of 2011. Bringing out the next version would ensure record breaking sales in the run up to Christmas. But potentially more important to Amazon than short term profit is ensuring that the Kindle 4 electronic reader is the best device of its type. Therefore rather than working to a sales timetable, it seems likely that they will only bring out the next incarnation of their bestselling handset when the device is good and ready. This might not be until 2012.

You can read more about the Amazon Kindle 4 and take a look at what it might possibly look like. This link will let you find out more about the Amazon electronic reader products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Juan_Bell

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5751081

2007-10-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

A different kind of L.A. Story
Robert Altman has never shied away from casting every actor known to mankind in his films, and this is certainly true with his 1993 film "Short Cuts", a film set in Los Angeles over the course of a couple of days. In terms of primary actors, ones that had a substantial enough part to merit a supporting tag, I count at least 22; but more impressive than the sheer number of the cast is the fact that the film does not suffer from character overload, nor do their intertwining stories (and they are all separated by no more than one or two degrees).

I started this review by going through each character and the story each brings to the table, but after about three paragraphs worth of explanation, it is clear that it is not only a bad idea, but probably counterproductive to the review itself. "Short Cuts" is simply about human relationships, all of which seem to be completely unhealthy. The beauty of Altman's script and direction is that this isn't imminently apparent in all cases. Something as subtle as a sigh and a minor roll of the eyes speaks volumes in a film this well done. The acting in the film is, to be expected, great in most cases. Andie MacDowell, though not quite as insipid as usual, is still pretty bad, but gems like Lyle Lovett, Peter Gallagher, Tom Waits (who I am really biased toward) and a fairly fresh and new Julianne Moore more than make up for any minor acting mishaps.

There are not many films that are so involved that I simply throw up my hands at the prospect of doing my standard summary review for them, but "Short Cuts" is one of them. The script is compelling enough to easily sit through all 187 minutes of the film, the ending doesn't disappoint, and the film contains a cool jazz score. If you're a fan of ensemble films, this should be on your list. If you're an Altman fan, this should be on your short list because I consider it to be one of his best.