It turns out that it’s possible to get the Kindle DX, both generations, and the Kindle 2 to successfully run the Kindle 3′s software, and smoothly too.

This comes with several benefits because the Kindle 3′s software is superior to its siblings’ in many ways. The web browser is a lot more advanced, PDF support is much better and adds several new features, there are more font options, and other enhancements.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, How To | Tags: kindle 2, kindle 3, kindle dx | 3 Comments »

Today Woot is offering a refurbished 2nd generation Kindle for $89.99 plus $5 for shipping. It comes with free 3G global wireless and a 1 year warranty from Amazon.

The Kindle 2 features a 6″ E Ink Vizplex display. It comes with 2GB of internal memory—enough for about 1500 ebooks—and the battery will last about 2 weeks on a single charge. It supports AZW, PDF, unencrypted MOBI and PRC ebook formats, and other formats through conversion.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Sales and Discounts | Tags: kindle 2 | No Comments »

With the introduction of the new Nook Wi-Fi and subsequent price-drops of the Nook 3G and Kindle 2, choosing the best device of the three can be a difficult decision.

So which one is the best ereader to choose?

Well, the good news is that you really can’t go wrong with any of them at these new price points, and choosing one just depends on a few different factors that you’ll need to consider. This article compares the $189 Kindle 2 International versus the $199 Nook 3G and $149 Nook Wi-Fi, so you can easily weigh the pros and cons of each to find out which one is best suited for your specific reading needs and wants.

The Pros and Cons are directly comparing Nook vs Kindle, meaning the pros for the Nook are features that the Kindle doesn’t have and vice versa. In considering the Nook Wi-Fi, it has all the same exact features as the original Nook, just without the 3G wireless.

Nook Pros

Barnes & Noble Nook

• Supports Adobe EPUB and PDF DRM, meaning ebooks can be purchased from many websites other than B&N.
• Compatible with Overdrive.com for free ebooks through local libraries. How to »
• Free 3G wireless connection to B&N’s online ebook store ($199 model).
• Color LCD touchscreen pane for navigation, typing, etc.
• Wi-Fi, plus free Wi-Fi at B&N stores and AT&T hotspots.
• Web browser using Wi-Fi.
• Adjustable font type.
• Micro SD card slot.
• In store ebook promotions for free ebooks.
• User replaceable battery.
• Lend a purchased ebook one time for 14 days (if approved by publisher).
• Android operating system is hackable.

Nook Cons

• Not available internationally.
• Limited ebook organization options, no customizable folders.
• Notes, highlighting not very functional.
• Subtracting the free ebooks, B&N has 151,743.
• No text-to-speech.
• Poor PDF support.
• Battery life is less because of color screen and Wi-Fi.
• Heavier.
• No landscape mode.

Kindle 2 Pros

Amazon Kindle 2

• Basic web browser with free internet using free 3G.
• Over 615,000 total ebooks available in the Kindle ebook store.
• Now supports collections (folders) for organizing ebooks.
• Almost 200 newspaper and magazine subscriptions available, compared to B&N’s 33.
• Available to over 170 countries.
• Free wireless in over 100 countries.
• Several exclusive free ebooks added monthly.
• 30-day return policy vs Nook’s 14.
• Text-to-speech (if approved by publisher).
• Compatible with audiobooks from Audible.com.
• Keyboard more functional for typing and adding notes.

Kindle 2 Cons

• Amazon’s proprietary ebook DRM.
• Doesn’t support EPUB without conversion.
• Not compatible with ebooks from libraries.
• No memory card slots.
• The Kindle Store has limited search options.
• Less appealing aesthetically.
• Doesn’t have Wi-Fi.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Nook | Tags: kindle 2, kindle vs nook, nook wifi | 2 Comments »

This is absolutely classic. Barnes and Noble officially announced the release of their new WiFi-only Nook today for $149, and at the same time dropped the price of the 3G Nook down to $199.

If you do a news search for the term ebook reader or ereader, you get pages and pages all about the new WiFi Nook and lower Nook prices. The buzz is all over the web because, up until yesterday when Engadget first leaked the story, Barnes and Noble did a great job of keeping the actual release of the new Nook quite. So good in fact that they even managed to announce this before Amazon could preempt the new Nook’s release with an announcement of their own, as they are famous for doing.

So how does Amazon respond to this? Less than six hours after B&N issued a press release announcing their new plans, Amazon goes and drops the price of the Kindle 2 from $259 to just $189, beating the 3G Nook by $10.

The Kindle 2 originally retailed for $369 when it was first released back in February of 2009. Then they dropped the price to $299 around Summer. And then right about the time the Barnes and Noble Nook was first introduced in Fall of last year, Amazon dropped the price to $259, and announced the release of the Kindle International.

A Kindle at $189, with free 2-day shipping no less, is another huge step forward for the advancement and proliferation of ebook readers.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, News | Tags: amazon, kindle 189, kindle 2 | 1 Comment »

Better late than never, Amazon has officially released an updated version of firmware for the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX. The update downloads automatically to the device if you own one, or you can visit Amazon’s Kindle software page for instructions on how to manually update.

The most anticipated new feature is folders, or “collections” as Amazon calls them. With collections you can organize your ebooks, PDFs, audiobooks, and other media from the Home screen to any collection you create, and you can even have the same files in different collections. For sorting within a collection the options are Most Recent, Title, and Author. And deleting ebooks from a selection does not delete it from the device.

Additionally, collections are stored in Amazon’s cloud so that whenever you create a new collection on a device, it appears in “Archived Items” on other devices registered to same account—then the files can be transferred from there.

Amazon’s description of the new features included in the 2.5 firmware update:

• Collections: Organize your books and documents into one or more collections.
• PDF Pan and Zoom: Zoom into PDFs and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics.
• Password Protection: Password protect your Kindle when you’re not using it.
• More Font Sizes & Improved Clarity: Enjoy two new larger font sizes and sharper fonts for an even more comfortable reading experience.
• Facebook & Twitter Posts: Share meaningful book passages with friends on Facebook and Twitter directly from your Kindle.
• Popular Highlights: See what the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you’re reading.

Visit our Kindle Review page for more information on the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, News | Tags: firmware update, kindle 2, kindle dx | No Comments »

The title says it all. Target issued a press release today confirming their plans for Kindle Nationwide.

Getting Kindles in stores where people can see and touch them is going to help sales and presence with all the other ereaders coming to stores of late. It was something Amazon had to do sooner or later.

The obvious downside with buying a Kindle at Target is the extra sales tax versus buying online from Amazon, roughly $15-$25 for the Kindle 2 and $30-$45 for the Kindle DX, depending on your local percentage, of course.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, News | Tags: kindle 2, target | No Comments »