Here’s an in-depth review of how the new Graphite Kindle DX handles various types of PDF files, including single and double column layouts, regular text documents, complex graphical PDFs, and some comics and graphic novels too.

There are several super-huge high-definition pictures, a video review, and a bunch of other details.

I’ll also be posting a general review of the Kindle DX in the coming days, along with an article about how to convert formats for the Kindle DX, and how subscription newspapers and magazines compare to Calibre’s free news fetch feature, and some other Kindle related articles too. So make sure to check back for those or subscribe to our RSS feed.

Feel free to leave any questions or comments below.

Click here for the Kindle DX PDF Review »

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Reviews | Tags: kindle dx | 2 Comments »

The new Graphite Kindle DX arrived today. And it’s the first ebook reader to feature the new screen technology from E Ink, the leading supplier of epaper screens for most current ereaders.

Update: Several more pictures and a video review have been added to our new Kindle DX PDF review page.

First thing, I’m not a professional photographer—hardly an amateur one—so the pictures don’t do the new Pearl screen and Kindle DX any justice.

I tried doing some comparison photos with a regular Vizplex screen, but they just don’t come out displaying the difference in appearance accurately. I’ll try using a different camera for the main Kindle DX 2 review that I’ll be posting within a week, along with a video review.

The main thing that jumps out about the new Kindle DX and Pearl screen is that the text appears much darker, bolder. Blacks are blacker, and images are more rich and defined—Jules Verne’s jacket, for instance.

The screen background isn’t necessarily a whole lot whiter than the original E Ink screens—they’d probably be too bright in direct sunlight being any whiter—but the difference is definitely noticeable, and especially in lower lighting environments.

The claim that the new Pearl displays have 50% increased contrast over current displays seems a bit much. It’s an improvement for sure, but it isn’t any reason to trade in your old Kindle unless bolder fonts and better contrast are really, really important to you.

If you took someone off the street that didn’t know anything about ebook readers and showed them the Nook, then took it away and showed them the new Kindle DX, the contrast probably wouldn’t be one of the first things they’d notice.

It’s when a Pearl screen and Vizplex screen are side-by-side that you can tell the most difference. And there’s little doubt that all the companies will start using the new Pearl displays in favor of the old ones. It probably won’t be long before Sony and B&N start using them.

Aside from the screen, the graphite Kindle DX has all the same features and functions as the 1st generation model, with some subtle upgrades to speed and performance, and of course the black color instead of white.

I’ll be posting a full review soon. Subscribe to The eBook Reader Blog’s RSS Feed to receive notification when the finished Kindle DX review goes live.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Reviews | Tags: amazon, e ink, kindle dx, pearl | 7 Comments »

E Ink Corporation, the company that supplies the epaper screens used in the majority of dedicated ebook readers, issued a press release today announcing their new display technology called Pearl.

This coincides with Amazon’s release of the new graphite Kindle DX, which will be the first ereader on the market to feature this new display technology that increases contrast ratio by 50% compared to current E Ink screens.

The new Pearl screens have the whitest reflective displays in the industry, according to the press release, and improved energy efficiency. E Ink claims that Pearl raises the bar for displays used in digital reading, that it allows for dedicated ebook readers to go from a contrast ratio typical of newspapers, to a higher contrast ratio typical of paperback books.

E Ink has the specifications of the new High Resolution Active Matrix Displays made with E Ink Pearl Imaging Film up on their website. They have them in all the typical sizes already used by ebook readers: 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.7-inch displays.

The contrast ratio of the Pearl displays is listed at 10:1 (min), up from 6:1 for the Vizplex displays. The gray scale remains at 16 levels, with a viewing angle of nearly 180 degrees, and the “White State Reflectivity” is 40%.

The Kindle DX may be the first to implement the new Pearl screens from E Ink, but all the other companies will likely follow suit with their next generation devices. It isn’t color. But it is a step forward.

Filed under: News, Technology | Tags: e ink, kindle dx, pearl | 2 Comments »

Amazon has really started taking it up a notch ever since Barnes and Noble released their new Wi-Fi only Nook last week. Just about everyday since then Amazon has issued a press release with another announcement regarding Kindle or Kindle ebooks in some regard.

This time Amazon has announced a new Kindle DX that sells for $379, $110 less than the original. It has a black casing (they call it graphite) instead of white and 50% better contrast than the previous Kindle DX.

The new Kindle DX is available for pre-order from Amazon.com and will officially be released on July 7th.

Other than the new color and improved screen contrast, all the specs for the new DX appear to be the same as the old, and it still comes with free 3G wireless that works in over 100 countries (check coverage map).

The press release doesn’t specify what the exact difference is with the new screens, all it says is: “The new, graphite Kindle DX uses Amazon’s all new electronic ink display with 50 percent improved contrast for the clearest text and the sharpest images.”

So does this mean that we’ll be seeing a new graphite Kindle 2 with improved contrast soon? Maybe. But probably not. Why would Amazon re-release the Kindle DX with new and improved contrast but not the Kindle 2? The only thing that makes sense is that Amazon has a replacement for the Kindle 2 on the way.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, New eBook Readers, News | Tags: kindle dx | 5 Comments »

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 »