It’s true. The Kindle Wi-Fi and Kindle 3G with Special Offers both top Amazon’s best sellers list, with the 3G version currently outpacing the Wi-Fi model.

Amazon first introduced the Kindle Wi-Fi with Special Offers back on April 11th, 2011. Then started selling the 3G Kindle with Special Offers on May 24. These ad-supported Kindles are essentially the exact same as the regular Kindle, but have a small advertisement at the bottom of the homescreen and on the screensavers when the device is asleep. Some are ads and some are special offers like coupon deals for items and gift cards at Amazon.

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According to Amazon’s electronics bestseller list, the new ad-supported $114 Kindle is a big hit, ranking #1 overall, placing it above the Kindle WiFi at #2 and the Kindle 3G at #3. The Kindle DX is #11 on the list.

It is surprising that Amazon’s new ad-supported Kindle ranks at the top of the list for a number of reasons, the most obvious is the fact that it is only sold in the United States whereas the other Kindles are sold to 170+ countries worldwide.

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Now that Amazon has introduced the Kindle with Special Offers for $114, it’s a good time to review all the pros and cons of the new Kindle to see if it is worth buying.

Aside from the $25 difference in price, the only thing that differentiates the Kindle with Special Offers and the normal Kindle WiFi are the advertisements and special offers that run on the Kindle’s screensavers and at the bottom of the homescreen. Other than that the two models share the exact same features and functions.

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Utilizing an interesting new marketing strategy for US customers, Amazon is now selling a new Kindle 3 WiFi with Special Offers for $114, $25 less than the regular WiFi model.

The only difference is the new Kindle displays sponsored screensavers and special offers, along with an advertisement at the bottom of the Kindle’s homescreen—not while reading or anywhere else.

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All Kindle devices support audiobooks from Audible.com transferred via USB, and now the Kindle 3 can download audiobooks directly using WiFi.

Audible has about 85,000 audiobooks available to listen to on computers, a number of portable devices including Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, and even GPS systems in cars.

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Now that Amazon has introduced the Kindle WiFi, a.k.a. the Kindle 3, to compete with the Barnes and Noble Nook WiFi, let’s take a look at Kindle WiFi vs Nook WiFi to determine which is the best ebook reader to choose.

The good news is that you can’t go wrong with either, they’re two of the best ereaders on the market, and choosing one just depends on a few different factors. They both cost about the same price, the Kindle is $139 and the Nook is $149. And if you need an ereader with 3G wireless, then consider the fact that Amazon and B&N also offer both of these ereaders with free 3G wireless from AT&T for $50 more each.

The Advantages and Disadvantages are directly comparing Kindle WiFi vs Nook WiFi, meaning that the advantages for the Kindle are features that the Nook doesn’t have and vice versa.

Kindle WiFi vs Nook WiFi: Kindle Advantages

Kindle WiFi

• New Pearl screen has 50% higher contrast than the Vizplex screen used on the Nook.
• Amazon has more content: Over 630,000 total ebooks available in the Kindle ebook store.
• Almost 200 newspaper and magazine subscriptions available, compared to B&N’s 35.
• Now supports collections (folders) for organizing ebooks.
• Better PDF handling and more features for PDFs.
• More memory: 4GB compared to the Nook’s 2GB.
• Available to over 170 countries.
• The Kindle’s battery life is much better at 10-30 days, compared to the Nook’s 4-10.
• Several exclusive free ebooks added monthly.
• 30-day return policy vs Nook’s 14 (unless you buy the Nook from Best Buy, which has a longer return policy of 30 days).
• Text-to-speech (if approved by publisher).
• Audio Guide reads menus aloud for the vision impaired.
• Compatible with audiobooks from Audible.com.
• Keyboard more functional for typing and adding notes.

Kindle Disadvantages

• Amazon’s proprietary ebook DRM isn’t compatible with other ebook readers.
• Doesn’t support EPUB without conversion and doesn’t support PDB format like the Nook does.
• Not compatible with free ebooks from libraries.
• No memory card slots.
• The Kindle Store has limited sorting options.
• No images of book-covers on home menu’s book list.
• No in-store promotions.

Kindle WiFi vs Nook WiFi: Nook Advantages

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 »
• Color LCD touchscreen pane for navigation, typing, etc.
• Lend a purchased ebook one time for 14 days (if approved by publisher).
• Can view book covers and browse by book covers.
• B&N’s ebook store is easier to browse through and there are more sorting options.
• No large keyboard; uses a virtual keyboard instead.
• Micro SD card slot.
• In store ebook promotions for free ebooks.
• User replaceable battery.
• Personalize screensavers.
• Games: Play Chess and Sudoku.
• Android operating system is hackable.
• Android has more versatility and potential for future apps and improvements.

Nook Disadvantages

• Not available internationally.
• Limited ebook organization options, no customizable folders.
• Notes, highlighting not very functional.
• Misleading ebook selection saying they have over 1 million; subtracting the free ebooks, B&N has 166,119.
• No text-to-speech.
• Poor PDF support.
• Battery life is less because of color screen.
• Heavier.
• No landscape mode.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Nook | Tags: kindle wifi, nook wifi | 12 Comments »

This Kindle 3 review lists all the new features and details about the new Kindle 3, along with what’s best about the Kindle and what its weaknesses are.

First off, the only difference between the two Kindle 3 models is one comes with free 3G wireless from AT&T. Both come with WiFi, and the WiFi only model, since it doesn’t have a wireless modem, weighs 0.2 ounces less that the 3G model.

Additionally, the Kindle 3G comes in both black (graphite, as Amazon calls it) and white, whereas the Kindle WiFi comes in just black at the moment. Other than that, the two units are identical.

After reading this post, make sure to check the full Kindle 3 Review for a hands-on video review, several pictures and screenshots, and a closer look at the new Kindle’s features.

Kindle 3 Review: New Features

In addition to selling the new Kindles for less than similar ebook readers, Amazon added some shiny new features to the Kindle 3 to make it even more appealing . . .

• New Pearl Screen Equals 50% Better Contrast – The Kindle 3 and Kindle DX are the first two ebook readers to have the new screens from E Ink. In reviewing both new Kindles, the new screens are a definite upgrade and are highly recommended over the old.

• Built-in WiFi – The Kindle 3 can be connected to home and public WiFi networks, and comes with free WiFi access at all AT&T WiFi hotspots in the U.S.

• Improved Web Browser with Article Mode – Instead of the basic web browser of old, the Kindle 3 uses a new faster web browser that is based on the industry-leading open source web browser engine, WebKit. One of the features of the WebKit browser is an “article mode” that optimizes pages to be viewed as plain text for reading, focusing on the content in the main article body and removing some ads and extra columns. Surprisingly, the web browser works pretty good as far as ereaders go.

• Double the Battery Life – The Kindle 3 can last for up to 1 month on a single charge with the wireless turned off and up to 10 days with it on. Will update this section after a couple of months of use.

• New Fonts – The new Kindle now has three different font choices, the standard Caecilia font, a condensed version of Caecilia, and a sans serif option. The new Kindle also supports Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Cyrillic characters, as well as Latin and Greek scripts. Cyrillic is used in Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and several other languages.

• Improved PDF Capabilities – The new Kindle got some much-need improvements for PDF files. Notes, highlights, and the dictionary now work for PDFs, and support for password protected PDFs has been added. PDFs can be viewed in landscape mode, and can be zoomed in up to 300%. A cool feature with the Kindle 3 is that it can darken the text on PDFs.

• New Streamlined Appearance and New Buttons – The Kindle 3 is smaller and lighter than the Kindle 2 and has new, quieter page-turn buttons and a new button layout and navigation pad. The new Kindle feels good to hold one-handed.

• Voice Guide – This feature has been added to the Kindle 3 to make it easier for vision impaired people to navigate the menus using text-to-speech.

• 20% Faster Page Turns – Along with the screen improvements, the new Kindle got a boost in page-turning speed.

• More Memory – While the Kindle 3 still doesn’t have any memory card slots, it now comes with 4 GB of internal memory, twice as much as the Kindle 2. That’s enough storage for about 3500 books and documents.

Kindle 3 Review: Standard Features

Aside from the new features added to the Kindle 3, there a lot of main features that remain the same.

• Free Global Wireless – The Kindle 3G model replaces the Kindle 2 as the International wireless Kindle, with access to free wireless in over 100 countries around the globe.

• eBooks and Content Aplenty – Amazon has over 630,000 total ebooks available in the Kindle ebook store, 135 newspapers, 65 magazines, and nearly 10,000 blogs and news feeds to subscribe to.

• Text To Speech – Kindle devices can read aloud ebooks. There’s a male and female voice with 3 adjustable speed settings. This feature does not work on all ebooks; it’s up to the publishers and authors to allow it or not.

• Folders – Amazon recently added folder support to all the Kindles, called collections. The feature could use some work, but gets the job done. It takes a while to set up if you have large collections.

• Popular Highlights and Social Networking – You can share passages from ebooks with friends and family using social networks like Facebook and Twitter by posting the passage directly from a Kindle. And popular highlighting shows what other people are highlighting, along with the total number of people who’ve highlighted it.

• Reading Kindle Books on Other Platforms – In recent months Amazon has released several new Kindle apps for reading and syncing ebooks across multiple platforms and devices, including Android devices, Apple’s iProducts, Blackberry, PC, and Mac computers.

• Kindle 3 Supported Formats – AZW, PDF, TXT, MOBI, PRC, AAX, AA, MP3; HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion. Kindle Format Conversion Guide.

Kindle 3 Review: Cons

While the Kindle 3 is the most affordable ebook reader with its feature set, there are still some things that keep it from being the King (or Queen) of ebook readers.

• No EPUB support – EPUB is the open standard format for ebook readers, one of the most widely used formats, and the Amazon Kindle cannot display any EPUB ebook.

• No Support for Library eBooks – Format-wise, Amazon’s biggest rival is Adobe, and since most library ebooks are in Adobe EPUB and PDF format, the Kindles naturally don’t support that format and can’t display free ebooks from libraries. A few libraries have ebooks with Mobipocket DRM but the Kindle does not support that either, despite the fact that it supports the MOBI format.

• No Memory Cards – While the new Kindle comes with 4 GB of internal memory, it still does not have any expansion slots. Everything has to be transferred via internet or PC with the USB cable.

• Still No Color or Touchscreen – We all expected Amazon to be releasing a color Kindle by the end of the year, or at least one with a touchscreen, but with the Kindle 3 arriving instead, a color Kindle with a touchscreen won’t likely be seen for at least another 6-12 months.

• Limited Customizable Options – Once you’ve had your hands on ebook readers like the Pocketbook ereaders where you can change themes and the appearance of ebooks and menus, edit book information, change dictionaries, and specify what each and every button does, it’s hard not to want those types of features on a Kindle as well.

• Cover Not Included – One way that Amazon manages to get the price so low is that a cover is not included with the purchase of a Kindle 3, and one is really needed to keep the screen protected. Amazon just introduced a really cool new cover for the Kindle 3 that has a built-in reading light that recharges using the Kindle’s battery. Unfortunately the cover costs $59, almost 45% the total cost of a Kindle WiFi.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Reviews | Tags: kindle 3 review, kindle wifi, new kindle | 22 Comments »

So I just ordered a new Kindle WiFi earlier this morning and I noticed that while Amazon doesn’t mention it on the Kindle product page, you can actually get $30 off the Kindle WiFi and new Kindle 3G by signing up for and using an Amazon credit card to make the purchase if you don’t already have an Amazon card, making the WiFi model just $109 and the 3G equipped model $159.

After you sign up for and get approved for the Amazon rewards card (it took me less than 5 minutes from start to finish), Amazon will deduct $30 off your first purchase (this offer applies to other products as well). So the order will show the regular price for the unit once confirmed, then the discount will appear as a credit on your credit card statement.

The good thing about the credit card is that you don’t have to continue using it, just order the Kindle with it and you don’t have to use it ever again and there’s no annual fee. Just be sure to pay the card off in full because the interest rate is its biggest fault in my opinion. The best rate you can currently get is over 13%, much higher if you have bad credit.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Sales and Discounts | Tags: amazon, kindle 3g, kindle wifi | 2 Comments »

Last fall when Amazon first announced the Kindle International, it was mentioned that they’d soon bring the Kindle to the Amazon UK store, and now they intend to do just that with the release of the new Kindle WiFi and Graphite Kindle 3G.

Until now, all Kindle purchases had to be made from the Amazon US site and paid for in US dollars, which required various extra conversion fees and shipping charges. But now, both new Kindles can be ordered directly from Amazon UK, with free shipping to boot. The Kindle WiFi sells for £109, and the Kindle 3G sells for £149.

Those prices are very low compared to what other devices with far less features are selling for in the UK. For instance, the Sony 600 is currently listed at £171, the 300 at £129, the Cybook Opus at £189, and the new WiFi iRiver Story just went on sale for £199.

The Kindle UK store will officially launch on August 27th, the same day the new Kindles start to ship.

On the Amazon UK homepage, Amazon has a note about the new Amazon UK Kindle store. It says there are over 400,000 titles to choose from, and that newspaper, magazine, and blog subscriptions are also available. The specs even list the web-kit browser as being free to use with WiFi and 3G (when the Kindle International initially launched, internet browsing and blogs weren’t available for UK customers).

Interestingly, Amazon UK doesn’t currently list the Kindle DX for order or the white Kindle 3G. Perhaps those will be added when the UK Kindle store officially launches on August 27th.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, News | Tags: amazon, kindle 3, kindle wifi, uk, uk ebook readers | 2 Comments »

Amazon has just announced two new 6-inch Kindles, the Kindle WiFi and a new Kindle 3G. The WiFi only model costs $139 and the 3G plus WiFi version costs $189.

Both models are now available for pre-order and will ship to 140 countries beginning August 27th. The WiFi model comes in black (graphite) and the 3G model is offered in black or white.

The new Kindles come with hardware and feature upgrades compared the now out-of-stock Kindle 2. Most notably, they come with the new Pearl screens from E Ink that have 50% improved contrast, the same screen that the new Graphite Kindle DX has (here’s some photos and video reviews of the new higher contrast screen on the Kindle DX review page; it’s quite an improvement, especially when reading in lower light).

The new Kindles are smaller than the previous Kindle 2, with a 21 percent smaller body and 15 percent lighter build. Despite the smaller size, they’ve managed to cram a lot more battery life into the device: up to 1 month with wireless off and 10 days with it on. They’ve also doubled the internal memory to 4GB and have improved the page refresh rate to make it 20 percent faster.

And that’s just getting started. Here’s a list of the other most interesting new features mentioned in the press release:

New WebKit-based Browser (experimental): The new Kindle uses a new web browser based on the industry-leading open source Web browser engine, WebKit. The updated browser is faster, easier to navigate, and provides a new “article mode” feature that simplifies web pages to just the main text- based content for easier reading. Web browsing with Kindle over 3G or Wi-Fi is free.

Improved PDF Reader: The new Kindle uses an improved built-in PDF reader with new dictionary lookup, notes and highlights, and support for password protected PDFs.

New Lighted Leather Cover: The all-new Kindle cover features an integrated, retractable reading light that lets you read comfortably anytime, anywhere. The light is a permanent part of the cover, so it’s always with you, and hides away into the cover when not in use. The high-quality LED light illuminates Kindle’s entire paper-like display, adding brightness without adding glare. Amazon’s patent-pending hinge system secures Kindle in place and conducts electricity from Kindle’s battery to the reading light, eliminating the need for batteries. The conductive hinges are gold-plated to ensure a reliable electrical connection. Gold is used because of its ability to make good electrical contact even with low force and for its corrosion resistance. The Kindle cover is sold separately.

New Voice Guide: With Text-to-Speech, Kindle can read out loud to you. New Text-to-Speech enabled menus allow customers to navigate Kindle without having to read menu options. In addition to listening to books aloud, users now have the option of listening to content listings on the home screen, item descriptions, and all menu options.

Quieter Page Turn Buttons: Quieter page turns means you can read all night without disturbing your partner.

Filed under: Amazon Kindle, New eBook Readers, News | Tags: amazon, kindle 3g, kindle wifi | 2 Comments »