Amazon Kindle – Is this what books have become?

Kindle, as the name suggests is a new start from Amazon.com in producing its own electronic gadgets. This innovative product, called Amazon Kindle is a reading device that can potentially replace good old books.

This revolutionary electronic reading device will help you read digital documents without ever using your notebooks or PC. It can wirelessly download newspapers and make them available for you every morning.

The important specialty of Amazon Kindle would be its paper like screen capable of producing high-resolution text that actually looks like real text on real paper. The screen works using e-ink that resembles actual ink on a real paper. This no-glare screen is even readable in bright sun light.

The electronic paper technology does not require frequent refreshes (as in normal computer monitors or televisions) and do not even have a backlight. This means the black would be real black and the screen would be flicker free. This largely improves readability.

What makes Amazon Kindle unique?

Amazon Kindle has a huge feature list. The important things that make Kindle one of a kind gadget are:

• It uses electronic paper technology to display crisp and clear text that resembles actual paper.
• Amazon Kindle is a standalone device; you do not need to connect it with PC or anything to load/use it.
• Kindle comes with free wireless connectivity that enables you to shop books and magazines from the huge inventory at Amazon.com. The same wireless network helps Kindle to download newspapers and blog feeds as soon as they are available.
• You can read first chapter of every book free and then decide whether to digital download or not.
• The entire device is small and uses the same space as of a paper back.
• It can store about 200 book titles. (Internal Memory 256MB)
• Kindle has huge battery life; Kindle works for a week without a re-charge if you are not using the wireless detector. With wireless on, it can work non-stop for about 72hrs.
• Free connectivity to Wikipedia.org, the world’s largest encyclopedia.
• You can send emails and documents to Kindle for later reading. Now, instead of taking printouts, you can send to Kindle.

The wireless connectivity feature with Kindle is powered by Amazon’s Whispernet network infrastructure. This Whispernet includes Sprint’s nationwide high-speed data network, so that you will be connected wherever you go across USA.

The wireless connectivity allows you wirelessly download content from Kindle Store. The Kindle store has variety of content starting from books, magazines and newspapers. Once you are connected to Kindle store, you can search for Books, read reviews and even create wish lists.

Another specialty here is that Amazon does not charge you for the wireless connectivity used by your Kindle.

Other features of Amazon Kindle:

• Amazon Kindle is based on a ergonomic design that is easy for your hands. It has same look as of a paper back.
• Kindle has a built-in dictionary, which will help you in finding the meaning of words quickly than ever.
• Adjustable text size – You can change the text size of the display according to your needs.
• It has a full QWERTY keyboard, which will help you in searching titles or authors from Kindle store.
• Has external buttons for turning pages.
• It can play MP3 files through external speakers - With the accompanying USB2.0 cable, you can load kindle with MP3s and listen to music while reading.
• Supported file formats: documents in text (.txt), and Amazon Kindle (.azw), unprotected Mobipocket books (.prc, .mobi), Audible Audio books (.aa), MP3 Music files (.mp3).

Overall, Amazon Kindle is a one of a kind device that can potentially remove books from your shelves. If Amazon can come up with good quality, un-protected content, there is no doubt that this device will be popular among avid readers.

Kindle is on sale at Amazon.com for $399.

Update: Kindle has been sold out at Amazon.com in first 5.5 hrs of its release. You can still reserve one by ordering now! (Amazon delivers out of stock products in first come first serve basis when they become available)