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25 Nov 2009
Amazon has updated its Kindle e-book reader to significantly extend the battery life and add a native PDF reader.
Available now, the updated reader offers a battery life of up to seven days even with wireless turned on, Amazon said, compared with the current four days.
Meanwhile, a new PDF reader tool enables Kindle users to view documents in Adobe's popular PDF format without conversion by emailing the files to their Kindle email address or copying them over using a USB connection.
The improvements come in a new version of the Kindle firmware, and Amazon said that previous purchasers of the new Kindle will also be able to receive this via a firmware update automatically delivered via the device's wireless network.
"Kindle, already the number one bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product on all of Amazon.com, is now even better, with 85 per cent more battery life and a built-in PDF reader," said Amazon vice president Ian Freed.
Amazon has offered an international version of the Kindle since October, which uses a 3G mobile network to allow customers to purchase and download new e-books.
However, the device still has to be purchased in dollars and is effectively imported from the US. It also ships with a US mains adapter.
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Do you agree?
I like Sci-Fi, but Kindle does not
Why? I looked at some books reviews on Amazon, the paperback versions were very positive. Kindle versions had incomplete sentences, paragraphs and some section actually missing on a few books. Overall - its to expensive and not versatile compared to a simple paperback. Saw a girl reading one on the way to France. £40 for a light reader - my paperback light cost £4 My book cost me £6, hers was £20 No overheads to read the book - hers cost her £140 and no - there is no reason to carry 200 read books around, so the storage is pointless, unless carrying reference materials for research - which are not available. She can't read it in the bath, chuck it in the bog to read later and it will be stolen if left in public. Rain water will destroy it (I dunked my book in a Spanish pool, still could read it and on the plane /train/bed. Oh and the actual e-books are not portable What's the Point then? There isn't one.
Posted by: Chris the PC expert 15 Dec 2010