Joined
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615 Posts
I came here late as I was away and then caught up a bit with the news articles.
"New" EDITS* Will add news that might be of interest but not worth a separate thread/topic...
NEW
1. KINDLE WHISPERNET is now available in ALL 50 states and in many more rural areas.
This is mentioned on the Amazon Kindle 2 page.
See the coverage map now, it says.
http://www.showmycoverage.com/mycoverage.jsp?id=A102ZON
2. "Looking for the first reference of a character in your book? Simply type in the name and search.
You can extend your search to..."
That's also from the Amazon pages.
We asked for this. I need it often. This localized search will make it faster and more appropriate.
3. VIDEO of first 10 minutes of the announcement
http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/jeff-bezos-introduction-to-the-kindle-2-2009029/
4. DEMO of text to speech
http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/kindle-2-text-to-speech-demonstration-2009029/
Stilted, electronic-style speech but the words are pronounced clearly and accurately
by a choice of female or male voice.
5. 2 holes on its right edge are there so that the Kindle 2 can
"snap into" many 3rd party cases.
I don't think the vendors had seen that aspect yet, as they have quickly put up new cases that don't mention this.
*NEW EDITS: (new items added)
6. Scott A. Garretson said on the Amazon forums that there is now the following feature:
"Clip This Article - makes a copy of the entire article and adds it to your 'My Clippings' file.
(only available on the periodical/blog menu)"
7. Scott adds that the page-turn bars "now pivot from the outside edge inwards"
What one article said was that as a result you can pick the Kindle2 up by these turn-page areas and yet not have the page suddenly 'turn' ... That is mildly major
8. Power switch differences: (from the manual)
Putting to sleep: slide and release the power switch
Shutting off: slide the power switch and hold for about 4 seconds until screen blanks
Turning on the Kindle2: slide and release the power switch again.
If the Kindle freezes: Resetting is done by DISCONNECTING the Kindle from any power
source (opposite of Kindle1) and then sliding and holding the power switch for 15 seconds
before releasing. (I'd prefer that to the paper clip thing and taking off the back.)
(Most have read that Whispernet is now turned Off and On in the Home menu - no hard switch.)
9. WashPost interview with Stephen King about his new Kindle book and about his thoughts on the Kindle itself.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020901367.html
10. In an interview with he Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8350348
they describe Jeff Bezos saying:
"We can't make this device less expensive," he said. "It has this sophisticated EV-DO wireless radio, has the most sophisticated electronic paper display, (and) a very fast processor. It's just not possible to make this device less expensive."
That is in response to the lower price so many pundits insist on while never seeming to realize that the Kindle has 24/7 wireless capability from almost anywhere in the U.S. He also mentions Amazon's focus on reading, of course.
11. I want to add LSbookends' alert re the manual section on mp3s (and formerly random playing)
"When you select "Play MP3" from the Experimental page, each of the songs will play in the order they were added to your Kindle."
(This is a very nice change or addition.)
12. Mary McManus noted that
K2 owners can now highlight across pages
The dictionary lookup now includes a search for a word not on the current book page.
OTHER THOUGHTS
A. I like that the cursor can be put on a word and we get the dictionary lookup much more easily.
Also, that we cursor to a link and get linked to it without more pop-up windows and choices
B. The 16 shades of grey are important to me because photographs then actually look like photographs, and will be important for things like travel guides or learning guides with illustrations.
C.
*******
Mine was purchased in August. So, if it FAILS before next August, it is waranteed and then I might well get a Kindle2 at that point.
*******
D.
***
If Bezos had announced a $100 discount to Kindle 1 pioneers who helped him market this, I might have sprung for that.
Then I'd sell mine at a good discount to others who would be happy with the Kindle 1 as I have been
but who wouldn't be interested in $360 for the new one.
***
Any reaction to some of this? The video pages mentioned in the beginning say they'll post more about the conference if there is interest in that.
"New" EDITS* Will add news that might be of interest but not worth a separate thread/topic...
NEW
1. KINDLE WHISPERNET is now available in ALL 50 states and in many more rural areas.
This is mentioned on the Amazon Kindle 2 page.
See the coverage map now, it says.
http://www.showmycoverage.com/mycoverage.jsp?id=A102ZON
2. "Looking for the first reference of a character in your book? Simply type in the name and search.
You can extend your search to..."
That's also from the Amazon pages.
We asked for this. I need it often. This localized search will make it faster and more appropriate.
3. VIDEO of first 10 minutes of the announcement
http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/jeff-bezos-introduction-to-the-kindle-2-2009029/
4. DEMO of text to speech
http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/kindle-2-text-to-speech-demonstration-2009029/
Stilted, electronic-style speech but the words are pronounced clearly and accurately
by a choice of female or male voice.
5. 2 holes on its right edge are there so that the Kindle 2 can
"snap into" many 3rd party cases.
I don't think the vendors had seen that aspect yet, as they have quickly put up new cases that don't mention this.
*NEW EDITS: (new items added)
6. Scott A. Garretson said on the Amazon forums that there is now the following feature:
"Clip This Article - makes a copy of the entire article and adds it to your 'My Clippings' file.
(only available on the periodical/blog menu)"
7. Scott adds that the page-turn bars "now pivot from the outside edge inwards"
What one article said was that as a result you can pick the Kindle2 up by these turn-page areas and yet not have the page suddenly 'turn' ... That is mildly major
8. Power switch differences: (from the manual)
Putting to sleep: slide and release the power switch
Shutting off: slide the power switch and hold for about 4 seconds until screen blanks
Turning on the Kindle2: slide and release the power switch again.
If the Kindle freezes: Resetting is done by DISCONNECTING the Kindle from any power
source (opposite of Kindle1) and then sliding and holding the power switch for 15 seconds
before releasing. (I'd prefer that to the paper clip thing and taking off the back.)
(Most have read that Whispernet is now turned Off and On in the Home menu - no hard switch.)
9. WashPost interview with Stephen King about his new Kindle book and about his thoughts on the Kindle itself.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020901367.html
10. In an interview with he Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8350348
they describe Jeff Bezos saying:
"We can't make this device less expensive," he said. "It has this sophisticated EV-DO wireless radio, has the most sophisticated electronic paper display, (and) a very fast processor. It's just not possible to make this device less expensive."
That is in response to the lower price so many pundits insist on while never seeming to realize that the Kindle has 24/7 wireless capability from almost anywhere in the U.S. He also mentions Amazon's focus on reading, of course.
11. I want to add LSbookends' alert re the manual section on mp3s (and formerly random playing)
"When you select "Play MP3" from the Experimental page, each of the songs will play in the order they were added to your Kindle."
(This is a very nice change or addition.)
12. Mary McManus noted that
K2 owners can now highlight across pages
The dictionary lookup now includes a search for a word not on the current book page.
OTHER THOUGHTS
A. I like that the cursor can be put on a word and we get the dictionary lookup much more easily.
Also, that we cursor to a link and get linked to it without more pop-up windows and choices
B. The 16 shades of grey are important to me because photographs then actually look like photographs, and will be important for things like travel guides or learning guides with illustrations.
C.
*******
Mine was purchased in August. So, if it FAILS before next August, it is waranteed and then I might well get a Kindle2 at that point.
*******
D.
***
If Bezos had announced a $100 discount to Kindle 1 pioneers who helped him market this, I might have sprung for that.
Then I'd sell mine at a good discount to others who would be happy with the Kindle 1 as I have been
but who wouldn't be interested in $360 for the new one.
***
Any reaction to some of this? The video pages mentioned in the beginning say they'll post more about the conference if there is interest in that.
Love that I can search for a character!! That will be very useful....
.gif)
