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eBook / Amazon
Kindle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amazon Kindle is an electronic book (e-book) device launched in the
United States by Amazon.com in November 2007. It uses an electronic
paper display, reads the proprietary Kindle (AZW) format, and downloads
content over Amazon Whispernet, which uses the Sprint EVDO network. This
means that the Kindle can be used without the need for a computer.
Whispernet is accessible through Kindle without any fee. On the release
day, the Kindle Store had more than 88,000 digital titles available for
download. Amazon's first offering of the Kindle sold out in five and a
half hours. It retails for $399 from Amazon.com.
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Amazon Kindle
Manufacturer Amazon.com
Carrier Flag of the United States Sprint
Available Flag of the United States November 19, 2007
Screen 600?800 px,, 167 ppi resolution, 6" diagonal, 4" ? 6",
4-level grayscale Electronic paper,
LCD side scroller.
Operating system Linux (2.6.10 kernel)
Input QWERTY keyboard, select wheel, next/prev/back buttons.
CPU Intel PXA255.
Memory 64 MB RAM, 256 MB (180 MB available) internal storage, SD
expansion slot.
Complete back up archive of all purchased material archived on
Amazon Cloud.
Networks Amazon Whispernet
Connectivity EVDO/CDMA AnyDATA wireless modem, USB 2.0 port
(mini-B connector), 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, built-in
speaker, AC power adapter jack.
Battery 3.7V, 1530mAh lithium polymer, BA1001 model.
Physical size 5.3" ? 7.5" ? 0.7"
Weight 10.3 oz
Media capabilities Kindle (.azw), Plain text (.txt), Unprotected
Mobipocket (.mobi, .prc), MP3 (.mp3),
Audible (.aa). |
Technical specifications
The Kindle features a 6" diagonal, 4-level grayscale electrophoretic display (E
Ink material) with a resolution of 600?800 pixels (167 ppi), although the
largest graphic image that can be displayed without being resized is 450x550
pixels.[4] It measures 5.3 inches ? 7.5 inches ? 0.7 inches (134.5 mm ? 190 mm ?
19 mm) and weighs 10.3 oz (295 g). The Kindle's internal storage capacity is 256
MB, shipping with 180 MB free. A SD memory card expansion slot is present,
officially supporting up to 4GB which implies support for SDHC. It has 64 MB of
RAM. The battery lasts roughly two days with wireless on, and one week with
wireless off. The battery charges in about two hours. A USB 2.0 port (mini-B
connector) is available for connecting to a computer (where it acts as a USB
flash drive). The Kindle features a headphone jack and one-year warranty. The
device runs on a modified version of Linux based on the 2.6.10 kernel.
Content
The internal memory of the Amazon Kindle can hold approximately 200
non-illustrated titles. Users can download content from Amazon in the
proprietary Kindle format (AZW), or load unprotected Mobipocket (PRC, MOBI) or
plain text content. Amazon offers an email-based service that will convert HTML,
DOC (Microsoft Word), JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP documents to AZW.[8] It also
supports audio in the form of MP3s and Audible 2, 3, and 4 audiobooks, which
must be transferred to the Kindle over USB or on an SD card.
Users can download content through the Kindle Store. The Kindle Store is
accessed through Whispernet, over Sprint's EVDO network, which Amazon provides
free of charge. New releases and New York Times bestsellers are offered for
approximately $10. Classics like Bleak House sell for around $1.99, with free
samples available of the first chapter of each book. Subscriptions to newspapers
cost between $5.99 and $14.99 per month, magazines between $1.25 and $3.49 per
month, and blogs for $0.99-$1.99 per month. Users can send documents to a
conversion service which will send a Kindle-formatted file to the device
directly for $0.10 or to a personal e-mail account for free. Users can transfer
converted documents from a computer to the Kindle via a USB cable or an SD card
for free. Access to Wikipedia is offered at no additional charge.
The device comes with electronic editions of its owner's manual and the New
Oxford American Dictionary.
Experimental support for web browsing is included.
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