Amazon Kindle eBook Readers Review

Amazon Kindle eBook Readers Review

Amazon Kindle is a digital device created by Amazon.com for displaying e-books and other digital media on a hand-held hardware device. Three hardware devices, known as Kindle, Kindle 2, and Kindle DX support the Kindle line of ebooks and digital media, as well as an iPhone application known as Kindle for iPhone.

Amazon Kindle ebook readers are able to download content over Amazon Whispernet and, for newer Kindle 2 devices, AT&T’s network domestically and now internationally. Kindle ebook readers can be used without any computers, and the Whispernet network can be accessed without fees. The Amazon Kindle ebook reader can also provide you with free access to the web.

Kindle is now available throughout the US, and Amazon has announced the international Kindle model called the Kindle 2 with built in 3G and an EDGE and GSM wireless modem supplying access to over one hundred countries and growing worldwide. The Kindle 2 has a really cool feature that offers a text-to-speech option that reads the text out loud.

Amazon.com has also announced the iPhone App called Kindle for iPhone available in the App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch owners to be able to download Kindle documents and ebooks.

Amazon has also added the Kindle DX ebook reader to their product line last May 6, 2009. The Kindle DX ebook reader, features a larger 9.7 inch viewing screen which is easier on the eyes, and can hold 3500 non-illustrated ebooks, and also supports PDF files. The Amazon Kindle 2 is considered a more compatible ebook reader for displaying newspaper and larger textbook content.

PC owners can enjoy Amazon’s Kindle for PC as a free software download for displaying Kindle books on Windows OS computers.

The Amazon Kindle product line competes directly with other ebook readers such as… the Sony Reader, the Jinke Hanlin e-Reader, the CyBook by Bookeen, the iRex iLiad, and the Barnes & Noble nook.

File Formats

The original Amazon Kindle ebook reader uses a file format called Content .AZW, or load content in various formats from a computer. Other file types supported are unprotected Mobipocket books .MOBI, .PRC, plain text files .TXT. The original Kindle does not fully support Portable Document Format .PDF, but the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX now support additional formats.

Kindle 2 includes support for Audible Enhanced .AAX format, but passed on support for Audible 2 and 3 versions. Using the internal web browser, it was possible to download books directly on the Kindle in .MOBI, .PRC, and .TXT formats only. Mobipocket files could be used to download ebooks via hyperlinks, but could not be used to reference books stored in the Kindle’s memory.

Kindle DX offers support of the aforementioned file formats included with Kindle, and Kindle 2… plus includes support for .PDF files.

Kindle Terms of Use forbid transferring Amazon ebooks to another user or a different type of ebook reading device. Kindle users can find thousands of ebook titles by searching online through the Kindle device itself, or through a computer at the Amazon Kindle store, and can download content through the Kindle Store.

To learn all about the Amazon Kindle family of ebook readers, their specifications, related products and accessories, ebook titles at the Kindle Store, and actual Kindle owner reviews, visit Amazon Kindle eBook Readers to learn more…