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Amazon gives in: Text-to-Speech now decided by book publisher
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video,
The text-to-speech feature of the Kindle 2 in one of the main features that Amazon was touting when they debuted their latest e-book reader. However, Roy Blount, Jr., president of the Author’s Guild, made it immediately known that the Guild objects to the feature that he believes undermines the market for professional e-book. While this is overly cautious, since the Kindle sounds nothing like a real human being, Amazon has decided to step up (or back down?) and allow book publishers and authors the right to allow their works to be compatible with the text-to-speech feature or not. We are hoping that most will see that it’s harmless, and just allows folks to enjoy their work in a different way, albeit on the same device. You can read Amazon’s full statement after the jump.
You can pick up the Kindle 2 at Amazon, be sure to check out our Kindle 2 review.
Click to continue reading Amazon gives in: Text-to-Speech now decided by book publisher
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Amazon Kindle 2 review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
We’ve spent a few days with the Amazon Kindle 2, which has been the talk of the gadget world this week. We know some of you are wondering if you should pick one up, so we are here to give you our thoughts on the latest iteration of Amazon’s e-book reader. If you’re like us, you already know that the Kindle 2 is available for purchase now, and you likely have one in your hands - but for the rest of you, join us for our full review of the Kindle 2 (and if you missed it, check out our Kindle 2 gallery.)
Okay, so while we were working on the review, we sent a couple of questions out to some of our Twitter peeps asking what they thought of the device, and Lisa from EllisLab hit us back with so much info, that we are using her feedback to break this down for you. Sometimes you need the point of view of a “real world” user anyway, as opposed to one of us gadget fiends. So what we will do is give some of our thoughts on the Kindle 2, and then bring in Lisa’s thoughts as well.
The Kindle 2 was announced on February 9th, and just started shipping on February 24th. The announcement came with the promise of a 25% improvement in battery life, 20% faster page turns, a better screen that supports up to 16 shades of gray (as opposed to 4 shades with the original,) and a much thinner design.
Click to continue reading Amazon Kindle 2 review
Our Amazon Kindle 2 is here…
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds,
Oh, happy day, our Kindle 2 has arrived. We are opening it up now and snapping images for your enjoyment. Be sure to keep at eye on Unboxing! Back to work…
UPDATE: We’ve put up our entire Kindle 2 unboxing gallery - check it out!
Read More 
| Amazon Kindle 2
Daily Show: Jeff Bezos on the Kindle 2
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Videos,
We are fans of The Daily Show for reasons like this - only Jon Stewart can get this type of reaction from powerful mogul like Jeff Bezos. Watch as Bezos comes on The Daily Show to let the world know about the Kindle 2, while Jon makes fun of just about every aspect of the product, from the price, to the notion of e-paper. Great stuff.
Amazon Kindle 2: $359, 20% faster, 25% more battery life
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Design, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,
This morning at a press conference from the Morgan Library, Amazon finally announced the long-awaited Kindle 2 e-book reader. The updated version will cost $359, and sports quite a few worthy improvements. First, it is much thinner than the original Kindle at just .36-inches thin. Yes, that is just about as thin as a #2 pencil, and thinner than an iPhone. It also sports 7 times more storage than the original, which means it can hold over 1,500 books. Battery life is 25% longer as well, which means you should be able to go a couple of weeks between charges.
When it comes to actually, you know, reading, the display is what matters. Luckily, Amazon improved that as well, as the new display can display 16 shades of gray, which results in clearer text and crisper images. By far, though, we think the biggest feature is the one they are calling Read to Me. It is a text-to-speech feature that lets the Kindle read any book, magazine, blog, or newspaper out loud to you. Kind of cool.
As we said, the new Kindle will sell for $359, and it starts shipping on February 24th. They are sold on a first come, first served basis, but if you are a Kindle 1 owner and order before midnight PST on February 10th, you will receive first priority. You can order one now at the Kindle 2 product page on Amazon.
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New Name, Better Gadget Pouches: Hard Graft Dapper Collection
Posted by Jenny Lewis Categories: Wearables, Design, Handhelds, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop, Portable Audio / Video,
Working Class Heroes, the brand known for their minimalist felt gadget pouches, has returned with a new name and a brand new collection. Now known as Hard Graft, the new Dapper collection has been unveiled and three new designs have been added to the Hard Graft repertoire. Still constructed of high quality wool felt and leather, the Dapper collection features pockets reminiscent of those found on jeans, just big enough for an iPod or iPhone. And the collection now features three new pouch styles, two created specifically for the Kindle and the iPhone and a new Laptop Wallet featuring snaps along the open end. Prices for the entire collection range from 19 to 89 Euros and Hard Graft’s online store is open for business.
Read More | Hard Graft via NOTCOT
Amazon Kindle back in stock, you better hurry
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,
Hey, would you look at that - the Amazon Kindle is back on sale for the first time in months! If you’ve got $399 USD burning a hold in your pocket, and you want what we consider to be one of the breakout devices in the last year, then head on over to Amazon and purchase a Kindle. Seriously, all quirks aside, we’ve done a lot more (offline) reading in the past four months than we have in the past four years, all thanks to Amazon’s e-Book reader.
We expect these to go quickly though, so if you want one, act quickly.
Read More | Amazon Kindle product page
Unboxing the Amazon Kindle
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Galleries, Handhelds,
The Amazon Kindle has been the talk of the gadget town for the past week or so. If by chance you missed it, the Kindle is Amazon’s foray into the ebook reader space. The device sports free EV-DO, which Amazon calls it’s “WhisperNet” service, which allows you to purchase and download an e-book from just about anywhere - no computer required. We were able to get our hands on one recently, and as is our custom, we snapped up a bunch of Kindle unboxing photos. We liked the art on the box, and what was inside wasn’t overburdening at all - just the Kindle itself, along with a charge cable and USB cable. Oh, and instructions, but those don’t count since no one looks at them anyway - plus, when you start up the Kindle, it boots right into the instructional “Welcome to the Kindle” e-book. Fancy. Anyhoo, click on over to our Amazon Kindle unboxing gallery for the goods.
Amazon Kindle Unboxing Gallery
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