Are you new to eReaders and are unsure whether a Kindle or another eReader is right for you? Read on to see how an Amazon Kindle works and understand its features.

What Is an Amazon Kindle?

Kindle is an eReader device developed and sold by Amazon, one of the world’s largest online retailers.  The Kindle comes in two flavours, the Kindle 2 & the Kindle DX.  The difference bewteen these two models is that the Kindle DX has a larger screen, increased memory, and the capability to rotate between portrait and landscape displays automatically.

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In addition to the hardware devices listed above, Amazon also produces Kindle software. The Kindle software works to display eBooks and other digital content. In March of 2009, Amazon released Kindle for iPhone, which allows iPhone and iPad Touch users to read eBooks on their devices. Amazon has launched similar applications for the PC and Blackberry, with an application currently in the works for Macs. Whispersync technology, developed by Amazon, allows users of multiple devices to synchronize content on their PC with their Kindle or Blackberry or iPhone.

Although Amazon got its start selling print books online, they have since developed a massive collection of eBooks available purchase, offering over 450,000 books for sale in addition to popular newspapers, magazine, and blogs. Over the 2009 holiday shopping season, Amazon claimed to have sold more eBooks for the Kindle than physical books.

Kindle Features

Display and Navigation

Amazon designed the Kindle to mimic the process of reading a physical book as much as possible. The company has tried to make the hardware unobtrusive, so the reader will not be distracted by the technical aspects of the device. There is a 5-Way controller, which makes on-screen navigation a breeze.

As for paging through an eBook, the Kindle’s page-turning buttons are located on both sides of the device, which makes it easy to alternate hands while reading on the Kindle. The Kindle 2 addresses one of the concerns many people had with the original device in that the pages turn much faster- 20% faster, in fact. Again, this helps make the experience more similar to reading a physical book, because with physical books there is no delay in turning pages.

Special Features

Both the Kindle and the Kindle DX have features that help enhance the reading experience. The New Oxford American Dictionary comes built-in on both devices, so users can search for the definition of a word as they are reading, without having to leave the text to go and look up the word in a separate book. There is a highlighter on the Kindle, making it easy to mark important passages for future reference. Key passages can also be clipped and bookmarked. The QWERTY keyboard that comes standard on all versions of the Kindle allows for digital note taking, a step above scribbling in the margins of a book. Finally, Kindle software notes the last page of a text that was read, eliminating the need for bookmarks.

Experimental Features

With the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX, Amazon has added web browsing and text-to-speech features. Both devices include a basic web browser that allows for search on text-based websites such as Google and Wikipedia. More image-heavy websites may not appear correctly on the Kindle. The browser is not currently available in some countries.

The text-to-speech feature converts text to audio, so any book (with permission from the publisher) can be listened to like an audio book. The feature can switch easily between text and audio, so a user can read or listen depending on their preference at any given moment. Further customization is possible, as a user can choose for the voice to be male or female and designate the speed at which the text is read.

Downloading Content

Amazon promises delivery of content to the Kindle within 60 seconds of downloading a file. Getting content for the Kindle is uncomplicated, as there is no USB cable involved. Files downloaded from the Amazon Store, and from a number of other eBook providers, arrive wirelessly on the Kindle, with no need to transfer files from a computer to the eReader. Also, The Kindle is delivered ready to use; there is no software to install. Amazon uses 3G wireless to deliver content to the Kindle, which is free to the user. There are no monthly contracts like those for mobile phones. The 3G network for the Kindle is quite extensive and is available in the U.S. and in many foreign countries. It is recommended to check Amazon’s website for more details on coverage areas.

File Formats

The Kindle is compatible with multiple file formats, including Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively. The AZW format is Amazon’s format and is found principally on the Amazon Store. Although the original Kindle did not directly read PDF files, the new generation of Kindles have built-in PDF readers.
The Kindle can also read the following files through conversion: HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP. Each Kindle comes assigned with a unique e-mail address. Users can send documents in the previous formats to their Kindle address, and Amazon’s Whispernet technology will format the documents for the Kindle. There is a charge of $0.15 per megabyte sent for users in the U.S. and a $0.99 charge for users outside the U.S. The service is free if documents are transferred via USB.