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Tag: "Kindle"

Kindle for iPad Update Available Now

By Roberto | July 30, 2010 | No comment yet

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Amazon just released a new update for the Kindle app. Eventhough the company announced this week their new smaller Kindle, today, they released a very nice update that makes your reading experience more pleasant via the Kindle app.

The new app update (version 2.2) brings a full dictionary with it, which competes directly with Apple’s iBooks app. When using the new Kindle app, if you highlight a word, a definition will automatically appear at the bottom of the screen.

But wait, that’s not all. Now, you can tap a button to further define the word via Wikipedia or Google. Of course, by doing this the app will launch your iPad’s browser, but still it’s a very good feature.

If you want a full definition of the highlighted word, simply use the “Full Definition” link. By clicking on it, the app will take you to the new Oxford American Dictionary, which is automatically downloaded with the new Kindle app update.

Another feature that comes with the new app is the “in-book” search, which allows you to search inside a book matching iBooks functionality. Additional updates include fast app-switching for iOS 4 devices, and better line spacing on the iPad version.

Amazon Sells More eBooks Than Hardcover Books

By Cristi | July 20, 2010 | 3 comments

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The popularity of Kindles, iPads and Nooks is driving the sales of eBooks continuously higher and Amazon recently announced the Kindle eBook format has just overtaken the hardcover format in Amazon book sales.

iPad sales are continuing to go strong and according to Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, Amazon’s Kindle sales are higher too.

We’ve reached a tipping point with the new price of Kindle–the growth rate of Kindle device unit sales has tripled since we lowered the price from $259 to $189.

Higher Kindle sales are not the sole reason for Amazon’s increase in eBook sales. The cross platform Kindle app for devices like the iPad, iPod Touch, BlackBerry and PC, also contributes to the increase. Obviously, the more devices running the Kindle app, the better the eBook sales for Amazon and as mobile devices continue to play an important role in modern day life, it looks like eBook numbers will climb even higher.

The Association of American Publishers’ latest data reports eBook sales grew 163% in the month of May and 207% year-to-date through May. In addition, Hachette Book Group recently released eBook numbers for author James Patterson at 1.14 million. With impressive eBook sales numbers like these, Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble will certainly benefit.

Kindle App for iPad Gets Video and Audio Support

By Roberto | June 29, 2010 | 2 comments

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Amazon’s latest update for its Kindle app includes support for embedded audio and video in books. Some of the first books to support the enriched audio & video experience include Les Miserables, Together We Cannot Fail and Best of Beatles.

Even though this can be considered a small update, and there aren’t that many titles supporting audio and video embeds, it does have some interesting facts.

The Kindle app experience is now more advanced and a richer experience on your iPad than on the Kindle. Of course, the Kindle is a very different device from your iPad. In addition, Amazon has indicated several times they’re primarily interested in selling books across many devices.

We have not been able to find many books that feature this new functionality. However, we expect to see an increase over time. For now, you can find video cooking instructions alongside an electronic cookbook, and audio of famous speeches transcribed in various books.

Nook & Kindle eReader Price Wars Begin

By Cristi | June 21, 2010 | 1 comment

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The introduction of the iPad has impacted many different markets and it looks like the eBook Readers are feeling the heat. Whether the iPad pushed it or not, both Barnes and Noble and Amazon slashed prices on their version of the eBook Reader.

Barnes and Noble announced the $149 Wi-Fi only Nook, as well as a 3G model price drop to $199 today. The new Wi-Fi model differs only in connectivity – it includes all the features of the 3G but at a lower price point. In addition to the introduction of the Wi-Fi model, B&N also released a Nook software update. With this update, users will receive free access to AT&T’s entire Wi-Fi network, additional features and performance enhancements. Expect a full roll out of the new Nook later this summer.

After the B&N announcement, Amazon followed suit by cutting the price of the Kindle from $259 to $189. Priced between the two B&N Nook models, it’ll be interesting to see how the numbers shake out. Amazon’s Kindle offers 3G wireless connectivity, no annual contacts, no monthly connection fee and no Wi-Fi hotspot requirements.

With two million iPads sold and counting, the iPad is almost certainly affecting sales of the eReader market. At $199 for the 3G Nook and $189 for the Kindle, the low end 3G iPad is still significantly more expensive, however users get so many more capabilities.

Amazon Rallying Troops to Fight Against the iPad

By dag | May 18, 2010 | 3 comments

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Amazon is staffing up heavily to take on the iPad. Nick Bilton (New York Times blogger), noticed a flurry of new job openings at Lab126, the team behind the Kindle. 81 positions are currently offered at their Cupertino campus, less than a mile away from Apple’s headquarters.

The openings are for a variety of jobs, from packaging to design, but are mostly geared towards engineers, as Amazon is ramping up its teams to build the next generation of the Kindle, likely designed to become another “iPad killer”, with enhanced capabilities in order to play third party apps like games.

A question remains unanswered though: how long will it take Amazon to release its new device? Most analysts expect the next generation Kindle to be commercialized by early next year, which may be too late for Amazon to fight against Apple, and its large iPad installed base.

Oprah Endorses Apple iPad

By Cristi | April 27, 2010 | 4 comments

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If there’s one thing that’s true about Oprah, it’s that lots of people follow her advice. Amazon received a big boost when Oprah endorsed the Kindle in 2008 and lucky for Apple, Oprah declared herself an iPad fan during a recent show with tech analyst Omar Wasow. During her show last week, she highlighted the iPad’s eReader capability and showed off the iBookstore where Oprah’s Book Club is featured. She really likes the touchscreen’s ability to allow books to “move” and believes the iPad will “change the way kids learn.”

Oprah mentioned the Kindle app and the fact that it allows users to read all their Kindle books on the iPad. She is also a fan of the backlit screen because is allows readers to read in the dark, as well as share photos and play games. According to The Wall Street Journal, her Kindle did come up during the conversation and although she said she “had a Kindle,” her publicist has since announced she currently uses both devices.

Authors’ Opinions of the iPad

By Cristi | April 25, 2010 | 1 comment

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eReaders and eBooks have been the topic of several posts here at PadGadget since the release of the iPad. We’ve given our opinion on the iPad as an eReader and discussed how and why readers will use it. Now, what do authors think?

There’s no doubt the way people read is changing significantly. Consequently, the publishing industry is undergoing quite a transformation. Reuters reported today that this weekend’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books entertained more than 130,000 people during book signings and panels made up of over 400 authors.

While attending the festival, several authors, young and old, shared their opinions on the whole iPad/eReader market. Herman Wouk, author of “The Caine Mutiny,” told Reuters he has tried e-books but was not comfortable with them. Wouk believes the way in which books are distributed changes but the hunger for the stories does not, and readers should have access to books “in any form accessible and agreeable” to them.

E-Reader Competition Heats Up

By Cristi | April 23, 2010 | 1 comment

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The success of Apple’s iPad after three weeks on the market, as well as the impending release of its 3G version, is heating up competition in the eReader market. It comes as no surprise that both Barnes & Noble and Amazon are busy making their own moves to secure their place in the market.

According to WSJ.com, Barnes & Noble is returning to television advertising after a 14-year hiatus in an attempt to market its NOOK eReader. The NOOK has been available in Barnes & Noble stores across the country, as well as online, since last fall. There’s no doubt that ”Barnes & Noble is having to pull out all the stops to stand out in an already cluttered category and compete against Apple’s much-hyped iPad.”

iPad vs Kindle – Consumer Reports

By Bill | April 20, 2010 | 2 comments

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The good folks at Consumer Reports have put the iPad up against the Kindle to see which is the better device. Bloomberg picked up the story and interviewed Paul Eng, A Consumer Reports senior Web editor, to see how the iPad did in the magazine’s comparison test . Check out the video to see who came out on top.