Kindle 3G WiFi
This hardware has been renamed by Amazon to Kindle Keyboard 3G+Wi-Fi.
Amazon Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi
- Made by: Amazon (Manufactured by Foxconn)
- Released: July 28 2010
- Predecessor: Amazon Kindle 2
- Languages Supported: English
- File Types Supported: AZW, TPZ, PRC, MOBI, TXT, PDF, MP3, AA, AAX
Overview
The Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi offers a 6" display using E Ink with both a cellular network and Wi-Fi connection to permit purchase and download of eBooks and other content from Amazon. This means that no computer is needed for the Kindle although a USB connection is provided so that a computer can be used with this device. A keyboard is built into the device which can be used to add notes to documents, enter search terms etc. DRM is supported on AZW and TPZ files purchased from Amazon's Kindle Store. The Kindle 3 is also able to open password-protected PDF.
New with this release:
- New, High-Contrast E-Ink Screen, "Pearl", with 50% better contrast than earlier eBooks Readers. Providing clearer text and images than the previous Kindle generation
- Thinner (1/3 inch - 8.5mm) and lighter (8.47 ounces - 247 grams) than the previous generation
- Holds 3,500 Books. Storage doubled from previous generation (now 4GB)
- Battery Life of Up to Two Months. A single charge lasts up to two months with wireless off (1/2 hour reading time per day). Up to 10 day battery life with wireless enabled
- PDF support which includes dictionary lookup, notes, and highlights
- Available in White or Graphite (White only available from Amazon.com)
- Webkit based web browser
- Keyboard differs from the Kindle 2. The number row has been removed, instead requiring the user to use either the "SYM" menu to select numbers or holding the "ALT" key while pressing a letter from the top row
- Voice guided menus
There is TTS support but unfortunately, some books available through Amazon now have the text-to-speech (TTS) facility disabled. Because of protests by an author's group that TTS may adversely affect revenues generated by audio books, Amazon has agreed to disable this facility when requested by the publisher.
Specifications
- CPU: Freescale i. MX353, ARM1136 core, 542MHz
- Display: 6" diagonal E-Ink® Pearl electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 16-level gray scale
- Size: 7.5" x 4.8" x 0.335" (190.5 x 121.9 x 8.5 mm)
- Weight: 8.7 ounces (247 grams)
- Internal memory: 4GB internal; 3.4 GB available for the user's content
- Expansion Memory: None (USB capable bus master but this feature has not been enabled)
- Wireless: 3G/2G UMTS/GSM modem, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
- Worldwide Wireless Connectivity: 3G using partner networks. 100 countries and territories with no monthly fees or contracts
- System requirements: None, because it doesn't require a computer
- USB Port: USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) for connection to the Kindle power adapter or optionally to connect to any computer that has a USB port that can mount USB drives (Linux, Mac OS X, Windows).
- Battery Life: Read for up to 10 days on a single charge with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two months. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content.
- Charge Time: Fully charges in approximately 4 hours and supports charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable.
- Audio: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, rear-mounted stereo speakers.
- Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, Audible (formats 4, Audible Enhanced (AAX)), MP3, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion. Simple HTML can be read by changing the file extension to .TXT.
- 5-way controller: Kindle has a new easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words.
- Annotation and highlighting are supported.
- Portrait and Landscape view.
History
The Amazon Kindle 3G WiFi is a 3rd generation Kindle, following the Amazon Kindle 2 and the Amazon Kindle 1. A firmware update offered for this product permits it to read KF8 files as well.
See Also
Amazon Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi description
For specifications on the display technology see: E Ink display. Note that this device has 16 level gray scale.
To compare this device with other electronic ink devices see: E-book Reader Matrix
To check the status of Amazon services see: http://status.aws.amazon.com/
Kindle Download Guide from Feedbooks.com
Whispernet
Some Amazon Kindle devices include a cell-phone-type data service that Amazon calls Whispernet. There are some recent version that have "Wi-Fi" only models. The newest units supports only the 3G service but Whispernet itself can work with older units using EVDO as well. International sites use 3G service and include VAT in the price of the book but the download is still free. If you are using Roaming such as visiting Europe with your US based product you will be charged $1.99 to download a book.
Older Whispernet
This service was available on Amazon Kindle 1 and Amazon Kindle 2. It used EVDO facilities from Sprint but the user does not need to sign up for the service. It provides free download of purchased eBooks and free browsing of the Wikipedia encyclopedia. This is a wireless service and may be turned off independently from the device itself. Note that the International version first available on the Kindle 2 and later the Kindle DX had both Sprint and AT&T 3G service. In January 2010 they announced 3G wireless with fallback to EDGE/GPRS coverage (lower speed).
User content conversion
Some other formats can be converted to Kindle format by sending them to Amazon's web site. This user converted content can also be optionally be downloaded via Whispernet for USD$.15 per Megabyte in the US and USD$.99 per megabyte internationally. User content conversion is free if you don't use Whispernet.
Formats that can be converted include:
- Microsoft Word (.DOC)
- Structured HTML (.HTML, .HTM)
- JPEG (.JPEG, .JPG)
- GIF (.GIF)
- PNG (.PNG)
- BMP (.BMP)
- PDF (.PDF) (No longer needed but if the Subject line of the email contains 'Convert' the PDF will be converted)
Costs
Note that the cost is per MB (rounded upwards) and by email. In other words, two emails with 400KB each, costs USD$1.98 in total. But a single email with two attachments of 400KB each, for a total of 800KB for that mail still costs USD$0.99.
Note that it is possible to convert .ePub and .PDF files on the Kindle 2 itself using a program called Savory. The files can be downloaded via the built-in Kindle browser and are then converted on the fly.
Whispersync
Whispersync technology will automatically sync your library, last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across your Kindle devices and Kindle software readers. On Kindle Fire, Whispersync extends to video. Start streaming a movie on Kindle Fire, then pick up right where you left off on your TV - avoid the frustration of having to find your spot.
Whispersync can work over Whispernet or Wi-Fi.
Whispersync for Voice
Amazon now owns Audible and has a feature for some of their Kindle apps called Whispersync for Voice. It is designed to allow you to read in an eBook and then switch to an audiobook or vice versa without losing your place in the book.
You must own both versions of the book for this to work. However, they need not exist on the same device. You can sync between different devices and then switch device to continue reading or listening. It is also described at Whispersync devices where a list up supported devices and apps is shown. Amazon will sometimes discount the audible version for people who already own the eBook version.
