Kindle DX

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Amazon Kindle DX

Amazon Kindle DX

Contents


Overview

The Kindle DX offers a 9.7" (24.6 cm) display using E Ink with EVDO (cell-phone style) connection to permit purchase and download of eBooks. 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. DRM is supported only on AZW and TPZ files. Version DX is otherwise similar to the Amazon Kindle 2 a new faster controller chip and include TTS (Text-to-Speech) capability.

A newer "graphite" colored device has been released in July 2010. It features the new E Ink Pearl display with an increased contrast of 10:1, an increase over the current 7:1.

Kindle DX can read to you. With the new Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read every eBook, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud to you, subject to permission from the Author/Publisher. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can choose from both male and female voices which can be sped up or slowed down to suit your preference. Anything you can read on Kindle, Kindle can potentially read to you, including books, newspapers, magazines, blogs and even personal documents. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go. The Kindle DX has built in stereo speakers on the bottom of the unit and a headphone jack for portable use.

Kindle DX can also adjust the width of the displayed text. The screen is so wide that some may prefer a narrower line for ease of reading without turning their head. Screen rotation is automatic (may be turned off) so that you can turn it sideways for landscape or upside down to put the next page button on the left.

Specifications

  • Display: 9.7" diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 825 x 1200 pixel resolution at 150 ppi, 16-level gray scale. (140 × 203mm)
  • Size: 264 × 183 × 10 mm (10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38")
  • Weight: 536g (18.9 ounces)
  • Internal memory: 4G internal; 3.3 Gig available for the user
  • Expansion Memory: None (USB capable bus master but this feature has not been enabled)
  • Wireless: 3G with no subscription required (International update)
  • 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).
  • Wireless Connectivity: 3G cellular modem with fallback to EDGE/GPRS coverage (lower speed); utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide U.S and International wireless coverage. Check Amazon cell map coverage. See Wireless Terms and Conditions at Amazon.
  • Battery Life: Read for up to 4 days on a single charge with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
  • 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, bottom-mounted stereo speakers. TTS is supported.
  • Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, Audible (format 4, Audible Enhanced (AAX)), MP3, unprotected PDF, 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.

History

The Amazon Kindle DX is a larger version of the Amazon Kindle 2 which is a newer version of the previously released Amazon Kindle. Lab126, a small Amazon subsidy, worked for several years on this product. They are charged with "producing highly integrated products to serve Amazon consumers". The original Kindle DX was released May 7th 2009 with wireless support for only the US. In January 2010 they announced an International version with 3G support.

The Kindle DX Graphite is the 3rd generation Kindle DX, but the differences are relatively minor. The 1st generation was US-only with EVDO wireless, the 2nd generation was international with AT&T 3G. The 1st and 2nd generation were white with a E Ink Vizplex screen. The 3rd generation is graphite with a E Ink Pearl screen. The Pearl screen has 50% more contrast.

See Also

  • For specifications on the display technology see: E Ink display Note that this device has 16 level gray scale.

Internal hardware

Here are some guesses as to the internal hardware based on examining the Linux source code and other data (applies mostly to Kindle 1):

  • The base system is based on a Gumstix board.
  • The CPU is XScale PXA250 running at 400 MHz when at full speed. ARM compatible.
  • The I/O chip to talk to the PN-LCD, keyboard, scrollwheel and battery is from Foxconn.
  • Flash chip is OneNAND from Samsung.
  • The CDMA modem is AnyData DTG.
  • USB controller is Philips ISP1761 (it has On-The-Go!).
  • EPD controller: Broadsheet (Epson S1D13521) update for Kindle 2.
  • Audio is WM8971

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.

Rooting this Kindle

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