features

Rumor: Amazon to offer EPUB format on Kindle “soon”

Citing off-the-record statements by four different publishers, the blog Good E-Reader today announced that Amazon will soon offer EPUB format books on the Kindle platform: Four publishers in the last week have confirmed that Amazon has indeed told them they now have an option to submit eBooks to be listed in the Amazon store in [...]

Amazon's new lending feature is probably going to anger some publishers

When it comes to Kindle features, Amazon tends to follow the aphorism that it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission. This strategy doesn’t always work–see the text-to-speech controversy–but it helps give Amazon the element of surprise in the marketplace. With that in mind, I have a feeling that some indie publishers are going to be [...]

Kindle ebook lending is now available

With two days left before the end of the year, Amazon finally delivered on their promise to enable ebook lending on the Kindle Store this morning. You won’t find it on every title, but if it’s available then you’ll see a prompt in two places: 1. At the top of the product page for books [...]

How to predict what Amazon will announce next

It should be clear by now that the only time Amazon likes to announce a feature is when a competitor–usually Barnes & Noble–has something to announce. The Kindle 2 price cut this summer happened a few hours after B&N’s price cut. The long-requested (and long-denied) feature of gifting Kindle books was announced the same day [...]

How to make the most of Kindle 2.5.2

So let’s say your Kindle is now upgraded to the most recent version of the software, which as of today is 2.5.2 2.5.3. Now what do you do? Some geeks (like me) keep going on about how awesome it is, but what’s the big deal? Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new, and how to [...]

Thinking of buying a Kindle? Wait until August

So here’s the latest round of news/rumors on the Kindle: last week, Bloomberg announced that two anonymous people confirmed there will be a thinner, faster Kindle released in August. It won’t have a color screen or use touchscreen technology, but you might be able to slice bread with it. (Seriously, the Kindle is thin enough [...]

Add a free dictionary to Kindle for PC

The latest update of Kindle for PC brought some welcome improvements, like full screen display, color controls, notes and highlights. What it didn’t bring was a built-in dictionary. Of course, if you’re on your PC you most likely can use your web browser to look up words. But the blog A Kindle World has another [...]

Kindle for PC updated, offers color and full screen options

Good news for people who use Kindle for PC: Amazon is rolling out an update (v 1.1.0) that provides some welcome new features, including: full screen reading (see photo below!) background color and brightness controls the ability to create and edit notes and highlights According to Amazon Kindle Customer Service, the company will be “rolling [...]