My Kindle Stuff

Update – The update is for all Kindle 2 users and can be updated manually from Amazon by downloading here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200324680

1. Wireless battery extended
2. PDF support added
3. Page orientation added (manual)

Amazon must want to save on wireless delivery of the update as it has gotten to the update page much quicker than has been usual for either the Kindle 1 or the Kindle 2.

Update 2 – If you update, you will NOT be able to use the Font or Screensaver hacks any more, but you’ll get:
Two new screensavers – Ralph Ellison, some fish similar to the birds on twigs.  Also the Kindle screensaver w/ definition is now the guy under the tree

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I was going thru my Kindle books online when I noticed a new Users Guide (4th Ed).  I downloaded to my PC and was skimming thru it when I noticed that it mentioned native PDF support and portrait orientation..WHAT?  I quickly went to my account to see if I had inadvertently ordered a DX or if there was something screwy with my account.  No DX order, no new Kindle order….so I went back to the user guide for more info.  There it was clear as day in the technical specifications–6″ model.

THen I went to the Amazon Kindle Support page and found nothing!  I figured they were consolidating user guides or something and thought no more of it.  I had started an email to Len Edgerly of the Kindle Chronicles, but felt so dumb that I deleted it an continued on with my day.  Now I feel silly for NOT sending it because a couple of hours later, here comes a press release from Amazon:

Kindle Now Lasts up to Seven Days on a Single Charge with Wireless on, up from Four Days, and Displays Native PDFs in Their Original Form

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 24, 2009– Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced two new enhancements to the latest generation Kindle—85 percent more battery life and a native PDF reader. Kindle now has battery life of up to seven days even with wireless turned on, a significant improvement from the previous battery life of four days. Battery life with wireless turned off remains at the previous level of up to two weeks. Battery power management for portable wireless devices is a complex technical area, and the battery life improvement announced today is the result of a six month firmware improvement and testing program.

Amazon also announced today that the 6-inch Kindle now has a built-in native PDF reader that enables Kindle customers to read professional and personal documents in their original PDF format without conversion. Kindle is in stock and available for immediate shipment today at www.amazon.com/kindle.

“Kindle, already the #1 bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product on all of Amazon.com, is now even better—with 85 percent more battery life and a built-in PDF reader,” said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “These two significant enhancements are available now.”

To read their personal or professional documents, Kindle customers simply email PDFs to their Kindle email address or move them over using a USB connection. Customers that prefer to have their PDF documents converted to the Kindle format simply type “Convert” in the subject of the e-mail when sending documents to their “@kindle.com” address.

Amazon also announced today that previous purchasers of the new Kindle will also receive the 85 percent battery life improvements with wireless on, and native PDF support via a firmware update automatically delivered via Whispernet wireless. Native PDF support will also be available for some earlier versions of Kindle via an automatic Whispernet wireless firmware update.

Well, I’m getting rid of my screensaver hack to see if  ’new Kindle’ only means the International version or if it will apply to the original Kindle 2 owners.