kindle

My Kindle display self-destructed

I was planning to write about how much I'm loving the Amazon Kindle. I got one to try to consolidate some of the weight and clutter I routinely carry with me on trips in the form of books/magazines/newspapers, and spent several hours on my Cincinnati to London flight absolutely loving the device.

The wireless connectivity and other technological features of the Kindle are nice, but that's not where it shines, in my view. No, it's the feel of the Kindle that is amazing. I read for hours, surprised by how well it rested in my hands and by the exceptional display.

Well, the display was "exceptional" until it stopped working. I got to my hotel an hour ago and, since I couldn't yet check in, decided to open up the Kindle to read. Despite having used it just two hours ago on the train into London, and having done absolutely nothing that could have physically impacted the screen (Rode in a taxi? Checked in at my hotel? The Kindle was safely protected in my bag all the while...), the screen is apparently dead.… Read more

Announcing the Ten-Step Program to save Nicholas Carr's brain

I have just read Nicholas Carr's Atlantic Monthly article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

Actually, I skimmed it.

But his thesis is a very worrying one. (As many of his theses are.)

He fears that his constant Googling and other triflings on the web are altering the way his brain functions.

He is unable to read anything of length. Like a thrice-married ogler in a bar, he feels his eyes are constantly skimming salient facts rather than mellifluous prose. His friends have given up hope of ever reading "War and Peace."

I want to save … Read more

Amazon's Jeff Bezos: A passion for Kindle and digital content delivery

CARLSBAD, Calif.--Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos kicked off the morning proceedings here at D6 after a night of polite carousing by industry luminaries. During the interview with D co-host Walt Mossberg, Bezos announced a streaming-video service and explained his foray into hardware with the Kindle e-book reader.

On the subject of video and music delivery, Bezos said, "We are working on a new version of video-on-demand, a for-pay streaming service we will release in the next couple of weeks. The streaming service will start instantly, and it's a la carte, for pay."

Regarding competing … Read more

ZOMG: Amazon.com drops Kindle price 10 percent

This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. PDT Wednesday to correct the estimated number of Kindles to be sold by 2010.

Q: Is $360 versus $400 that big of a deal?

A: On a slow news day, apparently, yes.

We're not talking an iPhone-level price cut here. Still, blogs here, here, here, here, and here are really excited about the 10 percent discount Amazon.com is offering on the Kindle.

It's not at all clear that a $40 discount is the shove fence-sitters considering buying a $400 device for reading electronic books are going to need. … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 726: Dueling banjos at dawn (VIDEO)

Here is the video for today's episode of Buzz Out Loud. Check it out!

Gadgettes 90: The 'No Way' Episode

Some items make us go "No Way!" Others make us go "No Way?!" That question mark makes all the difference in the world. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 90

The KickTrack http://medgadget.com/archives/2007/12/baby_kick_counter.html

Fusion man soars above Swiss Alps on Personal Jet Wing http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/05/14/ photos.rocketman/index.html

Japan plans face recognition cigarette vending machines http://dvice.com/archives/2008/05/japan_plans_fac.php

Analyst: Amazon.com’s Kindle to generate $750 million by 2010 http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9945112-1.html… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 726: Dueling banjos at dawn

Somehow today's show ended with Jason Howell challenging Paul Shaffer to a duel at Shalin's suggestion. We don't know. It's Friday. In other news, Cox and Comcast are the biggest BitTorrent blockers in the world, we spoil the entire plotline of Battlestar Galactica (sorry!), and we get deep inside the jDome. Plus: VIDEO! Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 726

Note: We are making a change to our podcast feed system on Monday, May 19. However, you do not need to subscribe to a new feed. One important thing to know: If you have your … Read more

Analyst: Amazon.com's Kindle to generate $750 million by 2010

Calling it the iPod of the book business, CitiGroup analyst Mark Mahaney says the Kindle e-book reader will generate three-quarters of a billion dollars for Amazon.com in less than two years.

That should account for up to 3 percent of Amazon's business. See his chart and reasoning here.

His calculations assume that unit sales will grow from 189,000 by the end of this year to 2.2 million units in just two years. By then he assumes the price of the device will be just below $300. Mahaney also points out that Amazon does have the largest … Read more

Kindle back on shelves at Amazon

Barely a month after Jeff Bezos' very public mea culpa over delays, Amazon's Kindle is apparently back on the virtual shelves.

The e-tailer's listing page for the e-book reader indicates that it's in stock and available for purchase, at the usual $399 plus free two-day shipping.

After the Kindle had sold out so quickly after its launch in November last year, there had been some speculation that the delays were caused by production problems or were planned deliberately to stoke more demand. But as Craver David Carnoy indicated, it was probably just a victim of holiday shopping madness.… Read more