Retractable Periscope reading light for Kindle does more than you think
(Credit:
Periscope)
For Amazon Kindle owners who want to read in the dark, there's a new lighting option available: The $49.95 Periscope Lighted Folio. It's actually a retractable reading light, Kindle cover, notepad, and pen holder, rolled into one contraption.
In case you're wondering, the case is made of "leatherette," not real leather, and the lights are "twin" LEDs. The unit's powered by three AA batteries (not included), which should offer "at least 40 hours" of lighting. And when you're finished using the light, it retracts into the spine of the cover.
My two cents: The Periscope Lighted Folio obviously makes the somewhat bulky Kindle even bulkier, but at least you don't have to worry about clipping the lighting accessory onto the top of the Kindle and taking it off after reading. By contrast, the new Sony Reader PRS-700 features integrated LED side-lighting for low-light situations.
The Periscope Lighted Folio will be available next month. It's available for pre-order on Periscope's Web site, which also offers lighting solutions for standard paper books.
Comments on the design or lighting solutions for e-book readers in general?
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter. 
Maybe it is just the picture but the Periscope looks quite large for use with a hand-held e-reader.