K.indled

I don’t know about you, but I have been waiting for Amazon and other companies to manufacture more solar-based gadgets. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could buy a solar Kindle or iPhone for that matter. Of course, there are many challenges that manufacturers need to address before adding solar charging capability to their gadgets. So while we may not get a solar Kindle anytime soon, there are ways you can take advantage of the power of the sun to keep your Kindle charged on the go. Solar chargers not only save you the hassle of looking for a power outlet on the road, they also work no matter where you are as long as you have access to some sunshine.

There aren’t many decent solar chargers on the market. Many promise great things and don’t deliver. But here are 4 solar chargers for Kindle that stand out:

Outdoor Portable Travelling Solar Charger for Kindle: comes handy outdoors. It’s pretty portable and comes with multiple tips to charge your Kindle, iPod, and other devices.

Back-Up Rechargeable POWER Boost for Kindle: a complete backup power solution for Kindle that can be charged using the power of the sun, via your computer, or an AC adapter. Continue Reading…

Apple has finally introduced its latest creation, the iPad, with the world. As many of us expected, Apple didn’t pull any stops with this device. The company is going after multiple markets hard and has sent a message market leaders with the iPad. Netbooks and e-book readers are going to be the among the main targets of the iPad’s assault. The device does look like a more shiny version of Kindle DX. It doesn’t take advantage of E-ink technology and is not supposed to be just an e-reader. At the same time, it can be used to consume content on the go.

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As if we needed any confirmation after all that we have heard about Apple’s new creation, the CEO of McGraw Hill did manage to remove any doubts left concerning the introduction of Apple tablet today. The fact is, many publishers are giddy about Apple’s move to introduce a publisher friendly device in Apple tablet, and it’s no wonder they can’t contain their joy:

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Kindle is a great gadget to read books on. There is a reason it’s been one of the hottest selling gadgets around. If you are anything like me, you want to multi-task and get multiple things done while reading the latest news or blogs on your Kindle. Take breakfast for instance. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a way to keep your Kindle vertically still while you have your coffee. That’s where Kindle stands come in. They allow you to do just that while minimizing the chances of your Kindle being damaged in the process. With these 7 handy stands for Kindle, you can never go wrong:

iZel: the most innovative stand for iPhone, Kindle, and most other portable gadgets that you may have. It’s very well designed and makes it so easy to multi-task.

Mivizu Hard Candy Kindle 2 Case and Stand: a thin case and a Kindle stand fit all into one accessory. It’s quite portable and provides protection against scratches as well.

Tuff-Luv Napa Leather case cover: a case/stand hybrid that is not only very attractive but makes it so easy to read your Kindle on your desk. It keeps your gadget vertically stand still and is a super case as well. Continue Reading…

Amazon may be secretive about its plans as far as its next generation Kindle is concerned, but it’s not too hard to realize that the company is in the move and getting ready for a major announcement. The company has already introduced Amazon Kindle DX Global but more importantly has given us Kindle Development Kit, something we have been waiting for a couple of years now. As I mentioned in a previous post, Amazon does tend to give us hints about its next moves, and the fact that the company has partnered with EA Mobile to bring games to Kindle means we are in for a major upgrade as far as Amazon Kindle is concerned. That may mean more powerhouse, a better software, and maybe a color screen. Continue Reading…

Amazon stunned a lot of people by announcing its plans to release a software development kit for Kindle. Many of us have been asking and begging Amazon to allow developers to enhance its platform via third-party apps. That is going to be possible with Kindle Development Kit. We already know that a Zagat application is in the works, but what stunned many was the announcement that EA Mobile was planning to introduce games for Kindle. Yes. The current crop of Kindles that come with a lousy, 1990-like interface. How could it be even possible? I am sure Amazon is not planning to ask EA Mobile to develop a better minesweeper. This all sounds a bit fishy, unless we are not talking about the same Kindle.

In truth, Amazon Kindle 3 is well over-due. Amazon Kindle has been upstaged by Nook and new Sony Readers in the past few weeks, and the company desperately needs some momentum to get back on the right track. The introduction of Kindle DX with Global Wireless doesn’t really count. Considering that Amazon loves releasing its devices in the early part of the year, we could technically see a February/March announcement for Kindle 3.

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We have all seen what Apple App Store has done for iPod Touch and iPhone. There are thousands of apps available in that store that enable Apple customers to enhance their gadgets and get more out of them. We hoped and prayed in 2008 for Amazon to smarten up and introduce an app store for Kindle. Amazon of course didn’t give us what we were hoping for with Kindle 2 or Kindle DX. But that’s all about to change as the prospect of Kindle going head to head with Apple tablet has forced Amazon’s hands. Amazon has started recruiting developers to build “iPhone type” apps for Kindle. It took Amazon two years, but the company may finally be getting it. Here is what Amazon had to say about it’s new Kindle Development Kit:

[Amazon] is inviting software developers to build and upload active content that will be available in the Kindle Store later this year. The new Kindle Development Kit gives developers access to programming interfaces, tools and documentation to build active content for Kindle–the #1 bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product across all categories on Amazon.

We’ve heard from lots of developers over the past two years who are excited to build on top of Kindle. The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities–we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent.

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Yesterday, I talked about how Apple may not go after Amazon Kindle right away as there were no indications that it was courting content publishers. According to numerous reports, it does seem that Apple is exploring the idea of entering the e-book business. HarperCollins Publishers has been in talk with Apple for a deal to distribute e-books on Apple tablet. So Apple could be building up its content network slowly to take a crack at the current crop of e-book readers on the market. Continue Reading…

Apple seems to be finally ready to announce its long-rumored Apple tablet. In an invitation to the media, Apple invited top media outlets to “come see [its] latest creation.” That essentially indicates that we are going to finally get a glimpse of what Apple tablet is all about very soon. CES 2010 gave us many innovative e-book readers, but you can be sure that all eyes will be on Apple and its latest creation to see how the company approaches the e-book industry. Steve Jobs is known for not having anything nice to say about devices such as Kindle. Nevertheless, it’d be tough to imagine Apple taking a pass on the e-book industry. Continue Reading…

ASUS DR750 e-reader - Credit: Times.co.uk

There are a lot of companies that are trying to come up with the device that will finally put Amazon Kindle in its place. We have got Sony Reader, Skiff, Plastic Logic, and Nook all competing hard to get a share of Kindle’s market-share. But one company that could truly challenge Amazon in this business is AsusTek. The company is known for making some of the most innovative laptops and computers, and it wouldn’t surprise me if its e-book reader caught fire as well. The ASUS brand has come a long way in the past few months. ASUS netbooks currently dominate the netbook market. ASUS nettops and all-in-on PCs are popular as well. Who can forget about ASUS Eee keyboard?

If you look at what AsusTek has accomplished in the past few months, it’s not too hard to imagine it coming up with an e-book reader that people will want to use. Details on ASUS DR-570 are a still a bit murky. But we do know that it will have a 6 inch OLED screen and its battery can last for 122 hours. It may not be as long as Kindle or Nook but considering that the device will be capable of displaying Flash videos and has a color screen, shorter battery life is to be expected. Continue Reading…