To Buy or Not to Buy: Kindle 3 FAQs

Q. How Kindle 3 is differnt from Kindle 2?

A. I wrote a post one week ago on this topic, and presented a tble. Let show the table here again:

Feature	Kindle 2	Kindle 3
Display size	8″ x 5.3″ x0.36″	7.5″ x 4.8″ x 0.335″ 21% smaller
Weight	10.2 ounces	Wifi-only: 8.5 ounces 3G+wifi: 8.7 ounces 15% lighter
Storage	2 GB	4GB
Screen	eInk	eInk Pearl with proprietory screen technology 50% better contrast, and 20% higher refresh rate
Battery life (wireless off)	2 weeks	1 month
Battery life (wireless on)	4 days	Wifi-only: 3 weeks 3G+wifi: 10 days
Font Style	1 font: Caecilia	3 fonts: Caecilia, a condensed version of Caecilia, and sans ser
Language scripts	Only Latin & Greek scripts	Latin & Greek, Cyrillic (such as Russian), Japanese, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), and Korean characters (CJK)
Text-to-Speech	Only text in the ebook	Text in the ebook & Voice Guide enabling the option of listening to content listings on the home screen, item descriptions, and all menu options
PDF support	Pan & zoom, potrait & landscape modes	Pan & zoom, potrait & landscape modes, notes and highlights, dictionary look-up, and password-protected PDFs, adjust contrast in PDFs
Password Protection	No	Yes, can choose to lock your Kindle automatically when you’re not using it
Browser	Simple	Webkit-based, article mode, download unprotected .mobi, .prc and kindle format (.awz, .awz1) and .txt files directly from the browser
Visibility on screen	While reading top bar always stays	Top bar auto-disappear while reading allowing more reading space
Keyboard	Bigger with number row on the top	smaller, No number row on the top. Use Alt+top row alphabets to type numbers
Microphone	No	There’s a microphone on the Kindle 3 that’s currently not being used
Cover	sold separately, simple cover	sold separately, supports lighted cover that doesn’t require any battery
Price	$189	Wifi-only: $139 3G+wifi: $189

Q. There are now more choices of Kindle. Which one I should buy?

A. Kindle 3 comes in two models: Kindle wifi-only & Kindle 3G+wifi. Kindle wifi-only comes only in graphite color. And Kindle 3G+wifi comes both white & graphite color. If you want to buy wifi-only you don’t have any choice. If you want to buy 3G+wifi Kindle, you can choose white or graphite. There is no differences between these two except the color.

Q. Why there is a wifi-only Kindle?

A. First of all wifi-only kindle is $50 less than the 3G+wifi kindle. Wifi-only kindle requires you to be in a wifi network to get access through web browser, and purchase of ebooks from Amazon Kindle store. Some locations don’t have 3G access, and if you’re one living in sucg locations, and don’t travel that much you can go for wifi-only Kindle, pay less for the device. Moreover, wifi-Kindle makes it possible for Amazon to go global. In many countries like New Zealand, Amazon couldn’t introduce Kindle as Amazon couldn’t reach any aggreement with any local celluler company for 3G network coverage. With the introduction of wifi-only, now people from New Zealand can enjoy Kindle. In fact, people from any country can now order Kindle wifi. That’s the advantage of new Kindle.

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Q. All Kindles so far released have eink screen? What is so special about Kindle 3 eink screen?

A.  Amazon calls the new eink screen pearl. Accoring to Amazon, Kindle’s all-new, high-contrast electronic ink display is further optimized with Amazon’s proprietary waveform and font technology to make pages turn faster and fonts sharper.

Waveform is a series of electronic pulses that move black and white electronic ink particles to achieve a final gray level for an image or text.

Amazon tuned the new Kindle’s waveform and controller mechanism to make page turning 20 percent faster. In addition, this waveform tuning combined with new hand-built, custom fonts and font-hinting make words and letters more crisp, clear, and natural-looking.

Font hints are instructions, written as code, that control points on a font character’s line and improve legibility at small font sizes where few pixels are available. Hinting is a mix of aesthetic judgments and complicated technical strategies. Amazon designed its proprietary font-hinting to optimize specifically for the special characteristics of electronic ink.

Q. I heard Kindle 3 doesn’t have numbers on the keybord. Does it matter?

A. Yes, Kindle 3 keyboard has been reorganized, and it doesn;t have number keys. Some Kindle 2 owners say they will miss the number keys. However, Amazon has removed the keys to make kindle much smaller, and sleek. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t type numbers anymore. By using SYM key you can alway type numbers. There is another way to do that.

In order to type number now you have to use shortcuts. For example, to type number “1″ use alt+Q. Thus alt+top row alphabets gives you the desired number.

• Alt+Q > 1
• Alt+W > 2
• Alt+E > 3
• Alt+R > 4
• Alt+T > 5
• Alt+Y > 6
• Alt+U > 7
• Alt+I > 8
• Alt+O > 9
• Alt+P > 0

Q . How does PDF support on Kindle 3 differ from Kindle 2?

A. The new Kindle has enhanced PDF support. In short, new Kindle now supports dictionary lookup, notes, and highlights. Please read here the details:

• You can read any PDF file without loosing original formatting
• Password protected PDFs are now supported
• The white margins of PDFs are automatically cropped for maximum viewing
• You can magnify PDFs by viewing them in landscape mode
• You can zoom into any area of a PDF up to 300% and pan (by pressing down shift button and 5-way controller) to easily view small print and detailed tables and graphics
• You can adjust contrast in PDFs – The options are lightest, lighter, default, darker, and darkest.
• You also have the option to have your PDF document converted to the Kindle format so that it reflows.
• Place Cursor in Page — displays a blinking cursor on the page. Use this option when you are zoomed in to a PDF page and you want to create a note or highlight, or use the dictionary lookup. Move the cursor to a location on the page, then begin typing to create a note or click to start a highlight.
• To take advantage of functionality such as variable font size,  Text-to-Speech,  you must need to convert the PDF documents. To do so, use the conversion service provided by amazon: type “Convert” in the subject of the e-mail when you submit your personal document to “name”@free.kindle.com

Q. Can I Use My Kindle 2 Cover with Kindle 3?
A. No, you can’t. Kindle 3 is smaller than Kindle 2. Kindle 2 cover would not fit Kindle 3.

In a Q&A section by Amazon customer service provides this information.

Q: Will the cover for Kindle (2nd Generation) work for Kindle (Latest Generation)?
A: Covers designed specifically for Kindle (2nd Generation) aren’t compatible with Kindle (Latest Generation).

So, if you want a new cover for your new Kindle, choose an appropriate one now.

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Q. Can I trade Kindle 2 for Kindle 3?

A. Amazon doesn’t allow any trade in. However, Amazon has a 30-day return policy. If you’ve already purchased a Kindle 2, but still have less 30 days left, you can return your Kindle 2, and order a Kindle 3. If you have purchased Kindle 2 from Target store in last 90 days, you can return it to Target as it has 90 days return policy. If it has been more 30 days since you purchased Kindle 2 from Amazon, or more than 90 days since you purchased from Target Store, then sell your Kindle 2 through ebay or Amazon market place if you really want to buy a new Kindle. That’s the only way you can save money on your new Kindle purchase.

Q. There is a lot of buzz about new kindle’s web browser. Waht’s so special about Kindle 3 web browser?

A. With the introduction of Kindle 3, Amazon has launched new web browser on new Kindle based on WebKit. For now, Amazon says it will  “provide a better web browsing experience”. However, there are speculations that Amazon might have something in mind to enhance Kindle’s capability using WebKit-based browser. Amazon has already introduced new “Article Mode” in Kindle 3’s web browser. The main purpose of such article mode is to maximize readability in a better way.

• The Article Mode in Kindle 3′s web browser enhance readability by showing the main text on any web page
• The web browser will support downloading Kindle format files (.azw, .azw1), unprotected Mobipocket files (.mobi, .prc), and text files directly onto the device
• The web browser supports JavaScript, SSL, and cookies but not Flash or Java Applets
• Experimental web browsing is free to use over Wi-Fi

There must be some reasons why Amazon has switched to open source webkit -based browser which has been the foundation of Apple’s Safari, and Google Chrome browser. For more detail, go here.

Q. Is there any review on Kindle 3?

A. Since nobody still owns a kindle yet, there is no first hand comprensive review of new kindle. However, there are some reviews based on hands-on for 20-30 minutes at the news conference. Here is some details. There is one hands-on video review by Stuff.TV:

Q. Why the new Kindle has a microphone, but not activaed?

A. In the press release of new Kindle announcement Amazon ignrored any detail on adding a microphone while it has been mentioned in the user guide saying that it has not been activited. In other words, the microphone is inside the machine; it can be activated through a software upgrade. It is possible that Amazon will activate the microphone in a couple of months. However, Amazon is completely silent the reason for adding microphone on new Kindle. The result is people have started speculating on the use of microphone. Here you can read some examples

Q. What is voice guide on Kindle 3?

A. The Voice Guide is a new feature Amazon has introduced with new Kindle.  You already know that Kindle has Text-to-Speech capability. This TTS capability is a blessing for visually impaired people. Amazon has enhanced this capability now enabling Text-to-Speech for menus that will allow customers to navigate Kindle without having to read menu options. In addition to listening to books aloud, users now have the option of listening to content listings on the home screen, item descriptions, and all menu options.

Q. Does the new Kindle have more font choices?

A. Yes. Kindle now has three font styles to choose from – our standard Caecilia font, a condensed version of Caecilia, and a sans serif option – so you can change your font style along with the font size.

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Q. Does Kindle 3 supports languages other than English?

A. Kindle can now display Cyrillic (such as Russian), Japanese, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), and Korean characters in addition to Latin and Greek scripts.

Q. I’ve a first generation Kindle. Should I buy new Kindle 3?

A. I think you should go for Kindle 3. Kindle 3 is way more improvements over Kindle 1. How long you can wait for a perfect ereader if it’s not the one? Amazon might come up with a new Kindle (color+touch) one year from now. If you’re a big fan of color and touchscreen, then you might think of waiting. However, at $139 or $189 price the new Kindle certainly worthy of buying. You can always resell it on ebay or amazon market place later before you buy the new kindle later.

Q. I’ve a Kindle 2. Should I buy new Kindle 3?

A. I would say – certainly – if you’re a serious reader. The new Kindle has brighter screen contract, better refresh rate, it’s smaller, and you can add value by buying lighted cover that helps you reading at night without battery. Remember, the new lighted cover doesn’t work with Kindle 2. There is another point – the new Kindle has webkit based browser with article mode. Such browser is much more advanced, and there is a lot of possibilities that amazon may consider later through software upgrade. Such upgrade might not be available for kindle 2. Moreover, Kindle 3 has built-in microphone that has been activated. However, I think, Amazon can activate it through software upgrade. Since Amazon is considering kindle appstore (already published two games), app developers will target apps usability with latest firmware, which means Kindle 3.

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Tagged as: Amazon, FAQs, Kindle 3