Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Anyone looking to pick up an Amazon Kindle for the holidays seems to be out of luck as Amazon has once again sold out of the Kindle.  Current expected shipping times for a new Kindle are being listed as “11 to 13 weeks” and given that, some may start looking for alternate ways to make a purchase.

Amazon is offering, when available, refurbished models that are selling for $329.  Not much of a discount, but with such a popular item I guess that is a fair price.  Of course, as of this posting even those are sold out as well.  However, there are some alternative methods, but as you can expect, they are not going to be cheap.  The Amazon marketplace currently has some “used - like new” models that are available, which are priced anywhere from $500 even up to $1,500.

Finally, for those that are really desperate, there is always eBay.  Heck, with prices like this, I am almost tempted to part with mine.

Via [I4U]  Via [The Kindle]

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This is where we call out the tech moves that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin’ crack.  This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity. 

Here’s what caught my eye this week:

• Zune Phone inbound?
• Kindle 2 sucking life out of holiday sales?
• 7-11’s new video section
• HDTVs for pennies?

Follow me into the madness.

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This certainly is not the first we are hearing about the Kindle 2, however it looks like anyone who was holding out is going to have to wait a little longer.  Initially, the Kindle 2 was expected to hit the market this past October, which would have given it a good launch to pick up some holiday sales.  According to the reports, the delay was caused by Jeff Bezos in order to make some last minute changes to the software. 

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One of the main complaints you see with the Kindle, or just about any eBook reader is the lack of an available backlight.  That means it becomes the task of third party accessory makers to fill in that gap.  The latest accessory comes in the form of a Lighted Folio from Periscope.

The Lighted Folio includes a twin LED light that is said to offer 40 hours of light from three AA batteries.  Additionally the folio offers space for a 5 x 8-inch notepad along with a pen holder.  If interested, the Lighted Folio is retailing for $49.95.  It is currently available as a pre-order item with delivery promised for December. 

Interested in a Kindle?  Click here for Gadgetell’s Kindle review.

Product [PeriscopeLight]

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Gadgetell Quick Review:

Amazon Kindle

What is it?

The Amazon Kindle is Amazon’s electronic reading device. It uses E Ink technology and is available for $359.

Pros:

Easy to use, lightweight, lots of storage and free wireless service.

Cons:

The included cover needs improvement.

Keep reading for an in-depth, hands-on review. 

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I have to admit, recently, if text is not staring at me from a screen I become uninterested very quickly.  Although, from reading about this upcoming book, I might have to actually read a book, or find a Kindle to read it on.  The book is called “iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind,“ by Gary Small.  Small is a neuroscientist from UCLA.  The idea of actually reading the book somewhat defeats the point made in the book, however.

The book says that through technology, we are learning to use more parts of our brains.  Through doing simple things most of us probably take for granted such as sending text messages and Internet searching our brains become “more adept at filtering information and making snap decisions.“  The book also claims that technology is increasing creativity and and accelerating learning.  Sounds pretty good to me.  Find out more after the break.

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Sections: Communications, Computers, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Web

I get confused when I can’t tell an endorsement from a paid endorsement.  One minute there is a report that talk show host Oprah Winfrey has declared Amazon’s Kindle her “favorite new thing” and the next is a big advertisement with Ms. Winfrey on Amazon.  A quick search on the tubes proves I am unsuccessful at finding out if she was paid to make this claim or not.

The Oprah show painted the Kindle as a wonder: not frivolous as it will save you money in the long run and a super green way to read books.  I can hear the trees applauding from here.  More after the break.

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iRex has announced new ebook readers that could potentially steal the spotlight from the now-old Amazon Kindle.  iRex has announced three such readers, each of them with a 10.2” e-ink display.  The differences between the models are the two Digital Reader 1000S and Digital Reader 1000SW ones have touch screens with styli, and the 1000SW one has 3G, bluetooth and Wi-FI.  The bottom of the line Digital Reader 1000 has the same features, without the touch input, bluetooth, 3G, or Wi-Fi.

All of the Digital Readers can support both PDFs and Office Documents, neither of which the Kindle can support.  The 1000S and 1000SW can even edit PDFs and Office documents through the use of their touch screen.  iRex is trying to advertise the Digital Readers to companies, on their website claiming that thousands of documents are printed for offices, only to be thrown away sometimes within a day.  According to iRex the Digital Reader will save paper allowing you to put the documents on the Digital Reader and edit them with the touch screen on the 1000S and 1000 SW.

It’s doubtful the iRex Digital Readers will overtake the Amazon Kindle any time soon, especially with prices starting at $650 for the 1000.  It is nice to see something new in the space.  Maybe they can force Amazon to innovate on the Kindle.  Removing that ugly keyboard for a touch screen would push me over the edge for a Kindle especially at the current price.  Granted, the iRex Digital Readers are designed with offices in mind, but I could imagine some consumers wanted that functionality without having to pay $650.

Read [Electronista]

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Getting ready to show off their version of an electronic paper at a trade show today in San Diego, Plastic Logic’s yet unnamed device may just be a needed boost for the floundering newspaper industry. The device continually updates wirelessly, and can store content from newspapers, magazines, books, whatever…hundreds of pages worth.  It has a screen that is about 2.5 times the size of the Kindle, yet it only weighs about 2 ounces more, and is actually thinner than the book reader. 

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Lately we have been seeing quite a few rumors about upcoming models of the Amazon Kindle. Just within the past few weeks we have seen some rumored information about a Kindle 2.0 that was expected to be thinner, a little more stylish and best of all, a little cheaper. In addition to the Kindle 2.0 we have also seen recent stories about a second version of the Kindle that is aimed at student market, this was was even “confirmed” by a recent story in the Seattle PI.

However it seems that everything that has been written recently may not be entirely true. Overall the cheaper Kindle 2.0 sounds nice, and the student edition sounds great, especially compared to a bunch of heavy textbooks, but it is a little strange to see a lower priced model coming, especially considering the success that Amazon is having with the current model and current pricing.

The latest news, which basically kills these rumors comes from Amazon spokesman Craig Berman who recently spoke with the New York Times and told them to not “believe everything you read.” He also went on to state that “there will be no new version of the Kindle this year. A new version is possible sometime next year at the earliest.”

So you can read into that statement however you want, as with any successful product its only likely that we will see a follow or second edition come. So there likely still is a student edition coming, just not in 2008, of course Craig Berman would not offer any comment as to whether they were developing a Kindle for a specific group.

Read [New York Times Bits]

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