Techiesmo (Tech+Gizmo)

Kindle is an e-book reader and not a tablet. So that would be the first thing I tell to those who are less tech savvy and thinks that everything that looks similar to an iPad is a mutation of an iPad. Not to let them get too excited on the low price of $79 on a device that they thought is a tablet.

But if you are here and you are reading this, you’ll probably know what I’m talking about.

Amazon Kindle 4 or the Fourth Generation Kindle is Kindle at its lowest price yet still maintaining its e-book quality. Though the display is the same as Kindle 3 but the buttons are simplified. The most glaring difference is the disappearance of the physical QWERTY keyboard. Instead, the keyboard has been updated into the display in alphabetical and numerical order. And again I need to remind you that this is a simple e-book reader and not a touch screen tablet. So to navigate you need to use the small basic button on the lower part of the reader.

There are a few pros that I noted about Kindle 4 apart from its killer price. Without the physical keyboard it is far lighter and smaller. So you can carry it unnoticed in your bag or in your pockets. At the same time, the refresh rate on the display is also much better than the previous versions and the glare is reduce too so you can have a better reading experience. Another thing you should be happy about is the built in WiFi that allows you to download from your Kindle Public Library or buy a book online through Amazon.

Now the things that I’m not quite happy with Kindle 4 are naturally why the prices had been slashed from the previous generations. There are no built in speakers. The keyboard had been reduced into display yet this is not a touch screen. Yet all these simplification actually increase the battery life so it does seem to be a good thing too.

And to answer to some more frequently asked question.  Yes, you can download your own e-books to Kindle through the attached USB cable which is also how the Kindle is recharged. And no, it doesn’t have an extra rechargeable battery as the recharged components is built inside and not to be extracted.

Is there another version of the Fourth Generation? Yes, in fact there is two more which is the touch screen versions and the Fire versions that allows you to view reading materials in color.  But that would be in another incoming review.

I would highly recommend this as a replacement to all of your paperbacks books. It is cheap and very simple to use. And if you already have a tablet, you don’t really need the updated touch screen or the ‘Fire’ versions.

Amazon recently unveiled its newest versions of digital book reader to the world on September 28^th and each of them has its own characteristics. Kindle Touch is an improved version of Kindle that recognizes touch from the users to flip through pages and also to do other stuff. Because of the use of the touch screen, Kindle Touch does not have any buttons at all. In the other hand, Kindle Touch 3G further enhanced the capability of Kindle Touch where you can be connected to the internet just by using your Kindle. You can use Kindle Touch 3G to check e-mails and also news on the internet by using an internet browser. However, the most advanced Kindle being introduced will be Kindle Fire.

Kindle Fire is a really interactive digital book reader that uses Android operating system. This makes Kindle Fire capable to run Android games and also apps. However, comparing Apple App Store has more applications being sold compared to Android Store.

In terms of brand recognition, Amazon is known for its Kindle and they are popular around the world. However, Kindle is more known as a digital book reader and not an all-in-one tablet device like iPad. If you own an iPad, you will be able to buy apps for games, productivity and also to read book, the same feature being put into iPods and iPhone. The previous Kindle does not have the same brand recognition as Apple.

However, Kindle Fire is priced at $199, which is 150% less than an iPad with lowest specifications. This can be a huge selling factor for those who is quite strict on using their money. This is because Kindle Fire is also capable to play games, apps and other software like an iPad, but using different operating system. This is perhaps the only strength of Kindle Fire compared to iPad.

For now, Kindle Fire is cannot really threaten the iPad market and the storage capacity is also a little bit too low to store movies and TV shows. Kindle Fire is also incapable of video chat and most probably do not have a microphone for calls. However, those who owned a Kindle will be tempted to buy this new version because of various improvements being done. Kindle Fire will also be popular for new customers who want to own a tablet from a brand recognized for its quality with cheaper prize compared to other competitors.

The newest entry-level Amazon Kindle 2011 is celebrated by Kindle users who want upgrades to their old ones. It is the first Kindle that is priced below $100 ($79) and if you are willing to pay an extra $20, you can instead buy Amazon Kindle Touch that is priced at $99. This entry-level Kindle is perfect for those who already owns a smartphone or tablet like iPhones but need a device that is used completely for reading books.

The design of Amazon Kindle 2011 is more towards ‘designing-for-utility’ rather than ‘designing-to-impress’. The simple but sleek design with 7-inch wide screen is perfect to fit most pockets. Priced at $79, it is the most affordable e-book reader that is both compact and lightweight. Amazon Kindle 2011 is also Wi-Fi capable where you can access the Amazon.com’s book catalogues from the device itself. Older generations of Kindle are known for their extensive battery capability and this new version will have the same battery power that can lasts for weeks.

However, the main concern about Amazon Kindle 2011 is that it does not have a touch screen. Every tablet in the market today is equipped with touch screen and it is a great feature that attracts most costumers. With no keyboard, it will be hard to type just by using a virtual keyboard with a directional pad. Amazon Kindle 2011 also does not support audio and video because Amazon wants to maintain the classic feature of Kindle. For those who want to have Kindles with touch screen capability, they can opt to buy the other three new versions of Kindle where all of them have touch screen for a more expensive price.

There is also a catch on the price tag of Amazon Kindle 2011. $79 is the price that you will pay for an ad-supported version and you will need to pay another $30 to get the ones with no advertisements. $79 also does not cover the extra accessories like the AC charger and Kindle cover.

In conclusion, Amazon Kindle 2011 is perfect for those who want to upgrade their Kindles with a cheaper price to read books. If you are searching for an affordable tablet that does not act only as an e-book reader but also for entertainment, you can opt to buy Amazon Kindle Touch, Amazon Kindle Touch 3G or Amazon Kindle Fire. Amazon Kindle 2011 is only great to do what it is built for, to read books.

The world is moving very fast with the help of revolutionary electronic gadgets. Among them the e-book readers has great contribution. E-book readers have created a wave of ripple among the readers all around the world with its user friendly interfaces. Sony has stepped in to this great revolutionary product with the launch of its latest e-reader called named as Sony e-book reader pocket edition. Let’s have a glimpse into this innovative piece of electronic work from Sony.

Sony e-book reader pocket edition is purely a pocket edition e-book which makes it unique among the other existing readers. This is because of its compact size, out of which the 5 inches touch screen has a great to do. Altogether the device is of 6 inches in size. You might sometimes worry about the readability of such a small device which can be simply avoided on using one or trying out one. In this way this pocket edition is slightly different from the earlier versions from Sony itself. The reader also provides the users the world of entertainment through the built in MP3 player along with the audio output.

The Sony e-book reader pocket edition comes with a built in memory of 2GB with some accessories along with it for the users to enjoy a comfortable reading. Separate carrying cases are also offered by Sony for protecting the device. Now when it comes to price this efficient gadget from Sony hits the markets at $149 and is available in silver color.