Kindle Tip: Listen to your books by using Text-to-Speech

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Kindle Tip:

Listen to your books by using Text-to-Speech. While reading, press the Text key and then use the 5-way control to underline “turn on” for “Text-to-Speech.”

You can also press Shift + Sym to stop or play and Spacebar to pause or resume.

Related:

Kindle ecosystem – the very best Kindle sites, tools, blogs http://goo.gl/02RGZ

KinTweet is a free Twitter client for Kindle

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KinTweet is a free Twitter client for Kindle:



Kinstant is a start page/portal for "links to the best websites, formatted for Kindle":



Kindle 3 WebKit Web Browser Review:

Related:

Kindle ecosystem – the very best Kindle sites, tools, blogs http://goo.gl/02RGZ

40 Kindle Tips

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From iReaderReview:

Google Services

- Access Google Reader from Your Kindle. You can access Google Reader from your Kindle by using the mobile version of the site – http://www.google.com/reader/m

- You can also access other Google products like GMail (http://m.gmail.com) and Google Calendar (http://www.google.com/calendar/m)

Text to Speech

- Start Text to Speech using Shift+SYM. Shift is the Up Arrow button. Pause and Resume Text to Speech using the Space Bar.

Mp3 Player Shortcuts

- Play or Stop Background Audio – Alt+Space. Skip to the next song – Alt+F.

- Read an html file on your Kindle: Rename an html file to .txt and put it in your Documents Folder. Now the Kindle will open it up just as it would a book.

Find Free Public Domain Books

The three best sites are Manybooks.net, Gutenberg.org, and Internet Archive (archive.org/details/texts/). Always look for kindle compatible formats and choose these format:

- ‘Kindle (.azw)’ on ManyBooks.
- ‘Mobipocket (experimental)’ on Gutenberg.org.
- ‘Kindle (beta)’ on Archive.org.

Find Free Books in the Kindle Store

Go to any category and search by Price:Low to High to find the free books. To remove public domain books type in ‘-public’ in the search box and press Enter. To find all the new free books in the Kindle Store select ‘Kindle Books’ in the drop down box on the left of the Search Bar and then type in ‘-public’ and press Enter. After that in the Sort By drop-down box choose - Price: Low to High.

See Time, Network Type, and Free Memory

Press Menu and you can see these in the status bar – On the top left is the amount of free memory your Kindle has, in the centre the time, and on the right the type of wireless network the Kindle is connected to.

Take a Screenshot

Press Alt+Shift+G to take a screenshot. The Shift Key is the Up Arrow key. These screenshots are saved as images in the Documents folder of your Kindle.

Change line spacing when reading Kindle Books

Press Alt+Shift+Number to change the spacing between lines. Alt+Shift+1 sets the smallest line spacing and Alt+Shift+9 sets the largest line spacing.

Get Pictures on your Kindle

Create a ‘Pictures’ Folder on your Kindle (same level as the Documents Folder). Create sub-folders within the Pictures Folder. Put images in these sub-folders. On the Home Page press Alt+Z to have these sub-folders show up as Photo Albums.

Shortcuts when Viewing Pictures on your Kindle

Zoom in on the Picture – Q Key.
Zoom Out of the Picture – W Key.
Pan photo – 5-way controller.
Reset Zoom – E key. Actual Size – C key.
Turn Full Screen Mode On and Off – F Key.
Rotate Image – R key.

A List of mobile websites that work well with Kindle

Go to http://cantoni.mobi to get a huge list of websites that have well done mobile versions which will work well with your Kindle’s browser.

References:
40 More Kindle Tips and Hints
Another look at Kindle Tips and Shortcuts

Related:

Kindle ecosystem – the very best Kindle sites, tools, blogs http://goo.gl/02RGZ

Kindle software update adds PDF zoom and posting to Facebook/Twitter

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New features:

- PDF Pan and Zoom: Zoom into PDFs and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics

- Facebook & Twitter Posts: Share your notes and highlighted book passages with friends on Facebook and Twitter directly from your Kindle

- Collections: Organize your books and documents into one or more collections

- Popular Highlights: See what the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you’re reading

- Password Protection: Password-protect your Kindle when you’re not using it

- More Font Sizes & Improved Clarity: Enjoy two new larger font sizes and sharper fonts for an even more comfortable reading experience

From Amazon:

"The 2.5 software update for Kindle and Kindle DX is here. We send out software updates wirelessly in batches. When a new software update is available for your Kindle, it will automatically be delivered to your device as described below. There is nothing you need to do."

Here is how to update your Kindle right now, if you do not want to wait for the scheduled update: Applying Kindle Software Updates Manually

How to play MP3 study files from lectures on Amazon Kindle

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From Ask Dave Taylor:

"One of the experimental, poorly documented features of the new Kindle operating system from Amazon is indeed the ability to play music while you're reading or otherwise using the device. You can't use Pandora or Slacker Radio, though, you need to start by uploading some mp3 files into the device.

Press ALT + Space to play your music. Done? Press the same key sequence to pause the music playback.

Want to skip to the next song? That's what happens when you press ALT + F. "

References:
Can I play music on my Amazon Kindle? Ask Dave Taylor!

Related:

Kindle ecosystem – the very best Kindle sites, tools, blogs http://goo.gl/02RGZ

Is Kindle Useful for Students? Not So Much Apparently.

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Kindle DX reduced the amount of paper students printed for their respective classes by nearly 50 percent. Survey participants cited the Kindle’s battery life, wireless connection, portability, search feature and ability to consolidate all course documents in one place as convenient features.

However, according to a student, “I expected it to be a really useful tool that would enhance my experience, but it has hindered my studies in a lot of different ways,” Skolnick said. “I wasn’t able to absorb the material as well as if I had hard copies of the readings, and I had to deal with a lot of technical inconveniences just from the design of the Kindle.”

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/02/22/25262

http://ireaderreview.com/2010/02/22/kindle-dx-study-data-released-by-princeton

Amazon Offers Kindle Digital Text Platform for Self-publishing Authors

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Digital Text Platform is a self-publishing tool that lets you upload and format your books for sale in the Kindle Store.

From Amazon:

"Have a book you want to sell? Sign up with Digital Text Platform and publish your content in the Amazon Kindle Store in minutes.

If you have an Amazon.com account, you're already signed up with Digital Text Platform. Digital Text Platform gives you everything you need to become your own publisher today. See for yourself."

 Kindle isn’t simply a ereader device plus ebook store but a true global ecosystem of writers and publishers.

References:
Amazon Opens Up Kindle Digital Text Platform To Authors Outside The U.S. TechCrunch.

Tablets, e-readers and netbooks bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops

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From NYT, A Deluge of Devices for Reading and Surfing:

The PC is just not the ideal device for reading. Many companies are aiming their products at the market for reading devices, where Amazon commands a 60 percent share.

Dedicated e-readers, with their black-and-white screens that mimic paper, will survive an onslaught of versatile color tablets from Apple and others due to the benefits of long battery life and reduced strain on the eyes.

“I think the black-and-white readers still survive in the niche market as reading devices,” said Andy Hargreaves, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities. “I’m not expecting the Apple device to be as good as the Kindle or Sony Reader for reading.”

AP video: Tech companies are aiming to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops by offering new tablets, e-readers and netbooks. The AP's Haven Daley reports from the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

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BBC: Microsoft and HP show off 'slate' PC and produce subdued reaction

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From BBC:

Microsoft and HP unveiled the Windows 7 powered touchscreen machine, also known as a tablet.

The aim of the device is to bridge the gap between laptops and smartphones. Reaction to the as yet unnamed device was somewhat subdued.

"The biggest hit of the year was Windows 7," said Mr Ballmer. "Windows 7 is by far the fastest selling operating system in history."



See the video of Ballmer's presentation at BBC website.

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Amazon.com introduces Kindle DX with Global Wireless - wireless content delivery in 100 countries

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Amazon.com has introduced Kindle DX with Global Wireless – a new version of the 9.7-inch wireless reading device now with the convenience of wireless content delivery in over 100 countries.

In addition to the features that have made the 6-inch Kindle the bestselling product across all of Amazon, the new Kindle DX with Global Wireless has a large 9.7-inch electronic paper display, auto-rotate capability and storage for up to 3,500 books.

Kindle DX with Global Wireless is available for pre-order starting today for $489 at www.amazon.com/kindledx and ships January 19.

References:
Amazon