Amazon Kindle

Amazon released a software update for the Kindle Touch (V5.0.3). Amazon says it includes "general software improvements" - no new features, and probably some bug fixes. You can just wait for it to download over Wi-Fi over the next few weeks, or you can do it yourself via USB (here's how).

SolarFocus is introducing a new solar charger cover for your Kindle 2011. The SolarKindle can extend your Kindle's battery life - adding three months of use. It also includes a LED lamp if you want to read in the dark.

The SolarKindle will cost $80 when it launches on January 15. There will be a Kindle Touch version soon.

Amazon announced that the 2011 holiday period was a big success for the Kindle family. Customers bought "well over" 1 million Kindle devices per week, and the top three spots on Amazon.com's best seller charts are held by the Kindle Fire, the Kindle Touch and the Kindle 2011. The Kindle Fire is also the most gifted and most wished for product for 13 weeks in a row.

Kindle is also the best selling product on Amazon's UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy stores. Christmas day was the best day ever for Kindle book downloads.

Amazon announced that in the past three weeks they have sold over 1 million Kindle devices each week. This includes the complete range of Kindles - the Kindle Fire, the Kindle Touch, the Kindle 2011 and the Kindle Keyboard and Keyboard DX that are still selling.

We know that the Fire is the best selling of all, but unfortunately we do not know the exact breakdown between the various models...

Amazon reports good Black Friday Kindle sales - in fact they say total Kindle sales increased 4X compared to last year. The Kindle Fire is still Amazon's best selling product - for over 8 weeks in a row (since its introduction on September 28th).

Amazon wouldn't release any figures, but they did say that even before the weekend they sold "millions of the new Kindle family and Kindle Fire". Interestingly, they say that a lot of customers are buying multiple Kindles (some probably as gifts to others).

Engadget posted two reviews - of the Kindle Touch and the Kindle Fire. The Touch is deemed as a good e-reader, but they say the touch functionality isn't so good as to make them want to replace the older Kindle keyboard or Nook reader - "The Kindle Touch is as good as any touch reader out there, but there's nothing particularly exceptional about it...the Kindle Touch isn't the steal it appears to be on paper".

The Fire gets a more favorable review. While the Fire can't compete with other tablets as it's slow, the interface is sluggish and the functionality is restricted, but "The Kindle Fire is quite an achievement at $200. It's a perfectly usable tablet that feels good in the hand and has a respectably good looking display up front". So at this price point, the Fire is a great value and has a great integration of content acquisition into a mobile device.

According to an iSupply teardown, the Kindle 2011 costs $84 to make - which means that Amazon is actually losing $5 on each ad-supported device sold - which cost $79. The $84 is the cost of materials and assembly - it does not include royaly/license fees and shipping costs. Obviously Amazon is hoping to make money from ad revenue and from book/software sales.

The most expensive component in the Kindle is the 6" E Ink display module - which costs $30.5 according to iSupply.