Amazon Kindle - Page 3

Amazon announced a new firmware upgrade (v2.5) to the Kindle, currently in private beta. It adds social network sharing (Facebook and Twitter), improved ebook organisation tools (Collections feature) and more. Amazon are also boosting the number of fonts on offer, promising sharper clarity and two new larger sizes, along with adding the ability to “zoom into PDFs and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics.”

Amazon Kindle DX

The new upgrade will be released for both the Kindle and the Kindle DX towards the end of May.

Digitimes says that Barnes & Noble's Nook had a 53% of the total e-reader market in March, outselling the Kindle. They say that the strong shipments are partly because it is new, and partly because it is sold in B&N's own retail outlets.

The Nook costs 259$, and the Kindle 2 US edition) costs the same.

DisplaySearch say that shipments of e-paper increased to 5 million units in 2009, up 417% on year from 950,000 units in 2008, mainly due to the popularity of e-book readers.

The Amazon Kindle has 66% of the total e-paper market according to DisplaySearch, which means that they sold 3.3 million units.

Via E-Ink-Info

comScore has released a new study about e-reader consumers attitudes, behaviors and purchase intent. It's mainly about the Apple iPad and Amazon's Kindle. There are some interesting results - including a high awareness of iPad and Kindle devices, with the iPad rated highest in terms of consumers seriously considering a purchase in the next 3 months.

Here's something funny: 11% of the consumers they surveyed have heard of the Samsung Papyrus. 8% have said they are 'seriously considering a purchase in the next 3 months'. Highly unlikely, especially as these are not sold in the US...

You can find more here, and you can buy the full report from comScore.

Amazon is introducing their Kindle for Tablet software (and yeah, that includes the iPad). B&N are also working on their own software for Apple's upcoming tablet, and we should expect a Skiff application soon, too. Things are heating up...

Apple iPad

via Engadget

Update: we've got a video of the new prototype displays, see below

PVI is showing new 6" and 9.7" color E Ink e-reaer display prototypes. The displays are showing animated color clips, although the refresh rate is not fast enough for video. PVI has shown those screens to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, although they won't say whether there are any plans to use them in future e-readers.

PVI predicts mass-production to start 4Q 2010. PVI also displayed new flexible displays, made from plastic which could make readers lighter and harder to break.

Amazon has (finally) released their Kindle application for Mac computers (Intel-based only, OS X 10.5 and above).

Via Engadget