Amazon finally adds native support for PDF, increases battery life - Update5

(You can skip to Update 1, Update 2, Update 3, Update 4, or Update 5 by clicking on one of them.)

Amazing. I'd been waiting for this, and the last shoe to drop would be support for ePub.  Since they own Lexcycle, who makes Stanza, which focuses on ePub, it should not take long to make that decision as it'll be key this coming year.

Amazon adds native PDF support to Int'l Kindles and boosts battery life 85% in that model 85%.  They will also upgrade existing Kindle 2's to varying degrees.

' "Kindle, already the #1 bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product on all of Amazon.com, is now even better" with 85 percent more battery life and a built-in PDF reader," said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. "These two significant enhancements are available now."

Amazon also announced today that previous purchasers of the new Kindle will also receive the 85 percent battery life improvements with wireless on, and native PDF support via a firmware update automatically delivered via Whispernet wireless.

Native PDF support will also be available for some earlier versions of Kindle via an automatic Whispernet wireless firmware update." '

The language is somewhat confusing.  They mention "previous purchasers of the NEW Kindle" getting the firmware update while the native-PDF support "will also be available for some earlier versions of Kindle" via the Whispernet update.
  I suspect the Kindle 1 won't be included in the native PDF support.

There's no mention of the battery improvements for older Kindle models.

I'll be looking at this further.

---

UPDATE 1. - 11:06 AM.  (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM)
Here's much more info at the Amazon Kindle Updates page.   I've added emphases in bold or italics for items affecting older models for the U.S.

' Kindle Version 2.3 Highlights
The latest update brings several improvements to Kindle (Global Wireless), Kindle (U.S. Wireless), and Kindle DX devices.

Kindle (Global Wireless) and Kindle (U.S. Wireless)

* Built-in PDF reader: Your Kindle can now display PDF documents without losing the formatting of the original file. Send PDF documents directly to your Kindle (via your @Kindle address) or drag and drop PDF files from your computer to your Kindle (when connected via USB). Learn more.

* Longer battery life for Kindle (Global Wireless): You can now read for up to 1 week on a single charge with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks.
  [ Does not include older U.S. Kindle 2. ]

* Manual screen rotation: The Kindle screen can now manually rotate between portrait and landscape views so you can see the entire width of a web page or magnify the page of a PDF file. The page-turn buttons work the same in either orientation, and the 5-way controller movements are switched to match the orientation. Learn more.

* Option to convert PDF files to Kindle format. If you prefer to have your personal PDF documents converted to the Kindle format (so that they can reflow), type "Convert" in the subject of the e-mail when you submit your personal document to your @kindle.com address.
  [ Excellent.   We'd keep the original to check layout and use reflowed text for a copy that we can mark up or annotate, be able to use the inline-dictionary for, and search the Kindle for the content within that PDF. ]

Kindle (U.S. Wireless) and Kindle (Global Wireless) users can go to Archived Items on their Kindle and download the Kindle User's Guide, 4th Ed., which now documents all the features of Kindle Software 2.3.

Kindle DX
* Better cropping of PDF files: In landscape orientation, white margins of PDF documents are automatically cropped to maximize the amount of content shown on the screen.

* Option to convert PDF files to Kindle format. If you prefer to have your personal PDF documents converted to the Kindle format (so that they can reflow), type "Convert" in the subject of the e-mail when you submit your personal document to your @kindle.com address.

* View pages longer: We've extended the time before Kindle DX switches into screensaver mode — from 5 minutes to 20 minutes — giving you more time for reviewing your content.
  [ Also excellent. ]

Here's the page and section for getting the update manually if you don't want to wait for the automatic updates.

Well, *I'm* jazzed !

UPDATE 2 - 12:15 PM. (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM)
  Kindle forums are reporting that the PDF enhancements really work well, with the landscape option and margins-handling improvement having very good effect.
  HOWEVER, those who are using screensaver- and font- "hacks"
  1.  will have to uninstall them before being able to do the update
  2.  will not be able to re-install them with the new firmware update until the authors of the unofficial improvements (erroneously called 'hacks') can make them work for the new firmware version.

UPDATE 3 - 8:42 PM. (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM)
  A Screensaver re-install fix was announced, at MobileRead Forums, by jyavenard, who has updated the packager to create firmware for Kindles with version 2.3, linked the packager with additional instructions for those providing unofficial improvements, and has already repackaged and linked to the screensaver enhancement for Kindles using the new firmware update -- Kindle 2 U.S., the Kindle Global, and the DX.

 Re the alternate, darker font sets by Ted Inoue, it will take some time for him to run through the various sets but he's planning on it.

UPDATE 4 11/26 - 10:29 AM (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM) -
  (Am not changing official posting time for this one.)
Alternate Font Sets for firmware update v2.3
  These work for v2.3.2, v2.3.3 and v2.3.4 as well.
  Edge777 at MobileRead forums has posted links to font files he made for alternate darker font sets that work with the new firmware update.   Ted Inoue will be working on his very popular set as well.

UPDATE 5 11/30 (Original posting 11/24/09 at 10:47 AM)
  Ted Inoue has completed the updating of all alternate font-sets from his popular series, and you can see the descriptions and download links on his site. Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

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(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
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$299 Kindle 2 or $489 DX? plus How the Kindle works

I've been doing the forums to see what everyone thinks about the price drop for the Kindle 2.  Some feel they can finally buy one; others want to buy more for their families, and many still wonder whether to get the larger Kindle DX or the lighter and now $-lighter Kindle 2

Also, a few people have said that they haven't been able to get a good idea of how the Kindle works, so I thought I'd highlight here a web page review, by Kelly Hodgkins, that gives the best description of Kindle functioning that I've seen.  (Click on that last link to read it.)  The review is of the Kindle 2, but the Kindle DX navigation is exactly the same except that it can also rotate to landscape viewing if wanted.

PDF INFORMATION UPDATED
Both the DX and the Kindle 2 are able to read PDFs correctly, with layout unchanged and multi-columnar information where it should be.  The Kindle 2's smaller 6" screen makes it more difficult to see the text and text labels in complex PDFs (important in academic and business environments and often used for information offered by websites), although viewing them in Landscape mode (a recent software feature) enlarges the image quite effectively in some cases.

  Also, Amazon offers to convert a copy of any non-rights-protected PDF for us to Kindle's normal format or we can do it ourselves with free utilities.  This assumes a PDF that is not 100% image-based but which is, for the most, part text-oriented.

  A conversion from PDF is usually to Kindle's basic format (Mobi, Prc) , although the layout for charts, diagrams, and multi-column material can be confused during the conversion and thus hard to read.  PDFs that are primarily text will usually be fine.  Complicated PDF pages with words running across multiple columns or special labels in illustrations may not convert well.

Adding to the complexity of the choice is that PDF text on the Kindles are not indexed by the Kindle, so information inside those books or pamphlets doesn't show up in full-Kindle-device searches.
  Also, while highlighting and annotations can be done for any normal book or document, the Kindles don't have those features for PDFs.  And the text-to-speech feature cannot be used on original PDFs either.

BUT, even when the PDF itself is quite viewable as-is, I'll make a copy of a PDF I am working with, in order to convert it to use the Amazon Kindle features to highlight and add notes or to use the faster Kindle search routines and even text-to-speech when I can't sit down to read at the moment.

Kindle's coming software update v2.5 being delivered in stages allows panning and zooming of PDFs and that's espcially helpful with the Kindle 2's 6" device.

Again, there is the workaround in the meantime for this situation, in that if you want to use those standard Kindle study capabilities for PDFs, you can convert a copy of the PDF to a Kindle-compatible format with a free utility and then do annotations and text to speech on that copy while leaving the original PDF for reference viewing of charts, diagrams and multiple columns.

PDF books that are only images of each page of a large book can only be used for viewing, of course and are slow-to load on any e-reader.  Not worth the time.


KINDLE 2 OR KINDLE DX ?
In the forums, we've discussed this a lot.  Here are some questions I felt people should ask themselves when needing to clarify which Kindle would be best for their needs.

It really depends on how you want to use it.

1. Would you want to carry it in a pouch or purse everywhere, as I do?
    For me, it's the Kindle 2 if that's ultra important

2. Do you need native support for PDFs?
    These are displayed accurately and beautifully with the DX.  Many complex PDFs can't be viewed easily with the Kindle 2, as the screen is relatively small when most PDFs are made specifically with 8-1/2 x 11" paper in mind.
    Novels in PDF format will generally work fine. Any single column work that does not include diagrams with small text will be just as readable as any other book file on both the DX and the current Kindle 6" device.
  Sheet music online tends to come in PDF format too.

3. Do you care about the DX feature that allows you to display web pages or PDFs in landscape mode with auto rotation?
    The Kindle 6" offers a manual rotation option.
    The alternate landscape mode makes both webpages and PDFs much easier to use and more readable although the lack of color will bother some with either Kindle.  I have samples of these at PBase.

4. Is super clarity of text and screen contrast important to you?
    The DX has a beautifully clear, big display, but the smaller Kindle 2 also has a clear display with somewhat less contrast.

5. Do you need very large text?
    The Kindle 2 gives you a choice of 6 fonts, including rather large ones.  The DX makes very large text possible while still displaying many words at a time per page.

6. Is it important for you to read while holding the Kindle with only one hand because you need to use the other one for something else?
    Believe it not, this is important to quite a lot of people.  The Kindle 2 is better for that, of course.

7. Do you have weakness problems with the wrists or even shoulders?
    While more than a few have written in forums to say that although they have arthritis and other ailments the DX is not a problem for them, others prefer the lightness of the Kindle 2.

8. WHAT KIND of reading do you do?
    If it's almost entirely books and not large, technical documents, the Kindle 2 is an excellent choice.
    If you need to do a lot of technical reading or prefer magazine-size reading, then the DX is likely a better fit.

However:
SIZE can be all important.  I think it would draw too much attention if I were to slide the largish DX out from some jacket/holder when waiting in line somewhere.  But others are managing and use larger purses or pouches.  If you have a large purse or carrier and you don't care about the size, then the DX is probably a good choice.

It's not that heavy, but with a protective case it's more than most of us normally want to have for everyday purse contents.

To get an idea of how the Kindle 2 displays books or web pages, see the older screen comparison of the Kindle 1 with the Kindle 2.

And, as mentioned earlier, my recent DX screen-display samples are at PBase.

As for me, I use the DX at home and the Kindle 2 outside the home.
Feel free to ask any questions about this.  It's a tough decision. Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
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Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!

Kindle DX's Unsung Ways and a Guided Tour

PD World's Melissa J. Perenson lists
'5 Unsung Ways' by which the Kindle DX will
"transform reading."

'But make no mistake: Kindle DX represents far more than merely more of the same. Kindle DX is a game changer for e-book readers, and one that has a chance to transform how we consume content.'

Her listing includes large print books; children's books; English as a 2nd Language; manuals [one of my own favorites]; and self-publishing as the 5 not normally considered.  Her summary:

'The DX is far more than just the larger premium-priced "hardcover" version of the "soft cover" Kindle 2.  Instead, when it comes to the various different types of content the DX can display beautifully the Kindle DX has the potential to re-write the e-book rules -- digitally of course.'

Here's PC World's Guided Tour by Perenson, with some very good photographic examples of how useful this unit will be in many areas.  Two which stood out for me:   1)  the native PDF capability preserves the original visual layout of a document, retaining readability even with a complex layout, and 2)  an example of highlighting in a biology textbook with an illustration with small, precisely placed text that is far more readable than it would be on the 6" screen of the smaller Kindles and often not correctly converted to even make sense.

  Side note:  Wondering how the iRex iLiad and the Kindle DX fared in a comparison, I found a review which said that using the only type of input available (a stylus) means a wait of .5 to 1 second for a response when drawing and that the bootup time is 40 seconds.  Along with other points made in the review, including its *horrendous* technical support, it looks like no competition there at that price.  Here's an Engadget image of the iLiad, which averages about $860 now.

UPDATE:


Princeton University will provide students
with free Kindle DX's
in three of the courses this coming semester. Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!