Kindle Development
The first Kindle came out back in 2007 with one main goal: to make ebooks mainstream. It sold out in just about five hours and couldn’t be restocked until the spring of 2008. As the Kindle has evolved over the years, more impressive features have been rolled into its design—including a front-lit display for reading in the dark, better page turning functionality, a higher-density E ink display for a clean and crisp reading experience (close to a real book) and increased storage.
How Kindle Devices Work
Kindle Features
2 to 4 gigabytes of storage (up to nearly 1,400 books)6 to 7-inch screen displayBuilt-in adjustable front LED lightingResolution of 167 to 300 ppiGlare-free touchscreen displayWi-Fi or 4G connectivityWeeks of battery lifeScreen rotate detection for better viewing in landscape or portrait modeAt-a-tap controls to highlight text, translate words, look up in the dictionary, add annotations and adjust the text sizePage bookmarkingSmooth page turning functionalitySamples to read before you buyArchiving functionOrganization by creating collectionsFacebook and Twitter integration
How the Kindle Differs from Other Tablets and E-Readers
A Kindle looks like and works very similar to any other tablet or e-reader device. It’s flat, compact, and works by using the touchscreen to navigate. However, Kindle devices are specifically made for browsing, purchasing, downloading and reading Kindle ebooks. That’s its main purpose. Tablets are a general purpose type of device meant for enjoying a range of technology activities like internet browsing, multimedia consumption, software usage and more. All Kindle devices, with the exception of the Fire model, include an operating system and display that limit it only to accessing the Kindle Store and reading the books you purchase/download from it.
Using the Kindle App on Your Tablet or Smartphone
Just like using an actual Kindle device, you can use the Kindle iOS or Android device to shop for books, read reviews, get samples to read, turn the pages as you read, bookmark pages, highlight text, add notes, adjust the text size, change the background and more. It’s a great, free alternative to get a Kindle-like reading experience from your existing device.
