Moleskine Kindle cover with notebook merges the old with the new

by Scott Carmichael on

Designed for the Amazon Kindle, this new Moleskine cover lets you join the eBook revolution, without saying farewell to old fashioned pen and paper. And yes – even though the Kindle offers a pretty decent notation and bookmark system, there is something comforting about making written notes about a book, even if said book is displayed on electronic ink.

The Moleskine Kindle cover with Reporter style notebook is available from Amazon.com for $39.99. Amazon claims this case may not fit the newest generation Kindle – so proceed with caution if you ordered yourself a third generation Kindle.

Amazon Kindle joins ebook price war – drops to $189

by Scott Carmichael on

The Amazon Kindle (and ebook readers in general) are perfect for travel – they offer instant, often wireless access to online book stores, can carry 100’s of books in a single device, and their e-ink displays are easy on the eyes.

When Amazon launched their Kindle back in 2007, it cost $399 (and I bought one right away). Since then, the device has gone through several redesigns, making it smaller, and adding international wireless support.

And as of today, the device has one more change up its sleeves – a price drop to just $189. The drop is most likely the Amazon answer to a similar price drop by Barnes and Noble on their Nook ebook device.

At this new price, any hardcore reader/traveler should seriously consider the investment – it really will change the way you read, and in many ways, the Kindle is the best travel gadget a reader could possibly buy. You’ll find the Kindle over at Amazon.com, where you can also browse the assortment of Kindle books in their store.

M-EDGE Guardian case brings sun, surf and sand to your Amazon Kindle

by Scott Carmichael on

Like most high-tech gadgets, the Amazon Kindle 2 is not really at home on vacation – which is a shame, because it means you’d need to switch to old school paper books for some poolside reading entertainment.

Thankfully, case designer M-EDGE has a solution with their new Guardian case for the Amazon Kindle – a case that goes well beyond the normal level of protection.

The Guardian case actually lets you take your Kindle into the pool, and because it floats, you won’t need to go diving if you let it slip off your floating seat.

The Guardian case is waterproof up to 1 meter, and it features an anti-glare screen film. Four closing latches keep your device protected, and special cutouts allow access to most controls.

The M-EDGE Guardian case is available directly from the manufacturer for $79.99. The case comes in black, blue and red.

Beam N Read personal LED reading light review

by Scott Carmichael on

In the world of travel gadgets, simpler is usually better – and there is no better example of this than the Beam N Read personal portable LED light. The Beam N Read is a compact battery operated LED light that you wear around your neck. The product really isn’t much more than a strap, a couple of LED’s and a battery pack.

The Beam N Read is available in a version with 3 LEDs and one with 6 LEDs. The practical applications are endless – but I came across the product when I was searching for the perfect reading light to use with the Amazon Kindle.

Using the Beam N Read won’t require a user guide – you simply hang it around your neck, and turn it on. Even that part can’t go wrong – turning it on involves little more than folding the light up to the angle you want it.

With the 3 LED version (the BNR 3), a set of 4 AA’s will keep things powered for 120 hours – the 6 LED Beam N Read lasts 48 hours. The Beam N Read 6 comes with a magnifying lens and a light filter designed to make the white LEDs less harsh.

Using the Beam N Read in real life is where I realized that this simple looking product really performs perfectly – by keeping the design simple, the folks behind this product (ASF Lightware Solutions) managed to create what I consider to be the best Amazon Kindle reading light.

Of course, the uses don’t stop there – the light is also perfect for working on your laptop in your bedroom (or on a dark plane), reading a book in the dark or even for some extra light in your tent. The photo above is of a Kindle in a totally dark room – and the photo was taken without a flash.

Best of all, the prices are very reasonable – just $19.95 for the 3 LED version, and $25.95 for the 6 LED version. All in all a very simple and effective product. You’ll find more information about the product over at readinglight.com.

Amazon Kindle 2 – making a great gadget even better

by Scott Carmichael on

It’s no secret that I love the Amazon Kindle – the electronic book reader made our top 25 lineup of best travel gadgets for 2008, and despite several minor shortcomings, most readers picked it as their favorite gadget as well.

The Kindle has been a massive success – and ever since it was released, it’s been fairly hard to get, with shipping often taking about a month.

That is probably not going to improve any time soon, as Amazon just announced the new Kindle 2 – thinner, smarter design, and a host of other new features make this $359 device a clear winner.

In fact, I’d say the new design is so good, that we’ll see the “iPhone effect” where many original Kindle owners upgrade to the new version.

The device has a better e-ink display, capable of displaying 16 shades of gray, a faster refresh of the screen, and the ability to convert text to speech for the new “read to me” feature. But best of all, they updated the page turning buttons, which were always a massive annoyance.

Needless to say, the new Kindle is probably going to be just as successful as the old one, and should help keep Amazon on top of the ebook market.