Adding to the e-book “revolution”, Amazon updated its Kindle to version 2.0. In case you don’t know, the Kindle is an e-book reader that uses E-Ink technology to closely imitate the properties of a real book. Among these include really crisp text, no glare, readability under the sun, and no backlight.

The new Kindle is slimmer than the first generation, has a better screen with 16 shades of gray, a longer battery, faster page turns (20% faster), more storage (2GB), and weighs 10.2 ounces. Like the previous version, the new Kindle allows you to download books over the Whispernet connection (via Sprint’s 3G network) in less than 60 seconds and though the same connection, you also have free access to Wikipedia. The design of the new Kindle is much better than the old one which sometimes turned pages accidentally. It also as an experimental feature that allows the Kindle to read text to you through text to speech technology. Although the voice is quite robotic, it is kind of nice to have if you are on a car and you want to listen to a book, but this isn’t nearly as good as a real audiobook. On the Kindle, you can also listen to music and podcasts as well as view images and PDFs, though the PDFs need to be converted first.

Although I’m not extremely fond of e-books, the idea is great as you can just carry the one device in replacement of all the books and other text that you carry around.

CNET Video of the Kindle:

More info:

Official Kindle information from Amazon (Includes videos)

CNET Review

Kindle Review on Engadget

Images from Amazon.Com

The NEW Dell Latitude XT!

Right now the “Smart Value” version has the following specs and runs for $2,777. An ULV Intel Core 2 Duo processor at 1.20GHz with Windows XP Tablet Edition, 1 GB of memory, 40 GB of hard disk space, a 24X CD-RW/DVD Drive, an 802.11g wireless card, and an ATI Integrated graphics chip. Check out the website at: http://www.dell.com/tablet

Different Views of the Dell Latitude XT
(Dell.com)

Where the Dell Tablet really shines is the input methods. Not only can you use a pen, which even doesn’t require batteries, you can use your finger too! Dell spent lots of time perfecting this. The touch input resolution is 1000 DPI, which is very precise.

Components of Dell Latitude XT
(istartedsomething.com)

For more info check out this article: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20071120/dell-latitude-xt-specs/
and this video from quite some time ago when Dell first announced the tablet:
http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/05/18/15193.aspx
Oh and this recent Direct2Dell post:
http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/12/11/37914.aspx

Yes I got one! And of course “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess”. The Wii is really the size of 3 DVD cases but there is also a sensor bar that you have to put on the top or bottom or your tv. When you play tennis, you really play tennis same with all the other sports! Now that I have had the Wii for a few weeks I can truthfully review the Wii and not just brag.

Okay first I’m a little disapointed in the graphics. They really aren’t much better than the Gamecube’s. Also they haven’t gotten the “Internet Channel” ready so you can’t surf the web (yet). Nintendo says that they will have the Opera Browser for the Wii free, until June 2007. Then after that you will have to pay 2,000 “Wii Points” (20 dollars). FYI: this is a marketing stratagy for Nintendo so people would want to get it earlier.

Now good things: as I said the Wii Remote really emulates the sport well. In Twilight Princess I have already beat the first boss and I can safely say that it is GOOD. I recommend getting it for the Gamecube if you don’t have a Wii. Still last-gen graphics but it’s still fun. You swing the sword around and you shake the “nunchuck” to do a spin attack. Minda, it really creepy, she helps you, plays with you, gets mad, forces you around as a wolf and looks really strange.

I’ll be posting more info on the Wii soon, see ya!!