kindle

Five years ago today, Amazon pushed reading into the digital age with the release of the Kindle. It certainly wasn't the first ereader to hit the market, but thanks to the online retailer's huge online book library, it became, arguably, the most popular.

As the Kindle moved from its e-ink basic edition to keyboard model to touchscreen, and then to an app and later HD color display tablet, it's become a ubiquitous accessory during a morning commute, amid airport travel, or even on a lazy Sunday morning. So what's happening on the screens of all those Kindles? In celebration of its fifth birthday, take a look at the bestselling Kindle books of all time.

5. Fifty Shades Darker
4. Mockingjay
3. Catching Fire
2. The Hunger Games

Think you know the top-selling Kindle book of all time? Follow the break to see the number-one Kindle book.

Rats, did you forget to charge your Kindle (again)? Don't fear: ereader-less bookworms don't have to miss a single spellbinding page of Game of Thrones with mobile apps that turn smartphones into the reading device of their choice. Most of the apps will sync the last-read page among any devices with the app too.

These free apps are also handy if there's a book that's available in the catalog for Nook and not Sony Reader. So, cast a transfiguration spell and convert a mobile device into an ereading machine with these apps for iOS and Android.

• Kindle — Amazon's ereader apps for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC let you shop the Kindle store, read the first chapter of every book before buying, and download local library ebooks to the app.
• Kobo — With apps for iOS, Android, Mac/PC, and BlackBerry, your Kobo library is synced across all devices. See what your friends are reading and keep track of your reading habits with the app's Reading Life feature, too.

More transforming reading apps after the break.

Buying college textbooks is one part of back-to-school season we could do without; the rest, like catching up with friends and scoping out new school gadgets, can stay. With the accessibility of digital textbooks, high book prices and back strain from lugging heavy books around campus are happily becoming a distant memory. Give your wallet a break with these e-textbook resources:

• Kindle Textbook Rentals — Amazon's Kindle textbook service allows students to rent for only the time needed, whether it's 30 days for a report or a full year for a class. Books can be accessed on a PC, Mac, Kindle, iOS, Android mobile device, and BlackBerry. Notes made by the student in the text can be used even when the rental period has ended.
• NOOKStudy — Similar to the Amazon Kindle textbook platform, NOOKStudy is available for Macs and PCs. In addition to paid textbooks, Barnes & Noble offers over one million free digital books. Rental options are also available.
• iBooks Textbooks — Introduced in early 2012, Apple's partnership with top educational publishers offers hundreds of interactive textbooks for $15 or less.
• Kno — Buy or rent over 70,000 textbooks with this iPad app. Features let you organize supplemental class PDF readers into the app and ask questions of friends reading the same book.

Three more paper textbook alternatives after the break.

Not to be outdone by its touchscreen brethren, the entry-level Kindle also received a makeover this morning at the Jeff Bezos-hosted Amazon press event. This Kindle is nearly the same as the previous generation including a six-inch screen, weight of 5.8 ounces, WiFi connectivity, and free Amazon Cloud service. The 2012 Kindle claims new fonts, crisper text, a 15 percent faster page turn, and a lower price — $69. Available to order online today, the Kindle ships Sept. 14.

Want a Kindle with more features like a backlight? Check out the latest Kindle Touch models also announced today.

Source: Instagram User gadgetreview

After days of speculation as to what new product Amazon had up its sleeve for today's LA press conference, the reveals are pouring in, starting with a backlit ereader called Kindle Paperwhite. Sharper with a higher-contrast display than the Kindle Touch, the new device uses Amazon-made Paperwhite technology, a blend of adjustable back lighting and traditional e-ink with a capacitive touchscreen display.

Despite the constant light use, Amazon claims the 7.5-ounce Kindle Paperwhite touts an eight-week battery life from a single charge and measures 9.1mm thick. A small text addition in the lower left corner estimates how much reading time is left in a chapter or the entire book based on a user's reading speed.

This Kindle model continues to use the X-ray feature first introduced with the Kindle Touch, showing relevant information on the page such as dictionary and Wiki entries. The Paperwhite also takes a page from the Kindle Fire with a cover mode homescreen, to swipe through the library without scrolling to a menu. The Kindle Paperwhite WiFi model is $119, and the 3G version, which requires no data contract or plan, is priced at $179. Preorders start today, and both Paperwhite models will ship Oct. 1.

Not to be outdone by its touchscreen brethren, the entry-level Kindle also received a refresh and lower price point today.