Kindle Library Lending Gets Off to Bumpy Start

September 22, 2011 | News | Leave A Comment

Kindle’s library-lending program sparked a wave of confusion when it launched nationwide this week.

Amazon said customers would be able to borrow Kindle books from more than 11,000 local libraries across the country.

However, according to Publishers Lunch, library ebook service provider OverDrive didn’t have all of its library customers activated at the start of Monday’s rollout.

On its blog, the company said it was “quickly updating all US public and school library partner websites to support Kindle compatibility and will complete this update as soon as possible.”

Meantime, some publishers have questions about how Kindle’s library lending program will impact them. They told Publishers Lunch that they were not asked to consent to the Kindle library program when it was announced in April.

Up until now, OverDrive has lent library ebooks using their own servers, however, Kindle lending will operate through Amazon’s servers.

Kindle Books Now Available at Local Libraries

September 21, 2011 | News | Leave A Comment

Starting today, Kindle and Kindle app customers can borrow Kindle books from more than 11,000 libraries in the United States. That’s the word today from the Kindle folks.

According to Kindle, the following features will be available:

–    Whispersync automatically syncs your margin notes, highlights and bookmarks – even once you return a Kindle book to your library, we’re going to back up your notes and bookmarks, so the next time you check out the book (or if you decide you want to buy the Kindle book) your notes and bookmarks will be there, waiting for you.
–    Read Everywhere – when you check out a Kindle book from your local library, you can read it on your Kindles and your free Kindle apps for the most popular devices and platforms.
–    Real Page Numbers – our page numbers match the page numbers in print books, so you can easily reference and cite passages and read alongside others in your book club or class.
–    Facebook and Twitter Integration – Share meaningful passages with friends and family with built-in Twitter and Facebook integration.
–    Wireless delivery – Your Kindle library books can be delivered via Wi-Fi, so there’s no need to transfer books to your Kindle via USB

Here’s how it works:

 
You can borrow Kindle books from your local library’s website and, with the click of a button, have them delivered to your Kindle device or free reading app.

Visit the website of a U.S. library that offers digital services from OverDrive.

Check out a Kindle book (using a valid library card).

Click on “Get for Kindle” and then sign in to your Amazon.com account to have the book delivered to your Kindle device or reading app. 
 

Amazon's New Kindle Will be $250 Color, Touch-screen Tablet

September 18, 2011 | News | 2 comments

Amazon jumps into the tablet wars this November, when it releases its newest version of the Kindle, a $250 touch-screen, color, 7-inch tablet, according to ReadWriteWeb.  

At $250, Amazon’s Kindle tablet costs about half of what you’d pay for an iPad. It’s pretty much the same price as Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color. Both are color, backlit, have 7-inch screens and run on Android.

Techcrunch’s M.G. Siegler, who apparently had a chance to check out the new device, says the home screen is a carousel that looks like Cover Flow in iTunes. It displays the content you have on your device, including  books, apps and movies. 

Amazon has made no public comment about its new Kindle Tablet, but that hasn’t stopped the analysts from predicting the retailer could sell five million units of the device in the fourth quarter.

The Kindle tablet is expected to debut in late November, just in time for the holiday buying season.

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