Skip to main content

Kindle Update Adds PDF Reader, Extends Battery Life

Amazon Kindle 2 on Book

Amazon has launched an update to its 6-inch Kindle reader, adding a new battery that the company claims offers up to 85 percent more use, along with software updates that add a native PDF reader and screen rotation to the device. Customers who already have Kindle 2 devices can get the software updates sent to them wirelessly (or grab the firmware themselves and update via USB).

Amazon claims the new battery capacity is the result of six months of firmware engineering effort: the new Kindle 2 should stay functional for up to seven days on a single charge—and that’s with leaving wireless service enables. In addition, the new battery better handles period of inactivity: the battery should stay at its previous level for up to two weeks when turned off. However, customers who purchased the original Kindle who want the new battery life will be forced to buy a new unit: the batteries in the Kindle are not user-replaceable.

The 6-inch Kindle also now sports a native PDF reader, and a new capability for users to transfer PDFs to to their Kindles via email. Users can just send them to their Kindle email address; optionally, if they’ve like the PDFs converted to native Kindle format, they can just put “convert” in the subject line of the message. Native PDF support will be available for “some” earlier versions of the Kindle.

Kindle owners with the update will also be able to manually rotate between portrait and landscape modes, with the page-turning buttons operating the same way regardless of orientation.

The battery life improvements give Amazon’s base-model Kindle reader a point against competing readers from the likes of Barnes & Noble and Sony, which boasted significantly more battery life than the Kindle. However, Amazon may already have an advantage for the end-of-year holiday shopping season: Barnes & Noble says it is sold out of its Nook reader, and Sony is already saying it may not be able to deliver enough units of its Readers to retailers by the holidays.

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
The best portable power stations
EcoFlow DELTA 2 on table at campsite for quick charging.

Affordable and efficient portable power is a necessity these days, keeping our electronic devices operational while on the go. But there are literally dozens of options to choose from, making it abundantly difficult to decide which mobile charging solution is best for you. We've sorted through countless portable power options and came up with six of the best portable power stations to keep your smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other gadgets functioning while living off the grid.
The best overall: Jackery Explorer 1000

Jackery has been a mainstay in the portable power market for several years, and today, the company continues to set the standard. With three AC outlets, two USB-A, and two USB-C plugs, you'll have plenty of options for keeping your gadgets charged.

Read more
CES 2023: HD Hyundai’s Avikus is an A.I. for autonomous boat and marine navigation
Demonstration of NeuBoat level 2 autonomous navigation system at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

This content was produced in partnership with HD Hyundai.
Autonomous vehicle navigation technology is certainly nothing new and has been in the works for the better part of a decade at this point. But one of the most common forms we see and hear about is the type used to control steering in road-based vehicles. That's not the only place where technology can make a huge difference. Autonomous driving systems can offer incredible benefits to boats and marine vehicles, too, which is precisely why HD Hyundai has unveiled its Avikus AI technology -- for marine and watercraft vehicles.

More recently, HD Hyundai participated in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, to demo its NeuBoat level 2 autonomous navigation system for recreational boats. The name mashes together the words "neuron" and "boat" and is quite fitting since the Avikus' A.I. navigation tech is a core component of the solution, it will handle self-recognition, real-time decisions, and controls when on the water. Of course, there are a lot of things happening behind the scenes with HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation solution, which we'll dive into below -- HD Hyundai will also be introducing more about the tech at CES 2023.

Read more
This AI cloned my voice using just three minutes of audio
acapela group voice cloning ad

There's a scene in Mission Impossible 3 that you might recall. In it, our hero Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) tackles the movie's villain, holds him at gunpoint, and forces him to read a bizarre series of sentences aloud.

"The pleasure of Busby's company is what I most enjoy," he reluctantly reads. "He put a tack on Miss Yancy's chair, and she called him a horrible boy. At the end of the month, he was flinging two kittens across the width of the room ..."

Read more