Kindle Backlight Options That Allow for Kindle Reading Anytime and Anywhere

Sometimes, Kindle owners are surprised and dismayed to discover that their e-reader does not include a backlight. This feeling is understandable, as many people like to read at night and in dimly-lit surroundings, such as on an airplane or in a car during evening or night. However, there are several good reasons for the lack of a backlight in the Kindle.

First, a backlit screen would defeat one of the main purposes of an e-reader like the Kindle, that being to closely emulate the process of reading a book. The Kindle's sophisticated E Ink technology is designed to look like the words on the page of a book. A backlit screen would detract from the intended user experience and give an experience more akin to reading from a laptop computer or tablet device. While the argument can be made that it is nice to have a brighter screen, it is also true that long amounts of time spent reading from backlit screens such as those on computer monitors, tablets, and smartphones can cause eye strain due to the glare produced. The Kindle's E Ink technology provides excellent contrast while avoiding any eye strain on the part of the reader.

Second, a backlit screen would require more power and thus shorten battery life. Without its WiFi capability being activated, the Kindle can actually run for up to 2 months before needing to be recharged. This is quite remarkable, especially when compared with the hours or days that computers, tablets, and smartphones can last between charges. It is nice to not have to regularly recharge the Kindle and make sure you are close to a power source when reading.

Finally, a backlit screen can make it difficult to read in bright sunlight due to the glare that it causes. Since many Kindle readers enjoy reading outdoors or brightly lit areas during the day, this would be a serious impediment to it usability and customer satisfaction.

Fortunately, the lack of a built-in backlight does not mean the Kindle cannot be read from at night or dimly-lit environments! Several manufacturers have developed affordable clip-on lights that can be easily attached to the Kindle's frame without overlapping the screen or otherwise obstructing the view of the screen. Each of these products is lightweight, portable, and incorporates a flexible neck to allow for positioning the light source at any desired angle.

The Verso Clip-On Light by Lightwedge, weighing only 1.6 oz, is perhaps the lightest Kindle-compatible reading light available. It folds tightly onto itself for maximum portability and can even be carried in a pocket. It has a stylish design and comes in a variety of colors including black, white, blue, and red. A spare set of batteries is included.

The XtraFlex2 by MightyBright is a bit more substantial at 4.8 oz, but also can be folded for easy portability and storage. It provides a bright, yet comfortable reading light and the intensity of the light can be adjusted. The XtraFlex2 also comes in a wide variety of colors, including silver, green, pink, and purple in addition to the standard colors. The clip is padded on both sides for added protection.

The Belkin Clip-On Reading Light is another excellent lighting option for the Kindle. It weighs just 4 oz, is also highly portable, and incorporates an adjustable clip that can easily clip to objects other than the Kindle and its case, such as a bedpost. The Belkin has three brilliant LED lights and they can be adjusted between two brightness settings.

Hopefully, this review has clearly explained the reasons the Kindle does not include a backlight and introduced you to some convenient clip-on lights to provide extra reading light to enhance your reading experience when necessary. Each of these reading lights is fairly inexpensive and available for purchase at Amazon.com.

Matt Hawkins is a Kindle fan and avid reader. For more info on Kindle backlight options and more, visit http://www.kindlebacklight.net.

How You Can Get Free WiFi Anywhere in the World With a Kindle 3G

When I first read about the Amazon Kindle 3G and its totally free WiFi, I'm like, how can you get 3G WiFi for free? After all, isn't that the same exact service that places like Apple charge nearly $100 a month for?

In fact, it is. Even if you can't make phone calls with the Amazon Kindle 3G, you can still link into a 3G network and browse the Internet - anywhere in the world!

Okay, so let's get the straight, I'm thinking. I can buy an Amazon Kindle 3G, go to China and still get free WiFi?

That's what Amazon says. I was totally blown away!

I dug a little deeper and found out how it works. Actually, Amazon is offering quite a nice deal for the service. Since they know you're going to buy ebooks for your Kindle, they're offering the 3G-compatible version of the Kindle for $189.

That's right. In a world where buyers used to flock to the Apple iPad for $600 to $800 plus $70 per month for data and web browsing, you now have a choice between spending all of your monthly salary on an Apple toy or getting a much less expensive Amazon Kindle for nearly a quarter of the price - or less.

Did I mention there are absolutely no monthly fees with this deal? That's what I like best about the Amazon Kindle. You don't have to worry about paying for cell phone coverage when you're not even using the device as a cell phone!

That's what got me about the Apple iPad. It's not like I'm going to hold the iPad near my ear and talk like it's a cell phone. So why do I need to pay outrageous cell phone services?

I don't, and that's why I like the Amazon Kindle 3G.

Plus, the new Kindle WiFi 3G device has a lot of updates that makes it way better than the second generation Kindle. For instance, you can now go two weeks to a whole month without ever charging the device. That means you can take it on vacation and probably not even bother bringing a charger for it.

And speaking of vacation, you can now enjoy your Amazon Kindle in the sunlight. They've made a change to the way they display the ebook on the screen. Instead of making the display look like a computer screen (and giving you a pretty good reflection of yourself at the same time) they've switched out the technology.

Now, the display looks just like you're holding a book in your hand. The display is as white and matte flat as a piece of paper. No longer do you have to strain or change positions because of sunlight or light bulbs. You won't get any glare at all!

There are a few more reasons you should buy the Amazon Kindle 3G instead of the Apple iPad which I didn't have room to write about here. But you can find out what those reasons are when you check out http://www.squidoo.com/3g-kindle. I promise you that the Kindle will knock your socks off in every imaginable way - without digging too far into your wallet.