October 22nd, 2009
Amazon introduces Kindle for Windows 7, Vista, XP PCs
Amazon announced on Thursday its “Kindle for PC,” a free application that lets users read e-books on their PCs.
The software makes it easier for a tablet PC to double as an e-reader that’s compatible with Amazon’s Kindle store and its 360,000-some books.
Like its namesake e-reader device, Kindle for PC uses Amazon’s Whispersync tech to automatically save and synchronize bookmarks and last page read across devices. (Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch and PC.)
Here’s the feature set, in Amazon’s own words:
- Purchase, download, and read hundreds of thousands of books available in the Kindle Store
- Access their entire library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon’s servers for free
- Choose from over 10 different font sizes and adjust words per line
- Add and automatically synchronize bookmarks and last page read
- View notes and highlights marked on Kindle and Kindle DX
- Zoom in and out of text with a pinch of the fingers (Windows 7 users only)
- Turn pages with a finger swipe (available in a future release for Windows 7 users)
Microsoft demonstrated Kindle for PC for the first time at the Windows 7 launch event today in New York. Obviously, the reader goes hand in hand with that operating system’s new multitouch capabilities.
Kindle for PC will also be compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista. It will be available worldwide as a free download next month.
Andrew J. Nusca is an associate editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet.
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