Kindle 3 WiFi + cell phone = true?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Discovered MyWi as well. That one seems sophisticated, but it doesn't say whether it is a structure or ad hoc hot spot.

It's Hot Spot, AFAIK. But it requires to jailbreak your iPhone and is paid app.

[HarryT]

Forgive the silly question, but it seems to me that the primary reason for wanting this is mobile internet access. If you have a phone that itself has internet access, why not just access the internet on the phone rather than the Kindle? It'll probably do it a lot better!

Or do you see yourself wanting to buy a lot of books when you're out of range of a WiFi hotspot? And if that's the case, why not save all the bother and just get a 3G Kindle in the first place?

[Kumabjorn]

Most of the time, an estimated 95%, I will be able o buy books through my WiFi network at home. When traveling, hopefully I'm organized enough to have a few unread books on the Kindle. Hence, I did not feel any particular need for the 3G version. Then I remembered that I was at a gas station in the middle of nowhere when an airplane hit World Trade Center in NY. Should something similar happen in the future, it would be nice to go online and read about it on something larger than a phone. These experienced eyes require larger and larger fonts in order to believe what they see. Also, once in a while I'm a real scatterbrain, having backup access to the internet with my Kindle through a cell phone just seems a prudent approach.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Slava

It's Hot Spot, AFAIK. But it requires to jailbreak your iPhone and is paid app.

If it is called a hot spot is that automatically structured? What is an ad hoc connection called?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Should something similar happen in the future, it would be nice to go online and read about it on something larger than a phone. These experienced eyes require larger and larger fonts in order to believe what they see.

You'll probably have few News apps on your phone that will let you do that better then Kindle built-in browser.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

If it is called a hot spot is that automatically structured? What is an ad hoc connection called?

If I'm not mistaken, Hot Spot falls under "Infrastructure Mode", and Ad Hoc falls under "Ad Hoc Mode"

[matt314159]

I think you just have to look at the specs of each software edition. I think the jokiuspot or whatever it's called can work in infrastructure mode, and some rooted android apps can do it, but not all. I think it started with the EVO actually, and writers are then porting that to different android phones, if I recall. not entirely sure.

I'll test mine out tomrorow with WmWifiRouter, one of the more well-known windows mobile apps, but since it uses ad-hoc connection mode, I don't think it will work.

i also love reading on my kindle, the bigger, e-ink screen is much better than my 3.6" cell phone screen, for me, comparing my K2i to my Touch Pro 2, for basic reading of websites, blogs, amazon reviews, that kind of stuff, the K2i won for me because of how little strain there was on my eyes. That's why I popped for the 3g version, I figured the $50 differential in price would more than pay for itself in the long run based on lack of hassle dealing with tethering apps and what-not.

[haroldgh]

MyWi should work fine on the a jailbroken iPhone.

Be careful with the android phones; just because it's running 2.2 (which supports wifi hotspots) that doesn't mean your carrier will let you do it. You may have to root the phone to get it working.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by haroldgh

MyWi should work fine on the a jailbroken iPhone.

Be careful with the android phones; just because it's running 2.2 (which supports wifi hotspots) that doesn't mean your carrier will let you do it. You may have to root the phone to get it working.

If the phone's browser work then the Kindle should be able to connect?
Or is that to simplistic an assumption?

[Blog Kindle]

I have successfully used my K3 with EVO 4G with Froyo installed. Same kind of mobile hotspot functionality was available in Android 2.1 too.

[nremondelli]

I use mywi with my iPad and my laptop. I assume it will work with the Kindle no problem. You have to jailbreak your iPhone though. The first app you mentioned (which I was lucky enough to snag when it was up) will not likely work with the Kindle since it doesn't work with the iPad.

[Kumabjorn]

What does jailreaking entail concretely? I was always of the impression that it was just a way to set yourself free from a given operator (and their atrocious payment plan) but I get the feeling it most be something more, because I can buy phones (even iPhones) without being locked in by a certain operator.

[Slava]

There are two things - jailbreaking and unlocking. Jailbreaking lets you install third-party apps unavailable in iTunes store, like MyWi. Unlocking requires jailbreaking, but it's separate. You can jailbreak your phone and still be locked to your operator. Out of two, jailbreaking is less intrusive and can be easily removed with Restore option in iTunes.

[Ben Thornton]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Forgive the silly question, but it seems to me that the primary reason for wanting this is mobile internet access. If you have a phone that itself has internet access, why not just access the internet on the phone rather than the Kindle? It'll probably do it a lot better!

Or do you see yourself wanting to buy a lot of books when you're out of range of a WiFi hotspot? And if that's the case, why not save all the bother and just get a 3G Kindle in the first place?

One reason why a MiFi device would potentially be a good idea (I'm considering one), is that it enables your WiFi Kindle to have access occasionally through 3G, plus your WiFi iPod/iPad, should you have one, plus any other/future WiFi devices that you might have. You could Skype through it, and maybe even use Facetime which won't go over 3G from the device.

For £50, you can get one from Vodafone, for example, which is less than the 3G upgrade for iPad - the problem is the ongoing cost (£15pcm in that case, for 3GB).

Using your phone as a MiFi device avoids having a second rental charge, if you already have one.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

Using your phone as a MiFi device avoids having a second rental charge, if you already have one.

One thing to be wary of is that it uses a lot of battery power. A friend of mine has the "3" MiFi device. It works very well, but only gives you about 2h usage on a battery charge.