Amazon Kindle goes international

[barrow]

Another dumb question...just to fill in the gaps of my general knowledge about these devices...

At PRESENT, is is safe to say that there are many more titles available for e-readers such as the Cybook that generally use "mobipocket" type files, in contrast to e-readers such as the Sony PRS's that generally use "epub" type files??

(without taking into consideration third-party file conversion that can be attempted).

Many thanks

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by barrow

Another dumb question...just to fill in the gaps of my general knowledge about these devices...

At PRESENT, is is safe to say that there are many more titles available for e-readers such as the Cybook that generally use "mobipocket" type files, in contrast to e-readers such as the Sony PRS's that generally use "epub" type files??

(without taking into consideration third-party file conversion that can be attempted).

Many thanks

No, I'd say that the same books tend to be available in both Mobi and ePub.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Thank you, Terisa. I had thought that they had DRM which prevented them from working on the Kindle. Glad to hear that's not the case.

If they're bought at Kindle, no. In other cases...

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, I'd say that the same books tend to be available in both Mobi and ePub.

It depends on your readings But new books, yes, the same more or less except some books only available for Kindle (yes, they exist, they're the reason for my iPhone).

[barrow]

You guys are very helpful, thankyou

After a thorough day of research, I'm leaning towards buying two ebook readers. The Cybook Gen 3 so I can have a french dictionary as the default lookup/translation dictionary. And the Kindle 2 so that I can access the French newspaper Le Monde every day. Which is ironic considering the Sony PRS 600 is probably the best of the lot! But it doesn't offer either of those options that I'd like...

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

To clarify, I was referring to commercially published dictionaries. Is there any commercially published "big name" dictionary that you can buy, and install on the Kindle as a replacement for the supplied English dictionary? I was under the impression that there were none, but I would be happy to be wrong about that!

From the following web page:

http://www.amazon.com/Merriam-Webste...5099071&sr=1-2

"You can set this dictionary as your default Kindle dictionary and look up words while reading. The default setting is The New Oxford American Dictionary included on your Kindle, but you have the option to change your default setting to this compatible dictionary after purchase."

Here's some more that say the same thing:

http://www.amazon.com/Tabers-Cyclope...5099071&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Eastons-Dictio...5099071&sr=1-7

I would also assume now that the Kindle has gone "international" we will start seeing them for other languages and also translation type dictionaries.

BOb

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by barrow

Thanks Harry. You're right, the Kindle does let you change the default dictionary, so in effect there are already "replacement dictionaries" in foreign languages. However, making this change does not allow the new dictionary to be the "lookup dictionary", that thing you do "on the fly" when picking a word in the text.

I'm not sure where you got this idea. From the Kindle manual:

You can choose the dictionary you want to use when you look up words while you are reading. The default is The New Oxford American Dictionary included on your Kindle, but you can change your dictionary choice after purchasing an alternate compatible dictionary at the Kindle Store.

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

From the following web page:

http://www.amazon.com/Merriam-Webste...5099071&sr=1-2

"You can set this dictionary as your default Kindle dictionary and look up words while reading. The default setting is The New Oxford American Dictionary included on your Kindle, but you have the option to change your default setting to this compatible dictionary after purchase."

Here's some more that say the same thing:

http://www.amazon.com/Tabers-Cyclope...5099071&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Eastons-Dictio...5099071&sr=1-7

I would also assume now that the Kindle has gone "international" we will start seeing them for other languages and also translation type dictionaries.

BOb

Good - very pleased to hear that there are now alternates available.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes .

...and you have yet to add, Kindle2.

BOb

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

I Know you can DeDrm it but besides that is it actually an option?

You can still use a Kindle PID with sites that use OverDrive servers to encrypt the ebooks (unless this has changed also.) Then you would have to kindle fix it.

Or, as you said, you can just buy it for your PC's PID and liberate it.

Has someone confirmed that any standard Mobipocket formatted dictionary can be set as the default dictionary on the Kindle?

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

...and you have yet to add, Kindle2.

BOb

That's because:

1. I haven't got it yet.
2. There's no more room in my profile .

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's because:

1. I haven't got it yet.
2. There's no more room in my profile .

If you take out the words "CyBook", "irex", and Sony you might be able to squeeze it in.

BOb

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

If you take out the words "CyBook", "irex", and Sony you might be able to squeeze it in.

BOb

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by kennyc

No, I really was being serious.... he has:

CyBook Gen3, Opus, iRex DR1000S, iPod Touch, HTC Touch, Sony PRS-600

If he changed it to:

Gen3, Opus, DR1000S, iPod Touch, HTC Touch, PRS-600, Kindle2

It would fit and even be shorter than what he has now.

BOb

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

No, I really was being serious.... he has:

CyBook Gen3, Opus, iRex DR1000S, iPod Touch, HTC Touch, Sony PRS-600

If he changed it to:

Gen3, Opus, DR1000S, iPod Touch, HTC Touch, PRS-600, Kindle2

It would fit and even be shorter than what he has now.

BOb

I know, I know. Someday I hope to have as big a variety of readers as Harry!