Kindle DX

astanley

astanley

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Andrew Stanley
Well, I'm buying one. Plain and simple.

The most amazing part of Bezos' demo?

kindle-2-ny-0075.jpg


Cheers,

-Andrew
 
I was skeptical about the idea of plates on the Kindle; I have a first gen. and the screen size and resolution made it seem not quite workable. But that? Um... Yyyyyyeah. :yes:
 
In related news, Apple just decided to finally show the Macbook Tablet. :D
 
Ok, but how does it work in outside light? My laptop screens are el sucko.
 
EdFred said:
Ok, but how does it work in outside light? My laptop screens are el sucko.
Click to expand...

AFAIK, really well. E-ink is black on white. As long as the glass isn't glare-y.

It's the difference with reflected vs. candescent light. The sun can overpower something that lights up, but only help something that you want to light.
 
EdFred said:
Ok, but how does it work in outside light? My laptop screens are el sucko.
Click to expand...

It's very, very low-glare in sunlight... Very. It's not completely non-existent, obviously, but it does really well outdoors. Much better than any laptop I've ever used.

I've heard (and it makes sense) that it doesn't fare as well with high-intensity, focused light sources... Some of the clip-on reading lights -- particularly with LCD lamps -- apparently drown out the E-Ink display. That may be worth investigating in advance of night flying.
 
So how do you get charts? I found write-stuff's scam site, and I found a few places that offer to convert PDF to .MOBI, but none seem to work for charts....

That guy did it....how?
 
EdFred said:
Ok, but how does it work in outside light? My laptop screens are el sucko.
Click to expand...

There's no glare, and you can read it wonderfully in sunlight. The only way I've gotten it to drown was shining a LCD flashlight on it in the sunlight.

I've not tried it at night.
 
SkyHog said:
So how do you get charts? I found write-stuff's scam site, and I found a few places that offer to convert PDF to .MOBI, but none seem to work for charts....

That guy did it....how?
Click to expand...

Look for Amazon's annoucement of new NACO or Jepp eBooks. :rolleyes:
 
SkyHog said:
So how do you get charts? I found write-stuff's scam site, and I found a few places that offer to convert PDF to .MOBI, but none seem to work for charts....

That guy did it....how?
Click to expand...

Supposedly the DX supports PDF natively... No conversion necessary.
 
ReverendSlappy said:
Supposedly the DX supports PDF natively... No conversion necessary.
Click to expand...

Really?? Freaking sweet. I want one.

Not necessarily for charts (I'm not IRed), but to carry everything else I put in my kneeboard.

Then all I need is a sectional.
 
Well, I am kinda ****ed-off at 'em; I feel like a chump for having gotten the second-gen Kindle a scant few months ago when this was on the horizon. I don't supoe tha they'll offer any trade-up credit...
 
SCCutler said:
Well, I am kinda ****ed-off at 'em; I feel like a chump for having gotten the second-gen Kindle a scant few months ago when this was on the horizon. I don't supoe tha they'll offer any trade-up credit...
Click to expand...

Remove the arrows from your back and seek redemption on eBay.
 
skyhog, not sure why you're referring to, but yes, we've been running a prototype app for the Kindle providing approach charts, weather charts, and AF/D downloads for over a month now. We're very close to releasing it to beta testers. And yes, it will also support the larger Kindle DX as well.

www.airbrief.com

- Russ
 
write-stuff said:
skyhog, not sure why you're referring to, but yes, we've been running a prototype app for the Kindle providing approach charts, weather charts, and AF/D downloads for over a month now. We're very close to releasing it to beta testers. And yes, it will also support the larger Kindle DX as well.

www.airbrief.com

- Russ
Click to expand...

So the answer is no then. I can't get more information without giving you my email address?
 
JeffDG said:
Actually, I did give my e-mail, and zippo additional information so far.
Click to expand...

Please hang with us, Jeff. The information is forthcoming. We want to make sure that we have a very good, stable service before releasing it to beta testers. You'll be hearing from us soon.

- Russ
 
write-stuff said:
skyhog, not sure why you're referring to, but yes, we've been running a prototype app for the Kindle providing approach charts, weather charts, and AF/D downloads for over a month now. We're very close to releasing it to beta testers. And yes, it will also support the larger Kindle DX as well.

www.airbrief.com

- Russ
Click to expand...

So, I don't have to feel like a complete chump for buying a Kindle (2nd gen) a few months back?
 
SCCutler said:
So, I don't have to feel like a complete chump for buying a Kindle (2nd gen) a few months back?
Click to expand...
That's OK Spike. I bought one last week. :)

Actually looking at the DX I wouldn't want it anyway since it is much larger and I have no need to put approach charts on it anyway.
 
SCCutler said:
So, I don't have to feel like a complete chump for buying a Kindle (2nd gen) a few months back?
Click to expand...

Howdy, Spike. I'm figuring that for straight-up book reading, the Kindle 2 will likely be a more comfortable size. For charts in the cockpit? They'll certainly be bigger on a DX, but whether or not that's worth the extra size of the device will likely become personal preference. We'll be supporting both devices.

- Russ
 
I'm interested in hearing how easy it is to find / load plates... If I switch airports or approaches, how many keystrokes / how long does it take to get a different plate loaded up?
 
I can certainly vouch for the readability of the Kindle 2- excellent, and I have no difficulty with light at night, as well; best with soft, diffuse light.
 
write-stuff said:
Please hang with us, Jeff. The information is forthcoming. We want to make sure that we have a very good, stable service before releasing it to beta testers. You'll be hearing from us soon.

- Russ
Click to expand...

Not to pick nits here, but "beta testers" don't expect a "very good, stable service". That's why they're testers...their job is to find all the stuff that's wrong with it before your spring it on the rest of the world!
 
JeffDG said:
Not to pick nits here, but "beta testers" don't expect a "very good, stable service". That's why they're testers...their job is to find all the stuff that's wrong with it before your spring it on the rest of the world!
Click to expand...


And boy howdy, do we know how to break things!
 
JeffDG said:
Not to pick nits here, but "beta testers" don't expect a "very good, stable service". That's why they're testers...their job is to find all the stuff that's wrong with it before your spring it on the rest of the world!
Click to expand...

Hehe... Actually that's the job of the alpha testers - to work out the kinks when there are still plenty of them. Beta testers should be able to use the product in a realworld configuration with the most common bugs already routed out and something close to the final user interface in place. The beta testers should be working with pretty much the real deal (just ahead of everyone else).

We did get sidetracked for a couple of weeks producing a video on CFI liability for NAFI. That, btw, is streaming at www.NAFILive.net (.org and .com, too). If you're a CFI this 38 minute roundtable is pretty important stuff. But that's finished and we're back on the Kindle project now.
 
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write-stuff said:
Hehe... Actually that's the job of the alpha testers - to work out the kinks when there are still plenty of them. Beta testers should be able to use the product in a realworld configuration with the most common bugs already routed out and something close to the final user interface in place. The beta testers should be working with pretty much the real deal (just ahead of everyone else).

We did get sidetracked for a couple of weeks producing a video on CFI liability for NAFI. That, btw, is streaming at www.NAFILive.net (.org and .com, too). If you're a CFI this 38 minute roundtable is pretty important stuff. But that's finished and we're back on the Kindle project now.
Click to expand...
Well, you can always refer to the book on the subject! http://www.amazon.com/Beta-Testing-Better-Software-Michael/dp/0471250376
(Disclosure: Written by a friend of mine.)
 
write-stuff said:
Hehe... Actually that's the job of the alpha testers - to work out the kinks when there are still plenty of them. Beta testers should be able to use the product in a realworld configuration with the most common bugs already routed out and something close to the final user interface in place. The beta testers should be working with pretty much the real deal (just ahead of everyone else).

We did get sidetracked for a couple of weeks producing a video on CFI liability for NAFI. That, btw, is streaming at www.NAFILive.net (.org and .com, too). If you're a CFI this 38 minute roundtable is pretty important stuff. But that's finished and we're back on the Kindle project now.
Click to expand...

My beta testing tends to be closer to alpha then normally...what you described looks like a "release candidate" (I probably don't need to tell you how many time a RC has not been released...worst I've worked with was an RC5 version...I mean really, at least the first 3 weren't really RCs!)
 
If you currently have a Kindle DX, we have all the A/FDs and TERP volumes for the country online for free download. We also have the Instrument Flying Handbook and the Airplane Flying Handobook, too. This is an open beta test and we'd certainly appreciate hearing your comments.

Here's a news release that describes it: www.AirBrief.com/newsrelease

And here's the signup page to get you to the testers' page: www.AirBrief.com

- Russ
 
The new site is now open at www.AirBrief.com. Here's what we have, all for free download:

(1) Standard TERPs volumes (searchable by page index) - DX
(2) Airport Facilities Directories (searchable by page index) - DX
(3) LiveBriefs (on-demand airport/weather/plates) - original Kindle
(4) 2009 FAR - original Kindle and Kindle DX
(5) Searchable FAA Airplane Flying Handbook - DX
(6) Searchable FAA Instrument Flying Handook - DX
(7) New weather website, optimized for use with the DX internet browser
 
AirBrief now has "LiveBriefs" available free. These are single-airport "books" that you can request for wireless transfer to your standard Kindle or Kindle DX. No downloads, no USB cable. They get sent straight to your device using its built-in Whispernet access. Note that Amazon charges $0.15 per megabyte for these types of transfers.

To learn how to set it up, go to www.AirBrief.com. From there you can also download full TERPs volumes and A/FDs conventionally if you wish.

BTW, if you're at OSH and haven't yet seen how good approach plates look on a DX, follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/airbrief. I'll be tweeting my whereabouts during AirVenture (using the Kindle browser and Twitter's mobi page).

- Russ
 
I feel like such a chump for getting a Kindle 2.
 
I hear you, Spike. Who would've known? Have you tried the LiveBriefs out on your K2 yet? The charts are definitely less clear than those for the DX and you do have to zoom them. But rest assured we're still working on these issues. Soon you'll be able to say what you want in your LiveBrief: A/FD info, plates, airport diagram, types of weather charts. Right now it just uses defaults.

And Scott, actually, I'm pretty sure you could route the LiveBriefs to your computer instead of your Kindle. Put in your own email address and the file should get emailed to you just like any other file. Give it a try and let me know how it works. Oh, you'll need to specify a device. I'd pick DX since that will generate the file as a standard .pdf. - Russ

P.S. And there's no Amazon charge if you send it directly to your standard email account.
 
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What are the chances low altitude charts will ever be available for this machine?
 
Chip Sylverne said:
What are the chances low altitude charts will ever be available for this machine?
Click to expand...
Better question is "useful" low altitude charts. They still rely a bit on color for their information, and the Kindle's are monochrome machines. You could obviously use shades of grey, but they can be difficult to distinguish, especially with just a glance.
 
We're working on sectionals now, but enroute charts from the FAA have some problems. We'll just have to see how they pan out. - Russ
 
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