Kindle 2 Released Today


As this is an entertainment blog, and not just one about TV (or just “24” or “LOST”), I thought I’d mention that Amazon’s Kindle 2 was released today, If you pre-ordered it, it’ll show up in the next day or two.

What’s a Kindle, and why would you want one? It’s an electronic book reader, but it’s quite a bit more than that. The device has a built-in cell radio that let’s you download content no matter where you are. The key things about that feature are 1) You don’t have to pay monthly fees, so once you buy it, that’s it; 2) You can download new books, sometimes at a substantial discount from Amazon and have them go straight to your Kindle; 3) You can download more than just books – magazines, blogs and newspapers are also available!

If you’re interested, take a look at the Kindle Video to find out more.

And Another Thing… New Hitchhiker’s Guide Book Coming in 2009

What the heck is going on here? Has someone been downing Pangalacticgargleblasters? A new Hitcherhicker’s Guide to the Galaxy book? What?

Yep, it’s true. BBC is reporting that Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series, has been commissioned to write “And Another Thing…“, the sixth book in the Hitcherhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Series.

“I feel more pressure to perform now than I ever have with my own books,” he said, adding that he was “determined that this will be the best thing I have ever written”.

Via BBC

Big Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince Problems

Ain’t It Cool News has got a couple of MAJOR spoilers by people who’ve seen the nearly completed “Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince”, which was postponed until next summer.

I’ll let you read it from the link above – I will say that unless they studio fixes that movie, it’s going to be a major disappointment to die-hard fans.

(Thanks to John).

Final Harry Potter Book To Be Two Movies

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The BBC is reporting that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will be split into two movies.

Star Daniel Radcliffe told the Los Angeles Times that splitting JK Rowling’s final book in two was the only sensible option for the film-makers.

“There have been compartmentalised subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut – although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans,” he told the paper.

Via BBC

Rowling Says An Eighth Harry Potter Book “A Big If”

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JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, has dropped some hints that it’s possible there might eventually be another book set in the Harry Potter universe.


“If – and it’s a big if – I ever write an eighth book, I doubt that Harry would be the central character. I feel I’ve already told his story.

“But these are big ifs. Let’s give it ten years.”

I think it would be pretty hard for someone like Rowling, who went from no where to the top of the bestsellers list, to just step out of the limelight since all the books are now finished. I imagine that getting the accolades she got for the series are something she’s going to grow to miss, and we’ll see another book (and more likely a series) before those ten years are up.

Via The Daily Mail

Amazon Kindle: Your new e-book reader?

Amazon Kindle e-reader
Amazon.com has released the Kindle just in time for the holidays. The device has a battery life that lasts for days, gets wireless EVDO delivery of content, and has a crisp black and white screen… all this in a device that weights 10.3 ounces.

You can read blogs on it, get newspaper and blog content delivered to it, it has a keyboard. It’ll even fully recharge in 2 hours.

The key thing about the device I think is that there are no wireless bills, service plans or commitments. If they had charged a monthly fee, I think that would have killed the device.

Now, if you want to get your own personal files or pictures on the device, you can e-mail them for $0.10. I’m not sure why there would be a charge for that, but not the other online content.

Check out Amazon’s Kindle page for a lot of info and video.

What do you think? Would you buy one?

Update Looks like you’ll be changed $1.99 per blog per month.