Kindle email, whispernet and personal documents
October 17, 2011 7:48 AM Subscribe
Kindle email, whispernet and personal documents
I'm looking at buying a basic Kindle. Besides reading books I've purchased on Amazon, I'd like to be able to occasionally check email using the browser (yeah, I know it's not great!) and I have a lot of personal documents in the epub format that I'd like to convert to Kindle format using Calibre.
1) Can I view email (Gmail) over whispernet 3G if I'm not in a wi-fi area? Is there a charge for it and how much?
2) Can I move my converted personal documents onto the Kindle from my computer with a USB cable without having to have Amazon charge me for the privilege?
3) In all likelihood I'll be using the device for personal/business documents more than reading purchased Kindle books. Is Amazon going to go 'Big Brother' on me and shut my account down if I'm not making them money?
4) If I move a personal doc onto the device can I also view it on the Kindle app for iPhone? Will it keep personal docs synced via whispernet as it does with purchased books?
Thanks, I realize questions have been asked on the subject before but I want to know how it is in the current environment and on the newest devices.
I'm looking at buying a basic Kindle. Besides reading books I've purchased on Amazon, I'd like to be able to occasionally check email using the browser (yeah, I know it's not great!) and I have a lot of personal documents in the epub format that I'd like to convert to Kindle format using Calibre.
1) Can I view email (Gmail) over whispernet 3G if I'm not in a wi-fi area? Is there a charge for it and how much?
2) Can I move my converted personal documents onto the Kindle from my computer with a USB cable without having to have Amazon charge me for the privilege?
3) In all likelihood I'll be using the device for personal/business documents more than reading purchased Kindle books. Is Amazon going to go 'Big Brother' on me and shut my account down if I'm not making them money?
4) If I move a personal doc onto the device can I also view it on the Kindle app for iPhone? Will it keep personal docs synced via whispernet as it does with purchased books?
Thanks, I realize questions have been asked on the subject before but I want to know how it is in the current environment and on the newest devices.
The previous Kindle3, which is still being sold as the "Kindle Keyboard" can browse over 3G. But I have no idea whether the gmail interface will work on their crappy browser.
posted by schrodycat at 8:03 AM on October 17, 2011
posted by schrodycat at 8:03 AM on October 17, 2011
Best answer: 1. nope
2. yup
3. nope. I have 3 physical kindles and have only bought 1 $0.99 book over the last year.
4. Nope...at least not currently. Their future cloud storage plans could include this.
posted by nomisxid at 8:04 AM on October 17, 2011
2. yup
3. nope. I have 3 physical kindles and have only bought 1 $0.99 book over the last year.
4. Nope...at least not currently. Their future cloud storage plans could include this.
posted by nomisxid at 8:04 AM on October 17, 2011
Regarding number 4, they just announced this feature.
Going forward, all Kindle devices from the 3rd Gen on will benefit from cloud-synced personal documents. I just got the email two days ago.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:14 AM on October 17, 2011
Going forward, all Kindle devices from the 3rd Gen on will benefit from cloud-synced personal documents. I just got the email two days ago.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:14 AM on October 17, 2011
I have older kindle and you can get gmail on it but it over 3g but its super slow.
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 8:15 AM on October 17, 2011
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 8:15 AM on October 17, 2011
I can use gmail on my old Kindle 2, using its rudimentary web browser and the 3G connection. It always gives an error when I send mail via gmail, but the message goes through anyway.
posted by Ery at 8:17 AM on October 17, 2011
posted by Ery at 8:17 AM on October 17, 2011
The rudimentary 3G access to the web that Kindle 1-3 had is being removed from the newer models. You still can buy things over it, but web access is WiFi only for the Touch and other new types.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:25 AM on October 17, 2011
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:25 AM on October 17, 2011
Best answer: update to number 4, from today's wired article on their latest software update:
If you e-mail documents to your Kindle, or add them via USB, they'll now show up on the personal documents section your Kindle management pages at Amazon. From there, you can delete them or send them to one of your devices. You get 5GB of space, which should be more than enough, even counting PDFs What's more, if the file is in "Kindle format" then your reading progress will be synced between devices.
posted by nomisxid at 8:47 AM on October 17, 2011
If you e-mail documents to your Kindle, or add them via USB, they'll now show up on the personal documents section your Kindle management pages at Amazon. From there, you can delete them or send them to one of your devices. You get 5GB of space, which should be more than enough, even counting PDFs What's more, if the file is in "Kindle format" then your reading progress will be synced between devices.
posted by nomisxid at 8:47 AM on October 17, 2011
1) I have a Kindle3 (looks the same as the current Kindle Keyboard 3G), and I have been able to use Gmail on it many times, both domestically and internationally, though it's ridiculously slow. I'm not sure why the 3G Touch that's coming out wouldn't be able to, unless they've hobbled it somehow. Here's a comparison link. All the ones that just say Wi-Fi aren't able to.
2) Yes.
3) Nope.
4) No, but I am heartened to see that it's coming. I wished I had this several times.
posted by wending my way at 11:03 AM on October 17, 2011
2) Yes.
3) Nope.
4) No, but I am heartened to see that it's coming. I wished I had this several times.
posted by wending my way at 11:03 AM on October 17, 2011
wending, they've hobbled the touch: the browser will only connect to Wikipedia & Amazon over 3G.
posted by pharm at 11:33 AM on October 17, 2011
posted by pharm at 11:33 AM on October 17, 2011
Answer to a question you haven't asked, but maybe should have: there is a fee for emailing documents to yourself via Whispernet. However, Whispernet can also convert documents (like PDFs and Word docs) into Kindle format automatically, which is pretty spiffy.
You can avoid the fee by using the USB cable to transfer the documents directly to your Kindle. You just plug it into your computer and drag the files over, as you would with any other USB storage device. But you will have to convert the documents yourself.
As you're already aware, Kindle doesn't recognize ePub documents, so you would have to convert those files yourself anyway. But it's nice to have the option for other file formats (including PDF, Word Doc, HTML, and RTF files).
More info
posted by ErikaB at 4:51 PM on October 17, 2011
You can avoid the fee by using the USB cable to transfer the documents directly to your Kindle. You just plug it into your computer and drag the files over, as you would with any other USB storage device. But you will have to convert the documents yourself.
As you're already aware, Kindle doesn't recognize ePub documents, so you would have to convert those files yourself anyway. But it's nice to have the option for other file formats (including PDF, Word Doc, HTML, and RTF files).
More info
posted by ErikaB at 4:51 PM on October 17, 2011
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So no gmail over 3G.
2) Yes. So long as you convert them yourself. You can always email them to
3) Unlikely.
4) Can't remember the answer to this & our Kindle is on my partner's account not mine, so I can't check.
posted by pharm at 8:00 AM on October 17, 2011 [1 favorite]