TechPost

The nation’s number one daytime host will announce on today’s show that the Amazon Kindle is her favorite gadget. The blessing of Oprah will no doubt rocket sales of the device. Yet, you may be asking yourself “what is a kindle?”

Developed by Amazon itself, the Kindle is attempting to change the way people read books. Basically, the Kindle is a small, electronic book reader that also includes the ability to play audio books, access the web, and play music. Amazon has over 180,000 books available for download, with new releases costing $9.99 and older books ranging in price from $4 to $7. The price is a significant savings over traditional ownership methods (buying a physical book).

Web access is accomplished through a free network called “Whispernet” which in turn is accessed through a free wireless data connection. The wireless connectivity allows for book purchases, automatic delivery of newspapers, ability to read several blogs, and a few other features.

Amazon introduced the Kindle almost a year ago and the initial stock ran out in a mere five hours. It took Amazon six months to get more Kindles in stock.  Needless to say the Kindle is a massive success. Find it on Amazon for $359.