The Amazon Kindle is a portable e-book reader. More precisely, it is a software, hardware and network platform developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126[1] that utilizes wireless connectivity to enable users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media in some countries.[2]

Several hardware devices support this platform, including a main "Kindle" line and a parallel "Kindle DX" line. The most recent Kindle device is the third incarnation of the main line, officially named "Kindle", but usually referred to as "Kindle 3".[3][4][5] Kindle 3 was released on August 27, 2010.[6] User reports indicate that the new display, with E Ink Pearl technology on the Kindle 3 is noticeably superior to previous generations.

The Kindle DX line features larger screens than the main Kindle line.[7] It is marketed as more suitable for displaying newspaper and textbook content; however, no Kindle model preserves the print edition page numbers used when citing sources in school papers and scholarly research.[8][9] Amazon has also introduced Kindle software for use on various devices and platforms, including Microsoft Windows, iOS, BlackBerry, Mac OS X (10.5 onwards), Android and Windows Phone 7.[10]

The Kindle hardware devices use an e-ink electronic paper display that features 16 shades of grey. This allows for a long battery life and easy readability. Content for the Kindle can be purchased online and downloaded wirelessly in some countries, using either standard Wi-Fi or Amazon's 3G "Whispernet" network.[11] Whispernet is accessible without any monthly fee or wireless subscription,[12] although fees can be incurred for the delivery of periodicals and other content when roaming internationally beyond the customer's home country. Through a service called "Whispersync", customers can synchronize reading progress, bookmarks and other information across Kindle hardware devices and other mobile devices.[13][14