Kindle Tips and Tricks

• The Sleep Mode - press Alt + the text key (aA) as though you were waking it from sleep.
• To display the time while reading a book by using Alt-T.
  
  
• View PDF files on your Kindle.
  Rather than using the amazon experimental conversion which can be sketchy, Convert PDF files to Kindle format using MobiPocket Creator on PC (choose the publisher edition), or using Stanza on Mac.
  
• View blogs for free on the Kindle. This is controversial, in that blogs are free on the internet, yet some charge to be viewed on a Kindle reader. I am forced to say "Whats up with that?". The answer is that blogs have a subscription fee to cover Amazon’s costs for the WhisperNet service. Still, people find ways around it.
  BlogLines - Read RSS feeds using Bloglines.
  FeedJournal - there is a nice article on getting blogs to your kindle for free using feed journal.
  FeedBooks - you can create your own newspaper (multiple feeds) or feed (single feed).
  
• Google Maps and GPS
  You can get Google Maps and a GPS on the Kindle using Alt-1 when in browser mode. The Kindle seems to have location-awareness in the CDMA module and plots your current location on Google Maps.
  Basic Options:
  Alt-2 find gas station nearby
  Alt-3 find restaurants nearby
  Alt-5 find custom keyword nearby
  
• Official Help with Kindle Reader
  In case you have trouble with the software or hardware of your Kindle, you can contact Amazon directly via e-mail or phone.
  E-Mail: kindle-cs-support@amazon.com.
  Phone numbers -
  * 1-866-321-8851 ( from within the US)
  * 1-206-266-0927 ( from outside the US)
  
• Guide Books for the Kindle
  
  
• Use Kindle’s capabilities with Gmail, Yahoo, and IM.
  Benefit from the Kindle and WhisperNet by using the mobile versions of various mail and IM services
  

  1. Use Yahoo Messenger at http://us.m.yahoo.com/p/messenger/.
  2. Use Gmail at http://m.gmail.com - Help at reelsmarts article and Gmail etc article.
  3. Use YMail at http://m.yahoo.com.
  4. Use google reader at http://www.google.com/reader/m.
  5. Use google calendar mobile version at www.google.com/calendar/m.
• Kindle Supported Formats and Converting Documents.
  Kindle supports 4 text formats - .azw, .txt, .mobi, and .prc.
  
  Amazon supplies conversion tools for the following formats:
  Word DOC, HTML, JPEG, TXT , GIF , PNG , BMP , PDF
  
  Free Conversions to kindle format - If you send attachments to yourname@free.kindle.com, you can have files converted and emailed to you, and then transfer the document to your Kindle.
  
  You can also (for $0.10 each) get Paid conversions sent straight to the kindle by emailing documents to youraddr@kindle.com (attach the documents you want converted to your mail).
  
• Kindle WhisperNet Coverage Map.
  
• Adding to the Kindle’s storage capacity.
  The kindle does support up to 200 books - however a simple 4GB or 8 GB SDHC lets you carry around a ton of music and books and documents. You can use a SD or SDHC card to expand storage to thousands of books. For less than $10 you and add 4 gigs: