Free Amazon Kindle App for iPhone Now Available

Both versions of the iPhone 3G (8GB for $199, 16GB for $299) cost less than the $359 Amazon Kindle 2. With the release of the free Amazon App for iPhone, you can essentially get the same functionality for less money. Mobile 1-Click can be used to make quick and easy purchases on Amazon, and they all go through the same secure servers just as they would on the full version of the site. In addition to Amazon.com's huge selection, you can access more than 9000 other merhants. There are currently over 240,000 e-books available! The app works with the iPod Touch as well. Check it out by installing right from the AppStore. Personally, as small and thin as the Kindle 2 is, I think I'd rather carry around the iPhone.

More info here, and here

Amazon Kindle 2 Dissassembly and Specs

As many know, the Amazon Kindle 2 was released just yesterday for $359. Already, some brave souls at ifixit have done a complete teardown of the unit. They have a pretty detailed guide on how to do it in case you happen to be crazy enough to attempt it too. The good part? Some of the specifications revealed are interesting:

• Processor: 532 MHz 90nm ARM-11 Freescale MCIMX31L multimedia processor. Clocks faster thant the iPhone 3G, slower than the BlackBerry Bold, and a bit quicker than the BlackBerry Curve 8900
• It is actually thinner than the iPhone 3G!
  
• 1530 mAh lithium polymer battery, Model No. S11S01A. It's a 3.7 V. The battery weighs about 10% of the total weight of the Kindle.
• Samsung K4X1G323PC 32MB mobile DDR SDRAM chip
  
• moviNAND package: 2GB flash and controller
  
• A secretive Amazon subsidiary by the name of Lab126 designed both the Kindle 1 and Kindle 2
• The E-Ink panel is not protected by any extra covering
• The E-Ink display still displays a crysal clear image when the battery is removed
• Freescale, Samsung, and Epson are the manufacturers of most of the relatively larger chips in the Kindle
• MC13783VK5 battery management chip
• The E-Ink chip is branded by Epson as well
• An outline of a SIM card might have been for development and debugging... perhaps a future international release

Well there you have it. Want to see for yourself? It apparently only entails removing 26 screws and disconnecting 4 connectors. Keep in mind that this is usually not a good thing to do if you ever have to go through the warranty department...

More info here, and here