UPDATE 9/7/10 - Robert Presser found that the old delightful Day, Date, Time result (with '@t') no longer works in the old way after software update 2.5.x for Kindle 2, and I found it doesn't work for Kindle 3 either. But there's a new way.Using "@time" now will get you the full Date as well as Time, in longer format, at the top of unwanted search results for 'time' if you want that info while reading. And there's more, as Diane tells us below.
UPDATE2&3, 9/7/10 - Diane Gorman added in the Comments that the Date/Time info we get now is available without the '@' sign, so you can just enter 'date' or 'time' to start the search we don't want but which will give us the date/time info at the top of the search results.
AND best, clicking on that top piece of info, which is a LINK to the top 'search result' for 'date' or 'time,' gives THE DAY + Date and Time.
I've modified the tip below for the above and also to give examples of using a URL from the home page in two ways.
First postings of this tip in its original form, June 2009, with updates
Reminder for newer Kindle owners: If you're ever reading your Kindle and wondering, as I do too often, what day it is (or isn't), you can find out without putting down the Kindle.
This long-format Date/Time AND linked-info-popup works for the older refurbished Kindle 2's and DX's, and the newer Kindle 3's and Kindle DXG.
Typing 'time' or 'date from the HOME screen and clicking on 'search my items' (or just pressing the Return key because the current Action shown IS 'search my items) will get you, then, Day, Date & Time at the top of (unneeded) search results and then clicking on that underlined link will get you the full info with DAY and timezone.
NOTE: A search of the Kindle takes awhile of course, since it searches to see if a word is in any of the books you have on the Kindle. The Kindle may SEEM to 'freeze' during the search, because the keys aren't workable while the Kindle is performing a search. Be patient, because it'll end eventually. The spinning wheel at the upper left will go on for awhile.
Doing subsequent requests for 'time' or 'date' seem to take less time though.
MORE IMPORTANT though, the '@' is not needed anymore for the new date/time info, but I will leave in the "@" in the steps below so that readers know how to bring up the '@' sign at the beginning when that's needed.
Note that the '@' is not necessary for Date/Time but is needed for @dict, @help, @print [? - a useless one], @store, @url, @web, @wiki, @wikipedia, which I discussed a bit at a blog article in July '09 in a @-shortcuts entry.
Also, the @url shortcut can be used on the home page by just typing, for example,
"@url google.com/reader/i" and then, since the 5-way button Action showing this is by default "search my items" and that's the one we want (as above) when using the "@url" feature, you can just press the Return key to start it. I made a link-shortcut (just below) for the simpler, faster, and more reliable mobile Google Reader page for the Kindle:
EXAMPLES (going to google reader or cnn)
http://bit.ly/g-reader
It's important to NOT use "http://" when using @url and to use
'search my items' as the 5-way button Action
And you'll get DATE/Time in long-form on top of unwanted search results.
DIFFERENT EXAMPLE for the Main way to do a URL from Home Page:
(not using '@url' "shortcut" at all)
MAIN way to do this, though, is to just type the URL alone
(No 'http://' and No '@url')
Then, 5-way to the right until you get to "go to" and press the 5-way down
on that. It's easier because there's no '@' symbol to do.
Try typing just m.cnn.com and 5-way to the right to "go to"
to see how fast that does work now.
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO GET THE SYMBOL KEY AT HOME PAGE OR IN A BOOK:
At the Home page, press the Enter key (or the Del key under it) to bring up the search box.
Enter '@' by pressing SYM key and navigating to the '@' symbol
and then press down on the 5-way (clicking it) to choose that '@' sign.
Type 'time' or whatever other function from the ones above.
Press Return/Enter key.
(Again, this is just a how-to on bringing up the symbol box.
The '@' sign is not needed for the Date function now.)
Getting expanded day/date/time information while reading a book
The main factor here is that 'date' or 'time' is used with "my items" as you saw above, although the Home screen's version of that option is worded "search my items."
The "my items" wording means that it is looking through the entire Kindle.
So, when you're in a book, the same principle holds. If you type 'date' or 'time' while in a book, the default search action is "find" and that means find something WITHIN the current book. &nbps;Clicking that Action option won't work for day/date. However, moving the 5-way button to the right just one step gets you "my items." And that means Search the entire Kindle instead of just the book. Click on that to start the search for 'date' or 'time'...
As a result, so to speak, you get the same full Day/Date/Time and Timezone pop-up info from within the book that you get for the Home Screen search.
CAUTION repeated here:
NOTE: A search of the Kindle takes awhile of course, since it searches to see if a word is in any of the books you have on the Kindle. The Kindle may SEEM to 'freeze' during the search, because the keys aren't workable while the Kindle is performing a search. Be patient, because it'll end eventually. The spinning wheel at the upper left will go on for awhile.
Doing subsequent requests for 'time' or 'date' seem to take less time though.
Also, you can use any "@"-key shortcut within books also, by:
. pressing spacebar to bring up the typing/search box and
. entering the "@[search word]" as before, and then
. doing a 5-way to the right to get to "My Items"
. and pressing down on the 5-way on that option.
[EDITED, on same day in July 2009] Am just adding here that this is an undocumented feature that I discovered in June 2009 when experimenting with keyboard combinations. I posted it with other "@x" features but my post about them was fairly incoherent and I'll modify and repost the still-working ones later.)
Kindle 3's (UK: Kindle 3's), DX Graphite
Check often: Temporarily-free late-listed non-classics or recently published ones
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers.
Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.
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