Kindle Touch 3G: wifi

Showing posts with label wifi. Show all posts

Friday, June 24, 2011

The Various Kindle Models - Names and 'Generation' - What Each Does

UPDATED June 24, 2011 to add serial number and other information.

UPDATED August 13, 2010 to correct UK info, reorganize, and add common Kindle titles. (Original posting Aug 5)

NOTE that the webpage titles for the images on the left (click on them to show page titles) display:
"slate-shasta-main-3g" and "slate-shasta-main-3g-white" and that they're both placed (as seen in the URL) under the Amazon subfolders "kindle/shasta\"

The gadget-news rumor was accurate about the coming "Shasta" model. (on May 31).

WHAT DO ALL THE KINDLE MODEL NAMES AND DESCRIPTORS MEAN?

While showing the Amazon listing of the Kindle devices for which the two new word games work, it occurred to me that the listing is probably confusing to those new to the Kindle scene.

I tried to clarify what each model 'is' in an update to the Word Games posting.

While doing that, I felt I should put that section in a post of its own, so this is it.
Re the two Kindle-3 photos at the top. Amazon likes to call the latest Kindle just "Kindle" but that is just not going to work very well these days.

FIRST, SERIAL NUMBERS FOR EACH MODELS (This section was updated in Yr 2011.)
You can find the serial number on the back of your Kindle. If it starts with:

B001... it's a 6" Kindle 1, US-only, using Sprint
B002... it's a 6" Kindle 2, U.S. version, using Sprint's, released February 2009
B003... it's a 6" Kindle 2, Global version, using AT&T - released October 19, 2009
B004... it's a 9.7" Kindle DX, U.S. version (Sprint)
B005... it's a 9.7" Kindle DX, Global version (AT&T) - released January 6, 2010.
B006... it's a 6" Kindle-3 3G (Free 3G/WiFi) - US/Canadian/some Int'l version (Aug. 2010)
B007... - Not assigned, that we've ever seen -
B008... it's a 6" Kindle-3 WiFi-Only - U.S./Int'l version
B00A... it's a 6" Kindle-3 3G/WiFi - European only version
B009... it's a 9.7" Kindle DX, Graphite, Pearl Screen model

Another way to get the serial number is to have Wireless On, press Menu button, click on Settings and it should be near the bottom of that page. Or, you can input the numbers 411 there to that and more info.

I'd like to get the beginning 5 characters in the serial numbers for the Special Offers Kindles (with screensaver ads and offers), both WiFi-Only and the 3G/WiFi models. If you can help, let me know what the first 5 letters of the serial number are, in the comments area if you can.

Amazon may have made a mistake in refusing to recognize former models, in a way, by almost immediately calling the later Kindle-2 just "Kindle" as if Kindle 1 no longer existed, but it certainly does, as a great many stayed with that model and still read on it the many books they currently buy from Amazon.

The Kindles are more like Cablevision receivers. They exist so we can order media for them. It's too bad there's no upgrade path to a later Kindle the way there is with cable receivers that exist to receive and help display the media content in which we're interested.

Also, it's easier when there are model numbers for receivers, rather than spelling out the "generations," Apple started this -- StarTrek must have been the inspiration for that? -- but Apple doesn't call the latest iPod just "iPod" - they identify the latest model with an alpha-character combo so people have a better fix on what they have, and the same with the iPad and iPad 2.

AMAZON'S IDENTIFICATION OF KINDLES,
PLUS CUSTOMERS' NAMES FOR THE KINDLES)
I add -- after the Amazon title & description -- the more common identifer (in italics) that customers use.

Kindle 1
"Kindle, 1st Generation [etc, etc]" is a mouthful.

We did and many of us still do have a Kindle 1, which some dubbed "Kindle Klassic."

In the small picture of the Kindle 1 (at right), which you can click on to see the enlarged photo, the original Kindle (released in 2007) was displaying, in 2008, some Google search results, via its slow but free 3G web browser.

Its storage capacity is very low and its screen speed capability is so slow that a cursor could not be placed by the programmers IN the screen and we have to use the vertical column silver cursor to go to the ROW for a given word and then choose one of the words from all the words on that row when we want the Kindle to perform an action.

These are reasons that software updates will not easily work with the Kindle
My Kindle 1 continues to work very well as an e-book reader. But Kindle-1 owners shouldn't expect complex updates to that, as this older device requires different programming and this is usually considered economically not feasible for a company. I noticed other customers putting 1-star reviews on the word games product-review page just because they weren't re-programmed to also work with the Kindle 1.

Kindle 2 - 2nd Generation
Kindle (2nd Generation) International and Kindle (2nd Generation) U.S. - These are Kindle-2 6"-screen models and were the latest 6" versions in-hand until Aug 27, 2010 or so. The International model uses wireless (AT&T/partners), globally, when accessible. The U.S. version uses U.S. wireless only (Sprint).

Kindle 3 - 3rd Generation
1. Kindle (Free 3G + WiFi, 6") - (Kindle 3 6" with 3G/WiFi)
{UK: 3G/WiFi}

2. Kindle (Wi-Fi, 6") - (Kindle 3 6" with WiFi Only)
{UK: Kindle-3 WiFi-Only}

Kindle DX International and also U.S.-only - 2nd Generation
Kindle DX (Free 3G, 9.7", White) International and Kindle DX (Free 3G, 9.7" White) U.S.

Kindle DX Graphite, with Pearl Screen - Latest Generation
Kindle DX (Free 3G, 9.7", Graphite) - the Kindle DXG with higher contrast screen
Released after the two devices just above, which are able to run the games as well.

The Latest Generation DXG with Pearl screen and higher contrast comes only in the Graphite color. (I've wondered if some may not have noticed that there is a White Kindle 3 as well ... the Graphite model is the one heavily featured.

Kindle WiFi-Only with Special Offers (and screensaver ads + 1 ad in the last line of the Home page) but not seen when you're reading.
Kindle3 SO, WiFi-Only

Kindle 3G/WiFi with Special Offers (and screensaver ads + 1 ad in the last line of the Home page) but not seen when you're reading.
Kindle 3G SO, 3G/Wifi

With the "Special Offers" Kindle, the ads, not active while you're reading, will always be there. So that's something you should consider. On the forums, some are sorry they chose that while others wish they had chosen that because they like the special deals offered (while others say it just encourages them to spend more at Amazon). It's only a $25 savings in return for seeing ads when you first open your Kindle or are inactive (not doing a page turn, say) for about 10-20 minutes -- but others feel they're saving enough on some Amazon product deals to almost pay for the Kindle.

UPDATES
. UPDATED Aug 6, 2010 to include that the UK Amazon store offers the Kindle 3 only in the Graphite color and doesn't sell the Kindle DX.

. UPDATED June 24, 2011 to include "Special Offers" versions of Kindle 3 and to update serial number start-numbers for Kindle 3 models.

WHAT'S "3G" AND WHAT'S "WiFi" ?
( See the updated blog article on how WiFi and 3G wireless access differ.

There is also some information on that in the first half of E-Readers with Web Browsers, WiFi vs 3G cellular access, which should give a basic idea of the situations
in which each type of wireless is used and what's involved.)

Basically, and in the least words (for once):
1. 3G - cellular or mobile networks -- this type is, as with cellphones, accessible over the air almost anywhere. You can be on a bus or at the beach and it can work there.
If your country has the free 3G web-browser enabled, you'll be able to use that feature and in other 3G-browsing enabled countries (about 60).

Personally, I wouldn't give up this free access for a one-time $50 cost when it normally costs $30-$60/month for this type of unlimted feature on a smart phone.
As I've mentioned before, I often use the 3G-access when I need step-by-step directions from Google maps/text page when going to a hard-to-find place.

2. WiFi - wireless local area networks (WLAN) -- You need to be near a 'local' area network in this case, so these are usually set up in homes or offices and you can find "hotspots" at places like Starbucks, McDonald's and other cafes though some require a per-hour charge and/or a password/passkey.

While the Wifi is about $50 less (U.S.), you give up Free 3G cell-phone-type wireless access for the life of the unit. Note that Apple charges $130 additional for the 3G model of its iPad and then monthly data charges to use 3G.

For daily free ebooks, check the following links:

Temporarily-free books -
Non-classics - USA: by:
NEW: Apr May June 2011
Publication Date Late-listed
Bestselling High-ratings
UK: PubDate Popular
What is 3G? and "WiFi"? Battery Care
Highly-rated under $1, Newest: $1-$2, $2-$3

Most Popular Free K-Books
U.S. & Int'l (NOT UK):
Top 100 free
UK-Only:
Top 100 free
USEFUL for your Kindle (U.S. only, currently):
99c Notepad 1.1, 99c Calculator,
99c Calendar, 99c Converter

Kindle 3's (UK: Kindle 3's) K3 Special ($114) K3-3G Special ($164) DX Graphite

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

CHANGES to the "Manage Your Kindle" pages + Personal document settings.

REPEAT: BIG CHANGES IN THE AMAZON MANAGE YOUR KINDLE PAGES :-)

Where we once had one confusing page for managing our Kindle(s), we now have a multitude of pages. These may seem confusing also, but ultimately they're much clearer.

While almost finishing a blog entry on sending personal docs or articles to the Kindle today, I found that the Manage Your Kindle pages have changed in a huge way.

You can now find your Kindle Receiving-Email-Addresses (for receiving personal docs) in TWO areas:

1. at the new Manage Your Devices page in a column titled "Kindle E-Mail Address."

In order to EDIT these, you have to click on the Title and then a little "Edit" shows up, which you click in order to edit the address (and even your device nickname). Amazon assigns these initially, from what I remember, but we can change them.

2. AND, more importantly, you can find your Kindle Receiving-Email-Addresses more conveniently at the Personal Document Settings page.

There, you can see more easily where you can click to Edit them. USE THAT SETTINGS-PAGE FOR PERSONAL DOCUMENT CHANGES OF ANY KIND.

That Kindle address for receiving personal documents is of course protected from spammers and from anyone you don't give specific permission to place documents on your Kindle -- so we don't tend to give out that Kindle address to others.
Even then, there's protection because we have to approve the sending-addresses.

The Kindle receiving-address is in the form:
[you]@kindle.com

CAVEAT - That [you]@kindle.com receiving-address can carry a charge on earlier Kindles that don't have WiFi access, and MOST OF THE TIME the address you should use, instead, is [you]@free.kindle.com.

TO HAVE SITES SEND ARTICLES YOU'VE CHOSEN TO YOUR KINDLE
You need to specify which delivery-website-SENDing-email-addresses are approved for sending documents direct to your Kindle via the Amazon servers.

GO TO the Personal Document Settings page.

You can enter, into the box labelled "Approved Personal Document E-mail List," any email addresses that you want given permission to send documents to your Kindle.

If you send -- or if anyone whose sending-email-address you approve sends -- a personal document to the [you]@kindle.com address, the document will be sent by Amazon servers to your Kindle over the 3G cellular network and, in the U.S., that is 15c per megabyte of a file. Outside the U.S., that's 99c per megabyte of a file.

USE THE KINDLE 3's WIFI ACCESS INSTEAD OF "3G" WHISPERNET THEN.
With a Kindle3 (these models have a WiFi component), you'd normally want to get the document via WiFi (instead of 3G), as it's free to you for the sending of personal documents to Kindle via Amazon servers (because Amazon doesn't pay for your WiFi access -- they do pay for any 3G cell phone network access).

For WiFi-sends instead of 3G, then, you email a document for your Kindle address by addressing it instead to

[you]@free.kindle.com.

Amazon will send an email to your normal-correspondence email address (the one you registered with Amazon), and the email will include a link to your completed file, which you can:

EITHER

- 1. download to a computer for transfer to your Kindle's "documents" folder via the USB cord (this is called "sideloading" -- the USB cable is attached to your Kindle and to the side of your computer for the connection and transfer of files

OR YOU CAN WAIT AND

- 2. accept the personal doc on your Kindle3 when you are connected to a WiFi network somewhere. If you don't have a WiFi network at home, then #1 above is the way you'd more quickly put it on your Kindle rather than wait until you're near a WiFi network.

With 3G, we are almost always connected, no matter where we are. But '3G' delivery of personal docs isn't free..

NOTE: If you have no WiFi capability and you don't want to pay a 3G fee for personal doc emailings, then you choose Option 1 above.

That's the only 'catch' to the 3G service -- the sending of personal docs to the Kindle, emailed via Amazon servers. It's very confusing to most though.

TIP TO AVOID 3G CHARGES OR TO MINIMZE THEM
At the Personal Document Settings page, there is a Maximum Personal Document Charge section, where you can specify "Maximum Charge Limit"

Set this to "0" (ZERO) if you don't want any charges ever. Personally, it's worth 15c for me to send a doc under 1 meg (1 meg is larger than the average novel) via email than it is to hook up the cable and do the file management transfer.
It's best to enter the limit so you don't inadvertently incur little 15c charges or a large one for a big PDF with images when forgetting to use the "free" in [you]@free.kindle.com

B A C K G R O U N D info on "3G" and "WiFi"
3G CELLULAR WIRELESS AND WIFI
The word "wireless' here pertains to both 3G and WiFi networks.
If the e-reader is not attached to a computer but it can access online sites, it's using a "wireless network." I've seen that many use the term "WiFi" when they mean "3G" mobile-wireless, as it's a confusing area to most who have had no reason to even think about these words before.

3G WIRELESS
As the image at the left indicates, 3G Wireless involves huge wireless networks that cover very long distances -- our cellphones access these networks. This is often referred to as 'mobile wireless' -- or wireless on the go. Coverage involves very large areas and involves cell towers.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Q&A: Is there a catch with Free 3G? A data-transfer charge was mentioned.

FROM THE COMMENTS AREA, A QUESTION

A question in the Comment area reminded me that many Kindle owners are unaware of an important feature that allows us to send or place 'personal documents' (any file not received from Amazon) onto our Kindles. The feature is available for personal documents that don't have digital-rights protection on them.

While this can be done with simple transfers from a computer to the Kindle via the USB cable which is part of the power cord and via other methods (see Guides in the reference section in the right-hand colum of the blog), there is also the choice to have the Amazon servers send (and sometimes convert to Kindle format first if needed) the document "over the air" to the Kindle via either 3G cellular wireless (small fee involved) or via WiFi (free) when you are connected to one.

The below question and reply is from a question yesterday to the blog. Below it, I'll include an excerpt from an earlier blog article that was written to clarify the differences between WiFi-Only and 3G/Wifi Kindle models, to reiterate how Wifi and 3G cellular wireless capabilities differ, since it remains an area of confusion for many.

QUESTION BY CHRIS D.

' Q: I am curious about the 3g feature (I have a 3g in the mail already, but have a concern). I understand that the 3g service is indeed free on this model, but I occasionally see a reference to someone paying a charge for some data transfer. I have been unable to locate exactly what might cause this cost to be incurred. In short, what catches are there to the 3g service?

A:
Chris,
The only 3G charge is if you have a personal document or book that you downloaded to your computer from somewhere else but for which you now *want to use 3G cellular wireless* to either:
- 1. 'email' that to your Kindle directly

*OR* which you now want to

- 2. 'email' to Amazon servers for CONVERSION to Kindle format first and then 3G wireless delivery to your Kindle.

(Conversions are done usually for WORD docs or for PDFs which you want Amazon to put into Kindle format with the text re-flowed rather than seen as images of pages which are often too small to read comfortably on a 6" screen).

To have Amazon convert a *PDF* to Kindle-reflowed format, you'd need to put the word "Convert" into the subject field. Otherwise, no words are ever needed for these emails other than the email address that's already in the header.

With Microsoft WORD documents, the conversion is automatic, and you don't need to use the word "Convert" in the subject field (as you do with PDFs).

REMINDER: This is if you want Amazon to send a personal doc (or non-rights-protected book from another source) for you over the 3G cellular network *rather* than via the WiFi you have at home or in the office or nearby at a place that has WiFi (like McDonald's or Starbucks etc).

YOUR KINDLE ADDRESS:
As a Kindle 3 owner, you'd be given a Kindle email-address that Amazon has made specifically for your Kindle, and you'd see that Kindle address at your Kindle management page in a box near the top left of that page.

That Kindle address is of course protected from spammers and anyone you don't give specific permission to place documents on your Kindle -- so we don't tend to give out that Kindle address to others.

The Kindle address is in the form:
[you]@kindle.com

You need to specify which of your email addresses are approved for sending documents direct to your Kindle via the Amazon servers.

You can enter, into the box labelled "Your Kindle Approved E-mail List," any or all of your email addresses that you want given permission to do that.

If you send a personal document to the [you]@kindle.com address, the document will be sent by Amazon servers to your Kindle over the 3G cellular network and, in the U.S., that is 15c per megabyte of a file. Outside the U.S., that's 99c per megabyte of a file.

USING KINDLE 3's WIFI INSTEAD:
With a Kindle3 (these models have a WiFi component), you'd normally want to get the document via WiFi (instead of 3G), which is then free to you for the sending of personal documents to Kindle via Amazon servers.

For WiFi sends instead of 3G, you email the document to Amazon serviers for your Kindle address by addressing it instead to

[you]@free.kindle.com

Then Amazon will then send an email to your correspondence email address (the one you registered with Amazon) that will include a link to your completed file where you can
EITHER
- 1. download it to a computer (if it's a file that has been converted by Amazon for your Kindle) for transfer to your Kindle's "documents" folder via the USB cord

OR

- 2. accept it on your Kindle3 when you are connected to a WiFi network somewhere. If you don't have a WiFi network at home, then #1 above is the way you'd more quickly put it on your Kindle rather than wait until you're near a WiFi network.

With 3G, we are almost always connected, no matter where we are. But the WiFi way to do this is free.

That's the only 'catch' to the 3G service. '

3G CELLULAR WIRELESS AND WIFI
The word "wireless' here pertains to both 3G and WiFi networks.
If the e-reader is not attached to a computer but it can access online sites, it's using a "wireless network." I've seen that many use the term "WiFi" when they mean "3G" mobile-wireless, as it's a confusing area to most who have had no reason to even think about these words before.

Check often: Temporarily-free late-listed non-classics or recently published ones
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers.
UK-Only: recently published non-classics, bestsellers, or highest-rated ones
Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

3G and WiFi-Only Kindle 3's - What does it all mean? Which should I get?

WIRELESS OPTIONS - WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
On the Amazon Kindle forums, the most frequent question I've seen in connection with the new Kindles is about the wireless options -- what "3G" means and how it differs from "WiFi" -- both types are included in the $189 model while the "WiFi-only" model is offered for those who feel they won't ever need the "3G" wireless feature.

This article is written for those new to the wireless scene. I meant to make it short, but decided to write in more detail.

The word "wireless' here pertains to both 3G and WiFi networks.
If the e-reader is not attached to a computer but it can access online sites, it's using a "wireless network." I've seen that many use the term "WiFi" when they mean "3G" mobile-wireless, as it's a confusing area to most who have had no reason to even think about these words before.

WI FI WIRELESS
This involves very "local" and ultra short-range wireless networks -- usually in effect for a home or an office or office building, set up by the individuals using them, but increasingly, cafes and shops are offering customers use of their own WiFi networks while there.

The picture on the left is of my 7-year old Netgear WiFi network router. Mine takes a signal from Comcast's high-speed cable internet service and routes that cable-modem signal via a wire to my main computer and then broadcasts the signal "locally" around my home so that it's accessible without-wires by my printer/scanner and my laptop.
My neighbors have WiFi networks in their apartments as well, and we all use the normal security of some kind of passkey so that others can't "steal" access to our wee networks and slow us down by sharing them without permission.

If you're getting a WiFi-only reader and expect to download books directly to the e-reader without having to hook it up to a computer, you'll need to have a WiFi network set up. They're very inexpensive these days -- it costs about $40 for a good router -- but someone will need to set it up and understand how to maintain it. Friends can help. It's not difficult (except for those without experience with computers), and software that comes with the small router can make it almost automatic.

BOOK-DOWNLOADS DIRECT TO KINDLE
I think the reason that the Kindle reader 'took off' when other e-readers received much less interest is the capability that Amazon built into the reader so that owners can access the cellphone or mobile networks wherever they are (except in some remote areas) to just download a new book on the spot upon hearing about it.

Amazon has said they wanted customers to be able to use the Kindle without need for a computer.
With 3G mobile wireless, it doesn't matter where you are -- you can usually download a book you want or do a look-up online. As Amazon's pages point out, there's no need to look for a "hot spot" -- a place that offers a WiFi network that is sharable by customers, whether for a fee or for free (Starbucks and McDonald's WiFi networks are free).

Nook's implementation of the 3G wireless feature
Nook owners can use the WiFi network access that is available at Barnes and Noble stores, but they can't use that type of wireless in a bus or at the beach as Kindle users can with its 3G.
The Nook's 3G is able only to access the B&N store online. (See Len Edgerly's video demo of differences in the implementation of other features that the Nook and the Kindle share.)

HIGHER COST OF 3G+WIFI vs WIFI-ONLY
It's a one-time $50 difference between these two models.
As an example of the value of 3G access:
The iPad costs an additional $130 for the lowest-cost model with 3G capability ($629 vs $499).
To USE the iPad's 3G wireless, a monthly data plan is needed, at $15 to $30/mo. For normal smartphones, any added 3G web-data access is usually between $30-$60 dollars monthly.
There are no monthly charges for the Kindle's 3G wireless access.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOUR E-READER CHOICES? - A SUMMARY
This more basic summary is modified from one of the earlier articles here.
1. 3G - cellular or mobile networks -- this type is, as with cellphones, accessible over the air almost anywhere. You can be on a bus, at the dentist's office, or at the beach and it can work there.
If Amazon enables 3G wireless use of the web-browser in another country, you'll be able to use that feature in other countries as well if Kindles sent to your country are enabled for the web-browser.

Personally, I wouldn't give up the free 3G access for a one-time $50 savings when it normally costs $30-$60/month for this type of feature on a smart phone.

2. WiFi - wireless local area networks (WLAN) -- You need to be near a 'local' area network in this case, so these are usually set up in homes or offices and you can find "hotspots" at places like Starbucks, McDonald's and other cafes though some require a per-hour charge and/or a password/passkey.

While the initial cost of the WiFi-Only model is about $50 less, you give up Free 3G cell-phone-type wireless access forever with the unit.
However, those with 3G web-data plans already on their smartphones or tablets won't miss it that much. They won't be able to download a book to the Kindle on the spur of the moment from almost anywhere, but that's just a luxury and many are just as happy to wait until they have access to a WiFi network.

IS 3G WEB BROWSING AVAILABLE IN MY HOME COUNTRY?
That depends on the 3G wireless arrangements Amazon has been able to make with wireless providers in that country.

Amazon has not enabled the experimental web browser in some regions of the world (probably because the 3G browsing arrangements they could make are too costly for them), although in ALL areas that offer wireless downloads of books, Amazon features 24/7 free access to Wikipedia, which is very useful when done from a book you're reading.

New web browser on the K3's
The Kindle 3's are using the new WebKit-based browser. Amazon says the updated web browser is "faster, easier to navigate, and provides a new 'article mode' feature that simplifies web pages to just the main text-based content for easier reading."
That simplification will be great for Kindle Edition blogs when following links in stories.

3G AMAZON 3G WHISPERNET COVERAGE MAPS
Here are links to to Amazon's 3G Whispernet coverage maps for the latest Kindles:
North America Worldwide

_______
See earlier articles on
. Accessing Google Maps site for Text-only Step-by-Step driving directions on the Kindle (quite fast access)
. A downloadable bookmarks-type file for accessing mobile-device optimized websites
. Sending a highlighted Kindle book passage to friends on Facebook or Twitter (doable from where you are if you have a 3G model).
. a listing of countries for which the Amazon country-specific Kindle-2 pages did not show the web browser as 'unavailable' and countries with product pages specifically stating the web browser was not available for those countries (June 2010) although some were able to use the web browser in those countries for awhile, especially after software update 2.5.x, but now are unable to, and the status of those may change with time.

The current language of the international Kindle product pages is considerably more vague, with the Wikipedia site listed as available on 3G Whispernet for all, while for the rest of the Net, WiFi access is at least encouraged and in some cases would be 'required,' as 3G web-browsing is not available in some areas.
Those in countries that were NOT identified as having the web browser 'not available' still seem to be able to use the web browser.
Other areas, such as The Netherlands and Portugal, which were identified in June as not having web browsing available, did have some Kindles enabled until recently but don't appear to have that capability now. Amazon doesn't seem to want to be clear on this and it may be because of contract negotiations, ongoing or unsuccessful.

In the meantime, Germany's ~~now says that 'social networking features' are not available which would indicate the web browser is not enabled, while the other pages are, as I mentioned, vague~~ product page, as of late Sept has been changed to use the same wording as other European pages no longer saying only that "social networking features are not available."
Updated this paragraph Oct. 15, 2010

See http://bit.ly/kwkweb2 for -some- info on countries with 3G web access for Amazon Kindles.

Amazon has voiced hopes to have web-browsing enabled worldwide and has gone further along that road faster than I'd expected. The addition of WiFi capability to the new Kindles should help a bit where 3G web browsing is not currently available.

Kindle Touch 3G Kindle Touch WiFi Kindle Basic (UK: KBasic) Kindle Fire
Kindle Keybd 3G (UK: Kindle Keybd 3G) K3 Special Offers K3-3G Special Offers DX

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published ones
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers. Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

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