E-Readers have been around for a while in the UK, but they don’t seem to have really taken off. The most popular e-Reader has been the Amazon Kindle, but up until last week it was only available in America. This week Amazon launched an International version of the Kindle for the UK. It’s essentially the same as the Kindle 2, but has a few new features that allow it to work worldwide.
The Kindle started shipping from America last Monday and deliveries began yesterday. If you’ve ordered one and are patiently waiting for it to arrive, now is the perfect time to protect your investment and find the perfect accessories to keep it safe and help make the most of your new Kindle.
Amazon Kindle - now available in the UK
We’ve just launched our range of Kindle accessories and have a selection of Kindle Cases, Kindle Screen Protectors and Kindle Reading Lights available and have more coming over the next few weeks.
To help you get started here’s a few of our favourite Kindle Accessories:
You’d think that Amazon would have included a worldwide travel adapter in with the Kindle, considering that they’re now shipping them to most countries, but for some reason they’ve decided to send them all out with an American mains adapter. You can of course charge it up using the USB cable connected to your PC, but what if you’re out and about and need to charge it? You can’t beat a proper Mains charger so for that reason we’ve launched both a UK Kindle Mains Charger and a Kindle Car Charger that will let you charge your new eReader anywhere you want.
Amazon Kindle UK Mains Charger
Keeping your Kindle looking it’s best won’t be easy as the combination of white plastic and stainless steel could scratch or mark easily. There are a number of cases available for the Kindle and most styles are on this list. If you just want something simple that will absorb minor knocks and drops and prevent your Kindle from looking grubby a silicone case could be your best option. They are made from a tough silicone gel and are moulded specifically for the Kindle. It still provides access to all of the Kindles buttons and the screen and is a tight, neat fit to your device. They are dust repellent and have a non slip coating that will reduce the chance of it slipping out of your hand.
Silicone Case for Kindle
If you want to protect your Kindle but don’t want the extra bulk of a case then you should take a look at InvisibleSHIELD. They’re more than a screen protector but not really a full case. They’re a tough, thin film that covers all of your Kindle. Installation takes a bit of patience, but the end result is well worth it. It covers almost all of the Kindle and will withstand the toughest of scrapes. The InvisibleSHIELD has a matte finish with a non-slip feel to it. It is great at repelling fingerprints and reducing reflections and as the InvisibleShield doesn’t add any extra bulk to the Kindle you can use in in conjunction with most Kindle Cases.
InvisibleSHIELD Full Body Protector - Amazon Kindle
Tuff-Luv make some great, high quality cases for phones, netbooks and eReaders. Their Book Case for the Kindle is no exception. Your Kindle is held in place securely, with all controls accessible. On the inside cover there is space for pens, business cards and other paperwork. The case is fastened with a magnetic stud so there’s no chance of the case opening and your screen getting damaged.
Tuff-Luv Black Leather Book Case - Amazon Kindle
Noreve cases are similar to those by Tuff-Luv, but are made from a higher grade leather and instead of sliding your Kindle into a pocket, the Noreve case has a built in ‘rail’ system that allows you to securely mount your Kindle in the case without covering the device. The front cover is lightly padded to protect the screen of your Kindle and the inside of the cover has a number of pockets for you to store your passport, business cards, travel tickets etc. The rear has cut-outs for the speakers with a stainless steel mesh to protect them.
Noreve Black Leather Book Case - Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle Crystal Case by Tuff-Luv
Crystal cases are clear plastic cases that clip onto your device and protect the while device against scratches and light impacts. In the event of you dropping your Kindle, the Crystal Case is designed to absorb all of the impact energy – this might result in the case breaking, but that’s exactly what it’s designed to do – after all, what would you prefer to have in pieces? A £13 case or a £250+ eReader!?
Tuff-Luv Amazon Kindle Crystal Case - Clear
XtraFlex2 Kindle Reading Light
I’m sure most people like to settle down with a book before bed, but reading in the dark is a bit tricky. The Kindle doesn’t have a backlit display, so in order to read in reduced light you’ll need to get yourself a reading light for your Kindle. The XtraFlex2 Reading light has been developed to work with all eReaders including the Kindle. The XtraFlex2 has a flexible, adjustable neck and the lamp has 2 LED bulbs that spread light evenly over the display. You can chose to use just one or both of the LED’s so finding a lighting level to suit won’t be a problem. It runs on batteries so won’t put any extra drain on the Kindle’s battery and can be used with old fashioned paper books too!
XtraFlex2 Kindle Reading Light - Silver
The screen on the Kindle is extremely easy to read, but if you scratch it or damage it it could really spoil the enjoyment of reading a book. To prevent anything happening to your screen you’ll need to invest in a Screen Protector. The Tuff-Luv Topcoat is a thin plastic film that’s been precision made to fit the screen of the Kindle. It is resistant to smudges and fingerprints and will help reduce any glare on the screen from sunlight or reading lamps.
Tuff-Luv Topcoat Enhanced Screen Protector - Amazon Kindle
Kindle Headphones by Skullcandy
One of the experimental features on the new Kindle is Read To Me – sometimes it’s nice to sit back and relax while someone reads to you, and that’s exactly what this feature does. There are built in speakers, but for better audio clarity you’ll need a set of headphones. Any 3.5mm headphones should work with the Kindle, so we tried the Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds with ours and thought they did a great job. They’re colour matched to the Kindle and extremely comfortable to wear, making them perfect for when you want to just sit back, relax and let your Kindle read to you.
Skullcandy Smokin' Bud - White/Chrome
The last of the cases for the Kindle, the Flip Case is similar in many ways to the Tuff-Luv Book case, but instead the cover is hinged at the top rather than the side. As with the Book Case, you slide your Kindle in to it and once it’s in there’s no chance of it falling out. All of the buttons and controls have cut outs and the case doesn’t interfere with their use. There is one feature of this case that makes it different from anything else available – and that’s the built in stand. On the back of the case is a fold away stand that once in place will hold your Kindle upright. The stand is perfect for when you want to read on long plane or train journeys and don’t want the arm ache that you get from holding a book for long periods of time. Just stand it up on the tray on the back of the seat in front of you and your Kindle is perfectly positioned.
Tuff-Luv Black Leather Flip Case - Amazon Kindle
This isn’t the full range of latest generation Kindle accessories, just our current favourites. Over the next few weeks more accessories will be arriving and I’ll update this post as and when new items arrive. In the mean time if there’s a particular accessory that you want for your Kindle, let us know using the comments form below.