Beam N Read reading and general light - 1 wk holiday-discount of 25%

BEAM N READ 3-Led light, made by ASF Lightware Solutions.

As regular readers will know, my personal favorite in reading lights (I've bought too many different types) has been the Beam N Read "LED 3 Hands Free Travel Reading Light; for Kindle, Power Outages & More" that I first wrote about in early October 2010.

  I'm including much of what I wrote at the time, as the company who makes the Beam N Read, noting my now long-term enthusiasm, is offering a 25% discount to readers of this blog for Dec. 26 - Jan. 1, 2012.  Sorry I didn't get to this earlier today.  Was caught up in getting some information together for owners of the new Kindles found under trees yesterday.

  As before, I'm including a couple of photos below to show light coverage on my Kindle 3 with the Amazon cover for the Kindle 3, with built-in light vs. using what, by last year, became my favorite light for the various Kindles I have.

This portable light is worn around the neck and has an adjustable strap.  The light is said to last about 120 hours, and I do use it nightly for weeks before needing to change batteries.

  It comes with 4 standard alkaline AA batteries and a clip-on red filter to minimize "night blindness" and soften the light if needed, they say (I've never needed that).  Because it's very lightweight and flexible with a patented flip-up design, reflector, and the adjustable strap, I usually have it on when I'm home.  Going downstairs at night or to a less well-lit room, or when I just can't see something well enough, I can just turn this on briefly, which is done by flipping up the hood/reflector.

For reading a book or an e-book reader, you can also reverse it if you prefer (as I do) to hold the book higher than on your lap, and then flip the reflector down instead, so that the light angles up.  But if someone is sitting across from you, that may not be very comfortable for that person, as the Led lamps would be directed at their eyes too.

 I do love that it's always available when I need extra light.  No, I'm not associated with the company that makes them.  I was just tired of clipping on a light and adjusting it, as much as I love the ease of the Mighty Bright Xtraflex 2 which has the little foam pad where the clip-on meets the top of the Kindle's bezel.  The Beam N Read is pretty good at keeping the light from reaching the other person for night reading in bed.  There are times that I would like a somewhat brighter light, and when I do (not when reading a Kindle), I've used:

  The 6-led version (not part of the holiday promo but I'll include the info for those curious about it)
  Their 6-led version is VERY bright and probably overkill for reading a Kindle 6" reader, though I've sometimes used it for situations where the light is just dim.  I tried one for other uses, and for my Kindle DX in Landscape mode.  The batteries for this last, they say, about 48 hours, only 40% of the lasting power of the 3-Led model.  This one doesn't come with batteries included though it has a magnifier for short-session, detailed craft work, but I found the texture quite hard to see through and it's not not a feature I'd use.

  I DO use both Beam N Read units for piano music though, depending on how well the room is lit.

  I had bought a head lamp for a trip I took in October 2011, since we needed to go into some unlit places (Egyptian tombs!), but I don't at all like wearing something around my head just to read so I wondered if there was anything like this.  Amazon doesn't make this easy to find, but I found it extremely useful for any e-reader.

Here are photos of the effect of two reading lights on my Kindles.

Lit by the Amazon cover with built-in light, the upper right hand corner of my Kindle 3 (UK: K3) ("Kindle Keyboard") is brighter than the lower-left area, of course, and the light isn't as bright as I like but it's useful if you're out and need a light for reading.  That special cover light needs no batteries, as it runs off the Kindle's own battery, and it shuts off automatically if the Kindle goes into sleep mode after about 10 minutes.

The second picture is of the same Kindle lit by the Beam N Read 3-Led light -- the lighting on my Kindle 3, in this case (no flash was used, as you can tell from a click of the image that leads to the EXIF camera data included with the larger image at PBase) is very even and brighter overall than from the one built into the Amazon cover, but one would seldom wear the Beam N Read when out, probably, though I've definitely done it :-).

Again, I hope this helps some who are looking for good lights to use with the Kindle.  I did the various photos, as choice of a light has been one of the most asked questions on the Kindle forums.

Here are reviews and user feedback cited on the company's website collected from several types of communities, including gadget and e-reader blog site staff.  At the Amazon product page, the light, though not promoted by Amazon as a Kindle light, has 23 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.6 stars.

I do use this light daily, as I don't have to worry anymore about which light fits which Kindle model and because I use it for other purposes as well, as mentioned.  Although I'm not affiliated with the company that makes and distributes Beam N Read, my enthusiasm's been noted by ASF Lightware Solutions (website: www.readinglight.com ) and I'm delighted they've offered Kindleworld readers the special 1 week holiday pricing of $14.95 for the Dec. 26-Jan. 1 period, as they just released in mid December a new model with a more elastic neck strap that's easier to adjust and can be worn higher.
  Remember that I like to reverse the way it's worn when I'm reading in sitting position as I prefer to hold the Kindle higher than some.

  Amazon customers can use the coupon code "KNDLWRLD" when ordering the 3-LED light model during the next week to get the 25% discount off the MSRP of $19.95.  While I receive many offers of products for review, I don't do actual reviews, writing only about products I've bought and really enjoy.  In this case, I've bought some for friends, and friends have bought them as well.  It's just an unusual, generally useful product.

Kindle Add-on's Recommended on Forums - Covers, Lights

ACCESSORIES RECENTLY RECOMMENDED BY KINDLE OWNERS

The rooCase Flip (Black) Leather Case for the Kindle 3 comes in other colors also, but they have their own listings, shown under the "...Also Bought" row further down the page.

Only $11.98, as opposed to almost $40 for the usual, this is for the budget-conscious who are also looking for decent-quality add-ons.  The black one has 38 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.5 stars and, while sold by PC Micro (fulfilled by Amazon), it's eligible for Amazon Prime shipping.  Many of us do like flip style cases for hand-free use when busy with something else.

The SimpleLight for Kindle3 attaches to the Kindle, NO Batteries are needed.
  I first saw this one mentioned on the forums also, and that was probably less than a month ago.
  So far it has 29 customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 stars, which is quite unusual for any light.  It's $22.99, is sold by Grantwood Technology, fulfilled by Amazon, and is eligible for Amazon Prime shipping.
While I'm recomending the above newer popular items, I'll repeat my older recommendation for the very separate lighting I use, worn around my neck all the time when home, and include an older post with information that still holds true for different needs.


VIDEO OF LIGHTED COVER
On the left is an excellent video on the Amazon cover with light.

BEAM N READ 3-Led light, made by ASF Lightware Solutions.


  I'm including a couple of photos below to show light coverage on my Kindle 3 with the Amazon cover with built-in light and when using my new favorite light for the Kindle, by BEAM N READ.

This is worn around the neck and has a light, adjustable strap.  The light is said to last about 120 hours, and I've been using it for weeks and it's still going.  The 3 leds are the type that will likely go for forever, as long as there are batteries powering them.

  It comes with 4 standard alkaline AA batteries and a clip-on red filter to minimize night blindness and soften the light if needed, they say (I've never needed that).  Really lightweight and flexible with a patented flip-up design, reflector, and the adjustable strap, I now usually have it on when I'm home.  Going downstairs at night or to a darkened room, or when I just can't see something well enough, I can save on lights by just turning this on, which is done by flipping up the hood/reflector.

For reading a book or an e-book reader, you can also reverse it if you prefer (as I do) to hold the book higher than on your lap, and then flip the reflector down instead, so that the light angles up.  But if someone is sitting across from you that may not be very comfortable for that person, as the Led lamps would be directed at their eyes too.

 I love that it's always available when I need extra light.  No, I'm not associated with the company that makes them.  I was just tired of clipping on a light and adjusting it, as much as I love the ease of the Mighty Bright Xtraflex 2 which has the little foam pad where the clip-on meets the top of the Kindle's bezel.  The Beam N Read is pretty good at keeping the light from reaching the other person for night reading in bed.  There are times that I would like a somewhat brighter light, and when I do:

The 6-led version
 They also have a 6-led version that is VERY bright and probably overkill for reading a Kindle 6" reader, though I sometimes use it for situations where the light is just dim.  I am trying one for other uses, and for my DX in Landscape mode.  The batteries for this will last, they say, about 48 hours.  This one doesn't come with batteries included but has a magnifier for short-session, detailed craft work, but I found the texture quite hard to see through and I don't do crafts and probably wouldn't use the magnifier.

  I DO use both Beam N Read units for piano music though.

  I had bought a head lamp for a trip I took October 2009, since we needed to go into some unlit places, but I don't like wearing something around my head just to read so I wondered if there was anything like this.  Amazon doesn't make this easy to find, but it is extremely useful, in my view, for any e-reader.

Clip-on lights
My favorite Kindle clip-on light (I now prefer the separate light) the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Clip-On (Black, Kindle Version) for which they added a foam pad where the top clamp meets the Kindle's bezel and protects it from scratches from that clamp.  That's been $20 at Amazon (you might be able to get it elsewhere at $13), and I like that I can clip it right onto the Kindle instead of having to use the cover while reading, and the neck is very flexible so that I can bend it to avoid glare on the screen.  Some find it too bright for those sharing a bed at night although there is a 2nd, lower setting which is bright enough and maybe not as bothersome for another person nearby.  I did use it on a 10-hour airplane flight and needed to be careful it wasn't shining onto other people's areas.  It requires 3 AAA batteries,

A year ago, I actually bought also the "Travelflex" by Mighty Bright because it uses only one Led lamp and one AAA battery (vs the XtraFlex2's 3 AAA batteries), is extremely light and clips onto a pocket in my purse for use with the cover for the Kindle if needed, when I'm out, and I sometimes keep it in my car.
  That was before I got the Amazon case with light, but I've loaned that to someone who really likes it.  It of course is less bright than the XtraFlex2, preferred by some for that reason, but the Travelflex takes very little room in a purse or briefcase (or in the glove compartment of a car).

Screen coverage
Here are some pictures of the effect of some of these lights on my Kindles.

Lit by the Amazon cover with light, the upper right hand corner is lit more than the lower-left of course, and the light isn't as bright as I like but it's useful if you're out and need a light for reading.  The light needs no batteries but runs off the Kindle's own battery, and it shuts off automatically if the Kindle goes into sleep mode after about 10 minutes.

Lit by the Beam N Read (at the right), the lighting is very even and brighter overall than the one built into the cover, but one would seldom wear the Beam N Read when out, probably, though I've done it :-).

It's worth remembering that the Amazon case without a ligh is $35 and the one with the built-in light costs an additional $25.  Clamp-ons usually run $10 to $20+.


This is an older shot of a silver Mighty Bright Xtraflex2 used on my Kindle DX (the latest DX is only in Graphite color and has the new Pearl screen also used in the Kindle 3  (UK: K3).

Click on any of these three images to get the larger versions.

I hope that helps some who are looking for good add-ons to use with the Kindle.  The choice of a light is one of the most asked questions on the Kindle forums.


Kindle 3's   (UK: Kindle 3's)   K3 Special ($114)   K3-3G Special ($139)   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.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published non-classics, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

The Amazon Kindle 3 cover w/built-in light and the Beam N Read Light

VIDEO OF LIGHTED COVER
On the left is an excellent video on the Amazon cover with light.

BEAM N READ 3-Led light, made by ASF Lightware Solutions.


  I'm including a couple of photos below to show light coverage on my Kindle 3 with the Amazon cover with built-in light and when using my new favorite light for the Kindle, by BEAM N READ.

This is worn around the neck and has a light, adjustable strap.  The light is said to last about 120 hours, and I've been using it for weeks and it's still going.  The 3 leds are the type that will likely go for forever, as long as there are batteries powering them.

  It comes with 4 standard alkaline AA batteries and a clip-on red filter to minimize night blindness and soften the light if needed, they say (I've never needed that).  Really lightweight and flexible with a patented flip-up design, reflector, and the adjustable strap, I now usually have it on when I'm home.  Going downstairs at night or to a darkened room, or when I just can't see something well enough, I can save on lights by just turning this on, which is done by flipping up the hood/reflector.

For reading a book or an e-book reader, you can also reverse it if you prefer (as I do) to hold the book higher than on your lap, and then flip the reflector down instead, so that the light angles up.  But if someone is sitting across from you that may not be very comfortable for that person, as the Led lamps would be directed at their eyes too.

 I love that it's always available when I need extra light.  No, I'm not associated with the company that makes them.  I was just tired of clipping on a light and adjusting it, as much as I love the ease of the Mighty Bright Xtraflex 2 which has the little foam pad where the clip-on meets the top of the Kindle's bezel.  The Beam N Read is pretty good at keeping the light from reaching the other person for night reading in bed.  There are times that I would like a somewhat brighter light, and when I do:

The 6-led version
 They also have a 6-led version that is VERY bright and probably overkill for reading a Kindle 6" reader, though I sometimes use it for situations where the light is just dim.  I am trying one for other uses, and for my DX in Landscape mode.  The batteries for this will last, they say, about 48 hours.  This one doesn't come with batteries included but has a magnifier for short-session, detailed craft work, but I found the texture quite hard to see through and I don't do crafts and probably wouldn't use the magnifier.

  I DO use both Beam N Read units for piano music though.

  I had bought a head lamp for a trip I took last October since we needed to go into some unlit places, but I don't like wearing something around my head just to read so I wondered if there was anything like this.  Amazon doesn't make this easy to find, but it is extremely useful, in my view, for any e-reader.

Clip-on lights
My favorite Kindle clip-on light has been the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Clip-On (Black, Kindle Version) for which they added a foam pad where the top clamp meets the Kindle's bezel and protects it from scratches from that clamp.  That's been $20 at Amazon (you might be able to get it elsewhere at $13), and I like that I can clip it right onto the Kindle instead of having to use the cover while reading, and the neck is very flexible so that I can bend it to avoid glare on the screen.  Some find it too bright for those sharing a bed at night although there is a 2nd, lower setting which is bright enough and maybe not as bothersome for another person nearby.  I did use it on a 10-hour airplane flight and needed to be careful it wasn't shining onto other people's areas.  It requires 3 AAA batteries,

A few months ago I actually bought also the "Travelflex" by Mighty Bright because it uses only one Led lamp and one AAA battery (vs the XtraFlex2's 3 AAA batteries), is extremely light and clips onto a pocket in my purse for use with the cover for the Kindle if needed, when I'm out.  That was before I got the Amazon case with light, which I've loaned to someone who really likes it.  It of course is less bright than the XtraFlex2, preferred by some for that reason, and takes almost no room in a purse or briefcase.

Screen coverage
Here are some pictures of the effect of some of these lights on my Kindles.

Lit by the Amazon cover with light, the upper right hand corner is lit more than the lower-left of course, and the light isn't as bright as I like but it's useful if you're out and need a light for reading.  The light needs no batteries but runs off the Kindle's own battery, and it shuts off automatically if the Kindle goes into sleep mode after about 10 minutes.

Lit by the Beam N Read, the lighting is even and brighter overall than the one built into the cover, but one would seldom wear the Beam N Read when out, probably, though I've done it :-).


It's worth remembering that the Amazon case alone is $35 and the one with the built-in light costs an additional $25.  Clamp-ons usually run $10 to $20.


This is an older shot of a silver Mighty Bright Xtraflex2 used on my Kindle DX - now sold only in Graphite color and with the new Pearl screen also used in the Kindle 3  (UK: K3).

Click on any of these three images to get the larger versions.

I hope that helps some who are looking for good lights to use with the Kindle.  I missed a day here, as it takes more time to get the various photos done but expect this might be useful, as choice of a light is one of the most asked questions on the Kindle forums.


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.

Is WiFi-Only a good choice for $50 less? Also, the Kindle 3 case with light

WIFI-ONLY KINDLE - IS THIS A GOOD CHOICE?
At the Kindle forums, the question of whether or not a WiFi-only Kindle would be all that is needed was raised quite often this weekend, including by those who don't seem to have a WiFi setup at home at this point.

  Essentially, I pointed newcomers to the main article here on 3G/WiFi and WiFi-Only posted Saturday, which covers the basics and I mentioned one aspect I consider important:

 People realize they can use WiFi access at home, and if they're not using the Kindle outside the home much, that would be enough.  And it should be, although some forum participants cautioned that their WiFi networks can go down at times.
  But after reading a few notes, I realized that there are some who actually don't have a WiFi network in the home and may not realize they'd need to set one up or that if they do leave the home regularly, the ability to download a book while here or there will no longer be available the way it was with the Kindles 1 and 2 unless they are in a WiFi hotspot and can access the network easily (whether needing a passkey or a fee, as only some hotspots are free).

The less-expensive Kindle 3 (or UK Kindle 3) comes with WiFi only -- but I am guessing there are some who actually do not have a WiFi network set up in their homes and might not care to have this done, in which case that wouldn't work.
  If people know they could access any printers in their home that recognize WiFi networks, without needing cables, that might be an added incentive to spend the ~$40 - $50 to buy the router needed.

If you do have a WiFi network set up at home, it would allow you to just click on a Kindlestore book on your Kindle to get it TO your Kindle w/o needing to hook up the Kindle to a computer at all and, often, it might be faster to download books or do a web lookup than with 3G cellular network access.

But if you don't have a WiFi network at home and are not likely to have one set up, what I just described won't work and you would have to download an e-book to your computer first and then transfer it to your Kindle with the USB cord.

  In that case (no WiFi network at home), if you do have AT&T 3G cellphone type coverage in your area, you'd be better off with the 3G/Wifi model or UK 3G/WiFi model as you could then just use that 3G cellphone wireless capability to download a book direct to your Kindle without needing your computer or the missing WiFi network.  And you could still use (automatically) the WiFi capabilities of any place you visit that does have a WiFi network setup.

The best of both worlds.

Here are links to Amazon 3G Whispernet Coverage maps:
  North America     Worldwide

REVIEW OF KINDLE 3 COVER WITH BUILT-IN LIGHT
CNet's David Carnoy has what may be the first review of what his headline describes as "Amazon's secret weapon: Kindle Lighted Leather Case

He further describes it as "one of the better designed add-on accessories we've seen in recent years: the Kindle Lighted Leather Case"

As you'd expect, he likes the fact that it needs no additional batteries, as it's powered by the Kindle, and "the light completely disappears into the case--so much so that you don't notice that it's there at first glance",

And what I noticed in the photos is confirmed but may not be a problem:
"The light, like a lot of LED book lights, doesn't splash uniformly across the screen.  It's a little brighter in the right corner than the bottom of screen.  But it does provide enough light for reading."

He points out that it's expensive at $59.99, although the cover without light is $35, so the cost of having the built-in light (that needs no batteries) is $25.

My favorite Kindle clip-on light has been the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Clip-On (Black, Kindle Version) for which they added a foam pad where the top clamp meets the Kindle's bezel and protects it from scratches from that clamp.  That's been $20 at Amazon (you might be able to get it elsewhere at $13), and I like that I can clip it right to the Kindle instead of having to use the case while reading and the neck is very flexible so that I can bend it to avoid glare on the screen.  Some find it too bright for those sharing a bed at night though, and it requires 3 AA batteries, though there is a 2nd, lower setting which is bright enough.

  If you plan to read the Kindle while it's in a cover or case, then this new light that's attached to the Kindle 3 cover, which you pull out when you want it to be On, should be very useful, as it'll always be with you and there's no worry about batteries, except to keep the Kindle battery high enough..

  I wonder how much of a Kindle-battery drain it'll be, but if reading in bed, you can always plug the Kindle into the wall charger.  The Kindle battery can't be overcharged and Kindle customer reps say it's best to keep it above the 25%-remaining mark and that it is not hurt by regular charging.

  There looks to be little flexibility in angling the light just so, as you can with the Mighty Bright or other clip-on lights.

 But if this new light covers the screen well and is out of sight but always available with the cover, it solves the problem of reading in dimmer light.


CNet and Amazon customers have also liked the detachable Octovo Solis light.  The Amazon description of it is of course for the 6" Kindle 2, but CNet's video of it shows it on a large DX.
  The Kindle 3 is somewhat slimmer, so I don't know if this'll fit as well, but it gets good ratings, though there are only 29 so far.  It's $30.
Kindle 3   (UK: Kindle 3),   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.

DX photos updated with Mighty Bright lit ones

Added 3 shots of the Kindle DX taken at night with the first two images lit only by the Mighty Bright UltraFlex2 Clip-On Light.

The black one shown on the Amazon page as the "Kindle Version" is highly rated by well over 800 customers, and I don't know what might make it different from the silver one I have except that about 3 of the reviews mention it has padding inside the clip.  I don't know if this is true, since any padding is not advertised and is sold for use with the cover -- but I ordered one to see, because I normally use the silver one seen in my pictures, clamped onto the Kindle cover rather than the Kindle itself.  And I see that one customer says the silver one (seen on the same product page lower down) is less expensive now and is the same as the black "Kindle" one.  I'll know soon.  You can't go wrong with either one.

  Another reason I want the black one is that the silver one tends to strongly reflect back the light shining down from its lamp and distracts me a bit.  I did have an older black light and that was better re reflected light or glare but I lost that one.

  The DX is larger than the Kindle 2 by enough so that I tend not to read it with the cover the way I do with the Kindle 2.  So I've started using the light on the Kindle itself (not quite as easy to use that way).  The pictures indicate it's touching the screen but it isn't, as the clamp starts further in.  I'm aware it could scatch the bezel of the Kindle, but so far it's okay.  I don't recommend using it that way though, as it's not as secure and could scratch the bezel or even the screen. :-)

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UPDATE 7/15/09 - Original posting was made 7/8/09.
I received the black "Kindle version" of the Mighty Bright on Tuesday and it does have an added foam pad that's placed inside the upper clamp, to help prevent scratching the Kindle's (or any other e-reader's) bezel.
Both versions have a pad on the inside of the lower part of the clamp.
  This is important to me because I prefer to use the DX without a cover, and at night I can use this light on the Kindle instead of on a cover.  It's less loose than my older silver one so is more secure on the Kindle -- and the neck, while still flexible, gives some resistance so that it doesn't move from its position as easily as the older version does.  When I put it on the Kindle, it just stayed in the same place and I could place the neck/lamp where I wanted without also causing movement of the base/clamp.

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  This Mighty Bright Ultraflex2 lives up to its name, using 2 super-leds in the lamp, has a switch allowing you to use both (very bright) or just one of the led lights.  It uses 3 regular AAA batteries.  The neck is both flexible and stable - easy to move it into a spot where there's no bothersome glare on the Kindle while it stays in place with no problem.  It's about 3 oz. and this edition was first made available in Feb 2009 while the silver one has been out since 2007.  At the top of the black Mighty Bright page, there is a video of a customer giving a demo of the light.

  In the 3 pictures I added, the first two are taken in the kitchen with no room lights on.  Despite the bluish gray look -- in real life, the light on these in a dark room actually makes the screen look a very light gray, sometimes almost white (similar to the 3rd picture).

  The 3rd picture added is of the Jules Verne screensaver while the Kindle is on the floor, against a door.  This room was lit by a dim overhead bulb while the Kindle DX itself was lit by the Mighty Bright clipped onto it though not showing in the image.  The shade of the screen background is closer to what you see when you use the clip-on light with the unit at night.  This light is highly recommended, whichever version you get.

 The first two pictures in the updated DX set are of a PDF in normal vertical/portrait mode and then the result when the Kindle is rotated, giving a decidedly more easy to read wider-screen version,although it requires you to press the "Next Page" button to get to the lower half of a screen.
  For me it is worth pressing Next Page (though with multi-column format you would also press "Prev Page" to get to the top half again).

 I wish they'd add the native PDF support capability and manual rotation to the smaller Kindle 2, as it is available on most small competitor units being made in the last 2 months, although those new ones don't have the Kindle's study-capabilities (annotations/searches/inline-dictionary, backups) or the 24/7 wireless capability.