Devices with e-Ink displays that take a second or two to refresh are never going to replace full color screens capable of handling video playback and dynamic web content. But while smartphones and tablets like the Apple iPad are becoming serviceable eBook readers thanks to software such as iBooks and the Amazon Kindle Reader, dedicated eBook devices are sliding toward tablethood.

Last week the Barnes & Noble Nook received a firmware update that adds a web browser and support for a few third party apps. And a hacker figured out how to root the Spring Designs Alex eBook reader, providing access to the core settings and file system that run the device.

Today, Amazon has started rolling out a firmware update for the Kindle eBook reader which adds support for Twitter and Facebook, allowing you to share book passages with your contacts on the social networking sites.

The Kindle 2.5 software also adds the ability to organize your books and other documents into collections, pan and zoom functionality for PDF files, the ability to lock your Kindle with a password when it’s not in use, and more font sizes and sharper fonts. You can also see “popular highlights,” which show you what other Kindle users think are the most highlight-worthy passages in the book you’re reading.

via SlashGear

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