The preview release of version 3.1 is available . Users of the latest (third generation) Kindle Wi-Fi and 3G models can download it now, or wait until Amazon pushes the software via Wi-Fi, although it's unclear exactly when that'll happen.

Version 3.1 makes Kindle more sociable. With Public Notes, you can opt-in to share literary observations with .

Kindle's new page numbers, rather than the cryptic "location numbers" used previously, are sure to please Kindle fans in academia. It also eliminates an advantage held by competing e-readers. Ongoing gripes on show that this upgrade was long overdue. Here are a few complaints from January 2010:

Kevin C. Key: "I have many friends who were initially excited about the Kindle as a way to carry university texts and research, but declared them useless because there is no way to make standard references to the work in scholarly work."

Juba Lee: "I bought a Nook just so I can have page numbers. At least they should give us the option!"