Other Kindle Tricks
You’ve learned how to read with your Kindle, surf the Web with your Kindle, and even listen to music with your Kindle, but why stop there? What about playing games or looking at pictures? Why not hack your Kindle? And since you’re carrying this thing around with you, why not turn it into a personal organizer? Your Kindle, it turns out, has other tricks up its sleeve.
Games on the Kindle
If none of the hundreds of thousands of books, magazines, newspapers, or blogs you can read on your Kindle appeal to you at the moment, maybe the cure for your boredom isn’t reading at all. Everyone can use a little mindless distraction now and then. Your Kindle will supply you with some simple games until you’re in the mood for reading again.
Mine Sweeper
The unofficial pastime of America’s offices, Mine Sweeper is estimated by some people to be the most successful computer game ever in terms of hours played. Designed by Microsoft employees, Mine Sweeper has been included with every copy of Windows since Windows 3.1. Holding fast to computing tradition, Amazon built Mine Sweeper into every Kindle.
To start playing, press Shift-Alt-M. The first thing you’ll see is an 8 x 10 grid in which ten mines are hidden. Should you want an easier game or more of a challenge, press Menu to choose one of three difficulty levels.
If you’re unfamiliar with the rules of Mine Sweeper, the point is to uncover every square without a mine. Use the joystick to uncover squares. If you reveal a square ...
