Amazon today released a free tool for sending documents to a Kindle from Windows Explorer or from within the print screen of any Windows application. Amazon promises a Mac version is coming soon.
Each Kindle already comes with its own e-mail address so users can e-mail files to themselves. But "Send to Kindle" for PC potentially makes the process a bit easier and offers the option of sending either to a Kindle device or other mobile devices (like the iPad) that can run the Kindle application. The files can be sent over WiFi for free, or for 15 cents per megabyte (99 cents outside the US) over Amazon's Whispernet service.
"From Windows Explorer, simply right-click on one or more documents and choose Send to Kindle," Amazon said. "From any other Windows application that can print, select Print and choose Send to Kindle."
The Windows application supports sending of Word documents, text files, pictures, PDFs, and other types of files including the Kindle's Mobi e-book format. Users can also archive documents in their Kindle Library, from which they can be re-downloaded at any time.
It would be nice if Send to Kindle were integrated with cross-device services like Instapaper or Read It Later, but you can send articles from a Web browser on a Windows desktop. However, webpages (and any other document sent from within a Windows application rather than from within Windows Explorer) are sent in PDF format, which isn't so great for reading on a Kindle. (UPDATE: One commenter notes there is an Instapaper service for sending articles to a Kindle.)
