BITS & BYTES: Get the most from your new Kindle

Q: I also received a Kindle for Christmas. Do you have any tips for using it?

A: The main Graphical User Interface and most of the back-end code are written in Java. The framework is quite elaborate and can be extended. Here are some undocumented shortcuts:

Go to www.manybooks.net to fill your Kindle with free items.

• Alt-Shift-R to reboot your Kindle.

• Alt-Shift-. (that's a period at the end) will restart the GUI.

• Alt-Shift-G to make a screenshot. Due to an implementation bug, screenshots can only be stored on the SD card, not the main storage. A GIF file is saved in the card root.

• Alt-Shift-M launches the Minesweeper game.

• If you sign up to receive subscriptions to print products on your Kindle, you'll often get access to them before they hit the newsstands.

• If you're in an area where you're not getting a good wireless signal, be sure to turn the function off or you'll drain your battery quickly.

• You can fast-forward though pages by pressing and holding Alt plus the Next or Previous page keys.

• If you get an "Unexpected error" or other troubles, try giving your Kindle a quick reset to see if that will solve the trouble. Slide the power button and hold it in the "on" position for exactly 20 seconds. Wait another 20 seconds, and the Kindle should reboot.

• You can find the Kindle's web browser under the "Experimental" banner.

• If you send attachments to "name"@free.kindle.com, you can have files converted and emailed to you, and then you can transfer the document to your Kindle. Approved files that can be converted are Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Rich Text Format (.rtf), HTML (.htm, .html), Text (.txt) documents, and archived documents (zip , x-zip).

The opinions are the writer's. April Miller Cripliver, of Chesterton, holds a doctorate in management information systems and is a computer hardware and software consultant. Email computer questions to nwitimes@cripliver.com and specify operating system and other pertinent PC information.