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Retractable Periscope reading light for Kindle does more than you think

The $49.95 Periscope Lighted Folio is a retractable reading light, Kindle cover, notepad, and pen holder all rolled into one product.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
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David Carnoy

Periscope

For Amazon Kindle owners who want to read in the dark, there's a new lighting option available: The $49.95 Periscope Lighted Folio. It's actually a retractable reading light, Kindle cover, notepad, and pen holder, rolled into one contraption.

In case you're wondering, the case is made of "leatherette," not real leather, and the lights are "twin" LEDs. The unit's powered by three AA batteries (not included), which should offer "at least 40 hours" of lighting. And when you're finished using the light, it retracts into the spine of the cover.

My two cents: The Periscope Lighted Folio obviously makes the somewhat bulky Kindle even bulkier, but at least you don't have to worry about clipping the lighting accessory onto the top of the Kindle and taking it off after reading. By contrast, the new Sony Reader PRS-700 features integrated LED side-lighting for low-light situations.

The Periscope Lighted Folio will be available next month. It's available for pre-order on Periscope's Web site, which also offers lighting solutions for standard paper books.

Comments on the design or lighting solutions for e-book readers in general?