Kindle third-gen update brings your personal files to the cloud

Owners of last year’s third-generation Kindle don’t need to buy a new model to take advantage of some nifty new cloud features.

Amazon has just released the latest update for the third-gen Kindle which will let you keep your personal documents in the cloud and easily access them from any Kindle app or newer devices. For many Kindle users, it’s a fairly major update that takes advantage of Amazon’s cloud prowess and provides yet another feature that other e-readers like the Nook and Sony Reader don’t offer.

The company first announced that it would be storing your personal files in the cloud when it unveiled the new $79 fourth-gen Kindle, Kindle Touch, and the Kindle Fire tablet. Amazon will also be keeping the third-gen Kindle around, except it’s now called the Kindle Keyboard.

Previously, personal files, which can include text documents, pictures, and PDF files, were delivered directly to your Kindle device via your Kindle email address but weren’t archived anywhere. Now your personal documents will be treated just like Kindle e-books. Amazon’s Whispersync technology will also synchronize your last page read, annotations, and bookmarks for personal documents. Unfortunately, Amazon says PDF files won’t be compatible with the Whispersync features.

Once in Amazon’s cloud, your personal documents can be re-downloaded on the new Kindle Touch and fourth-gen Kindle. That’ll make upgrading to one of the newer models even more painless. Amazon says it’s working on bringing the personal file synchronization feature to the Kindle Fire and Kindle apps “in the coming months.” The new features won’t be available on older Kindle models at all, which doesn’t come as too much of a surprise.

The fourth-generation Kindle is available for purchase now, and you can pre-order the $99 Kindle Touch, which will start shipping on November 21. The $199 Kindle Fire tablet is also available for pre-order now and will be released on November 15.

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