Kindle puts readers and friends on same page

Amazon on Monday released a preview version of a Kindle software update that puts electronic book readers on the same page with friends still clinging to ink and paper works.

Page numbers in tens of thousands of Kindle digital books, including bestsellers, have been matched with those in real-world copies of the titles.

"Our customers have told us they want real page numbers that match the page numbers in print books so they can easily reference and cite passages, and read alongside others in a book club or class," Amazon said.

"Rather than add page numbers that don't correspond to print books, which is how page numbers have been added to e-books in the past, we're adding real page numbers that correspond directly to a book's print edition," it said.

The update will also allow for more conceptual versions of being on the same page by letting readers share book notes or thoughts about titles online with select circles or the overall "Kindle community."

Amazon is also upgrading the Kindle layout for digital magazines and newspapers. An "early preview release" of the Kindle software was available on Monday at Amazon.com.

A final version will be sent as an automatic update to Kindles when it is available.