New Kindle Announced
Amazon announced an improved version of its e-book reader today.
According to Amazon the device has a better screen than other readers available on the market and is smaller, lighter, faster, with more battery life and storage than the original Kindle.
Amazon listed the following features and improvements.
High-contrast E-Ink screen, read in bright sunlight: The new Kindle uses Amazon’s new electronic ink display with 50 percent better contrast. Unlike LCD screens, Kindle’s paper-like display looks and reads like real paper, with no glare, even in bright sunlight.
The proprietary screen technology also provides 20% faster page turns.
Lighter than a paperback: The new Kindle has a 21 percent smaller body while still keeping the same 6-inch-size reading area. At only 8.7 ounces (247 grams), the new Kindle is 15 percent lighter and still 1/3 of an inch (8.5 mm) thin, making it lighter than a paperback and thinner than a magazine.
Double the storage: The new Kindle has double the storage so you can carry up to 3,500 books.
Up to one month of battery life: The new Kindle has up to one month of battery life with wireless off. Keep wireless on and your Kindle will have a battery life of up to 10 days.
Free 3G wireless: The Kindle offers free 3G wireless, which means no annual contracts and no monthly fees.
Global wireless coverage: The Kindle is the only e-reader that lets you travel the globe and still get books in under 60 seconds with wireless coverage in over 100 countries and territories. This includes South Africa [http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Hardware/9905.html].
Built-In Wi-Fi: The Kindle owners will now be able to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots.
Quieter page turn buttons: Quieter page turns means you can read all night without disturbing your partner.
Share meaningful passages: Share meaningful passages with friends and family with built-in Twitter and Facebook integration.
Read everywhere with Whispersync: The Kindle books can be read on your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, and Android-based devices. Whispersync synchronises your place across devices, so you can pick up where you left off.
Improved PDF reader: The new Kindle uses an improved built-in PDF reader with new dictionary lookup, notes and highlights, and support for password protected PDFs.
Voice guide: With Text-to-Speech, the Kindle can read out loud to you. New Text-to-Speech enabled menus allow customers to navigate the Kindle without having to read menu options. In addition to listening to books aloud, users now have the option of listening to content listings on the home screen, item descriptions, and all menu options.
Lighted leather cover: The new Kindle cover features an integrated, retractable reading light. The light is a permanent part of the cover, so it’s always with you, and hides away into the cover when not in use. The high-quality LED light illuminates the Kindle’s entire paper-like display, adding brightness without adding glare.
Amazon’s patent-pending hinge system secures the Kindle in place and conducts electricity from the Kindle’s battery to the reading light, eliminating the need for batteries. The conductive hinges are gold-plated. Amazon said that it chose gold because of its ability to make good electrical contact even with low force and for its corrosion resistance.
The Kindle cover is sold separately for an additional $59.99 on the Kindle pre-order page at Amazon.
New Kindle device, pricing
Along with Wi-Fi support Amazon have also announced a version of the device which only has a Wi-Fi radio and no 3G capabilities at a lower price. The Kindle Wi-Fi is set to be around 6 grams lighter than the new Kindle 3G.
The new Kindle 3G is set to sell for $189 (US) while Amazon said that the Kindle Wi-Fi would cost $139. Both devices are available for pre-order and will be released to over 140 countries starting 27 August 2010, according to Amazon.
Justin Drennan from WantItAll said that they are awaiting confirmation of local price and availability.
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