The eBook reader industry today got shaken up with the news that Amazon will be releasing a newer Kindle. The newer version will feature Wi-Fi and 3G to compete with the Apple iPad. In also highlights that there is a place in the market for e reading devices running electronic ink-style displays.
The new Kindle will feature a screen that will have 50% better contrast than other e-readers. It has the ability to read books to the owner. It is also smaller than the existing Kindle and can be held in one hand.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has mentioned that “or the vast majority of books, adding video and animation is not going to be helpful. It is distracting rather than enhancing. You are not going to improve Hemingway by adding video snippets.†So the iPad will provide you with the ability to do multiple things but the Kindle one can only read books with. I think it will be interesting to see how the conflict develops between Apple and Amazon in the eReader industry.
The highlights of the new Kindle:
- All-New, High-Contrast E-Ink Screen – 50% better contrast than any other e-reader
- Read in Bright Sunlight – No glare
- New and Improved Fonts – New crisper, darker fonts
- New Sleek Design – 21% smaller body while keeping the same 6″ size reading area
- 15% Lighter – Only 8.7 ounces, weighs less than a paperback
- Battery Life of One Month – A single charge lasts up to one month with wireless off
- Double the Storage – Up to 3,500 Books
- Books in 60 Seconds – Download books anytime, anywhere
- Free 3G Wireless – No monthly payments, no annual contracts
- Built-In Wi-Fi – In addition to the 3G wireless, you can connect to Wi-Fi hotspots
- 20% Faster Page Turns – Seamless reading
- Enhanced PDF Reader – With dictionary lookup, notes, and highlights
- New WebKit-Based Browser – Free 3G web browsing (experimental)
I think it is great for the consumer to be given the different options if they are interested in purchasing an eReader. Currently the available date for interested parties in South Africa is not available.
