New Kindle 2 from Amazon

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Review of the Wireless Electronic Book Reader

The Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader, a hand-held device for reading electronic books. It uses an electronic paper display and downloads content over the free wireless network 'Whispernet'. The Kindle store has over 230,000 books, including best sellers, top newspapers, popular magazines and blogs.

Amazon has released Kindle 2 - the latest generation of this product. Featuring improved battery life, an even more streamlined design, more storage, a sharper display and a new Text-to-Speech feature, the Kindle is better than ever!


Now for the first time, the Kindle is available to customers around the world. It utilizes the same 3G wireless technology as advanced cell phones, so you never need to hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Readers around the world can pre-order Kindle today for $279
at the Kindle Store and it will begin shipping October 19.

Introducting the Amazon Kindle 2 

The Latest Generation Wireless Reader



Amazon-Kindle-2
Kindle 2:
New Wireless
Reading Device

Brief Technical Summary:


Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback

Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images

Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging

More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books

Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns

Read-to-Me: With the new Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud to you

Large Selection: Over 230,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available

Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise

Amazon Kindle on Wikipedia 

Amazon Kindle 2

Amazon Kindle is a software and hardware platform developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 for rendering and displaying e-books and other digital media. Three hardware devices, known as "Kindle", "Kindle 2," and "Kindle DX" support this platform, as does an iPhone application called "Kindle for iPhone". The first device was released in the United States on November 19, 2007.

The Kindle hardware devices use E Ink brand electronic paper displays, and are able to download content over Amazon Whispernet using the Sprint EVDO in the USA or, for newer Kindle 2 devices, AT&T's network internationally.[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C] Kindle hardware devices can be used without a computer, and Whispernet is accessible without any fee.What is...

Advanced Design 

What makes the Amazon Kindle 2 so good?

Sleek & Trim

At 10.2 ounces, the Kindle 2 is lighter than a typical paperback and as thin as most magazines. Barely a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle fits perfectly in your hands.

Improved Ergonomics

Kindle is as easy to hold and use as a book. We designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions and often like to read with one hand. Kindle's page-turning buttons are located on both sides, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably with one hand from any position. The page-turn buttons now flex inward to prevent any accidental page turns when picking up or handling Kindle.

New 5-way controller

Kindle has a new easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words.

Simple to Use, No Computer Required

Kindle is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box--no setup, no cables, no computer required.

25% Longer Battery Life - Read for Days Without Recharging

With Kindle's 25% longer battery life, you can read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.

Charge via USB

Kindle supports wall charging via the included Kindle power adapter, and charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable. Kindle fully charges in approximately 4 hours.

NEW: Amazon Kindle DX 

With a display two and a half times bigger than the Kindle display, the Kindle DX is the ultimate travel companion. It is as thin as a magazine and holds up to 3,500 books (vs. 1,500 on the Kindle), newspapers, magazines and documents. Plus, the Kindle DX has a native PDF support, so you can have your personal and professional libraries always with you.

Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, U.S. Wireless, Latest Generation)

Amazon Price: $489.00 (as of 11/27/2009)Buy Now

Beautiful Large Display
Kindle DX's large 9.7" display is ideal for a broad range of reading material, including graphic-rich books, PDFs, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Kindle DX's display is two and a half times the size of the Kindle display.

Auto-Rotating Screen
By simply turning the device, you can immediately see full-width landscape views of maps, graphs, tables and Web pages.

Built-In PDF Reader
Unload the loose documents from your briefcase or backpack, and put them all on Kindle DX. Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go. With Amazon's Whispernet service, you can send your documents directly to your Kindle DX and read them anytime, anywhere.

Release Date: 06/10/2009

Kindle 2: A Introduction Video 

Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device

powered by Youtube

Wireless Access with Whispernet 

Download new books any where, any time

Fast 3G Network - Get Books in Under 60 Seconds

Whispernet utilizes Amazon's optimized technology plus Sprint's national high-speed (3G) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, and download content on the go. Your books and periodicals are delivered via Whispernet in less than 60 seconds. And unlike WiFi, you never have to hunt for a hotspot.

Expanded National Coverage

We expanded Kindle's national coverage to include more cities and areas in all 50 states, enabling wireless downloads of books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Check our wireless coverage map for availability.

No Wireless Bills

No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle's wireless connectivity so you won't see a wireless bill. There is no wireless setup--you are ready to shop, purchase and read right out of the box. See Wireless Terms and Conditions.

Poll: Amazon Kindle 2 

Amazon Kindle 2:

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How many e-books are there for the Kindle? 

Visit the Amazon Kindle Store

At Amazon, we've always been obsessed with having every book ever printed, and we know that even the best reading device would be useless without a massive selection of books. Today, the Kindle Store has more than 230,000 books available, plus top newspapers, magazines, and blogs. This is just the beginning. Our vision is to have every book ever printed, in any language, all available in under 60 seconds on Kindle. We won't stop until we get there.

Whether you prefer biographies, classics, investment guides, thrillers, or sci-fi, thousands of your favorite books are available, including 103 of 110 books currently found on the New York TimesĀ® Best Seller list. New York Times Best Sellers and most new releases are $9.99, and you'll find many books for less.

Carry Your Library in 10.2 Ounces 

Holds Over 1,500 Books

The ultimate travel companion, Kindle weighs 10.2 ounces and holds more than 1,500 books. No longer pick and choose which books fit in your carry-on. Now you can always have your entire library with you.

Automatic Library Backup: Download Your Books Anytime for Free

A copy of every book you purchased is backed up online at Amazon.com in case you ever need to download it again. You can wirelessly re-download books for free anytime. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle, knowing that Amazon is storing your personal library. We even back up your last page read and annotations, so you'll never lose those, either. Think of it as a bookshelf in your attic--even though you don't see it, you know your books are there.

User Reactions to the Kindle 2 

Amazon invited Kindle users to spend time with Kindle 2. See what they had to say.

Customer Reviews 

I love the Kindle 2!
"The screen is really clear and the buttons are easy to figure out. Navigating was super easy and after playing with it for like 5 minutes I had ten books.

I'm really happy with the selection of books available. I've been able to download required reading material for my Philosophy class for a quarter of what I would pay in the bookstore. All of my favorite authors are available.

The prices of the books are fair. They're less than any paperback I've come across.

Overall I LOVE the Kindle 2...it's exactly what I wanted. The price of the Kindle is clear, as are the prices of the books. If you don't agree with the price--don't get the Kindle :). "

-- Micah Edge

A Big Improvement over Kindle 1
"Man, I love my Kindle 2. Received mine this afternoon and have been playing with it for an hour or so, while letting it charge. Can't keep my hands off it. Have had a Kindle 1 since February of 2008 and loved it, but did not like the cover and placement of the buttons. With this redesigned Kindle 2, Amazon has hit a home run, in my opinion. This is what Kindle 1 should have been. I love the size and shape of the reader, it is easy to hold in my hands, and I love the redesign of the page buttons. I even love the new Kindle cover for this one. It certainly fits better than the Kindle 1 cover. Text is sharp, clear, and easy to read, pages change very fast, and navigating through the menu is easy. Amazon did a great job at improving on Kindle 1. This thing rocks. If you are still undecided about either buying one for the first time, or upgrading from your Kindle 1, don't hesitate. This is everything they said it was and more. Great job, Amazon. I could not be happier."
-- J. Keeth

Yay!
"I was a Kindle 1 owner and I bought the Kindle 2 on a whim. And I am glad that I did. I love how slim it is. It is nicer to hold in the hands, and the screen looks sooo much better. With the old one, I was always accidentily clicking the next page button it was getting really tiring. I love the way that the buttons press on the the new one. I really am thrilled that I bought the newest version."
-- Jessica Ephraim

» See all customer reviews...

Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, U.S. Wireless)

Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)Buy Now

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

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