Rampant speculation about today's Amazon announcement turned out to be more or less right. The web retailer unveiled the Kindle Fire HD, along with a revamped line of Kindles. Among the new devices is the Kindle Paperwhite, with a touchscreen, 62% more pixels than the Kindle Touch, and includes a fiber-optic lighting system.
If you're self-conscious about your reading prowess these new Kindles may not be for you, as a "Time to Read" feature will tell you-based on how quickly you read-how long it will take you to read a particular book.
The low-end Kindle, now with a price tag of $69 for the ad-supported model, will stay pretty much the same. Curiously, the new Kindle HD got a sound-system upgrade, with dual stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus and two antennas. The larger of its two screen-size options comes in at 8.9 inches, and has an app that lets parents limit kids' screen time.
The 7-inch Fire HD will run consumers $199 and the 16 GB 8.9-inch version will cost $299 (but there will also be a 32 GB version with 4G LTE). The 7-inch ships September 14 and the 8.9-inch on November 20, but Amazon had "surprised" consumers by moving up ship dates before. The made over Kindle Fire will have a price tag of $159.
(www.amazon.com)
Amazon.com, Inc. announced that the all-new Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Paperwhite 3G begin shipping today. Kindle Paperwhite is constructed with 62% more pixels and 25% higher contrast, a patented built-in front light for reading in all lighting conditions, uncompromised battery life of up to eight weeks, and a thin and light design.