Amazon Unveils Kindle 2

According to a press release, online retail giant Amazon is unveiling the Kindle 2 ($359), the successor to its popular wireless reading device. The new device capitalizes on the features that made the original a success—easy-to-read electronic paper display, wireless connectivity—and provides new features such as added capacity, and a sleek new look. It will begin shipping Feb. 24.

At first glance the Kindle 2 is more stylish, ergonomically friendly, and compact than the original. The release says that the new Kindle is about a third of an inch thin—or about the thickness of a typical magazine—weighs just over 10 oz, and has a metal back. Circular buttons replace the original Kindle’s oddly placed rectangular buttons. It also has a new 5-way controller for highlighting text and other functions.

The release goes on to say that Amazon improved functionality by offering a more seamless user experience. The Kindle 2 has 2GB of memory and can hold roughly 1,500 books (the original could only hold about 200). The Kindle’s improved electronic paper display can provide 16 shades of gray, compared to 4 in the original, and the pages turn 20 percent faster. Additionally, with 25 percent longer battery life, the device can provide four to five days of reading on one charge or up to two weeks when the wireless function is turned off.

The release says that the Kindle 2 has a new “read-to-me” feature. A futuristic bent on books on tape, the feature converts text to speech so users can listen instead of read. Users can choose either a male or a female voice and can adjust the reading speed. As in normal text mode, the Kindle 2 automatically saves the user’s spot, making it easy to revisit at a later date. The Kindle 2 comes preloaded with the New Oxford American Dictionary.

The release adds that, like the original, the Kindle 2 uses Whispernet, a wireless delivery system that enables customers to access Amazon’s Kindle store and download new books in as little as 60 seconds. Whispernet works by using Sprint’s national 3G data network so users do not need a computer or to be in a wi-fi hotspot to begin downloading—Amazon foots the bill.

The release goes on to say that the Kindle store currently offers 230,000 titles, including 103 of 110 current New York Times Best Sellers and new releases. A quick perusal of the Kindle store reveals that it offers titles by John Milton, James Joyce, and Marcel Proust but none by Vladimir Nabokov or William Faulkner. The Kindle store also offers downloads of magazines, blogs, and newspapers.

According to The New York Times, since Oprah Winfrey endorsed the original Kindle in November of last year, the device quickly went on backorder meaning prospective customers were placed on waiting lists. Those customers will now receive the Kindle 2.

For more information, visit www.amazon.com