Amazon today released details of its new line of Amazon Kindle devices which are now available to pre-order (dispatch of the new ebook readers will start on the 27th August in the UK & US).
Jeff Bezos wrote a personal message on the amazon homepage detailing the news:
Two new Amazon Kindles are coming (A Wifi only and Wifi & 3G version), which will replace the Kindle 2. The new devices are smaller, lighter, and now much more affordable which should help drive the demand in ebooks.
The new Kindles feature the following:
-Improved screen (50 per cent superior contrast to any other e-reader, faster page turns, and sharper fonts)
-21% smaller, and the new Kindles weigh only 247g)
-New webkit based web browser
-Now available in graphite colour!
Also the great news is that a UK centric Amazon ebook store is coming on the 27th August, as you now have to purchase from the US website at the moment.
I’m not too sure how Amazon can make this work financially, but its great news for book readers – As ebook readers are now much more accessible, and perfect for everyday use – Much better than Ipads and colour tablets when it comes to reading books, and now much cheaper.
In typical Apple fashion, the iPad has generated a huge amount of interest. Steve Jobs has described the device as “magical”, “extraordinary” and sees the device as redefining the personal computer.
This tablet type device launches on the 3rd of April in the US, and will hit the UK at the end of April. Featuring a glossy 9.7” LED, touch screen, the device which resembles a large Iphone will support email, web browsing, all the main features (except the phone bit) of the Iphone as well as an eBook reader built in.
But is it an eBook reader killer?
Lets first look at what makes eBook readers so popular:
The ability to carry a near unlimited amount of books around
The sharp E-Ink screen, which reads like a real book (so you don’t get eye fatigue and you can read under any environment)
The long battery life (most eBook readers can get over 2 weeks of use)
The ability to purchase books from the device (available on the Kindle, Nook, Bebook Neo for example)
The ability to load up any pdf, pre purchased eBook, or document into the device for reading later
The compact form factor
Varying price points (you can pick up an ebook reader for as little as $100, and as much as $500)
Add to these the fact that you can use your eBook reader as a note taking device, you can annotate text, and on some readers actually listen to music or audio books on the go.
How does the iPad compare?
The iPad has a huge memory capacity (starting at 16GB)
The iPad features a high resolution glossy colour screen, but this is the same as what you will find on most laptops. Which means you won’t be able to read as comfortably as on an E-Ink device (think about it as reading text from a laptop screen)
The iPad has 10 hours of battery life which is great, but simply cannot compare to 2+ weeks of use on standard ebook readers. If you travel a lot this will be a huge issue.
The iPad comes with an improved Itunes which will include an ebook store. Although you won’t get as many ebooks as say on Amazon or Borders, you will be able to purchase eBooks on the go.
You can import any unlocked (non DRM) epub ebooks into your iPad through Itunes but you can’t read your ibooks from any other device then the iPad.
The device will be bigger than most eBook readers, but definitely compact: (height: 9.56-inches, width: 7.47-inches, depth: 0.5-inches, weight: 1.5 pounds (1.6 for the 3G model).)
Price wise, the iPad will start at $499, which is much more expensive than most ebook readers out there, but in line witht the pricing of the Kindle DX.
The iPad also innovates by providing interactive magazine content and tailored news content which mixes text and multimedia.
The verdict?
So is the iPad the next eBook reader? We don’t think so yet, but its definitely going to be a key player, and Amazon definitely acknowledges that by releasing a Kindle App for the iPad.
If you are a keen book reader, and you like having your books with you when travelling there is no better device than an E-Ink eBook reader. You won’t get eye fatigue, you will be able to read indoors and outdoors and you will be able to read for weeks without having to recharge the device.
But the iPad will change the landscape of eBook readers.
The start of a revolution?
So the iPad isn’t yet an EBook Reader Killer, but it is an impressive device which will force many eBook reader companies to push more innovative features.
What we will start to see in the next 3 to 12 months is:
The introduction of colour E-Ink screens
Faster refresh rates on E-ink screens
Downloadable & purchasable eBooks available from the eBook reader as standard
More magazine content becoming available for eBook readers
More news based content becoming available for eBook readers
Larger screens (more 8”+ devices to compete with the Ipad)
Thats right folks the long awaited update to the Bebook One is finaly going to be released on the 14th of October 2009 during the Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair).
If you happen to be in the area, you can find the BeBook booth at hall 4.2, booth 450.
If you have been holding off from buying an Ebook Reader, now is the time – With great offerings from the likes of Bebook, Sony, Amazon, Cybook, and Irex you are spoilt for choice.
We haven’t managed to get our hands on a Bebook 2 yet, but from the information provided by the guys behind Bebook it sounds like a really good candidate for the top ebook reader slot in Europe.
So far, the specs include:
Wireless connectivity (3G and WIFI)
Touchscreen
Purchase from the ebook reader with selected ebook partners using 3G or Wifi
Free Wireless RSS support (unlike the Amazon Kindle which charges per feed, per month)
We’ll update you as more details come in.
Update: No sign of a release I’m afraid Sounds like the BeBook team is busy with the post Bookfair work.
Although this date was provided by ByBook/Endless Ideas in a Dutch TV show a few weeks ago, it looks like they have delayed the launch…
We have found this interesting interview from the Book Fair, and their representative talks about launching in the next months. The interesting thing to note is that they mention different launch scenarios: Selling the ebook reader direct without a sim, selling the ebook reader with a sim card and contract, or selling the ebook reader with a subsidised 3g contract paid by the prefered ebook seller. I would imagine this could complicate things massively, and could be the reason for the delay. Check out the interview below:
Borders UK is looking to rival Amazon by beating them to a UK launch, with their unveiled Elonex ebook reader. This new ebook reader was launched nationwide in UK Borders stores at a £189 – Much cheaper than the the iRex iLiad, priced at £399, which they will continue to sell alongside the Elonex.
The Elonex eBook is compatible with the free Adobe Digital Editions software, and is one of the first ebook readers to market with this technology and supports DRM protected reflowable PDF and ePub formats, as well as other less widespread eBook formats and images/pictures. This puts the Elonex closer to the Bebook beating the Sony Ebook reader in terms of ebook formats, but doesn’t quite match the wide range of ebook formats available for the Bebook.
The ebook features a 6 inch e-ink screen, and at 9mm thick and only 180g it’s incredibly thin and light – And the long battery life means you can enjoy up to 8000 pages between charges.
The new device comes with 100 titles already pre-loaded and can hold up to 1,000 books (8000 with the optional 4gb SD card).
The device was launched into the 41 Borders stores and 10 Books Etc and Borders Express branches on the 30th June.
Customers will be able to take advantage of the 45,000 ebook library available on the Borders UK website, which are all going to be compatible with the device to maximise readability – Plus the many more available in epub format. Click here to see the range of ebooks available at Borders.
Our friends over the Atlantic over at BGR have uncovered what appears to be Amazon’s Kindle 2 ebook reader. Although we are suspicious, the picture does look authentic, and if this is true this could be the follow up to their very popular ebook reader.
Unfortunately for us in the UK, Amazon has yet to release any Kindles over to Britain or anywhere else than the US so far.
Looking at the photos of the new Amazon Kindle 2 e-book we are impressed, although the unit hasn’t gone down in size it looks much cleaner and neater than the current model. This is very much in line to its close competitors including the awesome Sony Ebook readers.
The unit now has a joystick, and the following buttons: Home, Next Page, Menu, a joystick, and Undo. On the left side, there’s Previous, Page, and Next Page.
It looks like the buttons are much smaller to prevent any accidental page turning which was an issue with the original Kindle device. The joystick takes the place of the scroll wheel and it “takes a little getting used to.”
The keyboard of the new Amazon Kindle device has been redesigned and we are impressed by its good layout, but lettering on the keys could be better.
Looks like they no longer have their own charger. The Kindle 2 is able to be charged with a miniUSB cable which sounds like good news for the travellers in us!
The display is roughly the exact same as the original Kindle even though at first glance it might appear a bit smaller due to the new shape.
Sounds like the BeBook team is busy with the post Bookfair work.
Posts
