Amazon announced an all-new Kindle Kids, now with 300 ppi high-resolution display, USB-C charging, and 2x storage, available October 12. Read on for the full details.
Amazon announced an all-new Kindle and Kindle Kids, now with 300 ppi high-resolution display, USB-C charging, and 2x storage, available October 12. Read on for the full details.
This morning, I received an email from Amazon saying that the Kindle will no longer support MOBI books because, after 15 years of refusing to do so, they are embracing the EPUB book format. Read on for the full email from Amazon with all the details, including when this change goes into effect.
Amazon has started sending out its 2021 Holiday Gift Guide. I received mine nearly two months before Christmas. What’s inside? Watch my video below to find out.
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As you’ll see from the features below, the Kindle Fire HDX is significantly lighter than its predecessor and it has an exciting new feature called the “Mayday” button. This feature provides you with on-screen support, whenever you want, from a Kindle Support representative. And while you can see the rep and he or she can remotely access your device with your permission, the representative can’t see you – so no need to worry if you’re hair is sticking up and you’re still in your bathrobe while you’re being helped.
Kindle Fire HDX Features
Below is a letter from Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, that was posted to Amazon’s website the day of the announcement, as well as a video highlighting the “Mayday” feature. And stay tuned for my review of the device in the coming months.
Dear Customers,
It’s been just two years since we introduced Kindle Fire, and the team is innovating at unbelievable speed. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to the all-new Kindle Fire family.
These are powerhouse tablets. We added the latest graphics engine, doubled the memory, and tripled the processing power with the most advanced 2.2 GHz quad-core processor. Our HDX displays bring together exceptional pixel density (up to 339 ppi), perfect 100% sRGB color accuracy, improved brightness, and dynamic image contrast. You also get up to 11 hours of battery life—17 hours when you’re reading.
Even the largest new Kindle Fire—the 8.9″—is startlingly light. We re-imagined our design from scratch, with a new magnesium unibody and molded glass-nylon alloy. At just 13.2 ounces, it’s 34% lighter than the previous generation.
Kindle Fire HDX is packed with hundreds of updates, including new email, calendar, and productivity apps, X-Ray for Music, Second Screen, and—in addition to streaming—you can now download Prime Instant Videos and watch them offline.
indle Fire HDX also introduces the revolutionary new “Mayday” button. With a single tap, an Amazon expert will appear on your Fire HDX and can co-pilot you through any feature by drawing on your screen, walking you through how to do something yourself, or doing it for you—whatever works best. Mayday is available 24×7, 365 days a year, and it’s free.
Mayday is one of those things that really has to be seen—
check out our upcoming TV commercials.
In addition to all the above, we’re taking another step forward in our mission to make it possible for anyone to afford a Kindle Fire. The all-new Kindle Fire HD has the same display quality and processing speed of last year’s high-end models and comes in at the breakthrough price point of only $139.
We’ve worked hard to pack this much hardware, innovation, and customer obsession into these devices. We hope you enjoy the new Kindle Fires.
Thank you for being a customer,
Jeff Bezos
Founder & CEO
P.S. Our industrial design team has invented what I think are the most ingenious covers—you can learn more about the new Origami covers here.
This morning Amazon accidentally leaked information about its new Kindle Paperwhite. This resulted in a flurry of media coverage. A few hours later, Amazon officially announced the device on its homepage with a letter from Jeff Bezos (see below). I own the original Kindle Paperwhite and think it’s a wonderful device, so I’m looking forward to checking out the new model. Once I do, I’ll let you know whether or not it’s worth upgrading.
Dear Customers,
We believe in the power and importance of reading. We are passionate about books. Books convey knowledge, spread ideas, and can transport you into alternate lives and worlds. It’s why we’re working so hard to help people read more and get more out of reading.
Today we’re excited to announce another milestone in our journey—the all-new Kindle Paperwhite.
The new Paperwhite is our best ever, with a new higher contrast display, the next generation of our built-in light, a powerful new processor, and the latest touchscreen technology.
We’ve also added new reading features like Page Flip—skim books page-by-page, or skip through chapters without losing your place. We’ve integrated Goodreads—the world’s largest community of book lovers—so you can connect with like-minded readers, share recommendations and decide what to read next, straight from your book. Our new Vocabulary Builder automatically compiles words you look up in the dictionary into easy-to-use flashcards. And for parents, Kindle FreeTime offers a simple, engaging new way to encourage and reward kids’ reading.
Kindle is the best-selling e-reader in the world for six years running. No one is investing on behalf of readers or pushing the boundaries of hardware, software, and content for readers like the Kindle team. We continue to invest not only in new hardware like the new Kindle Paperwhite, but also in new features and benefits that make Kindle a superior service: Kindle MatchBook, Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, over 400,000 books that are exclusive to the Kindle Store, Kindle Singles, Kindle Worlds, and many more.
We hope you enjoy the new Kindle Paperwhite. Happy reading,
Jeff Bezos
Founder & CEO
Five years ago Amazon introduced the first Kindle, and the world hasn’t been the same since. While the first iteration cost $399 and wasn’t aesthetically pleasing, it set out to become the iPod of books by allowing readers to carry their entire library of content on one device. As the years went by, newer models were thinner, lighter, sexier, and cheaper.
While other e-readers existed prior to Kindle, the public hadn’t embraced them. Amazon’s device allowed readers to tap into the company’s vast content ecosystem of newspapers, magazines and books – all without the need to plug into a computer. This was revolutionary, and the first batch of Kindles sold out it in less than six hours.
In 2008, Oprah announced that Kindle was her new favorite thing and provided viewers with a $50 discount. With the daytime diva’s stamp of approval and the launch of second generation hardware, Kindle continued its dominance as the e-reader to beat.
Over time, millions of Kindle devices and e-books were sold. Kindle’s ubiquity was most evident when Amazon reported that Kindle e-books were regularly outselling all print books.
Last year saw the launch of Kindle Fire, which went on to make up 22 percent of U.S. tablet sales. A new iteration, Kindle Fire HD, is now available in two versions and has received mostly positive reviews from critics.
This year also brought a new Kindle e-reader: Kindle Paperwhite. This device has also been well received by critics and the public, and rightfully so. It’s taken the device to a whole new level by incorporating a beautiful front-lit display.
My first Kindle was the second generation device, and my reading habits haven’t been the same since. I read more than ever, and consider my Kindle to be an essential part of my life. If you’ve never tried reading on one, you should; it’s a delightful experience. I can’t wait to see what the next five years bring.
If you have any fond Kindle memories you’d like to share, please feel free to leave a comment.
Below you’ll find a couple of my favorite Kindle commercials and an informational video about the first device.
