Amazon has released a sexier, slimmer version of the company’s Kindle wireless reading device. The Kindle 2’s a definite upgrade from the first version, with its now very portable form factor and better specs.
Very slim and light at 0.36 inches thick and 10.2 ounces, the Kindle 2 has a nice, rounded shape and all white shell. Page turning buttons (Previous button on the left and Next buttons on both sides of the unit) let you turn pages with both hands, while the five-way controller that will allow you to look up words, highlight text, clip articles, and switch back and forth between titles. Amazon has shied away from putting a touchscreen on the Kindle 2 however, which would make turning pages on the device more akin to turning the pages on a book, but maybe one will show up on a future Kindle 3.
This version has a better screen than its previous incarnation, with its 6-inch E-Ink electronic paper display now showing 16 shades of gray that make text and images show up clearer. It’s easy on the eyes too, as it reflects light like ordinary paper. Minimizing glare is also the reason why the Kindle doesn’t have backlighting, although that can either be an advantage or disadvantage to some users. Text can be adjusted to six different sizes too, and if you’re tired of reading, you can turn on the Text-to-Speech feature to have the Kindle 2 read to you. Furthermore, if you have two Kindles, Whispersync technology will let you switch back and forth between them while keeping your reading synchronized.
The Kindle 2 has a basic browser that will work for text-based sites such as Wikipedia and Google. It can convert PDF files and play MP3s as well. As for battery life, the Kindle 2’s rechargeable lasts 25% longer than the one on the original Kindle. It will last for two weeks with the wireless off, and 4 days with the wireless on.
The Kindle 2 will be able to store as much as 1,500 titles in its 2GB internal memory, and shopping for books for it is a walk in the park. Built-in 3G wireless will get you books straight from the Amazon Kindle Store within 60 seconds without a computer or cables. You’ll get to choose from over 230,000 titles at the store, and you can preview a title’s first chapters for free. Leading the fray is Stephen King’s UR ($2.99 at the Kindle Store), which was written for the Kindle and will be released exclusively on the Kindle. The Kindle Store also offers subscriptions to select newspapers, magazines and blogs for a monthly fee.
The Amazon Kindle 2 is now available for pre-order, and will be released on February 24. Unit price will be $359.
