If you pre-ordered a Kindle Touch and have been counting the days before the November 21 release, then here’s a bit of good news coming your way: Amazon has started sending notifications that some users can start expecting their new readers on or before November 17th.
Before you go charging into the new Kindles’ pre-order page with your credit card, here’s a little more info: If you thought the prices for the $79 Kindle and the $99 Kindle Touch was a little too good to be true, it is. Kind of. See, there’s a catch: they’ll come with ads, similar to their previous Kindles that were sold with special offers. Not too big of a downside since, ultimately, you’re shelling out less cash for a new e-reader. But if case advertising is a deal-breaker for you, and if you’re willing to fork over a significant amount more for the same device without the ads, Amazon will be serving up ad-free versions of the new Kindles as well. The ad-free Kindle will cost $109, while the $99 Kindle Touch sells for $139 without the ads.
The all-new Kindle Fire wasn’t the only new reader on the menu for today. Amazon also brought out two new Kindles for people who just want to read on-the-go. Unlike the Kindle Fire, the new Kindle and Kindle Touch packs the line’s traditional E Ink display that’s both eye-friendly and power efficient. The best “feature” on both models? The price. Both are priced below $100.
iRiver will join the US market’s e-reader fray this weekend, with the release of their first major e-book reader. Called the iRiver Story HD, the device is highlighted by its partnership with Google Books (it’s the first dedicated reader to tie up with Google’s eBookstore), which gives it access to Google’s device-friendly book format. It’s a big thing because unlike Amazon’s Kindle or Barnes & Noble’s Nook, Google’s eBook format won’t be tied to one device, which means that any book you grab on your computer can be sent to the Story HD via Wi-fi.
Quick update on Asus’ 8-inch Eee Note EA800: it’s due out in Taiwan this week for the equivalent of around US$230. Sounds like a really affordable tablet compared to the iPad and Androids-based tabs in the market right now, but this thing is a bit limited. The EA800 features a grayscale touchscreen and Linux-based OS, and is designed mainly to work as an ebook reader and digital notepad/sketchpad. If you’re looking for a multimedia tablet, you’re going to have to pass on this one (again, it’s because of the non-color screen), although it does have an mp3 player. It’s due out in Hong Kong, Germany, Italy and Russia before the year ends, while China and the US should get it in early 2011.
