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Amazon has introduced a new version of its Paperwhite e-reader, now available for pre-order.
(Credit: Amazon)
The new Kindle Paperwhite looks a lot like the previous version of the e-reader (the same size and just a little lighter, at 206 grams), but Amazon claims to have made some improvements under the hood to improve the e-reading experience.
The first of these is the screen: it will be the first e-reader on the market to feature the new E Ink Carta display, with higher contrast and better reflectivity for whiter whites and blacker blacks, at a resolution at 212 ppi over 6 inches.
It boasts a 25 per cent faster processor — 1GHz compared to the original Paperwhite’s 800MHz, bringing the new e-reader in line with the current generation available from Sony and Kobo, which have both had 1GHz for some time. And, according to Amazon, it has a 19 per cent tighter touch grid for more accurate touchscreen control, as well as an updated built-in light that diffuses light more evenly across the surface.
(Credit: Amazon)
Software tweaks include integration with Goodreads, which allows you to access the book-lovers’ community right from your Kindle, as well as share snippets of text, see what your friends are reading and rate books. It also has something called Page Flip that lets you skim content without ever leaving the page you’re on: “Skim page by page, scan by chapter or skip to the end of your book, all without losing your place. For example, it’s now easy to quickly flip back and forth to that map of Beyond the Wall in A Dance With Dragons.” This is similar to its new way of handling footnotes, too: simply tapping a footnote brings up the note without having to turn a page.
A new feature called Smart Lookup integrates dictionary, X-ray and Wikipedia functions for multi-word look-up. This combines with a Vocabulary Builder that keeps a record of all the words you look up in the dictionary.
“Kindle is the best-selling e-reader in the world for six years running,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. “No one is investing on behalf of readers or pushing the boundaries of hardware, software and content for readers like this team: the new Kindle Paperwhite has brand-new display technology, the next generation of our built-in light, a faster processor, plus all of the exclusive benefits of the Kindle ecosystem, like Kindle MatchBook, Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, over 400,000 exclusive titles, Goodreads, Kindle Singles, Kindle Worlds, Kindle FreeTime and much more.”
Two versions of the Kindle Paperwhite will be available: the Wi-Fi version for US$139 without special offers (the special offers Kindles are not available outside of the US) and the 3G version for US$209.
In a ground-breaking move for Amazon, international customers can pre-order at the same time as the US. The Wi-Fi version is available for pre-order from the Amazon website for international customers, including Australia, and is expected to ship on 15 October. The 3G version isn’t available yet, but it’s expected to arrive on 5 November.
