Amazon Kindle 2 official photos, pricing and availability leaked
Looks like those Kindle 2 photos we published back in October were spot on. Additional official-looking photos of the Kindle 2 have emerged and the new e-reader from Amazon looks sweet! If the pencil comparison is accurate, then the new Kindle appears to shed much of its width, coming in as thin as the Sony PRS-505 reader, and little bit longer than both the original Kindle and the Sony Reader. As we reported earlier, the Kindle 2 also appears to have a metal back with built-in speakers. Start putting those pennies aside as the Kindle 2 is expected to hit Amazon on the 24th of February for $359, the same price as the current Kindle. No apparent price increase, yay! This is still all unconfirmed but the information seems to jive with previous rumors and the source of the leak, MobileRead, is well-known in the e-book world. We will all get the skinny on this reader and its features on Monday, until then enjoy the photos after the jump.
I’d loved to have one of the these if they expanded a little more on viewing and resource communication.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Chicago IL, 60657
I want now. Hate the design of the old one but the connection with Amazon is great.
It looks good, but the keyboard is still all kinds of FUG.
They need to hire RIM or HTC to make them a pretty keyboard.
Any word on whether those who’ve ordered a Kindle but haven’t yet received it will have the option of getting version 2?
How much do you really even need to use the keyboard on this device? I’m actually surprised at how much space they devote to the keyboard. I know you need it for searching for books, but is that all?
I’ve never seen one in person or used one, so I really don’t know, just curious.
What happened to the rumors of dropping Whispernet (I think that’s what that wireless Sprint access was called) and also being able to drop $100 off the price tag because of it?
I got over being all excited over the Kindle when I started checking out if books I want to buy are available for the Kindle yet. Most were not. If you read a lot of mainstream paperbacks or even classics, Kindle’s probably your thing. Otherwise, it doesn’t seem like the content is there for the Kindle yet.
Amazon is working on it and has the best shop available for an e-Reader. Still, it’s probably gonna take the publishing world a few years to really get behind this thing enough that it makes sense for everyone to have one.
What’s wrong with reading a normal book? $359 to read books on a computer screen? No thanks…
What happened to the “Student Version”?
I have the Kindle… and while details about the 2.0 aren’t clear, it seems they’ve adressed some of the drawbacks, especially about not having the on/off controls on the back, shrinking the forward/previous page buttons and allowing more holding areas.
Amazon now has over 125,000 books available for download, though some publishers are still reluctant to join the bandwagon. I find plenty of good content to keep me busy reading, but will be happier when all publishers join the bandwagon. There are many “free” books, mostly classics, available from other sources as well.
People actually read enough books in 5 years to equal the cost of this thing? Wow. Then again, the first edition only sold what about a 1/2 million units, and as pricey as it is I can see why.
Ditch the keyboard and get the price down the $199 and they’d move MiLLIONS!
dang that thangs fugly!!!
@Oliver,
The thing about this kind of display is it doesn’t look like a computer screen. E-ink displays look more like you are reading on paper and is easy on the eyes. No large book collection taking up physical shelve space and a display that has a paper look? What is wrong with that?
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
Why the keyboard? Why?!
I understand the functionality it can bring, but I would gladly exchange it for a larger screen.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I have been getting so anxious lately because I ordered my Kindle when it was SOLD OUT on the 27th of November and then when I heard about the Kindle 2 I didn’t want the original version and I kept my order open in hopes that the original one was not in production anymore and they would send me the 2. And it looks like I was right especially since I checked my order and they changed my shipping date to FEB 25th!!! I am getting the kindle 2!!! Thank you Kelly!!!! TO EVERYONE WHO THINKS THE KINDLE IS A WASTE OF MONEY: If you buy books like I do…. for 25-30 a pop and lug these heavy stephanie meyer books around. (currently reading the host, so heavy!!!) the kindle is so worth it! The host was 25 bucks in the store and only 9.99 on the kindle addition. plus things like the entire Jane Austen collection is only $4.27 for all 8!!! The kindle is for avid readers not super techies. (which I also am) Thanks again!!!!!
The keyboard is also used for web browsing.
The Kindle (the original one) comes with 24/7 wireless at no cost.
My Kindle came with web bookmarks in place (on its ‘experimental’ capabilities) which led to BCC News, MSNBC News in mobile format.
But we can browse anywhere we like. And if a web site is not too complex, we can read it wherever we might be.
When out of the house, I often use it on the street to google information about places where I am. Klunky access to webmail is possible too but it’s nothing I want to do very often.
That 24/7 Sprint EVDO fast wireless is no small factor for me. It’s useable anywhere a cellphone will work.
The Sony E-Readers cost the same but without wireless access.
Amazon has added over 7,000 free Kindle books (no doubt public domain oldies) so they must be preparing an announcement having to do with libraries. In the meantime, with the wireless we also have direct access to manybooks.net and feedbooks.com among many others that have free books that can be read on the Kindle. There is an Amazon thread about the million plus books available and how to access them for the Kindle.
That’s at http://tinyurl.com/freebooksites
In the meantime Amazon hasn’t forbidden use of kindlefeeder.com to access free feeds of your choice pushed to your Kindle daily.
Hey BGR, is there any news about whether the new Kindle can read pdf files directly?
@Christopher Cox,
“No large book collection taking up physical shelve space…” – You must have one killer book collection!
Okay okay, I’m not trying to bash, I’m just stating that it’s not for me. If I spend a few hundred dollars on something technological, it needs to do more than let me read a book. It’s all a matter of opinion
I have had the version 1.0 for maybe 9 months now. I agree with many of the complaints about the original design, but will only give up my old one if I get a new one. That said, it is sometimes a problem reading books that have tables, graphs, or photos imbedded in them. It really works well for all-text books. I subscribe to the Wall Street Journal and Forbes on it, but find I like the online version of those better. Two great things about Amazon: book reviews and free samples on the Kindle.
I have had my Kindle since May 2008 and loved it so much that I bought 2nd one for my sister for her birthday. She loves it too. Yes, there are a few design glitches that need attention. But the keyboard is not one of them. I use it all the time to search specific authors. Will Amazon allow us owners to trade our original Kindles and upgrade for a price?
Love the kindle. The keyboard is used to type content in input fields or for searches. Easily saves money on newspapers and you can get different whenever you have extra free time. Only complaint is the next page and previous page buttons. These take a little practice. Reading books is easy on eyes with text sizing. I find lots of books and authors and this only keeps growing. Great gadget.
Good question, Phyllis…
And, if Kindle content is made available to some cell phones, such as the iPhone, will there be a way to transfer Kindle books we already own to the phones?
Interestingly, for the first time since I bought my Kindle last year, there was an automatic software update today. I didn’t see any difference after it was finished downloading, but I wonder if it will be activated on Monday? And what will it be about? No clue from the onscreen updating notice. It’s all very mysterious.
Many of us have felt that some of the shortcomings we’ve noticed could actually be corrected or improved by simple software updates, such as different ways to organize our books on the home pages.
The kindle seems so close to exactly what I want in a mobile reading solution, but the pricing model just kills it for me.
I want a well-designed mobile NEWS reading device. Books are good too, but the selection just isn’t there for the science/tech/business/finance and other fairly fast-paced topics that I frequent.
And while Kindle offers most of the feeds I want, and a sort-of-browser, I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay $2+ per feed and $10+ for papers/magazines when I browse dozens of both every day. I’d hit $100/mo in a heartbeat before even buying my first book. Ouch.
Give me a flat monthly fee for data (with the usual 5GB cap, whatever), a real web browser, and I’m sold.
Until then I guess I’m stuck with a netbook?
I’ve had my Kindle since June (08). I am currently living abroad and it is a great(!) way to get access to English books at a reasonable price. Whispernet doesn’t work, but I can download to my computer and then to the Kindle and pay $6.99-$9.99 instead of 16-19 euro! I figure I’ve almost saved the purchase price over the last few months, not to mention the convenience, shipping costs, etc. I like the looks of v 2.0 so maybe I will give my v1.0 to my daughter and get a new one for myself.
There’s nothing wrong with reading a book instead of using a Kindle, just like there’s nothing wrong with sending a letter instead of sending an email. I think the big advance here, for those who choose to use this medium, is the ability to buy and read books immediately, and the ability to carry 200 of them around with you (admittedly of limited practical use…but carrying three or four is certainly an advantage.)