Amazon releasing Kindle 2.0 on Monday?

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CrunchGear is reporting that Amazon is hosting a press conference this coming Monday, at 10am EST. Not much is currently known about the conference, but it is widely expected for Amazon to release the second version of their e-book device, the Kindle.

Amazon launched the original Kindle on November, 2007, and uses an electronic paper display. It allows e-book downloading wirelessly, via Amazon's Whispernet system.

As for the Kindle 2.0, a few details are known. It is expected to be an updated version, with the same size screen as the current one, but with a smaller form factor, and a source told CrunchGear that Amazon has "skipped three or four generations," comparing the old Kindle to the Apple's original iPod and the new version to something like the iPod Mini. Additionally, it could possibly have a touchscreen, but not a color e-ink screen.

Pricing is assumed to be the same as the current Kindle. More details will be posted Monday, during Amazon's press conference.

(1 reply) #1 +warwagon on 06 Feb 2009 - 23:35

I wonder if it will be a little less ugly this time.

#1.1 Sam Symons Live on 07 Feb 2009 - 00:19

warwagon said,

I sure hope so. I probably couldn't get one, living in New Zealand, but I wouldn't want the first one anyway.

#2 yakumo on 06 Feb 2009 - 23:52

Probably out of my price range for such a device still, but I'll be very interested to see it.

Faster refresh and colour screens will be the killer feature for these devices though, even without enough speed for video, just seemingly instant page flipping.

(3 replies) #3 Julius Caro on 07 Feb 2009 - 01:14

pictures and price here
http://i.gizmodo.com/5148568/kindle-2-offi...-on-february-24

it's somewhat less ugly

#3.1 yakumo on 07 Feb 2009 - 01:32

That does look much nicer.

#3.2 Sam Symons Live on 07 Feb 2009 - 01:42

Julius Caro said,

Does look a lot better, I agree.

#3.3 Krome on 07 Feb 2009 - 02:27

I find it absolutely pathetic on the commentator. He could not tell apart a man's hand from a woman's hand. The finger nails was long, shiny, and glossy.

(6 replies) #4 excalpius on 07 Feb 2009 - 02:54

If it's an ebook reader, why does it have a keyboard? Shouldn't this all be doable with a couple of buttons/scrollwheel?

#4.1 yakumo on 07 Feb 2009 - 03:11

Text search, annotation etc.

#4.2 excalpius on 07 Feb 2009 - 03:17

um, then, in those RARE cases when you aren't reading your book, why don't they have an on screen keyboard? Oh right, this isn't a touch screen. Got it.

So, the REAL killer e-book will be a much larger iPod like device, just one big touchscreen. 8P

#4.3 macel on 07 Feb 2009 - 05:44

excalpius said,

All serious ebook readers use e-paper displays which rules touchscreens out.

#4.4 TRC on 07 Feb 2009 - 07:06

You're a bit behind on your technology. Touch screens using e-ink technology have been around for a while now. The Sony PRS-700 for example.

#4.5 macel on 07 Feb 2009 - 08:33

TRC said,

Edit: misread..

Last edited by macel on 07 Feb 2009 - 08:38

#4.6 excalpius on 08 Feb 2009 - 01:41

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores...52921665562069#

Now THAT's what I'm talking about (as far as B&W goes). Good catch, TRC.

#5 darkmanx21 on 07 Feb 2009 - 04:07

Exciting regardless..the first gen is awesome.

#6 clotz2000 on 08 Feb 2009 - 01:55

Why would you realease something like this, now in this day and age without a touch screen/color screen?? Makes no since, granted alot of books don't have pictures or require color but Magazines, NewsPapers, eBooks, Manuals, Game Books, etc all use tons of pictures and such...

Also, it should have built-in Wifi and Amazon should make their store similar to the playstation network store to include all books and you could eScribe to magazines and newspapers from everywhere...
(yes, I saw it's able to connect using some kind of Whispernet, whatever that is...)

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