Yesterday morning, Amazon officially announced and introduced its 2nd generation ebook reader, the Kindle 2.
Aside from a new sleek and thin design, Kindle 2′s improvements over the Kindle 1 include seven times more storage and can hold more than 1,500 books. It also has a much longer battery life and turns pages 20 times faster. The Amazon Kindle 2 also has a couple new features. The first one is called the “Read to Me“, a Text to Speech feature that reads ebooks, magazines and newspapers for you. The other one is called “Whispersync bookmarking”, which lets you read from one Kindle and continued reading it right where you left off from another Kindle.
Here’s the complete list of new features and enhancements:
- Slim & Lightweight: Just over 1/3 inch and 10.2 ounces
- Books in under 60 seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
- Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for crisp images and text; even reads well in bright sunlight
- Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging
- More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books
- Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns
- Read-to-Me: Text-to-Speech feature means Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud.
- No Wireless Bills: No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle’s wireless connectivity so you won’t see a monthly wireless bill.
- Large Selection: Over 230,000 books, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines and blogs available
- Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise
Additional Photos:
Front and Rear views
Size comparisons
If you travel a lot and love reading books, the Kindle 2 is definitely a good travel companion. It saves you the hassle of carrying several books, magazines and newspapers around plus it also saves you luggage space and weight. The Kindle 2 would also be a nice gift for friends and loved ones this coming Valentine’s day.
Although you don’t have to pay for monthly bills to use Kindle’s wireless connectivity, I think it would be nice if the Kindle would have the option of using a regular WiFi connection to download ebooks, magazines and newspapers instead of just relying on Sprint’s 3G network. Right now, the Kindle only comes in one color – white. I think it would also be nice if they’d make them in different colors like black, blue, brown or grey.
The Amazon Kindle 2 will be released on February 24th but is now available for pre-order starting today for $359 and will start shipping later this month.
For those who have previoulsy placed an order for the Kindle 1 and haven’t received it yet, your order will automatically be upgraded to a Kindle 2. And for Kindle 1 owners, if you place your order today, February 10th at midnight PST, you will get first priority.
DISCLAIMER: JaypeeOnline is an affiliate of Amazon.com
Written by 
*Don't forget to verify your subscription by clicking the link on the email that Feedburner will send you.*
March 12th, 2009 at 4:50 PM
@JB – Do you have a PayPal account? If you do, you can send me the money and I can order it from Amazon.
March 12th, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Yes. how can i pay u in advance?
March 8th, 2009 at 4:25 AM
@JB – I can get it for $359 with free shipping coz I have an Amazon Prime account. Shipping it to the Philippines via FedEx would probably cost around $50-75 depending on how soon you want to receive it. So total would probably be $450-$475. Still interested? :)
March 8th, 2009 at 4:22 AM
@jaypee – how much will it cost if u get me one and ship it here in the phils?
February 27th, 2009 at 1:00 AM
@jan – What Gina Trapani said is true and is also a nifty marketing ploy like you mentioned.
The Kindle is not only ideal for travelling but for everyday use. You can bring it with you and read while you’re on the car, bus or train on your way to work or school or during lunchbreak.
I’d love to have one too but I can wait. :)
February 27th, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Gina Trapani said in her review of kindle2 e-reader that it will save a lot of trees. By implication, if I buy paperbacks or hardbound books, I might feel better about the purchase but essentially my pleasure is resting on the dead bodies of trees.
Nifty marketing ploy. And I meekly agree. :)
You mentioned about its advantage when one travels. That makes sense, less things to pack. And the fun part is you can download books from Amazon with it. And take notes in kindle and have your notes exported to your desktop.
That’s just me – the new convert, and I’m not even an Amazon associate or something. hahaha. I’ve been bit hard, yes. :)
jans last blog post..Little Known Way to Overcome the Fear of Blogging
February 26th, 2009 at 11:55 PM
@elmot – A good amateur writer that is. I’ve read some of your blog posts and I can say that you’re a good writer.
I don’t read books as much as I used too but I know what you mean. The smell and feel of a regular book is an experience on its own. :D
Regarding the copyright issue, I have no idea if its been resolved or not.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:52 PM
yep jayps, im basically one of them :D coz i write a lot, an amateur writer at that. a writer on my own right. :D
just feels good reading a book, having a good sense of the texture and smell of each page you turn.
have amazon resolved copyright issues on this one filled by those in the book industry and the isbn (am i right isbn? basta some org that catalogues books)?
elmots last blog post..EDSA People Power Buried into Ashes
February 26th, 2009 at 6:00 PM
@loy – Oh okay. But in case you have the money and want to purchase it, just let me know. ;)
February 26th, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Oh, that’s so nice of you Jaypee. Hehe! Unfortunately, as of the moment I can’t afford the hefty price tag. :-)
loys last blog post..Obama Doppelgangers on the Loose!
February 26th, 2009 at 7:00 AM
@raju: You’re waiting for the price slash – I’m waiting for a kind sponsor to shorten the waiting. Gosh, napapanaginipan ko na ito kindle2 na ito. :)
jans last blog post..Little Known Way to Overcome the Fear of Blogging
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 PM
@elmot – It was released to the public a couple days ago, Feb 24th.
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 PM
is this available in the market already? got a copy of the old newsweek magazine nov 2007 when it was its main feature there to read some of the thoughts behind it…pero yung precursor nya yung nafeature dun.
elmots last blog post..Dr. Emmanuel "Pacman" Pacquiao
February 21st, 2009 at 5:30 AM
@jan – Hehe..what made you change your mind about having a Kindle? You’re dreaming about it? Man, you’ve got it bad! :P
February 21st, 2009 at 5:25 AM
Okay, I hope nobody notices. I change my mind. I would love to have a kindle2. I’m even dreaming about it na. waaaah.
jans last blog post..Hotshot On The Web, A Nobody At Home
February 20th, 2009 at 2:00 PM
@Raju – If those rumors are true, I might just get myself one or maybe, just maybe give it away as a prize for one of my contests. :D
February 20th, 2009 at 1:58 PM
I am waiting for the price drop. Rumors are that it might get reduced to around $200 soon
Rajus last blog post..10 Ways to Watch 81st Annual Academy / Oscar Awards Online For FREE!
February 19th, 2009 at 7:30 PM
@elmot – Yeah, I know what you mean. Like what I told jan, inspite of the availability of information on line or in digital/electronic form, some people still prefer the feel, smell, etc of the “real” thing. I guess you’re one of them. :D
February 19th, 2009 at 7:28 PM
this is the kind of thing that conrado de quiros wished to invent…but well, amazon made it. i find it sleek and sexy…but i would still want to feel each page of a book and its unique smell while reading it.
there is still no other substitute for the real thing…hehehe
elmots last blog post..Comic Strip Friday!!!
February 13th, 2009 at 3:50 AM
@jan – If you love reading books and have a lot of books, you NEED to have one of these! Hmm..sounds like you’re trying to tell me that I should give away a Kindle 2 here on my blog? Hehe..we’ll see ;)
I know what you mean. One good example is news. You can access news from the Internet but some people still prefer the regular newspaper.
Yes, the Kindle 2 is one sexy device.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:47 AM
Except for the great benefit of taking it with you on vacation or long trips (holds more than 1,500 books) to keep you company, I see no reason why I should get one. But hey, there’s one other reason/incentive to switching to Kindle 2 – if a hotshot and generous blog author we all know surprises us with it as a giveaway for some contest. Then and only then.
Otherwise, I still like the feel of a paperback or even a hardbound book. The glorious smell of its print, paper, and stitching. I’m a tactile person – and it would take a lot of adjustment to make me fall in love with the cold feel of a contraption. Hahaha. Maybe it’s just me, and my age getting the better of me.
One thing though. For a contraption, it looks very sexy. :)
jans last blog post..The Man Behind The Blog
February 12th, 2009 at 5:55 PM
@loy – I believe that politically correct term would be “e-book”. Oh I see, if you want to buy one just let me know. I can get it for you from Amazon and ship it to you in the Philippines. ;)
February 12th, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Ebook or e-book? – that is the question. hehe.. Anyway, the only way I can buy from Amazon is to let a friend or relative living in the US to buy stuff for me, then let him/her ship it to me here in the Philippines. I hope that Amazon will someday allow direct shipping to the Philippines. :-)
loys last blog post..Obama Doppelgangers on the Loose!
February 12th, 2009 at 9:45 AM
@Ade – Me too.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:40 AM
WANT.
Ades last blog post..AdeFAIL: Race To The Gravy
February 11th, 2009 at 9:35 AM
@Solo – It definitely will. :D
February 11th, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Look like will save trees :)
Solos last blog post..Price Samsung G810
February 10th, 2009 at 6:35 PM
@loy – Yes especially for bookworms who travel a lot. Hehe Really? I didn’t know that. Is there another way to buy stuff from Amazon if you’re from the Philippines?
February 10th, 2009 at 6:32 PM
This is great for bookworms. If only Amazon could ship direct to the Philippines. :-(
loys last blog post..Obama Doppelgangers on the Loose!