Coming Soon: Kindle 2 by Amazon

"Coming Soon: Kindle 2 by Amazon"
By Ask Six Newsroom Staff February 9, 2009 Business

Who? Amazon.com is releasing the Kindle 2, an updated version of the Kindle - a digital notebook that can download thousands of books for instant electronic reading. The original Kindle can be found at amazon.com.

What? Amazon has just revealed the Kindle 2 - it’s thinner, faster, and is filled with new capabilities (see why? section). The original Kindle sold out in both of the years it has been available. This year, the Kindle sold out by November - faster than Amazon anticipated. This was unfortunate for those asked Santa for the Kindle in 2008.

Today, Monday February 9, 2009, Amazon announced the Kindle 2 launch date and product capabilities at the New York Library. Famous novelist Stephen King spoke at the conference, announcing a release of his new book “Ur” that will be distributed exclusively on Kindle 2.

When? February 24, 2009.

Where? Amazon.com for $359 (the same price as the original Kindle)

Why? Amazon was started as an online buyer and reseller of books. It has turned into an online retail store for all sorts of items, but books are at the heart of the company’s business. The Kindle was the first electronic reading tablet available. It combines the vast online bookstore offered by Amazon with a portable device; A Kindle owner can purchase and download a new book to the Kindle in less than a minute at a fraction of the price of a printed book. It is an enormously handy device that saves the average book reader loads of money (and space).

The Kindle 2.0 has been introduced in order to compete with other brands (like Sony) who are selling devices similar to the Kindle. Here is a a list of the new Kindle 2 features:

• 5-way controller for more fluid navigation
  
• 16 shades of grey.
  
• 20% faster page turning.
  
• 25% longer battery life (2 weeks on a single charge).
  
• 7 times more storage, now holds 1,500 books.
  
• 10.2 ounces and
  
• 25% skinnier than the iPhone.
  
• Text-to-voice for weird computer-sounding audio books.
  

How? The Kindle 2 will be distributed online from Amazon. It is anticipated that the device will sell out as quickly, if not quicker, than its predecessor (the original Kindle).