For those who missed the news, Amazon has just released Kindle Oasis, the company’s next big step towards its goal of digital paper. Its thinnest, lightest and most expensive e-reader yet has a new design with 9-week reading battery, ergonomic grip, and page-turn buttons.
Photo: Amazon
As reported in the Guardian, Chris Green, vice president of industrial design of devices for Amazon said:
The Kindle is like a hammer, a single purpose device, and this is the best we can make it. We’ve found that the more that sits in between the reader and the book, the less engaged they are with it. The Oasis is our best Kindle yet at getting out of the way and sending people down the rabbit hole.
Photo: Amazon
The new Kindle has the next generation of Amazon’s touchscreen Paperwhite display, with previous versions seen in the top-end Voyage and Paperwhite. It has the same screen density of 300 dots per inch similar to printed books, but the new display has moved the front-light LEDs to the side, providing space for 60% more lights, increasing the screen’s brightness and even lighting.
Photo: Amazon
The Oasis will last for two weeks on its own, but is sold with a high-quality case that attaches magnetically to the back of the device, which charges the Kindle’s internal battery at a rate of 1 hour’s reading time every 10 minutes and adds a further 7 weeks’ battery life. The case also turns off the screen, sending the Kindle into a new lower-power hibernation state when closed and protects it when not in use.
Photo: Amazon
About the battery, Chris said:
We’re now measuring battery life in months because no one wants to be stopped from finding out who the killer is because the battery dies.
The Oasis, which becomes the fourth e-reader in Amazon’s current lineup, is very much the new flagship Kindle above the already premium Voyage with a price to match. Available for pre-order today and shipping within two weeks the Oasis will cost $289.99 for a Wi-Fi-only version.
In a statistic of particular interest to authors, Amazon has said that its Kindle store now has 4.4m ebooks available, with 1.1m added in the last 12 months and 1m exclusive to the service.
Arthur van Rest, Amazon’s director of product management for devices in the EU said:
Our Kindle sales are up, people are reading more ebooks than ever before and we’re investing more money in devices and the store. We are fully committed to the ebook market.
Find out more and compare the various models on Amazon.
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Well, at that price I’ll … wait a while! 😀
😀
Looks great. Has some nice features. And I’m sure once the price drops it will convince a lot of people to invest in an e-reader who do not yet have one. As for myself, my old e-reader is paid for and works just fine, so I’ll be keeping it for the foreseeable future. 🙂
Same here. Yes, a lot of people will be waiting for a price drop 🙂
Not about to buy one. I never replace anything until the old one wears out. Matter of principle.
A great principle, as far as I’m concerned 🙂
Wow. That’s a hefty price for an e-reader, no? It’s beautifully designed, though.
It’s gorgeous. As for the price, I’m with Pete. It will drop in no time 🙂
Looks great. I still read on my ipad without complaint (except for glare – I can’t read easily outside). I’ve heard the Kindles handle that well. Maybe someday 🙂
They hand;e that superbly. In fact they’re better in the outdoors, and that was a major selling point for me. I hadn’t expected to find its screen so much less tiring than a tablet’s.
My ordinary paperwhite has a magnetic coved which puts it into hibernation mode when closed. Still no colour I see :(. Can’t see how they can justify that price.
That’s the kind of cover I use, too, and love it 🙂
As Pete pointed out, the price will fall for sure.
I guess that, if you want color, you’re stuck with a tablet for now 🙂
Interesting piece, Nicholas. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 — Suzanne
A pleasure! Thanks for reading 🙂
As Graeme says, if it makes more people read, then it’s all good. I would imagine if you wait a while, the price will fall dramatically. I also wonder how many users of tablets and smartphones (or PC readers like me) will bother to buy one. Of course, they are ideal for taking on holiday, or reading in bed, but so are tablets, and they are more useful.
Best wishes, Pete.
For me, it’s oranges and bananas. After staring at a screen all day, the last thing I want to look at is a tablet. A Kindle, though, feels like a normal book, so it doesn’t strain my eyes.
Good point, Nicholas. I actually still prefer hardback books, when available. (I should put a picture of one up, so some readers know what they are…)
Ooh, hardbacks… I love those. A bit of an endangered species, of course.
I did see this reported on the BBC website, so I’ve had a bit of time to think about it. Much as I’m a convert to Kindle (heresy, I know, but I now prefer it to “proper” books), I do struggle to see how much extra value there is in this model. It might offer enhancements, but are they really significant enough to warrant the extra expense?
Good that you’re making people aware, though, Nicholas. Because I’m sure there are those who will want it just because it’s the latest thing! And if it prompts them to read, all well and good.
Well, don’t forget there are plenty of people who still haven’t got any Kindle. The extra features may be enough to give them that final push to try one out 🙂
Didn’t think of it like that. Good job we all have different perspectives!
Lol – absolutely 😀