Amazon’s product launch event yesterday was notable for the introduction of several new devices, but the most noteworthy devices for many who were in attendance were the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD and the new Kindle Paperwhite e-ink reader.
The Kindle Fire HD will be Amazon’s answer to the Apple iPad – its 8.9-inch high-definition display is capable of 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution. What makes this even more worthy of mention is the claim that the screen will have 25 percent less glare than the original Kindle Fire. The device will officially hit stores on November 20, or about ten weeks from now. A 7-inch Kindle Fire HD will be released next week, on September 14. This smaller version will come with the same $199 price point as the original Kindle Fire. Its 7-inch screen has a pixel resolution of 1280 x 800; the 16 GB version costs $199, while customers would have to pay $249 for the 32 GB edition. Both Kindle Fire HD tablets will come with a front-facing video calling camera – the previous version of the Kindle Fire didn’t come with any camera, either in front or at the back of the device.
The Kindle Paperwhite is not a tablet, but rather a new e-reader, an upgrade over the recently phased-out Kindle Touch. Early previews of the device tell us that the lighting is tailor-made for the screen, allowing for much easier reading. While improved display is arguably the best feature of the tablet, the look and feel of the Paperwhite also deserves some mention. It is light and easy to use e-reader with full touchscreen capabilities. This may not work for all users, especially those who aren’t used to touchscreen devices, but it shouldn’t take long for the average Paperwhite owner to get the hang of things. The Paperwhite will go on sale on October 1 and will cost $119 for the version with advertisements and $179 for the version without.
