We’re just hours away from Amazon’s rumored introduction of the next-generation Kindle, yet there’s little patience to see what the new device might bring to the eager market. What are the improvements, what is the price, and how will it manage to compete with other similar devices on the market, such as Sony’s very own electronic reader, the PSR-700, launched last fall.
The anticipation is high, but the expectations are even higher, so what will Kindle 2 deliver? First and foremost, an improved design, less clunky than the first generation Kindle, as shown by pictures leaked last year, and made popular by The Boy Genius Report. Despite mixed reactions upon launch, the first generation Kindle has managed to sell quite well, so well that Amazon announced it has been sold out.
Normally, we would expect for Amazon to replenish that stock, but nobody really believes they are going to do that with the same old Kindle. The secrecy surrounding the press conference organized by Amazon this Monday is no match to the speculations in the media, especially that the time is just right for a new launch.
When Amazon first launched Kindle in November 2007, it created quite a controversy, and here’s why: on the one hand, it seemed like a practical device, with extended functionality compared to other electronic books, with wireless connectivity and access to tens of thousands of books. On the other hand, it was also quite an expensive gadget, and that meant slow progress in terms of sales (except for the first few couple of days, when the Kindle was sold out).
Amazon is still shy about revealing the exact number of Kindles sold, but it probably proved to be popular enough to make them release a second-generation device. But that’s not all! Sony has already launched its PRS-700 electronic reader, and it’s slim, stylish, has touch-screen capabilities, and a six-inch display.
By looking at the leaked photos of Kindle 2, we can see that Amazon has kept its QWERTY keyboard, and quite a rough design compared to Sony, however, it has made some changes, such as the scroll wheel, which has now been replaced by a joystick, and redesigned buttons. In addition to that, Kindle 2 is said to be cheaper than its predecessor, which has been vividly criticized for its steep price (Amazon was even forced to make a price cut in order to make the Kindle more appealing to consumers).
Unfortunately, that’s all we can say at this point about Kindle 2, nothing about functionality or other changes unrelated to the design. Amazon is sure to fill in the blanks during the press conference to be held today, if indeed Kindle 2 is what journalists have been invited for.
