At today’s Amazon Kindle event in LA, the ecommerce giant has made a number of announcements, including the new Kindle Paperwhite, an updated Kindle Fire and a brand new Kindle Fire HD. Here’s everything you need to know, now that the event has just come to a close:
Kindle Paperwhite
Previously rumored to launch today, Jeff Bezos announced the new Kindle Paperwhite, which features a brighter, sharper front-lit screen and the ability to last 8 weeks on a single charge (even with the light on).
The Paperwhite is 9.1mm thick and 7.5 ounces. There is also a free 3G-connected model that will run for $179. Go here for more details.
New $69 Kindle
Amazon had released a $79 kindle last year, and now that device has been updated with new fonts and crisper text at a lower price. Beyond these improvements, little else has changed, but it’s definitely looking like quite a bargain.
The device will ship September 14th, and you can read more about it here.
8.9″ Kindle Fire HD + Upgraded Kindle Fire
One of its biggest announcements, Amazon has just introduced the successor to its first tablet effort: The Kindle Fire HD, an 8.9″ IPS tablet at 1900×1200 resolution.
The Kindle Fire HD runs on an OMAP 4 processor with increased processing power and memory bandwidth. It features a laminated display for better contrast and less glare, and also has dual-stereo speakers and Dolby Digital Plus sound technology.
The original Kindle Fire has also received updates, with a price reduction to $159. Check out TNW’s hands-on with the Kindle Fire HD for more.
Pay-once, continue reading Kindle Serials
Amazon is introducing a new Kindle publishing option called Kindle Singles, which will allow you to purchase a serial and get all of the other episodes delivered to you in sequence as they’re released.
You can read more here.
Kindle Free Time
Kindle Free Time has just been announced, a feature which helps parents monitor when kids are using tablets and what they’re using them for.
The Kindle Free Time feature lets you set limits on how long your kids can use the tablet and even allows you to limit by specific features. There’s also a kid-friendly interface that allows parents to visually track what their kids are doing more easily. Read more here.
Kindle Fire HD 4G LTE ($499)
As an upgrade to the new Kindle Fire HD, Amazon is releasing a 4G LTE version priced at $499. The 8.9″ IPS tablet comes in at a 1900×1200 resolution.
Amazon also introduced a $49/yr data plan that allows for 250MB of transfer per month. A $10 Amazon Appstore credit and 20GB of Cloud Storage also comes with it. You can read more here.
Takeaway
Though previously rumored, no Amazon phone has been announced today. This, however, doesn’t mean it isn’t on the way, but that it could simply be a long ways away from being released. For now, we’re left with an arm-full of new Kindles, some of which step right onto Apple’s territory. This is especially noteworthy, as Apple is rumored to be simultaneously developing a smaller iPad to compete with the Nexus and Kindle Fire.
Clearly this space is only just starting to heat up, especially as a price war grows between Google and Amazon.
Only yesterday, both Nokia and Motorola also held their own events, apparently getting in the last word before Apple. Motorola announced the Droid RAZR HD, HD Max and the RAZR M, while Nokia announced the 920 and 820.
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