Amazon's Kindle 2 in the wild?

So much for Amazon's attempts to quell Kindle 2 rumors, eh? Talk of a replacement (or a pair of replacements) for Amazon's popular -- but very oddly-styled -- e-reader has been in the mix seemingly since the first model started shipping, and Boy Genius Report has scored shots of something that certainly looks like it could be in the legitimate pipeline. The revised device appears to address complaints over the original's look head-on, rounding the corners and ditching the oddball angles; the scroll wheel has been replaced with a joystick, the SD slot is gone (don't worry, there's at least a gig and a half on-board), and around back, we have grills that seem to suggest integrated stereo speakers. The display is basically the same size -- no color here yet, sorry -- so unless the sharp edges on your first-gen piece are driving you batty, it looks like this could be safely skipped by current owners while roping in new buyers who wouldn't have considered it before. Thing is, was ditching the scroll wheel and that trick mirrored bar in favor of a joystick really the right way to go?

[MastrCake @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:16PM]

If this REALLY is the Kindle 2, then it appears Amazon still needs a little help in the asthetics department.

I do like it a bit better, though.

[Patrick R @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:25PM]

its a kindle in the wild!

[Mike10010100 @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:39PM]

I find that I agree with the author on this one. besides the asthetics, this is a step back in functionality!

No expandable memory? Screen isn't any bigger?

Maybe there's a faster refresh time, but that doesn't compensate for the loss of function. I'm glad that i chose to get the first generation kindle.

finally, the joystick as a control scheme? They should have learned their lesson from Sony! No matter how fast therefresh rate is, it isn't worth waiting just to see your selection change. I like the instant change lcd strip of the original kindle.

My two cents.

[1234321 @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:40PM]

bit better?
It's bigger without a bigger screen and typing looks even harder because keys are cramped

[MastrCake @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:44PM]

I'm sorry if I come out as rude Patrick, but unless I am missing somthing, that had to be the most pointless reply to a first comment I have ever seen.

Now go play with your old-fashioned books.

[Evangelion @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:59PM]

A wild Kindle appeared!

[1234321 @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:46PM]

I choose: RUN

[Matt @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:33PM]

Amazon, you're KILLING me here. I ordered a Kindle last year and promptly returned it, waiting for a more polished interface and a better design. Well, it looks like you've gone and mucked it up again.

1. Why devote even MORE space to a keyboard? When I had my Kindle, I hardly *ever* used the keyboard. I thought I would use it for web browsing but I hardly ever used my Kindle to browse the web because the interface was bad and the e-Ink refresh rate was way too slow for comfortable browsing. So, unless you've completely revamped the Web access to make the experience at least as pleasing as surfing on a Blackberry, the extra space for a generally superfluous keyboard simply makes no sense.

2. Why continue to make the bezel white? I know Bezos likes the white bezel because he thinks it "disappears" as you get lost in the text, but I just think it makes the already gray e-Ink screen look even darker in comparison. Use a dark gray, metal, or black bezel to make the e-Ink screen pop.

3. Where is the BACKLIGHT? That was my other complaint about the Kindle: For all the all the talk about how neat e-Ink is, the it was really tough to see in anything less than direct bright light. Newspapers and books are perfectly readable in indirect dim light, but e-Ink is not. It has to be directly under a light source. Your stop-gap measure seemed to be selling a clip-on light as a "recommended accessory." But there is absolutely no excuse to leave a backlight out of the 2nd gen Kindle -- or at the very least, a built-in light at the top of the screen that can flip out or something.

Please look at the Sony e-readers and try to understand what makes a compelling design. The problem with Sony is that their design is great but their selection is limited. The problem with Amazon is that your selection is great but your design remains 10-20 years behind the times. Oh how I long for a Sony-Amazon hybrid -- something with Sony's sense of style that can access the Kindle selection. Looks like it's not to be.

Please try harder for version 3.

[Gilbert Tang @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:58PM]

A-fu*king-men.

[loosely_coupled @ Oct 4th 2008 12:27AM]

No kidding!
Screen is still way too small, and the bezel is actually LARGER?? The plastic bezel on all the sides needs to be reduced by at LEAST 75%. God, this is just as bad as the first one! Why don't they just do a joint deal with Sony? At least sony has some decent japanese industrial designers...

[Cole @ Oct 4th 2008 2:41AM]

I like a lot about the first Kindle, but the thing that drove us all COMPLETELY NUTS was the page buttons on the edge. There was no comfortable way to hold it without accidentally changing the page!

I sure wish they would have fixed this. All they had to do is watch someone try to use and notice how many times you made this mistake!

Cole

[Chris Aubeck @ Oct 4th 2008 4:28AM]

It's so futuristic it looks like a prop from "Space 1999."

[BigD145 @ Oct 4th 2008 11:20AM]

It looks like they 'Apple'd' it. It's got the same curves as the Air.

[Johan S @ Oct 4th 2008 12:54PM]

Besides the needed rounding of sharp edges.. to me the old kindle looks better.


note: I said looks better, not looks good.

[Plothole @ Oct 4th 2008 5:04PM]

@Matt

Backlighting is physical impossible with eInk. (It'd be like shining a light through a painting. Some of the light might pass though microscopic gaps, but it won't make it viewable.)

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:19PM]

am I the ony person that think these are pretty fugly. How hard to include style

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:51PM]

Google is mocking me. It's showing engadget as 'Podcasts on Engadget'. Sigh...

[Konstantin @ Oct 4th 2008 12:58AM]

@Thi - yeah, those things are hideous. It looks like something out of the 80's and we all know that in terms of style that wasn't the best decade.

If you ask me I really like the look of that PRS-700 that we got a glimpse of a few days ago. That thing is sexy. Why aren't we talking more about that?

[Arnie @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:23PM]

Still Fugly!! Looks like the one introduced via the Plastic one is still the way to go.

[blacknimbus @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:24PM]

Looks better, but where is the black model?

[greygabe @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:25PM]

Why so gigantic?...
Wouldn't center bottom mounted chargers make no sense since it would be impossible to 'kindle' it in your lap while charging?

[archaix @ Oct 6th 2008 11:11AM]

kin·dle 1 (kndl)
v. kin·dled, kin·dling, kin·dles
v.tr.
1.
a. To build or fuel (a fire).
b. To set fire to; ignite.
2. To cause to glow; light up: The sunset kindled the skies.
3. To arouse (an emotion, for example): "No spark had yet kindled in him an intellectual passion" George Eliot.
v.intr.
1. To catch fire; burst into flame.
2. To become bright; glow.
3. To become inflamed.
4. To be stirred up; rise.


Yes I guess a bottom mounted charger would make it difficult to set fire to it while it was in your lap. Ironically you can read a dictionary on the device.

[Chris @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:28PM]

Wouldn't it be easier to scroll with a wheel then a that joystick pad?

[nate @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:31PM]

sorry, but that's not less ugly, it's more ugly.

[hh83917 @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:32PM]

I don't have a Kindle yet, but I think the first version is still more appealing to a potential buy like me. Reasons below:
1. I don't think navigating with the joystick will be as pleasing as the scroll wheel on e-books because e-ink is slow in refreshing and I think it'll be harder to click something, say, at the bottom of the page than to scroll to the bottom with the mirrored bar. Seems to me, the mirrored bar is a nice feature to have on the first kindle. I think the only reason they go with the joystick on kindle2 maybe they are coming out with some webbrowsing feature that was in beta on kindle1.

2. Although kindle1 is weirdly shaped, I think it look more ergonomic to hold in one hand vs the kindle2. I think if Amazon fix the large page flip button so people don't click it by accident will be enough. They don't have to come out with a new shape because the current kindle looks fine to me.

3. The kindle2 no longer have grips in its back, so people with sweaty hands might have a tough time holding it for long period reading. And from the back, it basically looks like a huge flat ipod with the metallic back....

4. I think stereo speakers are useless on a reading device because I'd get a compact mp3 player to do audiobooks and music...

[diode3diode @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:41PM]

Also the first one has an edge, perfect for cake cutting.

[Jon Doe. @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:33PM]

Making it larger = FAIL.

[Courtney White @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:34PM]

Its not that bad, quit bitching.

[diode3diode @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:36PM]

First the Iliad and now this, well at least if I get me one of these there is no worries of it being pinched.
(crosses finger for an attractive FLEPia)

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:37PM]

Dear Amazon,

For the love of god, hire better product designers, please. The Kindle 1 sucked big time, and the new one seems to follow the same stupid and absolutely lame style and unbelievably bricked mentality. I really believe that you have to change the placement of the main and important buttons, of course I'm talking about the next and back keys; they are simply wrongly placed, and any normal person who holds this thing will accidentally press one of the 4 buttons you are adding to the Kindle 2, it is a simple fact that your team seems to ignore like a kid designing their first science project and asking their mom to leave them alone! And talk about waste of space! Look at that screen! why don't you just a portable screen instead? it will give more white spaces so that your product design team can enjoy every bit of it! it's like they are in love with wide views of white uselessness!

I really believe in you and will support you guys, but not with the Kindle 1 nor the 2nd edition.

If god had a hell for products, the Kindle will be seen a lot.

Yours,
Someone who cares about Amazon.

[Wolfticket @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:56PM]

Dear Amazon,

Here is roughly what an ebook reader should look like: http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/sony-announces-prs-700-reader/

Yours,
Someone with eyes.

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:00PM]

Dear Amazon,

Please consider Wolfticket's request.

Yours,
Someone with some freaking common sense.

[loosely_coupled @ Oct 4th 2008 12:49AM]

It's just ridiculous... How hard can it possibly be to make a decent looking ebook? I can guarantee that Amazon just hired some bargain-basement chinese original design manufacturer without a freaking clue. Let me offer them some help..

HOW TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL KINDLE:
1) Create a dark-grey, aluminum shell roughly 9" H x 6" W x 0.5"
2) Put a 7" x 5" E-ink display on it, leaving roughly 1/2" bezel on the top and both sides for buttons. 1.5" bezel on bottom for small keypad placement.
3) Fill with logic components and battery

[MastrCake @ Oct 4th 2008 1:50AM]

Dear loosely_coupled,

You have completely butchered the concept of Saad Rabia's comment and its replies. If you are going to reply, please reply accordingly to the rules set by the other parts of Saad Rabia's comment and its replies.

Yours,
Somebody with half a brain.

[Wolfticket @ Oct 4th 2008 1:55PM]

Dear Commenters (including me),

Is it just me or is the open letter format getting a bit old already?

Yours,
Mr Hip O'Crit

[has_bnz @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:46PM]

Bunch of idiots cant even design a simple product such as an ebook.

[Spyrus @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:49PM]

Amazon, seriously. Did anyone complain about the scrollwheel?? Why take that away? I thought everyone loved that. It was one of the things functioning perfectly on the device. One of the big pains was having the damn buttons along damn near the entire side of both sides of the device, causing them accidentally get pressed while reading.

I do like the look of the back however. Looks like they went with the same texture of the back of the original iPhone that Apple unfortunately dropped when they changed to plastic in the iPhone 3G. I don't know. We'll see.

[B @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:53PM]

A ton of blank white space....
especially down near the keyboard

[GoVegan @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:58PM]

Hopefully the Kindle 2 will not be bundled with a leather cover as the first one was. Everyone I know would not buy the device if it does come bundled again.

[Ross @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:08PM]

Whats wrong with covers? Don't complain.

[Bloobie @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:56PM]

Ross: he or she's vegan, so a leather cover would just be bad, that is all.

[Zelatio @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:09PM]

The next one hopefully has leather hand grips built in! Yay cows!

[Tagbert @ Oct 4th 2008 3:35AM]

Sorry, but the cover that comes with the Kindle is not leather. It is a synthetic product.

[GoVegan @ Oct 4th 2008 4:51AM]

@Tagbert.
Don't be sorry :)
FYI PC World, Gizmodo and other reviews stated that it was leather. But perhaps you are right, I never did email Amazon sales to confirm, as the design of the device wasn't very tempting anyway.

[GoCarnivore @ Oct 4th 2008 1:10PM]

I hope many cows die to bring us kindles bundled with leather.

[Michael Canfield @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:19PM]

Woah! I seriously did not think that the Kindle could get any uglier! I was wrong.

[akatsuki @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:13PM]

Seriously WTF? Why keep including a keyboard on a reader? I want one on my iPhone, but I definitely don't want one on an eBook reader. A touchscreen keyboard is perfect for the limited use of typing out the occasional title... Get rid of the keyboard Amazon.

[Spyrus @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:36PM]

At first, I was like whuh? For an E-ink display? But, you're kind of right actually. I hadn't thought of that. Apparently the technology is available to do that, so indeed it's probably possible. Wonder if they've thought of doing that.

[Konstantin @ Oct 4th 2008 1:05AM]

@Spyrus - Dude they already did. The PRS-700 that Sony just announced has a touchscreen. Very cool. Check it out.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:18PM]

Someone told me the other day books now come in colour. CRAZY FOOL!!!!!!!!!