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Kindle Paperwhite (mid-2013) hands-on (video)
So we know all about Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite, but those press images don't really do the trick, do they? Weirdly, we had to travel all the way to Berlin, but we did manage to get our hands on the new device. As we said before, there aren't a ton of aesthetic changes here. Thankfully, we had our last-gen Paperwhite in hand, and quite frankly, we couldn't really tell the difference -- until we picked it up, that is. Gen two of the Paperwhite is noticeably lighter than its predecessor. Longtime Paperwhite users will be able to tell you that the minute they hold it in their hands. Another obvious clue: the giant Amazon logo on the soft-touch rear. Granted, we're probably picking nits here (especially yours truly, someone who carries his own Paperwhite around in a case), but the older Kindle logo was a bit more tasteful. We did really appreciate the front lighting in the earlier generation -- and then Kobo came along with the Glo. Since then, things haven't really been the same. Update: Amazon wanted us to let you know that the version of the Kindle we had a chance to look at is specifically intended for the European market. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite priced at £109 for UK, arrives October 3rd
A few years ago, British e-readers were expected to wait months before Amazon's latest reading slab managed to swim across from the US -- but no more. The refreshed Kindle Paperwhite is set to launch on October 3rd, just slightly over a week later than its scheduled release in America. Higher resolution, higher contrast text and next-gen lighting technology can be yours for £109 -- reservations are being accepted at the source.
E Ink's new higher contrast Carta display is the secret behind Amazon's refreshed Kindle Paperwhite
Amazon peppered its second-gen Kindle Paperwhite announce yesterday with the usual marketing fluff: whiter whites and blacker blacks! But, it turns out, those boasts do have some grounding in reality. E Ink has a new screen tech and, surprise surprise, it's the one that's powering the refreshed Paperwhite's improved readability in sunlight and increased contrast. And the company has some numbers to back those claims too, marking this new "formulation" as offering a 50 percent improvement in contrast over older Kindles, and 20 percent boost to whiteness. It's an accurate claim by our estimation, considering we recently had some eyes-on time with the second-gen Paperwhite. Still, it doesn't beat the Kobo Aura HD's screen, but not everything niche can be so nice.
Sony's PRS-T3 e-reader hands-on
When you operate in as many spaces as Sony, some products just aren't going to get the same love as others. The company spent the vast majority of today's press conference discussing the Xperia Z1, while speeding through spaces like imaging and HDTV. E-readers, on the other hand, got no love at all. The company's latest reader was on the floor here at IFA, however, sitting in one lonely corner of Sony's brightly lit both. It's a shame really, because there are some pretty cool innovations on the PRS-T3. Namely, there's the integrated case, so you don't have to shell out $50 to protect your reader's display. Instead, a cover folds out directly from the rear. And if you don't want that dangling off, just stick your thumb in a slot on the bottom and you can pry it right off. You're not likely to do that too often, however, seeing as how the cover has a retractable light built in. Sony apparently opted to forgo built-in front lighting for a more traditional arm that'll illuminate the reader.
What's new in the new Kindle Paperwhite? Better lighting, a faster chip and one big Amazon logo
The most striking difference you'll notice in the just leaked announced new Kindle Paperwhite isn't something on the device's screen -- it's on the backplate. AMAZON. That brand, once so subtly tied into the company's game-changing e-reader, is now big, bold and garishly displayed in gloss across the upper part of the Paperwhite's posterior. Why? Well, the answer is quite simple really: compared to the Kindle brand, Amazon's brand equity is much stronger in overseas markets. If you're a longtime Kindle user like me, you'll probably find this design tweak annoying, but that's about all it is. The rest of this new Paperwhite is a matter of finessing the tried-and-true Kindle experience, not disrupting it.
Nook Newstand now offering access to college papers
While Jeff Bezos is busy investing in a new 'golden era' for the Washington Post, Barnes & Noble's Nook division is beefing up digital access to the newspaper industry's farm league: the college paper. Through a licensing deal with UWIRE announced today, Nook users (yes, that includes the free app) will now be able to peruse, sample and subscribe to digital editions of the hundreds of college and university papers included (e.g., Harvard Crimson, The Columbia Spectator, etc.). Depending on the school paper, issues will either be served up as standalone purchases, monthly subscriptions or both, with most subscriptions hitting a $0.99 price point. There's also a 14-day trial period, so you can test out the collegiate goods before you go whole hog on that subscription for your alma mater.
Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite officially announced, ships September 30th
In case you needed official confirmation, Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite is indeed real and on the way. While we still don't have much in the way of specifics, according to the public listing, we do know that the refreshed Paperwhite should arrive with a 25-percent faster processor, improved display with higher contrast and longer lasting battery (supposedly rated for up to two months). Amazon's also bundled in some new features: social integration by way of Goodreads so users can get book recommendations from other like-minded readers, Kindle Page Flip which lets users skip ahead without losing their place and Vocabulary Builder which creates flashcards based on past word searches. Pricing remains the same as we reported earlier with the WiFi-only models set to ship out on the 30th of this month and retailing for $119 (with ads) and $139. Users keen on the $189 3G version will have a bit longer to wait as that device is slated for a November 5th release. Pre-orders are available now, so quit reading and get to one-clicking.
Amazon briefly lists next-generation Kindle Paperwhite with new display technology (update: official)
Well, isn't this a surprise? Without any fanfare, Amazon has posted (and since pulled) a product page for a next-generation Kindle Paperwhite. The new e-reader centers on an upgraded display with higher contrast, improved lighting and more responsive touch input. There's also a faster processor, and the company promises both Goodreads integration and a variant of Kindle FreeTime that encourages young readers through an achievement system. If the listings are accurate, Amazon will sell WiFi and 3G versions of the new Kindle Paperwhite for $119 and $189 respectively. The WiFi model's page also mentioned a $139 ad-free version and a September 30th ship date. Check out a second image of the WiFi variant's listing after the break. [Thanks, Charles] Update: That was quick -- the next-gen Kindle Paperwhite is now official.
Amazon launches Kindle Matchbook: discounted e-books for those who own the hard copy
When Amazon launched AutoRip, we looked at our bookshelves and wished that us readers would get something similar. Fortunately, the company had the same idea, and is now announcing Kindle Matchbook. In short, if you've bought one of 10,000 selected titles from Amazon, you'll be entitled to snag a digital copy for between $2.99 and nothing. The service launches in October and there's no limit on when the purchases were made -- meaning that you could be offered an awkward reminder of the literature you were gorging back in 1995.
Kindle e-bookstore and self-publishing platform now available in Mexico
Both readers and writers in Mexico have a reason to rejoice today, as Amazon has just launched the Kindle Store and Kindle Direct Publishing in their country. The e-bookstore will feature over 70,000 Spanish-language titles, as well as e-books in indigenous tongues like Nahuatl. To help fill up those new e-readers, Amazon will also be offering upwards of 1,500 free books among the store's 2 million titles. The availability of KDP is especially significant, as it offers both unknown authors and big name writers like Paulo Coelho (who's using it to release his books El Alquimista and Once Minutos) an alternative path to publishing. Additionally, Gandhi, one of the largest bookstore chains in Mexico, will now sell the basic Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite in its brick and mortar shops for MXN$1,399 (USD$105) and MXN$2,399 (USD$180) respectively. For more info, check out the source links below or the press releases after the break.
Kobo shows off its Aura e-reader, we go hands-on (video)
Remember that new e-reader from Kobo we told you about, not all that many minutes ago? Say hello to the Aura. The successor to the Glo owes more than just its name to the recently introduced Aura HD -- the device has also brought over the high-end specs and a bit of the device language from that Cadillac of e-readers. When the company handed off the reader, the first thing we noticed was that best in class front lighting. Kobo mastered that back with the Glo and has naturally trotted it out on subsequent devices. Also immediately apparent is the size of the thing. The Aura appears smaller than other six-inch readers. Hold it up against the Paperwhite and it's clear that there's considerably less bezel. Also, the bezel lays flush with the display -- Kobo's dumped the old infrared touch for a capacitive screen, so there's no need for a gap. The device is impressively thin and light compared to past Kobo readers -- and the rest of the market, for that matter. This really is an impressive piece of hardware, though even with that in mind, the $150 price tag may be tough for all but the most hardcore readers to swallow. Around the back, you'll notice that Kobo brought a bit of the crooked design from the HD, though it's a lot more subtle than on that reader. As an homage to past Kobo readers, the criss cross diamond design is back, though it's also far more subtle and smaller this time out.
Kobo adds magazines, kids store to its online offerings
Kobo's not quite done with the news tonight. In addition to an e-reader, three tablets and Pocket integration, the Canadian-turned-Japanese company has also got some announcements on the content side of things. First up is the addition of magazines to its store, bringing titles from Conde Nast, Hearst and a number of other publishers to its proprietary tablets and iOS / Android apps. Also on the docket is a brand new kids store that features safe-searching and nearly 100,000 offerings, including the likes of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Hunger Games titles. Magazines are coming to Kobo's mobile app in September and will be available for its new tablets when they launch the following month.
Kobo integrates Pocket into Reading Life, brings the app to its e-readers and tablets
We had some initial misgivings about the usefulness of Kobo's Reading Life ecosystem, but the company has certainly been working to expand the scope of its social / competitive reading offering. Now Kobo's partnering with Pocket (the app formerly known as Read it Later), a deal that integrates the app directly into Reading Life, letting you send articles to the company's new line of e-readers and tablets for offline reading. The app is accessible via Reading Life's new Articles from Pocket feature. You can read more in the press release below right now.
Kobo unveils the Aura, a mid-size luxury e-reader
It was around this time year that Amazon showed off the Paperwhite at an event in a Santa Monica airplane hangar, debuting a front-lit display technology that would blow the months-old Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight out of the water. A few weeks later, Kobo introduced the Glo, which featured illumination that put both of the aforementioned readers to shame. Back in April, the company added another member to the family, a -- get this -- luxury e-reader. Kobo made it very clear that the nearly 7-inch device was a limited time only deal -- that is, unless the thing actually sold. Four months later, the Aura HD comprises nearly a quarter of the company's global e-reader sales. So, naturally, the product is sticking around. It's also serving as the inspiration for the Glo's successor (the Glo, too, will stick around -- though there's no word on price cuts to that device just yet). The Kobo Aura is, as its name implies, a smaller sibling to the Aura HD, with a standard-sized 6-inch E Ink display. And as ever, the company's also including that best-in-class front light technology here. CEO Michael Serbinis tells us that his company has also worked directly with E Ink this time out to greatly reduce those full-page refreshes that we've been accustom to seeing once every six pages or so amongst the last few generations of readers. The Aura is also the thinnest and lightest 6-incher Kobo's offered, at 0.32 inch thick and 6.1 ounces (compare that to the Glo's 0.39 inches and 6.5 ounces) -- a qualifier the company no doubt added to acknowledge the existence of the five-inch Mini.
DOJ offers to cut injunction time in Apple e-book case, stays firm on key points
The US Justice Department was insistent that its proposed injunction against Apple for alleged e-book price fixing was the proper remedy earlier this month, but it's now willing to budge on that somewhat. As Reuters reports, the DOJ has offered to cut the length of the injunction from ten to five years, and ease the restrictions on Apple striking new deals with book publishers -- it now suggests Apple hold staggered negotiations with publishers starting in two years. The DOJ continues to insist on the need for an external monitor to keep an eye on the company, however, which remains a non-starter for Apple. The company also drew some particularly harsh criticism from the DOJ, which stated in a filing that "Apple wants to continue business as usual, regardless of the antitrust laws," and that "this court should have no confidence that Apple on its own effectively can ensure that its illegal conduct will not be repeated." For its part, Apple isn't commenting on the DOJ's latest proposal.
Barnes & Noble founder abandons plan to buy back retail business
Barnes & Noble's "founder"* Leonard Riggio has conceded that his plans to rescue the firm have been iced. Thanks to those same SEC regulations that tipped us to his intentions, the company's majority shareholder has admitted that he won't attempt his ambitious rescue of the ailing retailer. In a statement, Riggio urges B&N to push the Nook tablet, serve its 10 million-strong customer base and build out the company's struggling retail business. At the same time, Barnes & Noble let slip that at least one new Nook device will arrive before the holiday season, presumably the first that'll be produced by a third party -- but let's be honest, it's not looking good. *He founded the book chain that would buy the Barnes & Noble name, pedantry fans.
IRL: Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight and the PowerPlant portable battery pack
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Does our own self-professed book collector Dan Cooper need an e-reader? No, but he might get one anyway. And do you need a portable charger with 3.6 times the capacity of an iPhone 5? Yes, or at least that's what Darren tells us.
Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight gets another $20 price drop, undercuts competition
Looking for a new e-reader? Barnes & Noble is trying to get your attention. The bookseller has knocked a solid $20 off the price of its Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight reader, underselling its competitors by the same amount. This is actually the device's second major price reduction-- the first drop, late last year, matched its price to Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite. Although price cuts often lead up to a device refresh, earlier this year Barnes & Noble was rumored to be stepping back from new hardware launches. Either way, we won't scoff at a cheaper Nook, considering how versatile it can be with a little encouragement.
Engadget's back to school guide 2013: e-readers
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! Today, we're taking a look at your best e-reader options. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we'll be giving away a ton of gear, including some of the picks in our guides. Schoolbooks? What is this, the late 20th century? Granted, we still have a ways to go before all the world's textbooks go digital, but e-readers should be able to stand in for most of those paperbacks, at least. So lose a little backpack weight, save a couple of trees and take notes without ruining your copy. We have got your e-reader needs covered, no matter what your back to school budget.
Judge denies Apple's request to suspend e-book antitrust ruling
Apple, in its ongoing battle over an e-book price fixing scandal, has been dealt yet another setback. Last month, Judge Denise Cote ruled that Apple had violated antitrust laws in conspiring with publishers to raise e-book prices. Cupertino asked for a temporary suspension of her ruling while it sought to appeal the penalties leveled against it, but today Judge Cote refused that request. The company maintains its innocence, and its co-defendants have jumped to its defense in the wake of a strong restrictions handed down by the Justice Department. But, increasingly, it appears that Apple is fighting a losing battle. We're sure that there are still tricks in its legal arsenal, but there is little indication that Cupertino will be able to avoid terminating its existing agreements with publishers and will be barred from engaging in agency pricing before the end of the DoJ's five-year ban.
