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Kindle 2 dissected, found to contain space for a SIM card
The Kindle 2's only been in our hot little hands for a few hours, but the screwdriver-happy scamps at iFixit couldn't resist -- they've already ripped theirs into its many component pieces. Interestingly, the teardown revealed an empty space for a SIM card slot, which might indicate Amazon's got firmer plans for the Kindle's international debut than they were willing to talk about at the launch. Don't get too excited for any VAIO P-style SIM-slot hacks, though, since the US edition of the reader only has a CDMA radio for Whispernet in it. Oh well, it's gotta happen sometime -- for now we're off to find a screen protector, since the teardown also revealed that the E-Ink screen doesn't have anything over it at all.
Kindle 2 unboxing and hands-on
We've already gotten a chance to play with the Kindle 2, but there's nothing like getting one delivered to your door and cracking it open. As with the first version, Amazon has done a masterful job with presentation and packaging. We're going to be delivering a full review of the device in just a bit, but for now, feast your eyes on the galleries below!Update: Added a few pics of the case it comes with after the break!%Gallery-45760%%Gallery-45770%
Amazon's Kindle 2 listed as "in stock" -- for now, anyway
We heard that Amazon was already prepping the earliest Kindle 2 orders for shipment, but now we're seeing a flood of shipment notifications head our way. So far as we can tell, the second iteration of the Kindle e-reader is shipping en masse, and Amazon even lists the thing as "In Stock" on its website. Of course, the original Kindle had that status for about 3.87 (okay, 5.5) hours before slipping into backorder land for far too long, but we're hoping the supply chain's a bit more ready for the rush this go 'round.[Thanks, Dan]
Kindle 2 shipping now
Better start checking your order status, kids -- Amazon's Kindle 2 has started shipping a couple days before the February 24 launch date. Of course, it's Sunday, so we'd bet these things actually ship tomorrow and arrive on Tuesday as promised, but that doesn't make it any less exciting -- and even better, our tipster wasn't a preferred Kindle 1 owner, so it looks like even new orders are due to arrive on time. Fingers crossed![Thanks, Parker]
Amazon posts Kindle 2 user manual
We know, you can't wait to cuddle up with your Kindle 2 and have Tom read you a bedtime story while you turn pages 20 percent faster than before -- and it looks like Amazon wants to alleviate your pain, because it's just posted the entire user manual online for you. A quick skim didn't reveal anything too revolutionary, but we're sure you're itching to pore it over yourselves, so we won't hold you back -- the read link awaits.[Thanks, Michael]
Kindle's text-to-speech feature voiced by "Tom"?
The controversial text to speech feature of the Kindle 2 has also been one of its most touted. Well, a dedicated investigator over on the KindleBoards has unearthed the purported true identity of that buttery smooth Kindle 2 voice: and he's called "Tom." Tom seems to have been developed by Nuance Technology, and if you hit the read link, you can hear comparisons of the actual Tom, and the Kindle 2 voice, then form your own opinion -- have we found him out, or is he still shrouded behind a thick curtain of mystery?
Engadget Podcast 133 - 02.13.2009: Pre-MWC edition
You know it people. It's the Engadget Podcast, back on the most terrifying Friday in February (or any month for that matter) -- the 13th. This week you get to hear the dudes discuss the Kindle 2 / Stephen King encounters, new offerings from Garmin on the mobile front, predictions for Mobile World Congress (which starts next week), and so, so, so much more. Settle in and get ready to glide on the gentle sounds of Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, and special guest host Chris Ziegler. We guarantee you'll love it. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel Special guest host: Chris Ziegler Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Friday the 13th theme 00:02:00 - Kindle 2 first hands-on! 00:07:25 - Know Your Rights: Does the Kindle 2's text-to-speech infringe authors' copyrights? 00:16:33 - Palm's done with PalmOS, plans to get Pre on other carriers in 2010, speaks to patent issues 00:22:27 - Sprint Treo Pro getting delayed into a bleak, uncertain future? 00:31:45 - Data tethering is a go on Palm Pre 00:37:40 - Garmin-Asus announces Windows Mobile-based nuvifone M20 00:38:50 - Garmin slips out a few more nuvifone G60 details 00:50:15 - An Engadget adventure with TeleNav's G1 GPS software: hands-on, impressions, and video 01:00:30 - Samsung Acme i8910 gets caught flashing its S60 5th Edition 01:05:25 - MWC predictions Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.
Know Your Rights: Does the Kindle 2's text-to-speech infringe authors' copyrights?
Know Your Rights is Engadget's technology law series, written by our own totally punk ex-copyright attorney Nilay Patel. In it we'll try to answer some fundamental tech-law questions to help you stay out of trouble in this brave new world. Disclaimer: this isn't legal advice, but it is best read aloud by a text to speech app. Hey, so does the Kindle 2's Read to Me text-to-speech feature really infringe on authors' copyrights? It's nice to be back! It's been a while. Yeah yeah. Get to it. Okay, so the issue is that the Kindle 2's Read to Me feature obviously threatens the audiobook market, and while at first blush it seems like the Authors Guild has a pretty weak case when executive director Paul Aiken says things like "They don't have the right to read a book out loud," it's not necessarily as ridiculous as it seems.
Kindle + iPhone = Opportunities?
Buried in the announcement of the Kindle 2, Amazon also released a small nugget of information that had been flying around the Web for the past few days - that Kindle content will eventually come to cell phones. So, how would that work? According to the announcement, the new Whispersync technology would allow readers to pause in reading a book on the Kindle and pick it back up on either another Kindle or eventually a cell phone. Not much detail was provided, though Gizmodo did confirm with Amazon's Ian Freed that Kindle content is on the way. Whether it's for the iPhone or Google's Android phone or the Blackberry, we don't know. On one hand, the announcement is a victory for those advocating that digital content be available on more than one device. Amazon's already broken ground with music, and now wants to spread that to books. With more than 230,000 books currently available in the Kindle format, it's an impressive library to suddenly have at your fingertips.On the other hand, Apple could see this as Amazon infringing on a potential product that could be sold and keep Kindle content off the iPhone. Yes, there is the Stanza store, but Amazon is by far a more visible and well-known competitor. I hope that this won't happen, as it'll just erode good will toward Apple, but it's by far not the first poor decision that Apple has made regarding what they feel belongs on the iPhone or not.
Kindle 2 first hands-on! (updated with video and impressions)
The Kindle 2 is here folks -- it should look pretty familiar at this point! We played for the unit at the NYC launch, and it really does feel great in hand. The brushed metal back is smooth to the touch, the device is incredibly light and comfortable to hold, and the keyboard is fairly usable. We're not convinced the five-way joystick is the best they possible could've worked into this space -- a d-pad seems much more logical -- but it's responsive and comfortable enough to twiddle with for what it is. Here's some thoughts: The five-way rocker is definitely a step up in terms of navigation -- it makes getting around pages way easier by allowing you to skip through individual words, and you can actually navigate simple web pages the way you're used to. The new dictionary pop up (it brings up your definition on the bottom of the screen as you're scrolling through text) is a huge win. It was a pain before, but looking up words is now super easy. Unfortunately -- according to Ross Rubin -- footnotes are still handled in the slow, laborious way they've always been. Text-to-speech is a nice touch, but it's still hard to get over that computer voice. We can see using this to hear a recipe or short news article, but we're not convinced it'll be enjoyable for a full novel. Screen refresh is way, way faster than the old model (they say 20 percent). The difference is welcome and noticeable. Moving through documents and back and forth between pages is a snap now. If you've been frustrated with the slowness before, this will be a big relief. The size difference is pretty remarkable. If you loved the crazy old design, you'll be disappointed, but the tradeoff in thickness is probably worth it. Furthermore, the new button placement is a big improvement, one which will likely make those accidental page turns a thing of the past. Update: There's video after the break, and we've added more shots to the in-depth gallery, including some mega hot head-to-head with the original Kindle. Update 2: We added another longer video after the break with a quick jaunt through the unit's interface and a bit of text-to-speech action. %Gallery-44174% %Gallery-44176%
Amazon Kindle 2 announced: $359 on February 24
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Amazon_Kindle_2_Announced_359_on_February_24th'; Just as expected, Amazon announced the second-generation Kindle ebook reader with the exclusive Stephen King novel UR today -- the page actually went live during the press event. The new version will still cost $359, but it's much thinner than the angular original -- in fact, it's thinner than an iPhone at just .36 inches. Arguably the biggest new feature is Read to Me, which can read any content on the device back to you in a decent-sounding computerized voice, but there's also seven times more storage, a sharper 16-level e-ink display that turns pages 20 percent faster, 25 percent longer battery life, and a new five-way joystick that improves navigation. Amazon's Whispernet service is also getting a feature bump, adding in Whispersync bookmarking -- if you start reading a book on one Kindle, you can pick up again on any other Kindle automatically. Sadly, it's still only available in white -- the pink Kindle here is just a one-off made to promote UR. Video after the break.A few more informations: Amazon is still working on international release, but has nothing to announce at this time, and wouldn't even confirm a launch this year. Battery is non-removable. There will be no Kindle 2-exclusive content, and some of the software improvements will be pushed to the original Kindle -- Whispersync is a shoe-in, text-to-speech is a no. We spent some time playing with the Kindle 2 hands-on -- check it out right here!%Gallery-44060%
Live from Amazon's Kindle 2 press conference
9:20AM We're at Morgan Library for Amazon's totally secretive, unpredictable press event. We're out in the cold waiting for the doors to crack, so hold tight for updates!
WSJ: Kindle 2 launching today with Stephen King exclusive
The Wall Street Journal just weighed in on today's Amazon press event with two nuggets of information. First, they state as fact that Amazon.com will announce a new version of its Kindle e-book reader. Additionally, Amazon is expected to announce an exclusive new work available only on the Kindle from best-selling author and be-spectacled weirdo, Stephen King. According to the WSJ, "a Kindle-like device" could play a role in the story. Oh Stephen, don't you know that they're all going to laugh at you? Find out all the details later today with our live Kindle launch coverage.
Amazon Kindle 2 launching on Monday -- we'll be there live!
There's not much of a surprise in store now, seeing as we've already seen official photos of Amazon's newest iteration of its e-book reader (and gotten a handful of info on price and release date). Still, we'll be there liveblogging and blowing it out Engadget style come 10AM ET Monday morning -- and who knows, maybe Bezos will announce some other colors.
Official-looking Kindle 2 pictures and pricing leak out
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Official_looking_Kindle_2_pictures_and_pricing_leak_out'; We're not going to call it official yet, but a bunch of very real-looking Kindle 2 press images just hit the tubes, and we've got to say we're pretty convinced. Although the device itself looks basically the same as in those previously-leaked shots we saw back in October, there are some surprises in store: it's way thinner, the back is apparently made of metal and there are stereo speakers at the bottom. We'll admit to missing the polarizing ultra-80s look of the original, but this thing looks pretty sweet -- too bad it's still going to set you back $359 when it arrives on February 24. We'll find out what's what for sure on Monday -- in the meantime check couple more shots after the break and way more at the read link.[Thanks, Alex]
Citigroup analyst says 500,000 Kindles were sold in 2008
While it could possibly have something to say on the matter at its big event next week, Amazon has so far been mum on the total number of Kindles sold, which has prompted folks like Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney to do their own digging / speculating to arrive at some hard numbers. Apparently, Mahaney was able to determine that Amazon sold about 500,000 Kindles in 2008 by examining the company's agreement with Sprint, which seems to be a reasonable enough conclusion, although things get decidedly more speculative from there. According to Mahaney, the Kindle will be a $1.2 billion business for Amazon by 2010, assuming that the rate of adoption is similar to that of the iPod at the time of its introduction, and assuming that each Kindle user buys at least one book a month -- two pretty big assumptions, to say the least. As you might have guessed, Mahaney also has a bit to say about the seemingly imminent Kindle 2.0, which he speculates will be thinner and longer than the current model, won't boast a color screen or a touch screen, and possibly cost as low as $300. As they say, stay tuned.
Engadget Podcast 131 - 01.30.2009
That's right folks, the Engadget Podcast is back for more. Once again, you're treated to the smooth tones of pure gadget goodness, though this week, our compatriot Paul Miller has been felled with a totally minor illness. Taking the controls in Paul's battle pod this round is Engadget Mobile editor Chris Ziegler. Hear Josh, Nilay, and Chris pontificate on the finer points of the week's big stories, including (but not limited to): RIM's new BlackBerry Curve 8900, Obama's old BlackBerry, Windows Mobile 6.5, a possible new Kindle, and Josh's inner-most feelings about childcare. Enjoy! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel Special guest host: Chris Ziegler Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Blitzkrieg Bop 00:02:22 - Apple vs. Palm: the in-depth analysis 00:10:23 - Obama BlackBerry alert: it's a BlackBerry 00:16:00 - T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900 review 00:38:10 - Seemingly real Windows Mobile 6.5 screenshots trickle out of leaky internet faucet 00:54:24 - Amazon to host press event at library, innocently whistling when asked about the Kindle 2 01:02:48 - Verizon Hub hands-on and impressions Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.
Amazon to host press event at library, innocently whistling when asked about the Kindle 2
It could mean anything that Amazon is hosting a press event Monday morning, February 9th at the Morgan Library here in New York City. Maybe they just want to talk about how much they enjoy huge archives of original manuscripts and the smell of aged paper. Whatever the case may be, the last time we went to an Amazon event, they ended up launching the Kindle, so it's not crazy to speculate that we very well could see the introduction of a new iteration of the successful e-book. We've pinged the company for more solid word, but it's been radio silence thus far. Of course, we'll be there live covering any news as it breaks, so just plan on being here... or being square.
Amazon Kindle 2 no longer rumored for this holiday season, according to rumor
So we heard from Amazon back in August not to expect that rumored Kindle 2 anytime this year... but then there were those leaked photos of the new device, so people kind of went back to expecting it again, but, apparently we should stop doing that now (again). According to unnamed sources talking to TechCrunch, the Kindle 2, will arrive in a vaguely termed "early next quarter." The source says the device has been 'delayed' by Bezos himself, that the leaked photos we saw a while back are the real thing, and that a student version of the reader, which will ironically have a larger screen and be better than the standard one, will hit in the first half of 2009 as planned (rumored). Hard-copy of Wuthering Heights, your execution has been stayed another few months.
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?
