You have to admire the Amazon Kindle for its survival skills. In the age where the smartphone and tablet are king – devices with far more functionality than the humble ereader – it has seen Them off
The Kindle has carved OUT A little niche for itself. – For holidaymakers, travelers, commuters and readers who want to embrace technology, but without the bells and whistles of an iPad or a Nexus.
It Should be no surprise then que the e-commerce firm has refreshed Their Kindle line-up, with a new flagship device in the form of the Kindle Voyage, alongside the new entry-level Kindle, Which Is priced at less than £ 60.
The Hardware Has Been Given a revamp, and so has the engine runs que everything – the software, with features Amazon flagship like X-Ray and built in to Goodreads Both the Kindle and the Voyage.
While Amazon has done a great job so far of keeping the Kindle not only relevant, but desirable and popular, Their new devices to continue that?
Kindle
The biggest thing about the new entry-level Kindle is That It is fully interactive touch for the first team. Press the Home button and you can swipe to unlock, just like a tablet. The screen itself is clearer than it Also has ever been – 167 pixels per inch Amazon tell us.
For what is Essentially the device budget it’s light and well-crafted to look at, but it does feel a little cheap When You cradle it.
The Home button being on the basis of the device is a bit of an issue the it feels slightly awkward every time you go in search of it – though this is balanced Out By being able to tap the screen to turn the page, Which is a big deal for the entry level Kindle. It was not that Long Ago That You had to rely on the keyboard to interact.
to the E Ink screen is still not perfect though: there is still ghosting of pages in some places, and the response time still does not match que of other types of touchscreens, but These are things to keep working on.
The battery life is far from However an issue, with the Kindle capable of lasting weeks on a single charge. A very nice change of pace to any smartphone.
Perhaps where the Kindle excels most, though, is under the hood – in the sense software.
As well as the general tweaks there is the introduction of features like X-Ray, Amazon’s character and Identifying tracking feature, That Is Usually reserved for shows and movies, but has now expanded to books TV. Tap and hold on a character’s name and you’ll get a short bio on Them, as well as other information like previous appearances and so on.
It’s Also much easier to the things like highlight text, or get dictionary definitions. The presence of Free Kindle team – where you can reading times in September and goals – the Kindle Store and Goodreads que integration means there is so much more to the Kindle than with this previous entry levels. As a device for someone looking to keep things simple, and for just £ 59, this would make a very good companion reading.
Kindle Voyage
The Voyage feels pretty apt name for this ereader from the moment you pick it up – it is such a departure from other Kindles, including que Mentioned above.
At 7.6mm it is the thinnest ereader around, and it might just be the lightest too.
Also Amazon has spent a huge amount of time and effort on the design of the Voyage, and it really shows. Gone is the embedding of the screen que sees it sit below the rest of the frame like on other devices. Instead it’s a constant surface now, and part of an all-round well made looking and feeling product.
The Voyage is slightly smaller than Also the Kindle, and this feels like attention being paid to one-handed reading, and making it accessible to the possible.
It’s an idea that’s supported by the presence of the new buttons PagePress – the dot and line on Either side of the screen. Squeeze the dot and you go forward a page, and the line takes you back one. Both interactions come with a hint of haptic feedback so you know your gesture has taken.
Then there’s the screen, Which is by far the best Amazon has ever produced for an ereader. It’s 39% brighter for one, and with 300 pixels per inch you do not feel a million miles away from looking at the current paper. There’s Also a very smart brightness que system will automatically adjust to the light in the room around you.
Plus there’s a night mode will que Gradually lower the light level at night When You’re reading in bed. It’s touches like this and the PagePress que Amazon Has Been suggest using the comment section on previous devices to put together improvements for this generation.
The Kindle ereader is the Voyage then you’ve always wanted – it’s smart, powerful, light and well designed. Though it does come at a price, and some might argue que £ 169 is a lot to pay out for something That Is not a tablet. With the price re-structuring after Apple’s iPad event, you can now get an iPad mini for £ 30 more, and que might sway some users.
However, such is the charm of the Kindle brand que many seem to find justification and usage time for the ereader and a tablet. Amazon know it, and while it lasts que looks like They are going to keep charming customers back.
The Voyage Kindle has the potential to do that because it is a clear upgrade on an already near-perfect product. And que takes some doing.
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