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 That the e-commerce firm has refreshed Their Kindle line-up, with a new flagship device in the form of the Kindle Voyage, alongside a new entry-level Kindle, Which is priced at less than £ 60th
The hardware has been given a revamp, and so has the engine That runs everything – the software, with Amazon flagship features like X-Ray and Goodreads built in to 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, do Their new devices continue that?
Kindle
The biggest thing about the new entry-level Kindle Is that it is fully touch interactive for the first time. Press the Home button and you can swipe to unlock, just like a tablet. The screen itself is overpriced clearer than it has ever been – 167 pixels per inch Amazon tell us.
For what is Essentially a budget device 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 base of the device is a bit of an issue as it feels slightly awkward everytime 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 a keyboard to interact.
E Ink as a screen is still not perfect though: there is still ghosting of pages in some places, and the response time Still Does not Match That of other types of touchscreens, but These are things to keep working on.
The battery life however is far from 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 a software sense.
As well as the general tweaks there is the introduction of features like X-Ray, Amazon’s Character tracking and Identifying feature, That is usually reserved for TV shows and movies, but has now expanded to books. 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 do things like highlight text, or get dictionary definitions. The presence of the Kindle Free time – Where You Can Set Times and reading goals – the Kindle Store and Goodreads integration means thatthere is so much more to do with this Kindle than previous entry levels. As a device for someone looking to keep things simple, and for just £ 59, this would make a very good reading companion.
Kindle Voyage
The Name Voyage feels pretty apt for this ereader from the moment you pick it up – It is Such a departure from other Kindles, including That Mentioned above.
At 7.6mm It is the thinnest eReader around, and it might just be the Lightest too.
Amazon has overpriced 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 That 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 ice overpriced slightly smaller than the Kindle, and this feels like the attention being paid to one-handed reading, and making it as accessible as possible.
It’s an idea that’s supported by the presence of the New Page Press buttons – a 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 actual paper. There’s Also a very smart brightness system thatwill Automatically adjust to the light in the room around you.
Plus there’s a night mode thatwill Gradually lower the light level at night When You’re reading in bed. It’s touches like this and the Page Press That suggest Amazon has been using the comment section on previous devices to put together improvements for this generation.
The Kindle Voyage then ice the ereader you’ve always wanted – it’s smart, powerful, light and well designed. Though it does come at a price, and some might argue That £ 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 That might sway some users.
However, Such Is The Charm of the Kindle Fire thatmany seem to find justification and usage time for the ereader and a tablet. Amazon know it, and while that lasts it looks like They are going to keep charming friend back.
The Kindle Voyage has the potential to do that Because it is a clear upgrade on an alreadycreated near-perfect product. And That takes some doing.
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