Latest news from Media Bistro via Seth Godin, Here comes the paperback Kindle… as promised, and right here: Amazon to Release $139 Wi-Fi Edition of Kindle eReader:
Tonight, with typical Amazon timing, news leaked that Amazon will unveil a $139 edition of the Kindle eReader tomorrow.
UPDATE: eBookNewser is live-blogging the Jeff Bezos appearance on Charlie Rose tonight–join in the comments.
It will be smaller, cheaper, and have higher resolution. Tune into eBookNewser for all the details.
Earlier this week, we showed you how to cover your Kindle with that newspaper case. If this price war strategy works, demand for these covers (and other accessories) could explode.
Amazon to Unveil $139 Kindle Wi-Fi
Amazon has fired the next shot in the eReader price war. This evening the New York Times broke the news that Amazon will soon offer a new edition of the Kindle eReader, a brand new $139 edition called “Kindle Wi-Fi.”
Here’s more from the report: “Unlike previous Kindles, the $139 ‘Kindle Wi-Fi’ will connect to the Internet using only Wi-Fi instead of a cellphone network as other Kindles do. Amazon is also introducing a new model to replace the Kindle 2, which it will sell for the same price as that model, $189. Both new Kindles are smaller and lighter, with higher contrast screens and crisper text.”
This morning, we reported that Amazon’s Kindle 2 was sold out and the eReader was listed as “Temporarily out of stock.” Many experts speculated that this news meant a new Kindle was on the way. For a complete breakdown of eReader price scales before this announcement, check out the Borders price chart.
UPDATE: Engadget actually takes a look at the new device: “Amazon is introducing a new reading device for e-book aficionados dubbed simply… the Kindle. The new handheld — slated to be released on August 27th — is 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the previous model, has a 20 percent faster refresh rate on its E Ink (yep, still E Ink) screen, and will now come in two colors (graphite, like its big brother the DX, and the original white).”
UPDATE 2: What do you think? Mike Cane extended the battlefield metaphors, calling the $139 eReader “Amazon’s Scorched-Earth Win.” Don Linn offered a similarly fiery prediction: “$139 will soon become $99 and Amazon has in all likelihood just burned this mutha down.”
UPDATE 3: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will speak with Charlie Rose tonight.
Also, according to PC World, Amazon Unveils Sleek New Kindle which looks just like the sexy new black Kindle DX only smaller
