Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) accidentally released an advertisement for the new Kindle Paperwhite on its website this morning. The ad, which was picked up by The Verge, showed that the new device will not be a big change from last year’s Paperwhite, but will bring some improvements to the Kindle experience.
According to the advertisement, the new Kindle will be released on September 30. The advertisement states that there will be a marginal improvement in the quality of the device’s screen, and that the new device will also feature a host of software upgrades to enhance the Kindle experience.
Amazon Kindle upgrade
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) acquired Goodreads, an online book reviewing and noting service, earlier this year. The new Kindle Paperwhite takes advantage of the new Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) property by integrating the Goodreads service into the new Kindle Paperwhite.
According to the advertisement, the Paperwhite will feature integration with the social reading service. The service will allow users to take a look at what friends are reading and what others think of different books. The advertisement bills the feature as “Coming Soon,” so Kindle users probably shouldn’t expect integration to come on the first day.
Other software additions include a built-in vocabulary builder which will allow users to add words to a vocabulary list and study them using a flash card testing feature. The new Kindle will also feature further integration of the device’s X-Ray service as well as Wikipedia and dictionary functionality.
Kindle screen tech
The big upgrade to the Kindle line last year was the addition of a back light that allowed readers to use the Kindle in poorly lit areas. Some minor problems were reported with the light, including banding across one side of the Kindle. The light has, according to the advertisement, been improved in this update.
The new screen will feature higher contrast and better reflectivity to make the Kindle screen seem whiter and the text seem smaller. The device’s processor has gotten a 25% speed upgrade, while touch sensitivity has also been boosted by Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) in the latest Kindle.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) seems to be well ahead in the ebook race, and the new Kindle, though not revolutionary, will help it to cement that lead. With Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) embroiled in a price fixing case, and Barnes and Noble facing problems of its own, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has much more flexibility than its competitors at the moment.
