Amazon unveils Kindle DX

 

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By Barry Collins and Reuters

Posted on 6 May 2009 at 17:39

Amazon has introduced a larger, souped-up version of its Kindle eReader designed for students, academics and newspaper readers.

The new device, called the Kindle DX, has a larger screen, more memory and software to make it easier to navigate large documents and is priced at $489, compared with the $359 price of the original Kindle, which debuted in 2007.

The DX has a 9.7in screen (compared to the 6in screen on the original model), and is capable of rendering 16 different shades of grey. Despite the enlarged screen, the device still manages to squeeze a full QWERTY keyboard at the foot of the device.

Amazon said that five universities would launch trials using the DX beginning this autumn.

Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos attended a New York press conference to announce the launch, together with Arthur Sulzberger Jr, publisher of The New York Times.

The New York Times, Boston Globe and The Washington Post will offer the DX at a reduced price to readers where home delivery of those newspapers isn't available.

Textbook publishers Cengage Learning, Pearson and Wiley will offer their books through the Kindle store starting this summer.

However, there's still no word on a UK launch of the Kindle, which can't even be shipped to the UK because of incompatible mobile standards.