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Amazon brings Kindle to UK, adds Wi-Fi

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By Nicole Kobie

Posted on 29 Jul 2010 at 08:33

Amazon's latest Kindle eBook reader will feature Wi-Fi, a new browser and be sold directly from the UK for the first time.

The third generation Kindle features Wi-Fi access for the first time, in addition to the free 3G connection, for £149 including VAT. Amazon is also selling a Wi-Fi only version for £109.

Amazon has updated its "experimental" browser, which is now using WebKit, the engine behind Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari. "The updated browser is faster, easier to navigate, and provides a new 'article mode' feature that simplifies web pages to just the main text-based content for easier reading," said Amazon.

It also features an improved PDF reader with dictionary look-up, note-taking and highlighting, Amazon claims.

Also new is the Worry-Free Archive, which backs up books online, so users can delete them from the device and re-download them in the future for free.

The new Kindle feature 50% better contrast, 20% faster page turns and double the storage to 3,500 books, Amazon said. The 3G version is 15% lighter than the last edition, at 247g, while the Wi-Fi-only edition is 241g.

New UK stores

Kindles will ship directly via the UK site for the first time, with the UK getting its own dedicated eBook store as well. Both arrive on 27 August.

The UK focus also means customers here will pay more for the devices than their American counterparts. In the US, the third-generation Kindles will cost $189 (£121) and $139 (£89) - some £30 less than the cost in the UK store.

Amazon has been locked in a price war with rival eBook makers such as Sony, at least partially sparked by the arrival of Apple's iPad. Amazon has said its Kindle sales tripled after the price dropped from $259 to $189 earlier this year.

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User comments

Never mind the VAT

The 3G model at £121 ($189) comes to £142.18 when VAT is added making an oh-so huge difference of £6.82 :)

By malfranks2 on 29 Jul 2010

That's quite a good price. I'm almost tempted by the WiFi version

By TimoGunt on 29 Jul 2010

HalfWit PC PRo journalism

If you exclude VAT there is less than 4% difference between the UK and US prices. When will PcPro journalists learn to do maths!

By milliganp on 29 Jul 2010

Pictures in Newspapers?

Anyone know if we will be able to have pictures in the newspapers if we use wifi to download the paper?

By Macer71 on 29 Jul 2010

I'd imagine you will now Macer71. That was only in place when you were buying it from the States.

By TimoGunt on 29 Jul 2010

Some encouraging moves by Amazon

Almost tempted with the 3G option.

It will probably still only support the Amazon AZW format (Mobipocket) but Calibre will convert my ePUBS (well, hopefully).

By Lacrobat on 29 Jul 2010

I have liked the idea of an e-reader for ages, this could be the landmark device that actually makes them viable.

By m_walsh on 29 Jul 2010

I'm still undecided if I should wait for a colour version or not. However I'm also not sure I'd read that many magazines on it so colour may not be important after all...

By skarlock on 29 Jul 2010

So near!

If only they had shaved a few more pounds off the wifi version and got it just £100 they could have a massive hit. It's the wrong side of a large mental barrier.

By The_Scrote on 29 Jul 2010

the only thing holding me back is the fact that I have so many paper books. I can see the advantage of starting with ebooks but I'm going to wish that my other ones were digitised and i refuse to buy them again. I just downloaded the kindle app for the iPhone to check out the selection etc. The prices are so high

By TimoGunt on 29 Jul 2010

I have liked the idea of an e-reader for ages, this could be the landmark device that actually makes them viable.

By m_walsh on 29 Jul 2010

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