Amazon Super-Sizing the Kindle E-Book Reader

Amazon.com has just unveiled the Kindle DX, an upcoming version of its e-book reader that offers a screen 2.5 times the size of the current model. It also has more storage capacity and other new capabilities.

The Kindle 2, which debuted earlier this year, has a 6-inch, 600-by-800-pixel display, while the next model will have a 9.7-inch  824-by-1200-pixel one that supports screen rotation.  The new model will also offer more built-in storage and a native PDF reader. 

Amazon says these changes will make the device a better way to display textbooks, as well as business and personal documents.

Some Thing Haven't Changed
The Kindle DX will still have one thing in common with its predecessors: it will allow users to wirelessly shop for books on the device, and quickly download new content — all without a PC or Wi-Fi hotspot.

This is because the e-book reader will be able to access Sprint’s national 3G data network all 50 U.S. states. But the cost of wireless access will be included in the purchase price of books and magazines, so no data plans or service commitments will be required.

Customers will have a choice from 275,000 books — New York Times bestsellers typically cost $9.99 — or magazines and newspapers.

Additional Details
Naturally, the Kindle DX will be larger than its predecessors in some ways, but it will still be just over a third of an inch thick (0.38 inches). It will be 10.4 inches tall and 7.2 inches wide, and weigh 18.9 ounces.

This device will have about 3.3 GB available to hold user content.

Amazon says users will be able to read for up to 4 days on a single charge with wireless on. Turning wireless off will bump that up to two weeks.

Pricing and Availability
The Kindle DX will sell for $490, and it's available for pre-order now on Amazon's website.

Amazon says this will hit the market this summer, but won't be any more specific than that.

Source: Amazon