Roundup: Amazon Introduces a New Kindle, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Serials, and More During News Conference

UPDATE: All new Kindle Fire models are ad-supported (via The Verge)
The Kindle Paperwhite will offer both ad-supported  and ad-free versions. Btw, these ads are called “Special Offers” by Amazon.com

UPDATE 2: More on the Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Paperwhite Lock Screen Ads from ars technica and PC Week.
UPDATE 3 : Engadget is reporting that the Kindle ads CAN be turned off. However, they are not yet providing details about how this will work.
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First, News Releases From Amazon:
+ Introducing the New Kindle Paperwhite, the Most Advanced E-Reader Ever Constructed
+ Amazon Takes on the High-End—Introducing the New Kindle Fire HD Family
+ Audible and Amazon Introduce “Immersion Reading” and “Whispersync for Voice”—Two Momentous Steps Forward for Reading
1. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1732546&highlight=
An Amazon.com press conference just concluded in Santa Monica with a slew of product announcements from Jeff Bezos.
Here’s a rundown of some of what was discussed at the event that I’ve synthesized live blog feeds on MarketingLand (Danny Sullivan), The Verge, News.com, and AllThingsD.

• The new “paperwhite” Kindle will sell for $179 (3G version), $119 for (Wi-Fi only version). Ships October 1st.
  • Also, an improved basic Kindle will ship September 17th, $69.
  • Double the RAM
  • Longer Battery Life
• Over 3.5 million Kindle Singles sold, 35 have reached the Kindle top 50.

• Launch of Kindle Serials (8 Serials Available at Launch), By Once Automatically Get New Material. Interact with Authors as They Write
  $1.99 per serial. (More About Serials)

• Updated Kindle Fire Announced (More RAM, Faster Chip); $159, Ships September 14th

• New: Kindle Fire HD (7 Inch and 8.9 Inch Screens Available)
  • Price: 7 Inch ($199 Ships, September 14th)
  • Price 8.9 Inch Screen ($299, Ships November 20th)
    • Dual Speakers (Software from Dolby) (More About Kindle Fire Audio)
    • Two Antennas
    • MIMO Technology
    • Amazon Claims Wi-Fi is Fastest With Kindle HD vs iPad and Nexus
    • 16GB Hard Drive
    • HDMI Out
    • Bi-Modal Reading with WhisperSync for Voice (Sync Selected Audiobooks, from Audible with Text of eBook)
    • WhisperSync For Games
    • “X-Ray” Technology For Movies
      
      • As You Watch a Movie,  Learn About Actors on Screen.
      • Taken to Their IMDB (Amazon property) page.
      • More About X-Ray for Movies
    • E-Mail Access
      • Now with Exchange Support
    • Multiple Profiles
    • Kindle “Free Time”
      • Set Limits on How Much Time Kids/Others Can Use Device (Reading, Games, etc.)
    • Also New: Kindle Fire HD 4G LTE ($499, Ships November 20th)
      • Data Plan For Device ($50/month)
      • 250 MB/Month
      • 20 GB Storage
      • $10 Amazon Appstore Credit

Commentary

Early Thoughts and Questions from the Kindle Announcement
By Jeremy Greenfield at Digital Book World
Upgraded Kindle Fire Now $159, New “HD” Tablets Also Aggressively Priced
By Greg Sterling at MarketingLand

Filed under: Data Files, News, Profiles, Roundup