Amazon Kindle 2 e-books its way to BGR

Your suggestions for features are some of the best I’ve heard…if they were available on a reader, I’d buy one.

Amazon hire this person for Kindle development.

I love my iphone…why can’t we have a Kindle/reader that is as pretty and functional as that?

Hate to break it to you all, but that’s not Kindle 2.0, that’s Kindle Beta. Those are pics of the prototype device that became the Kindle we all know and love. That’s why no SD slot, no removeable battery, etc. It’s built on a generic case kit to show functionality, hence that joystick.

Typical short attention span of today’s web surfer. Why they’d be interested in a Kindle (or any full-length book reader) is mystifying.

What is it with you geeks ripping the Kindle? ANYBODY that already has one loves it, because we all know it is the best ebook reader ever developed. Sony has no shot at competing because Amazon offers vastly more titles, plus the ability to read free samples and then download a purchased title in seconds, from anywhere. For serious readers, the Kindle is nirvana. Geeks need not apply.

“Wow, so many people saying it’s ugly. I think it looks good. Anyways, you don’t want the design to be too flashy because it disappears in your hands while you’re reading. Obviously the ugly comments are coming from iphone users who like to suckle on Jobs designs. Get over it.”

Funny. The supposed new one looks just like an ipod. My first thought upon seeing these pictures was that they were fake, they simply had to be because no way would Amazon make such a hideous product.
Then when i realized some people were saying it looked good my thought was, stupid people will like anything shoved down their throats if it looks like an ipod.
I purchased a kindle three weeks ago and i am on the waiting list to get one. Let it be known Amazon, IF THIS IS ACTUALLY THE NEW DESIGN, I WILL NOT BUY THE NEW VERSION, I WILL NOT BUY A KINDLE AT ALL, THIS NEW THING IS HIDEOUS.
With that said, i will bet my arm that these are fake photos.

Why would Amazon make the device much larger, while making the screen and keyboard smaller?

Why would they replace the comfortable hard rubber backing with a cold, slippery metal one?

Why would they get rid of the ergonomically designed keyboard for a bunch of circular buttons?

Why would they trade the easy-to-use, intuitive flip cover for a carrying pouch?

This junk is seven steps back from the original. The best part is that these photos are fakes, they are images of some early prototype that Amazon would never actually sell and there are still people out there who are claiming to like the design. I find that hilarious and scary.
I had to reply to this comment because he actually mentioned Apple design being the reason that people dont like the new one. Get your head from your behind, the new one looks just like an ipod! My first thought upon seeing people like the design was, ‘people will accept anything that apple gives them as good design’. Making everything rounded is not an improvement.

Cannot wait to see the actual new kindle. However, if this is actually the new kindle, i wont give Amazon a dollar, and i can confidently say that that will be the end of the kindle and we will all be left wondering what could have been.

“The best part is that these photos are fakes, they are images of some early prototype that Amazon would never actually sell and there are still people out there who are claiming to like the design. I find that hilarious and scary.”

As do I. LOL

So many people online are weeing themselves over these pics, and it cracks me up that it’s all over old pics comparing the prototype to the finished product, not a 2.0 at all.

I’m surprise people that should know better are falling for it. The design, at the kindest, is inelegant best. I mean, take a look at the speaker holes on the back of that case. You could use it to grate cheese. And I guess people completely missed the pic showing the lower right side, and how the joystick isn’t even mounted in the hole straight, but that’s okay because the hole for it isn’t even cut correctly.

Go look at the closeups people, you can tell it’s a handmade prototype that’s been cut, punched and assembled by hand. Most of those buttons probably don’t even work (like the joystick, I’m guessing) but were put there as a mock up of what it will be. This is how gadgets get made. You’ve all fallen for it.

It is sad because i have seen respectable publications from The New York Times to Forbes reporting on these images, telling their readers how Amazon’s new device opted for a larger machine and a straightened keyboard… Take a look.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/08/kindle-ebooks-iphone-technology-personal_0209_kindle.html

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/amazons-kindle-2-will-debut-feb-9/?scp=3&sq=kindle&st=cse

You would think that these publications would be able to afford some insightful reporters. Notice to the New York Times and Forbes, I WILL WORK FOR YOU FOR TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS THAN QUENTIN HARDY or BRAD STONE. Although i suspect the later might be just an unpaid blogger. Hell, ill do that too…

I agree with Andrew on every single point he made. I love my first generation Kindle and felt all the people complaining about button placement the scroll and the cover, never really used the Kindle. I love the screen. I did purchase the new cover but only because it was designed to fit a separate lighting source. I wish the new light that came with the new cover was more powerful. But, big deal. Until I see or hold the new Kindle…I think the old is best. This is one time I think I lucked out and bought mine while supplies lasted.

I don’t agree that the new one looks worse than the old. I think this is a beautiful streamlined device. My only concern is that I’m not sure whether it is appropriate for a reading device.

Nice pics Ninja. Keep up the good work.

Dear King Tom, It’s not the new one that you like, it is the old beta version. The one that came before even the first one to illustrate to Amazon employees what they might end up with. You apparently seem to like that the product was never designed to be used by people. You also seem to like that it was assembled from scrap parts to produce a cheap ipod knockoff look.
You however do not seem to like that the actual kindle that got manufactured was ergonomically designed to fit and disappear in the hand while reading, or that the keyboard would be placed exactly where the thumbs would want it while getting lost in a good book.

Geez. Streamlined device? It’s a good thing you never went into industrial design. Just don’t lose your job down at the post office.

Today when they unveiled the new device i felt like i was living in a nightmare alternate reality. Just looking at the amazon site, all those pictures holding that stupid looking tablet. I can’t wait to call amazon and personally tell them that i am canceling my kindle order and let them know why. What a sad event. What a blunder of a design team.

You speak with authority on things that you do not know. Check Amazon’s site and then open mouth and insert foot. The pics in this report are the real deal.

wow………….. thank god some one just got idea of saving trees and even though technology improved much before , no one thought of developing kind of good gadget to read books

great going kindle 2

My mouth may have got the foot, but Amazon got the boot covered foot. As promised above, i promptly canceled my kindle order this afternoon, accompanied by a lengthy description of what they did wrong with the design of this device.

This is a sad day for ebooks. I really loved the kindle too. Making something more ‘streamlined’ is a poor excuse for design. The first kindle looked like it was made to fit into your hand. This new one looks like it was made to wear a dress and maybe look good in a coffee shop. So yeah, i guess they got me. That’s not exactly a good business model though.

Can’t wait for the Plastic Logic reader.

Another point to consider strongly. Sure Amazon can make the device look nice with some classy pictures on their website, but look at how crummy the new kindle looks when put up next to the old one. Its pretty bad work when nearly 80 percent of the people commenting on these pictures thought that the device was a fake or a beta kindle that was hacked together before the original design.
For me, these images speak miles beyond the ones that Amazon has artfully arranged.

If i were Jeff Bezos, several designers would be looking for new jobs.

As a final note, i will shout this message from every soapbox i can find. Sadly, i seem to find myself being drowned out by the applause for this new design. In my opinion, the internet has strengthened the influence of the dumb masses, and we are now seeing the problem that arises when the majority is allowed to rule. Hence the impending death of journalism, the use of comic sans font, and the supposedly streamlined design fad.

Democracy is dangerous.

Pretty impressive device, with solid improvements over the last model.

As rolls swell in the recession, workers find firms are contesting claims by alleging wrongdoing or quitting in a bid to not pay benefits.

Solid improvements? Which device are you looking at? Sure, there’s a 16 gray scale screen, but it’s the same size as the old one. They made it thinner, but at the cost of a replaceable battery and losing the SD card slot. The buttons changed shape and size, but the overall reader became 0.5″ longer. I would call this a step sideways at best.

Just have a review on Kindle 2. I really love the “listen” to book function, and we can keep our eyes busy while “reading” books!

What if you want to highlight portions of a reading? and can you store “books” in a kindle? Or would you have to delete a “book” to download a new one? I’m sorry, but I’m more for paper and ink, and the classic old novels, with bent pages and yellowing paper. But then again, I still don’t know how this works anyway.

You need to go to the web site and read up on the kindle. I have had my Kindle for over a year and love it. Yes you can bookmark pages yes you can highlight text. It is an amazing peice of technology. The new one will hold thousands of titles.

Go to the web site and watch the demo video.

I just gotta say I love my kindle and the cheap books.

My taste is a bit rough but I enjoyed “The Misogynist” by Emily Downs.

It can be a bit vulgar at times. Be warned. But it’s cheap.

She is the bestselling author of “Lisa Loves Girls”

http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Loves-Girls-ebook/dp/B002EZZJ4Q/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246298800&sr=1-7

2 books for under 2 bucks. THe kindle will own publishing.

Hi.
Thanks for this review. I have bought a Kindle 2 at Revolution Store after reading it (and some more). I’m really impressed with it. My Kindle is really wonderful. I love it!

Nice article. In the beginning of the ebook reader era the amazon kindle was the leader. But now there are a lot upcoming brands like Sony, Barnes and Noble and others.

One of the reason why the kindle is still the leader is because it’s net connection works internationally. Also the new battery life is a huge improvement.

By the way I have also found a nice review of the kindle reader

I thought it was worth sharing