Amazon has released a firmware update for the Kindle Touch e-reader, effectively turning it into a Kindle Paperwhite, the device's successor. Update 5.3.2 includes a number of changes and features to the onboard software, including a new user interface, enhanced parental controls, and the ability to navigate graphic novels and comics.
While only some aspects of tomorrow's expected Kindle and Kindle Fire revamp press event are known, some confirmation of rumors came in the form of an unexpected TV ad from Amazon during Wednesday's football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. In it, glimpses are seen of a new, brighter and backlit E-Ink Kindle Touch reader as well as shots of what may be the second version of the Kindle Fire. The ad could be seen as a harbinger of a major PR campaign around the new devices.
Just days ahead of an expected September 6 announcement of new models, Amazon has conveniently "sold out" of its stock of the current Kindle Fire and Kindle Touch, also reporting short supply on other Kindle models. The company, which refuses to release sales or shipment numbers, also claims that the Fire has captured 22 percent of the US tablet market, though it has no significant presence in e-reader sales outside the US, with IDC estimating perhaps a five percent share worldwide.
The Kindle Touch is currently not available on the Amazon.com store, leading to suggestions that it may be replaced by something new. Pages for both the Wi-Fi and 3G editions display the message "Currently unavailable. We don't when or if this item will be back in stock" while other Kindle products remain unaffected by shortages.
Amazon gave a minor treat to readers by shipping the Kindle Touch 3G to international buyers a week ahead of the official April 27 date. A total of 175 countries, including Canada, European countries, and most others worldwide, can have the e-paper reader shipped locally. Every country gets free 3G, although book prices usually carry a slight price hike when bought on 3G outside of the US.
Amazon has a hefty update available for the Kindle Touch. The upgrade to 5.1, released today, enables switching from portrait to landscape orientation and Bing powered language translation of highlighted text.
In February, Amazon began shipping a special international Wi-Fi version of the Kindle Touch from its US operations to several foreign countries. At the time, the online retailer chose not to make it available at several locales where it had foreign operations, including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Amazon is now taking pre-orders in those countries for both the Wi-Fi and 3G models, with a promised ship date of April 27.
The Amazon Kindle Touch is now available for shipping internationally from the Amazon online store. However, the availability is limited only to the Wi-Fi models with no news on when or if the 3G-capable version will also ship overseas. Users are advised that in addition to its $139 US price plus shipping, overseas import duties and taxes may apply, but they will still enjoy Amazon’s full 12-month warranty.
A hacker named Yifan Lu has just revealed a very simple way to jailbreak the new Kindle Touch. It onl involves downloading a ZIP file that contains an MP3 file, copying it onto the device and playing it from the official experimental menu. The file contains a developer key and lets users install other modifications that aren't officially sanctioned by Amazon.
Users eagerly awaiting the arrival of their pre-ordered Kindle Touch have started receiving shipping notifications for their devices early. Initially expected to arrive after November 21, some users can expect to start receiving their devices by November 17 or earlier. The Kindle Touch was unveiled at the same time as the Kindle Fire, which remains on track to ship to users by November 15.
Amazon has just cleared up some confusion over the capabilities of its recently introduced, $150 Kindle Touch 3G. Users will not have free reign to browse the web over its AT&T-supplied 3G connection, other than Wikipedia and the Kindle Store for downloading books and periodicals. When a Wi-Fi connection is established, however, users can freely browse the web.
Amazon in a follow-up to its Kindle overhaul revealed that its e-paper reader prices came with certain conditions. The $99 Kindle Touch and the $79 Kindle both reach their prices through the use of ads, similar to the existing Kindles with Special Offers. Ad-free versions of the new generation cost $139 for the Touch and $109 for the regular version.
Amazon in the same introduction as the Kindle Fire tablet also revealed its own direct answer to the current Nook. The Kindle Touch is based entirely on an infrared-based, six-inch touchscreen with a unique interface known as EasyReach. Tapping the top quarter of the screen brings up the menu, while tapping near the left edge goes back; tapping the rest of the page goes forward.
