Amazon Uses Laser Beams on e-Reader Kindle Touch
Posted: Thursday, September 29, 2011
by Jennifer Stewart
Stepping out of History
Amazon has finally given in to market pressure, and created an e-reader with a touch screen. Kindle Touch uses multitouch infrared sensors which are placed around the screen rim. These detect when a user touches the face of the device. Pages can be turned by tapping on most parts of the screen, rather than by clicking on a button. And just like other touchscreen gadgets, users can use more than one finger to manipulate the screen.
So far Amazon has resisted creating a touchscreen e-reader because conventional touch displays create reflections and glare, so touchscreen devices can’t be used in direct sunlight. Another disadvantage of such devices is that the technology - capacitive touch – makes the screen darker when added to e-ink (used for the black-and-white display that looks like paper). Capacitive touch is used in practically all Android devices, the later BlackBerrys, iPad and iPhone. Touch features also sap a gadget’s battery life.
Amazon has always defended it’s non-touchscreen devices, saying it wanted to create uncompromised reading. But their new technology – putting the sensors around the edges of the screen – has sidestepped these problems. Plus they’ve included a bigger battery on Kindle Touch, one that lasts 2 months and has double the life of the smaller Kindle one.
Amazon believes there is a market for both types of e-reader, so it will still be selling two versions of the Kindle that don’t have touchscreen. The entry-level model (just called Kindle) only has a few buttons and costs from $79 to $109. The more sophisticated Kindle Keyboard costs $99 to $139. Kindle Touch with 3G cellular connectivity costs $189 and $149 for a verson with ads. With Wi-Fi only the price drops to $139 and $99 for a verson with ads.
I've resisted buying an e-reader up til now because I love books and the feel of paper, and something in me rebels against this relentless drive for new technology that dominates the world. I don't want to be so controlled by people selling things and marketing them cleverly, making me think I can't survive without their product. But, since I'm planning to e-publish the book I've just finished, I guess it's time for this writer to get herself one of these gadgets and join the 21st century.
Amazon has always defended it’s non-touchscreen devices, saying it wanted to create uncompromised reading. But their new technology – putting the sensors around the edges of the screen – has sidestepped these problems. Plus they’ve included a bigger battery on Kindle Touch, one that lasts 2 months and has double the life of the smaller Kindle one.
Amazon believes there is a market for both types of e-reader, so it will still be selling two versions of the Kindle that don’t have touchscreen. The entry-level model (just called Kindle) only has a few buttons and costs from $79 to $109. The more sophisticated Kindle Keyboard costs $99 to $139. Kindle Touch with 3G cellular connectivity costs $189 and $149 for a verson with ads. With Wi-Fi only the price drops to $139 and $99 for a verson with ads.
I've resisted buying an e-reader up til now because I love books and the feel of paper, and something in me rebels against this relentless drive for new technology that dominates the world. I don't want to be so controlled by people selling things and marketing them cleverly, making me think I can't survive without their product. But, since I'm planning to e-publish the book I've just finished, I guess it's time for this writer to get herself one of these gadgets and join the 21st century.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hi Jennifer.
I haven't taken that step yet and I most likely won't. But that new Kindle does sound interesting.
So ... when's the book coming out?!
Hugs,
DianneI've had a couple of weeks of not doing very much with it. This week I'm getting back in the saddle so to speak. I need to get my head around all the things I have to do to e-publish it - it's quite daunting actually, since I'm so computer illiterate. I also want to get a real publisher, and that could take months for any of them to even reply. Penguin says don't expect a reply before 6 months! So to answer your question, I don't know :( !Years ago, I wrote a children's book and tried to get a publisher on my own. No luck. Then I got an agent. Again no luck. It's hard! Than you have a publisher even willing to look at your work is great!I feel for you. I know it is hard. I don't have a publisher, I'm just going to try and e-publish myself. There's a site where you can do it for free - lulu.com It seems quite professional.
Do you know it's easier to get books published in South Africa than elsewhere at the moment? If you're interested, I can send you a list of publishers.
I wish I was more technical like you. I am learning from several people about subject selection, and you are one of them.
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