eLearning Service

Amazon just announced its much anticipated new Kindle DX: Amazon’s 9.7wireless reading device with a large display handy for reading newspapers and magazines.  It can be preordered now for summer availability and will cost $489.  The current 6 inch screen Kindle sells for $359.

Here’s a list of basic features:

• Slightly more than1/3 of an inch thick, as thin as most magazines
• Holds up to 3,500 books, periodicals, and documents
• Large 9.7″ diagonal display, e-ink screen reads like real paper; boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and sharp images
• Auto-rotating screen: display auto-rotates from portrait to landscape as you turn the device so you can view full-width maps, graphs, tables, and Web pages
• Built-In PDF reader: native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go
• Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle DX, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, no annual contracts, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
• Free wireless delivery of books in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
• Long battery life: read for days without recharging
• Read-to-Me: with the text-to-speech feature, Kindle DX can read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book’s rights holder made the feature unavailable
• Big selection, low prices: Over 275,000 books; New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases are only $9.99, unless marked otherwise
• More than books: U.S. and international newspapers including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, magazines including The New Yorker and Time, plus popular blogs, all auto-delivered wirelessly

At the packed press conference, Amazon announced a partnership with three top textbook publishers which account for 60% of textbook sales (Pearson, Wiley and Signage).  Five universities have agreed to pilot the Kindle DX: Arizona State, Princeton, Reed, U of Virginia, and Case Western Reserve.  TechCrunch’s liveblog from the conference includes a number of illustrations or you can see more at Amazon’s Web site.