The Kindle 2 has been replaced by a new model that can be purchased in Black (graphite) or White, the Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6
, which is also priced at $189. It's new baby brother has also been announced, the Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6
is a graphite body, wi-fi only version, priced at $139 (take that nook! looks like Kindle will always be $10 less). One feature that sounds great - battery life of a MONTH with wifi/wireless off. What I'm not thrilled about? The keyboard looks worse than ever, having lost the row of number keys (the DX has this same disability and it is truly annoying as I use numbers every time I want to write a note about when I finished a book). Unlike the DX, however, there are page turning keys on both sides (yes, you can now go to the previous page with either hand!). There is twice as much memory as before, an improved PDF reader and an experimental Wi-Fi based browser (which will mean that it works worldwide and will offload the cell traffic that no doubt Amazon has seen from people who use it fairly often). 
The weight has gone down again (not that it needed to) and the form factor is less, so you'll need a new cover. Amazon's new Kindle Covers are ready to pre-order, in several colors and now come with a light for reading in the dark at $59.99 or without a light for $34.99. No doubt third party covers will follow soon. One really cool feature? There are no batteries for the reading light. Instead, it draws power from the Kindle itself. That will mean a reduced reading time, but there will only be one device to recharge and no expensive one-use batteries to dispose of.Orders for both are now being taken, so for those that want one right away, you'll want to get in line quickly. When the Kindle 2 was first announced, some waited a couple of weeks for theirs to be shipped, even if they ordered fairly early in December (remember, they were out of stock for two months last time). The official release date is August 27th and if Amazon follows their earlier plan, those who order with next day and second day deliver will get the earliest units, while those who choose Super Saver shipping may wait up to a week for a truck to be filled and sent out (for that matter, when stock is short, they hold those orders in order to fill the higher priority shipping ones). I know that for the small difference in price, it's worth it to me to having something like this shipped via UPS or Fedex, with a package tracking, rather than hoping it makes it thru the postal service (and is still at the mailbox when I get there).
Here are some highlights from the product page:
Kindle is our #1 bestselling item for two years running. It’s also the most-wished-for, most-gifted, and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon. Now it's even better.
- All-New, High-Contrast E-Ink Screen – 50% better contrast than any other e-reader
- Read in Bright Sunlight – No glare
- New and Improved Fonts – New crisper, darker fonts
- New Sleek Design – 21% smaller body while keeping the same 6" size reading area
- 17% Lighter – Only 8.5 ounces, weighs less than a paperback
- Battery Life of Up to One Month – A single charge lasts up to one month with wireless off
- Double the Storage – Up to 3,500 Books
- Built-In Wi-Fi – Shop and download books in less than 60 seconds; transfer personal documents using a Wi-Fi connection for free at any time.
- 20% Faster Page Turns – Seamless reading
- Enhanced PDF Reader – With dictionary lookup, notes, and highlights
- New WebKit-Based Browser – Browse the web over Wi-Fi (experimental)
- Quieter Page Turn Buttons – Quieter page turning means you won't disturb your partner when you want to read all night.
Voice Guide
With Text-to-Speech, Kindle can read out loud to you. New Text-to-Speech enabled menus allow customers to navigate Kindle without having to read menu options. In addition to listening to books aloud, users now have the option of listening to content listings on the home screen, item descriptions, and all menu options.
New, Built-In Wi-Fi
Kindle automatically detects nearby Wi-Fi networks at school, home, or your favorite café. At a hotel or café that requires a password? Simply enter the password and connect to the network. Once you have added a Wi-Fi network, Kindle will automatically connect to that network the next time you’re near the hotspot. Kindle does not currently connect to enterprise or peer-to-peer networks.
Free Access at AT&T Hotspots
Enjoy free Wi-Fi access at AT&T hotspots across the U.S. for shopping and downloading Kindle content — no AT&T registration, sign-in, or password required.
Support for New Characters
Kindle can now display Cyrillic (such as Russian), Japanese, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), and Korean characters in addition to Latin and Greek scripts.
Precise 5-Way Controller
Kindle has an easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words. No on-screen fingerprints.
