Official Launch: Kindle Voyage with 300 ppi Display and Smart Features Revealed
Update September 18, 2014: Yesterday was quite a whirlwind following the unintended release of the Kindle Voyage on the German and Japanese Amazon sites. A lot of details about the devices were revealed due to a brief listing, but many specifications were missing, leading to a lot of speculation. That has now come to an end, as Amazon has finally officially unveiled the new eBook Reader.
The technical specifications were mostly already known: It features a 6-inch display with a resolution of 1440×1080 pixels, resulting in an unbeaten pixel density of 300 ppi. This makes the Voyage literally the sharpest eBook Reader on the market.
Proven E-Ink Carta Technology
The new Kindle Voyage visually resembles a mix of the Kindle Paperwhite and Tolino Vision. PagePress sensors are located on both sides of the screen
However, until now, it was unclear which display technology would be used. The mystery has finally been solved, and the resolution doesn’t come as a surprise: Just like with the Kindle Paperwhite, the Voyage also uses an E-Ink Carta Display. The hopes for a unique new display technology (Liquavista) are thus dashed, but it’s worth noting that the new eReader, with its very high pixel density, remains one of a kind in its class.
The device is operated via a capacitive touchscreen, with a flat front panel. This means that the screen is not recessed (noticeably), allowing you to slide your finger across the front seamlessly. This design follows the form factor of the Kobo Aura and Tolino Vision. Other than the fact that it still resembles the Kindle Paperwhite in its proportions, it also bears a resemblance to the mentioned competing models (especially the Vision), which can’t be denied. But that’s okay because the design is appealing both to the touch and visually. However, the new Amazon eBook Reader will have to prove itself in terms of scratch resistance – Kobo and Tolino are significantly more prone to damage with careless use than other devices.
Smart Brightness Adjustment
The front panel of the eReader is flat
Apart from the screen, another special feature of the Kindle Voyage is the brightness sensor, which automatically adjusts the lighting. Thankfully, Amazon still allows manual adjustment if desired. According to The Verge, the implementation of the light automation is particularly clever: As you move into a darker environment (e.g., reading in a dimly lit bedroom), the Voyage dims the lighting. However, this was to be expected. What’s clever, though, is that the eBook Reader slowly and imperceptibly reduces brightness over the course of reading. This is wise because your eyes adjust to the darkness, and a dimmed light is certainly more comfortable for long-term use. Essentially, you theoretically don’t need to worry about the light settings anymore.
Also new are the PagePress buttons on both sides of the screen. These are pressure-sensitive controls for turning pages in the eBook. By pressing the dot (see the image), you flip back a page, and the line moves forward. This is apparently achieved through corresponding buttons located underneath the casing. In practice, this means you don’t have to fear accidental page turns, and your fingers can rest effortlessly on the device’s edge. And if you do accidentally flip pages, you can adjust the sensitivity of the pressure buttons to suit your personal preferences. Additionally, there’s haptic feedback when the buttons are pressed, which is probably the next best thing to real physical buttons with a tactile click point.
Hefty Price Increase Compared to the Paperwhite
Highlights in the sketch; Graphic: Amazon.com
Besides that, the Kindle Voyage offers the known Amazon technology. The internal storage is 4 GB and cannot be expanded. Standard connectivity options include Wi-Fi, with an optional 3G option. With the mobile connection, users can access the Kindle offers for free in many parts of the world. However, you’ll still have to do without an audio function, which is at least a little surprising, given Amazon’s increasing emphasis on seamless synchronization between audiobooks and eBooks.
When it comes to weight and dimensions, Amazon Japan apparently made a few minor errors, as the Voyage is actually lighter and thinner according to official press releases and product pages. The eBook Reader measures 162 x 115 x 7.6 mm and weighs 180 grams. With its slim depth, it outshines the competition, and in terms of weight, it nearly catches up with them.
The specifications and the overall product description sound very promising to me. However, the success of the Kindle Voyage might hinge on one thing: the price. While the German product page was not online at the time of this article’s publication, we know the pricing from leaks. At 189 euros, the eBook Reader is the most expensive 6-inch reading device on the market, significantly surpassing the PocketBook Ultra. For the 3G version, the price goes up to 249 euros. Amazon.de will start shipping on November 4th.
There will undoubtedly be a market for the Voyage, but it won’t be found in large numbers. Amazon is certainly aware of this, as the new base Kindle and the updated Paperwhite will continue to cater to lower price segments.
In any case, it will be interesting to see whether the additional cost over other available illuminated 6-inch eReaders is justified. If you believe the first English-language reviews (the test embargo was lifted simultaneously with the introduction of the new Kindle model series), the answer is clear: YES!
Update: There are currently some uncertainties regarding advertising support with the Voyage. The basic Kindle model is available with or without ads, but this option isn’t available for the more expensive high-end eReader, although the product page currently states that “Special Offers” are part of the feature set. There have already been some responses on this topic, with Amazon customer service reportedly indicating a faulty integration. In plain terms, this means the Voyage is supposedly delivered without ads, and the product page will be corrected shortly. Whether this is indeed the case will become clear in the coming days.
I’m certainly looking forward to putting the Voyage through our testing process. Until then, you can pass the time with the following video from The Verge, which provides a very good overview:
PagePress
More information on the Kindle Voyage: As was already revealed today, the eBook Reader will feature so-called “PagePress” buttons. However, it was not clear what exactly this entailed, as they appear to be sensor fields.
Typically, capacitive sensors react to the slightest touch, which on the one hand may not necessarily be advantageous for comfortable handling of the eBook Reader, and on the other hand, seems pointless in the case of the Voyage due to the placement on both sides of the screen.
Pressure-Sensitive with Feedback
Thanks to the English-language manual, we now know that the PagePress sensors are indeed pressure-sensitive. It states:
PagePress: To page forward or back in a book, squeeze either side of the screen. Use the line to page forward, and the dot to page back. You can keep your right or left thumb resting on the pressure-sensitive controls. To adjust the pressure required to turn a page, or the feedback you receive when a page turns, go to Settings, Reading Options then PagePress. You can also use PagePress to navigate your library on the Home screen.
In German – PagePress: To turn pages forward or backward in a book, press (in the sense of squeezing) one of the two sides next to the screen. Use the line to move forward and the dot to move back. You can rest your right or left thumb on the pressure-sensitive controls. To adjust the required pressure for a page turn or the feedback you receive when the page turns, go to Settings, Reading Options, PagePress. You can also use PagePress to navigate your library on the home screen.
It becomes clear and explicit here that the sensor fields are pressure-sensitive and that the eBook Reader also provides haptic feedback with the use of PagePress sensors. What this looks like remains open. However, it can be assumed that it involves a slight vibration, similar to what is familiar from smartphones.
Exclusive: Official Kindle Voyage Product Photo
Update September 17, 2014: Today, throughout the day, we reported extensively on the company’s new eBook Reader, the Kindle Voyage, thanks to the unintended release on Amazon Germany and Japan. The hardware specifications are thus largely already known. What was still missing, however, was a decent product photo. While there was already an image from the device’s official manual, a high-resolution rendering or photo was nowhere to be seen.
That changes now: Thanks to a tipster sending, we can present you with the first official product photo of the Kindle Voyage. The image was apparently briefly visible on the Amazon homepage.
This is what the Kindle Voyage looks like (Click to enlarge)
Pleasing Design, No Experimentation
The new eBook Reader presents itself in a rather familiar look and is reminiscent of the Kindle Paperwhite in terms of proportions. What is quite obviously new, though, will be the flat front panel. The absence of shadows around the screen once again hints that the same physical form is used as with the Kobo Aura.
It was already known that Amazon would equip the Voyage with “intelligent front lighting.” This involves a brightness sensor that automatically regulates the brightness of the built-in light. This sensor is situated in the upper left corner of the device.
The “PagePress sensors” are located at the spots shown this afternoon. However, the particularly vertical stripes are much narrower than demonstrated in the manual. This makes the Voyage appear more elegant than initially expected.
It is also known now precisely how the buttons will function. As expected, they are not simplistic capacitive sensors but pressure-sensitive fields. The special feature: The pressure sensitivity can be adjusted in the settings.
In summary, the Kindle Voyage presents itself quite appealingly, although optical innovation is certainly absent. Essentially, the new eReader strongly resembles the Tolino Vision or Kobo Aura in terms of its physical form. An official presentation of the device is expected in the coming days.
Leak: First Image of the Kindle Voyage
Original message September 17, 2014: Just now, the Kindle Voyage was leaked through an ad on the Amazon homepage in Germany and Japan, and we can already present you with the first image of the device. This comes from the device’s official user manual and shows the new eBook reader in a schematic representation.
Visually, the Voyage strongly resembles the Kindle Paperwhite in terms of proportions, including the logo placement on the lower edge of the device. As already known, the eBook Reader has page-turn buttons, which are sensor-based buttons. Correction: They are pressure-sensitive sensors hidden within the casing that register changes in tension on the device’s surface. Thus, mere touch (= capacitive) is not sufficient to turn pages. You have to apply (light) pressure on the casing, similar to a regular button. This is clearly visible in the drawing. However, the buttons are not as visible as in the image, but rather in a relatively neutral color tone that doesn’t stand out much from the rest of the background as in the schematic drawing. They are located on both sides of the screen, so right and left-handed users can easily use the device.
The USB port is, as usual, located on the lower edge of the device, while the power button is unusually placed on the right edge. As expected, you will have to do without expandable storage.
Meanwhile, the name “Voyage” is appearing on other Amazon sites, such as the UK and Japanese help pages. The product launch will certainly not be long in coming. Let’s see if Amazon reveals the device today.
Leak: Kindle Voyage with 300 ppi Available in November for 189 Euros
Original message September 17, 2014: It took a while for more details on the Kindle Ice Wine to emerge, but now it’s finally here. Several tips by email have drawn my attention to this today, reporting that two new eBook Readers were listed on the German Amazon homepage. The devices have since been removed from the site.
The new high-end eReader from Amazon will be called Kindle Voyage. The specifications seem to match the previously known information of the Kindle Ice Wine. That is, it will have a display with a pixel density of 300 ppi, a brightness sensor will control the integrated lighting, and there will be page-turn buttons. These buttons appear to be controlled by their own sensor technology, as they are referred to as “PagePress sensors” on Amazon.de.
Voyage with Display Surprise
The display size is probably the biggest surprise for the Kindle Voyage, as it will again be 6 inches. After the introduction of the Kobo Aura H2O with E-Ink Carta Display, I actually firmly believed that Amazon would also explore the larger display segment. Yesterday I speculated that even 8- and 9.7-inch formats were not unthinkable. Apparently not. Why Amazon dragged the Kindle DX along for so long remains a mystery, although the Voyage at least steps into the DX device’s price footsteps.
The Kindle Voyage was already briefly visible on the Amazon homepage
The device’s resolution will likely be 1440×1080 pixels. With 300 ppi, the Voyage is indeed the sharpest eBook Reader on the market and leaves the previous frontrunners behind. Which display technology will be used is unknown. Presumably, at least E-Ink Carta technology will be available. If the old leak is to be believed, then the eBook Reader will also have a flat front panel.
According to Amazon Japan, the dimensions are 162 x 115 x 8 mm with a weight of 185 grams. This makes the Kindle Voyage smaller and lighter than the Kindle Paperwhite.
The Wi-Fi version of the device will be available for 189 euros, a hefty increase over the Kindle Paperwhite, which currently stands at 109 euros. It will also be the priciest 6-inch eBook Reader on the market, leaving the PocketBook Ultra behind. The 3G version is even more expensive. As usual, you will have to pay an extra 60 euros, bringing the price to 249 euros.
By the way: The name of the new eBook Reader has already appeared in the Kindle Paperwhite manual.
New Basic Kindle with Touchscreen
Besides the Kindle Voyage, there will also be a new entry-level model. As speculated beforehand, Amazon is revamping the basic model after the current Kindle disappeared from the U.S. homepage a few days ago.
The new eBook Reader will feature a touchscreen, leaving the now outdated button navigation of its predecessor behind. However, whether you will have to do entirely without page-turn buttons remains open. Essentially, it could be a new version of the Kindle Touch (Paperwhite predecessor) – without audio support.
The Kindle will be available from October 2nd, costing 59 euros. For the first time in Germany with a Kindle eReader, the device will come with “Special Offers,” meaning ads will appear on the standby screen. This low entry price probably can’t be achieved otherwise. Wi-Fi will be included again, but other technical details remain unnamed at this time.
The information provided comes from the Amazon homepage, although there are no further details since the individual product pages have not been released yet. The introduction will not take much longer now. In the USA, the product pages for the Kindle Paperwhite (Wi-Fi and 3G versions) have been merged to make room for the two new releases.
One can now wonder when Amazon will officially unveil the new devices. Last year, there was a Kindle Paperwhite leak on the day of its unveiling, so one might expect further details today. We’ll keep you updated!
What do you think about the upcoming new launch? Too expensive? Or is the price justified given the specifications?
