Latest news with #eReader
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon introduces a more affordable color screen Kindle
Amazon is making its color screen Kindle more affordable. Following the launch of the Kindle Colorsoft last year, the retailer on Thursday introduced a lower-cost version of the normally $279.99 device. The new device offers a $30 discount for 16GB of storage instead of 32GB, bringing the cost down to $249.99. A kids edition is also now available. The original 7-inch Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition was designed to bring a more engaging visual experience to the popular Kindle e-reader, ideal for digitally browsing comics and other graphic novels or highlighting in different colors. The device offered an adjustable, glare-free display with up to eight weeks of battery life, and it even allows users to invert the black text and white background of pages for those who prefer a dark mode-like experience. The new 16GB model also features the high-contrast Colorsoft display of the original, the adjustable warm light, battery life, fast page turns, and more. Plus, it includes three months of Kindle Unlimited, the subscription offering access to over 4 million e-books. However, it won't include the auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, or the larger storage space of the Signature Edition. The Kindle Colorsoft Kids ships with an illustrated cover, a two-year guarantee, and a year of the Amazon Kids+ subscription offering access to books, games, videos, apps, and more. The $269.99 device includes a handful of features to help kids practice reading, too, including a vocabulary builder and a feature called Word Wise that helps them learn new words, as well as the OpenDyslexic font, and Bluetooth connectivity for listening to audiobooks. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TechCrunch
5 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Amazon introduces a more affordable color screen Kindle
Amazon is making its color screen Kindle more affordable. Following the launch of the Kindle Colorsoft last year, the retailer on Thursday introduced a lower-cost version of the normally $279.99 device. The new device offers a $30 discount for 16GB of storage instead of 32GB, bringing the cost down to $249.99. A kids edition is also now available. The original 7-inch Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition was designed to bring a more engaging visual experience to the popular Kindle e-reader, ideal for digitally browsing comics and other graphic novels or highlighting in different colors. The device offered an adjustable, glare-free display with up to eight weeks of battery life, and it even allows users to invert the black text and white background of pages for those who prefer a dark mode-like experience. The new 16GB model also features the high-contrast Colorsoft display of the original, the adjustable warm light, battery life, fast page turns, and more. Plus, it includes three months of Kindle Unlimited, the subscription offering access to over 4 million e-books. However, it won't include the auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, or the larger storage space of the Signature Edition. The Kindle Colorsoft Kids ships with an illustrated cover, a two-year guarantee, and a year of the Amazon Kids+ subscription offering access to books, games, videos, apps, and more. The $269.99 device includes a handful of features to help kids practice reading, too, including a vocabulary builder and a feature called Word Wise that helps them learn new words, as well as the OpenDyslexic font, and Bluetooth connectivity for listening to audiobooks.
CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
Amazon Introduces New Colorsoft E-Reader That Costs Less
When Amazon released its first color e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, last November, some people balked at its $280 price. We've seen it dip to $225 during Prime Day sales events, but Amazon has now released a new lower-priced $250 Colorsoft model with less storage as well as the "first-ever Kindle in color for kids." The two new models are in fact the same device but the Kindle Colorsoft Kids ($270) includes one year of Amazon Kids+, a two-year "worry-free" guarantee (Amazon will replace it if it's damaged, no questions asked) and a "kid-friendly" cover. While the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is equipped with 32GB of storage and features wireless charging and an auto-adjusting front light and wireless charging, both new models are equipped with 16GB and leave off the auto-adjusting lighting and wireless-charging features. The new models have the same adjustable warm light as the Signature Edition but you have to adjust it manually (it doesn't auto adjust based on your environmental lighting conditions). Read more: Best e-readers of 2025 The Kindle Colorsoft Kids is available for $270 with two cover options, including the Fantasy cover shown here and a Starlight cover. Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET I gave high marks to the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition in my review and preferred it to the latest Kindle Paperwhite, which was released at around the same time as the Colorsoft. However, I did say that the "new, improved Kindle Paperwhite or entry-level Kindle are better options for most folks" due to the Colorsoft's high price. Not long after it launched, Amazon had to pause shipments of the Colorsoft after some early users reported having an issue with yellow tinging at the bottom of the Colorsoft's display. When it resumed shipping the device, Amazon noted on the Colorsoft's product page that a small number of customers had reported a yellow band along the bottom of the display and asked any customers who noticed this to reach out to Amazon's customer service team for a replacement or refund. Amazon said that it had had made "the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving forward." Watch this: Kindle Colorsoft Review: Amazon's New Luxury E-Reader 07:48 However, several users posted negative reviews of the Colorsoft, making it Amazon's worst-rated Kindle e-reader (by its users). These are the hazards of releasing a premium product that doesn't quite live up to people's expectations, especially for those who might be expecting a similar color experience to that of a tablet with a color LCD, not a color E Ink display, which looks a little washed out by comparison. Also, it's worth noting that the resolution is cut in half for color elements on the Colorsoft. The color resolution is only 150 pixels per inch for color, while it's 300 ppi for black and white. 150 ppi lacks some crispness, but it's still nice to see e-book covers in color, and having color brings comic books, graphic novels and images more to life. Some people will appreciate that you can also highlight text in different colors like you would with real-world highlighter pens.
The Verge
5 days ago
- The Verge
Amazon is launching a cheaper color Kindle
After launching the Kindle Colorsoft last year — its first Kindle with a color screen — Amazon is adding two new iterations of the e-reader to its lineup today: a cheaper Colorsoft with 16GB of storage for $249.99 and a kids-focused bundle for $269.99. The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition will still be available for $279.99. 'Our customers have loved reading Kindle in color — on average, they spend more time on Kindle Colorsoft and read hundreds more pages than on our other Kindle devices,' the company says in a blog post. 'That's why we're excited to introduce two new additions to the Kindle Colorsoft family.' The cheaper Colorsoft costs $30 less than the Signature Edition, but the more costly model has a few extra perks, including 32GB of storage, an auto-adjusting front light, and wireless charging. The kids-focused bundle, which Amazon is calling Kindle Colorsoft Kids, comes with a Colorsoft (the 16GB model, according to spokesperson Connor Rice), a special cover (you can pick one of two options), and one year of its Amazon Kids Plus subscription. Shortly after its release, Amazon briefly paused shipments of the Signature Edition following customer complaints about a yellow bar on the screen. Amazon now has a message on the Signature Edition's store listing acknowledging that 'a small number of customers have reported a yellow band,' and an Amazon spokesperson told The Verge that the company made 'a combination of software and display adjustments' to address the issue. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Jay Peters Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Amazon Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
WIRED
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- WIRED
Two New Color Kindles Just Dropped
There's now a Kindle Colorsoft Kids, plus a cheaper, 16GB version of the Signature Edition Colorsoft. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Out of Kindle's new e-reader lineup released last fall, the most groundbreaking addition was probably the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (7/10, WIRED Reviews), featuring Kindle's first-ever color display. For the past nine months, it's been the only color Kindle Amazon offered. That changed today. First thing this morning, Amazon announced both a cheaper 16GB version of the Kindle Colorsoft ($250) and a new Kindle Colorsoft Kids ($270), and both models are available to shop now. They're both a little less expensive than the $280 Signature Edition that came out last year. The Signature Edition has had some issues with faulty devices, and only time will tell (plus our testing, which is coming soon) if these new versions will have the same problem. But if you're in the market for a new Kindle and were hoping for a color option, here are all the details on the two new models you can start shopping today. Color for Kids There's already a Kindle Kids ($130) and Paperwhite Kids ($180) with black-and-white screens, but the Kindle Colorsoft Kids ($270) takes those features and packs them into a color screen instead. Like the regular model, it comes with 16GB of storage, USB-C charging, an illustrated cover, one year of an Amazon Kids+ digital subscription, and a two-year warranty. The new Colorsoft version also has a 7-inch display like the Paperwhite Kids—larger than the base Kids model, which has only a 6-inch display. While both the base Kids model and Paperwhite Kids model have three covers to choose from ("Ocean Explorer," 'Space Whale,' and 'Unicorn Valley' for the base option, and 'Cyber City,' 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid," and 'Starfish' for the Paperwhite model), the Colorsoft Kids has just two—the vibrant and colorful 'Fantasy River' and 'Starlight Reading." The River option has a river at dusk surrounded by pink clouds, various trees, and a mix of leaves and bubbles floating through the air, while the starlight design has a star-filled pink sky with a child looking out at it. Like other Kids models, the Colorsoft Kids will come with a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+. Amazon Kids+ offers tons of age-appropriate books and content (like audiobooks!) for a reading kiddo, and Amazon said even more books will be added this summer. Kids+ runs $6 a month, with an available free one-month trial if you aren't purchasing a new Kids Kindle. The color screen will be a great option for graphic novel and comic readers, especially. If your kid is more of a classic book reader, they'll still be able to enjoy colorful covers on the homepage and highlight their current book with colorful highlight options. Cheaper Color If price is what steered you away from investing in the Colorsoft, the new, cheaper base model might be your perfect Kindle. It's $40 cheaper, retailing for $240, and includes an adjustable warm light like the Kindle Paperwhite (8/10, WIRED Recommends). That warm light is one of the reasons the Paperwhite is our favorite Kindle over the cheaper options, though the Colorsoft Signature Edition has an auto-adjusting front light, which is a nice upgrade. There's also a storage difference between the two models. The new base model has 16GB of storage, similar to the non-color Kindles, while the Colorsoft Signature has 32GB of storage. The other Kindle models, like the Paperwhite, also have 16GB of storage, so this is a pretty normal setting and plenty of storage for books. Longer mangas and graphic novels are likely to fill up the storage faster than the same number of longer, text-only books, but it really depends on what you read and what you're downloading to your Kindle. You can always change around what books are currently downloaded if storage becomes an issue, or splurge on the Colorsoft Signature Edition if you're worried about storage. The new, more affordable version still has the 7-inch display size and similar battery life of the Signature model. All three Colorsoft Kindles promise up to eight weeks on a single charge, depending on your use. The cheaper Colorsoft will only have USB-C charging, while the Signature has both USB-C and wireless Qi charging. It'll come with three months of Kindle Unlimited as well, which gives access to a library of books and content to read on demand. Kindle Unlimited is usually $12 a month, with a one-month free trial when you aren't purchasing a new Kindle. Both the new Colorsoft ($250) and the Colorsoft Kids ($270) are available now on Amazon. We're testing both soon, so keep an eye on our guide to the Best Kindles to see how these models stack up against the rest of Kindle's lineup.
