Amazon finally has a color Kindle, and it looks pretty good

verge ^

[algore]

For years, Kindle users have asked Amazon to make a color version of its e-reader. Now, the company is finally delivering: it’s launching the new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, a device that has a lot in common with the new Paperwhite, except instead of black and white it’s color all over. The Colorsoft costs $279.99 and is available for preorder today, with shipments starting October 30th.

Making the Colorsoft happen, Amazon executives said at a launch event on Tuesday in New York City, required a lot more than just swapping in a new display. “Frankly, the technology just wasn’t ready” before now, says Kevin Keith, who runs Kindle products for Amazon. “And we now think the tech is ready.”

The Colorsoft is based on E Ink’s Kaleido technology but uses an entirely new display stack for Kindles, all the way back to a newly designed oxide backplane that makes it easier for E Ink panel’s tiny bits of ink to move around quickly. The E Ink world has been working on similar tech for a while, and Amazon thinks it’s the key to making color work well.

The Colorsoft has new LED pixels, and a new way of shining light through them individually to enhance colors. It’s also brighter than ever, to help the whole thing feel more vivid. Some of this tech also helped the new Paperwhite turn pages faster and easier, but it was designed to make Colorsoft work.

All that display tech, Keith says, allowed Amazon to introduce color without adding page-turn latency, lowering the device’s resolution, or hurting contrast on the display.

“All the things you think about with Kindle — high resolution, long battery life, fast page turns, good fluidity — we weren’t willing to sacrifice those,”

[algore]

Finally I will be able to properly read Playboy articles on my Kindle

[Larry Lucido]

Does the Kindle have fold out ability?

[PAR35]

Kindle users have asked Amazon to make a color version of its e-reader.

Easy enough to make a color version of Kindle. Just a little bit of masking tape (don't forget the charging port) and a can of Rustoleum or Krylon.

[waredbird]

I’ve had kindles for a long time but i wont get another until it has a scroll feature. I know it eats battery but i read more comfortable scrolling. I use my ipad mini with kindle app more and more.

[Vaduz]

But no scratch and sniff paper good.

[Smittie]

>>Finally I will be able to properly read Playboy articles on my Kindle<<

I’ve heard the modern content may not be quite the same as in the past…

[Alas Babylon!]

My Kindle Fire HD has had color since I bought it.

[caver]

I have a color Amazon Fire with a 10” screen that I payed $80. What’s so great about a color Kindle for almost $300? You can get an IPad for under $200.

[Blue Highway]

same here