New Kindles?

[Bob B]

When is it that Amazon usually announces new Kindle models for the Christmas buying season? October? November?

I think the battery is starting to fade in my Paperwhite (doesn't last as long between charges), but I don't want to buy now so close to the shopping season and regret missing something new in the next couple of months in the Paperwhite line. The Paperwhite is still my choice of Kindle models.

Thanks for your help.

[Josieb1]

Amazon have already released the Oasis earlier this year and the New Fire HD 8 this week so I'd not expect any more models until next year.

[jhowell]

I don't believe that any new Kindle models were ever announced after the first week in October. Most have been announced prior to mid September. Since multiple new models were already released I doubt there will be anything else new this year.

[kaibob]

I obtained the following dates from Wikipedia. The article did not have announcement dates for the Paperwhite 3 and Kindle 8.

Paperwhite 1 - announced September 6 and released October 1, 2012.
Paperwhite 2 - announced September 3 and released September 30, 2013
Paperwhite 3 - released June 30, 2015

Voyage - announced September 18 and released October 21, 2014

Oasis announced April 13 and released April 27, 2016

Kindle 8 (basic Kindle) - released June 22, 2016

I agree with jhowell that a new Paperwhite this year would appear unlikely.

[Barty]

Since the PW3 already has 300dpi, there is no obvious upgrade that Amazon could and would do

[jdcarpe]

Also, don't forget the white PW3 was released on June 22, 2016 as well.

[Tarana]

Note: if the only problem with your paperwhite is the battery, I suggest getting a replacement battery. If you need a new gadget, at least you would have a backup. Alas, my problems are never JUST the battery.

Originally Posted by Barty

Since the PW3 already has 300dpi, there is no obvious upgrade that Amazon could and would do

Yep. the only time Amazon really innovates, or at least comes up with something new as far as their line of Kindles goes, is when they introduce a brand new model. Whenever they upgrade existing models the hardware upgrades are usually very minor. So don't expect the next gen PW or Voyage or Oasis to have major hardware upgrades.

[Bob B]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Note: if the only problem with your paperwhite is the battery, I suggest getting a replacement battery. If you need a new gadget, at least you would have a backup. Alas, my problems are never JUST the battery.

Any suggestions on where to find a replacement battery and how to change it? Thanks.

[barryem]

Go to newpower99.com and enter "paperwhite" in the search box, without the quotes of course. That'll find batteries for the paperwhite models. You'll need to figure out which model you have.

There'll be a link to a video showing how to install it. If you decide after watching it and you order it they'll send you any tools you might need.

I've never used their batteries but they've been doing this a long time and I've heard good things about them. They're probably the one I'd try if I needed a battery for my Paperwhite.

Barry

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Yep. the only time Amazon really innovates, or at least comes up with something new as far as their line of Kindles goes, is when they introduce a brand new model. Whenever they upgrade existing models the hardware upgrades are usually very minor. So don't expect the next gen PW or Voyage or Oasis to have major hardware upgrades.

I wouldn't personally call the change from a 211dpi to a 300dpi screen and the doubling of storage capacity that occurred between the PW2 and PW3 to be "very minor", but I appreciate that this is a personal judgement.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I wouldn't personally call the change from a 211dpi to a 300dpi screen and the doubling of storage capacity that occurred between the PW2 and PW3 to be "very minor", but I appreciate that this is a personal judgement.

Storage capacity of Paperwhite 2 started out at 2GB, but international and eventually the US version of PW 2 shipped with 4GB. It works out to more than double as a fixed chunk of that is needed just for the Kindle firmware.

Other significant changes were doubling of RAM to 512MB and the CPU went from .8 MHz to 1.0 MHz, and support for OTG USB and audio chip as well.

The latter features made VoiceView using Ivona engine possible, and a more responsive device overall.

But yeah, someone might credibly claim these were minor changes.

[barryem]

They're minor changes if they aren't about features you use. I have no real interest in the voices so that means nothing to me. The change from 212 dpi to 300 dpi isn't something I can actually see. I do most of my reading on a Voyage but I also use my Paperwhite 2 and Paperwhite 3 quite a bit and I really can't tell the difference except for the colors of their colors.

With the Paperwhite 1 I can tell the difference in speed when I do anything with it but that difference only bothers me for about a minute and then I forget about it.

I guess to me these things are all so good they don't need major changes. Sure there are features I'd like to have but nothing that I really feel I need to make me enjoy them.

Barry

[jeffyen]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Other significant changes were doubling of RAM to 512MB and the CPU went from .8 MHz to 1.0 MHz, and support for OTG USB and audio chip as well.

The latter features made VoiceView using Ivona engine possible, and a more responsive device overall.

Could I ask where I can get this kind of info. Some dev notes from a website?

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by jeffyen

Could I ask where I can get this kind of info. Some dev notes from a website?

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kindle_paperwhite_3

also see 'Amazon Kindle' article on wikipedia.org.