Baseless speculation about other new kindle thread.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by SKK

I am hoping for a 6" paperwhite with Bluetooth support and an option for more than 4gb of space.

What would bluetooth be used for on a Paperwhite? To me that implies some sort of audio, but wouldn't that take the device out of the Paperwhite territory?

[knc1]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

What would bluetooth be used for on a Paperwhite? To me that implies some sort of audio, but wouldn't that take the device out of the Paperwhite territory?

The PW3 already has audio capability (via a USB dongle)

[SKK]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

What would bluetooth be used for on a Paperwhite? To me that implies some sort of audio, but wouldn't that take the device out of the Paperwhite territory?

The basic kindle has bluetooth, and it is getting audio support through a update, so why not the paperwhite.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by knc1

The PW3 already has audio capability (via a USB dongle)

I believe we are talking about a new Paperwhite, not the current one. The newer models all have BT so it is reasonable to assume future ones will as well.

[newday07]

when do you think that a new PW will be released?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I can think of other things to do in the dark.

But that's something better done with someone else.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But that's something better done with someone else.

Nothing wrong with flying solo

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Nothing wrong with flying solo

There is if you have a partner.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is if you have a partner.

My partner doesn't care for solitaire.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by tomsem

I believe we are talking about a new Paperwhite, not the current one. The newer models all have BT so it is reasonable to assume future ones will as well.

"Newer models all have BT"
Right, there is only 1 "Newer" model.
Unless you include the 8th generation devices, in which case only one of those two have BT. For at total of two out of the three.

The post I quoted:

What would bluetooth be used for on a Paperwhite? To me that implies some sort of audio, but wouldn't that take the device out of the Paperwhite territory?

The current (7th. generation) Paperwhite does have "some sort of audio", yet no one else seems to be saying that it is anywhere other than in the "Paperwhite territory".
Or if they are, they are a couple years too late in pointing it out.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by knc1

"Newer models all have BT"
Right, there is only 1 "Newer" model.
Unless you include the 8th generation devices, in which case only one of those two have BT. For at total of two out of the three.

The post I quoted:

The current (7th. generation) Paperwhite does have "some sort of audio", yet no one else seems to be saying that it is anywhere other than in the "Paperwhite territory".
Or if they are, they are a couple years too late in pointing it out.

Has it been established that Oasis 1 lacks bluetooth capability? FCC paperwork tied to Oasis indicated testing for both Wifi and Bluetooth:

https://the-digital-reader.com/2016/...audio-support/

Seems like these are the two 8th gen Kindles?

Moreover, the press release states that the Audiobook feature would be coming to both 8th gen devices (Kindle, and Kindle Oasis):

Audible will be available on the all-new Kindle Oasis via a free over-the-air update when the device ships—and it will be available via a free over-the-air update to Kindle (Gen 8) and the first Kindle Oasis in the coming months.

This is strong evidence that Oasis 1 is BT-capable (just as with 8th gen Kindle) and awaits a software update to enable it. Oasis’ unique design (necessitating the need to flip the screen 180 degrees to switch hands) does not lend itself to having a wire hanging off of it for audio. Nor is there room for a speaker, given the priority given to thinness and lightness.

Oasis 1 does support VoiceView with the audio dongle used with Paperwhite (Voyage too), the first Kindle to have VoiceView. But it requires the charging cover to be attached to function. And (more than a headset wire) the dongle is a rather awkward thing to have hanging off, so there goes any pretense at ergonomics. Nobody would be happy with this just to have audio (VoiceView users can do just as well without lighted screens and page turn buttons, so the $79 Kindle or $119 Paperwhite will do just fine).

Moreover the act of plugging in the dongle turns on VoiceView. That is not really compatible with the Audible feature. Software update could change this behavior, but then we’re back to turning Oasis into this ugly thing with dongle hanging off of it. So the most plausible scenario is that the software update will enable BT on Oasis 1 for both Audiobook and VoiceView, just as with Oasis 2 and Kindle 8th gen (while disabling the support for audio dongle).

I can imagine that the Audible feature was in the works for awhile, but was not ready when 8th gen devices shipped (just as VoiceView was not ready when Paperwhite 3 shipped). Now they’re using Oasis 2 launch to reveal it (and the actual feature only arrives by update after you take it out of the box and register it).

Paperwhite 7th gen also has audio capability, as we learned some months after it shipped with the announcement of VoiceView on Kindle. It is one of the main reasons they bumped RAM up to 512MB (so voice data could be kept in RAM). But it is not getting Audible, because they would have to eliminate the dead-simple way of enabling VoiceView (by plugging the dongle in) and that would draw the ire of the AFB and others whose lawsuits brought about VoiceView in the first place.

[knc1]

You quote the wrong post of mine.
Earlier I said: "Maybe"
And gave reasons.

[rashkae]

I would love to see a 7" Voyage, (at current voyage price, mind you, which makes it seem unlikely).. I just can't bring myself to like the design concept of the oasis. I know it's supposed to be super easy to hold one handed, but I like the freedom of shifting hands without having to worry about turning my book around!

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Drop the basic Kindle??? I sure hope not. I only buy basic models. The rest of the line is too expensive. I currently use a Kindle 7th gen and will use it until it gives up the ghost.

I don't think the Basic Model will be dropped. I think Amazon likes having those entry level Kindles and Fires. (And they sell kid's bundles for both devices.) I certainly hope they don't drop the Basic – so far I haven't had any luck with the front-lit Kindles or Kobos. I think it's an issue with my eyes. The only front-lit eReader that works for me is the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight.

[mewmartigan]

My guess is that the Paperwhite and Voyage merge into one device. It will be more like the Voyage in design (i.e. thinner, flush screen, etc) but it will drop "pagepress" to keep the cost closer to the paperwhite.

So they will have the low end, middle end, high end Kindles.