Amazon has something in store for its dedicated Kindle e-readers.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced the news on his official Twitter page, saying that a new version of its Kindle will be released next week.
"Heads up readers - all-new, top of the line Kindle almost ready. 8th generation. Details next week," Bezos wrote on Twitter.
The company's current flagship Kindle is the Voyage, which costs $200 and comes with an auto-brightness sensor and a design resembling a tablet, Ars Technica reported. The new variant announced by Bezos is expected to serve as the substitute for the Voyage instead of the cheaper Kindle Paperwhite, which can be purchased for $120.
Pricing and availability for the new Kindle will be known next week.
Customers have been shifting to more versatile tablets since 2011, pushing the e-reader market to plummet, CNET wrote. However, the Kindle remains a product that Amazon and its CEO hold close, given that the device is the company's first electronic gadget it launched and is directly connected to Amazon's founding business, which is selling books.
The Kindle still belongs to Amazon's top-selling electronic gadgets on its website despite the competition. The mid-range Paperwhite is its sixth-biggest product, while the low-end Kindle is at the 26th spot. The top-range Voyage places at No. 30, the news outlet further reported.
Kindle Discounts
Amazon is currently offering huge discounts on its current-generation Kindles for Amazon Prime members. As indicated on the company's website, the $200 Voyage is being offered for $150, the $120 Paperwhite can be purchased for $90, and the $80 standard Kindle is priced at $50.
The Kindle Voyage was released in 2014 and boasts of a slimmer design, bigger storage, and sharper screen resolution, CNET listed. Amazon's style is to unveil a new Kindle design every two years, so Bezos' recent announcement is aligned with the company's tradition.
Latest Update for Kindle
Last month, Amazon has released a mandatory update for the Kindle and required users to install it by March 22.
The update is required for downloading books from the Cloud, opening the Kindle Store, and using other Kindle services, Time listed.
"The update will ensure their device is operating with the latest software, and that it remains compliant with continuously evolving industry standard," Amazon spokesperson Kinley Pearsall said, as quoted by Time.
Only Kindle models from 2012 and older necessitate the software update, the news outlet wrote. Those who missed the March 22 deadline need to install the update manually, which cannot be done via wireless or Wi-Fi. Instead, the proper software version should be downloaded to your computer and your Kindle has to be connected to the PC through a USB cable.
