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This certainly is not the first we are hearing about the Kindle 2, however it looks like anyone who was holding out is going to have to wait a little longer.  Initially, the Kindle 2 was expected to hit the market this past October, which would have given it a good launch to pick up some holiday sales.  According to the reports, the delay was caused by Jeff Bezos in order to make some last minute changes to the software. 

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Gadgetell Quick Review:

Amazon Kindle

What is it?

The Amazon Kindle is Amazon’s electronic reading device. It uses E Ink technology and is available for $359.

Pros:

Easy to use, lightweight, lots of storage and free wireless service.

Cons:

The included cover needs improvement.

Keep reading for an in-depth, hands-on review. 

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We have already covered have Plastic Logic showing off their electric paper or E-newspaper, and it appears that Esquire is getting in on the e-paper action. 

The famed magazine Esquire is planning to put out their October issue with a 100,000 issues of a special e-ink cover.  As far as I know, this isn’t to celebrate anything big or anything, like their 100th issue. 

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Fujitsu is soon to launch the FLEPia e-ink e-book this coming fall. The latest gadget by Fujitsu is rumored to cost $941. This A4-sized e-ink reader has advanced features like Wi-Fi capability, 50 hours of continued use, and six control buttons plus a scroll key for scrolling. This allows users to have a better view of visual alignment. The FLEPia contains a 4GB SD flash card for memory space, and is 320-grams in weight, and about 12-millimeters in thickness.

The FLEPia e-ink e-book was once rumored to be having an integrated backlight, but that was pushed aside by Nikkei. These new, set-to-be-released-e-readers are an improvement from Fujitsu’s color e-ink prototypes. Those are capable of having a whole VGA display into a 4.7-inch x 6.3-inch handheld tablet units.

The FLEPia units will be available in three color motifs, namely white pearl, silver, and the usual pink pearl colors.

Read [nikkei] Via [Engadget]

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No longer just pie in the sky, this once thought to be just a concept phone is now in production.  The “Readius” sports a fold out display that unfolds to about the size of two business cards allowing larger views than possible on most of todays small-screened phones.  The 5-inch screen folds in and out allowing a small form factor when not in use. 

Relying on e-paper the black and white images are crisp clear and don’t suck down battery juice like its alternatives.  But black and white only?  This isn’t the 1950s, call me crazy, but I think this color thing is here to stay.

No comments on what the price will be other than about where other high-end phones are selling.  Word is the manufacturer, Polymer Vision, is in discussions with carriers.

Read [Reuters]

• Esquire E Ink magazine cover
• Gadgetell Review: Amazon Kindle
• Amazon Kindle 2 now rumored to be launching early-2009