Amazon releases new, slimmer Kindle

Online retail giant Amazon has released a slimmer, cheaper version of its Kindle eReader, with the new gadget to cost only $US139.

Chief executive Jeff Bezos announced the new gadget in a letter on the company’s home page, saying the new Wi-Fi powered device will be available come 27 August. The new device will use a new type of E-Ink, is 21% smaller than the current Kindle and contains a battery life of up to one month.

“I believe in the transformative power of reading—the ability of an author to transport you to new worlds, introduce you to new people, and even alter your perspective. Reading is important. Reading is why we build Kindles. Reading is why millions of people use Kindles,” Bezos said.

“Today, we’re excited to introduce a new, third generation of Kindle. We kept everything readers love about Kindle and made it even better.”

The launch is almost certainly an attempt to keep up with the Apple iPad. Amazon doesn’t release sales figures, but analysts suggest it would be hard to keep up with Apple’s millions of sales since the April release.