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Amazon Finally Makes a Waterproof Kindle (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the ten-years-later dept.

After 10 years of Kindles, Amazon has finally made a kindle e-reader with an IPX8 waterproof rating. The new Kindle Oasis features a 7-inch display and aluminum back. The Verge reports: Unlike last year's Kindle Oasis, which used a magnetic case you attached to the e-reader to extend its battery life, the new Oasis relies entirely on its built-in battery. It has a similar physical design, with one thicker side that tapers down on the other side, for one-handed reading. But Amazon has made a point of saying that it managed to fit in a bigger battery, while keeping the tapered side of the device at 3.4 millimeters. The resolution of the e-paper display is the same at 300 ppi, but it has a couple extra LED lights now for a brighter, more even-looking display. And it also has ambient light sensors that adjust the brightness as you move from room to room, or from outdoors to indoors. There are physical page-turn buttons, plus the touchscreen page-turn option; Amazon says it's worked on both the hardware and software side of things to make page-turning feel faster. The new e-reader has been tested in two meters of water for up to 60 minutes. It's also been tested in different water environments, like hot tubs, pools, and bubble baths.

42 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Thank you Jesus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Now that walk on water thing will not impact my Prime membership.

  2. ...finally? by ckatko · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Finally? Like it's some huge problem? My wife has had 3 kindles and none of them died from water damage.

    Meanwhile, how many Apple phones get dropped into the sink or toilet every year? How about we apply the "Finally" qualifier to them, eh?

    1. Re:...finally? by torkus · · Score: 1

      No no no no...they were holding them wrong. Their fault.

      Also, Kindles aren't the pervasive always-on-you device that phones are (much to Amazon's dismay) so it's somewhat less critical.

      Handy, but I've never really worried about my iPad not being waterproof and I DO have it with me a large portion of the time. It just doesn't fit the use case of needing it much for me. Plus it's harder to drop an iPad in the toilet.

      --
      You can get rich if you own a politician, but you have to be rich to buy one in the first place.
    2. Re:...finally? by IApeFatCashews · · Score: 1, Troll

      God forbid someone takes a shit without a phone in their hands these days. Fucking hell...

      Amazon is working on that exact problem by buying The Washington Post, designing a lock for the delivery person to enter your home, and hand delivering the newspaper while you're on the shitter. Never again will you run out of reading material and/or toilet paper.

    3. Re:...finally? by JoshuaZ · · Score: 1

      None of mine have died from waterdamage, and I even take mine in the bath regularly. That said, a waterproof one would make that experience even more relaxing.

    4. Re:...finally? by demonlapin · · Score: 1

      Your wife is more fastidious than mine. She murdered quite a few electronics before I caught on and started insisting she put them in protective cases. At least two netbooks and three phones. She got a 4S, it went into an Otterbox on day one, and lo, these many years later, it's still sitting in my travel bag, perfectly unharmed, as a backup phone in case her main one dies on a trip.

      She had a bunch of Kindles die on her, but they were the gen 2 version with awful QC. We had a couple that were DOA as warranty replacements.

    5. Re:...finally? by BadDreamer · · Score: 1

      When I get the chance to read it's usually while traveling, while sitting in the bath or while vacationing, usually on a dive trip or a tropical beach. A Kindle like this would double the amount of reading I can get done during the later two.

      It's mostly a matter of the opportunities which open up when you no longer have to think about a kindle like you think about a paper book or a piece of humidity sensitive electronics. The ability to use it in environments where one today wouldn't even consider using it will soon be taken for granted.

    6. Re:...finally? by jabuzz · · Score: 1

      It's more a case of they happen to be in their pockets when they go to the bathroom. It is mainly a women's issue however. They put their phones in their back pockets (which is a dumb thing to do anyway) then when pulling down their trousers in it goes. Given men generally don't sit down to urinate it is more likely that a women will lose her phone in the toilet. Women also seem to be more likely to carry a phone in their back pocket too. I suspect this has something to do with their average physical size and generally pockets on women's clothing being to small to be useful.

    7. Re:...finally? by tomtomtom · · Score: 1

      I wonder if the more widespread relevant use case is in pools and the sea (on vacation). Kindles in particular have been marketed as great for taking on vacation because e-ink is visible in bright sunlight (unlike LCD etc displays) and the weight and bulk saving vs paper books is significant. With typical pulp fiction/vacation reading paper books you don't need to worry about reading them in the pool due to them being low-value so this was the "last" benefit they had over Kindles etc.

      Having said all that, it's interesting they don't mention it being resistant to salt water - which is notoriously much worse for electronics than fresh water.

    8. Re:...finally? by LordWabbit2 · · Score: 1

      Like it's some huge problem?

      Yes, yes it has been a huge fucking problem. When I used to read physical books my favorite place to read was in the bath, couldn't do that with a kindle (at least not for long). And no, I have never dropped a book into the water, and would probably not drop the kindle into it either, but the moisture would fuck it up in time. Going to the beach or lounge around the pool and you have to stick the kindle in a sandwich bag which is annoying, so for me it was a huge problem. Pity they are not shipping to my country (yet). Although to be honest, I do most of my reading on my phone anyways, your phone is always with you, so if I get stuck in a line somewhere I can read a few pages while waiting. I generally only use the kindle when I am going away for a weekend, especially if it's in the middle of nowhere (which is the whole point in going camping). Although all things considered solar powered battery banks kinda make the long battery life of the kindle pointless.

      --
      There are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third is statistics.
    9. Re:...finally? by Luthair · · Score: 1

      Normal books aren't waterproof either....

    10. Re:...finally? by LordWabbit2 · · Score: 1

      True, but they are a lot more moisture resistant than a kindle.

      --
      There are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third is statistics.
  3. Dang it! by Shotgun · · Score: 1

    I might actually look into buying one now. This would be something that I could actually live with. Reading at the beach, pool, or in the tub is impossible even with my phone, since I have to worry about it even getting splashed.

    --
    Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
    Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
    1. Re:Dang it! by hey! · · Score: 2

      Or you could buy a $99 Kindle Paperwhite and a $30 IP68 case.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    2. Re:Dang it! by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      Or you could buy a $99 Kindle Paperwhite and a $30 IP68 case.

      Except the Paperwhite is swipe-only for navigation, which may matter to some people - like me.

      I preferred the actual physical navigation buttons from my old 3G Kindle... but the haptic "buttons" on the Voyage (what I have) work pretty well. However I think the Oasis has actual, physical buttons.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    3. Re:Dang it! by thesandtiger · · Score: 1

      Or a Paperwhite and a $.02 ziplock baggie...

      --
      Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
    4. Re:Dang it! by thesandtiger · · Score: 1

      A baggie will still let you swipe, no problem, and doesn't cost $30.

      I use 'em on my kindle, phone and tablet when I want to use them and soak in the tub or float in the pool.

      --
      Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
    5. Re:Dang it! by pthisis · · Score: 1

      The Kobo Aura H2O and H2O2 are both IP67 as well and avoid the Kindle ecosystem. I've very happy with my H2O.

      --
      rage, rage against the dying of the light
    6. Re:Dang it! by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      Same goes for Tolino Vision 3 and 4 HD readers.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    7. Re:Dang it! by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

      I've been carrying a $99 Kindle Paperwhite for ages without a case and it seems to be holding up fine.

      This device seems very overpriced.

      The Verge article says it's

      https://www.theverge.com/2017/...

      The new Oasis ships at the end of October and is replacing last yearâ(TM)s Oasis, leaving four Kindles total in Amazonâ(TM)s lineup: the original Kindle ($80), the Kindle Paperwhite ($120), Kindle Voyage ($200), and the Oasis, which starts at $250 for an 8GB model. Thatâ(TM)s double the base storage of previous Kindles, which Amazon says is to accommodate the storage of audio books. It also connects over both Wi-Fi and 4G LTE.

      And Amazon say the 32GB model is $299

      https://www.amazon.com/Staging...

      Compared to the $119 Kindle Paperwhite that's a lot of cash.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  4. I like it for a different reason by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I can't say I've ever said to myself "I wish this Kindle were waterproof!" However I have wished for a Kindle with larger page size*, and this new one has a 7" screen.

    But, still, it'll likely be several years before I replace my Kindle Voyage. The main reason I replaced my old 3G was the dog got hold of it.

    * Yes, I remember the DX

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:I like it for a different reason by chuckugly · · Score: 2

      If it had a 9" screen I'd preorder. I have a couple of the 6" units and they're great but I've literally never wished they were waterproof. Bigger, all the time.

    2. Re:I like it for a different reason by chihowa · · Score: 1

      $250 with ads. Yuck.

      --
      If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
  5. Re:whatever. by richardellisjr · · Score: 4, Interesting

    90% of the books I read on mine are public domain from project Gutenberg. Owning one of these doesn't mean you have to buy books from them. I probably will be buying one of these so I don't have to put my Kindle in a waterproof bag when I go to the pool or beach.

  6. New features? by nospam007 · · Score: 1

    Can I also tell it:"Alexa, download the latest Dan Brown and switch off the lights"?

  7. Waterproof is great but ... by mr_mischief · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Waterproof is great but I want something between the black e-ink and the comparably horrible battery life of a Fire. Could I have a 256, 64, or 16 - even 4 ! - color e-ink display that's not from some no-name Chinese company? Please? Something that's decent for charts and web comics doesn't need to have full color and instant screen updates.

    1. Re:Waterproof is great but ... by oic0 · · Score: 1

      Agreed. Would be great for browsing the web too. Web doesn't need full color.

    2. Re:Waterproof is great but ... by wjcofkc · · Score: 1

      "comparably horrible battery life of a Fire"

      One of the greatest joys of my 6th generation Kindle Fire is that the battery just goes and goes and goes unlike any device I've ever owned, and a lot of that is playing music. What version of the fire do you have with horrible battery life? This is a real question, I am not trying to call you out. I was planning on getting the new 10.1 screen version when it comes out in a few days.

      --
      Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
    3. Re:Waterproof is great but ... by pthisis · · Score: 1

      The Fire has a fine battery life for a tablet, but it's still horrible compared to e-ink readers, which usually last a month or two between charges if you average an hour of reading a day. E-ink displays only draw current for screen updates, so the majority of the time when you're reading (as opposed to flipping the page) the device draws very little power.

      --
      rage, rage against the dying of the light
    4. Re:Waterproof is great but ... by mr_mischief · · Score: 1

      As https://slashdot.org/~pthisis already said, the battery life of the fire is pretty good for a full tablet. Compared to a regular Kindle or other dedicated e-Ink or e-Paper displays it's awful. If I want a dedicated reader from a reputable company I can find if anything goes wrong, my choices right now are between a few scales of grey and a full-color screen with a big, multi-core processor sitting behind it.

      If I could get something with just a few colors (like a desktop computer from 25 to 35 years ago) on e-paper or e-ink for magazine images, charts and graphs in trade paperbacks and textbooks, maps, and maybe the odd comic or something that would be great. I could still have a month-long battery life. I could differentiate data more clearly and quickly. I don't need a 2ms panel response time, 8 threads of execution, or 32 billion colors for a reader. But there's not really any middle ground right now between the greyscale reader market and the general purpose tablet market.

      Right now if I want color, I just read on my Note, get out a laptop, or wait until I'm at a desktop. I'd buy a newer Kindle if it was 256 (VGA equivalent), 64 (EGA), 16, 8 , or maybe even just 4 (CGA) colors. I don't think I'm alone in this market segment.

  8. Re:whatever. by CRB9000 · · Score: 1

    Are you posting from a device that could read them? Yep. Destroyed your main premise? Yep.

  9. Spock eyebrow thing by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    one thicker side that tapers down on the other side, for one-handed reading.

    Hmm. And if it's waterproof I guess it's washable too. I could see this not spending much time in the lounge.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  10. TE; DR by Northdot · · Score: 1

    Too Exensive, Didn't Read.

    It "starts" at $390 in Canada. That's almost halfway to an iPad Pro.

    1. Re:TE; DR by demonlapin · · Score: 1

      Different device, different use case. I read on my iPad most of the time, but when I want a Kindle, I want a Kindle. E-ink, cellular connectivity. If you don't read at least one book a week, this probably isn't for you. That's why I still have an old Kindle with keyboard - I only use it at the beach. But if you read a lot, your situation might be different.

  11. what about salt water? by just+another+AC · · Score: 1

    Given that a lot of people who are interested in the waterproof aspect will visit beaches etc...

    Aluminium rear probably won't last,

    and for all the "different types of water" they tested there is no mention about how the waterproofing holds up in salt water

  12. Kobo H2O by spinitch · · Score: 1

    Kobo has been selling water proof readers for years. In Japan the readers nice for baths . Amazon doing well in Japan for e-Commerce so will be a good market to help get more Amazon devices in Japanese hands. Alexa Echo etc... announced to be available later this year. Summer is over for North Hemisphere so a little late for beach goers but the hot spring season just getting started. e-Ink nice for readers but still a niche market since many folks would like color , browsing and other tablet capabilities.

  13. Great but.. by Neuronwelder · · Score: 1

    how does is handle rubber ducky collisions in the bathtub?

  14. Now I can finally read fifty shades of grey by Dirk+Becher · · Score: 1

    while drowning myself.

  15. Tested in, but what was the result? by Tomahawk · · Score: 1

    "It's also been tested in different water environments, like hot tubs, pools, and bubble baths."

    I used a similar phrase on my 3rd year college project many years ago: "It was tested on 4 machines". I never actually said it _worked_ on all 4 machines (nor was I asked for clarification, which was lucky 'cos it only worked on 3)...

  16. I JUST WANT LARGE by hipp5 · · Score: 1

    All I want is a large-format (letter size or close to it) Kindle. My 3rd-gen Kindle is still going strong, and none of the new Kindle models have convinced me to upgrade. But large-format? I'd buy that the day it came out.

    A few other brands have started to come out with large-format e-readers, but as of yet all of the reviews show that they still have a lot of annoying shortcomings. I trust Amazon would do it right, and would do it for a reasonable price.

  17. Story sounds familiar... by jpellino · · Score: 1

    Oh, right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    --
    "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
  18. Re:whatever. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why not use your local library to "check out" eBooks at no cost to yourself?