Seattle-based e-commerce and cloud computing giant Amazon, Inc. released a waterproof Kindle, called the Kindle Oasis. This bold idea however is more than just a water-resistant premium e-book reader, as it comes with a number of improvements and features that elevates it above the competition.
High-End, Water Resistant, All-In-One Device
The Kindle Oasis has an IPX8 rating, which means the unit can take up going underwater for up to 2 meters for an hour – however this only refers to freshwater. While the unit can still work when in saltwater, it is not advised for sea activities like snorkeling.
Amazon’s premium device is not just a waterproof e-book reader – the company made sure there is more for Kindle lovers to look forward to. Dubbed as its fanciest Kindle to date, the e-reader has a sleek aluminum backing with a dual-core processor (up from a single core in the previous Kindle release).
The new 7-inch Kindle Oasis features compatibility for audiobooks, allowing its users to switch between reading their e-books and listening to audiobooks. Because of this new audiobook feature, users are treated to Bluetooth technology as well, allowing them to hook up the device to a wireless headphone set or wireless speakers of their choice.
Eric Saarnio, head of Amazon devices in the European Union (EU), said the device has the highest resolution as well, with 300 pixels per inch (ppi) screen density. This resolution, combined with the bigger screen size, means users can fit as much as 30% more words on a screen per page. “Customers have to turn fewer pages,” he said.
The Kindle Oasis has a built-in battery lasts longer, getting rid of the battery cover found in last year’s device, a cover that was required so the unit has a good battery life. The Oasis has an impressive six weeks’ worth of power built into it, plus a range of water-resistant optional fabric cover options. In addition, the battery is fully charged in just under two hours.
In addition, the aluminum design features a brighter screen that’s larger than any other readers Amazon currently has in its lineup. The premium reader has an ambient light sensor, so users do not have to helplessly read in bad lighting. The unit also has an increased and more evenly-spaced number of light-emitting diode (LED) lights, making it perfect for both high and low-light reading scenarios. Users can also change font sizes, font thickness (boldness), and color inversion.
Lastly, there’s a Whispersync integration that beats Kindle’s previous iterations. In older versions, users can read any Whispersync title, but the Oasis is the only version that can store and play their audiobooks through a Bluetooth-connected headset or speaker. The seamless integration lets users sync both the e-book and audiobook version, so users can pick up where they left off regardless which format they opened. For example, a user can listen to the audiobook for a while as they are doing chores, and then jump back into the same point of the book in the e-book version when they want.
