Amazon’s Kindle DX Now Available in Hong Kong

January 19, 2010

The DX goes global in 100 countries on January 19.

The 9.7″ ebook reader from Amazon called the Kindle DX is now getting ready to ship to Hong Kong, with global wireless available for pre-order today for HK$3,800/US$489 and shipping out on January 19th.

The main difference between the DX and the Kindle 2 is the size both in screen, memory and price:

• Kindle 2 has a 6″ screen and holds 1,500 books for HK$2,000.

• Kindle DX has a 9.7″ screen and its 3.3GBsize holds 3,500 books for HK$3,800.

We saw the DX in person a few weeks ago and it’s huge in comparison; a great size for reading at home or in the office, but probably not something manageable to pull out at yum cha or in the MTR during rush hour.

Yes, this sucks for everyone who bought the Kindle for Christmas, but good for those who waited because they wanted something bigger. You knew it was going to happen, especially in light of this week’s Consumer Electronics Show that will no doubt be introducing a dozen competitors to the eBook reader market.

Kindle DX with Global Wireless offers customers the same features that have helped make Kindle DX a top seller since it was introduced last May:

• Wireless Delivery of Personal and Professional Documents: Customers can take their personal and professional documents with them around the world with Kindle DX. They can even wirelessly receive personal and professional documents while they’re on the road, saving the hassle of searching for a printer or fax machine.

• Built-In PDF Reader: Kindle DX features a built-in, native PDF reader using Adobe Reader Mobile technology for reading professional and personal documents. With a larger display and built-in PDF reader, Kindle DX customers can read professional and personal documents with more complex layouts without scrolling, panning, or zooming, and without re-flowing. Everything from annual reports with graphs to flight manuals with maps to musical scores can be viewed on a single, crisp screen with Kindle DX.

• Auto-Rotation: Kindle DX’s display content auto-rotates so users can read in portrait or landscape mode, or flip the device to read with either hand. Simply turn Kindle DX and immediately see full-width landscape views of maps, graphs, tables and images.

• 3.3 GB Memory Holds up to 3,500 Books: With 3.3 GB of available memory, Kindle DX can hold up to 3,500 books, compared to 1,500 with Kindle. And because Amazon automatically backs up a copy of every Kindle book purchased, customers can wirelessly re-download titles from their library at any time.

• Annotation and Bookmarks: The Kindle DX keyboard lets customers add annotations to text, just as they would write in the margins of a book. Customers can edit, delete and export these notes, highlight and clip key passages, and bookmark pages for future use. Additionally, Kindle DX automatically bookmarks the last page a customer reads of any content.

• Automatically Syncs With Kindle and Kindle Compatible Devices: Amazon’s Whispersync technology automatically syncs customers’ last page read, bookmarks, notes and highlights across Kindle, Kindle DX and Kindle-compatible devices like Kindle for PC and Kindle for iPhone, as well as additional applications coming soon, including Kindle for Mac and Kindle for Blackberry.

• Incredibly Thin: Kindle DX is just over a third of an inch, which is thinner than most magazines.

• Adjustable Text Size: Kindle DX has six adjustable font sizes to suit your reading preference. You can increase the text size of your favorite book or periodical with the push of a button. If your eyes tire, simply increase the font size and continue reading comfortably. Now every book in your library can be large print.

• 3G Wireless, No PC, No Hunting for Wi-Fi Hot Spots: Just like Kindle, Kindle DX customers automatically take advantage of Amazon Whispernet to wirelessly shop the Kindle Store, download or receive new content in less than 60 seconds, and read from their library—all without a PC, Wi-Fi hot spot, or syncing. Amazon still pays for the wireless connectivity on Kindle DX so books can be downloaded in less than 60 seconds—with no monthly fees, data plans or service contracts.

• Extended Battery Life: Kindle DX now offers extended battery life – read for up to one full week with wireless on and up to two weeks with the wireless turned off.

• Text-to-Speech: Kindle DX offers the experimental read-to-me feature “Text-to-Speech” that converts words on a page to spoken word so customers have the option to read or listen. Customers can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and their spot is automatically saved. Pages turn automatically while the content is being read so customers can listen hands-free. Using the read-to-me feature with books, newspapers, magazines, blogs and personal documents, Kindle DX can read to you.

• No Set Up Required: When customers order a Kindle DX, it arrives from Amazon.com ready to use. There is no software to load or set up. Customers are immediately ready to shop, purchase, download and read from Kindle.

• Built-in Dictionary and Wikipedia: Kindle has built-in access to The New Oxford American Dictionary, which contains over 250,000 entries and definitions, so readers can easily look up the definitions of words within their reading. Kindle customers also have seamless access to the world’s most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org. With Kindle DX in hand, looking up people, places, events and more has never been easier. It gives whole new meaning to the phrase “walking encyclopedia.”

The new Kindle DX with Global Wireless replaces the Kindle DX with U.S. wireless, which is no longer available.

All the details are here: www.amazon.com/kindledx