Amazon’s desire for a disappearing device

Two new Kindle e-readers from Amazon hit the market next month with a host of new features beyond the typical thinner and lighter claims.

A new seventh generation Kindle and an all new model called Kindle Voyage are billed as the most advanced ever with the Voyage model touted as the thinnest ever. Faster processor speeds, increased screen resolution, greater storage capacity, longer battery life and touch screen functionality are among the products’ features and benefits. Both will ship to customers in October with the feature rich base model Kindle offered at $79 and the Voyage offered at $199.

“Our mission with Kindle is to make the device disappear, so you can lose yourself in the author’s world,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. “Kindle Voyage is the next big step in this mission. With the thinnest design, highest resolution and highest contrast display, reimagined page turns, and all of the features that readers love about Kindle - books in seconds, no eyestrain or glare, readability in bright sunlight, and battery life measured in weeks, not hours - Kindle Voyage is crafted from the ground up for readers.”

Kindle Voyage is touted as strong, thin, and light at 7.6 mm thick and less than 6.4 ounces. It has the highest resolution, contrast and brightness of any Kindle and comes with free 3G connectivity. The product features micro-etched glass that resists scratches, eliminates glare and is designed to mimic the feel of paper. Amazon also has tweaked the page turning experience with a concept called PagePress. A pressure sensitive sensor that sits directly under the bezel allow pages to be turned with a gentle touch and a haptic actuator provides tactile feedback.

The all-new based model Kindle also features upgrades such as a 20% faster processor, twice the storage and new touch interface.