Amazon Unveils New E-Reader, Updates 'Fire'

Amazon's got a host of new gadgets on the way. Founder Jeff Bezos today announced the Kindle Fire HD, an upgraded tablet that comes in two sizes, starting at $199, USA Today reports. "We were happy last year to have the best tablet at a certain price. This year we want to have the best tablet at any price," Bezos said. The tablet is available in a 7-inch version, an 8.9-inch version, and an 8.9-inch 4G LTE version, notes the Verge.

The larger machine offers a 1920x1200, 254 ppi display. Meanwhile, the original Kindle Fire is getting an update—and a price drop, to $159. Finally, there's the Paperwhite, a new e-reader. It offers a front-lit screen that's sharper than its predecessors, and comes in a $119 Wi-Fi version and a $179 3G model. According to Bezos, it's "thinner than a magazine, lighter than a paperback," reports the Verge. And sorry, there's no smartphone in sight. (More Amazon stories.)