It won't be wrong to say that the first front lit ebook reader from Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite, was a great success, and it looks like the company is now preparing a follow-up sporting even better specifications, if a new report is to be believed.
The next generation (third generation) Kindle Paperwhite, code-named Ice Wine, will come with a high-resolution 300ppi screen, according to a
report by Techcrunch, that will make it at par with other devices from competitors like Kobo. The current Kindle Paperwhite sports a screen with a pixel density of 212ppi.
The online publication claims to have seen a prototype of the next-generation Kindle Paperwhite device and informs that the ebook reader's front screen 'is flush with the edges of the device, rather than recessed,' and is made of matte glass material, and not plastic. It notes that the new Kindle Paperwhite is said to be lighter than the current generation model.
The edges of the new Paperwhite will also act as 'buttons' according to the report, and will be 'squeezable,' offering haptic feedback when activated.
The report adds that the rear casing of the next-generation Paperwhite will be based on the design of the current Kindle Fire HDX tablets, and will feature a more angular shape and chamfered edges. The reader's power button will also be located at the rear, just like the Kindle Fire tablets.
The next-generation Kindle Paperwhite will also feature an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the screen brightness as per the light conditions, says the report.
The report also adds that the new Paperwhite will not feature any major software improvements, none the less, the software will be updated to support and benefit from the new resolution.
It does mention that Amazon is working on new typography for the device and will feature a custom-built font that would make the reading experience on the device much better. It also adds that Amazon is working on presenting books with hyphenation for better alignment.
As the report is based on the assessment of a prototype, there could be a number of changes to the features and design, since the next-generation Kindle Paperwhite is said to make its debut in Q2 2014.