Amazon has announced a refreshed version of its popular e-book reader, the Kindle. Named Kindle with Special Offers, the hardware is the same as the previous Kindle, with the 6-inch e-ink display and 8.5 ounce weight. However, Amazon is now subsidizing the cost a bit with advertising on the Kindle itself.
The new version is the Wi-Fi-only model with ads placed on the screen saver and menu screens of the Kindle. There are no ads within the books thankfully. The ads will promote special deals and offers for partnering sponsors. At launch, Buick, Olay (Procter & Gamble), Visa, and Amazon.com Reward Visa Card (Chase) will all have ads running. Thanks to the ads, the Kindle with Special Offers' price is $25 less than the ad-free version, bringing it to $114. Customers can still opt for the ad-free version at $139, or the 3G equipped model for $189.
Amazon is also announcing new websites where users can vote on and recommend ads that will make it to the Kindle's screen saver. Named AdMash, the service will provide a preview of the ads that users can vote on. Users of the Kindle with Special Offers can personalize their ad experience as well, with suggestions for the types of ads that they would like to see on their Kindle.
Kindle with Special Offers is available now through amazon.com.
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