Amazon chief Jeff Bezos unveiled a new version of the company's ground-breaking Kindle reader on September 6, which includes a back-lit screen for the first time. The new reader with so-called "paperwhite" display, which will have a battery life of eight weeks with the backlight on, is set to ship October 1.
Bezos said it was "perfect in the bedroom, perfect in direct sunlight - people are going to love this device, and they're going to love the light," he told a press conference in Santa Monica. The paperwhite Kindle will retail at $119, while a 3G mobile version will cost $179. A new version of the basic Kindle will be reduced in price from $79 to $69, he said.