Amazon Redesigns Kindles with New Power Button Placement and Sustainable Manufacturing
Amazon has unveiled its latest lineup of e-readers, featuring significant design changes and new materials. Among the notable updates is the repositioning of the power/sleep button to the right side of all devices, addressing a long-standing complaint from users.
The issue with the original placement of the power button was due to cost considerations, according to Chris Green, Amazon's VP of Design. He explained that the company aimed to minimize costs and carbon footprint in the design process.
The new Kindles boast sleeker designs, thinner frames, and lighter materials. The Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft models feature a series of connector pins on the back, allowing for the use of a Page-Turn Cover with physical page-turn buttons. Additionally, Amazon has introduced a remote control-like device called the Kindle Click.
The company has also made improvements in manufacturing processes, using stamping instead of CNC milling to create aluminum chassis. This new method reduces material waste by 60% and energy consumption by 60%, according to Green.