Amazon launches first writable Kindle

Amazon announced that it will launch a new Kindle this week, equipped with a stylus to help users take notes. At its annual new product showcase for its device business on Wednesday, Amazon said the new Kindle Scribe will be available later this year for $339.

The new reader is equipped with a 10.2-inch screen and a stylus that can be magnetically attached to the side of the screen.

Amazon says Kindle Scribe's 10.2-inch, 300ppi display can adjust to the surrounding environment during the day and night. The screen has a paper-like feel, enhancing the writing experience and taking notes and annotations to a new level.

A larger display allows users to get more text and images, minimizing the frequency of page turning.

Dave Limp, senior vice president of Amazon's devices and services business, said in the announcement that reducing page turns allows Kindle Scribe to complete a book faster.

When reading on Kindle Scribe, users can now add "sticky notes" to the pages of the book as they read. All of the user's sticky notes are organized in one place, avoiding the mess that messy sticky notes can cause in real life.

In addition to taking reading notes, users can also use Kindle Scribe as a portable notebook, which comes with templates to meet different needs, such as sketches, diaries, and to-do lists.

Users can also send documents to Scribe from their phone or computer so they can mark up the PDF and sign the document electronically. Amazon says that early next year, users will also be able to send documents to Scribe directly from Microsoft Word.

Like other Kindles in the Amazon range, Kindle Scribe will connect to the Kindle Store, giving consumers access to more than 13 million titles worldwide. With the purchase of a Kindle Scribe, US customers will receive a free four-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited, giving them access to more than 3 million e-books.

Amazon launched the first Kindle in 2007, marking its first foray into the consumer electronics market. Other manufacturers that have launched handwriting readers include Japan's Rakuten Group and Norwegian startup Remarkable AS. Currently, e-readers are no longer Amazon's focus in the hardware field. Amazon later launched a series of hardware products, including Echo smart speakers and other devices with integrated Alexa voice assistant, streaming TV sticks, video doorbells, and a limited-edition home robot Astro.

Earlier this month, Amazon announced updates to its main Kindle line, as well as new products designed for kids. These versions of the Kindle don't come with a stylus, requiring users to type on a touchscreen keyboard to mark up documents.