The digital pocket book house has been rising strongly for over seven years. A number of corporations, comparable to Supernote, Outstanding, and Onyx Boox, have made their complete enterprise mannequin on this sector. Others are extra centered on e-readers however do provide some note-taking fashions, comparable to Rakuten Kobo, Hyread, iReader, iFlytek, Hanvon, and, most just lately, Amazon.
Amazon launched the unique Kindle Scribe in late 2022 and entered this house to supply its distinctive worth proposition. It was the primary to offer a 10-inch note-taker with 300 PPI. Customers might write notes in ebooks and freehand draw. Amazon releases firmware updates each few months to introduce new options and enhancements. In late 2024, it launched the Kindle Scribe 2.
The Kindle Scribe 2’s large promoting level is its design. It has been modified from the unique to look extra like a ledger. It additionally has a brand new jade coloration to make it stand out in a crowd. The display has been modified to permit extra torque from the brand new stylus, which additionally acquired a minor revision: the information are new, and it has a rubber eraser.
The software program has been drastically modified, too. A brand new AI-driven pocket book shortly summarizes pages and notes into concise bullet factors in a handwritten-style font that may be shared from the pocket book tab. You may also refine your notes in a handwritten-style font in order that they’re legible whereas sustaining the feel and appear of handwriting.
One other standout function is Energetic Canvas; you may write your ideas instantly into the ebook when inspiration strikes. Your be aware turns into a part of the web page, and the ebook’s textual content dynamically flows round it—whether or not you enhance the font measurement, change the font fashion, or change the ebook structure, the be aware stays seen precisely the place you need it, so that you by no means lose any that means or context. You’ll additionally be capable of write your notes within the aspect panel and simply cover them while you’re finished.
{Hardware}
The Kindle Scribe 2 encompasses a 10.2-inch Carta 1200 E INK show with a decision of 1860×2480 and 300 PPI. Its redesigned show has uniform white borders. The display is flush with the bezel and guarded by a layer of glass. It additionally has 35 white and amber LED lights that may be adjusted robotically. This lets you learn in darkish or low-light environments. The sunshine from the machine doesn’t shine instantly into your eyes however spreads evenly throughout the display.
You possibly can choose two colours for the Scribe 2: tungsten and teal inexperienced. There are tiny rubber ft on the again of the Scribe; that is helpful in order that it doesn’t slip and slide on a desk when drawing. Amazon has a number of equipment for the Scribe, together with cloth and leather-based circumstances.
The brand new Kindle Scribe pen has new colours to match the Scribe 2. The brand new Premium Pen additionally has a customizable shortcut button in order that long-pressing can activate the highlighter, pen, marker, pencil, eraser, canvas, or sticky be aware. The rubber eraser on the highest is one other appreciable improve, making it simpler to erase errant notes.
Beneath the hood is a 1GHz MediaTek MT8113 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of inside storage. It has Wi-Fi 5 to obtain e-books from the Amazon Retailer. Bluetooth 5.1 is offered in choose markets to wirelessly join earphones or an exterior speaker to hearken to audiobooks. Audiobooks are unavailable in each nation, comparable to Canada, however they can be utilized within the US, UK, Japan, and different worldwide markets. A USB-C port is offered to cost the machine. Amazon charges the brand new and authentic Scribes as having the identical battery life — as much as three weeks should you write for about half an hour a day and as much as 12 weeks should you learn for that very same period of time. The size are 196 x 230 x 5.8mm and weighs 433g.
There are two fundamental causes to buy the brand new Kindle Scribe 2. One can use it as a digital pill to take notes, write in e-books, and use present and future AI-driven enhancements. The opposite is to make use of the big display to learn Kindle Books. Studying e-books is the only real purpose I take advantage of the Scribe frequently. The Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version, and Kindle Colorsoft all have round 7-inch screens, whereas the Scribe is 10 inches. I really like sitting on a sofa or in mattress and studying a ebook. It makes me cease utilizing my cellphone 24 hours a day, and naturally, because it has an E INK display, it’s simple on the eyes.
Software program
Amazon is utilizing Linux on the second-generation Kindle Scribe. They’ve used the identical working system for the reason that first Kindle, launched in 2007. This permits all their e-readers to make use of much less CPU, RAM, and battery energy, because the OS doesn’t want a lot energy. There are not any background processes like Android.
The house display seems barely totally different on the Kindle Scribe because of the massive 10-inch show, permitting extra content material to suit on the display anytime. The date, WIFI sign power, and time are on the prime of the display. Beneath that could be a large search bar and an icon to launch the Amazon bookstore and audiobook retailer. Beneath, what are your latest gadgets on a carousel? It could present the quilt artwork of books that you’ve got just lately added or are within the technique of studying. It additionally signifies notes that you’ve got made and different paperwork, comparable to a PDF file. Beneath which are the entire curated purchasing lists, comparable to Uncover Books, with a number of tabs that you may click on on to view numerous bestseller lists and genre-specific entries, comparable to new releases, romance, biographies, and so forth. There’s a scroll bar on the far proper that you may scroll down, or you may management the capacitive touchscreen along with your finger or stylus to scroll down additional. Nothing of be aware is finished right here apart from additional Amazon suggestions.
Should you faucet on the prime of the display, a drop-down menu will seem. You possibly can set up a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection from right here, activate airplane mode, or regulate the nice and cozy or cool lighting. There’s additionally a sync button, which is beneficial while you edit PDF recordsdata and need to view them on different gadgets.
The UI on the underside of the Scribe has a house button, which can all the time take you again to the primary menu. In addition to that, your quintessential library can be the place all of your books, comics, manga, or audiobooks you bought from Amazon. As well as, all books despatched via Ship to Kindle and PDF recordsdata may even be housed right here. You possibly can type by doc sort for straightforward entry to sure supplies. If you’re within the technique of studying a ebook or freehand drawing, there can be a big picture that offers you a way of what it’s. On a typical Kindle, it’s normally an image of the quilt artwork of no matter ebook you learn. Nevertheless, on the Scribe, let’s say you’re freehand drawing. The icon will present you what’s there. For instance, we wrote, “We’re testing the highlighter” with the stylus within the be aware app, and you may see the textual content. In addition to that, there’s a new UI ingredient known as Pocket book and MORE. Underneath extra, that is the place you may management your studying lists, entry the web browser, or launch Goodreads.
The settings menu is totally different from most different Kindles. You may have the everyday account, Family and Household Library, Gadget Onions, and Parental controls. Nevertheless, there are a number of new entries, comparable to Pen and Ebook and Notice-taking choices. Underneath Pen, there’s a single possibility at launch known as Pen Shortcuts. Right here, you may management what occurs while you click on the aspect button. Your solely choices are a highlighter, pen, marker, pencil, eraser, canvas, or sticky be aware.
Notice Taking
The Notice-Taking app is one thing most individuals will mess around with when utilizing the Scribe for the primary time. The variety of choices you may have is geared toward new customers, not individuals who have beforehand owned different e-notes. Only some UI parts are on a toolbar on the far left. The primary one controls line thickness. You may have fantastic, skinny, medium, thick, or heavy. Earlier than you begin drawing, strengths are subsequent to the names so you may perceive how they may look. Beneath is the highlighter management, which has the identical thickness settings. The eraser settings have a lasso device to delete a selected space or web page. You possibly can management the thickness degree with an eraser in your stylus. There’s a small setting to vary the navigation toolbar from the left to the fitting aspect. Clicking on the pointer button will deliver down a small navigation pane on the highest of the display. Right here is the place you may rename the web page you’re drawing on. You may also choose numerous templates. There are 18 complete templates. A few of them are very distinctive and never on another e-notes. You may have the everyday school guidelines and numerous drafting ones, too. One of many fabulous choices right here is sharing the doc you’re engaged on through e mail. You possibly can enter a most of 4 e mail addresses to ship the doc. It can point out the file sort, and sending is quick because it’s finished via the Amazon e mail servers.
The notebooks in Kindle Scribe don’t simply allow you to take notes; they assist you to manage your ideas and concepts.
The brand new Kindle Scribe has Energetic Canvas, a brand new expertise for taking notes in books. As you’re studying, write instantly within the ebook with the Premium Pen, and the sentences will transfer and circulate round your be aware, making your ideas a part of the web page. Should you enhance the font measurement or change the font fashion or structure, your be aware will keep anchored to its authentic place, so it by no means loses that means or context. You may also use Energetic Canvas to mark up Phrase Docs and different reflowable paperwork, which you’ll then share with colleagues.
The brand new pocket book summarization function, powered by generative AI, means that you can shortly create a synopsis of your notes to deliver your concepts off the web page and switch them into actions. To make use of the function, choose as much as 15 pocket book pages, open the pocket book menu, and click on the AI icon. Choose “Summarize,” the function will convert your notes into concise bullet factors. The summaries are in a script font, in order that they’re legible and straightforward to share whereas sustaining the feel and appear of handwritten notes.
Should you’re scribbling in a rush or don’t have the tidiest handwriting, the brand new AI-powered refinement function will convert your handwritten notes right into a script font for a extra elegant (and legible) look. Whereas in a pocket book, click on the AI icon and choose “Refine writing.” Your notes can be shortly transformed right into a script font and inserted again into your laptop computer, making them simpler to learn, overview, and share. If inspiration strikes and also you need to make adjustments, you may nonetheless edit and replace your refined notes.
Amazon has a fantastic write-up on the brand new AI options and the place to entry them. You possibly can learn their tutorial HERE.
PDF Information
Modifying PDF recordsdata is a blended bag. You possibly can’t merely sideload PDF recordsdata from the USB cable to your pc. You possibly can view the PDF file, however there is no such thing as a enhancing performance apart from long-pressing utilizing your finger or the stylus and utilizing the keyboard to jot down a be aware. You possibly can solely edit PDF recordsdata utilizing Ship to Kindle for Chrome, Home windows, and Mac. While you ship a PDF file utilizing Ship to Kindle, it can sometimes take a number of seconds to add however as much as ten minutes to be totally despatched to your Scribe.
Utilizing the Ship to Kindle app solely means that you can ship small PDF paperwork to the Scribe. The corporate does have an on-line device that’s able to supporting bigger recordsdata, comparable to 200 MB most.
Suppose you’re a Microsoft Workplace consumer and edit PDF recordsdata utilizing Phrase. You possibly can ship paperwork instantly out of your Microsoft Phrase app in your desktop or browser to learn, overview, and annotate instantly in your Kindle. Nevertheless, it’s good to subscribe to the Microsoft 365 subscription.
When the PDF file has been despatched to your Scribe, you may have the identical navigation bar that seems when freehand drawing. You possibly can choose the Pen or Highlighter and decide your required thickness settings. You possibly can then annotate the PDF by manually underlining phrases and writing within the margins. To view your edited PDF on one other Kindle. You might want to go to the Scribe dropdown menu on the primary residence display and click on on SYNC. You then have to get one other Kindle e-reader and click on on SYNC once more.
One of many huge advantages of PDF recordsdata is sharing paperwork collaboratively. You should utilize the Amazon e mail service to ship as much as 4 addresses. That is helpful for a number of people who find themselves enhancing a single doc or a contract that 2-3 folks have to signal after which submit the signed doc to a third celebration. A very good instance is a normal NDA settlement we signal with everybody to get early entry or overview samples. We frequently must signal a contract, have two folks signal it, after which e mail it again to the corporate. With the ability to do that all on the Kindle Scribe, utilizing Amazon’s servers, is compelling.
Wrap Up
The Kindle Scribe 2 2024 mannequin is the most recent era, and because it got here out, it has not gone on sale but. Nevertheless, the primary gen Scribe continues to have sale costs each couple of months. Lots of the new AI options discovered on the Scribe 2 have made their manner over to the first gen a few weeks in the past. There aren’t many distinctions on the latest mannequin to justify the additional $60 value.
The Scribe 2 has only some slight adjustments. The premium pen has been barely redesigned; it’s higher than the unique. The Scribe 2 show makes it simpler to jot down on glass. Lastly, it’s considerably lighter and thinner, making it simpler to carry for lengthy writing periods.
It is just a matter of time earlier than the first era Scribe is discontinued. Amazon will probably promote out of its remaining stock in its warehouses worldwide and won’t make any extra as soon as it does. This may make it the proper time to purchase one when it sells for $50 to $70 off the asking value. It ought to nonetheless be supported by firmware updates for a number of years. Nevertheless, if you wish to purchase the Scribe 2024 mannequin, it’s probably price it as a result of it’s the newest and best. It ought to nonetheless be supported by updates till 2029.
How does the Scribe 2024 examine to the competitors? I imagine the writing engine is best than the Kobo Elipsa, however the smaller Libra has a full-color display to attract in coloration and conduct highlights. The Outstanding Paper Professional additionally has a coloration e-paper display, and the Outstanding 2 remains to be of large worth. Onyx Boox has each black and white e-paper shows and colours. All of their fashions run Google Android and have full entry to the Play Retailer.
I feel the Scribe 2 is smart in case you are already invested within the Amazon ecosystem. When you have bought many books from them, studying on a 10-inch 300 PPI display supplies a variety of worth. Their writing system may not be pretty much as good because the competitors’s, however it’s user-friendly.
Amazon Kindle Scribe 2
$399.99
Execs
- Upgraded Stylus
- Excessive-Decision Display screen
- AI Ttools which are Helpful
- Good Battery Life
- Skinny and Light-weight
Cons
- Want to make use of Ship to Kindle to Edit PDF Docs
- Not Waterproof
- Costly
- Not A lot has Modified, In comparison with Scribe 1
- Solely has a Black and White E-Paper Show
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the previous fifteen years. Newspapers and web sites such because the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Put up and the New York Instances have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
