Amazon unveils a brand new $340 ‘Kindle Scribe’ e-reader that doubles as a digital pocket book

Amazon started its fall devices event this morning by unveiling a new version of its Kindle e-reader, called Kindle Scribe, that allows users to take full pages of notes and annotate documents using an included pen.

The e-ink device will be released globally for a starting price of $339.99 prior to the holidays, according to details provided by Dave Limp, Amazon’s senior vice president of Devices and Services, during the company’s virtual event Wednesday.

Features include the ability to send documents to Kindle Scribe from a phone or computer, mark up PDFs, and add sticky notes to Word documents. Limp said it will be possible to send files to Kindle Scribe from Microsoft Word next year.

Limp said he has been able to use the device to replace his traditional notepad.

The price of $339.99 is for a 16GB version with a basic pen. The price ranges as high as $419.99 for a 64GB version with a premium pen, which has a dedicated eraser and a shortcut button that can be assigned to different functions.

Existing competitors include reMarkable and MobiScribe.

Other highlights from the event:

• Amazon’s Astro home robot will detect pets and alert owners to activity. The company also announced an upcoming software development kit that will allow robotics engineers to extend Astro’s functionality.
• The company showed a new version of its Echo Auto device.
• Amazon’s new Halo Rise bedside device will track sleep using a radar sensor and low-power radio signals.
• There’s a new version of the Amazon Fire TV Cube.
• A new remote for Amazon Fire TV will include a built-in speaker that rings after asking Alexa to find your remote, helping to locate the device in the couch cushions or wherever else it gets lost.

See Amazon’s full run-down here.