The KlearKase for Kindle 3 is now available.

THE KLEARKASE FOR KINDLE 3 IS HERE

The KlearKase for Kindle 3 (with the Kindle power slider at the bottom) is now available at Amazon.  Their case for the Kindle 2 was popular with those who want the extra protection of a splash-proof, transparent protective case that can be left on for normal use.

  Note that while this is splash-proof, it's not designed to be immersed in water (which requires more bulk and less flexibility), as it's not waterproof in that way.  It's good protection if you're by the pool and people are splashing water your way.

The KlearKase for Kindle 2 (with the Kindle power slider at the top) was preferred by some (see customer reviews there) to another maker's fully waterproof model which can be immersed in water but which doesn't allow you to turn the Kindle back On (after it goes into sleep mode) without opening the case.
  The KlearKase design does and also allows the Kindle to be charged in the case.

Some Technical details from the product page:

. Fits current generation Kindle 3 Only (power slider is on the bottom).
. Take your Kindle anywhere it may get wet, scratched, or dirty.
. Seamless access to the Kindle's controls (including power slider).
. Weighs only 6 ounces and includes free carrying bag.

The product page also mentions that the earlier case was featured on the Today Show, Budget Travel, Wired and more.  It's definitely added protection and different from the usual.  .
  Today, CNet's David Carnoy writes about the new case and features the company's video of the Kindle on a hydroplane :-)  He mentions that rubber seals cover the ports at the bottom of the Kindle but the seals can be lifted to access the ports, and the keyboard and buttons are usable through the case.

I don't have a KlearKase myself, as I'm not often near water, children with spillable drinks and more carefree handling of items, or pets, but I've watched the company's customer support on the various forums and they're unusually responsive.

What about a rumored Kindle 4?
While there are rumors about a smaller, touchscreen Kindle to be made available eventually, many on the Kindle forums report that they'll be staying with a non-touchscreen version on a 6" e-reader due to problems with precise highlighting on touchscreen models and somewhat error-prone virtual keyboards when making notes or editing them.  Others are looking forward to a touchscreen Kindle, as that would be much better for web browsing.  Ironically, competing e-readers using touchscreen technology don't have correctly-functioning web browsers and they're "hidden" for that reason, with workarounds discovered by some so that you can use them at all.

  The Kindle 3 became a huge seller due mainly to the high contrast e-Ink Pearl screen, which, on other vendor models, seems to lose some of that contrast with even the "IR" type of touch screens.   Earlier, I mentioned problems with the lighter shade of the font against the usual grayish background with the Nook Touch, which was also a serious issue for PC World's Melissa Perenson with the iriver Story HD e-reader.

  Yesterday, Laptop Magazine's K.T. Bradford mentioned the relative font lightness also:

' Contrast on the Story HD is on a par with the Nook but not quite as deep as the Kindle.  Still, it offers a good ePaper experience and won't wash out in sunlight. '

  And, of the Nook Simple Touch, Bradford's review in June noted that:

' With the two eReaders sitting side by side, the Kindle has slightly more contrast, but overall the two are fairly evenly matched.  Text stands out nicely against the background on the Nook, but it isn't as crisp as on the Kindle using the smallest font settings, making tiny text harder to read.  This isn't an issue once you move up to medium sizes. '

  For me, it was a matter of having to go to a large font on that e-reader, to get the good screen contrast I'm now used to on the Kindle 3.  I prefer my LCD-screen NookColor for reading text, over the Nook Touch for that reason (though not in direct sunlight of course).


Kindle 3's   (UK: Kindle 3's)   K3 Special ($114)   K3-3G Special ($139)   DX Graphite

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Check often: Temporarily-free late-listed non-classics or recently published ones
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published non-classics, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

KlearKase for Kindle / iRex files for bankruptcy

And now we have another Kindle protector -- this one is an everyday, always-on, always-sealed (if you want) case that protects the Kindle from hard drops, scratches, dirt, and even water, but not for floating in 3 feet of water as The Guardian can, which I wrote about the other day.

  Directly competing, though, against M-Edge's The Guardian, KlearKase is for everyday, normal use.  It weighs 6 ounces, which makes it three times lighter than The Guardian and half the price, though you won't want to toss this onto the water while swimming in the ocean.

  The case won't be available on Amazon.com accessories  until later this month, at an introductory price of $39.99.  Pre-orders will be accepted beginning next week, they say.

Quite a team that put this together
The founders include Dick Brass, who ran the Tablet PC and eBook businesses while a Vice President at Microsoft; Will Poole, formerly VP of Microsoft’s Windows and Unlimited Potential groups; and Bob McKenzie, former General Manager of the mobile software division at Microsoft and manager of its automotive software division; as well as Dave Vaillancourt, who brings more than 30 years of experience manufacturing plastic and waterproof products.

IN OTHER NEWS - Irex
Irex files for bankruptcy.
Irex's DR800SG, which was to be at Best Buy in December for $449 (per a tag seen there in empty shelves) and partnering with Barnes and Noble too, did not have editing tools yet for a business-focused e-reader and, in February, they announced another delay and the editing tools still weren't ready.  The pricing was too high for the current market, and they haven't had a sterling reputation for customer service, while a July 2009 review of their 1000S e-reader/tablet was less than positive.  They have some enthusiastic users though.

The news site linked reports that Rex Technologies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following poor sales of its DR800 e-book reader.  The Netherlands-based company has blamed its financial woes on delays during the FCC approval process.

"CEO Hans Brons suggests the DR800 launch was held up by the FCC and missed the critical window to be placed on shelves for the holiday shopping season. The delay is said to be a direct cause of the current strife.

  ' It's not a hopeless situation, but there is no cash and the banks are cautious at this time, ' says Brons."
  

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 Guide to finding Free or Low-Cost Kindle books and Sources  Top 100 free bestsellers
   Check often:  Latest temporarily free non-classics or late-listed ones