Amazon explains the technology behind the Kindle Paperwhite

Along with its new Kindle Fire tablets, Amazon announced its Kindle Paperwhite earlier this month, the first Kindle eReader to feature a front-lit screen. Amazon says this new technology will prevent eye strain while improving readability. The device also has a touch screen display, replacing last years Kindle Touch, and features 62% more pixels which gives a much higher resolution, 25% better contrast for text, a reported 8-week battery life (even with the light on), Wi-Fi connectivity, and can hold up to 1,100 books. Amazon also boasts that over a million titles are available for less than $9.99.

Today Amazon published this video to YouTube explaining why it's the device they "always wanted to build" and describing the technology behind the Kindle Paperwhite's display and patented built-in light.

Jon McCormack, VP of Kindle Device Software said,

We want to build devices that people love, devices that people will use every single day of their lives.

The device is available for pre-order now and comes priced at $119 for the "ad-supported version" and $139 for the ad-free version. It's currently only available in the US.