Kindle 4 Cover

Now we finally have the next generation Kindle readers in our shopping carts, demand for new Kindle 4 covers has gone through the roof!

Most cases, covers and sleeves are designed to fit both the Kindle Touch Reader and the Kindle 4. These are similar in size, but significantly smaller than the previous 3rd generation keyboard models. So if you have an old case for one of those it probably won't really suit your new ebook reader.

Here are the best Kindle 4 covers so far (well we think so anyway!). There will be more continually coming to market so expect the range to grow pretty much for as long as the current incarnation of Amazon's ebook readers is being used!

Choosing the best cover is always a very personal thing. But, in the interest of window shopping here is my current fave!

Each has something a little bit different to offer, and none are too pricey (which is important as the cost of the Kindle itself falls it seems a little silly to spend nearly as much again just on something to cover it!).

Suitable for both the Kindle 4 and the Kindle Touch, this simple sleeve from Amazon ticks all the boxes when it comes to protecting your new gadget.

• Lightweight
• Simple
• Secure (zipper fastening)
• Protective (with egg carton texture inside to absorb shocks)
• Great range of colors

I think simple sleeves are way better than hard back covers!

For those that don't want to hide their ebook reader in an old fashioned book style jacket when actually using the thing, but do want to keep it clean and safe when they're not!

Please note the remainder of this article was written prior to the release of the all new Kindle range and so is a little out of date...

There will of course be a need for new cases and covers, if Amazon's previous behavior regarding the best selling ebook reader is anything to go buy. Not for them, simple upgrades inside. Oh no, each generation of their ebook reading device is hugely different both inside and out.

And, when you see the advances that have already been made you can see that the whole shape and size is likely to change significantly for the future Kindle generations. If not, we suspect they will need to introduce a seven inch version as a mid-range reader instead, since interest in certain future possibilities such as touch and color are so huge.

Although there are many internal upgrades that consumers would like to see from the next generation ebook reader, such as better support for foreign characters and a larger memory, with improved MP3 library capabilities, the big changes being requested will have a far more dramatic shape on the device itself.

Color is huge.  Rather surprisingly, if you like me read mostly plain old monochrome text.  But for kids and students as well as those that read work documents, the ability to display graphics, illustrations and charts in full color will be a dramatic improvement.  

The other "big thing" is to do away with the QWERTY keypad and instead offer a touch-screen display.  This would mean the whole thing could be shrunk (with the same 6" display), or kept a similar size and the display made larger.  Both would make the current batch of Kindle covers redundant and of course get us all out shopping for new cases to fit the Kindle 4!

With the arrival of the third generation Kindle we saw a marked shift in the style of cases and covers selling well.

Of course there are still a huge number of book style leather jackets sold, which was led by the development of the lighted leather cover. But there has been a huge shift towards more modern designs, in light-weight easy care materials and bright fun colors.

The reduction in price of the Kindles has of course opened up the ebook reader market to a younger audience that do not necessarily want to encase their latest gadget inside an antique looking leather cover (though how anyone could resist a Cole Haan Kindle cover is beyond me!).

With the Kindle 4 likely to be an even more modern device, with features most seriously demanded by youngsters this trend is set to continue. No-one wants a heavy cumbersome case getting in the way of a beautiful touch-screen so I imagine we will see a huge demand for light-weigh Kindle 4 sleeves and pouches. Full covers and cases with stands and so on might well be redundant if you have a touch-screen.

As soon as details are released of new Kindle 4 covers, we will of course be having a closer look (though not of course until we have seen the Kindle 4 itself, which cannot be long now surely?).