Amazon Enters Gadget Market with Kindle, an eBook Device

[MacRumors]

Newsweek provides an early scoop for a device coming from Amazon called "Kindle". The $399 device attempts to deliver a complete eBook solution, unlike existing products, and is described as "the iPod of reading".

Indeed, the feature set is impressive, with EVDO and WiFi connectivity allowing customers to browse, purchase, and download from a library of over 88,000 digital books at launch. Aside from digital book content, you may also subscribe to newspapers and select blogs. The device also incorporates web browsing, email, and the ability to read Word and PDF documents. Other features as said to include:

- Has a keyboard
- 30 hour battery life
- 2 hour recharge time
- 10.3 ounces
- 4.9 inches x 7.5 inches x 0.7 inches, 800x600 pixel (from early spec sheet)
- SD Slot for storage (from early specs)
- USB 2.0 (from early specs)
- Uses E Ink technology
- Adjustable Font size
- Can hold over 200 books
- Can search books for phrase or name
- 3.5 stereo headphone jack

Amazon has reportedly been taking cues from Apple's iPod launch, planning on using similar videotaped celebrity testimonials at launch.

Dedicated eBook readers, however, have not yet seen a commercial success, with early attempts by Sony to create a market for the devices. Apple has been rumored to be working on a similarly sized tablet, though not intended specifically to be an eBook reader, there appears to be much cross-over functionality (web, email) between the devices.

Final specs and official announcement is expected later on Monday.

Update2: Official announcement and product page:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...&creative=9325

Article Link

[DMann]

Looking forward to Macworld 2008 in January.....

[arn]

before anyone says that this isn't apple related... let me cut you off.

I think this is very interesting and affects Apple. Certainly a company the size of Amazon entering a market like this which certainly overlaps some iPhone and/or iPod Touch functionality.

Also, there's talk of Apple going into the mini-tablet market in some form or another.

Based on the early description of the Amazon service, I think it's a potentially compelling solution. Wireless everywhere, downloadable books and web. Service charge remains an unknown.

arn

[Abstract]

Good ideas are just as necessary as good aesthetic design. I'm sorry, but this won't take off. It's too ugly. Someone else will copy all the features of this machine and make it look nicer. It could be Apple; it could be another company altogether. It'll also sell.

Originally Posted by arn

before anyone says that this isn't apple related... let me cut you off.

Damn it....missed my chance!!

[Leareth]

I love books and have over 3,500 of them.
But they are damn inconvenient to carry with me when I go somewhere
I would get a device like this if it worked well and let me read my books.
Once these readers get to the point where they are in color like textbooks then I am getting one for sure... and Apple does not have to make it.

[agore]

Originally Posted by Leareth

I love books and have over 3,500 of them.
But they are damn inconvenient to carry with me when I go somewhere
I would get a device like this if it worked well and let me read my books.

An obvious early-adopter market for a device like this is for students. Textbooks are heavy, expensive and frequently updated. The ability to do Spotlight-type searches in textbooks would be solid gold. The ability to use external links out to the Internet would be useful for many types of learning material.

[deathshrub]

Originally Posted by arn

Certainly a company the size of Amazon entering a market like this which certainly overlaps some iPhone and/or iPod Touch functionality.

People want an ipod so they buy one of these things? Not following you there

[DaBrain]

Originally Posted by arn

before anyone says that this isn't apple related... let me cut you off.

I think this is very interesting and affects Apple. Certainly a company the size of Amazon entering a market like this which certainly overlaps some iPhone and/or iPod Touch functionality.

Also, there's talk of Apple going into the mini-tablet market in some form or another.

Based on the early description of the Amazon service, I think it's a potentially compelling solution. Wireless everywhere, downloadable books and web. Service charge remains an unknown.

arn

According to Amazon there are no monthly fees for the 3G wireless connection.

[TechnoLawyer]

Originally Posted by arn

Based on the early description of the Amazon service, I think it's a potentially compelling solution. Wireless everywhere, downloadable books and web. Service charge remains an unknown.

Apple set the bar for 1.0 gadgets very, very, very high with iPhone. Can Amazon do the same with this 1.0 device? Maybe, but Amazon does not have Apple's hardware heritage. One problem I immediately noticed -- it's fairly thick at 0.7 inches.

Here's my prediction -- third party development begins for iPhone in February 2008. By June 2008, iPhone will have a world-class eBook reader. Maybe Apple will eventually get into the game as well. If iPhone/Touch with its terrific screen eventually has an eBook reader, why carry an additional device?

[Cleverboy]

Originally Posted by arn

before anyone says that this isn't apple related... let me cut you off.

Wouldn't dream of it. I think its a safe bet that this is a topic highly related to Apple affairs, especially concerning the rumored tablet and Amazon's continued expansion into digital media offerings. This is one of the first times Amazon has really demonstrated a physical "device" with their branding (I think).

Considering the fact that iTunes has surpassed Amazon for music sales, pushback in the product space (that includes DAP functionality) is certainly an eyebrow raiser. Currently, Kindle doesn't appear to support DRM music offerings, but as Amazon's Mp3 store doesn't have DRM... that's not really a problem for anyone wanting to play music purchases back on Kindle. It would seem to be a challenge for "audiobooks" however, at least the ones from major publishers.

That said, I think the value proposition is ambitious, but significantly flawed.

People clearly want an iTablet. In February (or before), Apple will be allowing people to install a stand alone PDF viewer on the iPhone/iPod. For most people, combined with the multi-touch/tilt/zoom features... that's all they'll need for adequate eBook support in a device with other capabilities.

I've looooooong thought that Apple should outright SELL eBooks through iTunes. They're already giving digital booklets along with CDs. Holding out can easily be about focus, but if held too long, its a bit crazy. If, as one example, Marvel or DC comics allowed fans to download the latest comics through iTunes, it would really set things on fire in that sector (although again, with the retail impact its a dicey proposition).

~ CB

[techmonkey]

Originally Posted by DMann

Looking forward to Macworld 2008 in January.....

What does MacWorld have to do with Amazon releasing this? I think the device they speak of from Apple is the rumored tablet, correct?

Originally Posted by dannychang

this is so ugly -.-. oh my god..

how can this relate to iPod??

the Design...the UI.....

the keyboard??? LOL....gosh.....

LOL, fugly. Some of the comments on Engadget are hilarious.

"Who knew Tandy computer was still around"

"Looks like something out of Buck Rogers"

http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/11/a...e-book-reader/

[DMann]

Originally Posted by techmonkey

What does MacWorld have to do with Amazon releasing this? I think the device they speak of from Apple is the rumored tablet, correct?

Just looking forward to the likelihood of a flash-based tablet or sub-notebook with a more streamlined and usable design being released in January.

Originally Posted by techmonkey

LOL, fugly. Some of the comments on Engadget are hilarious.

"Who knew Tandy computer was still around"

"Looks like something out of Buck Rogers"

http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/11/a...e-book-reader/

That is one shabby looking piece of Tandy....

Originally Posted by pooryou

This thing can't even display color?? Most non-fiction books use a lot of illustrations, which I would expect reproduced in color if paying $400 for a book reader....

Absolutely. This will make for a great incentive to spring for an iBooklet when released in January, in a similar way Zune helped to accelerate sales of the iPod touch and iPhone.

[dannychang]

this is so ugly -.-. oh my god..

how can this relate to iPod??

the Design...the UI.....

the keyboard??? LOL....gosh.....

[dernhelm]

Originally Posted by dannychang

this is so ugly -.-. oh my god..

how can this relate to iPod??

the Design...the UI.....

the keyboard??? LOL....gosh.....

Yeah - have to agree here. Ugliest cool-device I've ever seen. Amazon has the content, and can sell the books at a loss in order to sell the devices, but the devices are so hideous. Too bad - because I like reading better than listening to books, and the idea of a cheap book in digital form is something I like. Of course the hyper-restrictive DRM is bad, but if the book amounts to the cost of a throw-away paperback, then OK. The unfortunate part is that I wouldn't want to carry that ugly thing around.

How big is it BTW?

[agore]

Originally Posted by dannychang

this is so ugly -.-. oh my god..

how can this relate to iPod??

the Design...the UI.....

the keyboard??? LOL....gosh.....

But if it works, and if it sells, watch Apple introduce a reader that is smoothly integrated int the rest of its product line. Oh, and better looking while we're at it.

[BRLawyer]

Originally Posted by dannychang

this is so ugly -.-. oh my god..

how can this relate to iPod??

the Design...the UI.....

the keyboard??? LOL....gosh.....

Ditto...it's ridiculously FUGLY, especially for the keyboard. I think we'll have to wait til Apple comes up with something that REALLY works in this area...sorry, Amazon, you'd better stick to books and CDs...this device is CRAP.

[sicilian890]

Originally Posted by dannychang

this is so ugly -.-. oh my god..

how can this relate to iPod??

the Design...the UI.....

the keyboard??? LOL....gosh.....

I totally agree. This is step in the wrong direction for amazon. Its absolutely hideous and it could never replace books. There is nothing like having a complete library of tangible, REAL books.

[a456]

Originally Posted by dannychang

this is so ugly -.-. oh my god..

how can this relate to iPod??

the Design...the UI.....

the keyboard??? LOL....gosh.....

I agree. It looks like it belongs in a hospital ward.

[SPUY767]

Originally Posted by dannychang

this is so ugly -.-. oh my god..

how can this relate to iPod??

the Design...the UI.....

the keyboard??? LOL....gosh.....

I never thought I'd say this, but that thing makes sony's e-book reader look beautiful.

Originally Posted by gifford

one last post on the subject before i go make myself dinner...

I dont want E-ink, i have no reason to write on my iBook. The only market i can see Eink to be essential in is the education market.

But for the average user, writing with a pen is something that people just think they want, but when they get it, its awkward, and slower than typing... so whats the point.

Say no to E-ink. just a hi res lcd screen please Apple, and a on screen qwerty keyboard.

I had a competition with friends the other day, writing with various input devices. the pen driven miniature qwerty of my SE p9901 was extremely fast. and definately faster than my handwriting.

E-Ink has jack all to do with handwriting, but I remember when I still had my Newton a few years ago, some guy with a smartphone was making fun of me, I used to take notes on it. He talked up how fast he could type on his phone and etc. Foolishly, he challenged me to an input race on each device. I'd say I could input data into my Newton about twice as fast as his phone and even my current iPhone.

[pamon]

Kudos to Bezos and Amazon on this. An integrated ebook reader + ebook downloader + newspaper reader that can fit in a briefcase or laptop bag.. brillant..

So you can download a book on the go, read it on a plane, and then when finished download another book and read it on the way back. No need for books in your bag or anything like that...

Newspaper downloads and magazine downloads are the killer.... Being able to take this on the train or bus and reading your paper vs a laptop will be HUGE...

Kudos... will wait to see the engadget and cnet reviews on the press conference on Monday afternoon.

[Marble]

Will it be as painful to read on as a computer screen? That's the worst part about ebooks for me. Until there's a good way to read digital text off a surface that isn't backlit and doesn't have blocky res, readers like this will still be a secondary experience to books in every way except convenience.

[arn]

Originally Posted by Marble

Will it be as painful to read on as a computer screen? That's the worst part about ebooks for me. Until there's a good way to read digital text off a surface that isn't backlit and doesn't have blocky res, readers like this will still be a secondary experience to books in every way except convenience.

eInk is supposed to address those issues. Sony's info pages on it: http://products.sel.sony.com/pa/prs/..._features.html

arn

[Project]

Originally Posted by Marble

Will it be as painful to read on as a computer screen? That's the worst part about ebooks for me. Until there's a good way to read digital text off a surface that isn't backlit and doesn't have blocky res, readers like this will still be a secondary experience to books in every way except convenience.

It uses eInk, which is amazingly paper-like

[psxndc]

Originally Posted by Project

It uses eInk, which is amazingly paper-like

*sigh* I really really need to put up a video of my Sony eReader. You can say this until you're blue in the face but until people SEE how different eInk is, everyone will assume it is the same as reading off a laptop - people, it isn't. eInk really does look as good as reading off a book; I swear it does. I understand all of the gripes and handwringing, but readability should not be a concern. And reading off a laptop/PDA isn't even in the same galaxy as eInk.

For the record, I am supporting this reply, but my point is really directed to the OP that asked "is it really any better than reading off a PDA?" or something like that.

-p-

[Kaiser Phoenix]

Originally Posted by pamon

Kudos to Bezos and Amazon on this. An integrated ebook reader + ebook downloader + newspaper reader that can fit in a briefcase or laptop bag.. brillant..

So you can download a book on the go, read it on a plane, and then when finished download another book and read it on the way back. No need for books in your bag or anything like that...

Newspaper downloads and magazine downloads are the killer.... Being able to take this on the train or bus and reading your paper vs a laptop will be HUGE...

Kudos... will wait to see the engadget and cnet reviews on the press conference on Monday afternoon.

Completely agree that the newspaper and magazine downloader is the killer, it is for me anyway, coz now i dont have to spread the newspapers and make a racket every where and get my fingers dirty!