As a professor in one of my future of tech classes said, "paper books will never die." Nothing can replace the feel of turning the page or flipping through them. There just isn't much to be gained by going to an eBook.
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Amazon Enters Gadget Market with Kindle, an eBook Device
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This is simply a tautology. Nobody thought phones would become popular either.
Many posters have already said they have switched to a digital ebook format already in some way or another.
What bothers me is basically that they are trying to make books look like, well, books, in a different medium. They need to innovate slightly more IMHO. Do something with books that can't be done today.
The ability to download books, have many books on one device, long lasting battery, wifi capabilities etc already exist in many devices today so there's no innovation in simply making yet another of those gadgets. There's something "else" that needs to come into the mix.
Okay, since this thread is bound to go the way of the 500 thread, let me just go on record saying I can see this product being a huge hit and I believe it will be revolutionary! 
I do wish it was a bit less pricey though!
I do wish it was a bit less pricey though!
I prefer audiobooks so I can listen to while working out and such. I don't have as much time to read a bunch of books.
The Kindle is an ok idea, but it's only black and white. Most books that I buy has diagram pictures in it also. The Kindle looks about 10 years too late. And if Apple releases something like it in January, the Kindle will be an afterthought.
I looked at a video of the Kindle. It looks ok while holding and walking. I can totally imagine something like that on college campuses...but from Apple. The Kindle has a small screen, and you can't do much else with it.
The Kindle is an ok idea, but it's only black and white. Most books that I buy has diagram pictures in it also. The Kindle looks about 10 years too late. And if Apple releases something like it in January, the Kindle will be an afterthought.
I looked at a video of the Kindle. It looks ok while holding and walking. I can totally imagine something like that on college campuses...but from Apple. The Kindle has a small screen, and you can't do much else with it.
Well, I was trying to be nice lol.
It's not that bad considering Amazon knows jack about designing hardware, they could have at least asked another company to make it for them.
I think the idea is nice...if that device was $99. It's not worth PS3, iPhone, Eee PC money.
I have only just had a look at it, its hideous and what a waste of space. Every square millimeter should be taken up by oled/eink/lcd (or whatever) screen.
Simplicity is the key to this devices success more than any other product.
Simplicity is the key to this devices success more than any other product.
Okay, since this thread is bound to go the way of the 500 thread, let me just go on record saying I can see this product being a huge hit and I believe it will be revolutionary!
I do wish it was a bit less pricey though!
I agree with both points.
This is a lot bigger than some members are giving it credit for.
The same types of comments people are making against the Kindle are almost exactly the same arguments that were made against the iPod.
Granted, the eBook market is a little smaller than the MP3 market, but it still has a lot of potential.
And as a few people have noted in previous posts, what's the big deal if it's the ugliest device in the world? You're not buying it to wear around your neck, you're buying to it read eBooks!
But by making the entire thing covered by a screen, it makes it less simple. Remember, this isn't Apple we're talking about here where they can make a more useable device with a much larger screen.
But yea, I expect this thing to fall flat on its face and fast.
I said it before and I will say it again I would give my right *cough* to have Apple come out with an e-book reader. However after the review of the latest Sony E-book reader it is pretty obvious that while the text of e-ink is ready for prime time and is almost if not AS good as printed text....there are still some serious issues with e-ink. Namely flashing the screen every time you change a page or even trverse menus. This wouldn't be a complete deal killer if it was for the fact that at least in Sony's implementation it also takes 2 seconds to flip a page, traverse a menu, change a setting, etc. Again from what I understand this is an issue with e-ink itself at the present time and not simply Sony's implementation.
So I think I know why Apple has maddingly stayed out of this market that is in the EXACT in every way, shape, and form to where the MP3 market was prior to Apple coming onto the scene. Crap designs with too many buttons, and real though in the design, crap software to integrate the hardware to the computer in an easy fashion, crap format support, and realistically crappy book support.
You want to see a grown man soil himself? Have Apple come out with an e-book reader that resolves the above issues along with allowing easy markups and highlighting, team up with ebook.com to allow all those e-books that were sold to god knows how many PDA users to be used on the iReader, integrate ebook.com's inventory into a store in iTMediaStore, convince most of the major publishers to get on board with the ebook train, get some of the more major collages to create ministores in iTMS to allow students to download their text books, and finally allow spotlight indexing of all your books along with the markups. I'd wet myself.....OK maybe not but I'd have to run to the bathroom fast.
I'm 100% convinced that its the tech because the concept that Apple wouldn't want to go after a market who's heart and soul IS the education sector is beyond stupid. We all know that Apple targets schools for the Mac. This is beyond a natural fit. It simply is a no brainer. And screw the iPod and Music. Nothing. Absolutely NOTHING is more universal then books. Come on Apple. Wake up and smell the freaking innovation.
I hate to be a me-too kind of person because it adds little the discussion but you really hit this on the head. There is just so much marketing opportunity here it just smells of money. E-books, iTunes, intarweb, and email (basically an iPhone without the phone and a MUCH larger screen) and you have the tablet computer that will sell. Not a big market for people to do serious computer work on a tablet, but a huge consumer market for a tablet that does basic things people like/want to do on the go.
However, Amazon is really in a better position than Apple here when it comes to books in my opinion unless there is an ebook store integrated into iTunes. It really does fit into their media strategy. The interesting obstacle is if the e-ink screen tech will allow multi-media as well. If so, then being able to carry your songs, tv epis, movies AND books, magazines, pdfs, emails, and the web in one 10"screen would be a serious contender for gadget of the century.
So, now that we have official spec's, here's what's really good (great, even) about the device:
No computer, cables or syncing are needed to purchase content.
After a book is purchased, it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
Kindle provides free book samples. A user can read first chapters for free before deciding to buy.
U.S. newspapers include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post; magazines include TIME, The Atlantic, and Forbes. International newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland are available, including, Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times.
Kindle weighs 10.3 ounces.
Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phonesit does not use WiFi or require the user to find a WiFi hotspot
There are no monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments for the wireless service.
The user can email Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .BMP, .PNG, .GIF) to Kindle.
No computer, cables or syncing are needed to purchase content.
After a book is purchased, it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
Kindle provides free book samples. A user can read first chapters for free before deciding to buy.
U.S. newspapers include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post; magazines include TIME, The Atlantic, and Forbes. International newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland are available, including, Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times.
Kindle weighs 10.3 ounces.
Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phonesit does not use WiFi or require the user to find a WiFi hotspot
There are no monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments for the wireless service.
The user can email Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .BMP, .PNG, .GIF) to Kindle.
Good idea, but why make it so ugly? This white thing looks like a medical device! Why that big ugly keyboard?
Wow, ugly!
I thought Jeff and Steve were friends. One would think just because Jeff would have his design staff run it by the apple design staff just form some pointers/thoughts. What an ugly pile of dated looking tech.
I thought Jeff and Steve were friends. One would think just because Jeff would have his design staff run it by the apple design staff just form some pointers/thoughts. What an ugly pile of dated looking tech.
Apple shouldn't do E-Ink.
Its nice, but everything else on the device would be crappy and old looking.
They have to make a way that they screen can contrast correctly for reading. Simple as that. I don't expect to be outside reading much. Hell, I don't see many people that go outside to read. But it would be good if there was some level of outside readability on this fantasy Apple device that we are creating.
Its nice, but everything else on the device would be crappy and old looking.
They have to make a way that they screen can contrast correctly for reading. Simple as that. I don't expect to be outside reading much. Hell, I don't see many people that go outside to read. But it would be good if there was some level of outside readability on this fantasy Apple device that we are creating.
Yes the device itself is ugly. But it may sell because there is NO MONTHLY FEE.
There are likely lots of people like who'd buy an iPhone except that you have to agree to pay something like $2,000 to a phone company. Here with this new gadget they have removed that major problem.
One more case of some big powerful company turning the cell phone business upside down. This can only be a good thing.
Question: Is this the first cell phone that doers not do voice?
There are likely lots of people like who'd buy an iPhone except that you have to agree to pay something like $2,000 to a phone company. Here with this new gadget they have removed that major problem.
One more case of some big powerful company turning the cell phone business upside down. This can only be a good thing.
Question: Is this the first cell phone that doers not do voice?
Big Brother Bezos
Glanced through the Kindle documentation.
As far as I could see, no support for PDF.
Furthermore all YOUR own content (docs, pdfs, email messages) that you want to install on your Kindle will have to go through Amazon for conversion (for a small fee) and transmission via Whispernet.
Great, Amazon having access to all the stuff (apart from MP3's) I want on MY Kindle.
It gets worse, the device sends home all sorts of information about your use of your Kindle. From the terms of service:
<ToS>
Information Received. The Device Software will provide Amazon with data about your Device and its interaction with the Service (such as available memory, up-time, log files and signal strength) and information related to the content on your Device and your use of it (such as automatic bookmarking of the last page read and content deletions from the Device). Annotations, bookmarks, notes, highlights, or similar markings you make in your Device are backed up through the Service. Information we receive is subject to the Amazon.com Privacy Notice.
</ToS>
Mind you, it says such as, which means they may collect much more.
What do they/can they do with the data, well read Amazon's privacy policy. Does not make me happy.
Some aspects of the Kindle are great, but the above will prevent me from getting one.
Better start saving for an iRex (8" 1024x768 screen, pen input on screen), potentially great device, however painstakingly slow in its current form. Not only up to 2 seconds to turn page, but screen can not keep up with handwriting at all.
Or wait for Apple to enter the arena. But remember, eInk still is fairly expensive and slow, Apple won't change that.
Glanced through the Kindle documentation.
As far as I could see, no support for PDF.
Furthermore all YOUR own content (docs, pdfs, email messages) that you want to install on your Kindle will have to go through Amazon for conversion (for a small fee) and transmission via Whispernet.
Great, Amazon having access to all the stuff (apart from MP3's) I want on MY Kindle.
It gets worse, the device sends home all sorts of information about your use of your Kindle. From the terms of service:
<ToS>
Information Received. The Device Software will provide Amazon with data about your Device and its interaction with the Service (such as available memory, up-time, log files and signal strength) and information related to the content on your Device and your use of it (such as automatic bookmarking of the last page read and content deletions from the Device). Annotations, bookmarks, notes, highlights, or similar markings you make in your Device are backed up through the Service. Information we receive is subject to the Amazon.com Privacy Notice.
</ToS>
Mind you, it says such as, which means they may collect much more.
What do they/can they do with the data, well read Amazon's privacy policy. Does not make me happy.
Some aspects of the Kindle are great, but the above will prevent me from getting one.
Better start saving for an iRex (8" 1024x768 screen, pen input on screen), potentially great device, however painstakingly slow in its current form. Not only up to 2 seconds to turn page, but screen can not keep up with handwriting at all.
Or wait for Apple to enter the arena. But remember, eInk still is fairly expensive and slow, Apple won't change that.
I'm not sure, every magazine, newspaper, book publisher of the traditional world... and even some of the 'new' txt based companies like the theregister , cnet, cnn to name a few. Many many companies can sell publication through this new business model. If I had a large wad of cash I would be buying up shares of some of the struggling magazines. this could turn the whole industry arround.
I dont know what the total sum of this devices potential market is, but my guestimate would put it over the mp3 market in terms of content sold.
People buy music every now and then. People subscribe to magazines. Buy newspapers on a daily basis etc
According to this:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/19/many-details-about-the-kindle/
I think it looks good overall. No wireless fee, but the reason is now clear. everything you use the EVDO is to buy items from Amazon. So Amazon subsidizes the evdo cost so you will buy more items.
I don't believe you can browse the web freely with it.
However, it does seem like there is a definite target group that it fits with. I could see a lot of the less-tech-savy folk being really interested in this. $399 one time fee, can "subscribe" to many magazines and web blogs. Even at a fee, that is more appealing than somehow trying to get a wireless plan/iphone or equivalent device. This has the appeal that it "just works".
arn
But you see, it is not made by
and that alone is enough to condemn it in the eyes of the fan boys
I mean, just read some of the personal comments about Jeff Bezos
Just because it isn't Steve Jobs lurking on the front cover of Newsweek looking his usual shifty self
All the while missing the point: If this works it could really be big.
I think the difference though is that people tend to listen to songs multiple times thus having a library of songs at your fingertips makes sense. However, people do not tend to read books over and over again and thus would have no need to carry their library of books with them. They read it once, then leave it behind. 1-2 books maybe for a commute, 2-3 maybe more for a trip or vacation. And let's face it, people who read on a regular basis are becoming fewer and far between. For students and researchers, yes, this would be great... especially for those doing theses or dissertations.
Really, the advantage to a standalone ebook reader is that will occasionally save you space in your bookbag/briefcase.
angles that remind me of a 70's sports car. complete waste of space.
It simply lacks style, and looks like a plastic enclosure to house some circuitry. which ofcourse it is, but i dnt want to be reminded of how souless my potential device is.