Amazon has Acquired Touchco - A Multi-Touch Company

[inlovewithi]

Lol, I like how you add US Government to the list as a cheap shot.

Rofl Rofl Rofl

If Apple fell Microsoft wouldn't have anybody to copy off.

After reading some of you comments I don't think you really know what a niche means. I mean it's not so hard to understand? Do you not agree that Microsoft had a monopoly and a small group of loyal fans were faithful to Apple? You're taking it as a knock against Apple and in an attempt to defend Apple at all cost you're going into denial.

 

[iChan]

I feel that Amazon may be better positioned to compete apple than either Google or Microsoft in this market.

Whilst pressure sensitivity is really nice, I would sooner have finger proximity sensing.

 

[Stately]

Amazon really oughta avoid going head-to-head with iPad.

Haha, definitely. They're Kindle is about to take a dive due to the Apple tablet and the Barnes and Noble Nook and the . . lol you get my point. So they are upset I reckon. But Apple has their engineers working hard and their own facilities now to create whatever they desire. Your right, dangerous stuff. At this point though, I guess they're thinking that any competition is good, o they might as well make something.

 

[Carniphage]

They could sit back and watch Apple and others start to slice off bits of their business, or they could react.

Anyway, I wrote about this yesterday.

But how does adding a touchscreen help Amazon become more competitive?
They need a responsive user-interface to do that. And that means dumping e-ink.

C.

 

[iChan]

The last time we all looked, Amazon had already sold a huge amount of their Kindle eBook readers. Because, unlike the iPad, the Kindle is a product that has been shipping for more than two years now and the iPad won't be shipped for another couple of weeks or even months.

So: Amazon already has a successful product and nobody knows yet if the iPad will be a success at all.

1. Then, unlike some of you would love to believe, the Kindle is NOT competing with the iPad. The iPad is a gadget for watching multimedia content, and it certainly is a less capable eBook reader than the Kindle because of its inferior display technology for that specific purpose.

Now Amazon will open the Kindle for developers and they are also launching an own application store for the Kindle. Their device will attract a completely different crowd of developers, and it also attracts a completely different crowd of customers.

Or to put it very simply: Amazon targets READERS and RESEARCHERS, while Apple traditionally targets LISTENERS (music) and WATCHERS (videos) and people who want a surf board. The markets overlap in certain areas, of course. Both devices could be very useful in the realm of clinical trials, for example. You don't need - or want - fancy multimedia features for that specific purposes. You just need a flat device with long battery life that can replace paper. And actually, I think the Kindle is much better suited for that task than the iPad will ever be.

From my personal perspective, I will certainly not give Apple a single cent for another DRM-infested, locked-down gadget that is tightly bundled with their cash cow iTunes.

On the other hand, however, I am interested in Amazon's Developer Kit for the Kindle and what their exact plans and terms for their application store will be. I have some application ideas for which the Kindle for various reasons is better suited than the iPad, and I also doubt that I would have to use a niche language like Objective-C to implement those ideas on the Kindle (which is based upon Java).

Anyway. This is not an either-or market. 2. The Kindle has a clearly defined purpose and Amazon has rather quietly but nonetheless successfully pulled it off.

The iPad still has to find a target audience. It does now have a clearly defined purpose and it has the problem that it was not designed for input, but only to consume content - content that exclusively comes from Apple.

1. Er, How on earth is it not competing when I'm buying an iPad instead of a Kindle? and I'm going to use my iPad for Internet, reading books, reading comic books & magazines. (all things that are possible on the kindle) They're obviously directly competing.

2. As alluded to above, the Kindle does not have a "clearly defined purpose". It's purpose is imposed upon it by the limitation of the display technology. It's clear that Amazon wishes it could do more. And you're kidding yourself if you think otherwise. This acquisition, my human ability to perceive colour, and Amazon's role as media provider tells me I'm correct.

 

[blackcrayon]

Seems like the Kindle is selling well enough for Amazon to be acquiring companies to fortify its device future.

That shout keep speculators quite as to if or if not the Kindle is worth it.

Pressure sensitive is a better approach as you can mimic gestures.

And Apple has applied for their own pressure sensitive multitouch patents. (Don't know if any were granted yet)- Who's to say Amazon can get a multitouch pressure sensitive Kindle out before Apple can add pressure sensitivity in their devices?
I wonder if they'd even think it's worth it for much other than painting applications.

 

[iChan]

Source? No one knows how many Kindles have been sold.

arn

We all know there is no source, but we do know it's in the "millions". Yes, that lead will probably be wiped out by the iPad in a matter of weeks, but 2 (minimum) million devices is nothing to sniff at. And from what I can tell, Kindle users are really quite loyal.

 

[kiljoy616]

Old companies doing smart things, NOT

An interesting turn of events! Another content provider getting into hardware control...

Imagine if a record label had owned a method of delivering their content, like Sony. Could be interesting, and full of other corporate backers.

Old companies getting smart, hard to believe that will happen, sony would rather put more bad DRM than actually think about how they could have had a product like ipad years ago.

Let the old die as it should be.

 

[kiljoy616]

After reading some of you comments I don't think you really know what a niche means. I mean it's not so hard to understand? Do you not agree that Microsoft had a monopoly and a small group of loyal fans were faithful to Apple? You're taking it as a knock against Apple and in an attempt to defend Apple at all cost you're going into denial.

If Windows 7 is any indication of MS$ ability, they should stick to corp. where bad software is the norm. Up to now MS really has not done anything new but half ass their UI.

I give them credit for Ribbon and Office 2010 looking good and functional, but on the UI for windows 7, still seems cheap and unfinished. Is it so hard to have the ability to drag a file and have folders open. This can not be some patent infringement issue.

 

[talkingnewmedia]

But how does adding a touchscreen help Amazon become more competitive?
They need a responsive user-interface to do that. And that means dumping e-ink.

C.

Didn't you read what I wrote? Go back and read it and then if you can't figure it out . . .

 

[Chupa Chupa]

But how does adding a touchscreen help Amazon become more competitive?
They need a responsive user-interface to do that. And that means dumping e-ink.

C.

What does a responsive UI have to do w/ e-ink? The former is s/w driven, the latter is h/w based. Amazon's problem as I see it is that they don't have any experience in designing a decent UI. Heck they can't even design a Kindle that doesn't look like it was dug up from a 1980s time capsule.

Amazon would be crazy to ditch e-ink. That is the only "saving grace" the Kindle really has over the iPad if someone wanted a device mostly for reading.

That said I think Amazon following the "me to" touch route is a mistake. The best way for the Kindle to compete w/ the iPad is to go the opposite way. Make the reader dirt cheap and as low tech as possible. You'll win the hearts of bookworms over the world. The iPad customer is going to buy the iPad b/c it's a "jack of all trades" machine. If the Kindle is going to try to compete with that it will fail, if only because Apple has greater marketing abilities and 200+ retail stores worldwide, not to mention all the big box and online stores.

 

[sishaw]

Haha, definitely. They're Kindle is about to take a dive due to the Apple tablet and the Barnes and Noble Nook and the . . lol you get my point. So they are upset I reckon. But Apple has their engineers working hard and their own facilities now to create whatever they desire. Your right, dangerous stuff. At this point though, I guess they're thinking that any competition is good, o they might as well make something.

I'm not so sure that's true. The Nook is not serious competition--have you compared one to the Kindle? The Nook is just painfully slow--slow to turn pages, slow to highlight text, slow to search text. Also, the annotation tools are not robust at all compared to the Kindle.

Serious literary readers, who may read for hours at a time, are often going to prefer e-ink. The Kindle may remain a niche for serious readers, but it will have a market that will be different from the iPad's market. Sure, some people who are indifferent about books, or only read for brief periods, may choose the iPad over the Kindle, but those aren't the Kindle's core market.

 

[irun5k]

Is color e-ink anything that is even in a lab right now, or is it just not something that can/will ever happen as a progression of current e-ink technology? That seems to be where all this needs to go for e-readers.

 

[Carniphage]

Didn't you read what I wrote? Go back and read it and then if you can't figure it out . . .

Yeah, read it, twice!

I still have no idea how adding a stylus-based touch screen to an e-ink devices offers anything new at all.

Other than...

(wait for it)

Crosswords!

Is that it?
Is that how Amazon hopes to see off the threat of the iPad?

C.

 

[AnalyzeThis]

Is it so hard to have the ability to drag a file and have folders open. This can not be some patent infringement issue.

Even XP does it, what is the issue here?

 

[Carniphage]

What does a responsive UI have to do w/ e-ink? The former is s/w driven, the latter is h/w based. Amazon's problem as I see it is that they don't have any experience in designing a decent UI. Heck they can't even design a Kindle that doesn't look like it was dug up from a 1980s time capsule.

The reason the Apple interface is so good is not just down to touch. It's down to a highly responsive display coupled to the touch inputs. It reflects all user input with incredible responsiveness.

E-ink display technologies simply cannot deliver a touch interface. They are too slow. You'd make a mark or a gesture, and not have it show up on the screen until half-a second has gone past. The only way it can be fast is highly localised changes.

Sony have already added a touchscreen to their reader. And it actually makes the product worse.

C.

 

[cmaier]

Anyone else notice "Patent Pending" on the corner of their product?

(The plot thickens...)

that phrase has no legal meaning. It's like saying "now even better!" or "tastes great!"

 

[talkingnewmedia]

Yeah, read it, twice!

OK, let me try again. This is about app based publishing -- a market distinct from printed books or downloadable books read on an e-Ink device.

In app based publishing, a reader navigates the pages differently. In order to do this, the e-reader must have touch screen capabilities.

Further, the Times article states: The technology could allow Amazon to introduce a full-color touch-screen Kindle, raising the question of whether the device’s current displays, which are made by a company called E Ink, will play a role in the next round of reading devices.

 

[realgenius]

If Microsoft joins the race for this touch thing and their product ends up in a car. I will avoid driving that thing!

Microsoft SYNC is already in many North American cars made by Ford:
http://www.syncmyride.com/Own/Modules/Intercepts/InterceptIOP.aspx

 

[cmaier]

I agree. Btw, yes, kindle uses java according to sun's website

Blah Blah Blah.

More white noise and lies from the Simpsons troll.



The Funny thing about what you just said. Theres probably (Including Commercial iPhone Apps) a lot more Commercial Applications made in Objective-C than there is C# (Your Vocal favourite language).



Source?

Oh yea, how is a Book app not a competitor to the Kindle?

And the Kindle isn't locked down? Rofl Rofl Rofl Rofl

 

[Carniphage]

OK, let me try again. This is about app based publishing -- a market distinct from printed books or downloadable books read on an e-Ink device.

Thanks for the clarification, but...

In app based publishing, a reader navigates the pages differently. In order to do this, the e-reader must have touch screen capabilities.

But the input method isn't enough. Without a responsive display technology to go with it, Amazon only have one hand clapping.

Forget the interface. What kinds of App categories can you run at 1 frame per second? Playing a game on an e-ink screen is akin to playing a game on a laser printer.

Further, the Times article states: The technology could allow Amazon to introduce a full-color touch-screen Kindle, raising the question of whether the device’s current displays, which are made by a company called E Ink, will play a role in the next round of reading devices.

Color is interesting. But by all accounts color e-Ink, that is capable of updating in a 20th of a second is 4-5 years away.

So my point is, without dumping e-Ink, touch-input on its own gets Amazon nowhere. See Sony's "e-ink touch interface".

And e-ink is the one aspect of the Amazon product that people seem to like.

C.

 

[benpatient]

this thread cracks me up.

the kindle has, despite all of the snickering here and elsewhere, built up a solid, loyal following that's quiet online, but larger than this thread seems to think. They're using a system (eink) that even this early in the tech development offers something that nothing else on the market can even begin to match (a "printed" and "persistent" feeling) that makes reading on the device incredibly satisfying compared to an LCD. They have a distribution system in place that is unrivaled in the ebook world.

and you guys all seem to think that they are buying this touch-screen company to compete with apple's ipad...hilarious.

Amazon has built their Kindle UI and OS with the intention of switching to a touchscreen interface from day 1. If you've used one you know what I mean.

It isn't a media player. it isn't a photo viewer. It isn't even a web browser. It's a book reader, and it's inherently better at this one task than the ipad will ever be simply because of the screen technology.

yes, you will be able to read books on an ipad. but you can already read books on a mac pro or an acer netbook or a commodore 64.

Just because you can surf the web on a cell phone doesn't make it a more enjoyable experience than surfing that same web on a real computer. Yes, it's nice to be able to open up a page on your iphone and check on a movie time or the price of something on Amazon to compare it to the price at the store you're in. But do you really sit there and browse the internet on your iphone if you have easy access to a real computer?

I think the ipad will work well as a web browser device. For some people, that will be all they need and they will be happy with it for that reason. I do see a market, but it isn't a book reader. not with a low-res backlit lcd.

 

[cmaier]

that explains why amazon:

1) just announced an AppStore/sdk
2) just announced a new revenue splitting plan for publishers, modelled on apple's developer agreement

not. Of course amazon wants to compete with ipad.

this thread cracks me up.

the kindle has, despite all of the snickering here and elsewhere, built up a solid, loyal following that's quiet online, but larger than this thread seems to think. They're using a system (eink) that even this early in the tech development offers something that nothing else on the market can even begin to match (a "printed" and "persistent" feeling) that makes reading on the device incredibly satisfying compared to an LCD. They have a distribution system in place that is unrivaled in the ebook world.

and you guys all seem to think that they are buying this touch-screen company to compete with apple's ipad...hilarious.

Amazon has built their Kindle UI and OS with the intention of switching to a touchscreen interface from day 1. If you've used one you know what I mean.

It isn't a media player. it isn't a photo viewer. It isn't even a web browser. It's a book reader, and it's inherently better at this one task than the ipad will ever be simply because of the screen technology.

yes, you will be able to read books on an ipad. but you can already read books on a mac pro or an acer netbook or a commodore 64.

Just because you can surf the web on a cell phone doesn't make it a more enjoyable experience than surfing that same web on a real computer. Yes, it's nice to be able to open up a page on your iphone and check on a movie time or the price of something on Amazon to compare it to the price at the store you're in. But do you really sit there and browse the internet on your iphone if you have easy access to a real computer?

I think the ipad will work well as a web browser device. For some people, that will be all they need and they will be happy with it for that reason. I do see a market, but it isn't a book reader. not with a low-res backlit lcd.

 

[thecartoonguy]

I just think it's a minor improvement. Not direct competition.

That and without any "updates" they could be left behind and basically become a memory. A nice one but a memory none the less.

 

[kyeblue]

It would be silly for Amazon trying to compete with Apple on hardware

As long as Apple allows Kindle application on iPad (and I don't see that Apple can legally block it), Amazon can easily compete with ibookstore.