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Amazon Partners With AT&T to Introduce Kindle with Global Wireless Coverage
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LOL, Why would AT&T only concern itself with Apple. AT&T's job is to get people to use their network in exchange for the fee. This is one way of doing it, iPhone is another. It's nonsense and illogical to think that AT&T has to put Apple first. Don't be silly.
Hahahahaha . . ROFL. That's a good one. I feel sorry for Kindle users and yes it makes it even more obvious that the Apple tablet will do this. Even though I'm still hoping it's just a feature and not . . THE feature.
And it's in Fiji, but not New Zealand. Is there any logic to Amazon's rollout schedule?
When I first heard about the Kindle, I thought "$300+ for a product with a black & white screen thats only for books?!?! ridiculous!" But then I actually seen the screen in person and it amazed me how easy it was to read off of it.
False.
Amazon pays for all wireless data, whether it's a book purchase downloading, a Wikipedia-browsing session, or just random use of the experimental Web browser.
Of course, they're free to change their minds at any time; the Terms and Conditions state so, and once the Web browser matures, I wouldn't be surprised to see them charge (although I doubt they'll ever charge for books--except, as you note, when US customers travel abroad with the new International Kindle).
However, even without using (domestic or international) wireless, you can download purchased books from Amazon's website to your computer, then use the USB cable to transfer them to the Kindle. This new device just brings the same automatic wireless delivery to people outside the US (and Amazon has decided to start allowing shipment of Kindles to non-US addresses).
Perhaps some readers care about 3G wireless download, but I would very much prefer WiFi only version for under $200.
I've been skeptical of Kindle until I saw one being used on an airplane. But at the same time, I could care less about 3G on such device.
So wake me up when Kindle costs under $200, has native PDF and DOC support, and touch-display. Or better yet, Apple tablet (which I would pay a lot more for).
I've been skeptical of Kindle until I saw one being used on an airplane. But at the same time, I could care less about 3G on such device.
So wake me up when Kindle costs under $200, has native PDF and DOC support, and touch-display. Or better yet, Apple tablet (which I would pay a lot more for).
So there is actually a market for e-book readers...? Dang. Just go away! I'm even more upset hearing that this will be the (supposed) selling point for the new tablet. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean other people don't, I know. But what the hell, dude? This is lame. How many people actually care about their daily reading going digital. The kindle is completely lame. But I guess I'm wrong because Amazon keeps updating it so it must be selling, whatever.
FYI - Additional Fee
With this updated Kindle, there's still no charge for wireless usage in the U.S., but there's a "roaming" charge for U.S. customers traveling abroad.
From Amazon.com's help page:
Kindle (U.S. & International Wireless) customers from the United States can travel internationally and still get books in less than 60 seconds. Customers have the option to wirelessly download books, periodicals and personal documents via Whispernet for a fee or transfer files from their computer for free.
* International Book Service: Download books from your Kindle's Archived Items or the Kindle store via Whispernet for $1.99 per book.
* International Subscription Service: Receive all of your newspaper, magazine, and blog subscription content via Whispernet for a weekly fee of $4.99.
* International Current Issue Service: Download individual issues of newspapers and magazines from your Kindle's Archived Items or the Kindle store via Whispernet for $1.99 per issue.
* International Personal Document Service: Transfer personal documents to your Kindle via Whispernet for $.99 per megabyte (rounded up to the next whole megabyte). For more information about transferring personal files to your Kindle, see the Transferring, Downloading, and Sending Files to Kindle Help page.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200375590
With this updated Kindle, there's still no charge for wireless usage in the U.S., but there's a "roaming" charge for U.S. customers traveling abroad.
From Amazon.com's help page:
Kindle (U.S. & International Wireless) customers from the United States can travel internationally and still get books in less than 60 seconds. Customers have the option to wirelessly download books, periodicals and personal documents via Whispernet for a fee or transfer files from their computer for free.
* International Book Service: Download books from your Kindle's Archived Items or the Kindle store via Whispernet for $1.99 per book.
* International Subscription Service: Receive all of your newspaper, magazine, and blog subscription content via Whispernet for a weekly fee of $4.99.
* International Current Issue Service: Download individual issues of newspapers and magazines from your Kindle's Archived Items or the Kindle store via Whispernet for $1.99 per issue.
* International Personal Document Service: Transfer personal documents to your Kindle via Whispernet for $.99 per megabyte (rounded up to the next whole megabyte). For more information about transferring personal files to your Kindle, see the Transferring, Downloading, and Sending Files to Kindle Help page.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200375590
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
YES! If I hadn't heard about Apple's offerings, I'd buy this in a second.
That being said, I'll wait 'til Q2 2010 in order to see what's on the market. If Apple's entry is amazing, I'll buy it. If it's not amazing/not released, I'll get the Kindle at likely even less money.
That being said, I'll wait 'til Q2 2010 in order to see what's on the market. If Apple's entry is amazing, I'll buy it. If it's not amazing/not released, I'll get the Kindle at likely even less money.
I don't think Apple's tablet would have that much over the Kindle in terms of eBook reading, because e-ink can make the battery last for days and it looks a lot like real paper. Couple that with like millions or was it billions? of books easily accessible anywhere you get a signal.
Course then again, Apple usually wants to do something other devices haven't done before (or maybe that's just for netbooks?), so I wonder what they'd put in the tablet that's different...color e-ink? Couple that with a competitive price, and that would probably take out every eBook reader out there (assuming that if you switched the color e-ink to monochrome that it looks the same).
Course then again, Apple usually wants to do something other devices haven't done before (or maybe that's just for netbooks?), so I wonder what they'd put in the tablet that's different...color e-ink? Couple that with a competitive price, and that would probably take out every eBook reader out there (assuming that if you switched the color e-ink to monochrome that it looks the same).
international
Is that really possible? When I'm traveling outside of the US, and I can't buy a copy of the NYT on every news stand, so I actually have a need for this thing, I have to pay extra and don't get pictures?
I really like the idea of Kindle but, they have to get their head out and give me wifi. And please don't tell me that I can do the daily download on my computer. Why would I want to drag my laptop along just to make Kindle a viable option?
Some one please wake Amazon up and tell them about wifi. They do that, I probably own one of these things. Until then forget it. I can hope that Apple gets it.
Is that really possible? When I'm traveling outside of the US, and I can't buy a copy of the NYT on every news stand, so I actually have a need for this thing, I have to pay extra and don't get pictures?
I really like the idea of Kindle but, they have to get their head out and give me wifi. And please don't tell me that I can do the daily download on my computer. Why would I want to drag my laptop along just to make Kindle a viable option?
Some one please wake Amazon up and tell them about wifi. They do that, I probably own one of these things. Until then forget it. I can hope that Apple gets it.
"Newspapers and magazines delivered outside the U.S. will not include photos and other images."
http://www.amazon.com/The-New-York-Times/dp/B000GFK7L6/ref=kin2w_ddp
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the newspapers don't necessarily have international clearances for the photos that they print or "print" digitally. They could be sued by photographers or rights holders in other countries.
You can buy the NYT (paper version) outside the US.
The only reason I can think of why Amazon is selling it without pictures outside the US is that they want to save money.
True, because even if there are some pictures licensed for domestic publication only, technology exists to block them while allowing photos and tables produced by the newspapers own staff.
At any rate I don't get the need for an "International" edition. When I go on a trip I'm sure to load up plenty of reading material. Kindle newspapers don't interest me at all. The way they are formatted feels very un-newspaper like. Honestly I think Kindle's had it's day in the sun. Epub will take over. Hopefully, eventually w/o DRM like songs are now.
Many countries such as the UK and Australia don't have CDMA networks. If a resident of those countries wishes to purchase a Kindle, one with a compatible cell radio would be preferred
Nice move
to start selling the Kindle at a lower price. Amazon / BeeBob won't do anything for those of us who bought it for $365 within the past year.
to start selling the Kindle at a lower price. Amazon / BeeBob won't do anything for those of us who bought it for $365 within the past year.
E-ink is wonderful and LCD can't match it in terms of reading (both battery life and text readability). But I am betting many folks would overlook the issue if the battery life on LCD-based device is sufficiently long (more than 5 hours of real use). Let's face it, people like color, video, and other capabilities that Apple tablet would bring.
Regarding color e-ink, that is not yet practically feasible. Heck, even OLED isn't economically feasible for large sized device like the tablet, not to mention poor battery life when displaying black and white text.
And I doubt Apple's tablet would be competitively priced against now-$259 Kindle (which may drop to $199 level by the time tablet debuts).