Why oh why does Apple not bring out a competitor to the Kindle

[MacManTexas56]

If I read a book I want to read it on my Kindle not my iPad, to me, they are not really the same market at all, you only have to try and read an iPad for long periods or outdoors to realise it is just not suitable. A lot of people I know and myself included NEED a tablet that can be read in sunlight and unless new technology comes to the fore, LCD panels just don't cut it - also the iPad is just too darn big and heavy.

Kindles are huge at the moment, its a big market, but the device (and all the other e-ink readers I have seen) are poorly designed and ugly. Apple could own this market, a beautiful e-ink reader that just does books and nothing else - they could charge a premium over the Kindle and it would sell by the truck load.

Apple make cheap and minimal music players - shuffle, nano etc why not an e-ink reader?

we are in a time where multiple functions are combined into one device so it has multiple uses.

you already saw the kindle commercials where they have a lady reading a kindle and guy can barely see his screen on his iPad.

Do you really think apple cares? Do you think most people that have a kindle go out and buy a fire to compliment it? yeah they are cheaper but now you have to have separate devices and the only reason is bc of the sunlight. All i know is when i see these kinda commercials i laugh, bc i want to be enjoying the pool or the beach instead of reading a kindle in the sunlight.

It's just another device to keep track of. Advantage of iPad is can do tons more things all combined in 1 device AND read your kindle books.

btw-we've had several kindle's in our house. Wife now has an iPad and didn't want to have another device to keep track of so she wanted me to sell her kindle. Sometimes she reads books weekly....sometimes she doesn't read for a month or more. That entire time the kindle is not used. Not worth it to have it as a separate device that only serves one function.

 

[spaghetti head]

I have yet to read an E or an I book. I do however wish that my iPad and iPhone were easier to read outside. I still haven't found the right settings to make this possible.

 

[notjustjay]

I have yet to read an E or an I book. I do however wish that my iPad and iPhone were easier to read outside. I still haven't found the right settings to make this possible.

Then you may want to give Kindle or another e-ink device a try. It really is a huge difference. If you can swing the extra $99 and you read a lot I would say it's worth having a Kindle to complement the iPad.

I was skeptical about "this whole ebook thing" too but now I have a Kindle for more hard-code reading and I can also access the exact same texts on my iPad or iPhone using their Kindle apps for lighter-duty (e.g. indoor) reading too. They all sync with each other so I pick up any book where I left off no matter what device I was reading it on. It's really nice!

 

[wolfpackfan]

This is the reason I have never purchased an iBook.

Plus the fact iBook is much slower to use than either the Kindle App or the Nook app, it doesn't have as large a selection of books and the books are more expensive. Once again Apple has gone more for appearance than function.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

iPad mini. $199.

 

[old-wiz]

I bought an iPad primarily to use as an e-book reader because I'm having too much trouble reading book size print. I use the Kindle app and it is so much easier for reading.

The other functions of the iPad are not as important to me.

 

[theluggage]

we are in a time where multiple functions are combined into one device so it has multiple uses.

Yup, but we're also still in a time where, on occasion, it is better to use the right tool for the right job. For example, you can take pictures with an iPad - but you can take better pictures with a compact zoom digicam that doesn't have a lens the size of a lentil.

I'll quite often carry an iPod, iPad, camera and a Kindle on a trip, and while I do try and make the iPad & Macbook an either/or (there are limits), even with both it still all weighs less than the laptop I was lugging around not many years ago. I don't want to be tethered to something the size of an iPad if I just want music, and I don't want to be left without a book to read because I've run down my iPad watching a movie (I endure several 8-10 hour transatlantic flights every year and a not-too-demanding book is the only way to stay sane).

The Kindle absolutely nails the sweet-spot for "leisure reading" (its not even much good for reference) but its small, light, the screen is restful, works in daylight and has a battery life measured in days rather than hours... and the killer is that you can install the Kindle app on your iPad, iPhone and desktop computer and not only have access to the same books, but have them all synced to the last page you were reading.

.sometimes she doesn't read for a month or more.

If you only read a book once a month and never read outdoors then, yeah, you probably don't need a Kindle.

 

[MacManTexas56]

Yup, but we're also still in a time where, on occasion, it is better to use the right tool for the right job. For example, you can take pictures with an iPad - but you can take better pictures with a compact zoom digicam that doesn't have a lens the size of a lentil.

I'll quite often carry an iPod, iPad, camera and a Kindle on a trip, and while I do try and make the iPad & Macbook an either/or (there are limits), even with both it still all weighs less than the laptop I was lugging around not many years ago. I don't want to be tethered to something the size of an iPad if I just want music, and I don't want to be left without a book to read because I've run down my iPad watching a movie (I endure several 8-10 hour transatlantic flights every year and a not-too-demanding book is the only way to stay sane).

The Kindle absolutely nails the sweet-spot for "leisure reading" (its not even much good for reference) but its small, light, the screen is restful, works in daylight and has a battery life measured in days rather than hours... and the killer is that you can install the Kindle app on your iPad, iPhone and desktop computer and not only have access to the same books, but have them all synced to the last page you were reading.



If you only read a book once a month and never read outdoors then, yeah, you probably don't need a Kindle.

if that works for you great. But i think it's a little excessive to have a phone, ipod, ipad, camera, and kindle on a trip. I like to enjoy a trip and not have to bring 19 devices with me to try to enjoy my time. same thing goes with these ads about reading a kindle on the beach or by the pool. Again, i'd rather be in the pool or ocean and not reading a book.

my point with the maybe once a month thing...depending on if she gets busy etc. She reads quite a bit, but she doesn't want multiple devices when 1 device does it all.

I just don't see apple ever coming out with something like this. we gonna see a retina e-ink september 12?

 

[theluggage]

I like to enjoy a trip and not have to bring 19 devices with me to try to enjoy my time. same thing goes with these ads about reading a kindle on the beach or by the pool. Again, i'd rather be in the pool or ocean and not reading a book.

I think we may have a different understanding of the word 'trip'. If you're talking about a long flight or train journey, a week of meetings in an identikit hotel and maybe one day sightseeing, then you need to have your entertainment sorted out.

...and, given that some people do like to read books in the open air, I'd much rather take the kindle to the beach than the $600 tablet (plus the solar charger needed to keep it running for more than a few hours, and the tent to keep the sun off it so you can see the screen).

No, I don't think Apple will bring out a dedicated eReader - because I don't see an opportunity for them to distinguish their product. Apple do best when the competition is rubbish.

 

[coolguy879]

Hello, the competitor to the Kindle is called the iPad .

 

[Michael1978]

I own an iPad 2...the display resolution sucks... Maybe an iPad 3 is pretty good for reading, but there is still the issue with battery life...my Kindle Touch lasts 2 month one time charging compare this to 10 hours an iPad and you know why even Pad 3 will never be a real ereader...

I use my iPad for the stuff it was designed and this does it so well that I use my computer much less than before.

 

[coolguy879]

I own an iPad 2...the display resolution sucks... Maybe an iPad 3 is pretty good for reading, but there is still the issue with battery life...my Kindle Touch lasts 2 month one time charging compare this to 10 hours an iPad and you know why even Pad 3 will never be a real ereader...

I use my iPad for the stuff it was designed and this does it so well that I use my computer much less than before.

We all know that the iPad 3 kicks the iPad 2's metaphorical ass.

 

[pear21]

BEcause apple wants you to believe that there iPad is perfect for everything. If they come out with a kindle it will say oh our iPad sucks for reading books for a long period of time which might stop people from buying them.

 

[UKBeast]

BEcause apple wants you to believe that there iPad is perfect for everything. If they come out with a kindle it will say oh our iPad sucks for reading books for a long period of time which might stop people from buying them.

For coloured magazines, encyclopedia, lesson books, study materials iPad is perfect.

For black and white reading focused novels, e-ink is perfect.

 

[tmarks11]

http://seekingalpha.com/article/557...ge-made-amazon-com-s-gross-margin-look-better

the eink market has gone down 65% since those articles you have posted.

1. Apparently you didn't read the article you posted. The author says "no one knows because Amazon won't tell you"
2. The author guesses kindle e-reader sales have plunged, but has no hard facts other then a sketchy magazine report about "tablet penetration in markets"
3. Anyone who believes Seeking Alpha is a good source of info is going to be disappointed; all the authors are trying to pimp stock sales to make themselves money. The author is short on AMZN and is trying to convince everyone that they are a failure
4. Been on an airplane recently? Every row has an ipad or a kindle reader in it. Looks like Kindle is doing well.

 

[matty27]

One can dream...


http://www.pcworld.com/article/224698/apple_develops_eink_hybrid_display.html

 

[Benguitar]

Because you can read books on iOS devices, and it isn't a market Apple is particularly interested in.

 

[lookout]

Not to get in the way of that cool apple logo, but there is all that backside real estate on the iPad that could be converted into an eink reader. Of course that doesn't address the issues of battery, weight, or the idea of taking a speedy non-ruggedized device beachside.

 

[NeroAZ]

Apple doesn't need to compete with amazon.

iPad is an awesome device, I love mine, I take it with me everywhere, I even read on it occasionally, but usually just news and web surfing and such.

I read quite often, 35 books so far this year, and 95% of that is on an e-ink Kindle. I do use my iPad occasionally to read, and a Kindle Fire to read at night in bed. But an e-ink device is the ideal reader. they are small enough to carry in your pocket and cheap!!

 

[NT1440]

The ebook reader market is small?

The Kindle is has sold millions and millions and in the last quarter, Amazon sold more ebooks than physical books.

The ebook market is HUGE, and as more and more people convert to devices like the Kindle it will get bigger and bigger.

Apple getting in there with a good competitive reading device could be a very profitable buisness.

The iPad 3 is great for reading books, i've done it myself, but there is a big difference when out and about to carrying a £500 heavy tablet, or carrying a £70 e-reader that weighs nothing!

Spoken like someone blissfully unaware of ongoing ebook prosecutions, the nature and state of the book and ebook licensing industry, etc

In short, ebooks are a mess right now and unless there is a reason to get in before the lawsuits are settled, no one in their right mind would want to.

 

[TheWheelMan]

If I read a book I want to read it on my Kindle not my iPad, to me, they are not really the same market at all, you only have to try and read an iPad for long periods or outdoors to realise it is just not suitable. A lot of people I know and myself included NEED a tablet that can be read in sunlight and unless new technology comes to the fore, LCD panels just don't cut it - also the iPad is just too darn big and heavy.

Kindles are huge at the moment, its a big market, but the device (and all the other e-ink readers I have seen) are poorly designed and ugly. Apple could own this market, a beautiful e-ink reader that just does books and nothing else - they could charge a premium over the Kindle and it would sell by the truck load.

Apple make cheap and minimal music players - shuffle, nano etc why not an e-ink reader?

Your request makes no sense. If Apple were to create an ereader, it would be for the iBookstore, NOT for their competitors store. So what good would that do you as a Kindle user like myself? The iPad allows me to have access to all my Kindle content, but a dedicated Apple ereader just may not.

 

[Melrose]

e-ink technology dictates a lot of the interface. The screens are monochrome so your lovely iOS interface would have to be dumbed down to plain black and white or greyscale. The screens are slow to refresh so you'd have to greatly simplify a lot of the animations, and you wouldn't be able to do multitouch.

This is the reason, whether e-ink ebook lovers agree or not. iOS is a multi-touch, million-colour, multi-task operating system. It's been designed for and is extremely well suited for what it does, which is not reading books.

 

[theluggage]

One can dream...

Apple would never put something that needed that much configuration on an iOS device. Also, as others have pointed out, the iOS "look and feel" is entirely based on the ability to do smooth, responsive animations.

More likely, some technology like Electrowetting will come along, that offers LCD-like speeds and ePaper characteristics without the kludge of a hybrid display.

----------

Maybe an iPad 3 is pretty good for reading,

Books on an iPad 3 certainly look a million dollars - it's one of the areas where the retina display stands out but:

(a) It's still unreadable in bright daylight
(b) It's still illuminated and less restful than a reflective display
(c) Battery life is still hours, rather than the days/weeks you get out of an eReader... and it takes longer to charge.

 

[Booji]

Really? Kindles are ugly and the world is demanding a beautiful e-ink reader?

This is not a market Apple needs to enter.

I have both iPad 3 and Kindle 4. The iPad is absolutely the best way to enjoy rich content like magazines, but I love the Kindle for reading books. I have Kindle on the iPad, but the iPad is too heavy and the backlit screen will fatigue my eyes over time. The Kindle weighs just 170g and I had easily hold with one hand, and the E-ink screen is just like paper and I can read it all day without fatigue.

If Apple developed a competing product, I would certainly consider it. However, with the Amazon ecosystem, and with a cost of just US $79, the Kindle would be very hard to beat unless there was something compellingly different.