What can we learn from the new Amazon Kindle?
As an author and admirer of iconic mobile devices, I’m totally jazzed by Amazon’s new Kindle device. For those of you who haven’t read about this, Amazon just launched its own mobile reading device today that uses a high-resolution, electronic paper display to read books, newspapers, blogs and magazines on-the-go. Obviously, we’re not strangers to the ebook business since we equipped our earliest Pocket PCs with Microsoft Reader and ClearType technology. Unfortunately, the ebook marketplace just never took off. How is Kindle different and why might it succeed where so many others have failed?
Electronic Ink
The Kindle’s new electronic paper and ink technology looks just like you’re reading real paper and ink and doesn’t require a backlight. You can even read books on this device in direct sunlight which doesn’t work very well with computer screens (with the exception of the OLPC XO laptop). Not requiring a backlight means that this device and last for a week without a recharge.
Wireless Everywhere
The Kindle comes equipped with built-in EV-DO wireless so you can download a book, newspaper or magazine in less than a minute no matter where you are. You don’t have to hunt down a Wi-Fi hotspot. What’s more, there’s no monthly subscription, service plans, commitments or bills to deal with for this wireless data access .
No PC Required
Since the Kindle is a wireless device, it doesn’t require a computer and you don’t have to hassle with cables or synching. You don’t have to download content to your computer and then copy it over to your device.
Bookstore Included
The Kindle includes a built-in store that allows you to purchase content OTA from Amazon directly from your device. Books cost just $9.99 and you can sample the first chapter for free.
Content Push
Your magazine, blog and newspaper subscriptions are pushed to you. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll find that your New York Times, Wall Street Journal or other morning papers have been pushed to you overnight and are waiting for you. Magazines arrive on Kindle before they show up at the newsstand.
Check out the details and launch videos at the link below:
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Rob
Comments
Anonymous
November 20, 2007
The comment has been removedAnonymous
November 21, 2007
Of course, the downside of this gadget is that you'll have to pay for reading a blog on it. Ow yeah, that's right. Paying Amazon to read someone else's blog. I think I'll shop around, think Sony has a very nice e-book too, and it's $100 cheaper too.Anonymous
November 23, 2007
I agree 100% (with all your five benefits), and I think where WM need to work the most is on the "everywhere". I said it back in 2000, and I'll say it again: Why doesn't Microsoft enter the operator business? No more "Connectivity and synchronization may require separately purchased equipment and/or wireless products..." . I have been waiting for operators in seven years, and they still launch great devices (like the latest touch duo) without specifying the OS in the ads. Jeff Bezos really has something going this time, but there's one question that his marketing guys seemed to have missed... -WHAT?! Is it only black and white? ...and it's the same experience that I got when my father bought the family's first TV back in the early 70s. Personally, I'll wait for the color version ;-)Anonymous
January 07, 2008
A couple of downsides to the Kindle that I would like to mention (from what I can see without actually owning one):
- it's ugly
- does not support PDF
- service only available in the U.S. (so far) Since I have a lot of PDF books that I would like to read (and a laptop isn't really suitable for that, I learned that), I got myself a Sony PRS-505, and I'm totally happy with it. One of the coolest device I have ever bought.