Why There’s Enough Room In The Market For The Kindle And The IPad
This time last year, the e-book reader market was like the Wild West – or maybe the gold rush would be a more appropriate metaphor. Following the huge success which Amazon had achieved with its Kindle reader – first of all with the Kindle 2.0 in February of 2009 and then with the large format DX edition in the summer of the same year – a veritable host of personal electronics manufacturers were either developing, releasing or updating their own e-book readers so as to get their share of the nascent market.
Sony and Barnes and Noble were working hard to get their new readers out in time for the 2009 festive season and Plastic Logic, Asus and a host of others were rushing to get their readers to market as fast as they could. For the first time ever, the Computer Electronics Show, which took place in Las Vegas during early 2010, featured a dedicated area for e-book readers. E-book readers were a hot developing market.
Currently, no more than a few short months later, the scene is very different. The price of e-book readers has plunged. The latest third generation Kindle now has a Wi-Fi only entry level model available for only $ 139 – less than 40% of the $ 359 price which the Kindle 2.0 launched. Barnes and Noble have also dropped the price of the Nook reader to S 149 – and this will probably be cut again before the festive season.
Several new e-book readers which were going through the development process – including Plastic Logic’s Que – have been cancelled. The market seems to be entering a new stage in its development – and whether there is any place in it for pure electronics manufacturers or not is highly debatable. The Amazon business model is very well suited to selling lower priced readers and making a profit on the through life sales of Kindle books. A similar strategy would be available to Barnes and Noble of course, but it’s debatable as to whether or not they can benefit from the same types of economies of scale as Amazon.
Clearly it would be somewhat naive to ignore, or even play down, the impact of Apple’s iPad in this. It’s certain that the price of e-book readers would have trended downwards anyway – but the iPad’s launch certainly speeded things up a bit. However, based on the fact that the third generation Kindles sold out shortly after launch – even today customers are facing a three to four week wait before their Kindles will ship – it doesn’t look as if the iPad is the long awaited Kindle Killer that it was widely predicted to be.
Apart from the debate about e-ink displays being easier to read on than backlit screens, there is – for the moment at least – enough daylight between the price of the Kindle and the price of even the entry level iPad to make the Kindle the more attractive option for anyone whose primary interest is reading books. The iPad’s monthly connection fees will be a stumbling block for many customers.
It does start to look like there is enough room in the market for both the Amazon Kindle and the iPad to co-exist – for the short term future at least. Other manufacturers, including major players like Sony and Barnes and Noble, will probably struggle badly if e-book reader prices keep falling.
The New Third Generation Amazon Kindle Reader
It’s been a long time coming – at least it certainly feels that way – but Amazon has finally unveiled its new, improved and enhanced Kindle reader. Dubbed the third generation Kindle by Amazon, but more likely to be known as the Kindle 3, there are a number of changes in evidence.
It seems likely that the Kindle 3′s new features will tick many of the right boxes with e-book reader devotees. It retains the same 6” e-ink technology display, but the screen contrast has been improved by 50%, which should make reading an even more pleasant experience. Page turn speed, already good in the Kindle 2.0, is now a full 20% faster.
The overall dimensions of the reader are shrunk by 21% and the weight is a mere 8.7 ozs – a reduction of 15%. Battery life s now a month – with the Wi-Fi turned off – and even with the Wi-Fi on, a life of ten days is predicted. On board storage capacity has been increased from 2 to 4 GB, enough for approximately 3,500 books. So the new Kindle is smaller, lighter, easier to read, has a longer battery life and allows users to carry a small personal library with them wherever they go. What more could you want from a mobile reader?
For many, a color screen would have been one item on their wish list. Amazon have been dedicating a lot of resource to the development of a color e-ink technology screen – but it is not quite ready for commercial release just at the moment. Perhaps it will be included in the next Kindle 4 upgrade. There is no SD slot available for memory expansion, something which some users may have liked to see. However, with 4GB memory, the majority of people won’t suffer too badly as a result.
As well as all the upgrades, Amazon have adjusted the price downwards and introduced a new Wi-Fi only Kindle for customers who don’t feel the need for a 3G connection. The new entry level Wi-Fi only model can be yours for $ 139, the Wi-Fi plus 3G model retails at $ 189. The new Kindle 3 now comes in graphite, the same as the new DX model, as well as the original white.
Amazon has also opened a dedicated UK Kindle store on their British website. UK consumers will no longer require to have their Kindles shipped across the Atlantic. To begin with the UK Kindle store will have 400,000 Kindle books to choose from. It seems reasonable to suppose that Amazon may consider opening other dedicated Kindle stores for its other “local” websites in France, Germany etc. in the near future.
Kindle 3 sales are strong. Prospective customers face a wait of around 4 weeks at the moment before their Kindles can be shipped. It does start to look as if reports of the Kindle’s imminent demise at the hands of Apple’s iPad were somewhat premature. The new upgrades, the lower prices and the fact that there is no monthly payment for connectivity, will be very appealing to many consumers. It looks as though the launch of the third generation Kindle may serve as a timely reminder of just how influential Amazon are, and will continue to be, in the world of books in general and e-books in particular
Amazon Are Rumoured To Be Developing New Personal Tech Gadgets
Amazon is enjoying great success with its latest third generation Kindle reader right now. An upgrade – which includes a higher contrast screen, smaller and lighter casing, faster page turns and twice as much memory – accompanied by a price drop and the introduction of a new Wi-Fi only entry level model, has seen demand for the Kindle reader rocket.
Currently, the new upgraded Kindles are out of stock and prospective customers face a three to four week wait before any new ones begin shipping. Kindle books are also outselling traditional hardback editions on a regular basis. It seems to be just a matter of time before e-book sales will higher than even paperback sales.
Amazon has also launched a dedicated UK Kindle store so that UK customers don’t require to have their readers shipped across the Atlantic and can pay for their Kindle purchases in sterling rather than dollars. It seems probable that further “local” Kindle stores will be opened for other Amazon international websites such as Germany, France etc. in the near future.
Currently, everything in the garden is rosy for Amazon. Suggestions that the launch of the Apple iPad would spell the death of the Kindle seem to be, for the moment at least, unfounded. Amazon’s policy of releasing free “apps” to allow Kindle books to be read on a variety of different devices looks to be paying dividends. So, considering what a massive success they have enjoyed with their first manufactured product, it’s hardly surprising that Amazon is rumored to be considering developing prototypes for personal tech gadgets other than the Kindle in their Lab 126 research facility.
Although Amazon has been tight-lipped on the subject, it’s thought that they may be thinking about music/movie players and possibly some kind of mobile phone. However, industry watchers suggest that, if Amazon wanted to enter the market with another gadget, then they would need to ensure that they add value rather than simply releasing another piece of personal electronic tech onto the market.
A great deal of the success of the Kindle reader must be attributed to Amazon’s strong link with books and reading in general. The massive choice of Kindle books available – over 630,000 and growing every day – and the fact that these can be read on so many other devices has been a real feather in Amazon’s cap. Any new gadget that Amazon decided to release would certainly need some similar type of support in order to achieve anything approaching the level of the Kindle’s success.
Who Needs Flash On The IPad When There’s HTML5?
Because the iPad’s introduction to the public in January 2010, it has suffered unwieldy criticism from Apple antagonists. These groups of Apple non-enthusiasts have referred to as the iPad a regretful piece of appliance at the least.
Nevertheless, from the point of view of impartial commentators, there emerged a set of logic to clarify the seemingly unique construction of the iPad.
The most well-liked perceived deficiency of the iPad when it comes to software program is its lack of Flash support. Flash is utilized in most web sites; it’s supported by all major Net browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera) apart from the cell version of Safari. YouTube is among the most popular web sites that utilize Flash for its videos.
Apple makes up for the shortage of Flash assist by creating and designing apps that are specific to the iPad. As an illustration, YouTube has a Flash-free app, using H.264, that will run easily on the iPad. Safari helps HMTL5, which may display embedded videos extra efficiently than Flash-supported websites.
It has been noted a number of times that multitasking is not possible on the iPad because the user has to shut one app earlier than shifting onto the other. Critics have panned this situation by considering the goal market for this device.
As an “appliance” for the media consumer, the iPad is meant to play a single program at a time, most probably a video or a movie. It seems believable since this machine is marketed as an instrument to expertise richer media; thus, multitasking is not expected.
The same goes with its lack of wired connections, notably USB and FireWire ports. iPad has a “locked-down” nature that seemed to offend non-Mac customers because of its nearly elitist appeal. Critics have also answered this concern and their opinion made nice sense.
The iPad is designed by Apple so it’s only natural for the manufacturer to prefer full control over the software content of the product. It does not matter if the ownership has been transferred to the buyer. The purpose is that Apple prefers to protect their creation by guaranteeing that software program entered into the device is properly filtered. In addition to, they probably have extra iPad apps to introduce and it could be unlucky for them if a different software program company would create a model new software for the iPad earlier than they even thought of it.
Its lack of generally used {hardware} features could be easily resolved by buying separate accessories, such as the wireless keyboard dock, camera connection, Bluetooth headphones, composite and component AV cables, power adapter and dock connector to VGA adapter. Clearly, these deficiencies have already been considered by Apple engineers before criticism even materialized.
It isn’t obvious however there appears to be a continuous wrestle of the Apple marketing division to insist that the iPad is the truth is a media consumption appliance. It should be differentiated from a full desktop or laptop computer and an iPhone and simply be appreciated as a go-between of the two.
Its lack of full telephone and laptop options establishes that Apple has created a category of its personal and may possibly be a successful forerunner in the area of pill computers.
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Kindle Vs iPad: Will the iPad’s Novelty Put the Lights Out of the Kindle?
Presenting a side-by-side Kindle vs iPad review, which device will likely prevail? Without a doubt, the Apple iPad, with its recent much hyped about launch, is the “in” thing at present. Hardcore Apple patrons can scarcely wait to get their hands on one as the WiFi models are likely to ship in late March, while the 3G units are arriving in April. When that time comes, we will expect to see long lines in front of every Apple store just like what transpired with the sale of the iPhone.
But how does the entry of the iPad affect the current crop of ebook readers such as the Kindle, Nook, and Sony Reader? The ereader has slowly become a common consumer device, with the Kindle getting the lion’s share of the market. Seeing the potential of such a device however, many such ebook readers have also been released of late, with most of them having practically the same features as that of the Kindle. Now with the entry of tablet PCs like the iPad which can also ably perform as an ebook reader, the gadget need may swing to multi-functional devices. So, is the iPad poised to take over the ereader market? Let’s take a look at the significant factors.
Let’s start with the cons of the Apple device. The iPad will only be associated with Apple’s own ebook store. While this makes sense for those who are still thinking of buying an ebook reading gadget, if you already own a ton of ebooks, you won’t be able to access these in the iPad. Actual ebook costs are still to be confirmed, but there’s word that purchasing iBooks in the Apple ebook store is going to cost you around 12.99 dollars and 14.99 dollars. These rates can be slightly steep if you have to start from scratch. Plus, Amazon’s ebooks are still retailing at 9.99 dollars apiece.
Notwithstanding, purchasing an iPad has its own set of advantages, as it’s a device that can perform a lot of functions. You will be able to use this big iPhone clone, sans the “phone”, to stream high-def movies, watch your favorite TV shows, browse the web, and have fun with games on a 9.7 inch IPS touch screen. Sticking with Apple standards, the resolution and color is superb, and the package includes your choice of 16-GB, 32-GB or 64-GB internal memory. With such storage capability, the Library will hold a lot of books, which are cleverly displayed on a “book shelf” design. With one simple tap, you may choose your ebook, and read it on the high-resolution, LED back-lit screen. Depending on your storage and connectivity preferences, prices start out at 499 dollars and end at 829 dollars. It does run special apps created specially for the iPad, and you’ll have access to most of the 140,000 other apps at the App Store.
On the other hand, the Amazon Kindle is a device intended for the user’s most relaxing and easy reading experience in mind. Unlike the LCD screen of the iPad, the Kindle, like the present batch of ebook readers, utilizes e-ink display, which many say, is still best for reading for longer periods of time. The Kindle’s battery can last up to two weeks without recharging, so it could also make the perfect traveling companion. The 6-inch model is priced at 259 dollars, while the 9.7-inch Kindle DX costs 489 dollars.
So which gadget gets our thumbs up in this Kindle vs iPad matchup? Certainly for the gadget geek, the iPad will fit perfectly alongside his MacBook Pro, AirPort Express, Magic Mouse and its smaller counterpart in looks, the iPhone. Jobs and his staff have created yet another brilliant product for the hardcore Apple user. But for the booklover just looking to read in the most conjucive “environment” and have little need for all of the other fancy features, the Kindle ebook reader is still your best option on the market today.
Kindle Vs iPad: Will the iPad’s Novelty Put the Lights Out of the Kindle?
Presenting a side-by-side Kindle vs iPad review, which device will likely prevail? Without a doubt, the Apple iPad, with its recent much hyped about launch, is the “in” thing at present. Hardcore Apple patrons can scarcely wait to get their hands on one as the WiFi models are likely to ship in late March, while the 3G units are arriving in April. When that time comes, we will expect to see long lines in front of every Apple store just like what transpired with the sale of the iPhone.
But how does the entry of the iPad affect the current crop of ebook readers such as the Kindle, Nook, and Sony Reader? The ereader has slowly become a common consumer device, with the Kindle getting the lion’s share of the market. Seeing the potential of such a device however, many such ebook readers have also been released of late, with most of them having practically the same features as that of the Kindle. Now with the entry of tablet PCs like the iPad which can also ably perform as an ebook reader, the gadget need may swing to multi-functional devices. So, is the iPad poised to take over the ereader market? Let’s take a look at the significant factors.
Let’s start with the cons of the Apple device. The iPad will only be associated with Apple’s own ebook store. While this makes sense for those who are still thinking of buying an ebook reading gadget, if you already own a ton of ebooks, you won’t be able to access these in the iPad. Actual ebook costs are still to be confirmed, but there’s word that purchasing iBooks in the Apple ebook store is going to cost you around 12.99 dollars and 14.99 dollars. These rates can be slightly steep if you have to start from scratch. Plus, Amazon’s ebooks are still retailing at 9.99 dollars apiece.
Notwithstanding, purchasing an iPad has its own set of advantages, as it’s a device that can perform a lot of functions. You will be able to use this big iPhone clone, sans the “phone”, to stream high-def movies, watch your favorite TV shows, browse the web, and have fun with games on a 9.7 inch IPS touch screen. Sticking with Apple standards, the resolution and color is superb, and the package includes your choice of 16-GB, 32-GB or 64-GB internal memory. With such storage capability, the Library will hold a lot of books, which are cleverly displayed on a “book shelf” design. With one simple tap, you may choose your ebook, and read it on the high-resolution, LED back-lit screen. Depending on your storage and connectivity preferences, prices start out at 499 dollars and end at 829 dollars. It does run special apps created specially for the iPad, and you’ll have access to most of the 140,000 other apps at the App Store.
On the other hand, the Amazon Kindle is a device intended for the user’s most relaxing and easy reading experience in mind. Unlike the LCD screen of the iPad, the Kindle, like the present batch of ebook readers, utilizes e-ink display, which many say, is still best for reading for longer periods of time. The Kindle’s battery can last up to two weeks without recharging, so it could also make the perfect traveling companion. The 6-inch model is priced at 259 dollars, while the 9.7-inch Kindle DX costs 489 dollars.
So which gadget gets our thumbs up in this Kindle vs iPad matchup? Certainly for the gadget geek, the iPad will fit perfectly alongside his MacBook Pro, AirPort Express, Magic Mouse and its smaller counterpart in looks, the iPhone. Jobs and his staff have created yet another brilliant product for the hardcore Apple user. But for the booklover just looking to read in the most conjucive “environment” and have little need for all of the other fancy features, the Kindle ebook reader is still your best option on the market today.
Can the Ebook Reader Compete with Apple iPad's Bite?
Are ebook readers about to be traded for the iPad? After the big introduction of the Apple iPad, gadget geeks are restlessly pacing the floor, anxiously looking to the day when they could finally get their hands on this device. The iPad models equipped with WiFi are expected to be sent out by late March and the 3G models will be shipped starting April. It's no shocker actually; a person who uses Apple products are a different kind, loyal and have stayed true to Apple.
It looks like Steve Jobs still got his touch, creating a product that will be flying off the shelves, no doubt. Perhaps scores of Apple followers will meander in long lines at the nearby Apple Store, standing by for when the iPad will finally go on sale, harking back to the iPhone release. But with all of the buildup surrounding the iPad, will it destroy the popularity of other ebook reading devices such as the Kindle and Sony Readers? So we can come to a verdict, let's check out the iPad in detail.
The device doesn't come cheap with prices starting at 499 dollars and topping out at 829 dollars, and why shouldn't it be more than a bit pricey? Bear in mind that the iPad isn't just an ebook reader. It looks like an over-sized iPhone, minus the phone functions. You'll be able to watch high-def movies, stream TV shows, browse the internet, and play games on it. The humongous 9.7-inch IPS touch screen is up to Apple's high resolution standards. It comes with a storage capacity of 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB flash drive.
With such storage capacity, this gadget will obviously hold a library much larger than your average ereader. Books are cleverly arranged on a “book shelf”. You'll simply tap the book you would like, and enjoy reading it on a high-resolution, LED backlit display. It also runs special apps developed for the iPad, and also many of the 140,000 applications from the App store.
Here's a problem, though. The iPad will only be associated to Apple's own ebook store, and these books are usually not compatible with the Kindle and other ereader market dominators. If you have an ample collection of ebooks already on another ereader, you'll have trouble reading them on the iPad. While it is still not confirmed as yet, rumor has it that iBooks will sell for 12.99 dollars and 14.99 dollars.
The Apple iPad is easily transportable, lightweight, and most likely really fun to tinker around with. But if you don't need all of the “other stuff”, the ereaders on the market now will suit you just as well. But if you are a hardcore Apple fanatic, then Jobs and his team have produced yet another exciting product for consumers. With amazing clarity and capabilities, you will “iLove” this multi-tasking gadget. The Apple iPad will match flawlessly with your MacBook Pro, AirPort Express, Magic Mouse and iPhone.
The iPad Renders Kindle Obsolete Overnight
We all know about the Kindle and that it’s an excellent bookreader. The Kindle is, if you believe the front page of Amazon their #1 selling item which would mean that pretty much every other person you know should have one.
The Kindle’s a cool gadget… for reading books, but that’s where it ends. You can read books, newspapers, etc. with wireless internet world-wide, but for the large pricetag it comes with what else do you get?
Well it has text-to-speech. Sure it does, but do you want to use it or read for yourself? You want the e-book reader so that you can read the book yourself, not so that you can listen to text-to-speech.
Kindle comes with many book samples at no charge so that you may get a taste before you buy. Why in the world would you want to do that? If you know of a book that you want to read you would buy it, you aren’t going to want to read the first chapter of a book to see if you like it or not first.
The book prices are only about $10, and there’s 400,000 to choose from! Yup, that is terrific… but few realized before buying that Amazon can and will delete anything they choose from every Kindle without the owners knowledge or consent? Point in case, they gave for free to Kindle buyers George Orwell’s 1949 masterpiece “1984″ at no charge, and then found out they had to pay royalties for each instance of the book and instead deleted it from ever Kindle device in one fell swoop. The thousands of unsuspecting Kindle owners affected had no choice.
It’s got a big 9.7″ LCD with a whopping 16 shades… of gray. Wow, gray. That’s great. I believe it was 1953 when the first color television was released to consumers by RCA and now, 57 years later, we have the amazing B&W screen Kindle.
But the Kindle must do something right or nobody would buy it, right? The Kindle is the best book reader available at this time. One of my friends bought a Sony e-book reader not too long ago, and it was blown out of the water by the Kindle so he ended up selling his Sony partly out of disgust with the unit. If you desire a great e-book reader then the Kindle is perfect for you.
If Kindle is basically an overpriced bookreader what should I look at instead?
I’m not buying an iPad but is it something you could use and is it worth buying? My wife has a shop on Zazzle.com where she creates custom birthday invitations and she could make good use of an iPad but not a Kindle.
The iPad is the same size as the Kindle DX, and starts at only $10 more than the Kindle. For your $10 you get a full color screen, internet access, and basically what is a redesigned netbook computer. So for only $10 more you get a device that can pretty much do all that your laptop does as well as everything a Kindle does as well. The thing about the iPad is that it does everything the Kindle does better than the Kindle does it.
Sure the iPad is great but I won’t be buying one. In my digital camera repair business, we do Sony camera repair and like to keep up on new technology, but we really couldn’t use an iPad to do everything we would want it to do. The other reason why is because Google is soon to release their own tablet which will blow the Apple iPad out of the water and render it obsolete as the iPad is soon to do to the Kindle.
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