Let the speculation begin! Our sources tell us what you already know: that the new Kindle is thinner and has a nicer design and probably has a touchscreen. Sadly, now everyone is chiming in with a little more value added rumor.
The LA Times, for example, thinks it will have a color screen. BLART! Color e-ink is still in its infancy and only one company really has a working example, shown here. Amazon needs to make this thing cheaper, not prohibitively expensive.
Then writer Alex Pham basically tried to pull the oldest tech journalism trick in the book: confirm a rumor by asking an analyst. I’m sure there are some smart analysts out there, but I haven’t met any. To wit:
Another possible change: a sleeker design that relocates the page-forward and page-back buttons so users would be less likely to hit them accidentally. That’s a major complaint about the current Kindle, said Tim Bajarin, electronics analyst with Creative Strategies.
“The first generation was too clunky,” he said. “I would have to believe they’ve improved it.”
Wow. Thank god you got Bajarin on the phone for that nugget. Alex: you should have called me. I could have told you that “Amazon probably intends to weaponize the Kindle for use in military situations” and that “Jeff Bezos will probably team up with Apple to produce the iKindle.” Both are plausible scenarios based on my experience in the industry and powers of perception.
It will be thin, handsome, and probably cheaper. But it won’t be in color and yes, they improved it.
Um…e-ink doesn’t really have anything to do with the Kindle. E-ink is for different kinds of products like paper or other non-traditional screens. The Kindle just uses a normal screen. No reason it couldn’t be color…it would be *more* money, but nothing like what you’re describing.
The Kindle’s screen was made buy eInk. The Sony Reader’s screen is made buy eInk. eInk is a very important part of both I would say.
moron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink
Um, okay, I said that wrong. What I should have said was “nothing about the Kindle’s operation requires e-ink technology”. But I guess I’m a moron.
The original Kindle uses e-ink…on the other hand, there’s no definitive reason that the next version has to. The original point is that if they wanted to have a color screen, there are plenty of opportunities to do so cost effectively.
(I’m not arguing that they *will*, per se…but arguing that they won’t have color because e-ink is too expensive doesn’t seem valid…if people wanted color badly, they’d just dump e-ink technology, and go with something else. Or possibly two versions.)
I dunno man, I don’t know anything else right now that can match the 200dpi of e-ink (at least, I can’t think of anything that’s commercially viable) Personally, I don’t know that I would want to take the hit in resolution for the sake of color.
Wrong …
thanks for the back-up, guys
I’d be VERY disappointed if they moved away from eInk, and can’t imagine they’d even consider it until something with similar benefits were developed. eInk is so easy on the eyes and, as importantly, battery-life that I think it is what makes these readers work. I love that I can charge my Kindle before a 2-week business trip and not recharge until I get home, several books later.
CP hit the nail on the head. eInk has two characteristics that make products using the tech so unique.
1) You can read it in direct sunlight. I have yet to see a color LCD screen that looks good enough in sunlight to use for hours on end. The screen of the iPhone comes close, but it’s got a LED backlight (power drain) – which leads us into reason number 2.
2) Battery life – eInk doesn’t require power to maintain its state. The reason Kindles “flash” when you turn the page is that the LCDs are being re-positioned. One in the proper position, they do not require power to stay in proper alignment. This is one of the reasons you get such incredible battery life with the Kindle.
So, I’d say the odds of a color Kindle at a similar price point would be low. I’d be happy with a larger screen and thinner form factor. Also a touchscreen would be nice as I think the physical keyboard (which is kinda hard to type on) spoils the design.
Gut!