It seems that all Kindle orders have been frozen and, it seems, that Jeff Bezos is hanging around New York right now and will speak on Charlie Rose tonight. While I seriously doubt that Bezos will whip out the Kindle 3 on the Charlie Rose show (he’ll probably talk about ebooks outselling hardbacks) it seems there is definitely something afoot.
There have been multiple reports that Kindle sales are stopped and if you go to Amazon right now you’ll notice the Kindle – not the Kindle DX – is out of stock. Kindle is probably Amazon’s hottest selling product so for them to put a hold on it is akin to Apple putting up the “The Apple Store is Down” sign.
Thoughts? What could Amazon do to improve the Kindle?
[Thanks, Kevin]
In my opinion – redo it. Right now iPad vs Kindle is like apples to oranges. Before iPad was a happy user of all Kindle modules. Not anymore.
Again?
Credit goes to John below for this, but I think it’s worth having at the top of the comments:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703940904575395433036454208.html
The best just got cheaper, lighter and better. 1-month battery life.
Eat that, Apple!
“What could Amazon do to improve the Kindle?”
A Color Touch Screen Kindle would be nice.
That would defeat the purpose of the Kindle.. which is for reading.
I don’t think we need colour E-readers. At least not yet.
That’s easy. Open it up to app developers and host an Amazon Kindle app store, replete with both free and paid apps. Just don’t put it in Apple style Gestapo tactics controlling app development and approval.
versus Google’s way where they remotely kill applications on your phone?
Congratulations, that’s the most ignorant thing I’ve heard today.
Oh god, Google shutting down malevolent apps that could harm you..? What has the world come to? *sarcasm*
This is insufferable.
A summary of the internet’s ever-so-shrewd ideas for the Kindle:
- Add an SDK to the Kindle.
- Open up a Kindle App Store for developers to add applications to an e-reading device.
- Add a color touch screen instead of the current e-ink screen.
- Get rid of that stupid eBooks feature. Nobody reads books no morez, u kno.
Then you can just rename it the iPad!
If you don’t want an eReading device, do. not. buy. it.
Don’t get me wrong. I think the iPad is a sweet product (I wouldn’t buy one now but wait for the retina-display and FaceTime version due next year) but for reading a book on a screen, the Kindle is just way better. It’s so much more relaxing for the eyes IMO.
Well, just my two cents. :)
You will be waiting a long time for the “Retina” display on the iPad. At least 3 years, probably 5.
Typical I just purchased a Kindle 2 last week… should of waited
Should HAVE waited :P
While we’re on the subject: CouldN’T care less
More THAN (Not “more then”)
Sorry, it’s just a pet peeve
Cunsume a phallus and expire
Sorry, it’s just a pet peeve
*Consume.
I think if they improve the contrast ratio like they did with the new DX, improve the speed of page turning, and maybe offer a new color option or two, I’d buy a new one right now.
If Amazon adds Android OS to their new Kindle it will be a great competition against Apple’s iPad.
I sure hope version 3 is coming soon. I’ve been waiting on this one for a while, and might actually go and buy myself one now that I’ve really begun reading e-books.
Improvements they could make:
1. Increase speed of page-turning.
2. Increase screen area, but keep current form-factor. I never use the keyboard on mine, yet it consumes nearly a fifth of the surface area. But a bigger device like the DX would be less convenient to carry around.
3. Slimmer and/or lighter would be awesome, although the current device is pretty good in both regards.
The comments calling for a color screen totally miss the point of e-paper: completely readable in direct sunlight, with battery life measured in days instead of hours. I seem to recall an article about someone figuring out how to do color e-paper, but don’t think it’s commercially viable yet.
First real Kindle user response I’ve seen. Agree with most of your recommendations, especially your #2.
And maybe to add a bit of a stretch goal recommendation. Lately I’ve been finding myself reading it propped up against something with my hands otherwise occupied (another pillow while in bed, against a wall or a stack of books while eating, etc.). I wouldn’t mind improving the page turning with a) a softer button and b) a tiny hand remote.
Oh one more thing, I would add a built in top light….just like my hp EliteBook 8540w laptop has. Push it to turn it on and off. Don’t know what that would mean for battery life, but the design form factor is ideal.
I just purchased the Kindle 2, and if they come out with a 3, that’s cool. I wanted a devise specifically for reading, and the Kindle rocks at it. The one thing I would like to see is easier note taking. If I could literally write a note on the thing and store it that would make it even more enjoyable. I get ideas as I read so being able to write them rather than use the little keyboard would be great.
And by “devise” I mean “device”. Doh!
Well I feel that if we are going to use an e reader to replace book reading then it needs to make the reading experience much better. I have used the kindle and what I struggle is taking notes and highlighting text as I would do in a normal book. Agreed that those features are there but the interface is not the best and at times would take more time than the normal pen and paper approach. Integrating some sort of touch for those features would be nice (not necessarily multi touch).
Don’t listen to these people! Keep the Kindle simple, it doesn’t need Apps or anything, it’s not supposed to be a Tablet!! Don’t make it one!
I think Amazon has the right approach of making the store available on any device that you would want it on. If you must have Apps then get an iPad or cell phone or whatever. But the Kindle hardware itself needs to remain simple. All it needs would be a color, touchscreen, real page numbering and a good web browser.
I really hope they don’t fall into the trap of letting Apps on the device – unless they are specific Reading apps like Comics or something – but really Comics and Graphic Novels should be made available through the Kindle App. I understand it’s something the end user has the ability to add if they wanted to. I just think it’s absolutely a dumb idea. The Kindle was/is successful because it doesn one thing and one thing well – it’s a great reading device.
Kindle to Go ‘Mass Market’
Amazon Digs in Heels by Introducing New, Cheaper Version of E-Book Reader
The Wall Street Journal.
“The new Kindle features a screen with increased gray-scale contrast, a battery that lasts for a month, and a slightly smaller size. It will come in two flavors: one with Wi-Fi and 3G Internet connections selling for $189, the other with Wi-Fi only for $139. The latter will be among the cheapest wireless-equipped e-readers on the market, at least for now. ”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703940904575395433036454208.html
Jeff Bezos announced that the Kindle 3 is indeed out…
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703940904575395433036454208.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_technology
I’d like a kindle with easier to turn pages, less keyboard and more screen. I wouldn’t use the keyboard that much anyway.
I guess I don’t understand why the iPad and the Kindle are always such a heated subject. I have an iPad and a Kindle and they are very different. I don’t read on my iPad, it isn’t comfortable. The e-Ink on the Kindle is great, why would you want color? Unless they come up with a color e-ink as was suggested in an earlier post. As for the page turning, I agree the buttons could be “softer” and I kinda like the remote idea but I see the touch page turner idea as a bad one because the touch technology stuff I have is really sensitive and I would be turning pages when I really don’t want to. Just a thought.
Some more specs and details here – http://blogkindle.com/2010/07/kindle-3-released/. With devices such as Kindle starting at $139 eBooks should become mainstream really soon. Personally I don’t see why wouldn’t anyone add extra $50 to get free 3G. It makes the device so much more usable.