Amazon’s Kindle to Compete with iPad
Based on the fact that Amazon has obtained touch technology start-up TouchCo INC (website not available anymore) and many related stories thereafter, many rumors are going around that they are trying to build a “super kindle” to compete with the iPad’s new addition of E-BOOKS to their application lineup.
It’s interesting that they have done this so quickly, perhaps it was brought about because the iPad and Apple have changed the way that E-BOOKS are going to be purchased. By making it so that those books can be potentially purchased at a greater price than that which Amazon had secured them for, for a long time they may potentially lose money from the situation. Because of this they must feel that they need to increase their profit margin by making such a “super kindle” in order to procure more than just books. The reason that such a proposition may cause Amazon to lose money is that publishers and authors may pull away from Amazon and go to Apple in an attempt to secure more money for their publications than they could normally get.
So this makes me wonder, what kind of “applications” or rather uses, not the electronic media; that the kindle could be used for once they finalize their “super kindle” product. The only issues with this is the fact that the Amazon Kindle is far from anything iPad-esque by its general construction. The Kindle: is a black and white or monochrome device that uses very little battery power for an extended life and is used for reading books only. The iPad: a tablet type mobile device with a color screen and the ability to run a various number of applications which in general will shorten its battery life (a problem I constantly have with my G1 and its various apps), but increase its number of uses exponentially.
As I’m sure everyone agrees, Amazon is hoping for a scenario in which the iPad utterly fails; or even fails to garner enough attention to pose a threat . . . which at this point seems incredibly unlikely. This scenario is probably the only one which has the best opportunity for Amazon success. Since that scenario, like I said, is unlikely what can Amazon do to “rekindle” their current power hold.
Day planner
I’m sure that every business man that carries a kindle to business meetings would love to not have to leave their beloved device at the hotel room and take it with them to work. If Amazon incorporates day planner type applications for the Kindle we could see a lot more suit toting executives using these to keep track of meetings, projects, people, and in their time off; reading books. This type of device application, I believe, holds the second highest success rate for the Kindle.
Internet tablet
This may be the most difficult to pull off for the Kindle as it stands right now with their monochrome screen. Though they can download books directly from Amazon over an “Internet type” interface on the Kindle as it stands right now, trying to make it a full fledged internet tablet seems like it would be quite the stretch, if they can pull it off though and make it as sleek looking as the kindle looks already it may be quite the godsend for the company.
Chat device
Sure you can do that from your phone, PDA, computer and most definitely the iPad; adding such a client into the Kindle and making it handle multiple types of accounts and channeling them into one device would be simply awesome. Though for this instance they may have to retain actual physical buttons. The reason behind having to retain physical buttons would be the exact reason that people are complaining about the iPad’s on screen keyboard, there may be no easy way to type that way.
Phone services
Be it Skype, Vonage or another entity providing the ability to conference over it would add another big one-up for business types. By adding conferencing capability, it could make calls and show books at the same time, adding another point for it if people’s mothers, fathers, girl and boyfriends, and spouses would be able to share their favorite novel and talk to their favorite person at the same time. If this type of application is implemented I think it would be the most popular, but not the application with the highest probability and therefore not the highest success rate.
Blackberry type email platform
If there is anything that Research in Motion is able to do, and do well, is give anyone with a phone the ultimate access to their emails while on the move. Just imagine if the Kindle came packaged with such a service, not only would the words of the emails be able to be read just as easily as the books they will read on them, but people would probably flock to the device in droves. Of course you could do that with an application, but with a dedicated service implemented into the device in a “blackberry” type manner they would likely draw droves of fans. This, I believe, holds the highest probability of success for the new device.
When will we know
We will probably have to wait until the final device is unveiled to the public, but until that happens we will just have to take part in everyone’s favorite online activity . . . starting rumors. If you have any information or anything that you think the Amazon “super kindle” could do please leave a comment or an email I would be happy to hear from you.