The Kindle's Future: Death or Rebirth?

According to the company, more customers bought the Amazon Kindle on Christmas day than actual books. Given that not many actually purchase anything on Christmas Day except from bargains and sales, this might not mean a great deal, but we get the drift: in fact, Amazon stated the Kindle to be 'the most gifted product' in the history of the company.

Now that means something, so is there any need for changes to the Kindle if it is doing so well? The answer is definitely yes, because anything standing still gets overtaken. In fact, over the next year or so there will be massive changes made to the e-reader market with a rash of competitors having developed new products that will be shipped from November onwards. Some of these will include innovations and features that will make the Kindle appear Victorian by comparison, so what is in store for the Amazon Kindle over the coming year?

The answer to that is that nobody knows, so we can only surmise what is in Amazon's mind. The iPad has given rise to a serious competitor, and the reaction of other manufacturing companies such as Dell, HP, Samsung and Toshiba to name just four is already being seen. Each of these is coming out with new machines of 7" and more, with 1024 x 600 screen resolution and e-reader capability. The iPad itself has its own iBooks, plus of course the Kindle application, although most for the moment are going with Apples own e-reader app.

Here are some of the things we believe that Amazon might introduce to the Kindle, either as tweaks or as a brand new machine with more functionality than just as an e-reader. Each of these is based upon existing competition and what we already know is in the pipeline from that competition for 2011.

Remove the Keyboard
The physical keyboard below the screen on the Kindle is redolent of the archaic. OK, many people might like it, but that is perhaps only a sense of sentimentality, as some were sentimental about the ring dial cradle telephones. Many kept them, but few are now sold. Amazon must step up to the base ready to face the competition with a modern look.

Removing the physical keyboard would certainly give a more modern and attractive look to the Kindle, and help sell it to the younger generation. There is a question as to the need for any more than a touch keyboard for an e-reader.

Introduce a Full Resolution Color Screen
In the current era of magazines and newspapers being made available to e-readers, the days of black and white e-Ink are over. Color is essential, and if Amazon wants to continue their dominance with the Kindle then they will have to modern up. E-Ink might keep the newspaper guys happy, but it won't keep the customers happy and that's what matters, so color is a must if the Kindle wants to be anything but a fringe limited functionality eBook reader in the future.

Reconsider DRM
DRM (Digital Rights Management) is good in a way, in that it helps protect theft or piracy of eBooks, but some other form of protection should be devised whereby titles can be swapped between devices. This is particularly so in view of the bookclouds that are appearing, whereby titles can be read on any device such as an iPhone or Blackberry in addition to a dedicated e-reader. Although Amazon allows publishers to decide whether to apply copy protection or not, it would be a forward step to do away with DRM altogether, or at least to use a less restrictive form. Physical books get by without it.

Convert the Kindle to a Tablet Computer
Some people have suggested that Amazon convert the Kindle to a full-blown tablet computer and so compete with Apple head on. It is doubtful whether a company such as Amazon would be willing to do that since, while a dedicated e-reader fits in perfectly with their core business, a tablet computer would not.

If anything it is Apple that encroached on Amazon territory, not the other way about, and there appears to be no reason for a business involved in the publishing industry to become involved in computing. All Amazon should do meantime is to focus on improving the Kindle to offer color, a more attractive appearance and to render it easier for users that have purchased eBooks elsewhere to read them on the Kindle, and that might be enough to beat off the competition who are encroaching on their core business.

To do nothing at all would be commercial suicide because until now many have purchased either on looks or on functionality. Now that Apple and some others with the better looks are now producing the goods in respect of functionality, the Kindle must become reborn or it may die shortly after its proudest hour.

Marco Gustafsson is a professional blogger posting about electronic reading, environment, eBooks, etc. You can find his new articles here - dbReaders.com.

Amazon Kindle 2 - The Wave of the Future

The New Amazon kindle 2 wireless portable reader in my opinion is the wave of the future. The latest in the new hot gadgets to hit the market, I will tell you up front that the Kindle 2 may not be for everyone, but if you lead a somewhat hectic life, and you like to read you might what to checkout the new kindle.

Before I go any further let me say if you bought the first Kindle and like it, you are going to love the Kindle 2. I'll lay out a few of the upgrades, but if your like me you will also like to discover some of the cool new up grades for yourself so I just mention a few of the major changes okay.

One of the first things I notices was the size. I mean it is sleek, only 1/3 inches thick and it ways a feather light 10.2 ounces. The 6' diagonal display screen is much improved clarity with sharp, crisps images. The page turning is more fluid, it just makes for a better experience all around.

The kindle store also has over 250,000 books, because what would be the point in having a wireless reader if you could not most if not all the books you want to read. It doesn't matter what it is, it could be the latest novel on New York Times best sellers list or a blog, newspapers, and magazines. In addition, the books are very affordable, $9.99, but you will likely find that books are cheaper.

Another great thing about the kindle is that it is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box. No computer required. I just want to mention one more cool thing about the kindle; the life of the battery is longer, 25% longer. You can read for days without having to charge it.

That's all I'm going to mention right now, like I said if your like me there are something's you like to discover for yourself so I'll try not to spoil it for you. My name is Luke Wilson and for more Information about the Kindle 2
http://www.squidoo.com/-amazon-kindle

Amazon Kindle DX - The Future of Magazines and Newspapers

The latest Amazon.com e-book reader, the Amazon Kindle DX is the biggest and best thus far. In comparison to the Kindle 2, its primary difference is that it is larger. The Kindle DX is much larger than the Kindle 2 (the screen is 2.5 times larger than the Kindle 2 screen), and its storage space is twice that of the Kindle 2, at 4 GB. According to Amazon.com, that is enough to store 3,500 e-books. However, this physically larger size could also be considered a drawback, since it is accordingly heavier.

Like the Kindle 2, the Amazon Kindle DX sports access to Whispernet, which allows you to browse through and select books and other content without connecting to a computer. You can also adjust the font size of the texts you are reading and listen to MP3 files. In addition to that it supports English PDF files, unlike the Kindle 2. You can even choose whether you want to read in landscape or portrait format by simply rotating the device.

However, due to its similarities to the Kindle 2, the Amazon Kindle DX has many of its predecessor's flaws. There is no port for you to put in SD cards to expand its memory, though you can delete books if you are out of room and later re-download them free of charge. Lastly, it comes with no protective cover or case. You must pay for that separately. This e-book reader may have its flaws, but it is undoubtedly still an extremely capable reading device. Currently, there are no other devices in the market that can even come close to matching the features of the Kindle DX.

For more product info and reviews, visit Amazon Kindle DX. For info and reviews on other e-book readers, visit http://e-book-readers.blogspot.com

Amazon Kindle Features And Specs - The Future of Reading Is Here

Electronic books are a wonderful idea in theory. It makes perfect sense that in this day and age of high speed information exchange via the internet, why should trees have to suffer just so we can read the latest bestseller? Publishing books electronically allows a convenient and environmentally friendly way of distributing our favorite novels and non-fiction.

But, as anyone who has played around with ebooks knows, reading a whole novel on the computer is a trying experience. It's not much fun to stare at even the most high tech computer or laptop displays for long enough to read an entire book, and even with a laptop you can't comfortably curl up in bed with a good ebook, or take it to the beach to lie in the sun and read, or chuck it in your bag to read on the train.

That is, until now. Amazon's Kindle electronic book reader seeks to change the way we read ebooks by combing the best of both worlds, giving us an ebook reader that handles like a 'real' book.

The most striking feature of the Kindle is the electrophoretic display, a display that uses 'E Ink' technology, creating a viewing screen that looks just like a page from a paper book. The screen is easy to read and won't cause the eye strain that staring at a computer screen for hours would surely afflict on a reader. The Kindle isn't backlit, but due to the E Ink screen can be read in any lighting condition that a normal book could be read, including well lit rooms and in sunlight.

Ebooks are copied onto the Kindle via the EVDO cellular network, which the device connects to in the same manner as your cell phone. This allows the user to download new books for the Kindle from just about anywhere and at any time. The network is provided by Amazon and there is no charge to use it for Kindle users. Books can also be copied to the device from any PC via a USB interface.

Content for the Kindle is charged at prices from 99 cents to prices similar to what you might pay for a paper book. Some bonuses include the ability to read newspapers and blogs for relatively cheap prices, New York Times Bestsellers are priced at around $10, and Wikipedia can be accessed for free. Amazon offers sample chapters of all content available for the Kindle, so you can try before you buy.

Any ebook content you already own or documents you'd like to read on the go can be converted and uploaded to the Kindle free of charge via the USB connection, or sent via the EVDO network to the device for a small fee.

The Kindle can store up to 200 books on its in-built memory, and this memory can be expanded with the addition of an SD card. The Kindle can play audio books which can be listened to via a headphone jack, can browse the web with a simple browser, and even has a great dictionary feature where a user can highlight a word or passage and find it's definition.

With all these amazing features, the Kindle looks set to revolutionise books and the way we read them. If you are at all interested in the future of books and reading I advise you to check out the Amazon Kindle.

For more info on the Amazon Kindle check out Welcome Distractions: Amazon Kindle [http://www.welcomedistractions.com/category/amazon-kindle].

Kindle 3 - The Future of Reading

In today's technologically advanced world, it's easy to get bogged down in gadgets and devices that serve no purpose. Some gadgets seem to exist for the purpose of making money, but there are rare devices that serve as "game-changers." The Kindle Wireless Reading device is one of those devices, changing how we read and interact with the literary world.

Kindle has been Amazon's top-selling item for two years in a row and is, without question, one of the most popular products on the website. The product is designed for the reading of e-books and other digital media, rendering and displaying material with its handy 6-inch display.

The newest version of the Kindle is dubbed the "Kindle 3." The Kindle 3 was announced in July of 2010 and was subsequently released in August. Due to incredible demand, however, Amazon has temporarily sold out of the Kindle Wireless Reading Device in its third generation incarnation and shipments will resume in mid-September.

Perhaps the finest "feature" of the Kindle 3 is its usability. The Kindle isn't just a device for "advanced users" or tech nerds; it is actually a highly adaptable, highly enjoyable product that users of all ages and "tech levels" can get satisfaction out of on a daily basis.

The fashionable Kindle Wireless Reading Device features a high contrast e-ink screen that allows for 50% greater contrast than any other e-reader on the market. This allows the user to read in bright sunlight without irritating glare or other obstructions. With dark, snappy fonts to make reading easy, the Kindle Wireless Reading Device is the perfect e-reader for older users who may have trouble seeing certain font types.

The latest generation Kindle Wireless Reading Device features the same 6-inch display area, but the actual size of the product is 21% smaller. This makes for easier storage, making the Kindle 3 especially ideal for traveling on short business trips.

With built-in Wi-Fi that lets users download books in seconds, the Kindle Wireless Reading Device is one of those rare devices that actually earn its good press. Convenient, fun and ridiculously easy-to-use, the Kindle is a rewarding product that may well represent the future of reading.

For more product info, images and reviews, visit Amazon Kindle 3. For reviews and info on other e-book readers, visit http://e-book-readers.blogspot.com

The Future of Book Reading is Already Here! Kindle Review + Free Kindle Ebooks!

So, as an avid book reader I was surprised to learn that the future of book reading was already upon us, in the form of the kindle. I knew it was only a matter of time, with everything else being brought into this futuristic online world I was always expecting someone to create that next big thing in book reading, I was not however expecting it to come from amazon. Amazon are only really know for selling products, so I was surprised to see there move into creating there own product. So, after reading up on it I decided to buy one and give it a go.

While I was awaiting my kindle to arrive, the first big bonus I thought was how much room I would save. I have SO many books, and only a small house, they really take up a huge amount of room. Especially as normally I just have them sitting on the table cluttering the place up! Second bonus? No more paper cuts! Ok thats not really a huge problem, but when they happen god they are so damn annoying!

My kindle arrived on time as promised, now as I understand it there is also a "kindle DX" but I only went for the standard kindle. After my first 5 minutes of use, I was honestly amazed at how simple it was to use. I am a little but of a technofobe, in the way that I always fear new products being to complicated for me to understand, and I was honestly expecting the kindle to advanced in a way that kept me getting lost. But no! The kindle was as simply as actually reading a book, and the store search was just brilliant. It pretty much had any book that I searched for. Not only that, the wireless network it uses was pretty amazing as well, it only took around minute to download any book I bought, and it has nothing to do with your PC! No matter where you are in the world you can buy more books... fantastic!

Secondly, the reading was easy... On my eyes, my hands and on my power supply. Kindle's screen doesn't work in the same way as a computer screen, it uses some sort of "Electronic paper display" or something, which basically means it doesn't hurt your eyes the same way a computer screen does, also as there is no backlight you can read it outside just as easily as you can inside! The kindle also has a low energy usage, so you can go for days of reading without having to recharge it.

The third, and most important factor for me was that it felt natural. Ok, I did miss the whole page turning feeling that you have with regular books, but that's something I am more than happy to get over. The kindle made reading easy. No matter where I was, I had over 400,000 books just in my pocket. So no matter where I was, I always had something that I could be reading!

Also, I must not forgot to mention the "Text to speech" feature, where the kindle will actually read too you! This approved amazingly handy when driving. I can now pretty much ready anywhere I want!

So, for me, the kindle is a massive win! I am so glad I bought it, and now I can start clearing up some room in my house now that I don't need to keep buying books!

I am currently keeping a blog going of my kindle experience, with more indepth reviews, from me and other people. Also a list of where to get free ebooks for the kindle.

If you would like to check it out please visit my Blog at http://amazons-kindle-2-review.blogspot.com/

What the Future Means for E-Readers

On this blog we will track down the latest Amazon Kindle news. We will keep you up to date with whats hot in the bestsellers section, including books, ebooks and blogs... and we will also bring you great Kindle3 tips and tricks along with reviews for the latest KindleDX accessories.

View the original article here