Update on the Kindle 2: It was scheduled to be released in October in time for this holiday season, but Bezos himself reportedly pulled the plug for last minute changes to the software. Our sources now say it’s tentatively scheduled to go on sale in “early next quarter.”
The images that surfaced of the new Kindle in October are real – it’s a longer device but not as thick as the original Kindle, and fixes some of the button issues that plague users (like accidental page turns). A larger-screen student version is still scheduled for the first half of 2009.
Amazon is slow to turn new versions of the Kindle, which isn’t surprising given that this is their first foray into actual devices. I still think they’d be better off licensing the platform and letting the factories in China iterate more often on the Kindle – from what we hear a bunch of new ebook products are about to hit the market, and some of them may be real competition to Amazon.
The first thing that came to mind mind when I saw that picture was “What a waste of space”. Are touchscreen InkDispay so expensive?
The eInk screen alone costs $100 to the manufacturer. Add in a touchscreen that doesn’t increase glare (see the Sony Reader 700 for an example of why that’s bad), and that’s another $100 to the manufacturer. And you haven’t even gotten to the other hardware yet.
I agree. Seems like most people will seldom need the keyboard, so why not make it a detachable peripheral? However, I do think you’d want a lot of ‘grab space’ around the screen on something like this. I am an avid reader and about an inch away from buying one of these.
I use the Gen.1 Kindle keyboard all the time – I wouldn’t want to have to attach and detach it like an old Pocket PC thumb keyboard – that would be a pain. The keyboard is essential for Searching inside books and for the Kindle Store. It also makes note-taking possible. As a previous poster stated, readable, non-glare, touch-screen e-ink is cost-prohibitive, and the Gen.1 keyboard is very handy and easy to use because of the angled layout. This bubble keyboard looks awkward – I hope it’s a hoax.
The cost has been coming down, I suspect that Amazon will lower the price even further after the holiday season is over.
As with all new technology, the first generation products are always the most expensive, I think in a few years we could see a baseline Kindle model which would sell for around $99.
-Sarah
kindleist.com
$99 ? Not if they retain the currently Free 24/7 wireless access anywhere a cell phone works, which is a major factor for me, as I use it constantly when outside, to look up places, etc., on google.
I really hope they release it here in the UK.
seriously dias, I couldn’t agree more. see http://www.jink...etail.asp?id=20 from China…what an awesome book they have come out with. I am sure chinese guys would iterate this much faster…:)
Marvin, your definition of “awesome” needs some work.
For the same price as the Kindle the Chinese company came out with an e-book reader that has a dopey looking little touch pad at the bottom as the user interface, doesn’t have wireless, and probably comes with some great support. Meh.
Maybe companies will start trusting Michael A.’s advice on product development a little more when he launches his wonder tablet for $150. Then Apple can follow his advice and open source its iPhone OS and license out access to iTunes to anyone who wants to make a device. I’m sure we’d have some great chinese phones that connect seamlessly to iTunes and have great customer service if that happened.
I used the hanlin reader myself and found it very user friendly & gr8 enough….what’s good about it is bundle of engineering software and usability like a true writing notebook…. of course my version of the book doesn’t have a wi fi …but then how much time it would take for jinke electronics to put in a wifi device in it?? n this book came way before it kindled on amazon….
@joe rotorooder…I wouldn’t compare 01 unit price @ $100 + $100 method to evaluate the price of such an exciting product. Economy of scale is intense in hardware products especially the ones which have mass market.
I don’t know Marvin, still looks like a bag of suck to me.
By wireless I mean full cellular connection, like the Kindle, not a “when I’m in a unsecured wi-fi zone” wireless. Even without a 2G/3G wireless module in its current device, the Hanlin device is the same price as the Kindle and has no access to a content library of current books and periodicals.
I think that Joe’s point is right on, $100 + $100 is the right method to evaluate the price of a full touch screen e-ink screen for companies who don’t have products on their hands that will reach economies of scale. If Sony can’t get a great touch screen experience at its price point (see http://gizmodo....ll-improvements), I have a hard time believing that a chinese company is going to put in the R&D dollars to achieve a touch screen e-ink device that beats Sony’s and then the marketing dollars to achieve mass market penetration so that it can drive down the cost of the $100 + $100. No, they’ll wait on the periphery, copying the code from Sony and Amazon’s devices (I believe both are linux, so “copying” isn’t a loaded term here), tweaking slightly here or there, slapping little things on here or there, but never really driving the technology forward.
Fail.
Sorry, should have pointed out earlier that the $100 prices are for current economies of scale, according to reports on TC and other tech sites earlier in the year.
Amazon would have to sell 3-5x as many Kindles to reduce the scale price of $100/unit for the e-Ink screen…and eInk, which makes the screens, does not itself even have that sort of capacity.
I’m amazed that cheap Chinese garbage inevitably finds a home in American homes. From what I can tell, there’s nothing special about this bogus copy.
I’ve been seeing more and more folks carrying Kindles around Washington, DC. It intrigues me. I’d be curious what kind of features 2.0 would hold. Depending on what it had, I might be interested.
If its good enough for the Algonquin (http://www.kind...ing-their-stay/), its good enough for me
I agree with the above, the huge keyboard is just so unnecessary. Make it a slider perhaps with the hard keyboard hidden? That way they could extend the screen more or at least make thing slightly more paperback sized.
I use the keyboard all the time for searches in books on the Kindle (especially the one I’m reading) and for searching the web or just wiki.
Just doing web browsing requires the keyboard of course and I happen to do it quite a bit when out of the house, as it works anywhere albeit klunkily, but it works. That includes quick emails, but normally am more interested in looking up info.
“Amazon is slow to turn new versions of the Kindle”
Actually, as a hardware guy, I’d say a company shouldn’t invest the energy in creating a new device and (re)educating/marketing it in the same calendar year. A better strategy is an annual refresh.
And as an iPhone owner, I’d like to see the Kindle experience ported. Granted the screen is smaller and not the heralded e-ink. But it’s one less device and I’m an infrequent book reader.
Doh! V1 was released last November. Thought it was early this year. So strike all that above. A bummer they couldn’t get it out in time for this years holiday season. Not that it probably matters – the Oprah bump will keep the current one in production for awhile. Though with the economy the way it is, they’re going to have to drop the price again (and find ways to reduce production costs).
Have you checked out Stanza for iphone? http://www.lexcycle.com/
I’m doing most of my reading via Stanza now.
What I’d like to know, and what I never hear anyone reporting on, is when is the darn thing going to be available in any country other than the US? Canada, anyone?
Do you all have EVDO for the whispernet functionality? It wouldn’t make sense as a product to have a wireless function without the infrastructure to support it.
The current size is perfect. Elongating it is stupid. If this is going to be the end product, I am very happy with my first version. It fits in my purse perfectly, and is the perfect size for reading in bed or in an airplane seat.
Just had my first Kindle experience on a long flight to Asia.
The convenience of having so much content on one devise was great, but the design flaws re the pg turning function were a big pain in the ass. I’ll keep using it, but look forward to V2 or a better devise.
Any details on features?
It’s on Amazon’s website now:
http://www.amaz...ASIN=B00154JDAI
Until they reduce the size of the keyboard (preferably with a slider) and build in lights like the new Sony reader (e-Ink display is HORRIBLE to read in anything less than direct light), I’ll stick with hard copy. (And this is coming from a guy who bought the Kindle a year ago and quickly returned it because of all its deficiencies. I really wanted to love it.)
I’ve had mine for 8 months, and I can say that as a device, the Kindle is so-so – but what is stellar is Amazon’s catalogue and the Kindle’s access to it. I agree that you don’t often need the keyboard – it shoud slide away – but you also don’t want a device that is all screen, since it would be too hard to hold.
I’ve wanted a Kindle since day 1, it was just so freaking ugly that I couldn’t buy one. I know looks shouldn’t be a big concern for something like, but I can’t help it. Kindle 2 looks much better. Still not “awesome”, but much, much better. Definitely plan to buy one when it’s available.
After seeing the pics of the new version, I finally pulled the trigger on the original. I can’t imagine why I would want it bigger – the size now is perfect. As for “ugly” I only look at the screen when I use it and it is fabulous. It’s not perfect, but I just love it.
As of today, no one knows that those pics are actually of Kindle 2 rather than of the prototype, since it is also said to have a non-user-replaceable battery and no SD slot. Something like a fixed 1 gig internal memory feature. I like the flexibility and expandability of SD cards that I have and would not be trading in for version 2 unless there is a lot more than has been described. I don’t want longer, and I actually think it’s ugly
I’ve had a Kindle since April and absolutely love it. Once I got used to the page turning and keeping my hands on the keyboard, I rarely have a problem with hitting the page turning buttons. It really is a matter of just getting used to it. The wireless delivery of content is the best and I’ve read so many more books with this device than I would if I had to go to a bookstore or wait for Amazon to deliver it. I’m definitely a Kindle fan girl.
Ellen,
What’s your take on Amazon’s online store? Do they really have a large selection in comparison to their selection of hard copies? Also, how’s the Kindle’s readability in dim light?
Thanks,
Josh
They have something over 200,000 Kindle books plus the new 7,000+ free books they just quietly added (largely public domain + unusual articles).
I especially like the kindlefeeder.com
capability (which currently includes the New Yorker in full-feed version, at no added cost).
Who uses this….I love reading my ordinary / “real” books…
I saw the Sony book reader few days back…they are good…but IMHO…I dont think this will actually replace traditional books…
http://www.livbit.com
I’m mainly reading books on my iphone with stanza. It’s great having a book with you all the time without lugging it round, any downtime becomes read time
Will the student version only be available to students (in the same way educational software — and their lower prices — is only available to students)?
I watch the Kindle page on Amazon. Am I the only one who’s noticed that even V1 is completely sold out until Dec 24? Apparently, you’re not going to get either until 2009….
My wife and I both have the Sony, and she works for Amazon. The problem with the Kindle is that it seems like you could break it – it is made of plastic. The Sony is metal, smaller and thinner. The Kindle has a few things going for it, namely a dictionary and the store is far and away better than the Sony store. The selection of books seem to be similar and Amazon seems to charge a tad less for each book than Sony does.
For the “who uses this”, we use it ALL THE TIME. I take it everywhere. And no, I wouldn’t want it ported to an iPhone. the eInk is essential if you don’t like headaches.
No evidence this image is anything but a mock-up incorporating parts of the Kindle 1.0. Several unlikely design decisions evident. We haven’t seen a glimpse yet of the real Kindle 2.0.
Your opinion is worthless without a TechCrunch Tablet to read it on. {}
Had mine for 10 months, no problem with page turning, keyboard , or breaking. Love it, and the size is perfect for one hand reading, bye the way Amazon has a great catalog.
Design is terrible. Looks like a cash registering machine. Why don’t they just steal from Apple, like everybody?
Hate to break it to you all, but this photo which is from the boygeniusreport web site is not the Kindle 2.0, its actually the Kindle Beta. Those are pics of the prototype device that became the Kindle we all know and love. That’s why no SD slot, no removable battery, etc. It’s built on a generic case kit to show functionality, hence that joystick.
That’s what many of us have suspected all along, but where did you get this info that you seem very sure of?
I hope it’s right because in no way would I be interested in going to version 2 if it’s like this.
I could see it as a cheaper version though, without an SD card and with a non-user-replaceable battery for those who prefer the more slim, generic e-gadget look.
When will Kindle be avalaible in Spain?
For a review of the Kindle 2 as well as conversion info, check http://anthonyp...et.blogspot.com
I have had Kindle 1 since it’s inception and I think is is great. Every day is an adventure. I still buy books and retrieve them at the local library but all in all you can’t beat wispernet and at no charge as well. With all that in mind I can imagine the Series 2 is a wow!
I believe the PDF format may emmerge as these catch on, because it can include zoomable graphics or photos in full color. PDF is also an included format on a lot of document scanners, that would allow easy home-based transfers or uploads.
What is the actual point of having such a large keyboard. I am agreeing with some of the posters above, a flip keyboard would be the most efficient use of space for the Kindle.