Kindle roundup: Sales numbers or lack of ‘em, the K-machine’s Q&A service, Disrupt-O-Meter, Amazon’s $300M buy of Audible audiobooks
The Kindle craze goes on—how long until another Sony craze or maybe even a Readius craze replaces it? Or will the K-fixation last and last? Who knows? Of interest:
News that the Kindle’s still sold out. Even so, where are the specific numbers? Just how many units sold out of how many in stock? I don’t doubt that the K-machine is a hit among early adopters, and it might be much more of a success, but why is Jeff Bezos so shy about the stats that count? (Mike Cane, Henry Blodget and Peter Kafka.)
- Transcript of Amazon earnings call for Q4 with mention of Kindle, including Jeff’s reference to a K-based Q&A service. Also, do you notice the description of the Web browser as “experimental”? Could much of the “free” be too experimental for consumers’ tastes? Some may hope that WiFi efforts succeed, so users don’t get socked in the future with nasty EVDO-related fees! (Seeking Alpha.)
- Publishers Weekly’s take on Amazon and the Kindle. PW quotes Jeff’s prediction that digital will prevail over physical in the sale of content on Amazon. Oh, and the word is that Jeff wants people to get their Kindles immediately. The issue is, how long until Amazon can reach this goal, given the current shortage of E Ink displays. By the way, the Kindle definitely uses Vizplex, the second-gen E Ink display tech.
- Disrupt-O-Meter’s indication that the Kindle will shake up the book biz more than will the Sony Reader. That’s no surprise right now, given Amazon’s size and the Kindle’s wireless. But don’t count Sony out. (MobileRead.)
- $300M purchase of Audible by Amazon—a hint that audio books could play a larger role in the Kindle’s future. I wonder if the buy would have happened if the Kindle was a big flop.
- Jerry Pournelle’s new Kindle. (MobileRead.)
Technorati Tags: Disrupt-o-Meter,Audible
January 31st, 2008 at 6:48 pm
>>>By the way, the Kindle definitely uses Vizplex, the second-gen E Ink display tech.
OK, wait, now you’ve confused me. The K definitely is *not* using the same eInk as the PRS505 from Sony. How many gens of eInk have there been and which enumeration is the Sony using?
For that matter, why not list all the current e-readers and the eInk gen they are using. Cybook, iLiad, et al.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:01 am
Thanks for posting the Audible take-over news that I did not see today. As an Audible Platinum subscriber the Amazon purchase is very interesting. Here are some, admittedly self-interested, suggestions and comments:
1) Amazon should release e-books combined with text-synchronized audio tracks. This would allow readers to switch modalities. It will also help individuals who are learning to read and persons with disabilities. The DAISY consortium has a standard for this.
2) Apple might try to damage Audible. Part of the success of Audible rests on the hardware/software support that iPods provide for the proprietary Audible audio format. However, Apple and Amazon are now direct competitors in the music sales arena. Hence, Apple may withdraw support for the Audible audio format in the future. Perhaps multi-year support is contractually fixed; if it is not then Amazon may need the strategy mentioned next.
3) Amazon should add a new format for audiobooks. They should sell audiobooks in MP3 format without the encumbrance of DRM. They already sell music without DRM. If Amazon fears “piracy†they could embed digital fingerprints as a deterrent.
4) Amazon should sell a new Kindle hardware device based on the OLPC screen technology. One very inexpensive model can be constructed that uses a USB connection to a computer for downloading and does not use any wireless connection. Another inexpensive model can use just a WIFI connection. Amazon needs multiple entry-points to its e-book universe in addition to the premium priced device that is currently available.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:20 am
Mike: Check out the E Ink site and you’ll see mention of the use of Vizplex in the Kindle. In fact, I’ll repro the release. Are you saying there are different versions of Vizpex? If so, I’d suspect that the Kindle would be more up to date than the Sony unless Amazon were economizing or PVI ran out of the newest Vizplex. The K-machine is newer. David
AMAZON SELECTS E INK CORPORATION’S ELECTRONIC PAPER DISPLAY FOR ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART KINDLE TM EBOOK
E Ink reinforces its leadership position in eBook applications with major design win
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Additional Information
About E Ink Corporation
E Ink Corporation is the world’s leading supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies. E Ink’s technology is ideal for many consumer and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, eBooks, PC-accessories, watches, clocks, and public information displays and promotional signs. E Ink is a private corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners The Hearst Corporation, Intel Capital, Motorola, Inc., TOPPAN Printing Company, First Albany Technology Ventures, Solstice Capital and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. E Ink news can be found at: http://www.eink.com.
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