Comments on: 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 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/31/kindle-roundup-sales-numbers-or-lack-of-em-the-question-answering-service-disrupt-o-meter/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:05:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/31/kindle-roundup-sales-numbers-or-lack-of-em-the-question-answering-service-disrupt-o-meter/#comment-704146 David Rothman Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:20:19 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/31/kindle-roundup-sales-numbers-or-lack-of-em-the-question-answering-service-disrupt-o-meter/#comment-704146 Mike: Check out the E Ink site and you'll see <a href="http://www.eink.com/press/releases.html" rel="nofollow">mention of the use of Vizplex</a> 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 Cambridge, MA, November 19, 2007 - E Ink Corporation, the leader in electronic paper display (EPD) technology, announced today that its VizplexTM Imaging Film based electronic paper display has been chosen by Amazon for use in the new eBook, Kindle, released this morning. As Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, said in the November 26, 2007 NEWSWEEK magazine: "This is the most important thing we've ever done. It's so ambitious to take something as highly evolved as the book and improve on it. And maybe even change the way people read." E Ink's VizplexTM Imaging Film displays offer superb contrast in both high and low lighting conditions, together with extremely low power consumption and a very thin profile. Displays using E Ink's Vizplex offer a true paper-like reading experience, attributes that enable the wide adoption of eBooks as a viable device. In addition, Amazon's Kindle eBook features wireless connectivity, a paperback style and 30 hours of reading with a single battery charge. E Ink Electronic Paper Displays A wide viewing angle of 180 degrees, combined with sunlight readability in a paper thin form, make displays using E Ink VizplexTM a compelling choice in hand held applications such as an eBook. OEM designers benefit from the longer battery life and thin profile, enabling sleek designs and exciting new form-factors. E Ink is also the proud supplier of electrophoretic displays used by most global eBook companies, including Sony, iRex, Jinke Hanlin, Bookeen, Neolux and eRead Technologies. E Ink displays are also found in a variety of other handheld devices, such as watches, cell phones and other computing devices. "E Ink has emerged as the display provider of choice for eBooks and other mobile information applications," said Russ Wilcox, CEO of E Ink, "E Ink's technology enables companies like Amazon to realize ground-breaking products in new markets." 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: www.eink.com. About Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc., (Nasdaq:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden. Media Inquiries: E Ink Corporation / US Doug Russell or Bill Donlan Schwartz Communications 781-684-0770 eink@schwartz-pr.com Product Inquiries: E Ink Corporation / US David Jackson or Sriram Peruvemba 617-234-8100 sales@eink.com © 2005 E Ink Corporation 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

Cambridge, MA, November 19, 2007 - E Ink Corporation, the leader in electronic paper display (EPD) technology, announced today that its VizplexTM Imaging Film based electronic paper display has been chosen by Amazon for use in the new eBook, Kindle, released this morning.

As Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, said in the November 26, 2007 NEWSWEEK magazine: “This is the most important thing we’ve ever done. It’s so ambitious to take something as highly evolved as the book and improve on it. And maybe even change the way people read.”

E Ink’s VizplexTM Imaging Film displays offer superb contrast in both high and low lighting conditions, together with extremely low power consumption and a very thin profile. Displays using E Ink’s Vizplex offer a true paper-like reading experience, attributes that enable the wide adoption of eBooks as a viable device. In addition, Amazon’s Kindle eBook features wireless connectivity, a paperback style and 30 hours of reading with a single battery charge.

E Ink Electronic Paper Displays

A wide viewing angle of 180 degrees, combined with sunlight readability in a paper thin form, make displays using E Ink VizplexTM a compelling choice in hand held applications such as an eBook. OEM designers benefit from the longer battery life and thin profile, enabling sleek designs and exciting new form-factors.

E Ink is also the proud supplier of electrophoretic displays used by most global eBook companies, including Sony, iRex, Jinke Hanlin, Bookeen, Neolux and eRead Technologies. E Ink displays are also found in a variety of other handheld devices, such as watches, cell phones and other computing devices.

“E Ink has emerged as the display provider of choice for eBooks and other mobile information applications,” said Russ Wilcox, CEO of E Ink, “E Ink’s technology enables companies like Amazon to realize ground-breaking products in new markets.”

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.

About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc., (Nasdaq:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.

Media Inquiries:
E Ink Corporation / US
Doug Russell or Bill Donlan
Schwartz Communications
781-684-0770
eink@schwartz-pr.com

Product Inquiries:
E Ink Corporation / US
David Jackson or Sriram Peruvemba
617-234-8100
sales@eink.com

© 2005 E Ink Corporation

]]> By: Garson O'Toole http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/31/kindle-roundup-sales-numbers-or-lack-of-em-the-question-answering-service-disrupt-o-meter/#comment-704037 Garson O'Toole Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:01:30 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/31/kindle-roundup-sales-numbers-or-lack-of-em-the-question-answering-service-disrupt-o-meter/#comment-704037 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. 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.

]]> By: Mike Cane http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/31/kindle-roundup-sales-numbers-or-lack-of-em-the-question-answering-service-disrupt-o-meter/#comment-703710 Mike Cane Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:48:33 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/31/kindle-roundup-sales-numbers-or-lack-of-em-the-question-answering-service-disrupt-o-meter/#comment-703710 >>>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. >>>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.

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