Oh, such cheery trends! iPhone harms openness, recession hits gizmo world, and it’s Google vs. long reads
A bright sun is beaming down on Alexandria, VA, south of Washington, D.C.—that’s an an old photo—and at about 10:40 a.m., it’s already 92 degrees here. Downer. If global warming or $4 gas in the States isn’t enough, here are a few other cheer-spreaders:
–The new 3G iPhone isn’t just more expensive for U.S. consumers over the long run, with unlimited data costs jacked up from $20 to $30 a month. It will also requires special activation at an AT&T or Apple store, at least in the U.S.—a move away from openness. I’ll not be buying one, regardless of the steeply reduced initial price of $199+.
Meanwhile the iPhone serves as a handy reminder of the risk of monopolies, including the format-and DRM-enforced e-book variety. In case you’re not gloomy enough, read The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It, by Jonathan Zittrain, who contrasts the current open hardware to relatively closed iPhone-style devices (via Alex at MobileRead). At least the PDF copy is free, and ready to be converted with Mobipocket Desktop into something more usable.
–E-books could indeed benefit from the lower distribution and consumer-purchase costs if the energy crisis goes on, but in the States, more consumers might now be mulling over another issue. Can they afford the gizmos to read E with? Oh, well, Amazon PR has just alerted us that the $360 Kindle is the most desired e-gadget for Father’s Day. Bought item, too? Actually maybe. Still, that $150-$200 Astak with a five-inch screen, due out this month, could be a godsend for e-book fans if the recession worsens. Price pressure on Amazon and the others?
–Google and the rest of the Net seem to be making us less open to "concentration and contemplation," according to Nicholas Carr, writing in the Atlantic (via MR and infothought). So what else is new? Children need to grow up with e-books used in school in ways that encourage sustained thought. TeleRead anyone? An integrated approach? The situation is growing dire enough in the States, even among the well-educated. Now how about children in developing countries? Without decent e-reading software, could OLPC laptops make matters worse?
Well, enough. Isn’t it terrific—all this gloom crammed into one, easy-to-digest post?
June 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Hi David;
Great article.
I won’t be purchasing an iPhone either. But, please remember, all phones purchased at the carrier store require activation at the time of purchase.
The only difference is if you already have a GSM phone that allows you to swap out the SIM card, then if you get another phone, you simply plug in the new SIM. Everyone coming in for the new iPhone will be getting a new phone and (probably) a new 3G SIM card. Which really isn’t very different from getting a new Blackberry, Nokia or Windows Mobile unless you get one unlocked off the internet.
As far as the Astak, I REALLY hope they get their device to market at that price point and that it puts SIGNIFICANT pressure on the other e-book reader companies to lower prices.
I belong to a Kindle forum (although I don’t own one) which is populated by people who have managed to scrape together the funds or have that much disposable income during these tough economic times to purchase one for themselves and then give others as gifts.
The rest of us? We use what we have until we can afford one or the prices start coming down.
In California, regular gas is already at $4.50+ per gallon in most places.
My new gadget budget has already been severely affected.