Amazon's Kindle coming today- what does it bring new to ebooks?

Kevin's early warning last week was accurate we now believe as Amazon's CEO says that the online retailer will be releasing their innovative ebook reader, the Kindle today.  The web is all abuzz with this news as details have been provided about the reader and how Amazon will offer their wares for the device.  We should point out that from a hardware standpoint the Kindle is not that different from other devices that have come before it.  It looks rather clunky but weighs a svelte 10.3 ounces and uses eInk like the Sony Reader.  This should provide good battery life as the screen is not backlit, something that some will find to be a disadvantage compared to other devices that can read ebooks today.

CEO Jeff Bezos, in an interview with Newsweek, dropped some information about the Kindle that no one was expecting.  The Kindle will have integrated EV-DO that will operate on Amazon's new Whispernet, a service that in effect makes the Kindle the first always connected book.  Owners can buy books online through the network and it can also handle email.  There's no reason the Kindle couldn't be an internet appliance too with always connected capability but we'll have to see how Amazon implements it.  The downside to this radio integration is the potential hit on battery life.  Reader devices with eInk technology only hit the battery when a page is being turned, not when it's just displaying a page which normally makes batteries last seemingly forever.  This won't be the case with Whispernet integration so we'll have to see how well that works.  The network intergration explains why Amazon has that ugly big keypad on the bottom of the reader, something that makes the device much bigger for carrying around.  We'll have to see how that works and we'll have to see if Amazon intends to charge anything for the Whispernet service.  If they do that the already high price of the Kindle, $399, will seem way out of line.

Amazon's entry into this space can breathe new life into the ebook world because let's face it, Amazon is one of the largest online book retailers in the world.  That makes them like Apple in the music business, and they could have some serious clout to bring ebook prices down.  They have already said that ebooks will sell for $9.99 for the Kindle so this may be a very good thing for the ebook industry.  We'll have to wait and see how this goes with the announcement today, hopefully they'll answer all the remaining questions about how this will work.  It can only be a good thing when a heavyweight like Amazon throws its hat into the ring.

Comments

[Ron P]

Wanted to chime in and let everyone know that Engadget is reporting from the launch that the EVDO service from SPRINT is 100% FREE with the device.

For more pricing details go to http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/19/amazon-kindle-available-now-on-amazon/

I am sure James and Kevin will cover this a bit more extensively later today, but I thought that the Free EVDO would be a matter of interest.

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Correct Ron. Amazon is picking up the tab for use of EVDO through their Whispernet content delivery network. I believe this is simply for getting content to the device, not for use as a full-time connection to the web.

[bill]

The Kindle (ridiculous name) looks like it was designed in the fomer Soviet Union

[Mike Whalen]

Well, you know, Bill, that in the former Soviet Union, Kindle designs YOU!

Who's starting a pool on a Time-To-Jailbreak?

[Mike Cane]

Here, what do you mean Jailbreak for Kindle? You mean to plop a full browser on it?

Kindle uses a new ebook format just for it. DRMed MobiPocket (amazon *owns* MP) won't work on it. WTF?

They have some really killer marketing vids up.

http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-kindle/dp/B000FI73MA

The wireless is really something. "Blackberry of blogs," "a traveling store." Oh, the sticky buzzphrases are killer! A+ for marketing.

As for its looks... some things look better in person. I thought the new Centro fugly in pics. In person, quite nice. Everyone thought the new squat nano would be a fat pig. Not in person!

I'd like to fondle one. I still favor the Sony Reader... but damn, Kindle's wireless!

[Nikooo]

The Cybook 3rd generation on Bookeen.com actually looks better... and is cheaper.
But yes, you won't be able to get your NYtimes on it every morning without turning on your PC... nor would you be able to pay 1$ to read free blogs... and books only cost 10$ whereas on Mobipocket books cost anywhere from 4-5$ to 30 and up.

If you want to stay 'lost cost' then the best would be to develop good back muscles and to focus on paperbacks!

[Alan Pozner]

Whoever jailbreaks the EVDO so that the Kindle can act as a wireless FREE modem to my PC will either put Amazon and Sprint out of business or sell 1 million Kindles in a week.