I used to write a blog about ebooks - some of you may remember eBook Culture (alas I let the domain name slip and so it was gobbled up by a squatter). Anyway, as a lover of both books and the Web, the vision of an Internet-connected eBook Reader has been one of my obsessions over the years. And now it looks like Amazon has, finally, taken the always-nascent eBook industry to the next level. This week, wrote Steve Levy in a rapturous article in Newsweek, Amazon will release the Kindle - an e-reader that uses E Ink and will have Internet connectivity. The latter point is what will differentiate the Kindle from its chief competitor currently, the Sony eReader that was launched in 2006.
Kindle image via Engadget
Levy wrote in Newsweek that the Kindle " will change the way readers read, writers write and publishers publish." He unleashes other doozies of hyperbole too: "the iPod of reading" and "the first 'always-on' book".
The Kindle will cost USD399, which is $100 more than the Sony eReader. But the wireless Internet connectivity easily makes the increased price worth it. The wireless is via a system called Whispernet - which according to Newsweek is based on the EVDO broadband service offered by cell-phone carriers, allowing it to work anywhere and not just Wi-Fi hotspots. Here's Levy's description of what the device looks and feels like:
"It weighs but 10.3 ounces, and unlike a laptop computer it does not run hot or make intrusive beeps. A reading device must be sharp and durable, Bezos says, and with the use of E Ink, a breakthrough technology of several years ago that mimes the clarity of a printed book, the Kindle's six-inch screen posts readable pages. The battery has to last for a while, he adds, since there's nothing sadder than a book you can't read because of electile dysfunction. (The Kindle gets as many as 30 hours of reading on a charge, and recharges in two hours.)"
The Kindle will be able to hold 200 books, with new releases being offered for just $9.99. Also, apparently blogs will be part of the service - at a cost of either 99 cents or $1.99 a month per blog. Matthew Ingram was appalled that he'd have to pay. I'm awaiting details on this, because it sounds like premium content deals have been made with the likes of paidcontent.org. Either that or Amazon will try to make money from bundling feeds. It may be attractive to mainstream people who haven't gotten into RSS Readers yet, we'll have to wait and see. Like Matthew, I wouldn't pay unless there is a 'premium' offering (in which case I would certainly consider paying).
There is some debate about whether the Kindle is as beautiful as an ipod. David Rothman, who has been blogging about eBooks for much longer than me, says it's ugly. And judging from the picture above, it doesn't look like something you'd cuddle up with in bed!
David also notes the DRM issues - but then you'd have to say that Steve Jobs managed to circumvent that easily enough with the iPod. Amazon has, according to Newsweek, already gotten all the major book publishers on board. As with the iPod, there are mutterings from publishers about the low pricing. But long term I would expect Amazon to do exactly as Apple did and use their market muscle to easily push forward with the low pricing and DRM.
Another issue that David Rothman brings up could be the one that Amazon gets unstuck on: formats. This is a hobby horse of David, as he is a fierce advocate for an open ebook standard. He asks:
"Will Amazon’s Kindle work in the future with .epub files, or will Amazon thumb its nose at the IDPF, publishers and us e-book readers who are sick, sick, sick of eBabel—all those clashing e-book formats."
That's an as yet unanswered question that we'll track.
What is most interesting though is how Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, is positioning Kindle in relation to the e-commerce bohemoth. Yet again we hear the word "service" being conjured up: "This isn't a device, it's a service", Bezos said in Newsweek. The Kindle is being seen as "an extension of the familiar Amazon store". In other words, the Kindle is shaping up as a highly strategic move by Amazon. Probably much more important to its future business than the Web Services stack that has gotten so much (deserved) hype over the past year. Because the Kindle is literally going to change Amazon's core business model. This will take years to play out, but it all comes down to the dream that eBook fans have held for years: that books delivered electronically can offer much more flexibility, richness, search, communities, etc etc. But it all depends on having a suitable eReader device, which Amazon now claims it has created.
When I wrote my 'goodbye' post for the blog eBook Culture in November 2004 (yikes, is it 3 years since then already!), I noted my key themes in the eBook world: eBooks as a practice, not an object; eBooks and social networking; Remix culture (of textual content, in this case); and finding out what the various "jobs" of eBooks are in different contexts.
eBook Culture logo, circa 2004
I can't wait to get the Amazon Kindle, which must be a good sign that Amazon is on the right track! ;-) I think Amazon will overcome the issues that David Rothman and others have raised - they have to, because the eBook industry needs an iPod-like device and the support of a heavyweight like Amazon to finally get traction. It has to happen with the Kindle, surely. Then we can get to exploring new business models and read/write methods of book-writing.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Amazon Sets eBook World Alight with Kindle - Finally, Time For Read/Write Books!.
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Amazon Kindle, a new ebook reader, is launching today according to two highly placed posts on Read/WriteWeb titled Amazon Sets eBook World Alight with Kindle - Finally, Time For Read/Write Books! and TechCrunch's Amazon Kindle To Debut On Mon... Read More
Update: This entire post was written before looking at the pay-as-you-read RSS pricing structure. Click down to the end to see how Amazon's pricing has changed my point of view. The Story: So Amazon launched Kindle, the first major US Read More
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Richard - like you, I'm excited about the potential for ebooks. It would be great to be able to go on a long flight and have an all-you-can-eat ebook, filled with books, magazines and interesting web content.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Amazon Kindle is an expensive, boring gadget. It's not about media portability, it's not about user-generated content, it's not about extending the Internet. It's a 1st Gen Zune.
History has shown us that people aren't interested in buying expensive gadgets that give them access to expensive content. People will buy an expensive gadget (iPod), though, if it adds value to their existing content (CDs, Internet media).
I'll be surprised if Amazon doesn't shift gears in the next year and open the Kindle up to make it a content platform. Unless that happens, though, don't expect it to be the next big thing.
Posted by: James Lewin | November 18, 2007 8:31 PMIt sounds fascinating.
Posted by: Dillon | November 18, 2007 9:18 PMImagine reading a book and a message pops up saying that the author is holding an open live chat session at 2pm Friday on the Kindle :)
Or where you can chat/meet with fellow fans of the book you are reading.
Hope the price comes down as It is nearly as expensive as some low cost laptops!
Authors will have whole new revenue opportunities.
Imagine Harry Potter fans paying a token $3 a month to receive a new mini story/chapter/collectors card. And then further money can be made from placing text link ads on pages.
Authors will be able to sell merchandise as well.
Readers could also search for cafes to read their books in...
I'd give the Kindle an A- for features (minus due to price), and a D for design. You need high grades in both to spark excitement and front runner product status.
The iPhone has a great design, but lacks web browsing speed, for example, so it takes a hit in the features category. A company that can offer gamechanging features, hip design and an attractive price point ... is offering the complete package.
Posted by: Jeff Crites | November 18, 2007 9:32 PMI own a Sony Reader since last holiday season, and have read tends of thousands of pages on it so far, so I'm a very happy customer. However, a net connection (to read blogs and news) and a keyboard (to add notes) are the two features that I miss most, so the Kindle could well be my next device.
Posted by: Elad | November 18, 2007 11:59 PMThere seem to be two major problems though: one is DRM - the idea of paying for blog content is just preposterous. I'd never do that. The other is its form. It's not the ugliness that bothers me as much as that it doesn't look like easy to hold as you'd hold a book. Reading in bed is actually better with the Sony Reader than with a paper book since it's easier to hold and flip pages with one hand. Doesn't look like the Kindle can offer that.
Richard, I had no idea you had a background in eBooks! This was a heart warming post to read because of it - your interest is infectious.
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick | November 19, 2007 12:55 AMThanks for the post, Richard. Two comments: First, I really do hope the design of the Kindle is substantially different from what the picture shows (after all, this was posted a while ago on Engadget - so, there's a good chance Amazon's product managers have made improvements on what can only be an early prototype) - you should check out readers like the latest from Bookeen (www.bookeen.com - a French company). Second, the Kindle won't be the first E-Book reader with WLAN - it's one of the features that the iLiad from iRex already offers today.
Posted by: Ralf | November 19, 2007 3:12 AMI've been reading ebooks on my PDA for years. This thing is ugly (yes there are lots more pictures on amazon.com, and it's no prettier from different angles), too big, and trying to be some kind of limited web tablet as well as an ebook device. Something that pretty much any smartphone already does better.
If it doesn't fit in my pocket then it's not for me. If I can't re-read my 200+ existing ebooks on it then it's not for me. The thing's practically the size and weight of a UMPC, and it's definitely not cheap.
YUCK.
Posted by: Ebooker | November 19, 2007 7:45 AMwait for it . . .
wait for it . .
iBook! (or an updated iPod with a fancy schmancy screen).
Stevey J will waltz in and eat Jeff's lunch when he is good and ready.
Posted by: Johny Fantastic | November 19, 2007 8:41 AMI like the idea, but damn that thing is ugly.
I don't agree with this idea that e-book readers have to try and replicate the book experience in every way, much as iPods don't try and replicate the Walkman experience in every way. I read novels on my winmobile frequently, and the most comfortable type of reader is the one where you can flick-scroll the text (like you would with an iPhone) rather than pretend to turn pages.
The replication idea is, in my opinion, an attempt to convince the baby-boomers, but they simply do not want to be convinced no matter how hard they try. The younger generations and perfectly able to understand text-scrolling and finger-gestures, however, and ebook readers should be designed with them in mind.
Posted by: Tadhg | November 19, 2007 8:48 AMA large gadget that does only one thing. Another thing to carry around. Even portable DVDs have not been popular.
What is the product's advantage to something that is delivered over iphone or such?
I think this one will fail like the many similar e-book concepts.
Posted by: Joseph Pally | November 19, 2007 7:30 PMThe biggest problem that I see with this is that it is another device. The number of people willing to carry more than one or two things around with them is dwindling; the trend is towards convergence.
I'm tempted to see this as more of a high profile proof-of-concept then as a product per se. Once Amazon have convinced people that the technology and business model works then they can license the technology and open up their APIs so that companies like Apple can include an ebook mode as part of the iPhone (or whatever).
Posted by: Tom Scrace | November 20, 2007 1:53 PMI am pretty impressed with this product, most people will slag it off but I think its the first generation of many similar products that will change the way we read.
Posted by: Amazon Kindle | November 21, 2007 9:09 AMWow, this looks about as cool as an etch a sketch, only not quite as modern. That green screen reminds me of the brother word processor i used in highschool. The whole thing right down to the name of the product is like this bazaar parody that is actually real.. or is it? Kindle? As in what to do with old newspapers? I think Paperweight is actually a better name. Seriously.
Posted by: SEM for small business | November 24, 2007 9:27 PMWhat I really want is a portable web browser with an eInk display. Not a portable version of iTunes for books.
Posted by: Charlie | November 25, 2007 2:38 PMHope the price comes down as It is nearly as expensive as some low cost laptops!
Posted by: WELLBUTRIN | November 30, 2007 1:38 AMAuthors will have whole new revenue opportunities.