Gizmodo
Jeff Bezos is about to launch the Kindle e-book reader at a hotel in NYC, and we're in there blogging live. Here's a gallery of Bezos plowing through device features. Jump for the play-by-play.
10:23 - Bookmarks last page read automatically. If you want to clear memory space, you delete them off of your Kindle and in 60 seconds you can get them back again. (So, 60-second downloads.) "Disappears so you can enter the author's world." The End.
10:18 - Look at the store: your recommendations, national bestseller list. Buy something: scroll with your select wheel, select title, pull up detail page. What you would expect with Amazon.com - cover art, editorial reviews. Print list price $35, Kindle price is $9.99. Click on Buy. Says "thank you for your purchase...you can continue shopping while you are downloading." GREAT FEATURE: "Purchsed by accident? Cancel this order"
10:15 - Feature run through: font size change; "select" wheel; add highlight, annotation — all saved on server side so you never lose your annotations; dictionary - looks up every word in the line, then you can select each word.
10:05-10:13 - VIDEO: The publishing world rallies around Kindle. Toni Morrison, Neil Gaiman and other luminaries say that they love Amazon and the Kindle. Mostly promotional, but we have captured it in case there's anything exciting buried in there.
10:03 - There's a dictionary resident on every Kindle, the 8-lb. Oxford American Dictionary on the 10-oz. Kindle. "With Kindle it's so friction-free to look up a word, I find my deduction of what that word might mean hasn't been that accurate." Wikipedia is the "best encyclopedia in the world;" you can access Wikipedia from the device.
10:00 - Personal documents - Every Kindle has an e-mail address. Attach docs and e-mail them to your device. It's that simple.
9:57 - 90,000 books - 101 of 112 NYT bestsellers - 9.99 - if you want to do things taht physical books can't do, why not deliver newspapers. They are delivered while you sleep. WSJ, NYT, Washington Post, and local newspapers too. Local newspapers on Kindle become national newspapers. Time, Fortune, Atlantic Monthly, Slate. And over 300 of the most popular blogs. This is not RSS - it's pushed to you. Subscribe to the ones you want.
9:55 - "EV-DO, fastest wireless technology, it's broadband. Highly deployed. Use it while you move around. Everybody knows when you use wireless cell networks, there's gotta be a data plan, multiyear contract, monthly bill — we didn't like that either. We built Amazon Whispernet on top of Sprint's EV-DO network. No data plan, no multiyear contract, no monthly bill — we pay for all of that behind the scenes so you can just read."
9:52 - "With a PC - you are loading software, shopping from your PC - once you bought and downloaded a book, you use USB cable to sync to device. We didn't think that was a very good solution. There would be no PC, no software to install. Instead of shopping from your PC, you shop from your device. Store is on your device."
9:50 Soft rubber back, full-length page turning, comfortable to hold, paper-like display, electronic ink. Recharging is bad, so long battery life. No backlight. (like Sony, Bezos says this is a good thing.)
9:47 - "I have nerd credentials." (And a big crush on his elementary school teacher Mrs. McInerny.) But can you improve on something as well suited to its task as the book?
1. It has to fade away for the reader, like a book does, "so you can enter the author's world."
2. We can never outbook the book. We have to take modern technologies and do new things that the book can't do.
9:45 - Bezos says why books are the last remaining analog product: The format (glue and paper) fades away, "and what remains are the author's worlds, the author's words. I'm a reader."
9:40 - Bezos on the codex: "Gutenberg would still recognize a modern-day book."
Though we've already posted the rumors and the news, there's still a lot to know about this mystery disruptor. The dudes behind me think it might have the most impact on publishing since the internet, so stay tuned. [Amazon Kindle Store]
Comments
What the F is the internet?
oh, and while I'm at it......the dudes behind you? Sorry, I just had to point that out.
looks nice =)
"The dudes behind me think it might have the most impact on publishing since the internet"
Seriously doubt it. I like the Whispernet use, but the actual device is ugly - and the screen doesn't look all that great, too. Until they start using flexible OLED in a book-like form this isn't going to do much, IMO.
The dudes behind you are, sadly, idiots. Please pass my condolences along to them. If they pout, pat them on the head and remind them that Santa is coming soon.
The content service may (and I stress may) be interesting. But the hardware - even with aesthtics aside - seems a little poorly executed. Perhaps the Kindle II.
it won't be that impactful unless the upfront cost is less. at 400 bucks to play, i don't care how cheap the books are.
of course the counter argument is the Sony Reader is a hundred bucks less and offers a lot less perceived value (books are more expensive, needs to be tethered to computer, no annotations, etc...) but the problem is, if I can go buy a used book on Amazon for 5 to 10 bucks, its not worth it to me to pay 400 bucks.
Now of course I took advantage of Sony's deal to sign up for their credit card and got the PRS-500 for fifty bucks and I can see the advantage of throwing 10 books onto a reader for a vacation and not have to haul 10 paperbacks along. If amazon had a subscription model to bring the price down, that might entice people more.
I hope this is the first step and the 2nd or 3rd gen version lives to see the light of day and be a lot less expensive, and a lot more advanced.
Do me a favor and ask them how many books they calculate it takes before a consumer finds this device cost effective as opposed to just buying real books from Amazon. You're only looking at about a $7 difference between the cost of a hard cover new release and an e-book. And I've yet to find information on what happens to your books when you run out of space on the device.
The only way this would revolutionize publishing is if they manage to make e-ink in color and connect it to the comic book and magazine industry. I know I'd get one just so I could stop feeling guilty about throwing away issues of National Geographic.
@Atrocious: It's a bit early to be calling things poorly executed, don't you think?
A color e-ink ebook reader tied to the comic book and magazine industry? Actually, that's the same idea that Tom Hank's had in the movie, "Big"....and it was only going to sell for $19.00 back then....inflation's a bitch.
@CColdsmoke:
It said in the video that your purchases are backed up on your Amazon account.
What I want to know is CAN you sync with a computer?
NOBODY has confirmed this from what I can see.
I really want to like electronic books, really I do. And this is real close; hassle free, computer-less, wireless delivery, the ability to download newspaper and magazine content, as well as blogs (audio books, meh... never saw the point). I could almost justify this if I traveled a little more.
Deal breakers. $10 books? New paperbacks don't cost that, let alone used. A charge to sideload your own files? And a proprietary file format with no support for existing PDFs of LIT files? Who does Amazon think it is, Apple?
Seriously... Next to sauce/meat flavoured sodas and printed toiletpaper, E-books might seem cool. But, its f****** bullshit. Nobody wants this crap... and if they do, i will personally stand in one spot my whole life offering punches to every sucker who buys one of these.
Sorry... but E-books suck. Their pointless.
Theyre pointless. not their.
@baandoptager:
Thank you for your opinion. I'd like to remind you that what you said has been said many times before about many other now-essential products.
Wait and see. Or maybe try and provide your reasoning for why you think this hardware is doomed to fail.
I realize this is teh internets, but nobody like a guy that just say "THIS SUCKS" over and over without saying WHY
What's the headphone port for?
I only ever read one book at a time, *sometimes*, two. Books are already in their simplest form with their current, centuries old incarnation.
So, if I don't need hundreds of books on me at all times and the device doesn't somehow transform and simplify the process of reading books, what exactly is there to buy? A gadget for gadget's sake?
@skeeveAGAIN: Because he doesn't read books, that's why.
@skeeveAGAIN: I don't know if the Kindle will succeed or fail, but all the naysayers remind me of the people who said the iPod made no sense and nobody would pay $400 to listen to MP3s.
Eight immortal words regarding a certain "toy" device that was in a similar position:
No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.
@Tehrab: For one thing, a pet peeve of mine is the ink you get when reading newspapers which then forces me to wash my hands everytime I read one so I don't get it on everything I touch. Having this to read the newspapers eliminates that problem.
Honestly I thought $399 was ridiculous for this thing but if there is no monthly charge for the Sprint EVDO then that's pretty sweet. The ability to buy a book or download a newspaper at any time is pretty convenient but call me old fashioned - I still like adding just read books to my bookcase - so they can gather dust.
@Elvisisdead: In particular I was thinking of the monochrome screen. Great for pure text but lousy for most else. And there are some other nitpicks I have.
But your point is taken. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong - not even today! We'll see how the unwashed illiterate masses take to it.
I want one, only not this one. I think the whispernet is an awesome idea, and it's really nice they allow you to re-download (really don't need another email device, though). My biggest complaints are:
1. Screen still too small (especially for a $400 price tag)
2. I would really want a touch screen for annotation purposes (would also be cool for a page-flipping feature ala iPhone)
3. Proprietary file format is an issue. I can imagine wanting to put my own content on (graphs, charts, tables, reference, etc.)
4. Can't share my books anymore with friends (something I do frequently) ..
5. Doesn't look quite as fugly as it did in previous shots, but still pretty bad. Since a lot of typing isn't required for such a device, this is where a touch screen would come in really nice. This could reduce the footprint by quite a bit.
Early adopters move forth! Bring the price of the kindle down to $200 for the rest of us! $400? Gotta find a way to make back that R&D money back!
Looks like there's a lot of passion surrounding a product like this ("It sucks!" "It's revolutionary!" &c).
That's because it's a really cool idea, filled with potential. Even the haters have to admit that.
@Noobs-R-Us: Ah, well, that is a good point. Would be true of magazines also, like Wired, when I smudge up a new copy from holding one page too long while reading an article. However, that problem, at least in my experience, isn't really an issue with books and that is the thing's main application.
Not having to handle magazines & newspapers would be a nice convenience but is it worth the cost? If I was a clean/neat freak, maybe, aside from that, not much else to be had for my money in this unit. Anything else it does is bested by my current compliment of gadgetry (Phone, DAP, etc.)
The text search feature is also amazing. If only I could download text books to this thing...
Didn't Sony have an electronic reader a while ago? I like the networking ability, but still not certain. I think maybe in a few generations this product could change the way people look at reading.
I gotta say though - I graduated college with a degree in English and there is just something about holding a physical book in your hands that can't be replaced. While my college friends would sell their books back after the semester was over, I kept all of mine. I like having an extended library that I can refer back to. The books all have notes in the margins, pages folded down for particularly insightful reading, etc.
Jeff B. - prove me wrong! The name is nice, Kindle (like kindling), but I think that touches on another issue. Paper is somehow 'warm' while a cold looking piece of tech is definitely not. I hope you accounting for this in the tactile feel.
The most practical application I think the Kindle has right now is for newspaper reading, or anything where content would change frequently. As a huge comic book fan, I'd love nothing more than a color reader (yes yes OLEDREVOLUTION, insert "Big" reference here). If DC Comics offered their library online (like Marvel did recently), I would be buying this thing for sure.
The one feature that would appeal to me is not there - a backlight. A convenient way to read a book in the dark would be the only compelling feature IMO (probably not compelling enough to cause me to shell out $400 though)but it is not included.
I do not see this being successful. People who read like books. Many like being seen carrying a book. They like to collect books to put them on shelves, etc. They like to flip pages.
This may appeal to the most tech-oriented of people but even there, I feel like most of those people do not like single-function devices. Who wants to carry one more device around with them? Especially a device that costs $400. Is e-ink really that costly? This simple single-function device whose sole purpose is to allow you to buy downloadable content from Amazon is more expensive than a PS3, Xbox360, iphone or an HD Tivo unit. Are they kidding?
That said, I may consider a purchase when the price drops to $50.
I finally had time to watch the promo video. I take back some of my previous complaints. The interface looks a bit annoying to use (I don't love the scroll wheel .. a touch screen could still do much better), but overall it looks like a nice design. The screen size, still a bit smaller than I would normally like, is actually not bad. I could totally see bringing it on to the subway for reading (and it would have the benefit that I could stand up while reading)
Also, the more I look at it, the less fugly it looks. It's not winning any beauty contests anytime soon, but I get some of their design choices now.
I've been reading ebooks on my pda for several years. I think this is a great product except for people who like to read at night and don't want to keep their spouse awake with a lamp on.
I set my pda's screen to reverse (white letters on black) and turn the screen brightness down when I'm reading at night. This product would never work for me.
Is there going to be some way to touch these before you buy them, or are we stuck imagining what they feel like until the Amazon box arrives? This is the kind of product that really needs to be experienced in person. When I read a book, I'm holding in two hands, one hands, laying down in bed, etc. No way I'm buying this without seeing it in person first. (In that respect, the super interactive Apple stores have the right idea.)
All I want to know is
CAN YOU USE A COMPUTER!?!?!?!
Seriously it might seem like a dumb question but everywhere I look to try and find out it just says "You don't need to." But CAN you?
What if I don't want to spend $1 every time I want to put a document on it?
And what about PDF? No word on if that works or if it's convertible to work. Even over their whispernet thing.
Whispernet does seem really cool, I'm not denying that. But it's not a 100% replacement. Come on, will somebody just confirm that you can use that usb port for more than charging?
ill get me one of these for sure, its so cute
Color! Until I can see the New York Times or Atlantic Monthly or whatever in color it won't fly. Otherwise, awesome concept.
Close, but not quite there. If I had to read a newspaper on a screen that size I'd be blind by the end of the year. Get rid of all those buttons and crap, fill the entire front side with a touchscreen, and I'd be in at $400.
Also, are they going to have these in retail outlets for people to check out before they buy? Because without that, it's never going to do very well. How many iPods would they have sold if you couldn't touch one first? So many people didn't understand it until they could hold one in their hands.
I think this service is exactly what was needed to jump-start the e-book industry. I love the book form factor, but after moving tons of books all over the country and lugging around 700 page tomes on a daily basis, I think I could be easily persuaded to move into the digital book realm.
My main concern was title availability, but it appears that Amazon will be working to eventually have all books in this format.
Also, pricing was an issue. I could not accept paying the same price for a digital book as I did for a real one. I think the Amazon pricing structure is fair.
As for the hardware, I thought it was really ugly when I first saw it. Now, though, I understand that they wanted it to feel more like a book in the hand. Still, not sure I want to spend $400 just to get in the door of this service. Hopefully the hardware costs will come down quickly to a mass-market friendly point.
This thing is amazing. It would take my impulse book buying to another level. But, it's so damned FUGLY. You would think they could come up with a little better design given that they spent three years working on it. Everything else seems well executed and if you buy mostly new books, as I do, it would likely pay for itself eventually. But I think I'm waiting until the next incarnation or at least until the price drops. $400 is a little steep for such a Zach Morris-ey device.
@skeeveAGAIN: you can connect the kindle to your pc and transfer documents such as txt, kindle files, mobipocket files and mp3 files. Seems there is no support for pdf whatsoever. Hopefully in the future there will be a way to convert pdfs to kindle files on your pc.
finally have sum privacy from reading wen ppol cant juz c wut book im reading by not seeing the cover..sure i can cover it up but this justs makes it easier...plus i h8 reading, now ill h8 it less
I ordered a Kindle today. Here's why:
1. I travel about 90% of the time. The idea of having today's paper along with several books with me at all times is huge. I can't lug around 10 books at a time, and reading a newspaper on a plane is a PITA.
2. You can transfer your own documents to the device for free. I can now eliminate a lot of the paper in my briefcase that I use for reference. This is huge for me.
3. I read a lot of books that I don't want to keep or read again. $9.99 per book is much cheaper than the paper versions, and will encourage me to read more.
With an infrastructure like Amazon behind it I think there's a lot more to this story. Even at v1 it offers a lot of innovation that can't be ignored. It may take a while, but I think it's going to catch on.
I'm going to wait for Apple's version. They'll call it the iBook!
Also, people need to stop with the color, touch screen and page flips a la Apple. To say such nonsense shows that you know nothing about e-ink technology. E-ink is only capable of displaying 8 shades of gray. You'll have to wait another 5 years before you'll see color beyond what you would consider acceptable. In terms of page flipping, the screen refresh is way too slow to make it look acceptable. Also, having a touch screen defeats the purpose of e-ink. The entire idea is for the device to draw little to no power except when flipping pages. That's why you can get thousands of page turns. If you have to supply power to the screen constantly in order for the touch screen to work, they might as well use a LCD. Then, the battery life would only be about 1 hour with a screen that large.
@niel718:
You don't say? I never would have guessed.
After looking at all of the videos and reading material, I would have immediately purchased this if it were $200. I can't justify a $7 discount (less for older books that are available in paperback) and some saved shelf space over hardcopy for the price of a laptop or PS3.
I'm still tempted based on my obsessive need to buy new technology, but the price exceeds its usefulness.
@Noobs-R-Us:
Does a touchscreen take that much power? I would have thought it was about the same amount of power used by a laptop touchpad, just scaled up. Regardless, there is too much wasted space on this thing. It has to feel like a book, and books don't have a bunch of buttons.
Engadget provided the answer to my question about the headphone jack: the Kindle supports Audible (hardly a value-add, since most people will listen to audiobooks on their smaller iPods).
Does the name "Kindle" suggest Fahrenheit 451 to anyone but me...?