IF you could add one function to your Kindle...

[carld]

Since we're starting to see a small trickle of apps for the Kindle, games right now, what would be the one app or function you would add to your Kindle if you could? Aside from ePub or some other file format support that everyone wants.

I'd like to see an customizable alarm, just something that pops up and says "Hey, stop reading for a minute and go take your pills!" I can be kind of forgetful about that.

Edit: Could a Mod change the title from Kindel to Kindle for me? Can't believe I did that.

[TomF]

I'd have to second the alarm with a countdown timer.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by carld

I'd like to see an customizable alarm, just something that pops up and says "Hey, stop reading for a minute and go take your pills!" I can be kind of forgetful about that.

Although I'm quite new to, and ignorant about, this world, it is hard for me to imagine that such PDA functions won't be soon added to the Kindle apps selection that now only includes two free games. Whether any Kindle developers will release this as freeware, that's a different question.

A lot of Kindle users probably carry a cell phone with such features.

[mattbiernat]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

A lot of Kindle users probably carry a cell phone with such features.

1) i don't. i hate cell phones that look more like computers than actual phones.
2) kindle has much bigger screen and it would be much easier for me to read my emails on it
3) you have to pay for using cell phone 3G while whispernet is for free.
4) kindle is better on your eyes for reading emails than any cell phone
enough said...
here is what i would like to see on a kindle:
1) office apps: word, excel, email, a calandar feature that would sync with my gmail account
2) photo viewer (something like picasa)
3) media player that would allow me to directly buy music from amazon and organize it into playlists (something like windows media player/itunes)

[TomF]

Originally Posted by mattbiernat

3) media player that would allow me to directly buy music from amazon and organize it into playlists (something like windows media player/itunes)

In this NYTimes article the other day there is speculation about Amazon looking into other hardware possibilities.

"According to people with direct knowledge of the company’s plans...“There was talk of music players and other electronics.”" This would tie in with Amazon's music business. If they go in this direction I could see more music capabilities coming to the Kindle in future hardware versions.

[laurie_lu]

To be able to download free public library ebooks.

[mattbiernat]

thanks for the article, i am looking forward to some improved kindle apps.

[Over]

Instead of seeing a text list of books, I would like to see a list of covers, just like in my Cybook.

[carld]

Originally Posted by Over

Instead of seeing a text list of books, I would like to see a list of covers, just like in my Cybook.

I was thinking about that the other day. It'd be a nice option.

[clintbradford]

A bank of solar cells in one section of the frame - for trickle-charging its battery while in use.

[mattbiernat]

Originally Posted by clintbradford

A bank of solar cells in one section of the frame - for trickle-charging its battery while in use.

that actually makes sense considering that the battery takes 1 month to discharge and people have to use this device in some kind of light.

[ZenRunner]

My first choice would be for the Kindle to do the housework.

But seriously, I'd love to have images of the book covers displayed.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by laurie_lu

To be able to download free public library ebooks.

This is certainly the number one item for me.

I just now browsed the selection at my home public library, and it didn't interest me. The selection for the library of the city where I work, Philadelphia, is slightly more in tune with my tastes, and I reserved one book (3 patrons ahead of me). But their eBook selecton still is trivial compared to what's on the shelves. However, over the next few years, won't this change? I think it already is changing, with fewer hardback purchases due to recession battered library budgets.

I've ordered a Kindle 3, partly for the "experimental" no-monthly-fee internet access. I don't see myself ever buying another eReader unless it conveniently accepts encrypted library eBooks.

[Ervserver]

yea what you said

Originally Posted by laurie_lu

To be able to download free public library ebooks.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

This is certainly the number one item for me.

I just now browsed the selection at my home public library, and it didn't interest me. The selection for the library of the city where I work, Philadelphia, is somewhat better, and I reserved one book (3 readers are in front of me). But their eBook selecton still is trivial compared to what's on the shelves. However, over the next few years, won't this change? I think it already is changing, with fewer hardback purchases due to recession battered library budgets.

I've ordered a Kindle 3, partly for the "experimental" no-monthly-fee internet access. I don't see myself ever buying another eReader unless it conveniently accepts encrypted library eBooks.

Library eBook selection may actually be getting worse (I'll try to find where I read this earlier today...). Only a small fraction of patrons have ebook readers, it doesn't make sense to move quickly to ebooks, with budgets as limited as they generally are. So selection is likely to remain limited. Plus publishers and Overdrive seem to see libraries as a source of free advertising, as retail channels, all the while insisting on an anachronistic lending model (each digital copy can be read by only one patron at a time, which artificially increase scarcity and drives people to purchase what they'd otherwise read for free). Overdrive is not cheap, either - libraries may pay more than retail for their digital copies and associated lending rights. See this white paper on Overdrive's web site (PDF download): How eBook Catalogs at Public Libraries Drive Publishers’ Book Sales and Profits

But my librarian sister tells me that they have a pilot program where her library has purchased several Kindles, loaded them up with content, and then lend them out like books (after deregistering them from the library's Amazon account of course). It seems this could indeed be cheaper and simpler than something like Overdrive - and without complexities of patrons having to futz with downloading from a website, transferring to a reading device over USB with ADE, etc. I suppose this approach could be used with any reading device but Amazon's licensing terms are attractive (up to 5 devices for simultaneous usage).

If more libraries take this up, perhaps we'll have a good cause to donate our old Kindles to when we trade up to a new one. I'm sure libraries would get the last drop of usage out of them, too. And it would increase pressure on Amazon and Overdrive to get a Kindle solution together.