Kindle device vs. Kindle app

leebase · 01-19-2011, 02:56 PM

I was just thinking as I was reading Apple's quarterly results. Amazon sold some 7 or 8 million kindles this past year (or so analysts have guessed). Apple sold 33 million iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads just in the last quarter of the year.

Add in Android phones and tablets, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 million kindle app devices have shipped this year.

How long will it be true that 80% of kindle sales are for books read on a kindle?

I buy my ebooks from Amazon, not Apple, even though I read them on Apple devices. How long will the shear weight of numbers of these multi-function devices outweigh the dedicated-ness of the kindle?

Lee

tubemonkey · 01-19-2011, 03:09 PM

I have the Kindle app on my PC, netbook, and iPod touch. Reading on those devices is painful, so I read on a single purpose dedicated eInk device - my Kindle. It's a joy to read on.

YMMV

LaurieGator · 01-19-2011, 03:12 PM

I still read Kindle Books on my Kindle but I also read Kindle Books on my Nook Color too :-)

leebase · 01-19-2011, 03:15 PM

My wife and kids read books on their iPod Touches. I introduce ebooks to kids at church on THEIR iPod Touches (none of them had even considered ebooks). There are people that have these devices and some of them are going to find reading on them pleasurable, as I did.

Considering the 10 to 1 (at least) margin of kindle app devices to kindles -- it woud appear to me that at SOME point kindle ebook sales will reflect this.

Lee

tubemonkey · 01-19-2011, 03:23 PM

The iPod touch is too small for me. I need a bigger screen.

tubemonkey · 01-19-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

Considering the 10 to 1 (at least) margin of kindle app devices to kindles -- it woud appear to me that at SOME point kindle ebook sales will reflect this.

Yep, the smart thing is to get your app on as many devices as possible.

wvcherrybomb · 01-19-2011, 03:26 PM

I used K4PC exclusively until I got my Kindle. Now I only use it when I'm doing something else on the computer that I can't get away from. Nothing can compare to the pure joy and relaxation of reading on my K3.

My daughter reads on her iPhone and my son on his iPod touch. I couldn't imagine doing either as the screens are too small for me.

=X= · 01-19-2011, 03:27 PM

I agree there will be a shift but not for a while.

The problem with you 10-1 analogy us your missing one key data point. Most people who buy a dedicated reader buy them for the sole intent to read, most people who buy a multipurpose device buy them for a multitude of reasons, mostly for surfing, playing games and the occasional reading. Who do you think is going to buy more books?

leebase · 01-19-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

My daughter reads on her iPhone and my son on his iPod touch. I couldn't imagine doing either as the screens are too small for me.

Ok, so we have a 2 to 1 in favor of multi-function devices within your own household

Lee

leebase · 01-19-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

The problem with you 10-1 analogy us your missing one key data point. Most people who buy a dedicated reader buy them for the sole intent to read, most people who buy a multipurpose device buy them for a multitude of reasons, mostly for surfing, playing games and the occasional reading. Who do you think is going to buy more books?

I didn't miss that. I'm asking when the overwhelming number of mutli-function devices will over come the fact that dedicated readers are bough by people intending to read.

The last time Amazon mentioned this, they said that only 20% of their sales are for books read via their apps. But they've had such a big push to get their apps on all the devices....and they have released commercials that advertise only the kindle books (not the kindle) specifically targeted at people reading on phones/tablets....and given the massive amounts of phones/tablets that are being sold....when will we see that change from 20%

Lee

Maggie Leung · 01-19-2011, 03:44 PM

My iPad and Touch replaced my Kindle, but I still give Kindles as gifts. I can read fine on multi-use devices, but I support reading in all its forms.

Most of my e-books come from Amazon, because I think it's likely to stick around and it was smart enough to quickly put out apps on various platforms. I want the freedom to take my e-books with me even if I decide to switch hardware. I don't buy iBooks, because I don't want to be tethered to any one company's hardware.

Kali Yuga · 01-19-2011, 04:40 PM

iPads and iPhones are very different beasts for reading. I'm guessing that the number of people who read full-time on an iPhone or smartphone is rather small these days.

More importantly, there is apparently a ton of overlap. Considering that the eInk devices are getting dirt cheap, are lighter, work in sunlight, yadda yadda yadda, I expect they'll be around for some time.

I'd say more, but this issue has pretty much been beaten to death over the last year or so....

wvcherrybomb · 01-19-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

Ok, so we have a 2 to 1 in favor of multi-function devices within your own household

Well, within my family. My daughter has her own household.

Between the three that I mentioned here, I am the only one who buys books and I have them registered to my account to choose from what I have.

My oldest daughter, who also has her own household, owns a Kindle and she buys her own books.

Looking at it from this perspective, devices are even, but only the Kindle owners buy.

leebase · 01-19-2011, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

I'd say more, but this issue has pretty much been beaten to death over the last year or so....

Well, EVERY, topic has been talked to death around here. However, THIS thread wasn't about "is the iPad better than a Kindle" or "lcd vs. eInk". It's a question about the amount of sales Amazon is getting from folks who read Amazon's books via apps.

No matter what any person here prefers for themselves -- it's clear that Amazon certainly expects to sell ebooks to folks who read them via apps. They've invested a lot of money creating the apps and money on commercials for their apps.

So...how is it going? Of course, none of us know, but that hasn't stopped conversation before. And if the 10 to 1 app to kindle advantage isn't enough to move the needle...what number would be? What of next year when the number becomes 20 to 1, or the year after when it's 50 to 1?

Another interesting question is: would Amazon ever tell us such information?

Lee

leebase · 01-19-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

Looking at it from this perspective, devices are even, but only the Kindle owners buy.

I like your avatar btw.

Lee

01-19-2011, 02:56 PM	#1
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	Kindle device vs. Kindle app I was just thinking as I was reading Apple's quarterly results. Amazon sold some 7 or 8 million kindles this past year (or so analysts have guessed). Apple sold 33 million iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads just in the last quarter of the year. Add in Android phones and tablets, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 million kindle app devices have shipped this year. How long will it be true that 80% of kindle sales are for books read on a kindle? I buy my ebooks from Amazon, not Apple, even though I read them on Apple devices. How long will the shear weight of numbers of these multi-function devices outweigh the dedicated-ness of the kindle? Lee

01-19-2011, 03:27 PM	#8
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	I agree there will be a shift but not for a while. The problem with you 10-1 analogy us your missing one key data point. Most people who buy a dedicated reader buy them for the sole intent to read, most people who buy a multipurpose device buy them for a multitude of reasons, mostly for surfing, playing games and the occasional reading. Who do you think is going to buy more books? Last edited by =X=; 01-19-2011 at 03:29 PM.

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01-19-2011, 03:09 PM	#2
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I have the Kindle app on my PC, netbook, and iPod touch. Reading on those devices is painful, so I read on a single purpose dedicated eInk device - my Kindle. It's a joy to read on. YMMV

01-19-2011, 03:12 PM	#3
LaurieGator Crazy Cat Lady Posts: 96 Karma: 13662 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Arizona Device: Kindle 2i, Nook Color (Rooted)	I still read Kindle Books on my Kindle but I also read Kindle Books on my Nook Color too :-)

01-19-2011, 03:15 PM	#4
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	My wife and kids read books on their iPod Touches. I introduce ebooks to kids at church on THEIR iPod Touches (none of them had even considered ebooks). There are people that have these devices and some of them are going to find reading on them pleasurable, as I did. Considering the 10 to 1 (at least) margin of kindle app devices to kindles -- it woud appear to me that at SOME point kindle ebook sales will reflect this. Lee

01-19-2011, 03:23 PM	#5
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	The iPod touch is too small for me. I need a bigger screen.

01-19-2011, 03:26 PM	#7
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	I used K4PC exclusively until I got my Kindle. Now I only use it when I'm doing something else on the computer that I can't get away from. Nothing can compare to the pure joy and relaxation of reading on my K3. My daughter reads on her iPhone and my son on his iPod touch. I couldn't imagine doing either as the screens are too small for me.

01-19-2011, 03:44 PM	#11
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	My iPad and Touch replaced my Kindle, but I still give Kindles as gifts. I can read fine on multi-use devices, but I support reading in all its forms. Most of my e-books come from Amazon, because I think it's likely to stick around and it was smart enough to quickly put out apps on various platforms. I want the freedom to take my e-books with me even if I decide to switch hardware. I don't buy iBooks, because I don't want to be tethered to any one company's hardware.

01-19-2011, 04:40 PM	#12
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	iPads and iPhones are very different beasts for reading. I'm guessing that the number of people who read full-time on an iPhone or smartphone is rather small these days. More importantly, there is apparently a ton of overlap. Considering that the eInk devices are getting dirt cheap, are lighter, work in sunlight, yadda yadda yadda, I expect they'll be around for some time. I'd say more, but this issue has pretty much been beaten to death over the last year or so....