Amazon Kindle may promote competition - Sony Reader not before end of year?

Alexander Turcic · 09-13-2006, 04:28 PM

I received a note from Nick Hampshire of Afaics Research today about Amazon's rumored plan to launch their own e-book reader. From the note:

Quote:

It would appear that the Kindle is being made for Amazon by Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co. Ltd. of Taiwan (one of the largest manufacturers of barebones PCs), and judging by the specs we can expect this to be priced at a level that will probably undercut Sony’s new EBR-500 reader set for launch in the US at the end of this year.

The submission also outlined a proposed Kindle Store within Amazon that would allow Kindle owners to buy and download e-books. This is obviously aimed at being a direct competitor to the SonyCONNECT store.

Not surprisingly Amazon are silent upon the subject of the Kindle, but the arrival of an Amazon branded e- reader and associated store will inject a lot more competition into the marketplace, something that should be welcomed by readers and publishers alike.

I put off writing about this because I wasn't ready in my heart to accept it, but did you notice that Nick mentioned "end of this year" as the new launch date for the Sony Reader?

Totally unrelated: Some evil doers have defaced the Website of Afaics' sister Website Digital Publishing News.

NatCh · 09-13-2006, 05:27 PM

Where'd he get that model number? The new Sony Reader PRS-500.

Wasn't EBR-500 the model for the prototype of the EBR-1000 (i.e. the Librié)?

While I don't mean to argue with Nick, and certainly meaning him no disrespect, I believe I'll stick with PC Mag's report of by the end of October.

I haven't seen anything to contradict it that isn't based on the assumption that "the holidays" means Christmas or New Year's.

Bob Russell · 09-18-2006, 04:43 PM

My first impression was how incredibly ugly this thing must be. But the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that it's a bad picture of it. It's no doubt a bit clunky, but it might fit a niche for people that need an e-ink device with a keyboard, and not a touch screen.

On the other hand, for typical reading like a novel, it seems like the keyboard might be a little annoying.

I guess we won't know until someone holds it in their hands and let's us know what it's really like. The good thing is that every new device helps move e-ink readers forward, and the more they get into the mainstream, the better for all of us e-book fans.

da_jane · 09-19-2006, 01:30 PM

Bob, the ugliness is the first thing I saw too. I don't care how functional it is, it has to look good before I am going to buy it.

Laurens · 09-19-2006, 02:07 PM

Ugly? It's butt-ugly!

Kosst Amojan · 09-19-2006, 03:03 PM

I prefer the term "Hideous"

NatCh · 09-19-2006, 03:44 PM

How about ghastly?

(This could be fun)

Laurens · 09-19-2006, 04:38 PM

Cheesy?

Snappy! · 09-19-2006, 08:59 PM

At the right price ... I can do with an ugly bride ....

yvanleterrible · 09-20-2006, 08:24 AM

Keep it going guys! They have to read us, that will make them change the case design.
It looks like an old office phone...

Laurens · 09-20-2006, 08:57 AM

I wouldn't want to be caught in bed with that!

Laurens · 09-20-2006, 09:00 AM

My grandmother's e-reader looked less retro!

yvanleterrible · 09-20-2006, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurens

I wouldn't want to be caught in bed with that!

It won't matter unless you have frontlighting.

arivero · 09-20-2006, 10:49 AM

Can they actually launch it? I mean, this is patented technology, we are getting a authorised screen for Europe (the iLiad), some for China (where intelectual property is fuzzy bussiness), one for Japan (Librie) and one for the USA (again Sony). Did the people of Sony forgot to buy exclusivity for USA? Are amazon guys planning to sell it from a mail store company in Brasil or something so?

NatCh · 09-20-2006, 11:05 AM

I expect they're getting their displays from the same place Sony, HanLin and iRex are getting theirs, if that's what you mean ....

Ah, now I get what you're saying. I don't think Sony could buy 'exclusivity' if they wanted to -- we have anti-monopoly laws here in the U.S.

(and I don't mean the board game!)

Besides, the e-Ink corporation has to want as many buyers for the product as they can manage, so they'd certainly be unhappy if PVI started trying to sell monopolies.

09-20-2006, 11:05 AM	#15
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I expect they're getting their displays from the same place Sony, HanLin and iRex are getting theirs, if that's what you mean .... Ah, now I get what you're saying. I don't think Sony could buy 'exclusivity' if they wanted to -- we have anti-monopoly laws here in the U.S. (and I don't mean the board game!) Besides, the e-Ink corporation has to want as many buyers for the product as they can manage, so they'd certainly be unhappy if PVI started trying to sell monopolies. Last edited by NatCh; 09-20-2006 at 11:09 AM. Reason: typo

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09-13-2006, 05:27 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Where'd he get that model number? The new Sony Reader PRS-500. Wasn't EBR-500 the model for the prototype of the EBR-1000 (i.e. the Librié)? While I don't mean to argue with Nick, and certainly meaning him no disrespect, I believe I'll stick with PC Mag's report of by the end of October. I haven't seen anything to contradict it that isn't based on the assumption that "the holidays" means Christmas or New Year's.

09-18-2006, 04:43 PM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	My first impression was how incredibly ugly this thing must be. But the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that it's a bad picture of it. It's no doubt a bit clunky, but it might fit a niche for people that need an e-ink device with a keyboard, and not a touch screen. On the other hand, for typical reading like a novel, it seems like the keyboard might be a little annoying. I guess we won't know until someone holds it in their hands and let's us know what it's really like. The good thing is that every new device helps move e-ink readers forward, and the more they get into the mainstream, the better for all of us e-book fans.

09-19-2006, 01:30 PM	#4
da_jane Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 692 Join Date: Sep 2006 Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 \| Kindle Paperwhite \| iPad Mini	Bob, the ugliness is the first thing I saw too. I don't care how functional it is, it has to look good before I am going to buy it.

09-19-2006, 02:07 PM	#5
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	Ugly? It's butt-ugly!

09-19-2006, 03:03 PM	#6
Kosst Amojan Addict Posts: 207 Karma: 19597 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	I prefer the term "Hideous"

09-19-2006, 03:44 PM	#7
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	How about ghastly? (This could be fun)

09-19-2006, 04:38 PM	#8
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	Cheesy?

09-19-2006, 08:59 PM	#9
Snappy! Addict Posts: 260 Karma: 4256 Join Date: Feb 2006 Device: SHARP Zaurus C1000	At the right price ... I can do with an ugly bride ....

09-20-2006, 08:24 AM	#10
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Keep it going guys! They have to read us, that will make them change the case design. It looks like an old office phone...

09-20-2006, 08:57 AM	#11
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	I wouldn't want to be caught in bed with that!

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09-20-2006, 09:00 AM	#12
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	My grandmother's e-reader looked less retro!

09-20-2006, 10:49 AM	#14
arivero Guru Posts: 607 Karma: 2157 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: NCR3125, Nokia 770,...	Can they actually launch it? I mean, this is patented technology, we are getting a authorised screen for Europe (the iLiad), some for China (where intelectual property is fuzzy bussiness), one for Japan (Librie) and one for the USA (again Sony). Did the people of Sony forgot to buy exclusivity for USA? Are amazon guys planning to sell it from a mail store company in Brasil or something so?