Amazon prepping color Kindle w/ video streaming.

[AkumaTakeshi]

I was against the tablet idea at some point, like what for? There are hundreds of Android tablets now, what would make people buy theirs? But now I understand and I approve the choice of making one, to use their services and store, and the price is not bad, it still could be much better but depends on what they bring us.

But I don't agree if it carries the Kindle name, neither replace the Kindle. They have to continue the development of Kindle and do the tablet only as a supplement as it was referred on the interview. I expected to have a new Kindle or various (next generation, DX, alternative touch version if not implemented on main) announced this year, not launched but at least announced until the end of the year.

And for the last part, for me B&N aren't that much of a strong competitor for me, simply for the fact that they only do business in North America, if they started to think outside of an half continent and started to think internationally. Now in that case they would be a serious competitor, a very strong one. They should do this at least for their e-readers and e-books.

I know North America is big and has many possible costumers but compare it to the whole world.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by AkumaTakeshi

And for the last part, for me B&N aren't that much of a strong competitor for me, simply for the fact that they only do business in North America

Only in the United States, in fact. They won't even sell to Canada or Mexico.

[AkumaTakeshi]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Only in the United States, in fact. They won't even sell to Canada or Mexico.

Even worse then

[Hellmark]

Well, one thing you have to consider is the great legal challenges to selling in another country. Getting incorporated aside, getting the ability to offer the ebooks there is difficult, since many books are put out by different publishers there, and so you have to make new agreements on pretty much everything.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Is anyone else excited about the tweaky geekiness of having screen-and-processing-power-obsessed Samsung build a Kindle tablet? I won't line up to be an early adopter (now entering bug city), but I might buy it once it's been thoroughly fumigated. A rooted Epic does free tethering and is about twice as battery-efficient as stock. Who knows what a rooted Amazon tablet might do?

Their netbooks have had the most consistently beautiful matte screens of any on the market. Something about the specific requirements of an avid reader seems to go with the idea of a gorgeous non-shiny screen.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Is anyone else excited about the tweaky geekiness of having screen-and-processing-power-obsessed Samsung build a Kindle tablet?

If it's $250, then yes. If it's $400, forget it.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

If it's $250, then yes. If it's $400, forget it.

For me, it's going to come down to the device itself: To the relationship between features, power, stability and price point. I can't see Samsung making a device that fails to blow the doors off the Nook Color.

The Galaxy S series has been geek candy, but it's also been buggy. I doubt Amazon needs that sort of baggage right now: Instability, insufficient testing, etc.

Another reason I'm excited to see what happens next: Amazon's interest in satisfying their customers combined with Samsung's various innovations and areas of expertise (especially screens).

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

I can't see Samsung making a device that fails to blow the doors off the Nook Color.

For $250?

Anyone can blow it out of the water for $400 and up. Try doing it for $250.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

For $250?

Anyone can blow it out of the water for $400 and up. Try doing it for $250.

You're not seriously arguing with me over a price point I agreed was important re a product that hasn't been announced, are you? Neither of us knows how much it will cost and I'm only speculating as to what it might do.

I expect the thing will be overpriced at first and then either come down or be followed by a better cheaper model, but that's based on nothing more than arc of my consumer imagination.

I also think Amazon will try to make the price as attractive as possible, since the device will be their means to bind multimedia users to their store and platform.

BTW: Don't I know you from Head-fi ?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

You're not seriously arguing with me over a price point I agreed was important re a product that hasn't been announced, are you? Neither of us knows how much it will cost and I'm only speculating as to what it might do.

Everything I've read so far indicates a low price of $400. If this thing is going to be priced that high, then it becomes the single most important factor in determining whether or not I'll buy it. At that price, I'd reject it out of hand without even looking at its specs and feature set.

If priced in the Nook Color range, then specs and features become the determining factors.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

BTW: Don't I know you from Head-fi ?

Nope; never heard of it.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by TimW

A Kindle is a dedicated reader. There's almost no likelihood that a color tablet will have "Kindle" stamped on it.

I don't see why. The Kindle is Amazon's brand and a logical extension of the brand is a tablet. Just like B&N did with the Nook.

The difference, as I see in my crystal ball, is that Amazon is going to intend it's table to be a full fledged tablet. The Nook Color is a tablet, true, but B&N has only brought in "tablety" features (apps) a little at a time. Does not sell the device as anything other than a reader.

Amazon is going to compete head to head with Apple with an entire ecosystem: app store, music store, video store. They are finally going to bring to the Android system what's been missing. A nice Apple-esque "one place" for all things. One credit card. One account. Buy all that you desire very easily.

Whether Amazon will try and lock out competing apps remains to be seen. My money is on Amazon coming out with the best user experience available for the Android ecosystem.

Lee

[leebase]

Oh -- and looking into my crystal ball -- nothing is going to change Amazon's dedication to eInk readers. I just see no reason for eInk to go away. It has it's own advantage, and the prices will always be a lot cheaper.

Lee

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by leebase

Whether Amazon will try and lock out competing apps remains to be seen. My money is on Amazon coming out with the best user experience available for the Android ecosystem.

That's the question. If their tablet is a "Nook Color equivalent" (price, specs, features); then I don't care if they block Netflix, Nook, and Android Market. OTOH, if it's an "iPad equivalent"; then I would expect full access to the above sites with no blocking whatsoever.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by leebase

Oh -- and looking into my crystal ball -- nothing is going to change Amazon's dedication to eInk readers. I just see no reason for eInk to go away. It has it's own advantage, and the prices will always be a lot cheaper.

Lee

But remember that Amazon are about a lot more than just books - they also sell video, which is potentially probably a larger market. That's where I suspect that a potential tablet device would be primarily aimed, rather than reading.