Kindle Newspapers on iLiad

Mr. Goodbar · 05-16-2008, 03:53 PM

I was given a Kindle as a gift this week and tried the 2 week free subscription to one of the newspapers. I thought I would try stripping the drm out per the directions floating around out there and see if the iLiad could read it. I'm happy to report it works great and the larger screen and pen really provide a much better reading experience than the Kindle.

I really wish the iLiad could have the wireless capabilities the Kindle has and I would be in ereader heaven. The Kindle has really done a pretty good job of integrating the wireless functionality into the device. Maybe Kindle 2.0 will have a nice 8 inch screen and a touch screen!

haridasi · 05-16-2008, 04:40 PM

What wireless capability does kindle provide that iliad doesn´t?

axel77 · 05-16-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haridasi

What wireless capability does kindle provide that iliad doesn´t?

EV-DO a.k.a. "Whispernet"

Mr. Goodbar · 05-16-2008, 06:57 PM

It has a cellular modem which is very well integrated into the software of the device. Want to search the internet just type the search string with web appended and it kicks it off, same for the store or wikipedia. They still need to work on the interface, but it is light years ahead of the iliad. The cellular modem also offers much broader coverage than wifi from a useability standpoint. Concept is actually similar to how the iliad was intended to evolve, just with different radios, but we know most of the intended ids capability has yet to materialize.

-RenE- · 05-17-2008, 10:34 AM

Whispernet does sound great, but...isn't available in Europe. A Kindle is almost useless here.

orcinus · 05-17-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -RenE-

Whispernet does sound great, but...isn't available in Europe. A Kindle is almost useless here.

It's as "useless" as a Sony Reader

HarryT · 05-18-2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

I really wish the iLiad could have the wireless capabilities the Kindle has and I would be in ereader heaven. The Kindle has really done a pretty good job of integrating the wireless functionality into the device. Maybe Kindle 2.0 will have a nice 8 inch screen and a touch screen!

For a Dutch company, selling world-wide, to use a wireless system that the overwhelming majority of their customers couldn't use really wouldn't be terribly sensible, would it?

. Amazon's "whispernet" only works because they are selling in a very restricted single-country market.

Mr. Goodbar · 05-18-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

For a Dutch company, selling world-wide, to use a wireless system that the overwhelming majority of their customers couldn't use really wouldn't be terribly sensible, would it?

. Amazon's "whispernet" only works because they are selling in a very restricted single-country market.

I should have been more clear on that point. Whispernet is based on sprint's CDMA based 3g network, however it could have just as easily used GSM's version of 3G which would have then covered the bulk of the world. I would actually prefer that since I travel extensively outside the U.S.

What I intended by the post was the capability that whispernet offers for the Kindle, but it clearly needs to be a medium that is available globally. GSM based 3G would definitely be the logical choice at this point in time. My apologies for not being clear and I'm definitely not one of those Americans who believe the world ends at our borders

To me, Amazons approach seems similar to Apples with the iPhone. Roll out in a controlled fashion to really test the market and your approach and then subsequently deploy more globally once you work out the kinks.

HarryT · 05-18-2008, 10:02 AM

I guess the issue is that WiFi works anywhere, whereas with mobile phone technology, such as Whispernet uses, it would be necessary to negotiate separate arrangements with the telecoms operators in each country - it would be a logistical nightmare, and perhaps only a company the size of Amazon has the "clout" to do it.

Mr. Goodbar · 05-18-2008, 02:55 PM

I would agree the logistics of doing it globally are much greater unless they opt for a model that is no longer free. Another option would be to use the carriers as distributors for the device. Ultimately I would like to see wifi and mobile wireless technology as part of a device and I expect it will happen over time. Another option is to put in bluetooth and then you could just network with whatever cell phone you have.

I never really thought much about the wireless aspects of an ereader, but the push of newspapers and the ability to quickly look up some piece of information while reading is a really nice feature. It will be interesting to see which way the market goes. Right now we have the bulk of the devices sitting in the basic category with the Kindle and the iLiad going higher end, but in different ways.

orcinus · 05-18-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

Whispernet is based on sprint's CDMA based 3g network, however it could have just as easily used GSM's version of 3G which would have then covered the bulk of the world.

Actually, 3G is, in fact, a CDMA standard

(just being nitpicky)

But the standard used isn't the problem here. It's the financial / marketing side. Whispernet works because it's limited to a SINGLE carrier and a SINGLE content provider. That's what makes having free network access and paying just for the content, instead of the classical subscription or prepaid model, possible.

The moment you translate that to an environment with multiple countries and multiple carriers, things fall apart.

pilotbob · 05-18-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orcinus

Actually, 3G is, in fact, a CDMA standard

(just being nitpicky)

Just to be pickey, "3G" is NOT a standard. It just stands for third generation. Basically because it follows second generation devices and protocols.

Some 3G protocols are:

Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS)
Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)
High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)
Evolution Data Maximized (EVDO)

BOb

orcinus · 05-18-2008, 04:51 PM

Yes, yes, i know... But i thought bringing UMTS, HSDPA and the rest of the alphabet soup into the argument would just obfuscate the point even more.

The point is - all 3G standards are CDMA (/WCDMA) based and "CDMA" by itself means nothing. It's not a standard, it's a method

Further point is - the standards and transmission methods are completely irrelevant to Kindle's model. It's the business / marketing model that makes it what it is, and that's simply not achievable in an international / multy-country / multi-carrier setting.

pilotbob · 05-18-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orcinus

Yes, yes, i know... But i thought bringing UMTS, HSDPA and the rest of the alphabet soup into the argument would just obfuscate the point even more.

The point is - all 3G standards are CDMA (/WCDMA) based and "CDMA" by itself means nothing. It's not a standard, it's a method

Further point is - the standards and transmission methods are completely irrelevant to Kindle's model. It's the business / marketing model that makes it what it is, and that's simply not achievable in an international / multy-country / multi-carrier setting.

True, and the future seems to be moving toward LTE which is realy a merging of GSM and CDMA technologies. We will see what the future brings.

BOb

wallcraft · 05-18-2008, 05:23 PM

The major point is the software, and this is largely agnostic about the carrier medium. It would work just as well over WiFi, and it would work on the iLiad if iRex had the software. They don't have the software because (a) they are a small company with few resources, and (b) they decided to put their own proprietary interface on top of Linux. Note that Amazon also did (b), but they did not suffer from (a). To be fair to iRex, it is easier today to avoid the proprietary interface trap than it was a couple of years ago when the Iliad was being developed (because there are more flexible standard interfaces for Linux now).

Aenea demonstrated one good approach using Qtopia, see Nice little "make people curious" message!. I have no doubt that an iLiad-like device (e.g. EB-300 hardware) with Qt apps would run rings around the iLiad.

05-16-2008, 03:53 PM	#1
Mr. Goodbar Wizard Posts: 1,005 Karma: 98078 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Mini 4	Kindle Newspapers on iLiad I was given a Kindle as a gift this week and tried the 2 week free subscription to one of the newspapers. I thought I would try stripping the drm out per the directions floating around out there and see if the iLiad could read it. I'm happy to report it works great and the larger screen and pen really provide a much better reading experience than the Kindle. I really wish the iLiad could have the wireless capabilities the Kindle has and I would be in ereader heaven. The Kindle has really done a pretty good job of integrating the wireless functionality into the device. Maybe Kindle 2.0 will have a nice 8 inch screen and a touch screen!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
kindle 3 newspapers	kuliand	Amazon Kindle	1	09-20-2010 01:56 PM
Newspapers on Kindle - How are they?	CINCNORAD	Amazon Kindle	26	06-12-2009 11:00 PM
Uploading Newspapers to Iliad	Onemack	iRex	0	05-17-2008 12:03 AM
What are my options for reading daily newspapers on Iliad?	jackbrown	iRex	14	05-16-2007 08:00 PM

05-16-2008, 04:40 PM	#2
haridasi Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 603 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oslo, Norway Device: irex iliad	What wireless capability does kindle provide that iliad doesn´t?

05-16-2008, 06:57 PM	#4
Mr. Goodbar Wizard Posts: 1,005 Karma: 98078 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Mini 4	It has a cellular modem which is very well integrated into the software of the device. Want to search the internet just type the search string with web appended and it kicks it off, same for the store or wikipedia. They still need to work on the interface, but it is light years ahead of the iliad. The cellular modem also offers much broader coverage than wifi from a useability standpoint. Concept is actually similar to how the iliad was intended to evolve, just with different radios, but we know most of the intended ids capability has yet to materialize.

05-17-2008, 10:34 AM	#5
-RenE- Member Posts: 17 Karma: 25 Join Date: Jan 2007 Device: Irex Iliad	Whispernet does sound great, but...isn't available in Europe. A Kindle is almost useless here.

05-18-2008, 10:02 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I guess the issue is that WiFi works anywhere, whereas with mobile phone technology, such as Whispernet uses, it would be necessary to negotiate separate arrangements with the telecoms operators in each country - it would be a logistical nightmare, and perhaps only a company the size of Amazon has the "clout" to do it.

05-18-2008, 02:55 PM	#10
Mr. Goodbar Wizard Posts: 1,005 Karma: 98078 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Mini 4	I would agree the logistics of doing it globally are much greater unless they opt for a model that is no longer free. Another option would be to use the carriers as distributors for the device. Ultimately I would like to see wifi and mobile wireless technology as part of a device and I expect it will happen over time. Another option is to put in bluetooth and then you could just network with whatever cell phone you have. I never really thought much about the wireless aspects of an ereader, but the push of newspapers and the ability to quickly look up some piece of information while reading is a really nice feature. It will be interesting to see which way the market goes. Right now we have the bulk of the devices sitting in the basic category with the Kindle and the iLiad going higher end, but in different ways.

05-18-2008, 04:51 PM	#13
orcinus Gadgeteer Posts: 222 Karma: 540 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Croatia Device: iRex iLiad, Sony PRS-500, Nokia 770, BB 7200, Samsung i600, iPhone	Yes, yes, i know... But i thought bringing UMTS, HSDPA and the rest of the alphabet soup into the argument would just obfuscate the point even more. The point is - all 3G standards are CDMA (/WCDMA) based and "CDMA" by itself means nothing. It's not a standard, it's a method Further point is - the standards and transmission methods are completely irrelevant to Kindle's model. It's the business / marketing model that makes it what it is, and that's simply not achievable in an international / multy-country / multi-carrier setting.

05-18-2008, 05:23 PM	#15
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	The major point is the software, and this is largely agnostic about the carrier medium. It would work just as well over WiFi, and it would work on the iLiad if iRex had the software. They don't have the software because (a) they are a small company with few resources, and (b) they decided to put their own proprietary interface on top of Linux. Note that Amazon also did (b), but they did not suffer from (a). To be fair to iRex, it is easier today to avoid the proprietary interface trap than it was a couple of years ago when the Iliad was being developed (because there are more flexible standard interfaces for Linux now). Aenea demonstrated one good approach using Qtopia, see Nice little "make people curious" message!. I have no doubt that an iLiad-like device (e.g. EB-300 hardware) with Qt apps would run rings around the iLiad.