Amazon is destroying e-reader innovation

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by John F

But if they are in it to sell content, not devices, wouldn't it make sense to have the features on ALL devices?

Not if the typical buyer of the device or app doesn't use it or it rquires resources not available. Plus, Amazon doesn't have a single software team and codebase; they don't have a single app that gets ported to different devices, but rather separate teams and apps that try to tailor each app to the device's user base.
Plus, some features aren't, strictly speaking, Kindle features. (The lending library is a reward to Prime subscribers so Prime sets the terms.)
And then there is the matter of corporate Agendas skewing the core policy, tactical needs kicking in. Big companies always do stuff that from the outside looks odd because they are rooted in internal policies, agendas, or politics. Sometimes they do stupid things, too.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Most people want to use smartphones for watching YouTube videos, playing games, etc. eInk is fine for "dumb" phones (and that's where it's currently used) but I really don't see it being a particular attraction for a smartphone. Why do you think it would be?

I'd love an eInk smartphone, as I only use it for calling, texting, finding information on the internet and navigation. With eInk, I'd actually be able to see what I'm doing when outside.

[fjtorres]

BTW, Chris Meadows at teleread has his own take on why nobody is taking on Amazon with added-feature devices:
http://www.teleread.com/drm/whither-the-kindle-killer/

Slightly different question but the answer is the same: Kindle is a sweet-spot device and service combination that serves the mainstream buyers well enough. The remaining market is (apparently) not (perceived to be) enough to support a higher end competitor.

The demand isn’t there. Maybe folks like you who like to get the most out of their devices would want such a thing, but the vast majority of the lowest-common-denominator general public—the ones who actually buy the devices in bulk—are happy as hogs in a trough with their Kindles the way they are, or else they wouldn’t be as popular as they are.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Not if the typical buyer of the device or app doesn't use it or it rquires resources not available. Plus, Amazon doesn't have a single software team and codebase; they don't have a single app that gets ported to different devices, but rather separate teams and apps that try to tailor each app to the device's user base.
Plus, some features aren't, strictly speaking, Kindle features. (The lending library is a reward to Prime subscribers so Prime sets the terms.)
And then there is the matter of corporate Agendas skewing the core policy, tactical needs kicking in. Big companies always do stuff that from the outside looks odd because they are rooted in internal policies, agendas, or politics. Sometimes they do stupid things, too.

Aha, that explains why the Android App shows page number but the PW does not show page number. And it also explains why collections is not synced to my Kindle Wifi. This is rather annoying.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tompe

Aha, that explains why the Android App shows page number but the PW does not show page number. And it also explains why collections is not synced to my Kindle Wifi. This is rather annoying.

Yeah, for a time the iOS app had features not even the eink readers had.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by John F

But if they are in it to sell content, not devices, wouldn't it make sense to have the features on ALL devices?

They do.

But only the devices, not the apps.

You will buy a lot more Amazon content on your Kindle eink/Fire, which makes it so easy to tie everything in to Amazon, than on your Nexus tablet where you have 4 competing ebookstores and dozens of appstores. So, Amazon would like you to own and use your Kindle Fire even though they will of course let you read your purchases on the Nexus too.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

They do.

But only the devices, not the apps.

You will buy a lot more Amazon content on your Kindle eink/Fire, which makes it so easy to tie everything in to Amazon, than on your Nexus tablet where you have 4 competing ebookstores and dozens of appstores. So, Amazon would like you to own and use your Kindle Fire even though they will of course let you read your purchases on the Nexus too.

They also need to offer something extra on the FIRE to keep you in the fold, given that you can install competitor reader apps and bookstores.

[John F]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

They do.

But only the devices, not the apps.

...

I'm not sure what you are saying. I have a PC and an ipad device/hardware and I can't use some of the amazon features ("lending library", and I do have Prime and a kindle library), either thru the device or thru apps on the device.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by John F

I'm not sure what you are saying. I have a PC and an ipad device/hardware and I can't use some of the amazon features ("lending library", and I do have Prime and a kindle library), either thru the device or thru apps on the device.

You have an iPad device with the Kindle app, and you think that is somehow equivalent to having a Kindle device?

A Kindle device kind of implies something running Amazon's software baked right into the firmware/OS. Frankly, I am flabbergasted that anyone could possibly make this mistake.

Particularly as I made sure to make that distinction (using the Nexus as an example) in my original statement. Unless you think that PCs and iPads are actually Amazon products as well?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

They also need to offer something extra on the FIRE to keep you in the fold, given that you can install competitor reader apps and bookstores.

...The minority that knows how.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

...The minority that knows how.

"How" is easy to learn.
"Wanting to" is what puts us in the minority.

[John F]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

...

A Kindle device kind of implies something running Amazon's software baked right into the firmware/OS. Frankly, I am flabbergasted that anyone could possibly make this mistake.

...

My understanding is that the kindle fire runs a version of android. It seems logical to me that the reading software would just be another app. I would think that the actual reading app would share a lot of code with all the other kindle for android apps. I'm speechless that anyone would be flabbergastered and has such a narrow view of things.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by John F

My understanding is that the kindle fire runs a version of android. It seems logical to me that the reading software would just be another app. I would think that the actual reading app would share a lot of code with all the other kindle for android apps. I'm speechless that anyone would be flabbergastered and has such a narrow view of things.

The Kindle Fire is not just an Android tablet. It runs FireOS, which is "a version of Android" but forked. Amazon has a ton of exclusive FireOS code, which pervades every aspect of the device. No Google Play and a completely different interface are just the two most basic fundamental user-facing differences, and anyone who has ever owned or even held one for a few hours can tell the difference. The app too is different, as fjtorres said:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Not if the typical buyer of the device or app doesn't use it or it rquires resources not available. Plus, Amazon doesn't have a single software team and codebase; they don't have a single app that gets ported to different devices, but rather separate teams and apps that try to tailor each app to the device's user base.

But let's say they DID use the same app.

Is it really that surprising that Amazon would add special code in to check if it is a Fire vs. any other Android tablet? That would be the easiest way for Amazon to do it, if it was actually the same reading app.

I already said:

You will buy a lot more Amazon content on your Kindle eink/Fire, which makes it so easy to tie everything in to Amazon, than on your Nexus tablet where you have 4 competing ebookstores and dozens of appstores. So, Amazon would like you to own and use your Kindle Fire even though they will of course let you read your purchases on the Nexus too.

Which is an obvious reason for Amazon to do everything they are physically capable of doing to block Prime Lending Library on the Nexus/general Android app.

So yes, I am flabbergasted at the idea that anyone could respond to my observation that Amazon has reason to refuse features to the Nexus (and by extension all non-Fire devices) by wondering why it isn't on their iPad!!!! This is irrespective of Fire vs Android. My flabbergast reached it's pinnacle with:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Particularly as I made sure to make that distinction (using the Nexus as an example) in my original statement. Unless you think that PCs and iPads are actually Amazon products as well?

Especially when you justify it by reasoning that the Fire shares code with the Android app!!! An honest mistake to think it does, but where do you get from there to thinking that the same code also runs on the iPad???

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I honestly don't see why buying stuff online should be a problem.

The problem may lie in the habits and perceptions of North American consumers. Canadians often buy from the US, but Americans are noticeably reluctant to buy from Canada except for pharmaceutical products. One reason aside from habit or the feeling that if it was any good it wold be sold in the US is that goods manufactured in Canada are often sold cheaper in American stores.

Helen

[shanghaichica]

I don't think they have. In fact Amazon have made me more content with reading ebooks. They have the best hardware and best catalogue of books at the best prices on my opinion. My first reader was a Sony and whilst I enjoyed reading on it I found the hardware lacking and felt that the selection of ebooks in epub format needed to be improved.