Amazon Kindle 2.0 to be launched on Feb 9th?

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by David Munch

I hope for an upgraded design.. The Kindle is without a doubt, the fugliest piece of equipment ever! O_o

Yeah, lets go for an upgraded design.

Never mind folders, textbook adaptability, Canadian and overseas compatibility, lets go for a better design!

OH, you people!

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Yeah, lets go for an upgraded design.

Never mind folders, textbook adaptability, Canadian and overseas compatibility, lets go for a better design!

OH, you people!

I know .... I'm biting back the urge to use the "m" word in describing their attitude. Let's see how short-sighted we can possibly be, shall we??

I'm glad they don't work for Amazon. We'd probably end up with the same looks and functionality as the Sony Readers. And, if I'd wanted that, I would have bought a Sony Reader.

[desertgrandma]

OMG!! I just thought of a new poll..........

"Which is the best e-book reader?"

WWIII here we come!

(note to self.......don't even think of it...)

[Barcey]

I think they're going to announce that they are abandoning DRM and that they are fully embracing ePub. In related news all air traffic has been grounded because of flying pigs.

[rlparker]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I'm biting back the urge to use the "m" word...

The "m" word? "maraschino"

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

For the record, unless a whole bunch of people vote you in as the design-czar for the world. I really don't give even the tiniest rats ass about your views of what is ugly, fugly, or any other iteration of same.

Not even the tiniest rats ass???

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by rlparker

The "m" word? "maraschino"

Well, you have all the correct letters, but not in the correct numbers and not in the correct order. Further, there are some extraneous letters not found in the "m" word. And, I don't want to say it because it would be really mean to call someone that, no matter how nastily they want to bash something (or someone, for that matter) that I really like/love.

There are times (not often, but there are times) when I like to think I am well above that sort of behavior. This is one of them. I'll just leave this thread by saying that I think less of those people who make those kinds of statements. I don't care to get to know them any better. Here or anywhere else.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

OMG!! I just thought of a new poll..........

"Which is the best e-book reader?"

WWIII here we come!

(note to self.......don't even think of it...)

Best is a seven inch Tablet PC. with the right free software, you can read just about anything.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Phogg

Best is a seven inch Tablet PC. with the right free software, you can read just about anything.

Phogg, it was just me thinking out loud....please don't poke the bears......

[Daithi]

I just read the New York Times article: Amazon's Kindle Will Make Debut Feb. 9

I have a feeling Amazon is going to disappoint me on the 9th. If the article is correct then the big change in the Kindle 2.0 is probably going to be that it will use the new Broadsheet microchip from Epson. This allows faster screen refreshes because the screen is divided into 16 partitions that are updated in parallel.

Faster screen refreshes are fine, but that's not going to inspire me to upgrade. I'm still hoping for a big screen, but I'm expecting to be disappointed.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Daithi

I just read the New York Times article: Amazon's Kindle Will Make Debut Feb. 9

I have a feeling Amazon is going to disappoint me on the 9th. If the article is correct then the big change in the Kindle 2.0 is probably going to be that it will use the new Broadsheet microchip from Epson. This allows faster screen refreshes because the screen is divided into 16 partitions that are updated in parallel.

Faster screen refreshes are fine, but that's not going to inspire me to upgrade. I'm still hoping for a big screen, but I'm expecting to be disappointed.

I'm not sure I"m understanding here.

You mean some people actually thing the pages need to turn faster? I doubt Bezo's would waste his time on just this.

People would throw tomatoes at him.


It will be interesting to see what he does say.

[bbusybookworm]

Looking forward to seeing what he announces.

My personal feeling is that he's not going to go for a revolutionary change either in form or function, but more of an evolution, based on what they've learned over the last year.

So Here's what I figure

* Faster Page Turns , if they are using the new controller. Maybe a better implementation the Sony as they've had a few months more to work on it.

* Slight Modification of the body, fixing some of the more annoying ergonomic problems people complained about, but sticking to the same basic form factor.

* A New version of the OS, which will also be offered for the original kindle as an update.

* Replace the Wireless CDMA chip with a dual GSM / CDMA one, so that while they can still continue to use Sprint in the US, they can use the same hardware to launch international, later in the year.

* Support for Non Latin languages and Multiple dictionaries.

Things which May happen but which I think have a low probability are

* Full support for Protected Mobipocket. They have little to lse with this IMHO as their prices and seemless experience will keep the majority of people buying from them, while pleasing those early adoptord who already have a substantial Mobi library, or need or want books which are not available from the Amazon store (Foreign Language, etc)

* Support for PDF / ePUB which would help get more people onboard. (Not sure about protected, but at least unprotected)

* Open the Kindle store, allowing people without Kindles to buy books from them. (Very low chances, but I'm hopefull.)

* Kindle App for the iPhone, allowing you to read your purchases on an iPhone or iPod Touch, as long as you have a kindle.


So thoughts ?

[Boston]

Given the series of events, my guess is:

1) A new version of the Kindle
Reasoning: How inventory went suddenly from available to 11/13 weeks. I think they had planned production of the Kindle 1 to get through the holidays and were getting ready for make the new version. The unanticipated demand with no parts inventory/production pipeline left them no choice but to hold off new orders until the new version was ready for release.

2) A major firmware upgrade for Kindle 1 users
Reasoning: Some have reported receiving an upgrade (to 1.2) that appears to offer little new functionality. So innocuous, it was like "why did they bother?" So I think this was just a testing the automated upgrade process before a bigger launch. Amazon knows they will have a lot of angry Kindle 1 users if they feel they need to upgrade to get long awaited software enhancements. Especially given "automatic updates" was one of the reported features of Whispernet. They have an extremely loyal following who have made the Kindle popular with through viral marketing that they can't afford to lose.

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Had he done this right before Christmas, he would have had a great chance of selling it for that price. even with the shipping.

However, he may as well put a $39.99 tag on it.......until Bezo's makes his announcement.

"Fire and Brimstone"? Moi?? Nah, if you don't actually own one, I can't take your opinion seriously.

on amazon, none ever sold for more than 550(after day 2 of the scare, none sold for more than 450, Ebay sold the for consistantly more, and consistanly less fees.

I had posted mine on amazon for 480, amazon would have taken 20% off the top of that. but they pulled it cause it was a refurb.

i posted it on ebay, and it went for $530, for only 7% in fees.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

So who is getting a Kindle 2 for his girlfriend on Valentine's Day? (assuming Amazon will unveil what we're hoping for...)

Even IF Amazon unveils a new Kindle, it'd have to be priced at least a hundred dollars lower than the price of a Kindle 1 to tempt me now. I'm too attached to the idea of not having to convert everything I already have to a different format, so I want something that can read natively everything I already have! The BeBook seems to be my best choice for the money at the moment, though I'll be researching clear up to the minute I place an order, I'm sure.

Shel