Kindle 2 Announcement on Amazon Front Page - Page 3

kuliand · 02-09-2009, 12:09 PM

Ah yes forgot about the backlight issue should of said frontlight.

I never thought about them not mentioning the sony reader so people think the kindle is the only ebook reader good point.

slayda · 02-09-2009, 12:17 PM

It appears that Amazon followed in the footsteps of Sony - i.e. didn't listen to (and abandoned) the first adopters.

As to why TTS and not folders - TTS has more "Wow gee whiz" than folders. They don't care about supporting their customers (as Sony doesn't) they just want to sell more new users a Kindle.

Can't say I'm surprised.

pilotbob · 02-09-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

-- SHARPER SCREEN, MEANING EASIER TO READ!

Nah.. the screen is exactly the same as the K1. The only place you will see differences in in page turn speed and when view graphics. This is due to a different video controller.

BOb

CCDMan · 02-09-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

As for amazon not selling outside of the US because it is selling all it can make is total rubbish if there is demand then you satisfy it (as you say amazon are a business so are focused on making money)

But Amazon does not make the screens. If that is the bottleneck (not known but suspected by some), it may well be out of their control. If that is the case, it is not rubbish at all and they have no real choice about production numbers.

All you uber users can whine all you want but Amazon, like all companies, will tailor it's products to new buyers and the average user. Uber users are a very small market, even though they are first adopters. Fact is 2 gig is way plenty for 95% of the users and 95% of the users could care less about folders (and for some users it would just be confusing). A replaceable battery would be nice but that can be a conflict with the thin design. It sure has not hurt Apple and I am sure Amazon can see that.

And they DID address a couple of the bigger issues, the page button position and the cover attachment issues. You could argue about appearance until the cows come home - that is taste, and there will always be some who hate the way anything looks so that is not worth even discussing.

Matches Malone · 02-09-2009, 12:35 PM

I was just going through the kindle 2 user guide posted at amazon, and it says

Quote:

At the bottom of every page of your reading material, you can see where you are by glancing at the progress indicator. As you progress further into the content, you will see a solid bar growing longer. The progress indicator also shows structural marks within content such as chapters,articles, or bookmarks.

Does this mean it will show me how far I have to go until the next chapter? no more guessing. I also like that it shows a percentage now.

CCDMan · 02-09-2009, 12:46 PM

With regard to battery replacement, it could be that the battery is not "officially" user replaceable but could be done. This was the case with many of the early iPods - you could buy a battery from 3rd party which came with a case opening tool and you replaced it yourself. I did this a couple times. The issue becomes just how risky and difficult it is to open the case and put in a new battery.

emellaich · 02-09-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuliand

As for amazon not selling outside of the US because it is selling all it can make is total rubbish if there is demand then you satisfy it (as you say amazon are a business so are focused on making money) apple wouldn't just say well our 1 ipod factory is running at max let's just sell those ipods no they would build more factories (well get the OEM manufacture to)

Hey, I would be upset too, so I'm not belittling your remarks, but I suspect there are too factors behind Amazon's lack of non-US support.

1) Whispernet: One key to their entire situation is the ability to access the net with no cost to customers. I suspect that depends on finding a company like Sprint that has a network and no customers -- thus they are willing to sell usage to Amazon at next to nothing. I don't know the situation market by market internationally, but it would definitely be an issue. Consider that this means negotiations on a country by country basis. One Sprint contract = 300 million potential market. One EU carrier=20 million or so.

2) Screens: They don't own the factory, and their is only one source for them. In a gen I device they wouldn't want to pay/commit for increased capacity. Now that they have seen take-rates it is quite conceivable that they will commit to higher manufacturing levels so that they can get higher volumes.

Pulp · 02-09-2009, 12:53 PM

I cannot really see the point in text2speech on an ebook-reader.
It does make sense if you have a tiny device with a tiny display (or none at all), but why would anyone want to carry around a relatively large device with a great display and then use the device but not the display?

desertgrandma · 02-09-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCDMan

With regard to battery replacement, it could be that the battery is not "officially" user replaceable but could be done. This was the case with many of the early iPods - you could buy a battery from 3rd party which came with a case opening tool and you replaced it yourself. I did this a couple times. The issue becomes just how risky and difficult it is to open the case and put in a new battery.

Dumb. Really really dumb. Not your remarks, the concept.

ahammer · 02-09-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulp

I cannot really see the point in text2speech on an ebook-reader.
It does make sense if you have a tiny device with a tiny display (or none at all), but why would anyone want to carry around a relatively large device with a great display and then use the device but not the display?

this bring up a good point is there a mp3 player that also does tts out yet?

Penforhire · 02-09-2009, 01:00 PM

I do like the form-factor changes. While the rest of the update won't make me throw away my Sony it will make the Kindle 2 a viable replacement option, should the need arise. Whereas the K1 wasn't even an option for me.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 02-09-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulp

I cannot really see the point in text2speech on an ebook-reader.
It does make sense if you have a tiny device with a tiny display (or none at all), but why would anyone want to carry around a relatively large device with a great display and then use the device but not the display?

TTS just provides a larger potential customer base for the new Kindle.

Imagine being blind, and being able to buy new books fairly soon after their introduction... many books do not come out in braille or audiobooks until well after their original intro. And just as with printed books, you can keep all of your books on one device, easier to handle.

Also, visual readers can now use their Kindles as audiobooks while driving, so you've added a feature to commuters.

Alisa · 02-09-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matches Malone

I was just going through the kindle 2 user guide posted at amazon, and it says

Does this mean it will show me how far I have to go until the next chapter? no more guessing. I also like that it shows a percentage now.

I would LOVE to know where I was in the chapter. If they do this, I hope it ends up in K1 firmware, too.

dirtylc · 02-09-2009, 01:03 PM

TTS is the worst thing they could have put. We all requested folders and look what we got instead. Reminds me of all the times that I requested a book over and over to have it come out at $13+ every time. Thanks Amazon I met more people in greasy awkward encounters then Larry Craig flying back home for you and this is what I get. wow!! thanks!!

Amalthia · 02-09-2009, 01:05 PM

The lack of folders is still a big turn off for me.

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02-09-2009, 12:09 PM	#31
kuliand Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 138 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: sony prs505	Ah yes forgot about the backlight issue should of said frontlight. I never thought about them not mentioning the sony reader so people think the kindle is the only ebook reader good point.

02-09-2009, 12:17 PM	#32
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	It appears that Amazon followed in the footsteps of Sony - i.e. didn't listen to (and abandoned) the first adopters. As to why TTS and not folders - TTS has more "Wow gee whiz" than folders. They don't care about supporting their customers (as Sony doesn't) they just want to sell more new users a Kindle. Can't say I'm surprised.

02-09-2009, 12:46 PM	#36
CCDMan *** Posts: 335 Karma: 5759 Join Date: Mar 2006 Device: ***	With regard to battery replacement, it could be that the battery is not "officially" user replaceable but could be done. This was the case with many of the early iPods - you could buy a battery from 3rd party which came with a case opening tool and you replaced it yourself. I did this a couple times. The issue becomes just how risky and difficult it is to open the case and put in a new battery.

02-09-2009, 12:53 PM	#38
Pulp Palm Addict Posts: 477 Karma: 1001951 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Cybook Gen3 [512mb, FW: 1.5]	I cannot really see the point in text2speech on an ebook-reader. It does make sense if you have a tiny device with a tiny display (or none at all), but why would anyone want to carry around a relatively large device with a great display and then use the device but not the display?

02-09-2009, 01:00 PM	#41
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I do like the form-factor changes. While the rest of the update won't make me throw away my Sony it will make the Kindle 2 a viable replacement option, should the need arise. Whereas the K1 wasn't even an option for me.

02-09-2009, 01:03 PM	#44
dirtylc Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 1 (the best one!)	TTS is the worst thing they could have put. We all requested folders and look what we got instead. Reminds me of all the times that I requested a book over and over to have it come out at $13+ every time. Thanks Amazon I met more people in greasy awkward encounters then Larry Craig flying back home for you and this is what I get. wow!! thanks!!

02-09-2009, 01:05 PM	#45
Amalthia Wizard Posts: 1,185 Karma: 32196 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-T3, Pocketbook HD2	The lack of folders is still a big turn off for me.