Is Kindle Innovation Done?

Futuregrace · 08-28-2020, 02:44 PM

Is there any hope of Amazon making a larger screen no oasis device? Color device anything other than the current 3 skus they currently have?

Deskisamess · 08-28-2020, 02:52 PM

Magic 8 Ball says...Cannot Predict Now.

I think a large screen with a front light would be too costly for most users. $250 is high, especially given the dismal battery life of the Oasis 2. 6-7" screens seem about perfect for the majority of users.

I had the DX, but it was too large, too wide of a screen making too wide of a text column. It was great in theory, but not in actual use for reading novels and regular books.

Futuregrace · 08-28-2020, 03:06 PM

But they could make a 7 inch waterproof voyage. I guess I wonder if they’re just gonna sit with what they have now cause they can make money doing it and innovation cost money.

karljs · 08-28-2020, 03:53 PM

There have been rumors that they might release a Voyage 2, but I think they'd have a hard time segmenting the different price points in a way that makes sense.

It also sounds like the research lab that did all of the Kindle hardware was being tasked with coming up with Covid testing strategies for the company, so everything else may have been put on hold for a while. It's hard to say from the outside.

I know for sure that I'd jump at the chance to get a Voyage 2 with all the Oasis 3 features, USB C, improved battery life, etc.

Deskisamess · 08-28-2020, 04:52 PM

It's been 13 years since the Voyage was released. It would be weird for them to release a new one now.

hobnail · 08-28-2020, 04:57 PM

My ancient Kindle Touch has essentially the same klunky UI as the Oasis. If they can't be bothered to make a better UI I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for any innovation.

BiliBug · 08-28-2020, 05:01 PM

You need to look at the bigger picture. Much like Apple iPhones using parts, including the screen, from many different suppliers, same goes for Amazon and Kindle e-readers. You need to look at the current state of e-ink technology to determine possible features in new devices. Color e-ink is coming within a year, commercially. Most existing e-reader devices use the same e-ink Carta screen, which is why the specs and resolution are the same.

JSWolf · 08-28-2020, 05:21 PM

Unless Amazon makes some radical changes to the firmware, I see no real innovation no matter the hardware.

Deskisamess · 08-28-2020, 05:21 PM

Color e-ink has been "coming" for over 10 years. It's here now, but doesn't bring much to the table for those who simply want to read.

Sirtel · 08-28-2020, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

It's been 13 years since the Voyage was released. It would be weird for them to release a new one now.

6 years, not 13. But yes, it would still be weird.

Braid · 08-28-2020, 06:49 PM

If you want a screen larger than 7", you can get an 8" device from Kobo. Kobo ereaders are marketed for roughly the same customer base as Amazon ereaders.

To my mind, this gives us reason to believe in the possibility of a larger screen from Amazon.

Since I read text, colour would not be innovation for me. Improved contrast would; it would make e-ink look more like paper. Is there anyone working on e-ink with improved contrast? I doubt it.

rcentros · 08-28-2020, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

It's been 13 years since the Voyage was released. It would be weird for them to release a new one now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

6 years, not 13. But yes, it would still be weird.

I'm guessing the ship has sailed on that one, despite the three or four (or five?) "scoops" by GoodEReader to the contrary.

As for innovation from Amazon on the Kindle line... I don't know. I thought for sure they would come out with a color eReader when others did, but now I'm wondering if they feel the Fire fills that space.

Deskisamess · 08-28-2020, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

6 years, not 13. But yes, it would still be weird.

Wow, bad maths for me.

Hubby is currently having appendix surgery, I shouldn’t have posted during the stressful “should we go to the hospital or not” phase. He thought he was having a reaction to a med.

I’m sitting alone in a usually very full surgical waiting room. It’s 11:30 p.m. It’s weird.

It’s been a weird day, after a weird week, in a weird month, in the year 2020.

rcentros · 08-29-2020, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

It’s been a weird day, after a weird week, in a weird month, in the year 2020.

Best wishes for his quick recovery. This has been one weird year.

Deskisamess · 08-29-2020, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

Best wishes for his quick recovery. This has been one weird year.

Thanks, it was 1 a.m. by the time I got home, long day. Slept like a rock once my brain shut off.

08-28-2020, 02:44 PM	#1
Futuregrace Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 12646 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Kansas Device: Kindle Oasis 2019, iPad Pro 11, Voyage	Is Kindle Innovation Done? Is there any hope of Amazon making a larger screen no oasis device? Color device anything other than the current 3 skus they currently have?

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08-28-2020, 02:52 PM	#2
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,775 Karma: 45827761 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	Magic 8 Ball says...Cannot Predict Now. I think a large screen with a front light would be too costly for most users. $250 is high, especially given the dismal battery life of the Oasis 2. 6-7" screens seem about perfect for the majority of users. I had the DX, but it was too large, too wide of a screen making too wide of a text column. It was great in theory, but not in actual use for reading novels and regular books.

08-28-2020, 03:06 PM	#3
Futuregrace Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 12646 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Kansas Device: Kindle Oasis 2019, iPad Pro 11, Voyage	But they could make a 7 inch waterproof voyage. I guess I wonder if they’re just gonna sit with what they have now cause they can make money doing it and innovation cost money.

08-28-2020, 03:53 PM	#4
karljs Member Posts: 21 Karma: 94 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis 2, Kobo Forma	There have been rumors that they might release a Voyage 2, but I think they'd have a hard time segmenting the different price points in a way that makes sense. It also sounds like the research lab that did all of the Kindle hardware was being tasked with coming up with Covid testing strategies for the company, so everything else may have been put on hold for a while. It's hard to say from the outside. I know for sure that I'd jump at the chance to get a Voyage 2 with all the Oasis 3 features, USB C, improved battery life, etc.

08-28-2020, 04:52 PM	#5
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,775 Karma: 45827761 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	It's been 13 years since the Voyage was released. It would be weird for them to release a new one now.

08-28-2020, 04:57 PM	#6
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,592 Karma: 14328510 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	My ancient Kindle Touch has essentially the same klunky UI as the Oasis. If they can't be bothered to make a better UI I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for any innovation.

08-28-2020, 05:01 PM	#7
BiliBug Connoisseur Posts: 98 Karma: 374269 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stockton, NJ Device: Kobo Sage (Formerly KKB, PW1, PW3, KV, OA3)	You need to look at the bigger picture. Much like Apple iPhones using parts, including the screen, from many different suppliers, same goes for Amazon and Kindle e-readers. You need to look at the current state of e-ink technology to determine possible features in new devices. Color e-ink is coming within a year, commercially. Most existing e-reader devices use the same e-ink Carta screen, which is why the specs and resolution are the same.

08-28-2020, 05:21 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,746 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Unless Amazon makes some radical changes to the firmware, I see no real innovation no matter the hardware.

08-28-2020, 06:49 PM	#11
Braid Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 700000 Join Date: Dec 2016 Device: Kindle Oasis (2nd), Kobo Aura One, Kindle Voyage, Kobo H2O (1st)	If you want a screen larger than 7", you can get an 8" device from Kobo. Kobo ereaders are marketed for roughly the same customer base as Amazon ereaders. To my mind, this gives us reason to believe in the possibility of a larger screen from Amazon. Since I read text, colour would not be innovation for me. Improved contrast would; it would make e-ink look more like paper. Is there anyone working on e-ink with improved contrast? I doubt it.