TechCrunch: Amazon’s Kindle Tablet Is Very Real

[Barty]

Originally Posted by vaughnmr

From Wikipedia: "Only Android devices that comply with Google's compatibility requirements may install and access Google's closed-source Android Market app, subject to entering into a licensing agreement with Google." You can bet a lot of those cheap knockoff tablets don't want to bother with that.

.

Hmm, I didn't know that. I just assumed everything android accesses the google app store. I'm aware there are many different versions of androids so there is no guarantee your device can run a given app. But if it can't access the google store, then what? You rely on the device maker to give you apps? Yikes.

[stonetools]

I think that what a lot of people miss is that Amazon and Google are competitors. . An app sold in the Amazon AppStore represents a lost sale in the Google Market. Conversely a book sold in Google Books means one less sold to Amazon. Since that's the economic reality, it makes perfect sense that Google Market will be absent from the Amazon tablet and that Google would make it hard to get to the Amazon AppStore from Google devices. I think that Android may end up like desktop Linux - various versions with mutually incompatible apps.

[geertm]

Originally Posted by Barty

Hmm, I didn't know that. I just assumed everything android accesses the google app store. I'm aware there are many different versions of androids so there is no guarantee your device can run a given app. But if it can't access the google store, then what? You rely on the device maker to give you apps? Yikes.

The specs Google requires for access to the Android market are more or less "mobile phone" specs.
The features most budget tablets (like Nook Color and the new Amazon tablet) are missing for access to the Android market are a camera and GPS.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Barty

Hmm, I didn't know that. I just assumed everything android accesses the google app store. I'm aware there are many different versions of androids so there is no guarantee your device can run a given app. But if it can't access the google store, then what? You rely on the device maker to give you apps? Yikes.

No not all devices come with android market, though most devices can get three market installed, you just need to find out how.
Usually higher end devices come with the Google apps installed

[=X=]

Originally Posted by molman

Hey ==X== here is a couple of articles re: google exercising it's license to exercise some control. Some of this came it light in the Skyhook lawsuit that the first two articles discuss.
- http://thisismynext.com/2011/05/12/g...orola-samsung/
- http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/12/goo...droid-devices/
- http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...3041200216.htm

Yes I've read all of those articles already. Those are allegations, and not spar to be Google business practices. if charged or if Google laid these terms out ad pay of there business practice then I would agree.

accusations do not equal facts. For instance right now Apple is being accuses of some serious allegations by the Chinese environmentalist, I will withhold judgment until those accusations are proven ad fact or false.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by SCION

Guess I'll hold off on renewing my Prime membership.

I caved. Renewed today for $39. Too good to pass up, and I need more stuff PRONTO!!!

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by SCION

I caved. Renewed today for $39. Too good to pass up, and I need more stuff PRONTO!!!

I have to think that they will do something for existing prime members...at least extend the prime membership by an additional year...


Re: Apps - I kind of wonder whether, as the tablet market matures, Apps are becoming (or will become) less important.

I like my iPad a lot, I use it every day, or almost every day, and I'm happy that there are so many apps for it. But more than 90% of my time on the tablet is spent: (1) using the browser; (2) watching videos (including using netflix); or (3) using mail. Other than netflix, I think the only 3d party app I've used with any regularity is the Kindle App - and I really don't read on my iPad very much.

I use apps on my iPhone more often, at least in part because it's often harder to use websites on the phone, and in another part because when I want to play a quick game for 5-10 minutes, I'm usually waiting somewhere with my phone.

So I think that it is possible that Amazon can position its tablet to be popular without easy access to 1000s of apps if it focuses on making the browser/video player/mail program/e-reader work *perfectly*, focuses on being an *Amazon* tablet that does a very things very well; and doesn't try to position itself as a "general purpose" tablet like the iPad.

"The Amazon Kindle Tablet: no, you can't play "World of Goo," but you can start watching thousands of free movies and TV shows from Amazon...in under a minute!" [Show someone starting to watch a free streaming video instantly on their Amazon Tablet, then cut to someone with an iPad paying $4 and waiting 2 hours for the same video to download from iTunes].

[SCION]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

...
So I think that it is possible that Amazon can position its tablet to be popular without easy access to 1000s of apps if it focuses on making the browser/video player/mail program/e-reader work *perfectly*, focuses on being an *Amazon* tablet that does a very things very well; and doesn't try to position itself as a "general purpose" tablet like the iPad.

"The Amazon Kindle Tablet: no, you can't play "World of Goo," but you can start watching thousands of free movies and TV shows from Amazon...in under a minute!" [Show someone starting to watch a free streaming video instantly on their Amazon Tablet, then cut to someone with an iPad paying $4 and waiting 2 hours for the same video to download from iTunes].

I wouldn't mind this approach at all. The stock NOOKcolor experience was just O.K. for me. I'm looking forward to something great from Amazon.

[stonetools]

Here is a good comparision of the upcoming KTab with the NC. I especially like this part:

The Lack of Openness and Care Bear Worthiness of Both Devices

Unlike companies that are OPEN and GOOD and steal your information while you’re not looking, B&N and Amazon are EVIL and make you pay for stuff before getting it. Part of this means that they take Android (an OS meant to be pure and unsullied by anything other than advertising and data collection) and dirty it with their custom OS layers and the concept of paying for apps and content.

For Nook Color 2 it’s easy to root and run Android and get everything for free.

For Kindle Tablet it’ll be close to impossible.

B&N gets the edge here as hackers and people who were Born to Demand Free will embrace its hackable qualities.

Spot on, when you read the various Android fan comments here.

Conclusion:

Thoughts

It’s very strange that Amazon would target Nook Color 2 instead of targeting iPad 2. It’s smart because it’s obviously a more reasonable target. However, it’s unlike Amazon to go for a smaller target.

Kindle Tablet vs Nook Color 2 is definitely going to change things. It’s going to make Reading Tablets a bigger force. It’s going to put downward pressure on Tablet prices. It’s going to accelerate the rise of ebooks. It might just sell 8 million non-iPad Tablets in 2011 and show there’s a HUGE market for Tablets of all sorts – especially reasonably priced ones. Kindle Tablet vs Nook Color 2 is going to give rise to two winners and might just cement Kindle Tablet and Nook Color 2 as the 2nd and 3rd most popular Tablets (a scenario that absolutely no one would have dreamt of a few years ago).

LINK

[stonetools]

So I think that it is possible that Amazon can position its tablet to be popular without easy access to 1000s of apps if it focuses on making the browser/video player/mail program/e-reader work *perfectly*, focuses on being an *Amazon* tablet that does a very things very well; and doesn't try to position itself as a "general purpose" tablet like the iPad.

Great analysis . Amazon doesn't have any email program, though . I would add, I think what Amazon needs to do is to create a version of iTunes-one program that ties playing media content together with its media stores.

[carld]

For Kindle Tablet it’ll be close to impossible.

They know this how exactly?

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by stonetools

Spot on, when you read the various Android fan comments here.

Really? Cite one "Amazon is a force for evil and Google is good and I want everything for free" comment in this thread. One. Methinks you're reading what's behind your eyes rather than what's in front of them.

I use both Amazon and Google services, including both app stores. I don't much object to either company using my information for purposes of selling me sh*t. I do value openness and customizability in my devices, but that's because technology is a substantial hobby of mine and I know I can leverage that openness into added functionality and access to a wider array of tools and media. I don't expect everyone who uses electronics to share my interests and thus my preferences.

I think it was OtterBooks who compared the Google market to a giant third-world bazaar, intending it disparagingly, but that's precisely what I and a lot of people are looking for--we know we can find things there that would never find their way into a more 'curated' environment. If other people are more comfortable in a shopping mall, I won't hold it against them, though sooner or later most of those people will hit a wall and come looking for the likes of me to dive into the bazaar for them.

[stonetools]

Originally Posted by taosaur

Really? Cite one "Amazon is a force for evil and Google is good and I want everything for free" comment in this thread. One. Methinks you're reading what's behind your eyes rather than what's in front of them.

I use both Amazon and Google services, including both app stores. I don't much object to either company using my information for purposes of selling me sh*t. I do value openness and customizability in my devices, but that's because technology is a substantial hobby of mine and I know I can leverage that openness into added functionality and access to a wider array of tools and media. I don't expect everyone who uses electronics to share my interests and thus my preferences.

I think it was OtterBooks who compared the Google market to a giant third-world bazaar, intending it disparagingly, but that's precisely what I and a lot of people are looking for--we know we can find things there that would never find their way into a more 'curated' environment. If other people are more comfortable in a shopping mall, I won't hold it against them, though sooner or later most of those people will hit a wall and come looking for the likes of me to dive into the bazaar for them.

Well, OK, nobody said, "Amazon was a force for evil". Got me there.
I guarantee you , though, that if Amazon made the Ktab so that it couldn't be rooted and flashed with a custom ROM, the cries, "Amazon is evil" would rise to high heaven.

[holterzoff]

how boring, another lame android tablet....

[molman]

Originally Posted by =X=

Yes I've read all of those articles already. Those are allegations, and not spar to be Google business practices. if charged or if Google laid these terms out ad pay of there business practice then I would agree.

accusations do not equal facts. For instance right now Apple is being accuses of some serious allegations by the Chinese environmentalist, I will withhold judgment until those accusations are proven ad fact or false.

*shrug*... I don't believe that certain facts are necessarily contested (maybe nuances), just rather if Google’s actions are to be deemed a breach of law.