Is Amazon Going After Mobile Space?

L.J. Sellers · 01-05-2011, 03:42 PM

I found this article interesting. Especially the idea that Amazon might be working on a tablet...with an Android platform and a Kindle brand.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-new...bile-space/201

L.J.
[Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR]

MrsJoseph · 01-05-2011, 03:56 PM

Interesting, but I'm getting tired of being locked into Apple's system already, no need to add another company just like Apple. I'll pass on jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Daithi · 01-05-2011, 04:07 PM

I'd love an Android based Amazon Tablet, preferably with a 10" Mirasol screen.

When the iPad came out all the pundits were talking about it being the Kindle Killer, but maybe it will be Amazon that unleashes the iPad killer.

MrsJoseph · 01-05-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

I'd love an Android based Amazon Tablet, preferably with a 10" Mirasol screen.

When the iPad came out all the pundits were talking about it being the Kindle Killer, but maybe it will be Amazon that unleashes the iPad killer.

Personally, I feel both companies are firmly in their markets. I don't see either of them being "killed off."

Daithi · 01-05-2011, 04:23 PM

To be honest, I don't either.

Kali Yuga · 01-05-2011, 04:45 PM

Sounds like a bunch of pointless speculation.

Speaking of which:

Amazon has no real need to build its own tablet. It gives them absolutely no advantage over just putting out their own apps for the various mobile platforms. It would also potentially dilute the Kindle brand, which is already a powerhouse name.

Andrew H. · 01-05-2011, 04:52 PM

Amazon sells a lot of CDs, MP3s, and DVDs, but I don't think that they need to come out with their own CD player, MP3 player, or DVD player. Much better to simply have apps for all of the new tablets that come out; that's a business that they know.

The Kindle was necessary because there were no readers that could play Amazon's books, and the existing e-book market was both tiny and fragmented.

fjtorres · 01-05-2011, 05:03 PM

1- Yes, Amazon could use a *multimedia* tablet device as a flagship vehicle for their media content much as Kindle is a flagship for their reading apps and ebookstore.

2- No, I would *not* expect that device, if they choose to launch it, to bear the Kindle name. Amazon understands brand power quite well (hence the Kindle branding on their readers and apps) so it is unlikely they'll tie their reader's brand to a media or webpad product.

3- It may be that they, correctly, expect that online sales of software will start to eat into the boxed-software sales part of their business and want to get their foot in the door. Since the app store is *not* explicitly limited to Android apps, I expect they intend to host third-party PC apps (much as Steam does) and might seek deals for the upcoming Maemo, WebOS, and Blackberry platforms.

In other words; just because they're getting into Android App sales does not mean they're buying into the android hardware business nor that they will be limiting themselves to Android apps alone.

screwballl · 01-05-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

Personally, I feel both companies are firmly in their markets. I don't see either of them being "killed off."

That is pretty much how I see it, especially this early in the ebook/ereader game. Now in 5 or more years, it may get reduced to 2 main readers with a few cheap Chinese imitations and one main open source or mainstream file type taking the lead, but for now enjoy all the options.

JeremyR · 01-05-2011, 06:51 PM

I would not be surprised to see a Kindle branded tablet myself. So many people seem to expect the Kindle to be a mini-iPad, so I don't think it will hurt the branding.

As the article says, they pretty much already sell everything you could use on a Tablet. So why not sell the actual Tablet, too? The mark up on the iPad is crazy.

Anyway, I have to disagree about the Amazon needing a desktop client (like iTunes). Just keep everything manageable on their own website and have it sent to the tablet automatically (like the Kindle). Having to deal with clients is terrible.

fjtorres · 01-06-2011, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Anyway, I have to disagree about the Amazon needing a desktop client (like iTunes). Just keep everything manageable on their own website and have it sent to the tablet automatically (like the Kindle). Having to deal with clients is terrible.

Indeed.
That is *the* key selling point of Kindle; it is a standalone device (or app) that is both reader and storefront. No PC needed for anything.

MrsJoseph · 01-06-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Anyway, I have to disagree about the Amazon needing a desktop client (like iTunes). Just keep everything manageable on their own website and have it sent to the tablet automatically (like the Kindle). Having to deal with clients is terrible.

I 100% agree that Amazon doesn’t need a desktop client like iTunes. iTunes has turned into a bloated piece of crap that I abhor using. It takes forever to load now, it’s always sending info back to Apple on my use habits, and it has tons of crap that I don't need. I hardly ever sync my phone now (maybe once every 6 months or so) and I never use iTunes unless I absolutely have to. Amazon doesn't need to start repeating Apple's mistakes (though it seems to want to with the Kindle battery and lack of SD card).

I hope they wouldn't make a "Kindle branded tablet" and instead just a tablet. I like having dedicated reading devices but it seems that the market wants to create the "all-in-one" for everything.

jbcohen · 01-06-2011, 09:17 AM

Personaly I am all for the competition. More companies in the market the better it is for us the customers.

01-05-2011, 03:42 PM	#1
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	Is Amazon Going After Mobile Space? I found this article interesting. Especially the idea that Amazon might be working on a tablet...with an Android platform and a Kindle brand. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-new...bile-space/201 L.J. [Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR] Last edited by Dr. Drib; 02-26-2012 at 06:58 AM.

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01-05-2011, 03:56 PM	#2
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	Interesting, but I'm getting tired of being locked into Apple's system already, no need to add another company just like Apple. I'll pass on jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

01-05-2011, 04:07 PM	#3
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	I'd love an Android based Amazon Tablet, preferably with a 10" Mirasol screen. When the iPad came out all the pundits were talking about it being the Kindle Killer, but maybe it will be Amazon that unleashes the iPad killer.

01-05-2011, 04:23 PM	#5
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	To be honest, I don't either.

01-05-2011, 04:45 PM	#6
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	Sounds like a bunch of pointless speculation. Speaking of which: Amazon has no real need to build its own tablet. It gives them absolutely no advantage over just putting out their own apps for the various mobile platforms. It would also potentially dilute the Kindle brand, which is already a powerhouse name.

01-05-2011, 04:52 PM	#7
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	Amazon sells a lot of CDs, MP3s, and DVDs, but I don't think that they need to come out with their own CD player, MP3 player, or DVD player. Much better to simply have apps for all of the new tablets that come out; that's a business that they know. The Kindle was necessary because there were no readers that could play Amazon's books, and the existing e-book market was both tiny and fragmented.

01-05-2011, 05:03 PM	#8
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	1- Yes, Amazon could use a multimedia tablet device as a flagship vehicle for their media content much as Kindle is a flagship for their reading apps and ebookstore. 2- No, I would not expect that device, if they choose to launch it, to bear the Kindle name. Amazon understands brand power quite well (hence the Kindle branding on their readers and apps) so it is unlikely they'll tie their reader's brand to a media or webpad product. 3- It may be that they, correctly, expect that online sales of software will start to eat into the boxed-software sales part of their business and want to get their foot in the door. Since the app store is not explicitly limited to Android apps, I expect they intend to host third-party PC apps (much as Steam does) and might seek deals for the upcoming Maemo, WebOS, and Blackberry platforms. In other words; just because they're getting into Android App sales does not mean they're buying into the android hardware business nor that they will be limiting themselves to Android apps alone.

01-05-2011, 06:51 PM	#10
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	I would not be surprised to see a Kindle branded tablet myself. So many people seem to expect the Kindle to be a mini-iPad, so I don't think it will hurt the branding. As the article says, they pretty much already sell everything you could use on a Tablet. So why not sell the actual Tablet, too? The mark up on the iPad is crazy. Anyway, I have to disagree about the Amazon needing a desktop client (like iTunes). Just keep everything manageable on their own website and have it sent to the tablet automatically (like the Kindle). Having to deal with clients is terrible.

01-06-2011, 09:17 AM	#13
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Personaly I am all for the competition. More companies in the market the better it is for us the customers.

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