HSDPA, RSS, Google Gears, Touch-screen, USB keyboard, open applications platform

Charbax · 11-18-2007, 04:51 AM

Reportedly Robert Scoble was invited to be in New York on monday too: http://scobleizer.com/2007/11/16/amazons-kindle/

Built-in EVDO sounds cool. As long as the EVDO access is very reasonably priced, like somekind of very affordable per MB cost with no monthly payment or something like that.

I wish the wireless was HSDPA and compatible with wireless data around the world, even built-in WiFi would have been nice.

As it loads New York Times and Washington Post every morning, it should also be able to load ones Google Reader feeds in the morning.

Touch-screen and smart keyboard will be awesome. There should be somekind of browser in there.

The Electronic Books should be sold for very reasonable prices, since so many intermediaries including the printing of the paper back version are skipped. There should also be somekind of way to let people get the taste of a book for free before buying, something like a few chapters should be free, and payment is confirmed at that point.

Getting access to Google apps on e-paper will be awesome. Such things as search, blog search, Google maps, Gmail, Google News, all that should be working over the EVDO, using Google Gears to speed up the process and provide offline functionality to save battery power.

Taking notes with a foldable USB keyboard, and thus post to blogs, emails, reviews and more directly using the device, without the need to have a computer.

HarryT · 11-18-2007, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charbax

Built-in EVDO sounds cool.

Sorry, but I think that - if true - it's a ridiculous decision. It's ignoring world-wide standards (ie GSM) and using a proprietory standard which virtually nobody outside North America uses. Companies need to realise that there's a world-wide market out there.

Charbax · 11-18-2007, 06:01 AM

OK, but possibly Sprint will provide some type of special data plans. Maybe the EVDO connection will not cost anything, since possibly Sprint will just be taking a small share of the revenue generated by selling books over the EVDO network. Downloading ones personal RSS feeds, Emails and possibly loading websites if there is a browser might cost extra per MB somehow.

wallcraft · 11-18-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sorry, but I think that - if true - it's a ridiculous decision. It's ignoring world-wide standards (ie GSM) and using a proprietory standard which virtually nobody outside North America uses. Companies need to realise that there's a world-wide market out there.

The problem is the pathetic state of wireless networks in the US. It essentially requires companies to use different wireless solutions inside and outside the US. I would be amazed if Amazon does not release the Kindle in Europe, but it may be US only at least until after Christmas.

Alisa · 11-18-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The problem is the pathetic state of wireless networks in the US. It essentially requires companies to use different wireless solutions inside and outside the US. I would be amazed if Amazon does not release the Kindle in Europe, but it may be US only at least until after Christmas.

It's not always a huge deal to change the networking hardware on a board like this. Just because this version only has EVDO, that doesn't mean other versions can't follow soon.

vivaldirules · 11-18-2007, 01:27 PM

Touchscreen? I think I missed that. Who reports that it has (or might have) a touchscreen?

nekokami · 11-18-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Touchscreen? I think I missed that. Who reports that it has (or might have) a touchscreen?

The Newsweek article mentioned the ability to "highlight" text. There are ways to do this without a touchscreen, but it would be cool if there is one.

Am I the only one who thinks that DotReader-like functionality (especially reading groups) would be a natural for Amazon? I know this the third post I've mentioned this in, but the idea just keeps jumping out at me. It seems so consistent with what Amazon has been doing with customer reviews, wiki, discussion boards, etc.

MikeF74 · 11-19-2007, 11:05 AM

From watching the videos, there is a thin LCD column to the right of the screen and a scroll wheel/button at the bottom. This acts as the selector, bookmarker, etc. It shows how to use the dictionary by scrolling the selector dot to the desired line, then activating the lookup function by pressing the wheel and scrolling to "Lookup". It then shows definitions for all the words on that line. It mentioned something about copying the text for later use, but I didn't quite get how that worked. But the really neat thing as well was the ability to lookup a word via Wikipedia.

nekokami · 11-19-2007, 11:16 AM

A portable Wikipedia could be a salable item in and of itself.

CommanderROR · 11-19-2007, 12:02 PM

Yes, the Wikipedia is added benefit. However, I have the Wikipedia on my Mobile Phone (both online and offline) so it would not exactly be new.

The bigger screen could help, the lack of colour could be a problem. Do they allow pictures to be transferred?

11-18-2007, 04:51 AM	#1
Charbax Addict Posts: 203 Karma: 550683 Join Date: Mar 2007	HSDPA, RSS, Google Gears, Touch-screen, USB keyboard, open applications platform Reportedly Robert Scoble was invited to be in New York on monday too: http://scobleizer.com/2007/11/16/amazons-kindle/ Built-in EVDO sounds cool. As long as the EVDO access is very reasonably priced, like somekind of very affordable per MB cost with no monthly payment or something like that. I wish the wireless was HSDPA and compatible with wireless data around the world, even built-in WiFi would have been nice. As it loads New York Times and Washington Post every morning, it should also be able to load ones Google Reader feeds in the morning. Touch-screen and smart keyboard will be awesome. There should be somekind of browser in there. The Electronic Books should be sold for very reasonable prices, since so many intermediaries including the printing of the paper back version are skipped. There should also be somekind of way to let people get the taste of a book for free before buying, something like a few chapters should be free, and payment is confirmed at that point. Getting access to Google apps on e-paper will be awesome. Such things as search, blog search, Google maps, Gmail, Google News, all that should be working over the EVDO, using Google Gears to speed up the process and provide offline functionality to save battery power. Taking notes with a foldable USB keyboard, and thus post to blogs, emails, reviews and more directly using the device, without the need to have a computer.

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11-18-2007, 06:01 AM	#3
Charbax Addict Posts: 203 Karma: 550683 Join Date: Mar 2007	OK, but possibly Sprint will provide some type of special data plans. Maybe the EVDO connection will not cost anything, since possibly Sprint will just be taking a small share of the revenue generated by selling books over the EVDO network. Downloading ones personal RSS feeds, Emails and possibly loading websites if there is a browser might cost extra per MB somehow.

11-18-2007, 01:27 PM	#6
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Touchscreen? I think I missed that. Who reports that it has (or might have) a touchscreen?

11-19-2007, 11:05 AM	#8
MikeF74 Groupie Posts: 179 Karma: 28 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505	From watching the videos, there is a thin LCD column to the right of the screen and a scroll wheel/button at the bottom. This acts as the selector, bookmarker, etc. It shows how to use the dictionary by scrolling the selector dot to the desired line, then activating the lookup function by pressing the wheel and scrolling to "Lookup". It then shows definitions for all the words on that line. It mentioned something about copying the text for later use, but I didn't quite get how that worked. But the really neat thing as well was the ability to lookup a word via Wikipedia.

11-19-2007, 11:16 AM	#9
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	A portable Wikipedia could be a salable item in and of itself.

11-19-2007, 12:02 PM	#10
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Yes, the Wikipedia is added benefit. However, I have the Wikipedia on my Mobile Phone (both online and offline) so it would not exactly be new. The bigger screen could help, the lack of colour could be a problem. Do they allow pictures to be transferred?

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