“I’ve seen it. Played with it. It’s called simply the ‘Amazon Kindle’. But it’s not like any Kindle you’ve seen before. It displays content in full color. It has a 7-inch capacitive touch screen. And it runs Android.” Okay, it’s from Siegler, but it’s interesting, and there’s no Google bashing or blind Apple adoration at all. This could definitely be the Android tablet to compete with the iPad. So, Amazon, how about a Dutch online store? And, you know, a site which doesn’t suck? Thanks!
Something in the Kindle lineage could really use a proper transflective LCD (search on YT for pixel qi, they had few nice demonstrations). Readable everywhere, saves power when in high ambient lighting. But I won’t hold my breath.
Too bad it won’t have Gmaps navigation… (heck, I wouldn’t mind phone functionality in comparable form-factor and only somewhat higher price; such “handset” + BT headset would possibly eliminate any future needs for smartphone & tablet duplication with many people)
Android 2.1 makes it a non-starter.
They may have dressed up this pig enough that it can compete with the B&N Color Nook – but its not interesting to develop for, and I have no plans.
Yeah, it’s probably better regarded as a fancier version of the existing Kindle – from the sound of it, their Android implementation is so modified as to have little in common with regular Android devices.
Wont compete against the iPad but the poor Nook might be toast.
Fail.
It just a Nook Color Killer, and still far away from iPad challenger qualification.
It sounds like it is a tablet that is tightly coupled to Amazon’s services. Now that worked for Apple, but Apple is considered fashionable. I don’t think the same can be said for Amazon. It also worked for the e-ink Kindle, but the e-ink Kindle offered compelling features. Reflective display, battery life, free 3G, a keyboard for annotations, etc..
So I really don’t get why anyone would buy this new beast.
The thing with all things fashionable is that, like a Red Hot Chili Peppers album, they fall out of fashion. Just think of buying a laptop designed like the original iBook today — the duller designs of Apple’s earlier laptops look far more current, as do pretty much any old IBM.
What Amazon’s got is content, which they push extremely well, with good search and fast shipping. They’re not selling this as a content delivery vehicle. With Apple, it’s the other way around: the content is there to tie you into an expensive hardware upgrade cycle.
Pfft. Red Hot Chili Peppers are still cool. They’ve never gone out of style.
Ok, I hate to keep bringing up WebOS, but I think this would be a good place for a WebOS device. I could easily see a home for WebOS at Amazon. However since Amazon is clearly invested in Android (Amazon App store, etc.) I know this is very unlikely…unless there is a better way to run Android apps on WebOS (IF there is a way at all). I dont think it would be too difficult to either have Davlik on WebOS or at least an emulator, and having the device get apps from the Amazon App Store. That would be a killer device to me if it would all be possible.
Anyway, just crazy rambling ideas late at night.
Is Amazon trying to be another Apple or not?
It is all depends whether they are trying to lock down the system and prevent users running “unauthorised” programs from running: (e.g. the stock android market app, Google maps or a free e-reader app etc).
In my view they will be making a big mistake if they try and lock it down like the Kindle. But it looks like they have done a complete fork of Android and are just using Android as a quick starting point to build up there own completely separate eco system. Amazon have their own android app store which makes a lot of sense and this device is a great way of getting more users.
But there is another another problem, it only runs “some version of Android prior to 2.2”. If they plan NEVER to upgrade this version then eventually they will be stuck in the Android dark ages with fewer tablet formatted apps able to run.
I know this only aimed at non techies, but often a non techie Mum will have a techie kid who will advise on the purchase. It is surprising how much influence techies have on people making a purchase.
In my view this could do very well if they allowed users to do what they like with their own purchase and allow them to run the latest and greatest Android software. I think more importantly for Amazon it could then encourage all other Android users to the Amazon market store.
No pictures at all makes this very suspicious but to be honest I think any discussion about a 7″ Android tablet cannot exist without mentioning the AndyPad ( http://www.andypad.co.uk <– note NOT .com).
Aside from that and taking the claims as read I think Amazon has messed up here. They don’t have a brand as a content supplier. That’s perhaps apart from books but even then it’s not as big as it could be. I just don’t see there being a huge amount of fuss over this thing when/if it launches. If anything it could damage the Kindle brand because the colour screen will drain the battery. As somebody else said what this needs is a dual e-ink/LCD screen and the Pixel Qi would seem to be a good fit for that.