tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post3481538296851724099..comments2024-03-18T22:39:50.137-07:00Comments on A Kindle World blog: That Amazon Android Tablet May be a Reality - UPDATEAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-34608566498483909702010-11-07T17:08:29.470-08:002010-11-07T17:08:29.470-08:00Peter,
Apologies - your note somehow was stuck in...Peter,<br /> Apologies - your note somehow was stuck in the moderation queue and I didn't see it.<br /><br /> Thanks for the added info and thoughts.<br /><br /> I hadn't seen the rumors about an Amazon announcement on Nov. 10 but you mention it's pretty weak. I can use any kind of new announcements from any of them - changes never come fast enough. <br /><br /> Wouldn't it be funny if they made a new tv ad about an Amazon tablet and showed readers viewing their own faces sharing space with the text ? :-)<br /><br /> Re Mirasol, I agree with timing except that if Amazon does go with it, and signs have been pretty positive, I'm pretty sure it'd be 2011 because the factories are to be in full production by March, from what I read. The early ones could be for Amazon.<br /><br /> I had wondered if that big new production facility and others announced a couple of months ago were for the rest of the e-reader world or for all of it, but from you said about the earnings call info, it must be for all of it. <br /><br /> I think the Qualcomm rep at the show went out of the way to hint about Amazon having it and its being a "gamechanger." <br /><br /> Probably the only reason it might not happen is if Jeff Bezos finds or has found something better in the meantime... He's pretty aggressive that way.<br /><br /> Re Qualcomm and credit, E-Ink (from my perspective) has been from early days been on Sony and Kindle, with the former the first to have it and sell it.<br /><br /> The Sony PRS-500 was released (and using E-Ink) September 2006.<br /><br /> The Kindle 1 was released November 2007.<br /><br /> I never associated e-Ink only with Kindle because what MADE the Kindle a breakthrough was not that but the Whispernet and air delivery almost anywhere in the U.S. It was pretty heady and still is.<br /><br /> They made the screen and portable reading more popular because of the 3G delivery. They were way first on that. So people later thought that Amazon had made E-Ink only because Sony did not get the reader into people's minds nor did the other e-readers do well, until that Whispernet feature. And it's what everyone was writing about in 2007 - Whispernet.<br /><br /> Add the Free 3G website text-lookups (if one is into text-mainly) since 2007, and that was quite a combo. No other ereader maker has gotten close to allowing free 3G for anything but the company store, much less thought of letting people slowly access the web with it.<br /><br /> Gotta hand it to Amazon for that one, even if it was slow. I used it a lot because I'm patient when things are free. And it's always a bit like magic to me still, whoever provides it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-29407280197742540752010-11-06T15:30:13.144-07:002010-11-06T15:30:13.144-07:00No problem.
We are now seeing rumors that there w...No problem.<br /><br />We are now seeing rumors that there will be some sort of Amazon android tablet announced on November 10. These are very weak rumors released by a single post on the message board, but it maybe possible they will launch one soon - using the same LCD touchscreens currently in the nook and ipad.<br /><br />As far as mirasol goes, though- I think Amazon will get it, non-exclusively, in 2012 when the second announced factory is up and running. I believe Qualcomm will put the technology in lesser known e-readers- the pocketbook in Europe, the nook or kobo in the U.S., some random Japanese OEM - first.<br /><br />This strategy makes a lot more sense from Qualcomm's perspective.<br /><br />First- the logistics work out better. Mirasol won't be able to crank out a high volume of screens until they get their second factory built, so Kindle may be too popular for it's own good.<br /><br />Second- Qualcomm would prefer to keep the marketplace more competitive for branding purposes, and also to help move more units. If the Kindle is the first device to use Mirasol, then people will associate the technology with Amazon, who uses it, rather than Qualcomm, who actually makes it. Think about the current situation with Kindle and E ink. E-ink holdings does all the heavy innovating, researching, and manufacturing and Amazon is taking all the credit.<br /><br />E-ink doesn't really had a choice, though- they're a small company and Amazon is their biggest customer, they can't get away with telling them they have to wait in line. Qualcomm, however, is a huge corporation that absolutely can.Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-86839521704299860452010-11-05T10:25:02.170-07:002010-11-05T10:25:02.170-07:00Rick,
I certainly did address it, by asking WHER...Rick,<br /> I certainly did address it, by asking WHERE is it :-) Did you really expect me to know the answer too? <br /><br /> I asked because it is near the time when the DX will be in the stores, and it's my personal feeling that it only makes sense to have one at that time, but coming only from my own head I didn't want to add more predictions when the main one is really vague enough already and somewhat thin. Certainly for this holiday season, but you never know, since so many hints are being dropped at this time.<br /><br /> No timing, or anything of substance, but that 'sources' at Amazon were said to confirm an Android tablet is coming eventually was definitely worth reporting and then speculating on.<br /><br /> I can't imagine they won't update the software for the more-expensive (for one thing) DX Graphite before it hits the stores for the holiday season. They'd also be wise to drop the price.<br /><br /> I actually think they CAN go for a lower-cost LCD screen for half a year or so for those who can't LIVE without color in e-books because there IS a big call for it and because some of us will actually go for that for our travel and photograph books and then of course families with their kids. If it's cheaper as these things go, then not as much pain if the kids break it.<br /><br /> Mirasol would be good enough for me. I want to see definition of material in the non-fiction stuff I read (diagrams and other illustrations) and an idea of what a photograph looks like in color. Mirasol is not only capable of video, and reads like e-Ink, it is relatively INEXPENSIVE and uses almost as little battery time as e-Ink. Those two things are very important. Not as much razzle dazzle knock your socks off color, as that should be saved for expensive color screens.<br /><br /> The Galaxy Tab for all its features, gorgeous color, excellent resolution, 2 cams, 8 open windows in a browser, micro SD slot, is getting some lukewarm reviews and that costs more than the ipad. A smaller e-reader (where text readability is SO important) needs to be kept relatively inexpensive.<br /><br /> When did we fall into the has to be really-beautiful high-contrast, smooth, fast color for an e-reader? If I saw technology like that coming up, sure, if it didn't cost too much, but where? Does even Pixel Qi look that great? And it would be heavy! Do people want the Kindle to suddenly be an iPad ?<br /><br /> Even if that's what they want, an LCD screen would do for them. And maybe for me for only a a couple of types of books, but not for my main reading. <br /><br /> So interim color if the demand is there (seems to be) to increase READERSHIP may be a focus. We like the e-Ink but the market they'd need to be after are the ones who are not interested unless something is in color and moves...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-60603297531001381132010-11-05T10:07:55.961-07:002010-11-05T10:07:55.961-07:00Andrys- You still didn't address why the DXG ...Andrys- You still didn't address why the DXG doesn't have the software upgrades, and whether you expect it (I do by the end of the year). I am not convinced that the Mirasol screen will have vibrant enough color for such publications as National Graphic and Marvel comics.<br /><br />But waiting until next year to make sure that the screen is the best possible is the only sensible solution for Amazon., They will only get one real shot at a color kindle (NOT LDC) and can't blow it.<br />Rick AskenaseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-47519294530961640322010-11-05T10:01:52.942-07:002010-11-05T10:01:52.942-07:00Peter, thanks for the quick advisory. As I said t...Peter, thanks for the quick advisory. As I said the other day, I'm interested in NookColor as a Secondary reader for certain types of books, if it functions well. Big question when used to the Kindle functioning of dictionary, search, and annotations-finding.<br /><br /> (And no, not library-loan-interested. Not patient enough but I love the online library's free Safari books.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-48964103401834827832010-11-05T09:42:13.787-07:002010-11-05T09:42:13.787-07:00I'm reporting a bubble blown by someone who ho...I'm reporting a bubble blown by someone who hopes for the death of dedicated e-readers, and I did not express huge interest in the tablet itself, only in the dynamics of possible leaking and what it might mean.<br /><br />In both columns (one saying Mirasol wouldn't be ready in time), I give other possibilities, and the downside for many of us would be if they chose LCD but there IS a market for that.<br /><br />I see you're a rah rah kind of guy. That can be fun too, like the bird games. So it follows. :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-76087731303785626232010-11-05T09:36:18.262-07:002010-11-05T09:36:18.262-07:00Sorry to burst your bubble, but Qualcomm just veri...Sorry to burst your bubble, but Qualcomm just verified in their earnings call that mirasol won't be available until the first half of next year, and at that time it will only be a "limited commercial launch", i.e. it won't be on Kindle in the U.S. right away.<br /><br />http://www.wirelessweek.com/News/2010/11/Qualcomm-Sales-Near-3B-Q4-Business/<br /><br />Nook Color for me!Peternoreply@blogger.com