Things we've recently learned about any coming additional Kindle Fire tablet and e-readers

Back in July, All Things Digital's John Paczkowski mentioned that Amazon had been "approaching developers to bring them up to speed on the new hardware."

1. From "talking to sources who have been briefed" (these would be fairly good sources), they heard what we've heard from others so far, repeated endlessly -- but of interest to me was that the developers mentioned they'd "been instructed to build their apps for a display with a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, which is a bit different" from "the 1024 x 600 display of the current Kindle Fire."

We'd heard this already and also read reports of the change in aspect ratio (the vertical mode would be not as long -- although the length had been good for wide-screen movies w/o letterboxing bars) but we'd not heard, generally, that this info came from instructions to developers.

2. I mentioned, in the blog article on the US State Department Request for Information on E-Readers and centralized management that may be needed for these in connection with their global needs, that the State Dept is now requesting this vendor/manager information from all and Amazon would not now be the sole source as had been planned.

 However,
  a. The vendor must be able to manage "multiple Kindle models" which would include replacing any broken ones (whether accidental or not) and providing free shipping and would require a 24/7 HelpDesk globally and a separate cloud-based documents store.

  b. 3G wireless for these is a requirement. (No one else is including that on current e-readers.)

  c. The required document formats include Mobi and Prc files -- these are Amazon Kindle formats, and ePub is not included in the list of formats.

  d. New wrinkle -- the battery life was to be fairly substantial and a matter of weeks had been mentioned.  Now the preference is that the battery life shall be no less than 8 hours of continuous reading or 7.5 hours of video playback.  And the light, compact portable device should be no more than 15 ounces and could be 8" x 5" by 0.5" (larger than current e-Ink devices).

    Since no one else can support multiple Kindle devices with a 24/7 helpdesk internationally and replace the Kindles as needed -- no questions asked -- we are talking about a future Kindle Fire tablet.  Again, the file formats for the documents will include Kindle formats but not ePub.
"DOC(X)" format files will also need to be supported, something Amazon's done for some time.

  d. While the Request for Information (RFI) does not mean a contract will take place, because they are just taking information here, they asked for this almost immediately after cancelling the earlier contract proposal, which had focused on e-Ink type devices.


What the new Kindle Fire would have to include to meet the proposed requirements
  .  Text to Speech. This is included in e-Ink Kindles but not in the current Kindle Fire.
  .  3G Wireless capability.

  Also, the information disseminated world-wide requires downloads via 3G in many of those areas (known to be expensive)  This kind of thing is already done by Amazon but not by others, internationally.

  So, we are seeing a new set of requirements that would include a device that has less battery life than e-Ink readers and can do video playback.

While the coming Kindle Fire 2 might not include these two features needed for that contract -- eventually, it would have to include them if this contract is negotiated successfully.

Other indications
I mentioned that Nate Hoffelder's articles on FCC papers from front companies for Amazon point to a new Kindle Fire and possibly to another e-Ink device though none of this is that clear.  But they'd be for new devices.

  In addition to that, he discovered something else:
  For some time, there has been an expensive 'dock' made by a third party for the Kindle Fire: the Grace Digital MatchStick Charging Speaker Dock for Kindle Fire.
  The maker named it FireDock when Nate reported on it in late March.  It's fairly expensive but has been getting good reviews and this week has more good word of mouth in the Amazon Kindle forums.

  Since that time, Nate reports, Grace Digital Audio doesn't use that name and Amazon owns the trademark for "Firedock" which might get some bonus attention if they announce one when launching the coming Kindle Fire 2.  "Kindle Fire 2" is not necessarily a name for a new device but one that describes what it would be, essentially, with the hope it would be a Kindle Fire on steroids.  It would almost have to be at this point.

The new filing was in addition to one which seemed to be for a larger tablet, reported by Nate earlier last week, and may describe a new e-Ink model.  There's no testing of a front light but maybe testing would not be needed for the filing.

We've seen that Amazon is currently out of Kindle Touch models and won't be able to ship any, per their current product pages for 1 to 2 weeks (the info on which could change entirely at any time, the way it's been going!), which indicates a lack of sufficient energy to keep either the Touch WiFi-Only or the Touch 3G in stock.

I was most intrigued by the constantly shifting status reports and missing sales-boxes last night and today though, and then the re-appearance of one on the 3G model, twice today.

I think it's hard to conclude nothing's coming down the pike, and most of us hope it's sooner than later, as it's all too confusing at this point.


In connection with all this, Amazon is still running the 40% off select devices and accessories when using their Amazon Rewards Visa Card.  This normally precedes changes in or additions to the current lineup.

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links

US: Kindle Fire  7" tablet - $199 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $79/$109 Kindle Touch, WiFi - $99/$139 Kindle Touch, 3G/WiFi - $149/$189 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189, Free, slow web Kindle DX - $379, Free, slow web

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £89 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - £109 Kindle Touch 3G/WiFi, UK - £169 Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB

OTHER International Kindle NoTouch Basic - $109 Kindle Touch WiFi - $139 Kindle Touch 3G/WiFi - $189 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button


Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!

Why the new State Department RFI for management of its reader devices and comprehensive and continuous content management and distribution platform is still Amazon-centric and what it may mean for coming Kindle devices

We saw last week that the U.S. State Dept had formally withdrawn and cancelled its announced plan to sole source a contract to Amazon for Kindle devices and centralized management of a global project for the State dept..

I saw Paul Biba's tweet today about InfoDocket's detailed report by Gary Price, Aug 18, on the U.S. State Department's issuing, this week, a Request for Information (RFI ) on vendors who can "provide e-reader devices and a secure, comprehensive and continuous content management and distribution platform.”

Price links us to the complete RFI, which has a Sept. 21, 2012 deadline for responding to the RFI.

After reading just the highlights quoted on the Infodocket page, it's pretty clear to me that the State Dept's withdrawal and new RFI are partially in response to many who had wondered aloud why (despite the DOS documents that detailed how far-ranging and unique the requirements were) they had chosen Amazon for sole negotiations before the sudden cancellation.

  But it seems to me they are now also focusing on tablet e-readers rather than only e-Ink readers, which would definitely require a cancellation or withdrawal of the previous proposal.

  The requirements of that proposed contract have changed in a few ways.  A minor one that looks new (or I didn't notice it earlier) is  that the DoS (Department of State) be guaranteed any specific lower pricing granted the vendor by third-party content providers for distribution to the DoS's "Deployment Locations" and that the vendor should "also reduce its commission charged to the third party content providers by an equitable percentage."

   Also, it's still clear that other e-reader vendors can't supply what the State demands per this RFI.

KEY differences between the earlier contract requirements and the new one.  (Bracketed text is added by me.]
  The new RFI states that the device should be equal to or less than 15 oz and the display can be larger than 6", but most interesting is that the battery requirement has been lowered to fit in LCD e-readers, which give only 8 hours~ of continuous reading instead of the 3 weeks earlier expected.  The key paragraph:

' The device shall be light, compact, portable, durable with reinforced screens, and have extended battery life.  Preferred [not required] specifications:  weight equal to or less than 15 ounces, and approximate dimensions of  8" by 5" by 0.5". The battery life shall be no less than 8 hours of continuous reading or 7.5 hours of video playback. '

This would now fit 7" to 8" tablets.

  Note the Key difference that would knock out e-Ink devices at this point 
    -  Video playback.

  E-Ink devices don't play video.  At least not the current e-Ink readers.

  I'd think that the rumored Apple Mini 7 to 8" tablet would be a contender, but the book format requirements include Mobi/Prc files.  (That means Amazon, yes - Apple, no) and they don't mention ePub format.)

So, is it that the DoS is now looking at the coming Kindle Fire 2 rather than the e-Ink devices they seemed to be concentrating on earlier?  Dollar-wise, there'd be not that much difference -- well, double the cost of an e-Ink device but not 4 times the cost;  however, definitely more flexible and in today's world that's important.

  What is KEY also is that the contract mentions managing "multiple Kindle models."  That stands out.

 The current Kindle Fire doesn't have text to speech as the e-Ink Kindles do.  Will this feature finally, then, be included in the new Kindle Fire expected any edition?  It would have to be.

  Would all of this have something to do with delays of new Kindle devices?

  The current Kindle Fire also does not have 3G capability and that would be required.  Something else we may see?

  I'm also not that sure that Amazon would necessarily want to provide all this without some kind of cap on the expenses Amazon would need to pay to run such a labor-intensive project with open-ended requirements, internationally.

  The latter will include quite-costly 3G wireless to be provided "to download content globally, including all costs associated with content delivery via 3G services globally."  Currently that content does not include, in most countries outside the U.S., the many photos for newspapers or even any informational blogs that are included in U.S. deliveries, due to the overseas cost of downloading material with heavy graphics involved.  Textbooks or even newsletter-style documents today can be very photo-intensive, for instance.

Larger files for some (free) K12 textbooks on Amazon, as an example (tangential)
  For instance, there are still free books that most Amazon Kindle owners aren't aware of unless we mention it often, which are by the CK-12 Foundation and are "customizable, standards-aligned, free digital textbooks for K-12" on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics."

Some of the books are very photo-intensive and result in files about 30 times larger than your average Kindle novel, so this type of book will incur heavier 3G wireless costs for Amazon outside the U.S. and of course take more room on a device.

 I downloaded the ones on Earth Sciences and also Biology, and when you don't want them taking up room on your Kindle device, you can remove books from the Kindle but they remain available to you on your Kindle management page at Amazon (UK mgmt page here) for download as wanted at any time.

  (CK-12’s FlexBooks earned perfect scores in Phase Two of  former California Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Free Digital Textbook Initiative.)

  While this is tangential, this kind of information should be useful for readers of the blog who are new to the various Amazon features.  To read how to get these free K12 textbooks and some tips on those, see my earlier article on them.  In that article, also, is information on the useful free eBookMaps.

Back to the State Dept Request for Information on the e-Reader Initiative
This involves providing all this for 190 countries and at "over 800 embassies, consulates, American spaces and schools overseas."  (The initial proposed contract was to be for a "Mobile Learning Initiative.")

Note the actual wording in the 'Content Distribution' portion of the Request for Information:
  "The vendor must provide a cloud-based secure distribution and management platform to centrally manage content across a variety and limitless number of e-readers and tablet devices located in over 190 countries"

For Kindle Blog subscribers especially, I'll add some of Infodocket's highlights (Under Content Requirements) here, but to see the rest of it, follow the links above to infodocket and, most of all, to the actual complete RFI.  Again, bracketed comments are by me.

' ... the DoS has produced, procured and/or curated increasing amounts of digital content to meet the changing consumption patterns of citizens around the world.
...
This platform must provide the ability to centrally manage, procure, and wirelessly distribute USG and 3rd party content across a multitude of devices located in over 190 countries. The platform must support the registration of new devices as well as provide continuing support for existing DoS devices, which number over 6,000.  The more than 6,000 existing devices include multiple Amazon Kindle models, multiple Apple iPad models, and a variety of Android devices currently in use at over 800 embassies, consulates, American Spaces and schools overseas.

[ Notice the mention of all those Kindle models?]

The vendor must provide 3G services to download content globally, including all costs associated with content delivery via 3G services globally.   [ No e-reader but Amazon's currently provides 3G services for download of content...and especially globally.]

The vendor must provide a large and comprehensive public-facing, online bookstore of third party content.  [Also, Amazon has set up an unusually flexible structure with "personal documents" for its Kindle owners and gives them annotation and sync'g features that Kindle books have.]
...
The vendor must wirelessly disseminate content to the DoS’s existing devices, including Amazon Kindles, Apple iOS, Android, PC, and MAC.

  The vendor must provide centralized content purchases, management and dissemination for all numbers of or subsets of DoS devices (e.g., Apple iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle, PC, and MAC) deployed around the world.

The vendor shall deliver devices meeting the following specifications: must provide at least a 6″ diagonal display... [could be larger] ... must include a front light feature or include backlight technology.

  [That last was a clue when they sole-sourced Amazon, based on their requirements, that they felt or, more likely, had been told Amazon was going to provide this on e-Ink devices at the time.]

The device shall have a text-to-speech capability in English so that users are able to listen to content on the device.

The device shall support the display of a variety of file formats, including PDF, TXT, MOBI, PRC, HTML, DOC(X), JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP.

  [That last is glaring also.  Among American-based "name" e-readers, only the Kindle e-reader supports MOBI/PRC format, as that is the basic format for the Kindle (Amazon acquired Mobipocket years ago), AND DOC(X).
  There's nothing said about ePub in the formats specification.]  '

  And while Amazon supports Apple and Android devices involving Kindle content, Apple does not support Kindle devices and so would not likely be interested in providing support for them globally.

As before,

' The vendor must provide a dedicated 24/7 help desk to support inquires from DoS embassies, American Spaces and its partner organizations located in countries specified '

Does another e-reader vendor provide anything resembling this direct international support?


Why the DoS RFI requirements can be important enough for Kindle or prospective Kindle owners to know .
The DoS requirements actually highlight the kind of support behind the Kindles as well as many of the features provided, globally --  in fact, not found with the other e-reader models -- and are reasons not often seen in gadget site e-reader reviews which often focus on only one feature which appeals to the reviewer and the habit of just focusing on one device "killing" another, based on 'coolest' look and feel, which is not always the best way to decide.

  Functionality and the ability to provide good customer support can be key with new technology that changes quickly.

  I welcome any thoughts on this, as I found the new RFI requirements very intriguing.

---

US: Kindle Fire  7" tablet - $199 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $79/$109 Kindle Touch, WiFi - $99/$139 Kindle Touch, 3G/WiFi - $149/$189 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189, Free, slow web Kindle DX - $379, Free, slow web

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £89 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - £109 Kindle Touch 3G/WiFi, UK - £169 Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB

OTHER International Kindle NoTouch Basic - $109 Kindle Touch WiFi - $139 Kindle Touch 3G/WiFi - $189 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB

  For daily free ebooks, check the following links:

Temporarily-free books - Non-classics USA: by:    Publication Date      Bestselling   High-ratings UK: PubDate   Popular The Kindle Daily Deal What is 3G? and "WiFi"?       Battery Care Highly-rated under $1,  Newest: $1-$2, $2-$3

Most Popular Free K-Books U.S. & Int'l (NOT UK):    Top 100 free UK-Only:    Top 100 free USEFUL for your Kindle Keyboard(U.S. only, currently):   99c Notepad 1.1,   99c Calculator,   99c Calendar,   99c Converter

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!

Kindle News: Amazon's own SendToKindle for Chrome. InstantVideo for iPad gets a Search function. The State Dept cancels $$$ contract proposal with Amazon.

There has been an independent developer's "Send to Kindle" for the Chrome browser, since January 21, 20121, though my own favorite SendTo for Kindles has been SendtoReader because I can use it with any browser, on the PC or on my tablets.

Amazon, though has added its own Send to Kindle for Google Chrome browser extension or add-on which allows you to send web content to a Kindle or Kindle-compatible device in one step or to preview it before you send, including just selecting text from the web page to send to the Kindle device.  As with the others, this will send just the content of a web article and not the surrounding ads (that would otherwise make money for Google, but you have to be on the page seeing those ads anyway when sending content to a Kindle).

  This will work best when you're already signed in to your Amazon account.  WiFi is used by default, but those with e-Ink Kindles with 'only' 3G wireless access would incur fees on personal documents delivered over the air in this way, of 15c per megabyte (rounded).  An average Kindle novel is less than 1 megabyte in size.

The Amazon Instant Video app for iPad gets a Search function.  This app was added in early August and allows iPad users to download purchased or rented videos (120,000+ available) directly to their iPads so they can be watched offline.  It also includes a Watchlist and an improved navigation bar.

  With the new update just released, you can now search for specific titles offered to Amazon Prime customers.  Those with Kindle Fire tablets could access the thousands of TV shows and movies available, and now iPad users can also.

  They add that support for Firefox and Apple Safari is coming soon.  Nothing's said about Internet Explorer.


The U.S. Dept of State cancels $16.5 million contract proposal with Amazon
The U.S. Department of State posted a cancellation of its Request for Proposals for Amazon e-readers, content management, and logistics, and withdrew its Justification and Approval to award a contract (worth $16.5 million long-term), on a sole-source basis, to Amazon.
  The only reason cited in that posting was that "The Department of State intends to conduct additional market research and re-examine its requirements for this program."

  After typing that, I saw Laura Hazard Owen's follow up at paidContent, which has a statement from the State Department that includes:

' In order to conduct additional market research and further explore technological options for our public diplomacy programs, the Department of State opted on August 15 to end the Request for Proposals for the Amazon Kindle in favor of proceeding with a Request for Information (RFI) process.  This action will open to all vendors the opportunity to respond to the Department’s requirements for a mobile learning program. '

Earlier, the State Dept had explained the reasoning for their no-bid contract.

' In a document justifying the no-bid contract, the State Department says it’s identified “the Amazon Kindle as the only e-Reader on the market that meets the Government’s needs, and Amazon as the only company possessing the essential capabilities required by the Government.”  It has international 3G, text-to-speech features and a long battery life, which “other e-readers such as the Barnes and Noble Nook, the Sony Reader Daily and Kobe [sic] e-Reader cannot provide.” '

  Several other news reports said there were no other reasons given by the State Dept though and that it could also be that Amazon's requested negotiating of a contract encountered difficulties with the strict requirements and heavy expense (providing a "dedicated 24/7 help desk" globally, sole responsibility for the cost of 3G wireless delivery internationally, cost of logistics, free replacement of any broken Kindles even if accidental, with free shipping in both directions, and other requirements and restrictions).  There was also another obstacle, described below.

  Why $16.5 million ?
 And what did/does the State Dept want for this?

  Not mentioned in most reports I read was that Secretary of State Clinton and Jeff Bezos were to have presented, in a joint press conference on June 20, the "mobile learning initiative," but they postponed the press conference when the National Federation for the Blind protested that because touch e-readers are not accessible to the blind, any such agreement by the U.S. is a violation of the law.  They did file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, and their press release on this, Jun 27, was excerpted here.  Four international organizations joined in the complaint.

  This was the last we heard of the contract negotiations until now, but it doesn't mean that the NFB complaint was a reason for the State Dept's backing away from the contract.

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links

US: Kindle Fire  7" tablet - $199 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $79/$109 Kindle Touch, WiFi - $99/$139 Kindle Touch, 3G/WiFi - $149/$189 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189, Free, slow web Kindle DX - $379, Free, slow web

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £89 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - £109 Kindle Touch 3G/WiFi, UK - £169 Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB

OTHER International Kindle NoTouch Basic - $109 Kindle Touch WiFi - $139 Kindle Touch 3G/WiFi - $189 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!