So the rumors were true. A new Kindle was announced today.
I ordered mine within minutes of it being possible to do so. While more evolutionary than revolutionary, it’s got some nice features: smaller size (with same screen size), one month battery, double storage size, improved contrast, etc. You can read all about it on its own site.
More importantly though, I just watched the Jeff Bezos interview on Charlie Rose tonight. From the few times I’ve seen Jeff speak, he’s really impressed me. Three things he said today that, to me, got at the crux of why the Kindle is so good.
First, talking about iPad vs. Kindle and the design of the Kindle, saying people, “want a purpose built device where no trade offs have been made, where every single design decision as you’re walking down the process has been made to optimize for reading.” Very true. This idea not only differentiates the Kindle from the iPad, but also from the Nook. From reviews and testing one in the store, the Nook’s interface is just plain more complicated than the Kindle. The Nook chose gimmicks like the (relatively useless) color touch screen, where the Kindle tried to make its UI disappear.
This moved right into the whole e-ink display and the ease of reading, as well as the specific size and form factor of the Kindle, he talked about the idea of “long-form reading” and “short-form reading”, saying, “Most of the devices that have been developed by we humans over the last couple of decades have tilted the world towards short-form reading. So, Internet connected computers and smart phones and so on are great for short email messages, they’re great for blog posts. They’re not great for 300 page books.”
Finally, the kicker, what it’s really all about: “We’re not trying to create an experience. We want the author to create the experience.” Bingo.
The link to the Bezos interview isn’t up yet, but should be on this page when available: http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/2618
Still looks too bulky IMHO. If it’s only a screen … and only a screen, with no frame and no buttons but a touch screen, then I’d consider it.
I agree with sascha, it seems weird to include a full keyboard, if “no trade offs have been made, where every single design decision” for reading.
Everything else is spot-on, and I’m thinking about getting an eReader now more than ever.
I can understand that. I always did feel that the K2 had a lot of frame around the screen. But they did reduce it by a half an inch in both dimensions – width and height. The keyboard is essential for searching, notes, organization, etc. though. And touch screen e-ink, if it even exists, apparently isn’t ready for prime time and would likely be pretty costly.
All I can say is to repeat what Bezos always says – when you are reading a book, the device does just disappear.
seems like a good even if not impressive upgrade.
But for me personally the kindle platform was dead as soon as i heard they are able to disable content on your device you already bought and have already done so.
Epic Fail and it´ll make them have a hard time to get ever accepted again by a huge crowd.
Should always be held up and proove as example for why content publishers should never try that.
Already due to that i suggest everyone to never even think about buying a kindle.
Looks like they improved, so I’ll be investing. I have both a DX and 2, now.
The DX I use as my work “library” (articles, instapaper docs, tech books), and the 2 is for short trips or leisure reading.
Things that would make it even better: backlit and color. Touch would be a bonus, and I’ve got to say that I have caught myself a couple times trying to flick between pages … but I imagine one reason for physical keys is that kindle is targeting older people who tend to read more (not to be biased, but I think this is probably true).
Not sure if there’s a choice, but I’ll be going with the graphite … I’ve found the light colored kindles do tend to attract grime from usage, but no different from iPad and/or a physical computer keyboard.
Wonder when the KDK is coming out of secrecy.
I still agree with Jeff that touch screen, color, backlighting are all superfluous. I can read my Kindle with one hand on a crowded train and turn pages with just a slight squeeze of my thumb. Better than a swipe.
I can see color, touch screen and backlight would be useful on the larger DX, but at that point, just get an iPad.
tomsamson. They did the disabling thing with a single book, and it was because it was discovered the publisher didn’t have the rights to the book in the first place. Also, look around and you’ll find Bezos’ video response to that incident. It was very impressive. Flat out admitted that they handled it horribly and vowed to be better about that in the future. Bezos is my current geek hero.
Ok, i´ll look for that video.
I agree only with touch. Color I would only want if the processor improved dramatically and the possibility for video and animation would be possible … in that case, I imagine it’s in the pricepoint of a tablet … backlighting is the one thing I could really use. iPad seems to be great for e-reading in dark conditions, and vice versa. I’d love to be able to read my kindle in low-light conditions. I suppose I could get a light attachment like they sell for physical paper books, but those are kind of dorky and awkward to attach all the time … perhaps they make one that’s awesome though and I just haven’t seen one … maybe a really thin flexible light scope or something.
I’m still wondering if that screen isn’t awfully small. It looks like it’s displaying less than half an average novel page worth of text. Even disregarding that huge header it doesn’t look capable of displaying a full conventional novel page worth of text.
If those e-ink displays are still slightly slow on the refresh when turning a page, that looks like it might get annoying fast.
What are your experiences?
The screen probably is smaller than a paperback novel. The plus point is that you can change the font size at will. On the smallest size, you probably could fit a full paperback page worth of text. But at least for me, that’s way too small to read comfortably. But then again, you can crank the font size up. I’ve actually read it while walking to the train station. With the font cranked up, no problem.
The refresh is slow compared to any kind of LCD etc. But faster than a physical page turn, I’d say. Plus, the fact that you can just hold the Kindle in one hand with one thumb on the next page button. Way quicker to turn pages than a real book or any other kind of device.
The best part of eInk is being able to use it with soft lighting, the one thing that helps dim the pain of a migraine for me is reading but that cannot be done with a backlight or any strong lighting.
I have a Sony PRS600 with the touchscreen and believe me the touch screen thing is the worst part of the whole experience. The layer that is needed makes it reflective, which I have learnt to work around with stationary lighting, but makes for reading in a car near impossible. And i find I use the buttons more to change pages, having to swipe actually takes more time that just pressing a button.
This is good, I’m watching. Thanks Keith.