What Kindle 2.0 Should Have Been
After the release of Kindle 2.0 I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Few of the features I had been hoping for were implemented, the new design, though better than the old one, is still nowhere near cool enough to part the average consumer from their hard earned money, and on top of that the product was still not released outside of the US. All of this has led me to believe that if electronic ink is going to dethrone the paper , then it will be someone else besides Amazon designing the product.
But if not Amazon and their Kindle, then who? Who can break the eInk industry open and produce a product so cool that even people who don’t read regularly will buy one? Apple? Sure they make super chic products but Steve Jobs already said no, because as he puts it “nobody reads anymore”. How about someone completely new; someone dedicated completely to bringing a product to market that really satisfies the desires of consumers. Well I think that someone might be named Plastic Logic.
A quick browse of their YouTube video collection clearly shows that this is the real deal. This is what I, and I assume many others, wanted the Kindle to be. Full touch screen display, with annotate feature allowing you to interact with digital documents just like their paper counterparts. Tables, charts, images, and code all displayed on a crisp, thin, durable, DRM free device the size of a pad of paper.
Don’t take my word for it though. Watch the videos, browse the website and if you still aren’t convinced then maybe Mike Rankin’s piece, “Is This What a Kindle Killer Looks Like?” can change your mind. Either way I would like to hear back from you on this.
Tags: eInk, Kindle, Kindle 2.0, Plastic Logic, Technology
March 15th, 2009 at 8:51 am
That looks sweet. Will it work in Canada?
March 15th, 2009 at 9:24 am
As far as I can tell from various sources online the Plastic Logic Reader will work on regular Wi-Fi rather than a cellular type “Whispernet” as the kindle does. This should mean that you would be able to purchase content anywhere in the world with a wifi connection to the internet.
May 1st, 2009 at 11:30 am
9 years ago when they started talking about roll-out plastic LED screens, I thought some form of e-reader would replace books.
Now, I don’t think so.
I think it will be the iPhone, and variations on that. Why have another device handy, and just for additional screen size? Do it all on one device. When you need a bigger screen you use your notebook or desktop computer.
I also see books going the way of music; free. There will always be specialized content worth paying for, but with digital distribution, there will be a downward pressure. Those who can will use it to promote sales of merchandise, speaking engagements, etc.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 am
Interesting thoughts JT, thanks for sharing them. I am with you on the downward pressure for the cost of books, but I think I disagree with you on the iPhone replacing books.
The whole idea of the eReader is that it does not flicker and thus does not contribute to eye strain. The iPhone not only flickers but its screen is far to small for anything but short stories or poetry.
I still believe we need a device that reads like a book and is large enough to be useful for things such as diagrams and charts. One day I hope my kids will only have to carry a single lightweight device to school and back rather than 4 or 5 heavy out of date textbooks.