The Amazon Kindle Fire: is it revolutionary or just another gadget?

Today Amazon launched the Kindle Fire, touted as the first post web device. The iPad is certainly the post-PC device Steve Jobs talked about during the All Things D conference on stage with Bill Gates. Amazon is hoping the Kindle Fire becomes the iPad for the cloud.

I’m not sure, we are ready for the cloud in totality yet. I’m not sure, users are willing to fully place and seed physical ownership of music to a cloud in its entirety. Let’s make no bones about it, not physically owning music on your device is exactly what the Kindle Fire demands. With only 8 GB of on board storage, the user must use Amazon’s cloud service or leave the device lightly populated. 8 GB is a lot of memory for things like apps, documents, even images, but music is the driving force behind Apple, and will likely be the driving force behind the Kindle Fire. For music 8 GB is a drop in the bucket. Since there’s nothing new under the sun, it should be no surprise that another company has tried to beat Apple with a similar strategy and failed.

Microsoft, tried to compete with iTunes using a similar cloud no ownership strategy. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person that remembers the Zune. The market may have changed in the last five years, and Amazon certainly has more respect than Microsoft, but I’m not sure they are completely ready to compete on this level. Amazon has done a few clever things to change the game Microsoft was playing. Simple things like not having a monthly subscription service, allowing users to import old music to the cloud, adding extra value to the Amazon prime product (which is already an insane value), allowing ownership in the cloud, and most importantly not being Microsoft itself.

This may be only the second time a true competitor has ever entered the market against an Apple innovation. Android competes against IOS, now the Kindle Fire has a chance to compete against the iPad. Time will tell if the kindle fire is the Microsoft Zune, the Motorola xoom, or the next android. The fire certainly has already forced the hand of players like Vizio, they recently dropped the price of their tablet from $250-$189 at Costco. It will likely in some ways force the hand of apple to at least produce the mythic ipad mini.

The big question that must be answered: Can a brand beat Apple within adequate product, that is priced drastically better?

California is a little stupid…

The e-mail I received from amazon is below. I keep a running list of books I read on this site in the store feature. I get 1 to 3 clicks a week on it. Its just a nice way to let people know what I am reading/have read and a place for them to buy. Thanks to laws signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown this will not be possible. However this also means that amazon providers in the state of California are going to have to close down their online stores as well. I guess the internet lets you do business anywhere Other than California. 

Normally I dont get involved in politics but this effects me so I have a take.

Hello,

For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of California residents. Unfortunately, a potential new law that may be signed by Governor Brown compels us to terminate this program for California-based participants. It specifically imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers - including but not limited to those referred by California-based marketing affiliates like you - even if those retailers have no physical presence in the state.

We oppose this bill because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It is supported by big-box retailers, most of which are based outside California, that seek to harm the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue. We deeply regret that we must take this action.

As a result, we will terminate contracts with all California residents that are participants in the Amazon Associates Program as of the date (if any) that the California law becomes effective. We will send a follow-up notice to you confirming the termination date if the California law is enacted. In the event that the California law does not become effective before September 30, 2011, we withdraw this notice. As of the termination date, California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com,MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned on or before the termination date will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule.

You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of California. If you are not currently a resident of California, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, you can manage the details of your Associates account here. And if you relocate to another state in the near future please contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program.

To avoid confusion, we would like to clarify that this development will only impact our ability to offer the Associates Program to California residents and will not affect their ability to purchase from Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com.

We have enjoyed working with you and other California-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Associates Program to California residents. We are also working on alternative ways to help California residents monetize their websites and we will be sure to contact you when these become available.

Regards,

The Amazon Associates Team

Android powered Kindle? I have serious suspicions to this effect (via Today in Tech: AT&T buys T-Mobile, Android Kindle? - Fortune Tech) “Over at Amazon, the company is looking for a few — well, at least five — Android-savvy developers. While that could pretty much mean anything, like an uptick in general Android software development, Nick Bilton over at The New York Timesspeculates the company may be looking to develop a color screen Android-loving Kindle tablet. (New York Times)”
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Android powered Kindle? I have serious suspicions to this effect

(via Today in Tech: AT&T buys T-Mobile, Android Kindle? - Fortune Tech)

“Over at Amazon, the company is looking for a few — well, at least five — Android-savvy developers. While that could pretty much mean anything, like an uptick in general Android software development, Nick Bilton over at The New York Timesspeculates the company may be looking to develop a color screen Android-loving Kindle tablet. (New York Times)”

Source: CNN

The WWF file… This is a great idea/ way to save trees. The not printing element is one of many reasons I love my Kindle. 

Most things that are printed do not need to be… this is a great idea! There are other benefits to this too around content control. Wonder if Amazon books become WWF files? 

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