Amazon Disables 3G Web Browsing For New 3G Kindle Touch 206
destinyland writes "Amazon's going to disable 3G web browsing on their upcoming 'Kindle Touch 3G' — even though it was a prominent feature of the last generation of Kindles. Amazon will still allow web browsing on the Kindle Touch 3G using a local Wi-Fi connection, but it's one of many unsettling details emerging from Amazon's announcement last week. Apparently Amazon's cloud will now also include a list of personal documents that you're mailing to your Kindle. And the on-screen keyboard for Amazon's bargain $79 Kindles won't be a touchscreen keyboard, so users will have to nudge the controller repeatedly to gradually navigate from one key to the next."
heh (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm unsure how anyone could have imagined that the on-screen keyboard for the $79 model would be touch. Every bit of info. I've seen from Amazon comparing the models makes it incredibly clear that it doesn't have a touch screen. The models that do, surprisingly enough, have touch in the name (except for the fire but I don't think anyone is confused about what's going on there.)
The 3g limitations on the touch are a bit disappointing, but I can't imagine too many people will be impacted greatly. Using the browser on an e-ink kindle is not something anyone would really be looking to do if they had other options. The only time I'm really seeing 3g browsing as something desirable is when I'm traveling and data on my phone is prohibitively expensive. If I'm not data roaming, I can just use my phone as wi-fi hot spot for the kindle, but if I want to be on the web I'll be doing it on my phone. I doubt the majority of kindle users are also international travelers who use it as a way to get cheap data access for the web.
When I got my first Kindle I got on the web quickly, just to do it. I don't think I've done it again since. I do have a friend who was traveling in Austria and got into a bind. His wife was able to get on the web with her kindle, as they were driving, and find a place to stay in the next town ahead. I think they were data roaming so that's why they didn't just use a phone.
I like the idea that emailed docs will get stored by Amazon especially if they get stored as part of my archive and they are available to all my registered kindles. Right now my family reads a lot of stuff that on our kindles that I don't get from Amazon. So I have to email it to each one, and I have to have the machine available that has the original documents. If I could email the doc once, then have it available to all kindles any time I want - that would be sweet.
I'm getting a couple of the $79 Kindles as soon as I can. Probably next time I'm in the states. That's the cost of a tank of gas for my car for a great ebook reader.
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I'm unsure how anyone could have imagined that the on-screen keyboard for the $79 model would be touch. Every bit of info. I've seen from Amazon comparing the models makes it incredibly clear that it doesn't have a touch screen.
Indeed. I picked up the $79 model (well, $100 without ads) exactly because it didn't have touchscreen. I tend to hold my Kindle in a way that rests at least one finger on the screen. I do not want it doing stuff because of that.
And I've never actually used the keyboard on my old Kindle, so the lack of one felt like an added feature. But I guess this new type of move-cursor-keyboard will be annoying for those who do use it.
As for the 3G part, that seems like a bigger deal. The 3G versions cost more than the
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I'm unsure how anyone could have imagined that the on-screen keyboard for the $79 model would be touch. Every bit of info. I've seen from Amazon comparing the models makes it incredibly clear that it doesn't have a touch screen. The models that do, surprisingly enough, have touch in the name (except for the fire but I don't think anyone is confused about what's going on there.)
Oh geeze, my mom taught me never to touch fire. Now I'm going to have to relearn some stuff ... does this mean it's finally OK to take candy from strangers?
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it's always been okay to take candy from strangers, so long as you don't get in their car.
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My hobby is handing out poisoned candy from my car. Evolution in action!
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I'm sorry, I'm quite confused. 3g data is 3g data, whether its on the kindle or on a phone. And if you're in another country, both the 3g kindle and your phone are on data roaming.
How is it suddenly not data roaming based on what device your sim is in? o.o
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Bill
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How the hell does that work ?
And can't you put the kindle's sim into your phone then ?
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Amazon pays the cell bill. But makes websurfing very hard and slow so not much data is used.
And no, there is no sim card to take out. Maybe there is one inside (not sure what network/protocol they use), but if so it is sealed inside.
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As for "...with no roaming", I suspect the GP meant no roaming charges.
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I was going to buy the 3g touch---i had kindle (2nd gen), and while browser was barely useable, it was a nice fuzzy feeling that if I really really needed it, it was there... with touch interface, it probably would've been a LOT more useable.
But, eh, good I found this out before pre-ordering.
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I can't believe you are comparing a Kindle to a palm pilot or that you considered a Kindle to be a replacement for a palm pilot. They are two completely different devices intended for completely different uses. Reading a book on an m105 (I had one until about 3 months ago) would be a total joke compared to reading a book on a Kindle. The Kindle can't even do most of what made the m105 an awesome device. What a weird comparison.
Re:heh (Score:5, Informative)
Yes. sadly mine was stolen in 2004. i bought a z31 and was disappointed. Thing i liked about the m105:
*well readable under any lighting conditions
*long stand by time
*long battery life
*no charger, you could get batteries for it at the end of the world (and have a pack of spares in your pocket)
*back lighted display was extremely eye-friendly and could be used in complete darkness in the plane without disturbing your neighbors.
*built-in PIM was better and faster than anything i have seen for Android or Symbian
*Email could be read via modem/irda on mobile phones
*beaming vcards by irda was fast, much faster and more reliable to initiate than by bluetooth (between siemens, nokia, palm)
*the design of the protective cover was *brilliant*. when i had the m105 i did not need another watch
*it did not crash on built-in applications (unlike my android or my nokia e63)
*i miss the memo function to scribble with the stylus
So yes. they did squeeze every bit of user experience possible to achieve with a resistive touch screen of 160x200 pixels, 5 hardware buttons, 8MB of ram and 16MHz of processing power. Sad to see where their road took them.
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this eReader not having touch and also using an onscreen keyboard which has to be navigated using nudges on the "controller" is just so brain-dead as a concept
The previous versions of the Kindle (which I gather have been moderately successful) hardly use the keyboard for navigation; pick the book you want using the controller, then navigate it with the next/previous page buttons (or menu options for table of contents etc.) The new low-end Kindle makes perfect sense if you just want it to read books and y
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The lack of keyboard and touch screen of the low-end model will only likely affect those people playing games (and other active content) on their Kindle. Most folks won't notice if all they do is read books.
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The lack of keyboard and touch screen of the low-end model will only likely affect those people playing games (and other active content) on their Kindle. Most folks won't notice if all they do is read books.
It will also impact people who like to annotate their books to any significant degree. I know several people in book "clubs" who annotate the book they are reading to tag talking points, thoughts, etc. It will be a lot harder with this unit.
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Good point. I hadn't thought of the annotation feature since I never use it. I suspect that if you do enough of it then opting to spend the extra $20 for the Touch version would be money well spent (or buy the keyboard version which is still available).
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The lack of keyboard and touch screen of the low-end model will only likely affect those people playing games (and other active content) on their Kindle. Most folks won't notice if all they do is read books.
It will also impact people who like to annotate their books to any significant degree. I know several people in book "clubs" who annotate the book they are reading to tag talking points, thoughts, etc. It will be a lot harder with this unit.
Yes, and I expect the lack of a full office suite with spreadsheet, database, word processor and presentation software will be seen as a huge disappointment by the many who thought they were getting a proper computer for $79.
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this eReader not having touch and also using an onscreen keyboard which has to be navigated using nudges on the "controller" is just so brain-dead as a concept... people will NOT be impressed by it at all...
so... you've not owned an ereader appliance yet. I had a "rocket ebook" reader more than a decade ago, and a jetbook, and used the kindle app on my ipod touch (I've tried other ipod touch reader apps), etc.
You'll wear out the "down" button. You occasionally need the "up" button to navigate thru the menu of books. You'll press the "escape/menu/library/enter" button roughly each time you switch books. Thats about it, for keyboard use. You really only need three buttons, although a fourth for power is nic
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I would assume with onscreen keyboard, those sales, however low they might be, will drop to zero
As a Kindle user, I'd make a guess that those sales aren't low in the slightest. I buy at least 90% of my books through the on Kindle storefront. Being able to buy a book without significantly interrupting whatever it is your doing is kind of one of the big selling points on the Kindle in the first place, it's why they put 3g on the original models instead of WiFi, even if it meant sharing revenue with AT&T to pay for the downloads.
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It's not a fail, it's the basic part of the design (Score:4, Informative)
If you want a touchscreen keyboard, they'll sell you a model with one for not a lot of additional money. Amazon's made it perfectly clear that there is no keyboard with their dirt-cheap $79 device. The device holds enough reading to last for years, so what do you need the keyboard for? This model is designed so you buy your books with a computer and then retrieve them on the device the next time you have a wi-fi connection. (Or, if you are the bestseller-reading type, you don't need a keyboard to buy books, the four-way controller will be just fine for scrolling down the list and hitting "buy".) If you don't like that, there are plenty of Kindle models to buy that will take care of you.
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this eReader not having touch and also using an onscreen keyboard which has to be navigated using nudges on the "controller" is just so brain-dead as a concept... people will NOT be impressed by it at all...
I think your're misunderstanding the whole reader part of "eReader". I don't get who wouldn't be impressed by this addition to the line up. Bear in mind that they're still selling the keyboard version for those who want it. But I didn't even want a keyboard on my current Kindle, and wish this version was available a year ago.
Sometimes you just want a device that does one job well, rather than one that does everything passably. I can use my phone for everything from telling the time to watching movies, but p
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I can use my phone for everything from telling the time to watching movies, but people still have watches and televisions.
Watching movies on a 3 inch phone screen is like having sex in a deep sea diving suit, technically possible but not really enoyable.
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5 inch ;)
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Note that I'm not saying that I actually watch movies on it. I was saying that just because it's possible, it doesn't mean that there is no place for TVs.
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If I want to annotate I can use the Kindle app on my iPad. If I want to browser the web I'll use a PC or my iPad. If I want to read a book I'll use the Kindle.
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> this eReader not having touch and also using an onscreen keyboard ... people will NOT be impressed by it at all...
That's like saying people will not be impressed with the power of the Geo Metro, when they discover it doesn't put out 300hp, and 300 foot pounds of torque. You want the power, get the car that offers it. The people that won't be impressed, should focus their disappointment on their lacking pre-purchase research.
Besides, for the most part, eReaders aren't used for input, but reading, and
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It IS a change of policy.
I don't know how "sudden" since I've just got a Kindle 1, but Amazon built a web-browser into the thing (on the Kindle 1, this is in the "Experimental" section). No hacking/jailbreaking/rooting required to use. It is clear from the text on the "basic web" functionality that it is an experimental prototype - they encouraged its use and were soliciting feedback.
As I've seen other posters say, I tried it out when the kindle was new but have never tried it again since. The lack of it
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My Nook has had a web browser since shortly before that, and the policy with B&N was exactly the same. It's for use on WiFi only and they reserve the right to charge for data if you try to use the 3G for that.
http://www.itwriting.com/blog/2929-new-amazon-kindle-with-webkit-browser-and-free-3g-internet.html/comment-page-1 [itwriting.com]
Re:heh (Score:4, Informative)
Kindle 1 was out long before nook (2007 vs 2009). The original Kindle has no wi-fi radio - it is 3G only. It is 100% clear that use of the web via the 3G connection was not only permitted, but actively encouraged.
Oblig. XKCD (Score:5, Funny)
http://xkcd.com/548/ [xkcd.com]
(see mouse-over text)
Re:Oblig. XKCD (Score:4, Informative)
Except that Wikipedia browsing is still allowed according to TFA.
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Non-touch is preferred for reading (Score:5, Insightful)
I've used touch-screen page turning and I also use the K3 bezel-button page turning systems, I know when it comes to reading a book the bezel mounted side buttons are a lot nicer than having to constantly move your finger and tap the screen just to turn the page.
Sure, when it comes to typing out stuff the non-touch is a bit of a PITA, but I spend more time reading books than trying to type out things.
The $79 kindle is a great development, strips away the bits that a lot of people use infrequently, drops the price, size and weight - all good.
It's free 3G, so of course. (Score:2)
Of course no telco is going to allow a world-wide one-time-payment 3G browser. On kindle it was a gimmick, so it didn't matter. "Blame" the telcos for not committing suicide, not Amazon.
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The real answer is that it isn't a one time up front payment. AT&T takes a small amount off the top each time a book is delivered over 3g to a kindle. The fact that pennies per month is enough to make this profitable for them should probably indicate what their profit margins are for smartphone data plans, although obviously the data usage on a smart phone is going to be much higher than all but the heaviest Kindle web browser users.
Thank you, Slashdot! (Score:2)
"Unsettling" (Score:5, Insightful)
Its hard to imagine how anyone could be unsettled by a set of (completely obvious) changes to a consumer device.
Drama much?
- Obviously web browsing over 3G was going to be disabled. Amazon has *always* said it was experimental, and *obviously* they were going to remove it when they annouced free 3G access around the world.
- Obviously a device without a touch screen and nothing but arrow keys was going to be a pain in the ass to use. I can count on my hands the number of times in four years I've used the keyboard on my Kindle. The target audience for it will never miss it.
The submitter is a moron if those were so much as a surprise, much less "unsettling".
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Free, worldwide 3G access was available with the old Kindle too. (I know of several people who used it with the experimental browser to keep tabs on Gmail while on holiday.) Even so I can't say I grudge Amazon's decision to remove it.
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Except they didn't "remove it". From the TFA:
"Our Kindle Keyboard 3G will continue to offer experimental web browsing over 3G or Wi-Fi."
All they did was introduce a new product with a different price point and different features.
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Well, then that's even more generous.
Re:"Unsettling" (Score:5, Informative)
In short. If you can't find something interesting enough to submit that it doesn't require hyperbole, don't submit it.
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That surprises me, last time I checked the ToS specifically stated that 3G was only free when used to browse the Amazon bookstore or download from the same shop. And that any other uses could result in Amazon sending the user a bill for the extra data use. That was a while back, about the time that they introduced their web browser to Kindle.
Ultimately this is just a reversion to the way that things were at launch.
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Just out of curiosity, do you buy your books on your computer? I usually purchase mine on the train or something though the Kindle itself, so I use the keyboard to search for it. But I've seen a lot of people mention that they never use the keyboard, so clearly I'm an exception.
Now, web browsing, that truly is something I've never used. Ever. I've just never had the desire to try and read slashdot or the like on an e-ink display. And for random wikipedia searches my phone is much faster and uses only a hand
Slashdot is "unsettling" (Score:2)
I have done that also but it really is so much easier to use a computer. Hey if you want a kindle and want to do that just get the touch. If you don't want to use that feature get the cheap one.
Man Slashdot what the heck? Time and time again I see summaries that would make Fox News and or Randolph Hearst blush in shame.
Really?
You finding it unsettling that only the kindle with the touch screen has a touch keyboard?
If you email a document to Amazon they will keep a copy in your cloud library? Really?
These tw
Not surprising (Score:3)
This is the first step towards working out a way for content providers (and ultimately users) to pay for bandwidth on a stream or d/l basis. All the major ISPs know, as streaming video and digital d/ls become more popular, demand for bandwidth will go up. They don't want to merely become a commodity provider of bandwidth, especially since as demand goes up they will need to spend on infrastructure to keep up with demand. As a result, they are looking for ways to get a cut of the dollars flowing one their bandwidth in the form of content.
Amazon, with it's own device and content, is a logical place to start with the "pay to deliver" model. Amazon knows what content is accessed, and can pay a cut to their service provider. If they let people browse the web and access other services, they have no way to know what was sent, or charge, for the bandwidth used. By cutting it off they avoid that issue. Their move to cloud-based browser enhance meant forwards that model as well - it lets them see what is accessed and charge the provider for the bandwidth. If the provider doesn't agree, then the service will not be available.
This has implications beyond Amazon - as Apple moves more and more to online delivery of everything, ISPs will want a cut. That's why you see bandwidth caps starting to creep in - it's a way to put the structure in place to force the content providers hand.
If they can't get money from the content providers, look for them to get it from users via tiered pricing or overage charges.
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I'm pretty sure that Amazon gets a bill from AT&T or Sprint for the amount of data used and that Amazon then pays the bill for it. The issue there is that the 3G is paid for via book purchases and if people are using the connection to go elsewhere Amazon isn't being paid for the data that they then have to pay the carrier for.
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With my current Kindle, that's not a problem; web browsing is crappy enough that few people will bother. It will probably be less crappy on their newer models. 3G would be nice to have, but I can see why Amazon can't offer it on anything where people will actually USE it.
Just stating the obvious (Score:3, Insightful)
As others have said, that the non-touch Kindle doesn't have a touch-based keyboard is a tad on the obvious side.
As for the 3G browser, this discussion is the first time I've heard it was available at all. When I got my Kindle, Amazon made it very clear and obvious that the browser was only supported over WiFi. It made sense to me that the free 3G connection was contingent upon the fact that very little bandwidth is used downloading books and checking the Kindle bookstore periodically. It just doesn't make sense that the 3G providers would allow a very low one-time fee for effectively unlimited data usage. If Amazon did open up 3G browsing, then I suspect they only did it because no one uses it. That might be different with the Kindle Touch, I suppose.
Too many unrelated thoughts jumbled together (Score:2)
All true but written in a confusing way. The $79 kindle does not have a touch screen, so how could it have a touch screen keyboard..
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Aah, in the past, for cheaper versions of hardware you just had less features or quality. Now you get datamining on top, for good measure.
The logic for free online services does not... rather, should not be applied to physical hardware you pay.
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Since I didn't explain myself too well there...
In free online services datamining means "you pay with the continuous maintenance costs of a free service with your privacy". Fine, that's fair enough.
With hardware it's "you pay for the 'discount' with your privacy". That is not fine, because they won't stop datamining after they recover the difference in price. They aren't going to be "OK we already got $100 from this guy, no more datamining". So they will be having access to whatever data they gather...forev
PBS has no commercials, cable does (Score:2)
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Because the Amazon Book Store is still available over 3G.
Re:No 3G and No Touchscreen Keyboard? (Score:5, Insightful)
Only the sales figures will say for sure whether it was a good idea; but encheapening the hell out of the lowest-end dedicated conduit to your gigantic electronic store doesn't seem like an obviously crazy strategy...
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It's likely they shoved out a hobbled $80 model with the expectation that most people will buy the next one up but they can still claim the lower price point.
No.
$199 Kindle Fire = Upgrade to $399 Kindle [cnet.com]
$79 Kindle = for people who never owned a Kindle before or used the free Kindle smartphone app. [amazon.com]
$79 is also a great price point for Christmas gifts. The average US adult spends $658 on gifts [americanre...hgroup.com] and $79 allows them to buy one for everyone on their list rather than only a few $199 Kindle Fires.
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The $79 version is considerably lighter (2/3rds the weight) and thinner than either of the other two models. It's really quite nice
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Re:No 3G and No Touchscreen Keyboard? (Score:5, Informative)
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In the field of pixel-addressable e-ink screened devices, $80 is very aggressive pricing. It would appear that they have chosen to go with the "make it cheaper" option, (which advances in technology generally provide as an alternative to "make it better"), for this particular kindle.
It's a Amazon ebook reader to purchase and read Amazon ebooks and little else. Honestly I was surprised they allowed people to surf the web at all on them, but I suppose Amazon realized few people would spend $399 on only an ebook reader [cnet.com] so they packed it full of features to make it worth $399.
Now they have the bargain basement $79 Kindle and like a cheap car or cheap laptop, it can't do everything it's more expensive sibling can do. No surprise there, I don't think Amazon wants people to "upgrade" fro
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the cheap Kindle is for people who really wanted a Kindle but didn't want to spend $399
Good point - that's on the order of what, a dozen novels to break even over paper?
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I don't see how the wireless carrier would care, as long as Amazon paid them their fees per contract. The cheapest Kindle is so cheap, I'm sure already a big loss leader, that Amazon either a) doesn't want to lose more money on it or b) take sales away from the more expensive models. The removal of the on-screen keyboard makes me believe that they want to avoid butchering sales of the more expensive model.
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I guess already having a reader, I don't care to know too much about Amazon's lineup.
The $79 model has no touch screen, so no touch keyboard, so my last sentence is plain wrong.
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...maybe they want their issue of lowrider or rebel ink, electronically.
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Yeah because poor people are well known for a) their disposable income to spend on electronics other than cell phones and b) their desire to read books often enough to have a dedicated device for it. I mean, when you hear that ghetto street slang you think "wow, he must be a well-read sort of fellow".
I'm so poor that I have to read Slashdot you insensitive clod.
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Yeah because poor people are well known for a) their disposable income to spend on electronics other than cell phones and b) their desire to read books often enough to have a dedicated device for it. I mean, when you hear that ghetto street slang you think "wow, he must be a well-read sort of fellow".
Do only poor people clip coupons? Do only poor people visit sites like FatWallet to save $$$? Do only poor people wait in line overnight for Black Friday sales?
No, we're not talking about "poor" people, these people have the money to spend they're just looking for a bargain and they didn't see spending $200-$400 to read an ebook when they already have a smartphone with Kindle ebooks. [amazon.com] But now that they can buy a Kindle for $79 Amazon is hoping that's the magic price-point to encourage them to finally b
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Yeah because poor people are well known for a) their disposable income to spend on electronics other than cell phones and b) their desire to read books often enough to have a dedicated device for it. I mean, when you hear that ghetto street slang you think "wow, he must be a well-read sort of fellow".
I'm not in the lowest tax bracket and can attest to the fact that it's more than simply the price-point that is a consideration when it comes to purchasing an ebook reader. I've just ordered my first ebook reader from Amazon and selected the basic model (without adverts). What I considered to be their high prices had put me off looking at them in the past. Plus there was (and still is) the issue that if I buy treeware, I'd expect to receive a digital copy too, so that my original copy does not get ruined an
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From what I know, removing DRM from Amazon's books is simple, and I personally would have no qualms about doing that.
Obviously, you still have the moral high ground of refusing to add fuel to their fire by supporting their DRM store, but I don't know if enough people care to make a real change. Maybe as readers get adopted more broadly, there will one day be a mass movement. But until then, just strip the DRM.
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Because the Kindle Fire exists, and they want to drive loyal customers to the higher margin product?
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Amazon's margins don't come from the devices, they aren't Apple. They make their money from the stuff you buy from them, regardless of what device you use. If owning a Kindle or Kindle Fire helps you buy more stuff, they want you to have one. It's that simple.
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Its even more amusing than this.... if you buy the fire they are losing money.
I'd expect this is a break even product, done by the lack of touchscreen - but I thought the $99 one was touchscreen anyway.... This bit of the announcement makes no sense really..
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Yes, the $99 version has a touchscreen, the $79 version does not. The touchless one is there mostly for people that do NOT want a touchscreen on their e-reader. And, yes, those people exist in quantity.
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As I understand it, they don't make money with iTunes.
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They run a *slight* profit on the content (as reported in their quarterly financial statements), but it might as well be break even. They make the vast, vast majority of their profit on hardware.
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I'm not worried -- they will make that up in volume.
(Sorry, old joke.)
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Re:No 3G and No Touchscreen Keyboard? (Score:5, Insightful)
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Pay no attention to the OP. Their lowest end version of the Kindle ($79) has no touch screen, nor does it have a physical keyboard. Every other version has either a touchscreen or a physical keyboard.
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Tell apple this.
Re:No 3G and No Touchscreen Keyboard? (Score:5, Informative)
The 3G model [xkcd.com] will still be able to download books for free, internationally. It just won't have free international web browsing any more. I thought the free web browsing was an insanely good deal for anyone who needed it (I don't need it since my phone's data bill is paid by work). I'm not surprised they're taking that feature away, it must cost them a whole lot of money if a lot of users are generating roaming charges.
Anyway, I've ordered my mum one of the new low-end Kindles. I'd be happy to give her my keyboard version if she wants the keyboard, since I didn't even want a keyboard on mine in the first place. There is no need for it. Whether I'm using my actual Kindle, or the Kindle app on my tablet or phone, I never need to type anything. Most people with a Kindle will already have a much better device for general browsing to hand, and simply selecting the links (or browsing to words to see the dictionary definition - my favourite feature of Kindle by far) with the directional controller will work fine anyway.
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The keyboard does come in handy when playing word games (crossword puzzles, ThreadWords, etc). Also, entering notes is much easier with a keyboard.
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One of my kids has the older Kindle, and I'm going to get the other one the new $79 model. The only thing I have found that you need the keyboard for is making folder names for grouping books; not a big deal. The lighter weight makes up for it, in my opinion. I have a Nook touch myself; the page turn buttons on the Kindle are better, and that makes a surprising difference when you're reading. Touching the screen to turn the page is more distracting, & the buttons on the Nook are just a little too firm t
Re:Kindle touch* 3G** (Score:4, Informative)
The Kindle Touch still has touch. This article complains that the Kindle that does not include a touch screen, can not handle touch input.
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Since Amazon have kept both 3G and touch versions available alongside this, what makes you think at all that this is for you or a fuck up? Its a cheaper version with less features - they are getting right down to just the "ereader" everyone has been demanding for years, with a reduction in price to match (yup, not there yet for a really decent ereader segment of the market, the "oh, I will buy that wiht my first ebook" segment, but they are getting there slowly).
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I bought the Wifi only Kindle
I did not want 3G, I have better devices to browse on already
I did not want a colour screen, I wanted one that was easy to read
I did not want a touchscreen, it makes the device too expensive and attracts fingerprints that make it hard to read (see above)
I bought the Kindle e-book reader as an e-book reader, if I had wanted a laptop, Tablet, Mobile phone, portable gaming console, movie device etc .. that is not as good at reading books on .. there are ple
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Amazon seem to have lost the point of an e-book reader,
They just launched three new models of e-ink reader and are continuing to sell the old ones. I think they've got a pretty good grasp on what was working with the original Kindle, they've just decided to try some other things. That they're making a product you don't like, doesn't mean they're directly harming the product you do like.
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They offer exactly what you want: no 3G, e-Ink non-touch screen, battery life measured in months. So they've "lost the point" because they also offer other options for people who have slightly different requirements?
And you classify a wifi-only, e-Ink, non-touch screen device as a "multimedia network connected tablet"? Wow just what are the new Kindles in the parallel universe you must live in?
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I bought a 3G Kindle, just for the purpose of allowing me to download books via Whispernet when I'm not near a Wi-Fi connection. Other than that, you nailed the salient points -- I'm looking to read a book, so having something easy on the eyes is my first consideration. A touchscreen gets smudged too easily.
At least Amazon has kept their Kindle Keyboard 3G and other models. Had they decided to just toss them all and go with touch screens, or even worse, tried to become low end tablet, they would have los
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I think a lot of people *expected* this to be a cheap tablet, hence all the whining here.
I agree, it's an e-reader, not a tablet, but that won't stop a few geeks from trying to get root access and all that crap. I just wish I had that kind of free time on my hands... :P
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It's cheap, and it's really good at what it does? Pretty much the same reason I bought my rice maker?
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Why anyone would buy these useless, locked, and one purpose devices is beyond me.
Because the Kindle is cheap, it's light, the battery lasts a month and you can read the screen outdoors. All kind of useful for a device you plan to use for reading ebooks.
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I have both a Kindle and an iPad.
The iPad is great for general content consumption. I can watch a movie, do some basic E-mail checking, etc. It also is decent for reading books. Both Kindle's app and the iBook app are good for this.
However, the Kindle is much better for reading for hours on end. When I went on a camping trip [1], I took the Kindle with me for reading books in daylight that would wash out an iPad's screen. This is where the Kindle excels. Then there is the battery life. Turn off 3G, a
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In fairness, though, the Kindle really falls short when it comes time to seat 8 people for dinner.
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This is Slashdot, where something's deceptive unless it is described in eighteen-point flashing red text, at which point it is considered to be insulting instead.