Amazon is laying down the pimp hand. Here is the thing: the Kindle as a device has an unbelievable book reading experience. This will without a doubt will be hard to duplicate without e-Ink. Keep in mind I have an iPad on order, but the thing that got me to the Kindle and has made me a loyal fan is how closely it duplicates the feel of reading on paper. That said, so many of my friends don’t read it would take less effort to count the ones that actually do read.
In an earlier post I suggested that Amazon needs to go after the iPad to own and dominate the experience of reading books on any device. Well, they are on their way to do this with the announcement of Kindle for iPad. If Amazon plays this right and puts the Kindle App on as many devices as everyone believes they will the argument about their DRM starts to lose weight when every platform can access Kindle books.
Amazon Kindle for iPad
Most Apple faithfuls go for all the ‘over the top’ design stuff Apple delivers on. This time the Kindle App appears to fully upstage the iBook App based on early information. What is different in the Kindle for iPad app?
Slow Page turns
Its funny because users of the first Kindle got flustered by slow page turns but to please a crowd that loves the eye candy Amazon has slowed it down to demonstrate the attention to detail. Personally, I hope that is a configurable option.
Multiple Font types and colors
This is to address two challenges. First, for the visually impaired alternate font colors can allow people that have a hard time seeing specific colors or contrasts to read on digital devices. For those without sight issues it is again just another toy to play with.
Enhanced eBook Library Viewer
Like Apple has the bookshelf, Amazon has the trademark silhouette figure under the tree with large images of books. The over the top piece is that the sun in the image changes positions to match the time of day.
Access to the Kindle Store
This is the real move by Amazon. They are bringing their store to the iPad. Will Apple reject the Kindle for iPad app for “Duplicating functionality on the iPad” or as anyone with a half of brain would say to prevent competition? I suspect the DOJ will remain inactive despite any anti-competitive behaviors of Apple. Heck they have made the agency look like a neutered puppy for the last several years.
Fragmentation is a Killer
I hope the next card Amazon, Sony, and Barnes & Noble play is coming together on a single DRM solution for all platforms. I highly doubt such a day would come but either build a standard that many follow or allow everyone to use your standard at no licensing cost. Fragmentation in the eBook market will impact Amazon, Sony, and Barnes & Noble. I really hope they can devise a way to allow books purchased any where to run on any device. Â Consider non-DRM as and option.