Will the Future Amazon Kindle work on Android?

When it comes to e-book reader, Amazon Kindle is the most successful name. In fact, what Apple iPad is in tablet is the same for Kindle in e-book market. There is a very interesting post published on New York Times Bits blog, that Amazon is hiring people and may take Kindle to the Android platform.

After reading the blog post, I could not understand whether Amazon is thinking of making a Kindle on Android platform as an e-book reader or a tablet device. If this is true, then it is going to be a very interesting development. The blog post also stated that Amazon is now hiring some programmers who specialize in Android. It means that the company is going to do something related to Android in near future.

At this moment, Kindle works on Linux OS and it will be interesting to see the transformation or change to Android.

By joining the Android, naturally, there will be more apps available for Kindle. Amazon will not need to worry too much about the software part and focus on hardware. Since Android is free, the overall expense of the e-book reader should not increase either. Getting good support from Google will be another advantage. 

If this happens, it will be profitable for Google as well as the Android market share will increase significantly.

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Amazon tablet PC can challenge iPad but for how long?

According to Sarah Rotman Epps of Forrester.com, Amazon can become successful where HP, RIM, Samsung and Motorola failed. Challenge Apple iPad’s dominance. Here’s how Amazon can do it.

Amazon can introduce a lower-priced Andorid or Linux-based tablet and then recover the price by selling products via its online store. It followed the same approach with its Kindle e-book reader and it is a big success. The tablet will come with integrated features like one-click purchasing, Amazon Prime service, and recommendations engine that makes buying a very easy process. Rotman said that 50 percent of the current tablet owners use their tablet PC to research and buy products.

I am not a business expert but I do not entirely agree with Rotman. Rotman’s article can be boiled down to two simple statements:

a) Amazon tablet PC can challenge iPad’s dominance.

b) HP TouchPad, RIM PlayBook, Motorola Xoom can’t and their strategy is flawed.

Let’s see the first statement. Rotman said Amazon can challenge Apple’s dominance and it can do so by lowering price but can it emulate Apple’s in-store experience? In her article, she talked about how people value Apple tablet PC for the service they get. When a buyer visits an Apple store, he or she will not have a hard time finding the iPad unlike other stores where the tablet PCs are gathered in a corner to accumulate dusts. There are also well-trained sales executives at Apple stores who will show them how to operate the device. Such service is not available in any other stores. Can Amazon offer such services? She did not say anything about it.

Even if Amazon becomes able to steal thunders from the iPad by offering a low-priced tablet, how long it will continue? Offering a tablet PC in lower price means Amazon will have to recover its cost by making people buy products from its stores. This means, Amazon tablet PC will not encourage its users to run products or apps outside Amazon.com. In a way, Amazon would end up creating a closed eco-system like that of Apple. Will that be a good thing?

Let’s not forget, along with challenging iPads, Amazon tablet PC will also have to compete with other tablet PCs in the market and survive which will not be an easy thing to do unless Amazon can come up with something great like the iPad.

Now, let’s look at the second statement. I do not think that Motorola Xoom, HP TouchPad, RIM PlayBook and Samsung Galaxy tab’s strategies are flawed. I think Android tablets like Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy tab have bright future. Yes, they are pricey and have shortcomings but they do not come with any premeditated bindings. Once you buy them you would not have to worry about buying products from any specific store. You can run any apps and purchase from anywhere they like. It was this freedom that made Android devices appealing in the first place.

Now comes the next question- What should Motorola, Samsung, RIM, HP, do? First, these tablet makers should ensure availability of their products from as many networks as possible. Samsung Galaxy tab did it. Second, they would have to work on offering better user experience and smooth functionality as well as good collection of apps.

What about the price? Well, price will come down in future. The tablet market is very new but over the years manufacturing costs will come down. Moreover, you are getting them at a subsidized price. If you can buy your smartphone at a subsidized price then I do not see any problem with tablet PCs and in a matter of two-three years Android, HP Web OS, and RIM’s QNX system will make further improvements.

So, the important question is who will survive in the long run.

Amazon Kindle vs. Apple iPad: Strengths and weaknesses

On July 29, 2010, Amazon.com, the largest online retailer, launched its latest Amazon Kindle, which is smaller, lighter, fasters and has a longer battery life. Last but not the least, the new Amazon Kindle is also very light on the wallet; $139 only. And not to mention the $10 books that can be carried every where takes reading to different level.

With the launch of this new e-book reader, Amazon started a new buzz in the industry, how would it do against Apple’s iPad?

Initially, when the news of Apple’s tablet PC came out no body took it seriously. They just thought that it would be another high-tech toy with little or no use for the mass but some tech savvy people. Then the big day, January 27, 2010, came when Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, unveiled the Apple iPad and then nothing remained the same again. The iPad came, the iPad saw and the iPad conquered. It even changed the

e-book industry and posed a big challenge to Amazon’s Kindle.

Now, let’s see how iPad and Amazon Kindle matches up-

In terms of design, look and feel, both the iPad and the new Amazon Kindle are great. Both of them are great looking devices.

The new Amazon Kindle, is a dedicated e-book reading device. Wall Street quotes Bezos, "There are going to be 100 companies making LCD [screen] tablets,……Why would we want to be 101? I like building a purpose-built reading device. I think that is where we can make a real contribution."

Bezos is right in every way and this is what makes the new Kindle special. If you are a serious reader and do not want any distraction or playing with too many options, just go and grab the Kindle. For serious book readers, the new Amazon Kindle is a great joy.

On the contrary, this is also the biggest shortcoming of the device. It is not multi-fuctional. Suppose, you just finished reading “Romeo and Juliet” and want to watch Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes version, with Amazon Kindle there is no hope for you but there is always hope with Apple iPad. Just go to the net and fire up the Netflix and enjoy the Romeo+ Juliet. More over, now days, books are coming with animations and various other features which you would not be able to enjoy on Amazon Kindle.

So, if you are someone who frequently travels and do not want to be burdened with so many titsy bitsy devices then Apple iPad is the device for you. It can do everything plus serve as an e-book reader.

If you are tired of looking at backlit screens and just want to have the feeling of reading a book, then you can get Kindle. With the high contrast E-Ink screen, you can read books under sunlight with no problem.

However, the Apple iPad also has a weak point and that is its price. The entry-level Apple iPad starts from $500 and goes all the way up to $800 which is not ideal for everyone. Plus, you would not like to get bound by AT&T’s contract. Amazon is free from all these problems and would not have to pay for the 3G connection.

So, which device you think is ideal for you?