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It’s Not About Being an iPad Killer — Amazon Need Not Worry About Apple

September 28, 2011 – 10:44 pm

In case you didn’t turn on your computer today the Kindle Fire is real and available for pre-order. No sense in listing the features here because you can get those here on the official product page.

I wrote earlier this week that I would be buying a Kindle Fire and now that the product is official and I can take in the entire package I can say without hesitation that I will be buying one! Matter of fact I already have mine pre-ordered! I figured a follow up post was warranted.

I think the most important aspect of all of this is it’s not about being an “iPad killer” — it is about market perception. I wrote once that the reason other mp3 players and Android tablets fail is because people don’t buy tablets and mp3 players — they buy “iPads” and “iPods”.

These are product specific terms that naturally substitute for words like “mp3 player” and “tablet”. The market drives these terms due to excellent products delivering a great user experience. Where Amazon wins and can now compete with Apple (and subsequently drown other Android tablets) lies in the fact they have built the market to accept and be comfortable referring to all e-book readers as “Kindles”. They did more than build a product, they defined the market.

So no matter what pundits say about privacy issues with the Silk browser, or the lack of a microphone, or the lack of a camera, it doesn’t matter — I’m not buying a Kindle to snap family photos — I’m buying it to consume media. And not just consume it at specific times… it is small enough and powerful enough to take anywhere and enjoy.

This market adoption and fantastic form factor means Amazon will sell these like hot cakes. All other Android tablets — rest in peace. If they had a focus it would help but without a focus and without a cheaper selling point there is no reason to buy one of those “tablets” over an iPad and now over a Kindle.

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Gadgets

Amazon Kindle Tablet Is Real

September 2, 2011 – 5:25 pm

Thanks to M.G. Siegler of TechCrunch fame we now know that the Amazon Kindle Tablet is very real. He writes:

It’s called simply the “Amazon Kindle”. But it’s not like any Kindle you’ve seen before. It displays content in full color. It has a 7-inch capacitive touch screen. And it runs Android.

As I stated previously there would be no point in launching tons of tablets for the marketplace without innovating. While Amazon might not be innovating just yet they will be the first serious threat to the iPad. Most important is to remember they have the user base in place. Kindle users are a presence.

The price for this device is another key in the equation. $249.99 — way below the iPad price. This opens the market for people who are looking to get in to the tablet market but don’t have the $500 to get involved with the iPad.

I was interested in purchasing a Kindle the other day but something told me to hold out. I had heard the rumors of the Kindle Tablet and wanted to see what the next product cycle brought. This is without question a purchase for me. I read a lot and now I will have a full featured tablet to browse on.

For more information check out the article at TechCrunch!

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Technology

On the New Sidekick

January 27, 2011 – 4:22 pm

My initial thoughts on the new Sidekick which was leaked today. I figured since I was such a fanboy for the original Sidekick line I would put up a few talking points.

First thing’s first is the look. Obviously it retains the classic Sidekick design but from reports the “kick” or swivel joint for the screen is no more. Not really a big deal but it does dilute the experience. The keyboard seems like it will be nice and comfortable as other kicks in the past have been. The screen itself looks large and is probably touch screen but I wouldn’t be shocked if it wasn’t.

The real underlying issue is the operating system. Rumored to be a stripped down version of Android OS. This could be excellent or a disaster. I will state that if it is a full version of Android the phone is an instant pass for me and I’m sure many others. The Android market is swamped with phones that already have built-in keyboards, installed in a variety of creative ways. Another phone with the same form factor is useless and will be just another face in the crowd. A very vast crowd.

It seems like a new Android phone drops weekly at this point. All of them sport the same features. Nothing sets them apart. This could be where a stripped down, minimal version of Android could make an impact. Cutting out all of the fluff to make a phone with the basics in-tact but keeping them strong and maybe even improving them through a minimal but “fun” UX. All of this with the ability to add apps from the Android App Store and we might have something.

The downside to the entire experience is the missing @tmail.com address that made Sidekicks so awesome back in their day. It was a staple and while it will be easy enough to replace with a Gmail address it just lacks the right vibe. Of course the real problem will be how the “cloud” plays into the entire equation. The original Sidekicks were some of the first devices to utilize cloud computing. I would say ahead of their time. With things like AIM now off the cloud it might be just another crappy Android experience.

Will this get me to jump off my iPhone – probably not. Will I want to play with it? Of course. Only time will tell as more leaks come in what we will be able to expect from the next generation Sidekick.

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