If you have been itching to get a e-reader, but cant really see the
point in getting one when the Kindle looks so damn good, never fear,
your Amazon e-books are here.
It's one of those must have tech gadgets that Australians are so oft denied. We don't get Hulu,
Pandora or Spotify. We had to wait for what seemed an age to get our
grubby hands on the iPhone. Amazon has announced that the Kindle will
be available with an international wireless connection.
This means coverage in Australia using 3G and GPRS/Edge
coverage, which is part of their central claim "download a book in 60
seconds". Wireless connectivity is built into the cost of the device.
Whilst the Kindle's
primary focus has been on books, it's also a great platform for
newspapers and magazines. There is a lot to be said for the experience
of reading the printed word. e-ink readers like the Kindle provide an
experience not dissimilar to reading a newspaper or a magazine.
The
Kindle, like the iPhone, is a game changing platform. It will be
interesting to see how the major publishers in Australia can leverage
the platform. I for one would love to be able to download all my
morning papers on this little baby for the daily commute. So much more
convenient than the Sydney morning herald, and the experience of using
a laptop on public transport isn't exactly comfortable.
Magazines, which have been hit hard by the recent downturn, might find new business models in the Kindle's payment framework, and the devices which will follow. Sony is still attempting to break into the market, recently abandoning proprietary DRM in a hope to claw back some market share from Amazon.
