Amazon Kindle vs Canada Kindle?
p2pnet news | Product News: The folks running Amazon are well pleased.
They’ve introduced what’s probably the first viable electronic book and at $400 each, it’s sold out already, says the BBC.
Called the Kindle, it’s a wireless, portable reading device which can tap more than 90,000 books, blogs, newspapers and magazines, promises Amazon.
But is this the Kindle going to have the same problems experienced by the greedy corporate music studios and record labels who killed what should have been a golden market by trying to pass off low quality product at exorbitant prices?
Maybe not.
“Kindle books generally cost less than half of what printed books cost (and much less than Sony’s e-books).,” says the Globe & Mail, going on, “It’s common sense; why should a digital file cost as much as a physical, manufactured, shipped object? Most Kindle “hardcover” books cost $10. “I Am America (and So Can You”), “Deceptively Delicious,” and “Freakonomics” all cost $10 for the Kindle; their cover prices are all $25 or $26. Older books cost $3 to $6.
“You can also subscribe to major newspapers, including this one for $13 a month. Your paper arrives at 3 a.m., Eastern time, silently and automatically, complete with all articles and photos (although without the comics, crosswords, ads and so on). Also available: Magazines (for example, $1.50 a month for Time) and blogs ($2 a month).”
Kindle Canada
Meanwhile, will Amazon experience iPhone-like difficulties with a Canadian company that already has dibs on the Kindle name?
“A dispute between Apple Inc. and Toronto-based Comwave Telecom Inc. over the Canadian trademark rights to the name ‘iPhone’ has yet to be resolved, adding another barrier to the launch of Apple’s next-generation handheld device north of the border,” said the CBC last month, adding:
“Comwave, which markets a collection of voice-over-internet services and products under the name iPhone, has filed its opposition with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, or CIPO, to Apple’s trademark application for the proposed use of a handheld and mobile device called the iPhone in Canada.”
There’s a property management firm in Toronto, Canada, trading under Kindle Management Group.
We emailed the Canadian company earlier this morning, but haven’t heard back from them.
However, the Apple conflict features two companies with similar products whereas with the Amazon Kindle and Canadian Kindle, the only similarity is in the name —- unless the latter suffers because it’s bothered with unwanted inquiries about the book reader, surfers thinking Kindle.ca is a/the Canadian supplier.
Stay tuned.
Also See:
BBC – Amazon Kindle sells out on debut, November 22, 2007
Globe & Mail – An e-book reader that just might catch on, November 22, 2007
iPhone-like difficulties – Canada’s iPhone, January 26, 2007
CBC -Trademark dispute could further delay Apple iPhone in Canada, October 11, 2007
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November 23rd, 2007 at 8:09 am
I like the idea, but think about this: You drop a book, you pick it up and keep reading it. You drop the Kindle, and that’s $400 down the toilet.
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:13 am
I have a problem with this product: Its an Apple. That means closed-source code, punitive user’s license, draconian customer support, and NO open-access files. Just like the iPod used to be, and still is in most instances. Not to mention Apple’s horrendous record of putting out crap product that is vastly overpriced, and prone to the most bizarre “we wanted to save 3 cents” hardware failures.
Still though, this product IS a damn good idea…ever since it was used as the foundation in a fiction book about 20 years ago! Its been a staple of sci-fi and cyberpunk literature for decades. That means….prior art applies
I’ll wait for the inevitable $50 open-source, well-engineered, good customer support, open-access file version that is now bound to come out. From ANOTHER company.
November 24th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Bill: Read the article. The Kindle is not Apple. It is made by Amazon. The only thing in your statement that is (possibly) applicable is the part about proprietary technology. Yeah, Amazon built it and yeah, they will (try) to limit support to files downloaded only through their service. Time will tell if they’re successful. Sure, there will undoubtedly be ebook readers from companies besides the current players Amazon and Sony, and they may be open-source, but the real bones of this issue will be the licensing and copyright fees to the materials. If you want to get your books legally, anyway. Amazon and Sony both have the pockets to back up their devices with a horrendous amount of books. An open-source device without the backing of a large company would flounder.
Reader’s Write: apparently it’s quite sturdy. Amazon has some videos of drop tests on their Kindle pages. Sure, a damaging accident is always possible, but mobile devices are getting very tough. People can drive over their cell phones these days.
November 24th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Interesting, the last comment I posted without a name shows up as Reader’s Write. I’m not he/she
I don’t want to put words in anybody’s mouth!
April 9th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Does anyone know if it works in Canada??
April 9th, 2008 at 8:24 am
And Im not Reader’s Write either….
April 17th, 2008 at 9:43 am
“I’ll wait for the inevitable $50 open-source, well-engineered, good customer support, open-access file version that is now bound to come out.”
Sorry, there isn’t another open-source product in existence that’s well-engineered with good customer support, so what makes you think that one for e-books is inevitable?
October 25th, 2008 at 3:41 am
the problem isn’t the name, IMO it’s the archaic telecommunication companies that are so backwards thinking they would want to charge more than amazon is willing to pay in order to have access to their evdo networks. something needs to be done about them! the iphone proved that.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
There are more ways to access the Internet other than EVDO. I would have no problem always using a PC and the USB cable to fill a Kindle with books. I see no reason why Canadian telco companies should prevent us having Kindle.
The ONLY reason I have not bought one and simply used my PC to buy the books is that Amazon requires a US address and credit card. Strange… they were happy to take my Canadian money when I was buying paper books.