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Amazon Cracks Open the Kindle

bits.blogs.nytimes.com

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Re: Amazon Cracks Open the Kindle

#11

Post by sliverstorm »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #3

Can someone venture some guesses as to what types of apps will be created? That screen seems like a terribly limiting factor for apps...

Am I the only one who is dreaming of an email client? webmail doesn't do it for me. A real client would be amazing.

Seriously though, let's consider. I hear of tons of apps that are really clever on the iPhone store, and many of them do not use the camera, gfx, gps or accelerometer. It's true the iPhone has more computing power, but both have 3G.

My mind's not in a state right now to do a real comparison, but in my opinion, quite a number of the clever and/or useful iPhone apps I've seen could be ported to the Kindle. (this is not of course to say that's what should be done, or even that would be the limit- after all, Kindle has a much larger screen- just as an idea of the spread!)

Re: Amazon Cracks Open the Kindle

#12

Post by melling »

jasonlbaptiste wrote: post #9
gcv wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plenty of apps don't need rapid refresh, or particularly fancy graphics. Weather apps, stock tickers, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, choose-your-own-adventure type games (even something like the old Adventure), a note taker, shopping list, fitness tracker... Combine these with the Kindle's wireless cellular link, add a little imagination, and I feel it has potential.

The 15 cents per megabyte charge could be limiting at first. I don't know what an application might use and how frequently, so it might not be a concern at all. If it is, i'm sure the pricing will eventually go down to a number that is so low that it no longer is a concern.

Let's hope they put wifi in the next gen Kindle's. It's crazy that they left it out.

Re: Amazon Cracks Open the Kindle

#14

Post by skywalker »

"We've heard from lots of developers over the past two years who are excited to build on top of Kindle"

So, why didn't they do nothing for two years?

One week before Apple supposedly will announce the iTablet, Amazon creates a press release saying a limited beta of the Kindle SDK will start next month!

If you are the market leader, why would you wait two years for yours competitors? Doesn't make sense to me.

Re: Amazon Cracks Open the Kindle

#16

Post by netcan »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #3

Can someone venture some guesses as to what types of apps will be created? That screen seems like a terribly limiting factor for apps...

My guess is anything that has a lot to do with reading, since that is where the screen is actually an advantage, not just a tolerable disadvantage.

Interactive books are an obvious thought. Interactive maps might also be useful.

Re: Amazon Cracks Open the Kindle

#17

Post by dkokelley »

I'm excited to see what come of this. Although most of my 'connected' needs are filled by my iPhone, having a comparable substitute on the big, battery-sipping, easy-on-the-eyes screen seems like a good idea.

Now if only they would come down in price just a bit...

Re: Amazon Cracks Open the Kindle

#19

Post by waterlesscloud »

As I'm reading it, they're going to charge 15 cents per megabyte to deliver the app itself to the device. That cost will be deducted from the app price, and the remainder is what will be split 70/30 with developers. They cap over-the-air delivery at 10 meg. Anything over that is downloaded to user's computer, then to kindle via usb. Cumbersome.

So you could have up to $1.50 of the app price deducted for delivery fees.

Probably not going to settle in on a 99 cent price point...

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