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Amazon reportedly close to deal for UK Kindle
This one isn't a done deal just yet, but Mobile Today is reporting that Amazon is "close to finalizing a launch date" for the Kindle in the UK, and that it's now in "advanced negotiations with a mobile operator for an MVNO." From the sound of it, however, Amazon is taking a somewhat hands-off approach this time around, with it not only tapping Qualcomm to manufacture the device, but to secure connectivity for it with a carrier as well. What's more, it seems that the UK Kindle will include both 3G and WiFi connectivity which, as SlashGear notes, would seem to suggest that either T-Mobile or O2 would be likely partners, considering that each already has some sizable WiFi networks of their own in place.[Via SlashGear]
Kindle's German launch stalled by T-Mobile and Vodafone?
A news item is circulating the internet reportedly from German business weekly Wirtschaftswoche claiming Amazon is facing a major hurdle in trying to bring its Kindle to Deutschland. The problem at hand? The two big wireless providers in the country, Vodafone and T-Mobile, are both saying "nein" to providing Whispernet service, and apparently the issue has to do with how much money Amazon was willing to give -- unsurprising, if true. Another, very likely reason for T-Mobile's unwillingness is that parent company Deutsche Telekom is rumored to be working on its own e-book reader, and we gotta believe those company picnics would be mighty awkward if a large subsidiary was given the competition a major boost. We can't imagine this stopping Amazon for long, and we'd be very surprised if the Kindle didn't find some way to sneak itself into the region sooner or later.
Amazon Kindle DX review
Here's the one-line summary of the Kindle DX: It's a Kindle 2 with a larger screen, hair-trigger orientation sensor, and an awful keyboard.
Bezos suggests Kindle books will appear on more devices, compete with Kindle readers
Amazon already sent a pretty clear signal that it has grander plans for Kindle than just its own devices when it launched its iPhone app earlier this year, but Jeff Bezos has now made those intentions clearer than ever, and dropped a few hints of things to come. Speaking at a Wired-sponsored conference yesterday, Bezos all but confirmed that Amazon sees Kindle books and Kindle readers as two separate businesses, and he even went so far as to say that "we are going to give the device team competition" by making Kindle books available on "mobile devices and other computing devices, although he obviously didn't specify other e-book readers. Interestingly, Bezos also confirmed that Amazon had considered selling the Kindle with a monthly subscription plan to lower the cost, or require a minimum number of books purchased, but said that he preferred the simplicity of providing one flat up-front cost, which he says has helped account for the Kindle's success.
Kindle DX sold out, but not for long
Well, it didn't happen quite as fast as the original Kindle, but it looks like the Kindle DX has now officially sold out, a full two days after it first became available. As you might expect, however, folks eager to get their hands on the large and in charge device don't have to wait too long to get their fix, with Amazon promising that the next batch of Kindle DXs will be in stock on June 17th. Of course, as ComputerWorld notes, the fast sellout has once again prompted speculation from analysts that Amazon is intentionally keeping supply low to create more of a buzz around the device, but Amazon itself is naturally staying mum on the matter for now.
Amazon Kindle DX gets torn apart, examined
Just as soon as we finally get our hands on a new unit to test out, the boys over at Rapir Repair are racing to rip one apart. And that's just what they've done here with the Amazon Kindle DX. Inside it's got the requisite boards, wires, tape and cat hairs (just kidding), plus an E727NV WN2 wireless card, memory, CPU and Epson E-ink panel controller. It's actually pretty sparse and clean inside of there -- we'd expect nothing less! Hit the read link for the full, glorious disassembling (though there is one more shot after the break).
Amazon Kindle DX unboxing and hands-on!
Well, well -- what's this? Amazon's Kindle DX just arrived a little earlier than we expected, looking every bit like the big brother to the Kindle 2 it did at launch. Seriously -- apart from new, less comfortable keyboard, externally you're just looking at a Kindle 2 with a bigger screen. Turn it on, though, and you immediately notice the orientation sensor, which is almost too sensitive. We're loading this thing up with content and putting it through its paces right now, but in the meantime hit up the gallery below for the unboxing and some comparison shots.
Amazon Kindle DX to start shipping on June 10th
Amazon just dropped word that the new Kindle DX will start shipping out on June 10th, a pleasant improvement on the previously vague "summer" release date. The device is still available for pre-order, and shipments of the $489, 9.7-inch, PDF-capable ebook will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
A color Kindle is years away, buyers remorse here to stay
Hey, Kindle 2 owners, remember when Amazon made the device official and you thought: "Well, it took them a year and a half to replace the old one, so I can buy this one without fears of immediate obsolescence." And then remember how three months later they announced the Kindle DX and you thought: "Oh." Well, if you're now fearing a color Kindle will come sauntering along in a few months to make everyone jealous, fear not, as Jeff Bezos is saying the tech is still "multiple years" away, adding "I've seen the color displays in the laboratory and I can assure you they're not ready for prime time." From the few prototypes we've seen we'd tend to agree. So, anyone still on the fence about a Kindle, go ahead and buy now with confidence, as your devices won't be made to look quaint any time soon -- at least until that pizza box-sized reader Amazon's been working on in secret is announced in July. Did we mention it actually cooks pizza?
Engadget Podcast 145 - 05.08.2009
Sure, you love the Engadget Podcast... but how much do you love it? Allow the power of your undying devotion to the sounds of Engadget chatter be tested this week as Josh, Paul, and Nilay take a journey through space and time. This week, you'll hear the guys dissect Amazon's Kindle DX launch, wax excited about Android v1.5 (that's Cupcake for us pros), talk openly about Google's netbook designs, and generally rap about a whole bunch of really cool junk. Don't miss it. Seriously. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Take On Me 00:01:04 - Amazon Kindle DX announced: $489, ships this summer 00:37:44 - Android 1.5 coming to T-Mobile UK now, USA next week 00:52:00 - Is Dell cooking up an Android-powered netbook? 01:00:20 - HTC working on an Android netbook for T-Mobile? 01:02:50 - Xbox 360 to get motion-sensing add-on with full body game control? 01:13:37 - DJ Hero announced at last, along with Band Hero for the family and Guitar Hero 5 for the face melters Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
PVI's color e-ink delayed until 2010, big-screen Sony Reader coming?
Color e-ink displays are starting to become less of a curiosity and more of a reality, but if the rumor from DigiTimes proves true it's going to be another year or so before we start seeing them en masse. PVI, makers of displays for the Kindle and Sony Reader, has apparently indicated that its attempts at creating a color display have been more or less unsatisfactory and it's going to take until 2010 at least to get its hues sorted out. That's the bad news. There is some good news, though, indicating that Sony's working on its own 8.5 x 11-inch reader utilizing the same screen as the Kindle DX. Since the last rumors about that display was pretty-much on the mark, we wouldn't be surprised if this one proved true as well -- and we can't wait to see what Sony charges for it.[Via SlashGear]
Amazon takes 70 percent of Kindle newspaper revenues
The Kindle DX launch might have sparked a wave of hype about the next generation of newspapers, but not everyone's so quick to agree: Dallas Morning News CEO James Moroney told a Senate subcommittee yesterday that the Kindle isn't a "platform that's going to save newspapers in the near term." According to Moroney, Amazon demands 70 percent of subscription revenue from newspapers, and further requires content owners to grant Amazon the right to republish content to other devices -- like, say, the iPhone. That's a pretty inequitable split, and while we understand that Amazon has to pay for Whispernet somehow, it's hard to imagine newspaper publishers lining up to wager 70 percent of their digital subscription revenues and a perpetual license to their content on devices that are far from proven. On the other hand, it's innovate or die time for these guys, so we'll see what happens -- with all the competitors out there poised to make a move, things are about to get interesting.
Poll: Will you buy a Kindle DX?
Now that the dust is beginning to settle, we here at Engadget are wondering how all of you are feeling about your new Kindle options. With the Kindle 2 still in its infancy, and the newborn Kindle DX ready to hit the scene (not to mention the host of other e-reader options), how are you likely to spend all that cash you normally shell out on paper and ink Neal Stephenson novels? Will you make the leap to e-ink, or are you still bound and determined to cart The Baroque Cycle around in a Radio Flyer? We've already shared some of our thoughts -- tell us how you feel in the poll below -- and feel free to quote The Diamond Age in the comments. %Poll-29840%
Kindle DX college plans revealed: only 300 students total
We knew the Kindle DX pilot programs at Arizona State, Case Western Reserve, Princeton, Pace, Reed, and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia would be limited in number, but it sounds like students at those schools will have be extremely lucky or well-connected to get their hands on Amazon's latest -- according to Pace reps at today's launch event, each school will only receive around 50 Kindle DXs for the trial. That's just about 300 total Kindles, and it makes Amazon's crowing about revolutionizing education seem a little hasty. Not only that, but it's not like the program is particularly ready to go, either: the schools still haven't figured out which classes they'll try and switch over to the Kindle, instructors have yet to be brought on board, and it's still not clear whether Amazon or the schools themselves will pay for the Kindles, although students will definitely have to shell out for the books. That's a lot of dealmaking to get done -- looks like Amazon just gave itself some summer homework.
Editorial: Engadget on the Kindle DX
You wouldn't think what amounts to a screen-size upgrade over the Kindle 2 would provoke such heated debate, but discussion at Engadget HQ has been at fever pitch since Bezos & Co. announced the Kindle DX this morning. Rather than try and condense the opinions of the staff into one Grand Unified Theory of The Ebook Market, we thought we'd let everyone speak for themselves -- check it out below.Update: Paul tacked on his thoughts as well.
Amazon Kindle DX first hands-on (with video!)
We just got a quick first in-person look at Amazon's new Kindle DX. It looks bigger! Some quick thoughts on the device: It's not really drastically different from the Kindle 2. Not in any way. The ability to auto-rotate is nice, and the big screen is definitely easier on the eyes when it comes to reading newspapers, but largely this is the same beast. The screen looks great. It may just be the demo units here, but the blacks seem to be darker than they are on the Kindle 2. We'll have to hold this judgment for when we've got a review unit in our hands. Screen refresh is largely unchanged. You'll still see those black flashes when you turn the page. The keyboard seems better to us than the Kindle 2's. The keys are more raised, and there's more real estate for typing. It's still not an awesome experience, but it's improved. The size difference really is notable. The DX is a large device. It's not the kind of thing you'll be throwing into a purse, though it's not so large that you wouldn't consider it over the Kindle 2. In fact, if we had to choose right now, the Kindle DX wins hands-down. $489 is a lot of money for a device like this. Amazon is really going to have to show some considerable cuts on pricing for their deals with the NYT / schools to make this attractive to end-users. And check out the videos after the break!
Live from Amazon's Kindle event in NYC!
We're on the ground for Amazon's latest, crazy shindig at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University in NYC. We're expecting nothing short of a large (and in charge) Kindle today, but you never know what kind of surprises we might run into. Stay tuned here for the events as they unfold!
Amazon Kindle DX announced: $489, ships this summer
Just as with the Kindle 2, Amazon posted the Kindle DX product page while the launch event was underway. Specs-wise, there's not much here we didn't know: the big changes are a larger 9.7-inch screen that rotates to landscape display, a PDF reader, and more storage space at 3.3GB. The big news is actually the flat $489 price tag, which seems on the high-side of realistic to us -- although the subsidy-pricing rumors weren't totally inaccurate, as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Boston Globe will offer subsidized on-contract Kindles to customers who can't get at-home delivery when the DX ships this summer. (Yes, that's a pretty lame restriction.) Amazon's also announcing a wide range of textbook publishing partnerships, with tomes from Addison-Wesley, Wiley Higher Education, Longman & Prentice Hall and many others available -- and what's more, Arizona State, Case Western Reserve, Princeton, Reed, and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia have all signed on to distribute "hundreds" of Kindle DXs to students this fall. We're hunting for more info, stay tuned.Read - Kindle DX product pageRead - Kindle DX PR[Thanks, Jason G]Other Kindle DX reading:Read - Editorial: Engadget on the Kindle DXRead - Live from Amazon's Kindle event in NYC!Read - Amazon Kindle DX first hands-on (with video!)Read - Kindle DX college plans revealed: only 300 students totalRead - Poll: Will you buy a Kindle DX?
Amazon Kindle DX to feature 9.7-inch display? Update: Pictures!
It's still an elusive target for our old friend Mr. Blurrycam, but We just got some basic specs on the new, decidedly more newspaper- and college textbook-friendly Amazon Kindle DX. Here's what we know: it's got a 9.7-inch display (as opposed to the current six-inch unit), a long-requested built-in PDF reader, and the ability to add annotations in addition to notes and highlights -- whatever that means. We're also hearing that New York Times will be offering a $9.95 / month subscription, a little lower than the current $13.99. Honestly, that all sounds to us like this really is just a Kindle with a larger screen, not the newspaper savior it's being hyped as, but ol' Jeffy B. might still have surprises in store, so we'll see. Seriously, can't Wednesday just hurry up and get here already? Update: Looks like Mssr. BC decided to throw down -- check out some pics in the gallery! Update 2: Some more details care of the Wall Street Journal. Chief information officer for Cleveland-based Case Western Reserve University -- the college whose president will be taking the stage with Jeff Bezos -- Lev Gonick said select students are being issued the new, larger screen Kindles (doesn't specify DX) in the fall semester with pre-installed textbooks for chemistry, computer science and a freshman seminar. Five other universities including Pace, Princeton, Reed, Arizona State, and Darden School at the University of Virginia are also said to be signed up for the trial. As for the new details on the device itself, the report states it's got a more functional web browser, with no word on how that'll jibe with Whispernet.
