iPad vs Amazon Tablet

Atilathehun

So, are we finally going to see a tablet which can compete with the iPad both in terms of the hardware specs and content avaiability. Oh .......... and the price .... probably half of the iPad price.

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/92a4e0fa-e90d-11e0-ac9c-00144feab49a.html#axzz1Z2wbA2q0

High expectations for Amazon’s tablet

By David Gelles and Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in New York

If Amazon unveils its tablet computer on Wednesday, as is widely anticipated, consumers, application makers and media companies will be eagerly looking for signs that a true rival to Apple’s iPad has finally arrived.
According to people familiar with the device, the Amazon tablet will be a full-colour touchscreen device powered by a modified version of Google’s Android operating system. It will offer applications through the Amazon Appstore, music through Amazon’s Cloud Player music service, video through Amazon’s Instant Video service, and books and periodicals through its Kindle platform.
With its own curated app store and a suite of media delivery applications, the Amazon tablet will be the first to try to replicate Apple’s ecosystem, in which users can purchase music, video and reading material from one source. Two content owners talking to Amazon about creating native applications for the tablet said they welcomed the company's attempt to create a more orderly version of what they saw as a confusing Android marketplace.
This strategy could position Amazon as a rival to Apple in the business of digital media distribution. Although Amazon is the biggest seller of ebooks, it trails Apple in music sales, and Netflix and others on digital video sales.
Anthony DiClemente, Barclays Capital analyst, said continued Kindle sales and the new tablet were “tailwinds for Amazon’s digital media businesses”, though he noted that other tablets besides the iPad have struggled. Nonetheless, he said: “We believe a tablet will help accelerate Amazon’s shift from physical to digital media sales.”
As it did with the Kindle, which was a loss leader designed to spark ebook sales, Amazon sees the tablet as a low-margin device it hopes will ignite sales of music, video and applications. “While we believe Amazon has the opportunity to take share of the tablet market, we believe the bigger opportunity remains on the content side,” said Mr DiClemente.
Amazon is working to distinguish itself from Apple, which has grated on media companies by demanding 30 per cent of media sales through its iTunes store and been reluctant to share data about consumers. According to people familiar with the deals, Amazon will freely share subscriber data with magazine and newspaper publishers.
In the lead-up to Wednesday’s launch, Amazon has been striking deals with media companies, including arrangements to stream video content from Fox, CBS and NBC. On Tuesday, Amazon and Hearst, the magazine and newspaper publisher, announced deeper co-operation.
“The good news for Amazon is that, unlike everyone else who has tried to compete, they have spent a lot of time building out the services before they launched the device,” said Michael Gartenberg, Gartner analyst.
Amazon’s history in ecommerce will also give it an advantage as it seeks to increase its digital media sales. “They have millions and millions of credit cards,” said Mr Gartenberg. “It becomes really easy to charge for these services. One click and you can rent a movie.”
Of course, many companies have tried to take on the iPad and come up short. Hewlett-Packard discontinued its TouchPad after poor sales. The BlackBerry PlayBook has met with poor sales. Even the Samsung Galaxy, regarded as the best alternative so far to the iPad, has not come close to matching Apple’s sales.
Barclays estimates Amazon will sell 2m units in the fourth quarter and up to 7.9m units in 2012, figures that would easily make it the second-bestselling tablet after the iPad. Apple has sold more than 28m units since the iPad was launched last year.
The Techcrunch blog has reported that the Amazon tablet will cost just $250, undercutting the iPad’s introductory $500 price.
“Few companies are poised to enter the market with the resources they have,” said Mr Gartenberg. “And, of course, it’s going to be prominently placed on the Amazon homepage, which is another homecourt advantage that few other players have.”

jester77

I read yesterday that Amazon have rushed this to market in order to get the xmas sales and that the tablet they really want to produce will not be released until around March next year.

It will be interesting to see what they announce later today.

Dades

When is their news conference? *

Would be very interested in a look at this. Amazon got it very right with the Kindle, maybe they could do the same with a tablet.

* EDIT: 10am this morning in NY. So 3pm this afternoon here!

DubDJ

Details of the iPad killer???

9To5Mac

EDIT: Also original kindle dropped to $79

Tom Dunne

I was reading somewhere that Amazon want to get a device out the door and selling for Christmas.

It won't be an iPad killer, the gist of the article was that content is king and even if the device is a turkey, at least consumers will be easily be able to get movies/songs/books/tv shows/etc. on to it.

According to Wired, it will be quite similar in specs to the Playbook.

(links pending)

DubDJ

There releasing the Amazon Kindle, The Kindle Touch Wifi, The Kindle Touch 3G+Wifi & The Full Colour Kindle Fire.

Amazon Kindle: $79, Kindle Touch: $99, Kindle Touch + 3G: $149, Kindle Fire: $199.

Dades

Dades

The tablet doesn't seem to me to be a huge threat to the iPad.

The resolution is slightly better (for now), but they really seem to have aimed at the books/media segment. I think they have fallen between two stools here.

In terms of couch surfers, emailers and work users, the Kindle device isn't much different to all the other smaller, non-Apple tablets out there.

Also, the new Kindle e-readers look identical to the current crop of Sony devices.

DubDJ

Dades wrote: »

The tablet doesn't seem to me to be a huge threat to the iPad.

The resolution is slightly better (for now), but they really seem to have aimed at the books/media segment. I think they have fallen between two stools here.

In terms of couch surfers, emailers and work users, the Kindle device isn't much different to all the other smaller, non-Apple tablets out there.

Also, the new Kindle e-readers look identical to the current crop of Sony devices.

I'd say this is more of a threat to Android tablet makers. It's 7" which is a pity but a good price to boot. And also comes with Amazon Bookstore etc. supported. I'd see a lot of people buying this. Anyone reckon what it would cost in €?

Brian017

I'm guessing the fire will be a LCD screen? if so, that's me out

smokingman

Anyone know what the European release date for the fire is? Would be interested....

DubDJ

Kindle Fire Commerical:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUtmOApIslE

dvpower

Is this just going to be 7" or are there any plans for a 10" version?

DubDJ

dvpower wrote: »

Is this just going to be 7" or are there any plans for a 10" version?

Rumours of a larger version that is planned to get a released around March 2012. But no official announcement of a bigger model. Not this year anyway.

Tora Bora

The Kindle I guess, will eat big time into the Galaxy market and I suggest will give Apple some cause for concern, because of it's huge price advantage.
People will look at the price point, and really, really question the rationale for paying so much more for the iPad.
There has to be a fair slice of iPad owners, and wanna be owners, who do little more than browse the web, and have no more then half a dozen apps, which they use regularly.
Any reason why the Fire, will not fill that space, perfectly well???

Hobbes

The Touch 3G interests me as it is eInk (at least looks like it from that picture). Think I would need to play with the Fire tablet to make an opinion.

Tom Dunne

Ok, so I've just watched the demo on Engadget. From that limited demo, it appears that content is king, not apps.

However, apps, I think, is where Apple has the edge. Yes, it has content too, and lots of it, but apps is where it shines.

So I am wondering if the Amazon fire can really compete with the iPad. Perhaps a very close second and I would think that it will do well where other tablet devices have failed.

RobertFoster

Watching that video, it seems very focused on the Amazon Cloud features. Not sure about the specifics, but will those features be available here? I know I've not been able to access Amazon MP3s and other digital wonders in the past -- has this changed recently?

Tora Bora

RobertFoster wrote: »

Watching that video, it seems very focused on the Amazon Cloud features. Not sure about the specifics, but will those features be available here? I know I've not been able to access Amazon MP3s and other digital wonders in the past -- has this changed recently?

Kindle is a globally available device and content platform, so I guess this will be no different.

mad muffin

Tora Bora wrote: »

Kindle is a globally available device and content platform, so I guess this will be no different.

So nothing for us in Ireland then?

jimmycrackcorm

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Ok, so I've just watched the demo on Engadget. From that limited demo, it appears that content is king, not apps.

However, apps, I think, is where Apple has the edge. Yes, it has content too, and lots of it, but apps is where it shines.

So I am wondering if the Amazon fire can really compete with the iPad. Perhaps a very close second and I would think that it will do well where other tablet devices have failed.

Price matters. The touchpad has shown there is a market for a quality table at a lower price point.

As for apps, Android is catching up really rapidly and Amazon has show with the existing kindle that they have a good content distribution experience for the user. In this case they've beat Google at their own game.

Tora Bora

mad muffin wrote: »

So nothing for us in Ireland then?

Why not? Kindle is available here!

mad muffin

Tora Bora wrote: »

Why not? Kindle is available here!

Do we have the movie streaming service? Tv shows? Etc, etc.

Tora Bora

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Price matters. The touchpad has shown there is a market for a quality table at a lower price point.

As for apps, Android is catching up really rapidly and Amazon has show with the existing kindle that they have a good content distribution experience for the user. In this case they've beat Google at their own game.

Exactly. This is an affordable device, which looks pretty functional.
An affordable birthday / Christmas present, compared to iPad.
Looks a winner to me.

DubDJ

If they were to Market a 9"-10" tablet I'd say I'd be interested more. but 7" isn't a big enough screen. Too close to a smart phone. If they do release a bigger screen in 2012 for say $249 I could see a lot of people going for it.

whiterebel

DubDJ wrote: »

If they were to Market a 9"-10" tablet I'd say I'd be interested more. but 7" isn't a big enough screen. Too close to a smart phone. If they do release a bigger screen in 2012 for say $249 I could see a lot of people going for it.

Thats going to be the problem. Screen size dictates the price, adn I doubt they'll be able to go up 50% for $50.

faceman

Dades wrote: »

The tablet doesn't seem to me to be a huge threat to the iPad.

The resolution is slightly better (for now), but they really seem to have aimed at the books/media segment. I think they have fallen between two stools here.

In terms of couch surfers, emailers and work users, the Kindle device isn't much different to all the other smaller, non-Apple tablets out there.

Also, the new Kindle e-readers look identical to the current crop of Sony devices.

+1 to this, my thoughts exactly.

Am kinda raging about the Kindle Touch though, i only bought a Kindle a few weeks ago! booo!

Gauge

faceman wrote: »

+1 to this, my thoughts exactly.

Am kinda raging about the Kindle Touch though, i only bought a Kindle a few weeks ago! booo!

Don't rage too much, the Kindle Touch still isn't available for pre-order anywhere outside the US!

Dades

Hobbes wrote: »

The Touch 3G interests me as it is eInk (at least looks like it from that picture). Think I would need to play with the Fire tablet to make an opinion.

I think you should decide if you want a e-reader, or a tablet, because the reality is at the moment you can't have both properly in the same device. The Fire has a backlit screen, not an ink screen, and while lighter than the ipad is still heavier than an e-reader that is gloriously light.

After that, checking one out physically is the best idea.

faceman wrote: »

Am kinda raging about the Kindle Touch though, i only bought a Kindle a few weeks ago! booo!

Do you not think touching the screen to change page is a pain? That would totally put me off. You would miss the tiny, tactile little "click" that you get when you turn the page - and also have to stretch your thumb. And your screen would get grubby!

In all the little ad features you see users changing pages with their free hand... why is that?

Also it's only available in silver - what is this - the 1990's?? :pac:

Sad Professor

I think Amazon are being very smart here. They know they can't compete with Apple so they aren't even trying. The Fire is clearly aimed at the low-end of the market and will have many of the same issues that other low-end tablets have. But unlike them, it has a **** load content in the form of Kindle to back it up. This means, unlke their competitors, Amazon can actually afford to sell this without a profit.

I really like the look of the new Kindle Touch. I love my iPad, but the screen isn't suitable for reading books.

Blazer

have a mate going to New York in 4 weeks so will get him to pick me up the new kindle wifi..it actually turned out just as I discussed yesterday (unaware that amazon were releasing a new kindle as well) and I stated I'd no interest in the current kindle but if they dumped the keyboard and make the screen bigger I'd definitely go for one..I wouldnt' care about losing the broswer etc as I already have a xoom and iphone for that...
lo and behold I see the new kindle this morning

faceman

Sc@recrow wrote: »

have a mate going to New York in 4 weeks so will get him to pick me up the new kindle wifi..it actually turned out just as I discussed yesterday (unaware that amazon were releasing a new kindle as well) and I stated I'd no interest in the current kindle but if they dumped the keyboard and make the screen bigger I'd definitely go for one..I wouldnt' care about losing the broswer etc as I already have a xoom and iphone for that...
lo and behold I see the new kindle this morning

The screen is the same size. Have they ditched the browser?

Dades

Indeed - same size screen.
And the Kindle Touch isn't even an inch shorter, and is actually thicker than the keyboard version.

Compare them here.

(And has no back/forward buttons to click - FAIL)

jester77

Dades wrote: »

Indeed - same size screen.
And the Kindle Touch isn't even an inch shorter, and is actually thicker than the keyboard version.

Compare them here.

(And has no back/forward buttons to click - FAIL)

The lack of back/foward button is a let down, especially when you look at the specs of the non-touch model. The touch model has the same battery as the keyboard model but the new non-touch model only has half the battery life of the other 2.

DubDJ

Supposedly Amazon have no intentions in releasing any of the new Kindle's outside of the US. They're only going to offer the basic $79 Kindle.

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