Hedging our bets are we? Amazon releases Kindle App…
At the same time it launches Kindle 2, Amazon is also coming out with a Kindle App for iPhone/iPod Touch. Perhaps this can be chalked up to them trying to reach the growing “installed base” of iPhone/Touch users and convert them to Kindle fans with the some of the nice connective features (the “page your on” in a given book is synchronized between your iPod/Phone and the Kindle, creepy…).
I think they’re hedging their bets…
The original Kindle, while generally well thought of, had its share of problems. The new Kindle 2 solves many of those but some of them remain:
- The display is still color-free
- The DRM is still insanely restrictive (as DRM tends to be)
- It still costs $359.00.
I know that the iPod/iPhone is not exactly an ideal reading tool. The introduction of the App won’t stop anyone inclined to buy a Kindle from buying one.
I can’t help but feel that Amazon wants to ensure that if the Kindle hardware doesn’t fly, that they will still have their foot in the door with the App. If rumors of a “big iPod Touch” are true, I can’t help but feel that Amazon will be happy they took this particular step.
I hope I don’t come off as a Kindle hater. I think the Kindle is actually good for reading and I wish it well. I just have trouble understanding the business sense here. Why market a product for $360 that does only one thing exceptionally well in a day and age when the multiuse device is King? It might make sense for the “big readers” out there, but certainly not for everyone…
