My Kindle Stuff

(Update 9:20PM 1/31/2010) – Well, Amazon gave into MacMillan’s demands for higher prices.  For the full story see the NYT article here.  It remains to see what, if any fallout there is for the publisher or the ebook industry as a whole.  Certainly, publishers own their content and can set the pricing for it, but I really wonder if they are trying to save hardcover sales, give Amazon a swift kick in the behind by ’siding’ with Jobs & the iPad (go google that one!) or just don’t value the ereader consumer.  Whatever the case, I guess they didn’t read the article published on Slate last year Does the Book Industry Want To Get Napstered? Nuff said.

Wow.  This has been a crazy weekend in the Kindleverse!  Amazon pulling MacMillan titles, forum boards erupting with both anger and dismay, Twitter going crazy with 140 character comments on same-plus a lot of bad information. Authors weighing in on mostly the publishers side and some Kindlers vowing retribution by both bad reviews (here we go again) and boycott tagging.

When this all first happened, I was angry at MacMillan.  About 8 books on my Amazon wish list were gone and I don’t even remember which ones they were.  Now I’m just weary of the whole thing, while at the same time extremely curious on how it all will shake out.

I do have a couple of observations to make, though.  First, I’m a avid reader and had to join Amazon prime to defray shipping costs.  I almost always purchased mass-market paperbacks over hardcover books just to appear like I was trying to stay within some sort of reasonable budget.  There were a few authors that I loved which I felt merited the $20 for a (discounted) hardback, but not many.  I didn’t go to the library and I didn’t use 2nd hand books because, frankly, old paperback stink and I hated the yellowing due to the cheap paper used.  Then I discovered the Kindle which I’ve had a Kindle for about two years now.  If anything, I read faster and now spend way more on books.

Just as pre-Kindle, I spend more than $9.99 for some authors, but my average for a Kindle book is between $5 and $7.  I don’t really care about book format or DRM, because I have the tools to change both, and I don’t share my Kindle account with anyone, so if I find a good book, I just recommend to my Kindle friends so they can purchase their own copy.

That being said, there is NO WAY that I can see myself regularly paying $15 for a newly published ebook; and I doubt that I would even remember the book when the price came down to what I would pay–unless it got recommended by an online review or other listing.  That is a hit-or-miss proposition as most books are reviewed when they are released, not 7 months later.  The best example of this for me is the slow release of the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series.  I was going to buy it for my Kindle until I saw the release dates.  After I saw that it was releasing approximately one book a month and that I wouldn’t be able to get through it for a year, I decided to wait and haven’t thought about it since.  Some ereaders that I know got them on the darknet to read now, then would buy the ebooks as they were released.  That can start a whole conversation about ebook availability vs. piracy which I won’t go into.

Some are saying that this whole thing was started by the immenent advent of the iPad and it’s iBook store.  Maybe, maybe not, but as a non-LCD ereader, I think the publishers are barking up the wrong tree if they think that avid readers will be embracing reading books on what is virtually a flashlight on any type of regular basis.  I do plan on getting one, but it will be either as a replacement for my iPhone, or as a living room and portable laptop-lite device–not as a reader.  I’ve seen this sentiment repeated more times than I can count, so if MacMillan and other publishers are looking as the iPad to revolutionize books, I fear they will be sadly disappointed.

I don’t know who will win this war, but America loves a good fight.  Hey! Maybe they should put it on Pay Per View?

This morning I was greeted by the below email from Amazon:

Dear Kindle User,

We’re sending this note to remind you about proper attachment and use of your Kindle cover and about Amazon’s Kindle warranty. You can view instructions and illustrations here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200390460

ATTACHING THE COVER

To install the Kindle, open the cover and lay it on a flat surface. Then insert the bottom attachment hook on the cover into the bottom slot on the left edge of the Kindle. Rotate the Kindle to insert the top attachment hook. Then slide the switch down slightly to lock the cover attachment hooks in place.

Be sure to place the Kindle flat on the cover during installation. Do not tip the Kindle at an angle during installation, as that may cause the cover attachment hooks to bend.

USING THE KINDLE COVER

When using your Kindle with the cover, be careful to open the front cover only. If you open the back cover and pull the cover away from the Kindle, that may cause the attachment hooks to bend and could result in cracking or other damage to the Kindle.

THE AMAZON KINDLE WARRANTY

Your Kindle is covered by a One-Year Limited Warranty you can view here: http://www.amazon.com/kindlewarranty

If the attachment hooks on your cover have become bent, or your Kindle has developed cracking or other damage near the location where the hooks connect to the Kindle, please contact Kindle Support by phone or email regarding warranty replacement.

You can reach us via phone or e-mail through our website by clicking the Contact Us button on our help pages at http://www.amazon.com/kindlesupport or directly by calling one of these numbers:
Inside the United States: 1-866-321-8851, Outside the United States: 1-206-266-0927.

For more information, please see the Warranty Service section of the Kindle Return Policies Help page:

http://www.amazon.com/kindlereturnpolicy

Oooookay.  Well, I totally knew that little problem.  It was reported by Kindle users months ago.  It’s also one of the reasons that I use M-edge Covers.  They have two elastic bands on the top and bottom right corners that prevent you from opening the cover the wrong way and damaging your Kindle.  They also have a variety of cover types: flip top, GO! (like Amazon covers in color) and ones that hold their booklight.

So Kindle users take care.  And if you don’t have one, grab a M-edge cover today.  For other Kindle accessory suggestions, check out the images below and take a look at this post that shows all the goodies I got for my Kindles.

My Kindles

My Kindle and laptop w/ Gelaskin Bookshelf skins (Kindle on iZel stand)

My Kindle in M-edge cover w/ Decal Girl skin

Kindle 1 & iPhone in matching Decal Girl Skins and M-edge cover

From Amazon Press Release:

SEATTLE, Jan 21, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — (NASDAQ: AMZN)–For the past two years, Amazon has welcomed authors and publishers to directly upload and sell content in the Kindle Store through the self-service Kindle publishing platform. Today, Amazon announced that it is inviting software developers to build and upload active content that will be available in the Kindle Store later this year. The new Kindle Development Kit gives developers access to programming interfaces, tools and documentation to build active content for Kindle–the #1 bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product across all categories on Amazon. Developers can learn more about the Kindle Development Kit today at http://www.amazon.com/kdk/ and sign up to be notified when the limited beta starts next month.

“We’ve heard from lots of developers over the past two years who are excited to build on top of Kindle,” said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities–we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent.”

The Kindle Development Kit enables developers to build active content that leverages Kindle’s unique combination of seamless and invisible 3G wireless delivery over Amazon Whispernet, high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like real paper, and long battery life of seven days with wireless activated. For example, Handmark is building an active Zagat guide featuring their trusted ratings, reviews and more for restaurants in cities around the world, and Sonic Boom is building word games and puzzles.

“As the leading worldwide publisher of mobile games, EA Mobile has had the privilege of collaborating with many dynamic and innovative companies in bringing exciting gaming experiences to new platforms,” says Adam Sussman, Vice President of Worldwide Publishing, EA Mobile. “Working with Amazon, we look forward to bringing some of the world’s most popular and fun games to Kindle and their users.”

Starting next month, participants in the limited beta will be able to download the Kindle Development Kit, access developer support, test content on Kindle, and submit finished content. Those wait-listed will be invited to participate as space becomes available. The Kindle Development Kit includes sample code, documentation, and the Kindle Simulator, which helps developers build and test their content by simulating the 6-inch Kindle and 9.7-inch Kindle DX on Mac, PC, and Linux desktops.

A lot of folks are clamoring for a Kindle 3.  Some want to bring the current crop of Kindles (US, Int’l) up to par with the nook, others to add multi-usage functionality and the rest seemingly because they believe that hardware should refresh every year.

I’m not in any of the above camps.  As far as I’m concerned, the fact that the Kindle is an electronic book doesn’t mean that it automatically has to be updated annualy like most electronics.  Its not a netbook nor a tablet.  When using it for general reading purposes, the current Kindle gives most eReaders exactly what they need–a device that lets you read comfortably for hours with adjustable fonts and the ability to purchase new books.  The current form factor is still relevant and the menus are easy to use even for technophobes with no computer necesarry for full use of any feature.

We don’t need another Kindle, we need some software updates.

Account Sharing

Update how accounts can be shared.  Right now, up to 6 Kindles can be shared on one account.  The problem with that is everyone on the account can see and download all previous purchases and buy new items on the credit card associated with that account.  We need the ability to set account limits on both books and purchases.

Limited Book Access – Let a Kindle be added to an account, but allow us to limit which books can be accessed.  I may share my account with my daughter, but don’t want to give her access to my entire library.  We should be able to set which books are available to various Kindles on a single account.

Limit Purchases – In addition, I may want to limit or deny purchase access on the account.  I may give my daughter a set amount to spend weekly or monthly since my account is linked to my credit card.  Better yet, allow the Kindle to be linked to a gift certificate only–without the credit card backup requirement.

Security

We need a simple password option.  And make the option–optional.  That would help when a Kindle is lost; the finder would be more likely to turn it in since they couldn’t use it.

Organization

This has already been promised for 2010.  Frankly, with over 300 Amazon ebooks and about 150 personal ones, I’ve already got an organziation scheme worked out in Calibre, but man would it be nice to be able to get all the sampled books out of my way an into some sort of TBR pile on the device. Or sort series. Or sort personal docs. Or filter genres.  You get the picture.

Epub Format

This would allow use of the public library features that are availlable on other devices and purchases from other ebook stores.  I understand that Amazon is in the business of making money on purchases from it’s own store so I wouldn’t be to surprised if this never happens, but for some users, this is a must have.

Better PDF support

Bleh.  PDF is a crappy format for the 6″ screen, but since they’ve got it, it needs to be improved.  Some of the type is so small I have to grab the reading glasses that I gave up since I got my Kindle.  Its also just okay on the DX.  They’ll have to use their own imagination to come up with making this look better.

More Fonts

While the font sizes on the Kindle are great, there really needs to be more selection of the font choices, not everyone likes the default (and only) font.  I have used the font hack and from the number of them out there, users want other choices.

Custom Screensavers

This one is as puzzling to me as the iPhone not allowing custom themes–what were they thinking?!  Of course people want to use their own images..nothing more to say on that.

All of the above features added onto the current crop of Kindle 2s would make the Kindle almost perfect in my book.  Whats interesting to me is how none of the new eReaders on the market seem to have gotten it completely right (the QUE comes pretty close, though).  Everybody is missing something.  Guys, this is NOT rocket science–there are plenty of forums out there that are asking for the same things.

Kindle 3 Possibilities - On the other hand, if Amazon wants to come out with additional hardware designs, here’s a couple more hints.

Kindle-lite

Offer my husband a much cheaper Kindle to upload all his personal books, documents and articles on.  No wireless, no keyboard.  Just a device to upload all his stuff onto, or better yet, a device that only has wireless to the Kindle store for a lot less money.  Some of us only use the wireless for purchasing and never access the internet.

Kid-Kindles

A coworker recently told me that his son loves to read on the Kindle, but the current form factor is too fragile for him to loan it without supervision.  Offer a sturdier device for the kiddies.

All in all, Amazon really doesn’t have a huge mountain to climb in the eReader world.  They’re already doing a pretty good job–they just need to take some notes of the Kindle wish lists.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my vamps and shifters as much as the next gal (gal!?), but where have all the wizards and castles and political intrigue and precocious apprentices gone?  There seems to be a serious lack of irritable dwarves and evil orcs.  I am starving for a taste of real world building magic–real ‘classic’ LOTR-type fantasy.

Yeah, yeah, I know, Rothfuss and GRRM seem to have terminal writers’ block and those ‘next’ installments are coming soon (rolls eyes), Weeks and Sanderson seem to be riding their waves and more power to them, but where is anybody else?  Not your slash (sword) and sorcery books, but some real old-fashioned, deep plot, fully characterized EPIC FANTASY.

The last straight fantasy that I read was Full Circle by Pamela Freeman and that was back in November; I’ve got nothing new to add to my wish list and the stuff already on there is kinda marginal at best.  I’ve resorted to searching out old series–and believe me, the Kindle pickings have gotten pretty thin. I used to be able to troll the YA sections, but after Twilight (gag), well, you get the picture.

I like Urban Fantasy, I really do. But I seriously need a break from all the self-absorbed, angst-ridden, but kick-ass, all-the-guys-really-love-me, let me jump on my Harley women.  I want a promising teen stuck helping an old, but wise wizard who dies while passing on the magic secrets that will save the world, I want some kingly assassination plots, I want some dragons, dammit!

I need some magic in my life.  Can anyone help?