My Kindle Stuff

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.