One of the main problems with dedicated ereaders, especially when it comes to Kindles, is the fact that they are often designed to lock you into one specific store.
Wouldn’t it be great if other companies could build ereaders that support Kindle ebooks instead of just Amazon?
Any company can put out a phone or a tablet that runs the Kindle app flawlessly, but when it comes to E Ink devices that same premise doesn’t apply, and it really doesn’t make any sense when you think about it.
There are a few ereaders, like the ones from Onyx, that run Android and can install the Kindle app, among other reading apps, but the Kindle app isn’t designed for E Ink screens so it doesn’t run as smoothly as an actual Kindle device, and there are more limitations, like not being able to use custom fonts or adding boldness.
If Amazon’s main goal is to sell ebooks, then why do they limit people to using Kindles only if they want a pleasant reading experience on an E Ink screen?
Wouldn’t it make a lot more sense to offer a Kindle app that is designed specifically for E Ink devices? Then any company could put out an Android ereader with an officially supported Kindle app that runs as smoothly as an actual Kindle.
At this point in time, I would bet that far more people use a Kindle app on a phone or tablet than an actual Kindle ereader to read ebooks. So why limit those customers to devices with LCD screens only?
Amazon didn’t release a single new Kindle device in 2023, and outside of the Kindle Scribe, Kindle developments have slowed to a crawl over the past several years, as Amazon clearly doesn’t have as much interest in Kindles as they used to in the past. Instead of coming out with something new, Amazon is still selling the Kindle Oasis from 2019, even though it’s been outdated for years now, and they can’t even be bothered to add a USB-C port to it like they did with the $99 basic Kindle in 2022.
It sure would be great if other companies could pick up the slack and offer devices that run a custom Kindle app designed for E Ink.
I wish Apple would create an E ink device with page turn buttons and would be able to read all Kindle, Kobo and Nook formats. In my opinion, Apple has been more successful in their device creations than the other companies. If they would design an E ink device like that it would be fantastic. Not all of us have computers and want to go thru the DRM removal process. Reading on an Ipad screen tires the eyes quicker and I am tired of having to carry or charge three different E-ink devices to read my library. My ebook journey started with Sony, Ebookwise, Nook, Kindle and now my favorite Kobo brand so I have a lot of books all of different reader formats. An E ink device that could read all formats without having to download an app for each and would just list all of the books in your library regardless of where they came from would be my ultimate dream device. I know about Calibre but I do not own a computer and do not want to mess with mechanics of stripping DRM. I know it will never happen in my lifetime, but it is nice to dream about such a device.
Apple is good second example of monopolistic practices. They don’t allow any other companies either in their ecosystem and that’s all to control the market. So no that would be the wrong direction.
I think android is decent workaround with kindle app.
The problem with Apple doing an e-reader is that it would be ultra expensive. And more BS ecosystem lock in. No thanks.
It would be even better if Amazon sold ebooks that could be read on all the already existing ereaders. At least with Kobo also using Adobe DRM, you can read their ebooks on pretty much everything except Kindles without bothering to remove DRM.
I’ve got the computer and Calibre but it’s all greek to me. I’ve had Kindles for over a decade I think. I’ve just ordered a Sage. I’d like to read my 5,997 Kindle books in the Sage but haven’t been able to learn greek (Calibre). Not even positive that would do it. I also just want the unicorn device.
I just want all DRM to go away. I liberate all my purchased books but read on my old Kindles. I need buttons preferably on both side so that is what drives my reading device choice. Setting Calibre up to remove the Amazon DRM was a bit tricky and removing the Nook DRM was even trickier for me so I understand people not wanting to do it.
As I always remove the DRM from all my purchased ebooks on principle and to make my own backups, I don’t really care about a device that can read multiple formats. I just convert as needed and read on whatever eink device I currently like. I don’t read library books, because I want to own what I read. I seldom borrowed from library even when I still read on paper.
I thought the Amazon cheap devices are the bait for enclosing the customers inside its walled garden. Wich company would make ereaders so cheap without the bookstore gains?
It feels as Amazon is trying to change their hardware strategy completely. We’ve got way less devices from Amazon in 2023 then the previous years (see also firetv, Echo …).
Another perspective on the kindle: With kindle and kindle paperwhite, Amazon still has one of the best e-readers on the market. There is no better overall reader just for reading books. If their goal is to give their customers a flawless reading experience, then missions accomplished.
Of course, if you are a tech gadget person (like me), you wish zu have more upgrades and variations. I can imagine, that higher priced e-book reader with more features like extra buttons or colored inks are not selling that well. At the end, the whole e-book market is really small.
I just read, that Tolino (the biggest german competitor for Kindle) just sold 5 million devices in 10 years. That is not much. I can’t imagine that other Countries have a bigger e-reader demand. Therefore it’s really niche.
Personally, I would really wish to have a new Oasis as I would love to get real buttons on my reader. For a second I thought to buy a PocketBook Era. But it’s not really better than my Paperwhite and I would sacrifice my comfort with the kindle store. Buying Oasis is stupid as it’s really old tech….
So at the end, I stick with my money and continue reading on my Paperwhite… 😉
I would think that Amazon is probably allowing the ebook market to mature after releasing the Scribe. Many people were confused about how the Scribe fits in the market and what it can do for them. If they had come out with a newer version, it would probably just add confusion to what is out there. Put the product out there, let people discover how it fits in their lives, get feedback and then put out an upgraded model. Probably why they don’t put out 10 devices per year like Boox does. I disagree that Amazon doesn’t care about kindles. It is allowing it to mature before putting out new models. Mature from the user’s perspective and from their own perspective as they develop the ecosystem to support the device. Keep in mind that when getting a kindle you also get the online support. Something other ereaders don’t have. One of the main reasons why I choose kindle over kobo.
Well, some of us want online support, others don’t. I don’t want the mother company dictate to me how I should use my ereader, like Amazon does. That’s why I choose Kobo over Kindle.
As to helping with device problems, both Amazon and Kobo are equally useless there. It’s other users who have helped me in both cases.
A 14 inch dual screen Scribe at a right pricepoint would benefit musicians.
Gvido was good, but too pricey.
I hate that my Xbox doesn’t allow me to play playstation games. Oh, that’s right. Playstation doesn’t allow Xbox games. How about Nintendo? Hey, how about having apple allowing android apps. We could go on and on.
The way I solved what I call the Amazon Kindle problem was just buying a cheap basic Amazon Kindle back in 2017. ($79). This allowed me to read Amazon Kindle books easily with the Kindle, and everything else including public domain ePub books with my other e-reader.
So cheap second Amazon e-reader to get Kindle file compatibility.
I read my Kindle purchases on my Kobos, like all my other ebooks.