K.indled

We all remember a few months ago Discovery Channel’s parent company filed a lawsuit against Amazon Kindle for infringing on a patent that was owned by it. Authors Guild also put some pressure on Amazon to remove Read-2-Me from Amazon Kindle 2. The latest lawsuit involves National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Council of the Blind (ACB) suing Arizona State University for using Kindle to distribute book on discrimination ground. Amazon Kindle does come with Read 2 Me which can read the books to folks with disability (which ironically was challenged by Authors Guild).

This is one of the issues that Amazon needs to address fast. You can’t expect someone who’s blind to be able to get her reading done on a Kindle without making it easier to manage the controls. I firmly believe that a voice-command capable Kindle can solve a lot of these issues. If Amazon wants universities to adopt Kindle as their main method of distributing books, it needs to make it possible for everyone to use Kindle. That would involve Amazon standing firm behind its Read-to-Me feature on Kindle while developing voice commands for the device (similar to what GPS devices offer these days). A voice-command capable Kindle shouldn’t be that much more expensive as the technology is pretty mainstream and used on all kinds of gadgets.

I am all for equal opportunity for all, and it’s truly unfair that a few people can’t get the experience of reading books on Kindle. The good news is, Amazon is in a position to do something about it, and my hunch is it probably will.

Amazon Kindle may be a fairly young product line, but it hasn’t stopped accessory manufacturers from moving in and developing some cool cases for Kindle. There are really two types of cases for Kindle if you think about it. The lower-end cases are more designed to keep your Kindle secure but do not exactly set the world on fire when it comes to looks and fashion. The upper-end cases on the other hand require a premium but they do make your Kindle look like a super gadget. These premium Kindle cases are not that affordable and not for everyone, but if you are into fashion, the latest trends, and so on, you should consider going in that route.

With that in mind, here are 5 stylish Kindle cases that can make your Kindle look like a million dollar gadget:

1. Cole Haan Hand-Woven Patent Leather Cover: what can I say. A stunning leather case for Kindle 2.0 that is not cheap by any means. But it’s one of the best looking cases for Kindle, and that’s what we expect from Cole Haan products. Great Kindle case for executives.

2. OCTO Vintage Leather Book Cover: a Kindle case for the sophisticated. This leather case not only protects your gadget, it makes it look great as well. I would say it’s very close to Cole Haan’s case (as far as the looks are concerned).

3. Piel Frama Amazon Kindle 2 Premium case: a handcrafted Spanish leather case that is very slim as well. Has got the looks and protects your gadget well.

4. Tuff-Luv Napa Leather case: an elegant looking case for Kindle 2.0 that is very solid as well. Tuff-Luv is known for creating tough cases, and this is certainly one of them. But unlike most tough cases, this one is easy on the eye too.

5. OCTO Kindle 2 Leather Slip Cover: it’s just fitting that 2 OCTO cases make it to this list. OCTO’s cases are all trendy. This one is made out of Italian Leather. It’s slim and light.

There are plenty of other stylish cases out there for Kindle but these 5 stand out. They are not cheap by any means, but if you are into fashion, you are not looking for a cheap option.

Your take: what’s your favorite case on this list?

You’ve got to love the E Ink technology. Surely, it hasn’t reached its full potential, but as it is, E Ink still has many applications other than the one most people have heard about (Kindle). E Ink Electronic Coach Playboard is a nice concept that shows where Kindle is headed as well. Unlike Kindle, this devices comes with a touchscreen screen that lets coaches draw their next plan on their board. So they no longer need a small whiteboard to get the job done. But what’s more exciting about this playboard is the fact that it comes loaded with information for multiple sports. That means whether you are a soccer coach, a basketball coach, or both, you can use this playboard to draw up your plans and guide your team.

What I like about this board is the fact that you can replay the instructions for your players until they understand what you have in mind. Besides, the battery life is expected to be decent as well. E Ink has been essential to Amazon Kindle’s success, and it will continue to be to new, innovative gadgets. You don’t have to be an e-book manufacturer to get the most out of E-ink. There are plenty of other gadgets that can be developed using E Ink technology. Electronic Coach Playboard just happens to be one of the most fun concepts around.

Your take: if you were to design an E Ink based gadget, what would it be?

A lot of analysts have talked about how Amazon needs to go international and global with its Kindle to truly build a true super gadget. Apple has done it with iPhone, and it was just a matter of time before Amazon started doing it as well. Amazon Kindle is expected to ship in Europe later this month in an attempt by Amazon to take market-share away from Sony Reader. But things are not as easy as they seem. While Apple has take iPhone to many markets around the world, Kindle has hit a major wall with German wireless carriers. It seems not every wireless carrier is as generous as Sprint when it comes to providing free wireless service to Amazon Kindle owners.

So Amazon will skip Germany and focus on other large European markets. That still doesn’t mean it will all be a smooth sailing for Amazon. Amazon need to really think about exporting a different pricing structure to Europe. The business model that has worked in the U.S., will probably hit a few other snags along the way. Sprint had no way of knowing how popular Amazon Kindle would become but now companies know the potential and will certainly ask for better deals. Amazon can always ship Kindle without its wireless service to problematic markets, but what’s the point in that?

It’s too early in the game, but we can already see cracks starting to disappear on Amazon’s business model for Kindle in Europe. Maybe Amazon should work on subsidizing the device and letting wireless carriers charge a monthly fee. Amazon could always increase the prices on uploads as well. But it’d be a shame if folks in Germany didn’t get their own Kindle.

I admit, I am a bit surprised about this. But Amazon Kindle DX is sold out again (for the 2nd time in just a few weeks). Kindle DX is certainly a hot gadget these days, but what are we to read about it going out of stock for the 2nd time in a matter of weeks. Could it be that Amazon dropped the ball again with its demand estimations? If you remember, Amazon laid an egg with the first Kindle, and a lot of us had to wait months to get our hands on our gadgets. This time around, Amazon promises the wait time to be 4 to 6 weeks. But that’s still long enough to turn away a few folks.

Kindle DX was released to specifically target college students and business professionals who need larger screens to view their PDF documents. If you are a student, you can probably afford to wait 6 weeks, but it’s not ideal. This is the third time that Amazon has underestimated the demand for its gadget. The question at this point is whether Amazon is being too conservative with its estimates. The times are tough, and it’s reasonable for Amazon to expect less sales in these tough times. But it’s still frustrating for customers to have to wait 6 weeks to get their gadgets. Maybe Amazon could give its customers some sort of compensation to make the waiting process less painful (a couple of free e-books would do). Here is hoping that we don’t have to deal with these issues with Kindle 4.

Your take: will you wait 6 weeks for Kindle DX or is it a deal breaker?

People are finally getting their hands on their Kindle DX and the reviews are coming out. As many experts expected, a lot of people are complaining about Kindle DX being too expensive. It’s true that you get your wireless connection for free, and who can forget about the money you save with e-books. Still, a lot of people are finding it a bit hard to justify paying close to $500 for a device that will last you a couple of years. And surprisingly, a lot of them are still buying Kindle DX (how would you explain Kindle DX being sold out?). The Kindle line has been quite successful for Amazon despite of prices looking too high on the surface. But the question is how can Amazon turn Kindle to next iPod?

Amazon needs to take a page out of Apple’s book. It needs to continue listening to its customers and provide them with innovative features to keep them on their toes. Amazon will probably have to find a way to make Kindle look like a bargain gadget. Think about it. People are paying $1000+ for their iPhones but Apple is making the impression that the device only costs $199. A lot of people don’t seem to take into account the total cost of ownership for these gadgets. I do believe that Amazon can make folks realize the bargain they are getting by coming up with multiple pricing tiers. Why not offer Kindle for free to those who want to pay a monthly fee for the wireless service?

Amazon also needs to get its act together with e-books. Paying $9.99 for an e-book you can sell is just too much. It’s true that Amazon has to take on a lot of costs to get the Kindle ecosystem going, but the e-book prices seem to be a bit high. Why not offer a pricing tier for e-books as well. Amazon can always charge extra for the right to share the book with others. And how about allowing people to rent e-books and pay as they go?

I have talked in the past about the need for Amazon to focus on developing an SDK and adopting new technologies (such as solar to power Kindle). More importantly, Amazon needs to work on Kindle’s image. With all the value that you get from a Kindle, it is a real bargain. Yet, people feel more comfortable paying thousands of dollars to own an iPhone and complain about Kindle being too expensive. I am not suggesting Kindle and iPhone are comparable by any means, but Kindle provides you with a bigger bang for your buck. Amazon needs to show people just that.

Kindle is not a cheap gadget by any means. Whether you own a Kindle 2.0 or Kindle DX, you have to spend a decent amount of money to get your hands on your gadget. So the last thing you want to do is not to get the best out of it. Whether you are obsessed about protecting your Kindle or want to enjoy a better reading experience, there is an accessory out for you. If you are looking to get more out of your Kindle, here are a few must-own Kindle accessories you should own:

1. Stylish Kindle cases: if you intend to take your Kindle on the go to a conference or a business event, you got to have a stylish Kindle case.
2. Tough cases: I can’t tell you how many folks have lost their Kindle to freak accidents. There are a lot of ways to drop your Kindle but all of them lead to one results (your Kindle getting damaged or dying on you). Shock-proof Kindle cases are great to avoid the worst case scenario.
3. Chargers: keeping your Kindle charged during your trips is very important. So, rapid and auto chargers are must own.
4. Stands: Kindle stands are great accessories to enjoy a better reading experience with your Kindle.
5. Portable reading lights: a portable reading light helps you enjoy a better reading experience on the go.
6. Natural reading lights: I can’t tell you how amazing these lights are, especially if you are a serial reader. Natural lights are a must have for home.
7. Earphones: if you plan to listen to audio-books on your Kindle, you are going to need a good pair of  headphones for Kindle.
8. Cables: having a spare set of cables to keep your Kindle charged and transfer data is important too.

There are a lot of small little things you can buy for your Kindle. But I personally focus on protecting my Kindle against drops and the elements. Nothing’s more frustrating than having to deal with a “brick” Kindle.

Your turn: what’s on your list of must own Kindle add-ons?

We have heard a lot in the past about how technologies such as the Internet have helped make the newspaper industry’s business models obsolete. After all, who needs a newspaper when you can get the latest news on the Internet or better yet on a Kindle. HP has watched these companies struggle and has decided to lend a hand with HP Photosmart Premium Internet Printer. This is a cool printer that comes with a bunch of applications that let you print tickets, news, and all kinds of things easily from the web. It also offers its own API and lets you write enhancements for it. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get up every morning and have your RSS feed content printed for you on your desk? That’s exactly what you can do with HP Photosmart Premium.

The device also can connect to your iPhone and let you print content easily from your gadget. That’s another reason for news publishers to be optimistic about this gadget. HP Photosmart Premium is certainly a capable device that is trying to offer an alternative to consumers who are not very comfortable with Kindle yet. But will it succeed? More importantly, will it slow down Amazon Kindle’s momentum?

For a company that prides itself in being innovative and forward looking, this printer seems to be a backward move. While it’s great to have the ability to easily print things from the Internet without going through a hassle, the future lies with Kindle and e-paper devices. HP is smart to use iPhone to sell more of these, but unless HP Photosmart Premium can make papers disappear, it’s not going to be anything but a short-term gadget. There is probably a greater need for this device in the business segment, but the consumer market can and will adopt digital paper technologies much faster. HP Photosmart Premium seems decent enough to gain some market-share, but it won’t be a “game changer” as some have claimed.

A lot of people who I talk to complain about the fragility of their Kindle. Amazon Kindle is a very cool gadget, but it’s so easy to damage it as well, especially if you take it with yourself everywhere. Thankfully, there are many cool cases that can protect your Kindle against the elements, bumps, and scratches. What you don’t want to do is leave things to chances by not investing a bit money to protect your gadget. If you are looking for a shock-proof, water resistant, or anti-scratch case for Kindle, here are 10 cool cases you should consider:

1. OCTO Messenger Bag for Amazon Kindle 2: if you are going to be on the move with your gadget all the time, this is a cool Kindle case to consider.

2. Kindle DX Cube Carrying Case Bag: available for both Kindle and Kindle DX, this case protects your gadget against bumps.

3. Kroo Reversible Sleeve for Amazon Kindle: protects your gadget against bumps.

4. Hard Nylon Carrying Case for Kindle: scratch, bump proof, and water resistant case for Kindle.

5. Neoprane Cute Pocket Carrying Case: another cool case that protects your Kindle against bumps and scratches.

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Kindle has been around for a while now. We have already had 2 generations of Amazon Kindles in the past couple of years, and the device has come a long way in the process. At the same time, when you see what a certain other company has done with its own gadgets, it’s hard not to be jealous. Apple is one of the most innovative companies in the world, but you don’t have to be a genius to realize that. All you have to do is take a look at what it has done with its iPod and iPhone product lines. A while ago, Apple realized that it’s much better to focus on the software side of things to have success in the long run. To its credit, Amazon has also started to focus a bit on software (e.g. Kindle app for iPhone). But we still haven’t seen any indications that Amazon is planning to follow in Apple’s footsteps to develop a SDK of its own.

A Kindle SDK would go a long way towards making Kindle a top gadget for a very long time to come. Unfortunately, the current Kindle code is not anything that would excite programmers. There have been many Kindle hacks and small little 3rd party extensions in the past, but Amazon has not made it easy for programmers to develop their own enhancements for Kindle. It’s understandable that Amazon wants some degree of control over its gadget, but Kindle will never be truly great without a SDK. Who knows what kind of apps people will come up with once they have access to some sort of software development kit.

Let’s hope Amazon does take the chance and trust its community to take its device to the next level. Apple did.

Your take: what enhancement would you develop for Kindle if you had access to an iPhone-like SDK?