Will the next generation Kindle be an “iPad lite?” It’s hard to tell, but Amazon needs to address many issues to keep people from jumping ships and going to Apple and other Amazon Kindle competitors. Amazon is not going to deliver everything its customers are asking for. But it is likely that the company will be bringing color and video capability to the next generation Kindle. Taiwan-based Prime View International, which recently acquired E-ink, has recently displayed its color e-paper screens in a trade-show in Asia. While that doesn’t necessarily mean that Amazon will be on board, there is no logical reason for Amazon to not introduce a color screen Kindle.

Amazon and B&N both seem to have gotten a look at this technology. Let’s face it. B&N is not going to sit around and allow Apple iPad to become the top dog in the e-reader market. Not without a fight. Besides, the company has already a color navigation on its Nook. So it’s not too hard to see why the company may be exploring ways to add a color screen to Nook 2. The issue with Kindle is a bit different. Amazon was testing color screen Kindles a few months ago. It just did not find a way to manufacture such a device while keeping it affordable.

The technology has come a long way since a couple of years ago, and the prices have been falling. So while adding a color screen to Kindle will keep Amazon from dropping its prices, it certainly shouldn’t add much to the current prices. Amazon does not need to duplicate iPad features to stay successful with Kindle. It just has to listen to what it customers have been asking all along. The company did drop the ball by not introducing its SDK sooner. But it will get its shot at redemption with Kindle 3.0

There are two ways Amazon can go in this regard. It can make Kindle 3.0 an iPad clone with all kinds of bells and whistles. Or it can stay true to its customers and add features that truly add to their reading experience. Let’s hope the company makes the right choice here.

We knew Amazon was working on Kindle for Mac a while ago. The wait is finally over and the company has announced its Kindle software for Mac platform. Kindle of PC and Kindle for Blackberry have given us a taste of what Kindle software is all about. Kindle for Mac provides you with similar features (though it’s still in beta and does not do everything). According to Amazon, here are some of the features that are available in this software:

Purchase, download, and read hundreds of thousands of books available in the Kindle Store

Access their library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon’s servers for free

Choose from 10 different font sizes and adjust words per line

Add and automatically synchronize bookmarks and last page read

View notes and highlights marked on Kindle, Kindle DX, and Kindle for iPhone

Read books in full color including children’s books, cookbooks, travel books and textbooks

The software is not perfect. It is still in beta and does not allow for full text search and note/highlight management. Amazon does promise to bring those features to the software in the near future. While this software will not give Amazon Kindle platform a huge boost, it does complete the Kindle software family.We still don’t know when Amazon is planning to introduce Kindle for Android. But according to its latest press release, Amazon is working on Kindle for iPad. Apparently, that is going to be optimized for iPad to give iPad owners a richer reading experience.

Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, PC and Mac, and soon the iPad.

This statement also reveals Amazon’s long term strategy. For now, Amazon has focused on its hardware and has sold a decent number of Kindles in the past couple of years. However, the company seems to be moving away from hardware business and focusing more on software. In some way, Kindle 3 could be the last stand for Amazon in the hardware business. Since Amazon doesn’t release too much information about its Kindle sales, it’s tough to know how much money it is making from each unit on average (counting e-book sales). So it’s tough to predict what Amazon will do with its Kindle hardware. It certainly would be a mistake to move away from e-paper technology at this point just to compete with Apple iPad.

The iPad is not an e-book reader. At least it’s not designed to be. But Kindle for iPad will make the device even more formidable. The market will still have room for more affordable e-readers, and that’s where Amazon needs to focus on. Could free Kindles be in the cards? That’s something we will have to wait and see.

Many of us don’t want to worry about how we’d go about repairing our gadgets at the very time we are picking them up. But at some point things can go wrong, and it is essential to know how you are going to get your device repaired or replaced by the manufacturer. Amazon Kindle customers had a lot of issues getting their devices repaired in Kindle’s early days. Amazon did not have a Kindle repair service when it introduced the device to the market. That led to a lot of confusion and people complaining about the service they were receiving. Fast forward a few years, and you can have your device repaired for $99 fast.

Apple fans have never had to deal with that issue. Apple is pretty good at taking care of its customers. You can always take your device to an Apple store and have it repaired for you (hopefully when it’s under warranty). The iPad case is very interesting. The device does not come with a user-replaceable battery. So you are going to have to send your device to Apple to get your battery issues fixed. The price? It’s going to cost you $99 + s/h. What if you want to replace your iPad battery yourself? Be prepared to void your device’s warranty.

This is clearly a bad move by Apple. It’s nice to have the possibility to have a defective iPad battery replaced for $99. In fact, Apple replaces you device with a brand new one for that price. The bad news is we do not know how long the battery will last and for how long it can keep its charge. We are not talking about Kindle-like battery life here. So if your device’s battery can’t hold charge for as long as it’s supposed to, you are going to have some issues.

This is still better than what we used to get with Kindle. But these companies need to start offering user-replaceable batteries at this point. It is more convenient to replace your device’s battery than having your unit replaced with a new unit. It may be cheaper too. Will your iPad even hold charge for 10 hours as advertised by Apple? That’s another story for another day.

So how do you beat Apple iPad and your other competitors in their own game? Apparently, the answer for Amazon seems to be a new browser at this point. Amazon is still milking Kindle 2 for as long as it can, but most experts acknowledge that third generation Kindle’s release date  is not too far away. Amazon’s experiment with that old browser seems to have failed to say the least. It’s true that you can surf the Internet and even tweet and fb from a Kindle. But you certainly can’t do everything. Besides, Kindle’s browser is clunky and not modern by any means. That could explain why Amazon is looking for developers who can give Kindle browser a whole new look. Here is what the job description entails:

The Role:

• Design and implement new features on the Browser.
• Support and maintain the implementations of the current Browser.
• Preparation of technical requirements, software design specifications and other forms of documentation.

It’s interesting to note that Amazon is not talking about a “new” browser per se. It seems the project is all about improving the existing browser. Amazon is thinking about dropping E-ink and going full color with Kindle 3. If that were the case, the good old Kindle browser won’t do. But it’d be nice for Amazon to offer a browser upgrade to its existing Kindle customers. One thing is clear however. Amazon needs to step of its game and listen to its customers if it wants to keep Kindle going strong. The new Kindle need not be an iPad clone. It just needs to deliver on things Amazon Kindle customers have been asking for months.

Your take: can a new browser save Amazon Kindle? What features would you like to see in that browser?

1. iPad Keyboard: the one iPad accessory that I am excited about the most. It not only charges your iPad but lets you use your iPad more like a real computer. It’d be fun to be able to type and blog on the go without having to deal with a virtual keyboard.

2. TrendyDigital WaterGuard Waterproof Case: a water proof case that protects you iPad when you are on the go or lying at the beach. It’s supposed to protect your iPad against water, dust, dirt, sand and other elements.

3. E-volve reversible neoprene sleeve case cover for iPad: a reversible sleeve that protects your iPad against everyday wear and tear and gives it a colorful look and feel.

4. Skooba Design Netbook/iPad Messenger: if you happen to be looking for a messenger bag for your iPad, Skooba’s iPad messenger is an affordable option to consider. It’s compatible with your netbook as well.

5. Apple iPad Case: the official case for Apple iPad. It’s not the cheapest option on the market, but it does make it convenient to use your iPad at home or on the go. It folds all the way back to let you use your device without having to take it out.

6. Micro Car Charger for Apple iPad: a cool travel accessory for Apple iPad. It works with North American and International voltage standards and protects your device and car as well.

7. Apple iPad Dock: the official dock for Apple iPad. You can use it to charge your iPad, sync it with your computer, and connect a speaker to your dock.

8. iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter: a must have adapter that comes in handy if you want to connect your iPad to a TV, monitor, projector, or monitor. Great for reading documents or presenting right from your iPad.

9. Wall Charger Direct for Apple iPad: a pretty simple accessory for your iPad that lets you charge your device from the comfort of your home. It works well on the go as well and is ready for international travel.

10. Scratch Defense Neoprene Sleeve for the Apple iPad: an affordable protective sleeve for your iPad that keeps the scratches out and doesn’t burn a whole in your pocket. You can take your accessories with you with this sleeve.

This piece is a work in progress, so feel free to suggest more iPad accessories in the comment section. Stay tunes as more accessories are added to this list.

Samsung E60 eReader comes with features that you can find in most e-readers on the market. The company is banking on the device’s lending capability, B&N’s content, and its tablet capabilities to differentiate itself from others in this market (you can see a demonstration of the device in the above video). But the price is going to be a killer for it at this point. E60 is clearly inferior to Nook and Kindle, yet it costs $299, which is higher than both devices. Considering that Kindle and Nook will get upgrades in the next few months and with the emergence of the iPad, it’s tough to see what Samsung is planning with E60.

I don’t know about you but I still remember the day I ordered Amazon Kindle 1. I was one of many people who ordered the device as soon as it came out. It’s true that it took Amazon weeks to ship out the device and many of us did not know what exactly we were getting with Amazon Kindle. But the chance to play with a decent e-book reader was too much to resist. Fast forward a couple of years, and we are at the same point again, this time with Apple iPad. Apple iPad is not a pure e-book reader. It does not take advantage of E-ink technology and is certainly not as energy efficient as a Sony Reader or Kindle. Nevertheless, it is expected to outsell Amazon Kindle in a fairly short period of time thanks to the power of Apple’s marketing machine.

With Kindle, we knew we were getting an e-book reader. It was a fairly one-dimensional device designed for those who wanted to move away from paper books to e-books. The iPad is a whole other animal. It’s a multi-purpose device that can be used as an e-book reader, a gaming gadget, or a business management tool. While many are expected to pre-0rder the device today, that seems a bit risky to me. For starters, we don’t really know what we are getting with the iPad. Apple has been secretive about the capabilities and restrictions of the device. The fact that you can only order the WiFi model today is not good news either.

The iPad is expected to provide publishers with a whole new platform for dynamic content and multi-media books. The device is certainly shiny and has the looks. Unfortunately, it seems many early iPad adopters are picking up the device for that reason alone. Quite frankly, pre-ordering a device that we just don’t know too much about this early on is not a smart move. The demand for the device could be so high that some of us may have to wait a few additional weeks to get our hands on it. If you are looking for an e-book reader, chances are you can wait a bit longer just to make sure the iPad is what you are looking for.

Let’s not forget Apple’s track-record either. The iPhone 1.0 was not what I’d call a perfect device. Many glitches were found in the device and some popular features were missing as well. The same can be said about the iPad. We are still not sure whether Apple is going to add a web-cam to the iPad. There are many unanswered questions about Apple’s content partnerships as well. Some of these questions may be answered in the next few weeks, so it may be smart to wait a bit longer to know more about the iPad. If the device is as good as Apple claims it to be, it’ll be worth the wait.

Will you be pre-ordering the iPad? Why or why not?

Credit: PC World

As Apple gears up towards releasing the iPad next month, its competitors are scrambling to come up with their own solutions to keep up with the company. We already know that Amazon is working on Kindle Touch (though no release date has been announced). The company is not stopping there. Amazon has no intention of going head to head against Apple alone. That’s why its forming partnership with other Apple competitors to mount a more serious challenge against Apple’s new creation. It seems Dell and Amazon have joined hands to bring Amazon Kindle to Dell Mini 5 (an Android tablet that aims to take on the iPad). Dell’s tablet is expected to have access to Amazon books, mp3 content, and videos.

This move shows that Amazon may be ready to finally bring its Kindle program to Android platform. The fact that Dell tablet owners can use their Kindle’s 3G connection to connect to Amazon store without any fees is a big plus as well. Dell’s best bet is to position itself as a more affordable solution than iPad for those interested in tablets. But no-one expects Dell to stop Apple in its tracks. The move does show Amazon is willing to compromise and join hands with other Apple rivals to bring its Kindle platform to as many devices as possible.

Amazon Kindle for Android may not be out yet, but that seems to be the next logical move by Amazon. Will Amazon bring its Kindle app to iPad? Now that’s something we have to wait to find out.

Every Kindle fan has been wondering how Amazon is going to respond to Apple iPad. The iPad is not an e-book reader and does not take advantage of E-Ink screen technology. But the device has the marketing power of Apple behind it. The fact that there will be thousands of apps available for the device in iTunes does not hurt either. We already know that Amazon intends to release Kindle Touch in the near future but is it all a little too late?

Amazon has real reasons to be nervous about Apple iPad. Apple intends to manufacture 5 million units in the first half of 2010, and it could pass Kindle’s sales mark in just 3 months. While it may take Apple more than 3 months to beat Kindle numbers (3 million), the iPad is widely expected to become the next king of the hill in the e-reader market. The iPad may not be the best e-book reader on the market, but that won’t matter as Apple has positioned the device as “cool” and “revolutionary.” The curiosity factor is certainly there for many consumers.

Amazon is going to feel the heat from Apple iBooks as well. Apple has been working with content publishers to bring exclusive content and low e-book prices to iPad customers. e-books are expected to generate a significant amount of revenue for Apple, so it’s no wonder analysts are so upbeat about the company’s future.

Apple iPad is not going to be the best pure e-book reader on the market. It will be in the mix though. It may not take advantage of E-ink technology, but it has the potential to provide more value to its owners than Kindle or Nook. Let’s hope Amazon does its homework and develops a Kindle 3 that can hold its own against the iPad. It’d be truly a shame for Amazon to let this market slip through its fingers. The good news is whatever happens, e-book fans win in the end.

Your turn: will you be picking up an iPad when it’s released to the market? Why or why not?

iZel: the most innovative stand for iPhone, Kindle, and most other portable gadgets that you may have. It’s very well designed and makes it so easy to multi-task.

M-Edge FlexStand Kindle Bookstand: a super flexible stand for Kindle 2 by M-edge, which happens to manufacture some of the best cases for Kindle. It’s light-weight and portable too.

Mivizu Hard Candy Kindle 2 Case and Stand: a thin case and a Kindle stand fit all into one accessory. It’s quite portable and provides protection against scratches as well.

Tuff-Luv Napa Leather case cover: a case/stand hybrid that is not only very attractive but makes it so easy to read your Kindle on your desk. It keeps your gadget vertically stand still and is a super case as well.

M-edge Platform Jacket for Kindle 2: another decent case for Kindle that acts as a vertical stand for your Kindle as well. So you hit multiple targets with one stone.

Insight Adjustable Book & Copy Holder: a cool stand that can not only hold your Kindle but your regular books as well. It’s very affordable and solid. Supports both landscape and portrait viewing modes.

OCTO Metal Stand for Amazon Kindle 2: a very solid metal stand for Kindle 2. You can use it to charge your Kindle while you are reading your newspaper or doing other things on your Kindle.

Cyncronix Adjustable Kindle Stand: one of the most flexible Kindle stands on the market. It’s super thin (1 mm), and its angle can be adjusted easily.

The above stands are handy accessories to use your Kindle at your office or home more conveniently. They hold your Kindle still and safe, allowing you to get more reading done.

Your turn: what’s your favorite Kindle stand?