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Apple-Amazon e-book slugout ahead? Some possibilities
May 18, 2008 | 1:44 pm
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By David Rothman
“…A slightly larger iPod Touch linked to eBooks distributed via the iTunes store would match and raise the game with Amazon. At that point, Amazon would be competing with the iTunes distribution channel, but with Amazon hardware that looks and feels like it was designed in Soviet-era Russia.” – Rex Hammock (via Peter Brantley).
Related: Ex-Wall Streeter Henry Blodget‘s analysis of Citi analyst’s Mark Mahaney’s statement that Amazon could enjoy $750M in Kindle revenue by 2010. Also see Matthew Ingram’s thoughts.
The TeleRead take: There are so many bleepin’ variables that it’s hard to say how things will shake out. ePub adoption and the death of DRM would help Amazon and Apple alike.
Is it possible that in one sense the entry of Apple into the e-book market could aid Amazon in a bizarre way? Apple could gain an immediate advantage by playing up DRM-free books usable on a number of devices. That in turn would put pressure on Amazon to drop DRM and maybe even think seriously about ePub for the Kindle. It might enjoy a smaller slice of the pie, but still end up with more dough than otherwise.
Memo to Mike Cane: Yeah, yeah, I know. They’re catching up with you on Apple vs. Amazon as an e-book market leader for the long term.
Detail: The nonexistent blown-up iTouch—Photoshop at work?—is from the Hammock site.
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Comments:
I’d love a device like that. I have a PRS 505 and I am increasingly frustrated by its limitations. If they could make an iPhone which is two or three times its current size I’d buy it in a flash.
I don’t think Mr. Hammock knows about Amazon Unbox. It’s a video download service from Amazon. I’ve used it a couple times. It’s very good, and has a decent selection.
I doubt Amazon would tie this device to a competitor. Amazon already sells MP3s and videos. I think all this content is supposed to be sold on the new device.
[...] Mehrwert und damit eine Marktchance zu entwickeln. Man kann natürlich weiterhin einer i-Phone-etc.-Fixierung unterliegen und hoffen, dass man hier durchschlägt, zumal es mittlerweile iPhone-reader gibt. Ob [...]
I don’t think we’ll see something Kindle or Sony Reader sized from Apple right off the bat. Rumors are a 5″ screen, so go start looking at pictures of the HTC Advantage with its 5″ screen.