Kindle Review – Kindle Fire Review, Kindle 4 Review

This is all hypothetical – the only Kindle App I’m committing to coding if an App Store actually comes out  is one for Folders. 

However, my 1 year of covering the Kindle puts me in a position to share some ideas that I hope star coders and hackers like Igor and Kovid will implement (again hypothetical because there is no Kindle App Store). Here’s the list -

Kindle 2 SpeedReading App

This is a personal favourite because I went from reading around 300 words a minute to 800-1000 words a minute, and it really is exceedingly simple.

The central idea of speed reading is -

We are taught to read by speaking, and we also read/see the text inefficiently. This combines into really slowing down how fast we read. By eliminating reading by speaking (sub-vocalization) and seeing/reading poorly (regression and poor fixations), we can switch from reading by speaking to reading by seeing.  

Having a Speed Reading Trainer Application would mean that in a few days to a few weeks, any user could learn speed reading. Whether you look at it as saving time or reading more books, it really is a killer app. Here’s a reading speed test online.

Kindle 2 Folders App

The Kindle 2 User Guide shows that there is no Folder functionality – you instead have a very hacky Show Options and Sort Options mini-feature that allows some basic level of managing views. This is disappointing. On the plus side, if and when Kindle 2 App Store is opened, we know one App that’s definitely going to be a hit.

I’d put in three main features into a Folders App -

1. Folders. Obviously. Letting users create whatever folders they want while also providing a few standard folders like – Books, Audio books, Music, etc.
2. Tags – To link together files based on criteria other than file type and folder placement.  So you can link together all your cookbooks, and all the books of a series or by a particular author.
3. Libraries like Windows 7 has. It’s an amazingly cool feature. I’ll try to work in a video later. It basically lets you reach all files of a particular type from one place – so on the Kindle 2 that would translate to having one path to access all mp3 files and audio files across any folder. Think of it as a giant Tag where Tag=type of file, and the view shows folders rather than files.  
   

   Kindle Folders Feature with Windows 7 Libraries

 Kindle 2 Music App

I think it’s criminal to put a portable device in a person’s hands and not build in a flexible music app. Dennis pointed out how even basic features like playlists and controls were missing in Kindle 1. It actually extends to more than that -

1. I think the Kindle ought to be linked to Amazon’s MP3 store. If direct downloads over WhisperNet are too expensive, there should be an app for easy transfers from your PC.
2. There should be the option to tag songs with moods and normal tags, and then have the Kindle play songs based on the mood you select.

A Non-Experimental Browser

Let Amazon charge $10 a month from people who want unrestricted internet access, and supply a full fledged browser. Support for -

1. Mobile versions of the main mail sites. This is doable in the Kindle – however, it’s too messy. 
2. Support for JavaScript (and not just in advanced mode).
3. Support for Flash. 

Kindle 2 Shopping App

This is simple – extend Amazon’s iPhone App to the kindle. Or perhaps someone can create something like Zoomii or WindowShop for the Kindle 2. BTW, if you really plan on taking 2 years to do it, drop me a note and I’ll let you know why that’s a very bad idea. 

Kindle 2 Shopping App - on 1

Kindle 2 In-Built Social Network 

I’ll point out that BookSummit Mobile is accessible via WhisperNet. However what we really need is a social network that stores user data on the user’s device and ensures user privacy. That would mean -

1. Your device has your profile and your friends list. 
2. The connection and all interactions are stored on the device and not on-line. 
3. It’s a 24/7 connection.
4. Lets you share out your actual Kindle BookShelf and create additional wishlists and additional shelves.

Supported by a web based interface where you can optionally keep a profile.

Kindle 2 Photos App.

A few basic things here -

1. A PC component that lets you convert any photo to a Kindle compatible version so you can use it on the Kindle.
2. On the Kindle, the main component to view photos easily and quickly. 
3. Ability to take any image found on-line and save it, or to convert it to Kindle 2 Screen Saver format.  
4. Built in Screen-Saver App that lets you pick and choose what photos are used and a few basic settings for order, frequency etc.

Do take a look at Alex Yatskov’s software that lets you create manga books for the kindle and can also be used to create Kindle 2 suited images.

On-Board PDF to Kindle Format Converter

A converter software that exists on the Kindle and can do an on-board conversion between various formats.

What goes into Kindle 2′s .6 GB OS?

So, if the Kindle has 2GB capacity and only 1.4GB is available,that means that the OS takes up .6GB. That’s a lot. I really hope that includes some cool features.

A few thoughts on Storage Capacity

The decision to remove the SD card slot really begins to have an impact when you consider adding Kindle Apps. If I want to have apps, books, music, photos, and documents on the Kindle, 1.4 GB runs out awfully fast. The more I think about it, the stranger this decision seems.

Finally, I feel that I’m still thinking in the box – features like WhisperSync and mobility and WhisperNet afford us the opportunity to create absolutely amazing features. Looking at some of the features the apple iPhone’s accelerometer has enabled hints at what WhisperNet and WhisperSync could lead to.

Filed under: kindle