3 ms·

Plenty of apps don't need rapid refresh, or particularly fancy graphics. Weather apps, stock tickers, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, choose-your-own-adventure type

by gcv 17y ago

Plenty of apps don't need rapid refresh, or particularly fancy graphics. Weather apps, stock tickers, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, choose-your-own-adventure type games (even something like the old Adventure), a note taker, shopping list, fitness tracker... Combine these with the Kindle's wireless cellular link, add a little imagination, and I feel it has potential.

jasonlbaptiste 17y ago
The 15 cents per megabyte charge could be limiting at first. I don't know what an application might use and how frequently, so it might not be a concern at all. If it is, i'm sure the pricing will eventually go down to a number that is so low that it no longer is a concern.
- melling 17y ago
  Let's hope they put wifi in the next gen Kindle's. It's crazy that they left it out.
  - sliverstorm 17y ago
    I absolutely love WiFi, and wish every mobile device had it, but I can easily see how it would appear useless in their original vision for the Kindle. Anything that is useless, is of course cut for cost reasons. Remember, the 3G modem really was only used in the first place so you can seamlessly buy books from anywhere, on the go. Anywhere there is WiFi, there is almost always 3G/1Rtt, and WiFi is more complicated for the uneducated consumer than an on-off connection as simple as cell phones. All the user even needs to know with cell phones is "I have reception" or "I don't", instead of signal strengths of different networks, what key & kind of key to use, what networks are not safe, and so on. Let's not forget one of the common reasons for hybrid 3G/WiFi usage is to avoid billing on the cellular network. Notice, that problem is gone for the end user with the Kindle.
    - pmjordan 17y ago
      Plus, I gather that public Wifi coverage in the US is pretty good. Elsewhere, not so much. Almost all publicly accessible access points in Europe aren't free and cost more than 3G data these days. (and yes, I do think that's completely ridiculous)
mcobrien 17y ago
Considering developers will pay for app downloads themselves, it seems likely that only wifi access will be available. That's going to limit a lot of the kinds of apps that are popular on the iPhone. Why even install a wifi-only weather app when you can use the (experimental) web browser that always works?
- utnick 17y ago
  I don't think Kindles have wifi... I would guess amazon would only allow non-networked apps

by gcv 17y ago

jasonlbaptiste 17y ago

The 15 cents per megabyte charge could be limiting at first. I don't know what an application might use and how frequently, so it might not be a concern at all. If it is, i'm sure the pricing will eventually go down to a number that is so low that it no longer is a concern.

melling 17y ago
Let's hope they put wifi in the next gen Kindle's. It's crazy that they left it out.
- sliverstorm 17y ago
  I absolutely love WiFi, and wish every mobile device had it, but I can easily see how it would appear useless in their original vision for the Kindle. Anything that is useless, is of course cut for cost reasons. Remember, the 3G modem really was only used in the first place so you can seamlessly buy books from anywhere, on the go. Anywhere there is WiFi, there is almost always 3G/1Rtt, and WiFi is more complicated for the uneducated consumer than an on-off connection as simple as cell phones. All the user even needs to know with cell phones is "I have reception" or "I don't", instead of signal strengths of different networks, what key & kind of key to use, what networks are not safe, and so on. Let's not forget one of the common reasons for hybrid 3G/WiFi usage is to avoid billing on the cellular network. Notice, that problem is gone for the end user with the Kindle.
  - pmjordan 17y ago
    Plus, I gather that public Wifi coverage in the US is pretty good. Elsewhere, not so much. Almost all publicly accessible access points in Europe aren't free and cost more than 3G data these days. (and yes, I do think that's completely ridiculous)

mcobrien 17y ago

Considering developers will pay for app downloads themselves, it seems likely that only wifi access will be available. That's going to limit a lot of the kinds of apps that are popular on the iPhone. Why even install a wifi-only weather app when you can use the (experimental) web browser that always works?

utnick 17y ago
I don't think Kindles have wifi... I would guess amazon would only allow non-networked apps