Kindle for Europe?

Typical - the day after I post a blog on how Sony have stolen a march on Amazon by releasing a wireless ereader in Europe, Bookseller.com breaks the news that Amazon are jumping into the ring too and may even beat Sony to the punch!
Rumour has it that Amazon will announce the Kindle at the end of the IFA conference next week in Berlin. This is huge news for the eBook consumers market. It adds choice and a real alternative to the Sony Reader. With Sony not expecting to release their wireless "Daily Edition" in Europe for at least 12 months, Amazon have the opportunity to really make inroads into the European markets.

Should we welcome Amazons move or howl in dismay at their closed-format system and Big Brother like control of their devices? I think a little of both. It's a great boost for the eBook industry as a whole and the price and range of titles available throug Amazon is great for consumers - provided of course, that you stump up the 300€+ price of the Kindle!

Sony's new Ereaders

Sonyites challenge the Amazonians!

On Tuesday August 25th in New York, Sony announced it's new lineup of Ereaders. The new "Pocket edition" and "Touch Editions " had been leaked over the last number of weeks, but the "surprise" announcement (lets be honest, we all knew or at least deeply suspected!) was the launch of the Sony Daily Edition, with a 7" screen touch screen and $399 price. Despite it's price being anything but a "daily" expense, it's main feature is its wireless capability.

Finally Sony has decided to rise to the challenge of Jeff Bezos and his Amazonians and their wicked Kindle! While Sony have been very successful with their PRS 505 and 700 models without this feature, I and many others really feel that the only way forward is a wireless path. The potential for instant purchases, newspaper and magazine subscriptions with instant delivery has to be the ultimate aim for providers of all digital content and for the text-hungry readers amongst us.
Amazon has been the real pioneers in the field of recent times and deserve huge credit for their vision and bravery. I have my concerns though. In every way, from their closed format through to their moves in the market (e.g snapping up Stanza, the best independent eBook software), their actions and words arouse concern. To give an idea of what I mean, on their own Kindle sales pitch, Amazon confess "Our vision is to have every book ever printed, in any language, all available in under 60 seconds on Kindle. We won't stop until we get there."

That is exactly why we should support every company that enters the eBook or eReader market, because the more competition, the better for all, right? I truly do not believe that one company, whether that be Amazon, Sony or Google with their digitisation programme can eventually own and close an entire market. Surely we, as consumers have learnt from the past and are savvy enough to want differentiation, choice and competition?

Then again, maybe not.
Where did you buy your last legitimate music download? iTunes? Thought so.