I've blogged about the future of newspapers before (here and here) and so I thought I'd take a moment to point out that it may well be that Amazon has just unveiled the future of newspapers. The new version of the Kindle promises a larger screen and capacious storage along with wireless downloads that will allow readers to have over 3,000 books and publications on a device that is thinner than a magazine. They are marketing the new and improved Kindle to students (hoping to replace textbooks) as well as newspaper and magazine subscribers. I think this is a forward looking technology, with an emphasis on future potential, because right now the device is a bit too expensive for the average student or reader. I'd like to see Amazon dramatically reduce the price and have newspaper and magazine publishers subsidize this device in order to grow their market. Because they already have content they can sell to consumers, their number one goal should be to get the device into the hands of as many people as possible. Transitioning to the Kindle would have huge benefits for major national newspapers like the New York Times and the Washington Post, they could dramatically slash printing and distribution costs. Perhaps they could buy the product from Amazon and lease them to consumers for the life of their paid subscription? Unfortunately, I fear that the major national newspapers will take a "wait and see" approach to this new technology and the moment will pass them by. Still, no one will be able to say, when the last print newspaper folds, that there were no alternatives. And it probably goes without saying that at some future point of technological convergence the Kindle will morph with the new netbooks and become an even better tool for reading and writing. Let the new age of letters begin.
Hey, I found your blog in a new directory of blogs. I don't know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, anyway cool blog, I bookmarked you. :)
Posted by: GeneTinsley | 10/09/2009 at 03:57 PM