spydergrrl
Blog
spydergrrl on the web
Bio
I'm just a geek at heart. I've been through the tech boom and bust and managed to survive somewhat unscathed. I've done web design, online news,...
Recent Posts
 
 
 
 

Most Popular

Recent Comments

Kindle Fire: First Step to Amazon World Domination?

October 05, 2011 12:12 pm by spydergrrl in Tech
  • Share This Post
  • Pin It
  • 9
  • Sparkle (
    )
     

Last week, Amazon announced the Kindle Fire. The event was peppered with little surprise announcements that revealed quite a lot about Amazon's future direction.

Hmm...
It runs on Android OS. (Yay, Team Droid) But not Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich; it runs on a customized version of Android 2.3. Effectively, a pseudo-custom OS. 
The main browser is Silk. A proprietary Amazon browser. 
The "technical specs" on their site are very generic, and probably the least technical thing I've read all week. So Amazon's target audience is the general public. People who want easy-to-use tech.
The main store is Amazon's own platform. Not Android Market.

The hardware is identical to the Blackberry playbook. It's smaller than the iPad which means it's cheaper too. (In fact, PC World estimates they are losing $50 per tablet which they will likely make up on app, book and other product sales on their website.)

And they never mentioned privacy. Not one word. But they will own everything you do on that browser. Every search, every click. And in their store, you'll shop, give them your credit card. They'll manage your history, build up that referral engine people love so much ("you might also like") and hey, maybe even track suggestions you make to your friends on social media. They'll have quite the profile on you (and your friends).

Pure, raw consumer data. That users will give them. Willingly. 

(Facebook would be crucified if they released hardware with so much proprietary access to personal information.)

Incidentally, you know what I think is next? Search.

What if they partnered with Google or Bing or worse yet, Facebook? They could have all of your online behaviour, and they could influence the results suggested back to you when you search. A shopping engine. On a personal shopping device.

So what do you think? Does Amazon have delusions of grandeur or is this approach — owning the entire consumer experience — the logical next step in the online user experience?

Your entire web experience could be driven by companies' collective bottom line. (Ok, it probably already is, but still it's worth considering. BTW, you might want to log out of Amazon when you surf... ;)

  • 9
  • Sparkle (
    )
     

Related Posts

The New Kindle Fire: Do We Love It?
by Whymommy
Gadget Gift Guide for 2010
by Virginia DeBolt
Which Electronic Gadget Is On Your Holiday "Wish List" This Season?
by Jane Collins

More Like This

Comments

Post comment as
twitter logo facebook logo
Sort: Newest | Oldest
GordyTheCook
GordyTheCook 5 pts

Apple has done this all along under the miss guided view they are the indie/ hip/ for the people OS/Phone/ every thing system. no one bothered to get on there asses for it. I do give them the credit for truly creating the smart phone. But they are as controlling if not more then the big bad Microsoft will ever be. lastly if know one has noticed Amazons Kindle has killed the book stores as we know it and rearranged the publishing industry. This has proven to be a great leap in indie literature and in the long run will only add to the options we have have.

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like
Karen Moran
Karen Moran 8 pts

After Amazon sold a "How To" guide for...pedophiles last year just before Christmas - and then - adamantly refused to stop selling the book - I will not now or EVER - buy anything from Amazon.

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like
Wikisteff
Wikisteff 5 pts

Q. Does Amazon have delusions of grandeur or is this approach — owning the entire consumer experience — the logical next step in the online user experience?

A. Yes and yes.

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like
Wikisteff
Wikisteff 5 pts

It's more-or-less guaranteed to fail, since Amazon - even at $250 - can't own enough of the market to lock enough users in to harvest it efficiently. Too much competition, like these: "India launches $37 tablet with Montreal firm: http://bit.ly/otM0Cc" If they had had the Kindle Fire in place in April 2010, after the iPad launch, then maybe. But launching it now, 18 months later, it just crowds up the market. Funnily enough, a whole host of companies are making just this same mistake: trying to be a market leader after a 12-24 month delay. It doesn't work out well.

On the other hand, the "owning the entire consumer experience" meme is clearly in the best interests of large corporations, and clearly not in the best interests of consumer freedom and autonomy. Therefore, it behooves a consortium of companies to either (a) try to make it happen themselves, or (b) try to get legislation in place to do so. However, they might just not succeed, in the long run. #scenarios

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like
Elisa Camahort
Elisa Camahort 13 pts

I think what the Fire will do is pretty egregious. (Here's another post on it by Chris Espinosa: http://cdespinosa.posterous.com/fire) and you're right: If Facebook went this far, the press would be huge.

I won't be buying the Fire, just like I've stopped connecting to any kind of app via Facebook.

I lead a very public life online, it's not that. I just think some of this is really gross.

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like

Conversation from Facebook

Val Vucich Curtis
Val Vucich Curtis

I thought their letter about "other companies" on their homepage was a little snarky.

Rebecca Hafkemeyer Lmt
Rebecca Hafkemeyer Lmt

I would like to add that while the tech world evolves our justice system is non-existent on the digital front. This part does scare me on how antiquated our own system of law is in the global community that is now on 24-7.

Rebecca Hafkemeyer Lmt
Rebecca Hafkemeyer Lmt

I am honestly ok if companies such as amazon or even facebook know my internet usage via browsing, "likes" and suggestions. I find some of the suggestions interesting and when I don't, google always fixes my fancy. Suspicion should never go unnoticed though, and an eye should always be on how they are using such data and to what extent manipulations are be enforced. For now though I will consider it novelty and appreciate the innovation of businesses to catch user's interest.