FOREM now on Kindle
Amazon kicked open the door this afternoon to bloggers of all stripes to get their work on the book seller’s breakout e-reader device; the Kindle.
Previously you could subscribe to a handful of pre-selected blogs on the Kindle, but Amazon now lets all publishers submit their feed for sale in the Kindle marketplace. Prices range from $0.99 – $1.99 a month for a subscription; and Amazon shares this revenue with you, the blog owner.
Creating an account and submitting your blog is pretty straight-forward. I had this blog up and running in a couple of minutes (though it takes Amazon 24-48 hours to review and accept your blog).
Right now there’s a mad land rush to corner the blossoming market for e-readers (witness the Kindle DX’s launch only 3 months after the Kindle 2). New devices from makers like Plastic Logic and a long-rumored Apple tablet stand only to accelerate the changes in the way we consume the written word in the coming months.
This move towards digital ink has a fundamental impact on the way organizations, brands and professionals (Realtors indeed) will communicate with customers. Case in point, delivered electronically to a Kindle, your local newspaper comes stripped of advertising, thus eliminating one traditional touch point for marketers.
But imagine instead a monthly real estate market report delivered wirelessly to a widely distributed network of opt-in (paying, even!) wired consumers via Whispernet. Much more valuable than any ad could ever be.
I truly believe these devices are game changing and will be speaking on the subject at this summer’s Real Estate Connect conference in a panel titled “How the Amazon Kindle Will Change Your Business” (natch). Make sure you register and snag a pass quickly!
In the meantime, if you have already Kindle, head out and subscribe and read FOREM on the go. Let me know what you think.
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Mike | May 14, 2009 | Reply
I have a hard time imagining people using this type of device, but then again I may be way behind the curve. Is there really a rush?
What do you think about it?
Joel Burslem | May 14, 2009 | Reply
Mike
Having spent some time with the Kindle I can say that (design quirks aside) it truly is a revolutionary experience. Whispernet is the secret sauce. Having your newspapers, magazines (and now blogs) pushed to you every day is absolutely a mind-blowing experience – that and having access to a virtually unlimited library of content anytime, anywhere.
No doubt there are several more iterations of these products that need to come out before the technology hits mainstream acceptance but I would equate where we are today with the initial launch of the Palm Pilot. Like the PDA morphed into the smart phone, I believe the Kindle (and its successors) will, with time, morph into a massively disruptive new platform.
Joseph Ferrara | May 16, 2009 | Reply
Great find Joel.
Laurie Manny | May 17, 2009 | Reply
With rss feeds and cell phones with internet access I just don’t get why anybody would purchase this device.
Wired.com did a piece on this when it first came out back in 8/08 and addressed the limited sales of the kindle, read it here: http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2008/08/portfolio_0805
I would be interested in the sales figures, has Amazon released those?
Kelly Roark | May 19, 2009 | Reply
Even in these early product stages, the Kindle is great – I love holding a paper book or newspaper in hand, but the Kindle does a surprisingly good job of creating a reading experience/ interface that’s different from reading off a standard computer screen. I read most of my subscriptions on it now and am more up to date than I’ve ever been – or had time to be. It’s compact enough to take anywhere, while still being able to adjust the font size and read it as if you were holding a paperback. (Sure, I’ll get on my phone to watch a video and google for directions to my heart’s content, but I won’t have a cup of coffee while reading the NYTimes in 6 point font on my phone.)
Adoption has only really taken off recently – that’s why Wired didn’t have much to say about it last year (interesting post on this: http://gizmodo.com/391848/first-year-kindle-sales-vs-ipod-palm-pilot-and-other-famous-gadgets-hows-it-doing )
The launch of the Kindle 2 is one reason people are taking a 2nd look?I suspect many can’t imagine that an ereader would ever replace print. But there was a time listings weren’t on the Internet and blogs weren’t used by agetns. Try one out for a day before you say “pass” – you might be surprised! I was.
Mike | May 20, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Joel, good insight.
I seem to get overwhelmed with content these days and I wonder if this would perpetuate the problem.
Scott Costello | May 21, 2009 | Reply
my first thoughts about the kindle was that it would never stick and it was a duplicating tech. It was dumbed down computer. The more I talk with people and the more I hear about what it does I think it could catch on. Over time it may change but the services and the push content is what I think the true gold here. not necessarily the kindle device itself.
Joel Burslem | May 21, 2009 | Reply
Scott
You’re bang on. That’s what Amazon is building. It’s not the device – I honestly think they could care less about the Kindle (shows in the design) – they’re trying to jumpstart a new category. As you said; Whispernet, push delivery of content and a marketplace is where the real money is. It’s truly revolutionary way of digesting media – but the Kindle itself is just the paper boy for the 21st century.
Richard Stabile Bergen County Real Estate | May 28, 2009 | Reply
So this is a collective interface for books, now for blogs and newspapers. How will the newspaper survive without ads and subscription fees?