A New ePaper Revolution.

News sites have been buzzing the past couple days about Amazon’s Kindle ebook reader selling out shortly after its release.

Michael Santo at Real Tech News makes the observation that since Amazon isn’t saying exactly how many Kindle units have moved, it’s hard to say if the device is, in fact, a runaway success — it could be that the online retailer simply hedged its bets against initial skepticism and didn’t make a ton of the things.

However, the BBC says that many buyer reviews at Amazon have been positive, and the New York Times ran a love letter to Kindle earlier in the week that includes perhaps the most lucid point we’ve seen about the $400 device’s potential appeal — it comes with “free” 3G conectivity:

The Kindle goes online using Sprint’s 3G cellular data network — the same service that costs $60 a month for corporate laptop luggers. The Kindle’s price tag stings less when you realize that Amazon is going to pay your entire wireless tab.

Our own Rob Enderle suggests that the Kindle is a little behind the curve in terms of usability — it doesn’t have a reading light, for example — but its inclusion of media player support, coupled with tight integration with content services (a la the iPod), may signal a new boom in the ePaper market. Printing king HP is already planning an entry. Endrle writes:

Kindle is very close to there, and in one generation it could become an iPod-like product. Others will likely see that and work to ensure Amazon doesn’t own this market and make a push in 12 to 18 months.


E Paper
Electronic paper, also called e-paper, is a display technology designed to mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper. Unlike a conventional flat panel display, which uses a backlight to illuminate its pixels, electronic paper reflects light like ordinary paper and is capable of holding text and images indefinitely without drawing electricity, while allowing the image to be changed later. Unlike traditional displays, e-paper can be crumpled or bent like traditional paper. One important feature needed is that the pixels be image stable, or bistable, so that the state of each pixel can be maintained without a constant supply of power.

Booming demand for Internet services combined with insufficient infrastructure

Internet outages may occur by 2010 as capacity stalls

Booming demand for Internet services combined with insufficient infrastructure investment could leave the Web vulnerable to brown outs within three years, a study released Tuesday predicted.

Nemertes Research said Internet providers need to invest from $42 billion to $55 billion -- or 60% to 70% more than current plans call for -- to stave off interruptions to the digital economy that could happen if the Net bogs down. "The next Google, YouTube, or Amazon might not arise" if the situation isn't fixed, Nemertes said.

The problem, the group said, is that bandwidth usage is outpacing infrastructure build outs. While core fiber and switching/routing technology "will scale nicely," Internet access resources could soon be overwhelmed in three to five years, Nemertes said.

The trouble could be particularly acute in North America, the researchers said.

"Rather like osteoporosis, the underinvestment in infrastructure will painlessly and invisibly leach competitiveness out of the economy," said Nemertes.

Nemertes conceded that its study, in many ways, represents a best guess at what's happening with the Web. "The Internet is almost opaque to serious researchers, even those with the necessary technical skills, integrity and desire," said the group.

That's because commercial Internet providers closely guard information about usage and technology roadmaps. "Carriers and content providers refuse to reveal their inner workings," said Nemertes, adding that it's understandable that service providers are reluctant to reveal data that might undermine their competitiveness or compromise user privacy.

Nonetheless, "we conclude by urging content and service providers to cooperate with researchers in sharing data," said the study's authors. Nemertes also said Congress should consider tax credits to spur Internet providers to add more broadband capacity.