Amazon's Kindle ain't selling - Steve Jobs

Jonny Evans
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September 10, 2009
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Apple boss Steve Jobs said nothing much at all about eBooks during his iPod-focused keynote, but he did have a few things to say about Amazon.

As reported, he spoke with David Pogue, granting a rare but fleeting interview. Amazon’s teams must be taking a close look at what he said about them, and their Kindle...

Jobs doesn’t think Amazon are selling many Kindles, saying Apple doesn’t see eBooks as a big market at this point - though they are the second biggest category on the App Store and were described as a killer feature by Phil Schiller.

Jobs also suggested that Amazon's refusal to provide definite numbers for Kindle sales was a sign it hasn't succeeded in the market. “Usually, if they sell a lot of something, you want to tell everybody,” he said of Kindle sales to Pogue.

“I’m sure there will always be dedicated devices, and they may have a few advantages in doing just one thing,” he also said. “But I think the general-purpose devices will win the day. Because I think people just probably aren’t willing to pay for a dedicated device.”

His point of view then probably is: “eBooks? There’s an app for that.”

Comments (9)

Jeera (not verified) | September 10, 2009 - 4:29am

Or... his point of view then probably is "Get the iTablet!" ;)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 10, 2009 - 5:01am

has anyone forgot about the commercial that apple made a couple weeks ago at that dinner? what was that for i wonder? it wasnt for the ipod's. Steve himself said in an interview after the show that he has some new exciting products about to launch. I think next month at the event there will be the iTablet and also they will upgrade the touch.

the Cappy (not verified) | September 10, 2009 - 5:33am

Wait. You figure they're updating the Touch this week, and again next month? (And he often says they've got exciting stuff in the pipeline, and it always turns out to be true, even though it so far has never turned out to be a tablet :)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 10, 2009 - 7:54am

Steve-O always blasts something before he waltzes in to dominate it and make it his own....

ulfoaf | September 10, 2009 - 10:34am

I wonder if Amazon sells more books for Kindle for iPhone than the Kindle itself?

I've bought about 9 books so far & find it handy to read them on the iPhone. Really no incentive to go buy a Kindle device if you have a Touch or iPhone. The pages are small on this platform, but the print is not.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 10, 2009 - 10:43am

Agreed. I enjoy reading books on the iPhone. Wonder if the Kindle would sell better if you could use it as a cell phone too.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 10, 2009 - 10:45am

Reading on the iphone is quite easy.

Perhaps Bezos has to add calling capability to the Kindle to make it sell.

Randy (not verified) | September 10, 2009 - 6:27pm

Again Steve dismisses an entire market to make money off of. For YEARS it was reported he was the one who didnt believe games were worth changing the way games were made.. yet now he finds that gaming apps are huge.

Most people I know like to read.. (sure there are a few who don't actually read books, but those same people I know usually listen to books on tape...) Reading on the iphone kindle saves money on new books, and it led me to get the full size kindle, which for all its faults, I love.

Im not really sold on the itablet being a good reader... the thing I love about the kindle is its long battery life. I dont need to worry about charging it more than ever other week or so.

-Randy

JebNY (not verified) | September 10, 2009 - 6:57pm

The big advantage to an iPhone or Touch for reading over a Kindle or a paper book is you can read in the dark or dim light. Also since it fits in my pocket it is always with me to read a few pages, where would I stash a Kindle or a Tablet size device?

I manage to read a book every week+ in just garbed minutes here and there. I collect new books faster than I can read them, I have around 60 waiting now. Some get tossed after a few pages others lead me to track down more books by the same author.

Jeb