The Kindle & The Nook & Canada
This is one thing that I hate about Canada. We’re a G8 nation (technically a G9 because of stupid Spain having a higher GDP in recent years) but we don’t get anything new, or up to date! It takes us, at least, a year in order to get the newest tech into our stores. And hopefully most people understand that one year old technology is very outdated. I like new tech, I want new gadgets! But Canada is great at scaring them away.
The Kindle has been out for a while, and it’s available in over 100 countries worldwide. I find it embarrassing to be a “G8″ nation and not be included on that list. The Kindle looks awesome! I would’ve liked to have the Kindle, heck I’d still even settle for the Kindle now that the Nook has come out.
The Nook is just like the Kindle, except it looks nicer, is faster, and has a second screen that’s colour and is a usable touch screen. I want the Nook! But we Canadian’s can’t, here’s why.
Wireless Service Providers. In the US the Kindle uses the Sprint Network but has a contract with a company called Jasper (more info). Jasper specializes in Machine to Machine Communications over cellular networks. This may be an issue with the current providers, seeing as they’re kilometers behind their American cousins.
The Kindle, and the Nook use the same antennas that our in our cell phones and use that existing technology to transfer the books to the device and charge the user. It’s quite a brilliant idea, and obviously revolutionary in the book sales industry. Amazon is in talks with setting this up with our providers, but no one seems to know how far along they are… or if it’s possible. Although, I suspect it’s possible seeing as Bermuda, and Mongolia seem to be able to do it.
Canadian Publishing Rights are another issue. As the National Post put it:
[Amazon] still has a number of issues to solve before the device can be sold, including Canadian digital publishing rights and electronic distribution negotiations. (read more)
Which makes me think that this is the biggest problem. I mean yes, we lag behind in tech. But I think our laws for electronic distribution are too sketchy for book publishers right now, and that’s what’s keeping this tech at bay.
So where does that leave us?
Keep an eye on Chapters/Indigo. Being the biggest Canadian Book retailer, they’re surely not turning a blind eye to the Kindles and the Nooks. They’ve recently launched ShortCovers, a e-book distrubtion system for the iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre, and Android Devices as well as standard PC’s/Macs.
I’m fully expecting Indigo to release a Kindle/Nook clone soon. If they miss this opportunity it’ll be their own fault. They are the only retailer here that can compete with the global scale of Amazon and it’s Kindle and neglecting to get a head start on market share would be stupid (I mean let’s face it, the Kindles will come). Expect a ShortCovers device soon. Seeing as they have an Android App already, and Android is powering the Nook it’s not far off to imagine an announcement to come within the year (also B&N says they’ll be allowing apps on the Nook in the future, so theoretically you could have ShortCovers on a Nook device). EDIT: I hope I didn’t imply that Chapters will use the Nook. I mean that Chapter will create a similar device to the Nook.
That’s all just my honest, slightly educated guess though. Nothing confirmed or mentioned or alluded to by Chapters/Indigo.
