Kindle Webkit Browser: a Surprise with Some Purpose?
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With new Kindle 3 Amazon has introduced webkit-based browser instead of the old basic browser. I’ve already posted a piece titled “Whats so special about new webkit based browser on kindle 3” a few days back. The heavy internet traffic to that post seems to me that people are very much interested to know about the implications of webkit browser on Kindle 3. Amazon didn’t imlement many things with the new browser yet. However, there must be some reasons why Amazon has switched to open source webkit -based browser which has been the foundation of Apple’s Safari, and GGoogle Chrome browser.
Amazon takes Kindle seriously, and is thinking ahead of time. A couple of months back, Amazon posted a job looking for some expertise in web browse developing, and that position has been fulfilled. There is no doubt that it is taking intergration of web browser very seriously. One of the definite reson for such an attempt is that Amazon wants to make the Kindle browser rich enough so that customers can buy products (not only ebooks) from the Kindle itself securely.
In order to get more idea, we can find what applications have so far been developed using webkit browser engine. Here is the list of some applications collected from WebKit wiki:
- email clients: mail-apple
- Instant messengers/chat clients: MSN messenger, Yahoo! messenger,
- RSS readers: NetNewsWire, PixelNews, MiNews
- Web Development Applications: Adobe Integrated runtime, Coda, CSS edit, iWeb – Apple, Rapid Weaver
- Weblog editor: MarsEdit, iBlog
- Text editor: TextMate, BBedit
- Kiosk software: eCrisper, Kiosk Browser
- Media Players: Real Player, Bookpedia
- Help Viewer: Help viewer – apple, Life saver
- Desktop wallpaper browser: iBrowser, Web desktop
Now you can imagine how Amazon can do with WebKit in future. The current state of eink screen can’t afford to do many things. However, it has to be remembered that Kindle 3 is not the end of Kindle. I hope there will be another Kindle in one year, which might have both color and touch screen.. That will open up a lot of possibilities for Amazon.
You have to remember that Amazon is going to open Kindle app store soon. There are some limitations for apps to be built from within the Kindle ebook reader application. If the WebKit browser is integrated with the reader application then the possibilites open up widely. I think Amazon is heading to that direction.
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#3 written by rc 2 years ago
Thanks for your article. I’ve pre-ordered the Kindle 3 (and also plan on getting the 2nd generation iPad). The Kinde 3 is an exciting product — amazon has taken _exactly_ the right approach. Don’t compete with the more general purpose (and also game-changing) iPad. Make the best reader and static content viewer. When we get color e-ink, then that’ll be truly amazing. For now though, I’m very, very impressed with not only the design, features and price of the Kindle 3, but also amazon itself. Along with Apple, they’ve become a company to be reckoned with, focusing on quality and wowing us!
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#4 written by Edward Green 2 years ago
I didn’t buy a Kindle as a browsing device, mostly for my collection of classic eBooks and for forwarding work documents to (thanks to Wifi now free).
But now I am using it as my main ‘reading browser’ for text based websites, as well as for basic email and forum posts.
The only niggle I have is that ‘new window’ links don’t get opened at all, rather than opened in the same window.
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does anyone know if this webkit browser is currently in or will be in the Graphite Kindle DX that was released in early July? I keep reading about this webkit browser and this new “article mode” option for the new kindles (those coming out at end of August) but have no idea if this applies to the most recent Kindle DX.