5 Things The “KindlePad” Needs To Succeed

Now that Microsoft and Amazon have hooked up for some no doubt nefarious plan to take over the world, speculation swirled all week that that the two companies are looking to develop some kind of KindlePad to challenge the iPad (or, indeed, any number of other tablets, many of which are more compelling than Apple’s offering). First, I truly hope the name KindlePad doesn’t catch on. Second, I hope that this patent-licensing thing doesn’t lead to some ill-thought-out tablet concepts that combine the most cumbersome aspects of both Windows 7 and the Kindle into one lumbering beast. I’m choosing to be positive and instead hope that a Kindle tablet incorporates the best both companies have to offer. Here are 5 things the KindlePad needs to do or incorporate in its design to stand out in the sea of next-gen tablets and eReaders:

1. Double Duty Display: Despite what the New York Times says, reading on a traditional LCD screen is crap when compared to e-Ink. But color e-Ink isn’t all that appealing yet. I suggest the KindlePad pass both of these technologies by completely and take a look at Notion Ink’s Pixel Qi technology or Qualcomm’s mirasol displays. Both solve the eyestrain problem while still delivering the crisp color users have come to expect.
2. Size Matters: A 10-inch display is okay if you want to watch movies or play games, but you can’t slip it into your pocket easily. Though the Kindle isn’t exactly a smart phone, it’s more portable and pocketable than the iPad and other similarly-sized tablets. Keep the KindlePad about the same overall size as the Kindle.
3. User Interface: Since Microsoft seems to feel that Windows 7 and touch go hand-in-hand, it may be inevitable that the OS will end up on this device. Fine. But please, Amazon, get someone to come in and create a more touch-friendly UI for the tablet. The taskbar is lovely and all, but anyone who has attempted to deal with any of the other buttons or window functions or links or menus knows that finger-centric operation isn’t all that easy on Win 7. It’ll be worse with a smaller screen, so be sure to make the necessary tweaks.
4. Eye Candy: Speaking of graphic design, something manufacturers seem to forget is that the iPad or any other Apple endeavor isn’t just about providing users with a cool piece of hardware, but also a fantastic software experience. No matter how shiny the KindlePad is on the outside, it may still lose face if the interactive experience is as clunky and old school as we’re used to seeing with, uh, certain other environments.
5. Support Open Formats: Amazon, I know you love your Kindle store and want to keep customers in it by closing ranks on the eReader and the file types. But the time when that was acceptable has now ended. Embrace EPUB and EPUB will embrace you.

If the KindlePad is on its way to being a reality, what features and design elements would you like it to have? Image Credit: Cult of Mac