Free Stuff

Over the last few days there have been many interesting developments relating to Apple’s new iPad.

First, remember the old FairPlay DRM (digital rights management) that apple used in its iTunes Store? This was the technology that would only let you copy a song to so many CD’s or computers? Well… they are going to be using this same technology in their new “bookstore” that will sell eBooks for the iPad. This will prevent users from distributing a single copy of a book to millions and millions of users. Apple discontinued the use of this technology for their music downloads, but still continues to use it for movies and tv shows.

Next, the new iPad has executives over at Amazon shaking in their boots! According to a report by Michael Arrington of TechCrunch reported Friday that Amazon is considering giving Kindles away for free!

“These are Amazon’s very best customers — the ones who tend to make multiple purchases per month,” Arrington wrote. “And they are also likely to buy multiple books per month on their Kindle devices. If those users buy enough books, and Amazon gets the production costs of the Kindle down enough, Amazon can get Kindles into “millions” of people’s hands without losing their shirt.”

Regardless of if Amazon will give the Kindle away for free, this will be an awesome battle to watch transpire. Two mega-monsters going head to head over one of the largest markets in the world — BOOKS!

Still all of this makes me wonder why someone would purchase a Kindle in the first place? It lacks web capabilities, color touch screen, wifi, internet. Not to mention the ability to manage pictures, videos, contacts, etc.

Stay tuned!