Today almost everything is a computer. Monday Amazon formally announced a developer kit for the Kindle. This kit will allow people to develop apps for the Kindle and sell them at the Kindle Store.
Launched ostensibly as a book reader with a great form factor, free wireless connectivity (in the U.S.) and a very nice screen, it was inevitable that the full computer functionality of the Kindle would soon be opened up. The question that I am prompted to ask is whether the Kindle needs to have more apps. Yes--more apps means more revenue for Amazon but do I need to repeat the functionality of my laptop and my Blackberry yet again on the Kindle. Alternatively, if I could hack the Kindle to run Skype maybe I could give up the laptop and Blackberry.
I think that the direction of computing will be toward purpose built, independent computers (think Predator drones or iPods) and everything else will be browser-based cloud computing apps running on simple computers. I am not sure that the Kindle needs more apps unless you plan to replace your laptop.
