13 
Today the Kindle turns five and it’s come a long, long way in that past half-decade. In case you don’t remember, in 2007 the first generation Kindle had a 800 x 600 screen, 250 MB internal memory, and was the only model to ever have a microSD slot. And it launched for the low, low price of $400. Despite the pricetag, the device was wildly popular, selling out in the first few hours, and remaining out of stock until April 2008.
Today, you can get a Kindle for as low as £69, and the flagship is a mere £109. In addition to evolving into more advanced (and way cheaper) devices, Kindles have almost single-handedly restructured the world of publishing during their five year life-span, for the better or for the worse, depending on who you ask. It kind of makes you wonder where the next five years will take it. Is there even that much to improve on at this point? Holographic e-ink? Motion control? We’ll have to wait and see, but in the meantime, happy birthday to a great little gadget. [Slashgear]
I’m rather annoyed with this cycle of ereaders. I’ve been waiting for a particular type and nobody’s invented it yet. All I want is touch with physical buttons, and the ability to read both epubs and mobis. Is it really that hard?
Add SD Card, and the ability to buy across every store available, whether through importing the various formats from my computer, or (and this is a pipe dream) have both stores available.
Kobo Touch. SD Card. Touchscreen. Awesome.
A secondary screen on the back that shows the cover of what you’re reading to fellow commuters? (customizable to show War and Peace instead of 50 Shades, of course)
If I could have one thing added to e-readers, it would be colour ink.
I’m positively desperate for an e-reader that fully acknowledges that which complements and in some cases completes a book: Book cover art! Not to mention: comics; magazines; catalogues; inset photos, (e.g. autobiography pics), etc. I’d get one in a heartbeat if they were colour. Why’s it taking soooooooo long?!
The screen technology used in e-readers that enables them to last weeks on a single charge and are less severe on the eye makes colour variants vapourware right now. I believe there was something shown off at CEX maybe that had colour, but don’t expect consumer tech to get anything like it for another couple years.