Amazon Kindle Goes International

Amazon's highly publicized electronic book reader, The Kindle. (Credit: Amazon.com)

Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos said he would revolutionize the publishing industry with his e-book reader Kindle and he’s keeping his word.  The electronic reading gadget is going global.

Amazon announced yesterday evening that it would soon begin selling a new version of the Kindle that can wirelessly download books both in the United States as well as in more than 100 other countries.

The new Kindle is physically identical to Amazon’s current Kindle, with its slender profile, six-inch black-and-gray screen and angular keyboard. The main difference: it will use the wireless networks of AT&T and its international roaming partners, instead of Amazon’s existing wireless partner for the Kindle, Sprint. Sprint’s network is incompatible with most mobile networks outside of North America.  The new Kindle will sell for $279.   It begins shipping on Oct. 19th.

In addition, Amazon also announced a price cut for the United States-only Kindle, which will continue to be sold alongside the new global Kindle. The domestic Kindle is now $259, down from $299. Amazon previously dropped the price in July, from $359, to stimulate demand and to match the prices of rivals like Sony, whose least expensive e-reader now costs $199. Amazon also sells the larger-screen Kindle DX for $489.

Though exact sales numbers are hard to come by, it appears electronic reading devices are having a breakout year. In a report being released on Wednesday by Forrester, the research firm revised its prediction for the industry, saying that three million e-reading devices would be sold in 2009, up from its previous estimate of two million.

Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps thinks that e-reader prices need to come down even more if the devices are going to become mainstream products, however. She suggested $99 as a price that would be much more likely to lure consumers.

She said people “have somewhat unrealistic expectations of how much consumer electronics in general, and e-readers in particular, should be.”

Even if the Kindle is marketed in Panama, I would have a hard time coughing $279 for an electronic book reader.  At this price, I’d rather buy physical books at a local bookstore.  Plus, color is still missing which means a lot to me.  Any comments?  Good Day.

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Higher Education in the Panama Canal Zone

During the Golden Days of the Panama Canal, education was considered essential in the development of the narrow strip of adjacent to the waterway known as the Canal Zone.   All levels of education were of the highest quality, even surpassing educations institutions of the Continental United States.

One of these educational institutions was the Canal Zone College which later gave way to a local branch of the Florida State University. Everything inside the campus was first class.  It was the goal of many Panamanian businessmen to enroll their children here, as well as the children of the employees of the Panama Canal Commission.

Recently the Florida State University moved to a more modern campus at la Ciudad del Saber (Knowledge City)  in Clayton.  The campus of the Canal Zone College is presently occupied by the International Maritime University of Panama. This university trains cadets to become merchant marine ships’ officers.

It is to be noted that Panama has begun turning former military installations into housing, civilian ports, hotels, industrial parks, universities, and sports facilities. Some bases have been converted into tourist complexes aimed at attracting cruise-ship passengers, while some undeveloped areas have become eco-tourist sites.

Below are several pictures of the former Canal Zone College in an effort to help those of you who studied here, to recollect your nostalgic student’s days.  Here we go.

Photograph of the sign outside the International Maritime University of Panama at La Boca. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Panoramic view of the entrance to the former Panama Canal College. You can see the arch of the Bridge of the Americas in the middle of the photograph. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

A close up view of the main building of the former Canal Zone college. Very little has been changed; the building is practically intact. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

A view of the long covered corridor to protect the students from intense rain during the rainy season. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Perspective of the sheltered corridor leading to the entrance of the main building of the Canal Zone College. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph taken from the campus of the former Canal Zone College. Notice how close this building is to the Bridge of the Americas which can be clearly seen in the background. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

For those of you who lived and studied in the Panama Canal Zone, I’m sure these pictures will refresh your memories.  Good Day.

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Photograph of the Day: Old Shoes

(Credit: Still Life by by Arrizabalaga @Pixdaus.com)

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