New Kindle Ad Takes Jab at iPad

Amazon’s recent Kindle ad highlights the benefits of reading with e-ink technology under direct sunlight while taking aim at Apple’s iPad, which functions as both an electronic book reader and a multi-function device offering games, browsing, music listening, and entertainment capabilities. Though Amazon has been careful to give Kindle a singular focus on reading, the new ad does show that Amazon is recognizing that the Kindle and iPad may be closer competitors than what the company had previously let on. Additionally, although Amazon makes the Kindle hardware, the company also offers the Kindle software on other hardware platforms, including the iPad, to make the e-reading experience seamless as other manufacturer’s devices could sync with the Kindle store. The tone of the ad focuses both on e-ink’s readability under sunlight, unlike Apple’s reflective LCD screen, and also on the device’s low price. The ad had already aired on ABC.