Amazon's been attuned to the needs of its vision-impaired customers for years, first rolling out text-to-speech technology on its original Kindle e-reader years ago. Today the company revealed plans to add to that feature set in its Kindle Fire and Fire HD (7-inch) tablets with Voice Guide and Explore by Touch technology. Voice Guide's an improvement upon regular text-to-speech tech that reads aloud any action performed by users -- things like announcing app names and book titles when they're selected. Explore by Touch lets folks swipe their fingers across their Fire's display and identifies each onscreen item as their phalanges pass over them. Once aware of what app or piece of content's being touched, a simple tap opens the item. Ready for the new assisted navigation experience right now? Well, all you anxious Fire owners will have to wait, the update doesn't land until early next year.Filed under: Tablets, Software, AmazonCommentsSource: Amazon Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2012-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Australia's Bookworld has guaranteed that it will beat Amazon and other online competitors' prices by 10%. But are they risking losing too much profit? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a move that could provide a boost to the small but growing digital comic book business, DC Comics has signed deals to sell comics through online stores owned by Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European Union regulators are to end a US antitrust probe into ebook prices by accepting an offer by Apple and four publishers to ease price restrictions on Amazon, two sources said on Tuesday. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2012-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Prime's trifecta of two-day shipping, instant media streaming and monthly Kindle book rentals just became a little more consumer friendly at a slightly higher price. As a Hacking Netflix reader recently noticed, Amazon is now inviting users to buy into Prime for $7.99 a month, bringing... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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First Barnes & Noble, then Indigo Books and Music and Books-A-Million – now some indie bookstores are choosing not to add Amazon-published titles to their bookshelves. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Like Kobo, Amazon's Japan ebookstore is hampered by limited title selection, but the recent launch will motivate publishers to finally digitize their catalogs. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK news publisher Telegraph Media Group (TMG) is the latest to try two vogeuish flavours of reader payment – metered access, and charging overseas readers. The company today begins charging £1.99 per ($3.20) month for up to 20 T ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A consumer campaign targeting Amazon for “abusing” its power as a market leader is... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dallas-based startup Bookshout is looking to disrupt the current ebook ecosystem with its new offering of Apple and Android mobile apps. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon reported a loss of $274million (£170m) in its third quarter, blaming an unfavourable... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstones has launched a “light-hearted” branding campaign to coincide with selling... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hearst Magazines UK's Esquire is to publish the first edition of The Big Black Book, a biannual style guide, in March next year. Continue reading at Media Week
[ Media Week | 2012-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon is forcing publishers to start negotiations over ebook prices exclusive of the full 20%... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon has been approaching UK publishers ahead of the launch of its Kindle lending service, with... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon is said to be negotiating to acquire Saraiva, Brazil's dominant bookseller, with 102 stores. Is it realistic? We break down the facts and scenarios. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books published by Amazon like the Penny Marshall memoir 'My Mother Was Nuts' have not seen strong sales. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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According to the terms of a settlement between the DoJ and three major American publishers, some customers may receive refunds on their ebook purchases. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon has announced it will give Kindle owners refunds on past ebook purchases if a settlement with publishers accused of fixing prices is approved. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon will offer partial refunds to customers who bought ebooks between April 2010 and May 2012 a result of the settlement in a price-fixing case between publishers and the attorneys general of most U.S. states. The retailer is notifying eligible customers by email. Compensation ranges from... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon contacts some US customers to detail partial refunds for ebooks as part of a settlement regarding price fixing. Continue reading at BBC World
[ BBC World | 2012-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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