What's Behind Amazon's Kindle App Tweak?

Today Amazon announced that it's improving the code behind its Kindle app for iOS and Android to allow support for graphic novels and children's illustrated comics. The iOS app is also being polished to alow better searches of your library of downloaded titles and to better fit the iPad's screen. The kid's books get a dynamic Kindle Text Pop-Up so that words are easier to read, and comics get a special panel view.The timing is almost assuredly meant to snatch a bit of limelight in the moments after Apple revealed its powerful new iOS 6 software, destined to challenge every other tablet maker's efforts--including Amazon's (particularly if the long-rumored iPad mini does actually appear on sale later this year). Apple also operates in the ebooks space, and has made a big play for more interactive, graphical content in the ebooks it publishes in its own electronic bookstore, iBooks.While the cheap, relatively low-tech Fire is perhaps the hottest tablet to rival Apple's dominance of the market with the iPad, Amazon is rumored to be planning a more powerful 10-inch unit later in the year. That would be a direct competitor for the iPad, which has a 9.7-inch display, and possibly more suited to consuming movies and rich-media books and magazines served up from Amazon's own digital content stable (a direct rival to iTunes). Logic would suggest that Amazon may try a similar trick to the one it tried with the Fire, launching it at a significantly lower price than the iPad's $499... Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2012-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #kit eaton #fast company

Other news stories related to: "What's Behind Amazon's Kindle App Tweak?"


In Brazil, Amazon Starts Selling Kindles Direct, Books are Next

After 13 months of using partners to sell Kindles in Brazil, Amazon is now offering direct sales. If they can do that, books are not likely far behind. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #sell kindles


Microsoft working on Kindle-like Xbox reading app for Windows 8

Microsoft's getting ready to follow Amazon, Apple, and Google into the reading game with an app for Windows to peruse ebooks, magazines, and comics. The new app appears be part of Microsoft's cross-platform Xbox entertainment services, which currently include Xbox Music and Video. Microsoft... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #job listing


Scribd launches Kindle Fire app

Book subscription service Scribd has launched a new app for the Kindle Fire. The app, which can... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #kindle fire


Scribd takes on Amazon, brings its subscription ebook service to Kindle Fire tablets

The whole point of owning an Amazon tablet is that you're eventually gonna buy stuff. Want movies? Amazon's got you covered. Music? Time to check out Amazon's MP3 store. And then, of course, there's books: Amazon expects you to buy lots and lots of ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #scribd takes


Scribd Offers Kindle Fire App, iOS, Android Updates

The recently launched Scribd subscription ebook service is adding an app for the Kindle Fire tablet as well as providing updates to its iOS and Android apps. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #android apps


Amazon reveals quarter of Kindle ebook sales in US were for indie publishers

Figures from world's biggest bookseller trumpeted as sign of how self-publishing and smaller labels are changing the industryAs many as a quarter of the top 100 Kindle books on Amazon.com are from indie publishers, according to data revealed at a trade presentation by the retailer.A chart... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #leading position


Amazon’s Australian Kindle store: an unhappy ending for the book industry?

Amazon has been prising open the wallets of Australian consumers for years – but what will its local push on Kindle mean for readers, writers and publishers?Ben Eltham Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book industry


Amazon updates Kindle Fire HDX operating system

With both models of the new Kindle Fire HDX tablets now out in the wild, Amazon can concentrate on tweaking the system to add features and fix bugs. The device, while considered to be a competitor to the Nexus 7, is really more about media, specifically that from the retail giant's ecosystem.... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #latest update #retail giant #amazon purchased


Amazon's Source program invites indie stores to sell Kindles

Amazon's new program invites indies to sell Kindles and receive a commission from ebooks bought by their customers (if the store is eligible). Many stores are unimpressed, with one bookstore worker likening the program to 'being complicit in your execution.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ebooks bought #sell kindles


Amazon US offers Kindle deal to indies

Amazon.com is offering independent booksellers the opportunity to sell Kindle e-readers. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon to Let Independent Bookstores Sell Kindles and Gives Them a Cut of E-Book Sales

Amazon, which has been blamed in part for the decline of independent bookstores, said it has a new program called Amazon Source to allow them and other retailers to resell Kindle devices and accessories, and also give them 10 percent on every ebook bought on them for two years. "With Amazon... Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #customers don #independent bookstores #e-book sales #amazon source


Amazon offers physical bookstores a cut of Kindle ebook sales, and just enough rope

Just as Kobo has cozied up to physical booksellers, so too does Amazon have a plan to smother them in e-ink kisses. Under the company's new "Amazon Source" program, any independent bookstore that sells a Kindle tablet or e-reader will be rewarded with ten percent of future book purchases made on ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ten percent #kindle tablet #independent bookstore #amazon source


Amazon discounts select Kindles in celebration of recent FAA decision

You just know Amazon's been waiting forever for this cheeky product discount. But heck, if it means not having to buy a $20 Dan Brown book before rushing to catch a flight, we'll take it. In celebration of the FAA easing its personal electronic device restrictions (not to mention Delta and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon intros Kindle First for those who can't wait a month for the new Gloria Gaynor book

Waiting another month for that new inspirational Gloria Gaynor book? You'll survive, most likely -- but just in case, Amazon's debuting a new program called Kindle First. Customers can get early access to new titles for $1.99 - or for free, if they're a member of the exclusive club that is... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #exclusive club #early access


Amazon releases MatchBook for Kindle

It has been nearly two months since online retail giant Amazon announced its MatchBook feature for Kindle, complimenting the previously unveiled Autorip service for music. Now, the company finally shows the feature the light of day, unveiling MatchBook availability effective today. If you aren't... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #digital version #prices range #kindle version


Amazon Unveils Its MatchBook Print-and-Kindle Combo Deal

Amazon today launched the MatchBook program it announced last month, which lets owners of select print books bought on Amazon get the Kindle ebook versions for $2.99 or cheaper. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #amazon unveils


Amazon Matchmaker mashes cheap Audible audiobooks with Kindle ebooks

And even better, Amazon's Whispersync technology picks up where you left off no matter whether you're reading, listening, or mixing the two. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #kindle ebooks


Kindle's iOS app gets a flatter design to match iOS 7

We swear, we won't be giving you the blow-by-blow on every single app that gets updated for iOS 7 today, but this one seemed like a biggie. Amazon just announced that its Kindle reader for iOS has received a major redesign, with fonts, menus and other details retooled to match the flat,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #major redesign #app brings #single app


Amazon's Kindle MatchBook will let consumers buy print and ebook versions together

The new program, which is scheduled to launch in October, would let Amazon users buy a discounted ebook for qualifying titles if they bought the print version as well. But many publishers have yet to come aboard. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #print version #ebook versions #kindle matchbook


Amazon Launches Kindle Reader With Goodreads Integration

Looks like Amazon is making good use of its Goodreads acquisition. When it debuted the latest Kindle e–reader Tuesday, among the features and specs touted––faster processor, higher–contrast screen, next–gen light––was Goodreads integration, giving readers a built–in community of 20 million to... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #selected books #previous generation #price points