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?"


The Media Equation: Byliner Takes Bissinger’s E-Book Off Amazon

Byliner.com, a digital publishing company, withdrew the ebook “After Friday Night Lights” by Buzz Bissinger from Amazon because of a pricing dispute involving a promotional giveaway. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2012-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #buzz bissinger #media equation


Microsoft, Barnes & Noble teach Apple and Amazon a lesson about educational ebooks

Nobody partners, or negotiates deals, like Microsoft. That's evident from today's stunning agreement with Barnes & Noble, which is sure to turn the ebook market on its head. The two will jointly invest in Newco, temporary name for ebook venture that incorporates B&N's digital and College... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #decade ago #ebook market #barnes noble #educational ebooks


3M launches its Cloud Library ebook lending service, hardware and apps in tow

Almost a year after it was first announced 3M's Cloud Library ebook lending service is getting a proper rollout. Introduced today at a beta site in St. Paul, the system is now ready for its kiosks, e-readers and apps to hit the hands and eyes of library patrons. The touch-based Discovery... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #library systems #android device #mobile device


Profile creates interactive Frankenstein app

Profile Books is re-inventing the “choose your own adventure” genre for the digital... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #profile books


Is Amazon morally wrong but legally right?

Amazon's policies may be unkind to many in the book industry, but that doesn't make them illegal. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book industry


World Book Night: coming your way, but no room for Amazon

On World Book Night thousands of volunteers in the US and Europe will hand out books, hoping to pass along their own love of reading. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Which ebook app?

You don't need a special reader to enjoy ebooks if you already own a smartphone or tablet. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2012-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ebook app


Women’s Presses Tweak Their Business Models

Approximately a dozen women’s presses are actively publishing in the U.S. today, down from about 30 during the 1990s, when feminist publishing and bookselling were at their peak. There are, additionally, several women’s presses sporadically publishing, and a few others putting out regional... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #regional titles #business models


Amazon buys rights to Bond novels

Amazon announced that it has purchased the North American rights to Ian Fleming's James Bond books. James Bond, of course, is the debonair British superspy 007, played on film by a number of actors, including Sean Connery (above). Under the agreement, Amazon will retain republication rights for... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2012-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #print books #james bond #ian fleming #amazon announced


Apple vs. Amazon: Who Is Really Fixing E-Book Prices?

A brouhaha is shaping up: Apple and book publishers square off against Amazon and the DOJ over the price of an ebook. Who's right? CIO.com's Tom Kaneshige looks back to a Whiz Kid from the '90s for answers. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Coming Book Wars: Apple vs. Amazon vs. Google vs. the U.S.

Unresolved conflicts among publishers, sellers, libraries, and the U.S. Justice Department cloud the future of the publishing industry. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2012-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #publishing industry


The Satiric iPad App Punch Wants You To Laugh, Play, Pay

Despite a cheeky promotional claim that profitability is "not something we think about," Punch has a grand vision of becoming a lucrative tablet publishing platform. But first, a quiz: hedge fund or organic farm?David Bennahum is the CEO of Punch, a news and entertainment app that launched last... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2012-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #david zax #main lesson #daily show #19th century


Amazon’s E-Book Pricing a Constant Thorn for Publishers

In February, the Educational Development Corporation said it would remove all its titles from Amazon, more evidence of the tumult over who gets to decide how much a book costs. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2012-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #e-book pricing


The Media Equation: Amazon Low Prices Disguise a High Cost

An antitrust suit may provide short-term price reductions on ebooks, but once the competition is flattened, Amazon is likely to resume its monopolistic ways. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2012-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #antitrust suit #high cost #media equation


Apple defends ebook price-fixing by calling Amazon a monopoly

Apple shot back at critics and the Justice Department late Thursday, denying claims that it colluded with publishers to keep the price of ebooks artificially high. Even more interesting? The Cupertino, Calif. company took a veiled shot at Amazon, saying its actions were necessary to break up the... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2012-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #tablet market #key businesses #monopolistic grip


Apple Fires Back at the Feds, Amazon

Apple responds to antitrust charges: "The launch of the iBookstore in 2010 fostered innovation and competition, breaking Amazon's monopolistic grip on the publishing industry." Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #publishing industry #monopolistic grip #breaking amazon


Kindle Touch update adds Europe-friendly languages, landscape mode

April 27th is nearly upon us, heralding the arrival of the Kindle Touch in Europe. Before that happens, Amazon's pushed out a software update packed with language support for the continent, landscape mode and text-to-speech, amongst others. You can manually download version 5.1.0 now or wait for... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #permalinkthe verge #kindle touch


Amazon Might Slash e-Book Prices to $9.99

Morning Business Memo: Amazon is the big winner in the government’s decision to go after Apple and major publishers over alleged ebook price fixing. Amazon might decide to slash the price of many bestsellers from $14.99 to $9.99. The Justice Department and 15 states sued... Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2012-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #justice department #major publishers #big winner


YouTube Co-Founders Silently Introduce Magazine Publishing App, Zeen

YouTube co-founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen have a new project up their sleeves under their parent company, AVOS. Within the last 24 hours, the duo launched a landing page for their latest project, Zeen. AVOS is responsible for acquiring Delicious ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #landing page #latest project


Bad new for independent bookstores: Is Google becoming "another Amazon"?

Google will end its Google eBooks reseller program which allowed independent bookstores to sell ebooks through Google's platform. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #sell ebooks #independent bookstores