Erictric

Amazon to Develop New Browser for The Kindle

Anyone who owns an Amazon Kindle knows that surfing the Internet [do people still say that?] is not the best experience. In fact, browsing the web on a Kindle might be one of the single most horrific things ever. That’s because the current browser on the Kindle does not support many of the modern technologies and standards. Fortunately, all that might change soon.

You see, Amazon has posted a job listing looking for a Software Development Engineer to join the Web Browser team at Lab126 to help develop a “Embedded Web Browser.” The listing has actually been up since February 8 of this year, but it wasn’t discovered until recently.

While the efforts by Amazon to improve or even replace the current Kindle browser are appreciated very much, it is quite safe to say that the Kindle will never offer a satisfying web browsing experience for various reason. For starters, the monochrome [black and white] nature of the device will never allow colorful high definition graphics to be viewed. Second, it lacks a touchscreen, which nowadays most devices have. In a sense you could say that the Amazon Kindle is a little outdated now. More »

Acer Discards Plans to Create An eBook Reader

About a month ago, Acer president of IT Products division Jim Wong bragged about how excited he and his company were to be creating new products, including an ebook reader to compete with the undefeated ereader champion, the Amazon Kindle. Turns out that Acer is now discarding its plans to launch an ebook reader. According to Taipei Times, Acer chairman Wang Jeng-tang announced the company is “not ready to launch e-readers, despite having the hardware ready.”

Jent-tang went on to say that the reason they’re not launching the ereader is because the ebook industry is not that large. It appears that for the moment, the company will rather focus all of its time and energy on improving current projects and developing new ones.

So if you were planning to get an ebook reader from Acer, you can drop those plans as well.

[ via Engadget ]

Microsoft And Amazon Sign Patent Cross-License Agreement

Microsoft in partnership with Amazon announced in a press release yesterday that both companies have reached and signed an agreement that will grant them access to each other’s patent portfolio, which include those related to the Amazon Kindle and Amazon’s use of Linux-based servers. Microsoft says that Amazon will have to pay an undisclosed amount of money under the agreement.

Both companies have not revealed any more specific details, given that they are confidential. Microsoft goes on to say that since its IP Licensing Program was launched in December 2003, it has signed more than 600 different license agreements with companies and OEMs from around the world including Apple, HP, LG, Nikon, Novell, and more . More »

Kindle App for BlackBerry Beta Now Available

Ladies and gents, if reading books on a tiny screen is your thing, then rejoice! Amazon announced in a press release that it has finally released its promised Kindle App for BlackBerry in beta for U.S. customers only. Amazon first promised the application back on October 24, just days after the company offered a beta version of the application for PCs. The new BlackBerry version of the app, joins both the existing PC and iPhone versions.

According to Amazon, Kindle for Blackberry offers the following features:

• Get the best reading experience available on your BlackBerry. No Kindle required
• Access your Kindle books even if you don’t have your Kindle with you
• Automatically synchronizes your last page read and annotations between devices with Whispersync
• Create bookmarks and view the annotations you created on your Kindle, computer, or other Kindle-compatible mobile device More »

Amazon Begins Rolling Out Kindle Development Kit in Limited Beta

On January 21, we learned that Amazon was planning to launch an app store for its Kindle eBook reader. Amazon also said that they would release the Kindle Development Kit to limited beta participants sometime this month. Although a specific date was not provided, it appears as if that big day is today. Those wishing to create applications for the Kindle can sign-up now to become part of the KDK limited beta.

Click here to sign-up to be able to receive the Kindle Development Kit.

[ via Engadget ]

Amazon Acquires Touchscreen Startup – Can We Expect a Touchscreen Kindle Soon?

The likeliness of a touchscreen Amazon Kindle to compete with the iPad has just increased. According to The New York Times, Amazon has acquired TouchCo, a New York-based touchscreen startup most notable for developing and owning a cheap, transparent, and multi-touch screen technology called ‘interpolating force-sensitive resistance’. Such technology is said to cost as little as $10 per square foot, and can be easily integrated into the Amazon Kindle.

TouchCo’s technology and staff are expected to be merged with the Kindle Amazon Division, which is officially known as Lab126, said one person briefed on the deal. When asked for more details regarding the acquisition, both Amazon and Touchco declined to comment, citing that they do not “comment on rumors and speculation.”

We can’t wait to see what Amazon will come up with to compete against the Apple iPad. We’ll definitely keep following this story. Let us know what you think about a future full color Kindle with a touchscreen.

Amazon’s German Website Accepts iPad Pre-Orders, Changes Their Minds

Just a day after the Apple Event where the famous (but disappointing) iPad was announced, it appears as if earlier today Amazon’s German website, Amazon.de, was already accepting pre-orders for the device. All six versions of the device were available for pre-order, with prices ranging from €499 to €829, according to The Next Web’s Martin Bryant.

The move came before even Apple has accepted pre-orders on the iPad — which is expected to be officially released within sixty days for Wi-Fi models, and ninety days for 3G-compatible models. More »

Acer Launching Its Own App Store, eBook Reader, and Tablet This Year

According to Bloomberg, Taiwan-based international manufacturer Acer Inc. is said to be launching its own app store, tablet, and ebook reader this year. Two of those three markets have so far been dominated by Apple and Amazon. Acer is looking to boost its net income by launching all those products in addition to Chrome OS powered netbooks this year.

Acer’s unnamed app store will be reportedly compatible with Android, Windows, and Windows Mobile operating systems. Google Chrome OS is also expected to be supported when it launches later in the year. According to Jim Wong, Acer president of IT Products division, the applications will be free or almost free. Wong declined to name the developers of the applications. More »

Amazon Announces The Expansion of The Kindle Digital Text Platform to Authors Worldwide

In a press release this distributed this morning, Amazon announced that it’s expanding its self-service Kindle Digital Text Platform [DTP] to authors and publishers worldwide. Up until now, the DTP was only available to authors and publishers in the United States. With the availability of DTP, foreign authors now have the opportunity to upload and sell books in English, German, and French to customers around the world via the Kindle Store.

Considering the international availability of the Kindle, it was only logical and long overdue that Amazon launched this service to authors around the world. More languages are expected to be added in the future.