Amazon today unveiled a slew of new tablets, all based around its third generation Kindle Fire: the Kindle Fire HDX. As before, there's a 7-inch model, an 8.9-inch model, and both of them come in Wi-Fi-only and 4G configurations.
The new slates are lighter, thanks to an internal redesign, and 3x faster, thanks to Snapdragon's quad-core 2.2 GHz processor. And they feature various other hardware and software improvements. Much more details after the fold...
Amazon released its Instant Video client for the iPhone and iPad in August 2012 as a way for Apple customers to access its growing library of movies and television shows from their iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. The online retail giant hasn't been updating the software much, apart from June's update with visual tweaks and personal recommendations for movies and television shows based on your past viewing habits.
My biggest gripe with any type of software that does video is the absence of AirPlay streaming support. If you get your entertainment from Amazon, you should update your Amazon Instant Video installation to the latest version which not only enables Apple's AirPlay technology, but also includes a few other nice-to-haves...
With the public release of iOS 7 on the horizon, users should expect to have to install a number of app updates over the next several weeks. Developers have a lot of work to do to prepare their apps for the big upcoming change.
Amazon took the first step this weekend, issuing what it is calling a 'required' update for its Kindle app. The company says that users of the popular e-book service must download the new version prior to upgrading to iOS 7...
Having entered the tablet race with its Kindle Fire lineup in September 2011, the online retail giant Amazon has long been rumored to have been working on a smartphone of its own. The elusive product thus far has remained a pipe dream, which isn't saying Amazon isn't readying it.
In the meantime, the world has gone from reaping the profits from the lucrative high-end of the smartphone market to selling inexpensive Android handsets to emerging markets that now increasingly fuel growth. A $0 smartphone could be disruptive and a huge game-changer, but just what strings might be attached for customers here?
Like a prisoner on Death Row, Apple has delayed its penalty for weeks, offering up objection after objection to a proposed Department of Justice ebook antitrust settlement. Friday, federal judge Denise Cote issued an injunction, giving federal lawyers much of what they wanted.
Among the prohibitions against Apple: a five-year ban on so-called 'most-favored-nation' clauses in publisher contracts that would prevent ebook sellers from using rival services, such as Amazon. Also part of the penalty package was a requirement that Apple stagger contract negotiations with the five publishers that had already settled...
Apple seems to have succeeded in keeping government watchdogs from roaming the corridors of its Cupertino, California headquarters. A proposal by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to install an external antitrust monitor to oversee Apple activities was greatly curtailed Tuesday. Instead, New York federal judge Denis Cote ruled that any monitor would be limited to overseeing Apple's antitrust policies and employee training.
A proposal by the DoJ to watch over all of Apple's distribution efforts for potential antitrust action was also trimmed, the judge saying she doesn't want government investigators interfering in the iPhone maker's "flexibility to innovate"...
The U.S. Department of Justice Friday tweaked its ebook settlement offer, including emails between Steve Jobs and Apple's marketing head. The revised settlement charges Apple altered its in-app purchasing policy "to retaliate against Amazon for competitive conduct that Apple disproved of."
The email exchange between Jobs and marketing chief Philip Schiller discussed how to counteract an Amazon commercial showing how the internet retailers app allowed ebooks to be read on either the iPad or the Kindle...
The U.S. government Friday offered Apple a proposal to settle an e-book price-fixing case which the technology giant recently lost. Among the requirements: end current agency agreements with the publishers involved, allow Amazon and others to provide external links to e-books within their iOS apps and institute a five-year probation from signing any new e-book distribution deals.
The proposed "remedy" offered by the US Department of Justice, while imposing some restrictions on Apple, could bypass potential fines reportedly near $500 million...
Folks with an iPhone or iPad invested in Amazon's ebook service will be happy to hear that it has posted a solid update for its iOS Kindle client today. The update brings the app to version 3.9, and offers a handful of new features and improvements.
Perhaps the most noticeable change is the new Free Sample Search feature, which allows you to search through Amazon's extensive Kindle library to download free samples. And the Bring Your Own Dictionary option pretty much speaks for itself...
Amazon's IMDb app has come a long way in the last 6 months. It received a major UI facelift back in December of last year, and just a few months ago it received another significant update which added global release dates and other new data.
And this morning, it gets even better. The new release, which brings the app to version 3.3, adds a slew of new features including in-app movie ticket purchasing (currently for US users only) Amazon Mobile integration for movie purchases, and more...
Quick, name the two hottest brands in the United States. If you picked Apple and Google you'd be wrong.
Although the iPhone maker and Android creator dominate the smartphone industry, the companies have dropped from the list of hot brand names.
By contrast, Amazon and YouTube made the current list of the top 10 hottest US brands for mid-year 2013. In another surprise, basement-dwelling BlackBerry was named the most-improved technology brand - thanks to the new Z10...
Although Apple said Wednesday it would appeal its loss in the Department of Justice's ebook pricing conspiracy case, the consensus among legal eagles is: good luck, but bring your check book. In her ruling yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote described the iBooks maker as the ringleader in a conspiracy to undercut Amazon's choke hold on the market for electronic books.
Apple's loss yesterday means the company faces triple damages. Despite Cote's wishes to assess damages soon, that phase could be delayed for months more as Apple asks an appeals court to overturn the ruling. But reversing the judge is likely an uphill battle as Apple seeks to do some PR damage control...