Amazon

Bought an iBook? You could be eligible for a credit amid $65M price fixing settlement

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 20, 2016

If you bought Walter Isaacson's official Steve Jobs biography, titles from the New York Times bestseller list or other iBooks from Apple (or e-books from other retailers) between April 1, 2010 and May 21, 2012, you may be eligible for your share of the $65 million settlement in the e-book price fixing scandal. Amazon and Apple started emailing customers that the settlement has been reached between the State Attorneys General and book publishers Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster.

Though Apple has not been sued in this case, the company is "assisting in providing this notice as a service to its customers". Companies will compensate eligible customers from $0.30 to $1.32 per e-book as the named publishers already paid $69 million into a settlement fund...

Amazon said to be looking to buy Kindle chip supplier Texas Instruments

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Online retailer Amazon is considering an acquisition of Texas Instruments, a maker of mobile processors used in a variety of tablets and smartphones. The rumor arrives just as Texas Instruments confirmed it's been struggling to upend its main rivals Nvidia and Qualcomm for orders.

According to Reuters, citing a report by Israeli financial newspaper Calcalist (which last December broke news of Apple's acquisition of Anobit), Amazon is "in advanced talks" to buy Texas Instruments for an undisclosed sum...

Amazon CEO admits Kindles are sold at cost

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 12, 2012

For some time, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has been cagey when it comes to discussing hard numbers surrounding the Internet retailer's Kindle. But apparently, Bezos is a bit more open when not talking to U.S. reporters. Speaking to the BBC Thursday, Bezos said his company sell's "the hardware at cost, so it is break-even on the hardware."

The answer shouldn't be too much a of a surprise. As All Things Digital notes, selling items cheaply in hopes of consumers snapping up humungous numbers of your widgets is a rather common retail practice. Apple has successfully bucked this trend, hauling in huge profit margins for its devices...

How to use a Nano SIM in the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S

Jeff Benjamin ∙ October 7, 2012

If you just purchased an iPhone 5, then you know first hand how much smaller the new Nano SIM is when compared to the already diminutive Micro SIM it replaces.

But what if you want to use the new Nano SIM in an older phone, like the iPhone 4, or the iPhone 4S? Obviously you can't just stick it in there.

Your best option is to purchase an adapter that can be cheaply had on Amazon for $1.99. That's exactly what I did, and here's the video to prove it.

Amazon asks judge to drop the ‘App Store’ claim

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 27, 2012

Online retailer Amazon has asked a federal judge to throw out Apple's legal maneuvering seeking to challenging Amazon's use of the "Appstore" term due to similarities with Apple's App Store trademark. The contention erupted in March of last year, when Apple sued Amazon over the App Store moniker. The online retailer was using the ‘app store’ term in their developer portal and other marketing materials, with Apple arguing the similarity with its own App Store name may have led to customer confusion...

Walmart stops Kindle sales, following Target’s lead

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Amazon's $199 Kindle and low-price retailer Walmart would appear to be a match made in discount heaven, right? Then how do you explain today's news that Walmart is kicking Amazon to the curb? In a statement, Walmart only says the decision is part of its "overall merchandising strategy."

"Recently, Walmart Stores, Inc. made a business decision to not carry current Amazon products beyond our purchase commitments and existing inventory," the Bentonville, Ark. firm told store managers Wednesday. In the memo reported by Reuters, Walmart officials said the stores will continue to offer "a broad assortment of tablets, eReaders and accessories at a variety of great price points."

Apple, publishers subpoena Amazon in ebook price case

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple is asking the Department of Justice to turn over interviews it held with Amazon employees as part of the recently-approved ebook pricing settlement. According to the Cupertino, Calif. iBooks firm, Amazon "was the driving force behind the Government's investigation, and it told a story to the Government that has yet been scrutinized." The Justice Department is scheduled to haul Apple, along with Macmillan and Penguin into court next June.

Apple just scrapes past Amazon in JD Power’s tablet satisfaction survey

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated October 11, 2018

Apple's iPad is once again ranked as the No. 1 tablet in the United States. However, the company's lead over Amazon's Kindle Fire is as razor-thin as its products. According to customer satisfaction researcher JD Power, Apple scored 848 points with Amazon close behind with 842 out of 1,000.

The Cupertino, Calif. firm can be thankful that US consumers found the iPad tops for performance and ease of use -- categories heavily weighed in the survey -- while Amazon hit it out of the ballpark in price, an area carrying just 16 percent of the final score...

Amazon releases new Local deals app for iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Amazon already has a number of apps on iOS. There's Kindle, Cloud Player and Price Check to name a few. And over this past week, the company added another one to the list: Amazon Local.

As the name suggests, Amazon Local is a new iOS app that helps you find things based on your location. In this case, those things are deals for restaurants, concerts and other events...

This Amazon vs. Apple chart says it all

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

We love the new Kindle lineup of e-readers and tablets, especially the brand new Kindle with Paperdisplay and the super-charged Kindle Fire HD. At last week's unveiling, the CEO Jeff Bezos underscored that Amazon wants to make money when people use their devices.

That's why all Kindle devices display ads on the lock screen (don't worry, you can opt-out for fifteen bucks). And just like Google, Amazon is selling hardware below cost, hoping to recoup losses through content sales on Amazon.com. The only problem with this strategy: Amazon's profitability doesn't even close to Apple's....

Studios see Amazon as Netflix alternative

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Amazon, hot off of Thursday's Kindle Fire HD announcement, is downplaying a report the Internet retailer is being courted by some studios to take on Netflix. Studios would love Amazon to spin-off the video-streaming portion of Amazon Prime, according to one report.

"Some content owners I've talked to say they like the idea so much that they'll compel Jeff Bezos to do it whether he wants to or not," reports All Things Digital's Peter Kafka. However, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is playing hard-to-get...

Wall Street: Amazon’s new Kindle Fire unlikely to hurt iPad Sales

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Should Apple be nervous following Amazon introducing the Kindle Fire HD Thursday? No, says Wall Street. However, Google and Microsoft could be sweating bullets, analysts are telling investors Friday.

"Apple still rules the tablet world," writes Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets. Indeed, the expected release of a 7.85-inch 'iPad mini' will expand the the company's customer base, "potentially even surpassing sales of the regular-sized iPad." In short, Apple investors should relax...