Amazon

389 'Amazon' stories May 2011 - July 2014

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iFixit teardown gives us our first look inside the Amazon Fire Phone, rates it low on repairability

Ben Lovejoy Jul 25 2014 - 4:34 am PT

iFixit has added to the poor reception given to Amazon’s first ever smartphone, the Fire Phone, by rating it 3/10 for repairability. Even Amazon didn’t seem to have great confidence in the technology, its first ad focusing instead on the free 1-year Amazon Prime subscription you get with the phone.

Despite external, non-proprietary screws and no adhesive holding the casing together, iFixit found that simply removing the battery proved challenging, requiring a mix of heating and prying. After that, says the company, things only got worse …
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Mis-Fire: Amazon’s first foray into the smartphone market fails to impress

Mike Beasley Jul 22 2014 - 6:44 pm PT

Amazon has finally stepped into the ring to take on the current champions of the smartphone market with its own device, the Fire Phone. In what essentially boils down to a smaller version of the Kindle Fire tablet, the Fire Phone packs a custom-built operating system dubbed Fire OS, a “dynamic perspective” system powered by four front-facing cameras that allow you to control the phone and access advanced information just by moving your head, and more.

Tonight the first reviews of the Fire Phone have hit the web, and while many see some potential in the device, Amazon still has quite a few issues to covercome if it plans to truly put a dent in this market. Below we’ve compiled some excerpts from these reviews along with links to the full write-ups.

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Amazon’s unlimited ebook and audiobook subscription service finally goes live in the U.S., try it free

Jul 18 2014 - 5:33 am PT

Amazon’s worst kept secret, an all-you-can-read Kindle eBook service, is now live. Dubbed Kindle Unlimited, this $10 per month subscription service grants its members unlimited access to over 600,000 ebooks and thousands of audiobooks. Highlights of the library include:

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Harry Potter series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt, Water for Elephants, Oh Myyy! – There Goes The Internet, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People… plus thousands of classics such as Animal Farm, To the Lighthouse and 2001: A Space Odyssey…

Kindle Unlimited members will also get free access to Audible’s library of over 150,000 audiobooks for 3-months. After which, you’ll presumably need to pay the standard rate of $14.95 per month.

Anyone in the U.S. can try Kindle Unlimited for free for 30 days by signing up for a free trial. All of this content is available on Android, iOS, Windows phone, and of course all Kindle hardware.

Full press release follows:

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Amazon shares its first ad for the Fire Phone

Chance Miller Jul 17 2014 - 3:09 pm PT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=f3Vcm00n1oU

Amazon’s Fire Phone is officially set to be released on July 25th, but the company has just shared the first ad for the device. Instead of focusing on the device’s unique features like the Firefly button or Dynamic Perspective, the ad focuses entirely on the fact that the phone comes with a free year of Amazon Prime.

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Amazon testing $10 per month subscription-based ebook service

Mark Hearn Jul 17 2014 - 2:07 pm PT

Amazon is currently testing an all you can eat subscription-based ebook and audio book service called “Kindle Unlimited.” A product landing page spotted by GigaOM revealed that the unannounced service will provide customers with access to over 600,000 titles for $10 a month. While subscription-based e-book services for smartphones and tablets already exist, Amazon has a vast number of resources that could quickly make the company a force in this relatively untapped market.

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Former Google [X] director and head of Glass Babak Parviz joins Amazon

Stephen Hall Jul 12 2014 - 7:22 pm PT

Google X director Babak Parviz founded and led both the Google Glass and contact lens projects at Google, but it appears he has now left the Mountain View corporation in favor of Amazon. This news comes shortly after just two months ago stepping aside to let former Old Navy and Gap marketing VP Ivy Ross take the Google Glass helm.

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FTC now alleging Amazon is also unlawfully billing parents for children’s in-app-purchases

Mark Gurman Jul 10 2014 - 9:53 am PT

Amazon is now a part of the Federal Trade Commission’s investigations into technology corporations with mobile application marketplaces unlawfully billing parents for in-app-purchases. Both Apple and Google have been tangled in the allegations with Apple settling earlier this year and Apple telling the FTC to investigate Google. The FTC today announced it is filing a complaint against Amazon, saying that children have been able to buy goods and extras within apps without the consent of parents. The full release from the FTC can be found below:

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Google Cloud Platform now offers developers 2 TB of storage for free through partner Panzura

Mike Beasley Jul 8 2014 - 9:41 pm PT

Google has partnered with cloud storage startup Panzura to offer developers 2 TB of free storage for a full year, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. It’s the latest move in the continuing battle between competitors like Google and Amazon to dominate the cloud storage market.

The new plans are focused more on cloud app developers than end users, who will still want to rely on services like Google Drive or Dropbox for their own storage needs. However, for app developers looking for cloud solutions, Google’s new offer could provide a pretty decent starting point. Getting 2 TB of storage on Amazon, by comparison, would run at least $240 a year, while a similar setup on Microsoft’s cloud system would cost even more.

Google reportedly planning to expand home delivery service Shopping Express nationwide

Ben Lovejoy Jul 7 2014 - 6:09 am PT

A Re/code piece on Google’s Shopping Express service says that the company is investing $500M to expand the service beyond San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City and roll it out nationally.

The service lets shoppers buy things from local retail stores through Google, which then delivers them to consumers from the physical retail store on the same or next day.

A source familiar with the company’s plans says senior Google execs have set aside as much as $500 million to expand the service nationwide …

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Amazon files suit against former manager over Google job, claims violating of non-compete contract

Mike Beasley Jul 1 2014 - 3:26 pm PT

Zoltan Szabadi, a former manager at Amazon Web Services, is being sued by the company after accepting a job on Google’s Cloud team. Amazon claim that by accepting the new role, Szabadi violated a non-compete clause in his employment contract. It will now be up to the courts to decide whether the broad terms of the original agreement actually hold up.

At Amazon, Szabadi was responsible for managing business partnerships with third parties. When he joined Google, he was specifically blocked (by Google, not Amazon) from reaching out to any of his former contacts within six months. Amazon said that wasn’t good enough, however, and filed a lawsuit last week.

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Amazon App Store for Android 2-day sale: get 31 paid apps worth over $100 for free

Jun 27 2014 - 2:43 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

For the next 48 hours, the Amazon App Store for Android is making 31 popular apps and games available for free. This package of apps would cost over $100 if purchased individually at their standard rates.

Amazon hasn’t fluffed this promo with poor titles either. Some of the best known apps include Plex, The Room Two, Slashtop Remote Desktop HD, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek.

While you’re at the Amazon App store you might as well pick up the free app of the day too. Today’s app is the “thrilling, action game,” MacGyver Deadly Descent.

If all these downloads are chewing up too much space on your phone or tablet, then head over to the Amazon Gold Box deal of the day and save up to 70% off select Sony memory cards.

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Amazon’s Android Appstore is headed to BlackBerry 10.3 this Fall

Stephen Hall Jun 18 2014 - 6:41 am PT

BlackBerry continues its push to make the platform’s app ecosystem on par with Android and iOS, and a new move announced today will probably be the company’s biggest stride yet. As of the BlackBerry 10.3 update landing this Fall, the apps within the Amazon Appstore will be available to BlackBerry 10 device owners.

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On eve of 3D Phone, report reveals Amazon also working on voice-controlled speaker, Square competitor and thinner Kindles

Mark Hearn Jun 17 2014 - 10:49 am PT

Amazon is expected to announce its first smartphone tomorrow, but the outfit seems to have a lot more in its pipeline. The folks at Lab126, the company’s secretive hardware division are reportedly busy working on several unannounced projects. According to Bloomberg, one group is rumored to be working on a gadget that projects a computer image onto any surface. Another team within the company’s R&D fold is laboring away on a wireless speaker that responds to voice commands and a third crew is working on a payment accepting device said to be in the vein of Square.

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Amazon’s first smartphone will reportedly be exclusive to AT&T

Mark Hearn Jun 17 2014 - 7:54 am PT

We’re one day away from Amazon’s big reveal and it’s now being rumored that the company’s new smartphone will be exclusive to AT&T, according The Wall Street Journal. If true, this would nurture an existing relationship between the two companies, with Ma Bell currently offering wireless services for Amazon’s Kindle tablets. As for non-AT&T customers interested in the online retailer’s first smartphone, it’s unclear if Amazon will offer an unlocked version of its new handset, or the device will truly be exclusive to America’s second largest wireless carrier.

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Moto G with LTE now available through Motorola’s website for $219

Chance Miller Jun 16 2014 - 3:07 pm PT

After being available on Amazon for a short while, the Moto G with LTE is now available on Motorola’s official website. The device will run you just $219 and comes in either white or black.

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Amazon Appstore selection triples to pass 240,000 over the last year

Stephen Hall Jun 16 2014 - 7:41 am PT

Amazon announced today that its standalone Appstore has been growing very quickly, tripling the number of apps that were in the store just 12 months ago. The company also announced that Amazon Coins, which let users save money on apps and games by buying the “currency” in bulk, have been very popular with customers having already spent “hundreds of millions” of them.

And apparently, developers are extremely happy with the store. When surveyed, 65% developers said that total revenue is just as good or better on Kindle Fire compared to other platforms, 74% said that Average Revenue per App/User is as good or better, and 76% said that the Kindle Fire “helps them connect with new market segments.”

“Developers tell us that they experience improved reach, greater monetization, and, oftentimes, higher revenue when they have their apps and games in the Amazon Appstore,” said Mike George, Vice President of Amazon Appstore and Games. “But this is just the beginning—we’re building more services and capabilities for developers and more Android-based APIs based on their feedback. Most Android apps just work on Kindle Fire, and with an Appstore made for Android devices, Amazon’s Appstore can help developers distribute their apps on Android devices all over the world. It’s a great time for developers to bring their apps to the Amazon Appstore.”

Amazon is holding a press event this wednesday, which is all but confirmed to be the company’s first entry into the smartphone market.

Amazon announces June 18 event for new device unveiling, expected to be a 3D smartphone

Chance Miller Jun 4 2014 - 1:21 pm PT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erUZQ9GK0sE

Update: Amazon has officially announced its 3D phone dubbed the Fire Phone. You can read the full breakdown here.

Amazon has just announced that it is holding a press event in Seattle on June 18th. The company says that it will unveil a new device at the event. Amazon is also letting anyone request an invite to it by simply filling out a form on its website.

The company also posted a video showing reactions to the new device by customers. One person remarked that “it moved with” them and another claimed that they’ve “never seen anything like” it before. All the customers are essentially moving their heads around with the device. It is widely expected to be a 3d-capable smartphone, which the company has allegedly been working on for quite a while.

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Report: Amazon to launch streaming music service in June/July, but only with 6 month old songs

Chance Miller May 29 2014 - 5:18 pm PT

With Apple having just acquired Beats Electronics, Amazon is apparently preparing to launch its own streaming music service. According to a new report out of BuzzFeed, Amazon has just signed deals with two of the three major labels. Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group have both signed on, while Universal Music is still pondering the deal.

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Google under fire from Italian antitrust regulator over freemium app sales model

Mike Beasley May 16 2014 - 10:13 pm PT

Italy’s Antitrust and Competition Authority says it is investigating “freemium” apps offered in Google’s Play Store along with similar stores operated by Apple and Amazon, saying that customers could be misled by the “free” label, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

According to the regulatory group, users who download these apps for free could believe that the game is completely free and not know when downloading the app how much it will actually cost.

If Google is found to have misled customers, the company could be fined as much as €5 million. It’s not likely to put a big dent in Google’s cash reserve, but the Italian antitrust committee has previously convinced Apple to change its policy regarding AppleCare marketing, and could affect similar changes in this case at Google and the other companies.

Amazon now accepting pre-orders for Moto G with 4G LTE

Mark Hearn May 14 2014 - 10:20 am PT

After making a cameo appearance on Amazon’s website and officially being announced by Motorola, the Moto G with 4G LTE is now available to pre-order from popular online retailer. Priced at $220, the “universal 4G LTE” handset’s release date is listed as June 3rd. Although the listing suggests that Motorola’s new smartphone will place nice with any wireless service’s LTE setup, we have our concerns and advise that you check with your carrier before placing your order.

However, if your service provider gives you a green light, you’ll have your choice between a black or white 8GB model of the budget-friendly smartphone. An awesome value for an off-contract device, you’ll probably want to act fast as the first run of pre-orders is likely to sell out quickly.

Amazon for Android updated with new icon, Single Sign On feature, bug fixes

Chance Miller May 7 2014 - 2:55 pm PT

Amazon this afternoon has rolled out an update to its official Android app that includes several minor new features and bug fixes. Most notably, the update adds the Single Sign On feature to Amazon’s entire suite of app. This means that if you log into your account through the Amazon app, you’ll automatically be signed in to the company’s other apps, such as Kindle, Amazon Appstore, and Amazon MP3.

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AllCast for Fire TV will stream your TV’s audio to your smartphone (video)

Mark Hearn May 2 2014 - 8:51 am PT

When I was a kid, we used to watch films from the confines of an automobile at the drive-in and in order to hear the movie’s soundtrack you had to connect a low-tech doodad to your car’s antenna to broadcast audio through your stereo system. Technology sure has come a long way and the folks at ClockworkMod are putting a next-gen spin on this retro idea. The software developer is working on a new feature for its AllCast app that will let Fire TV users mute their TV’s audio and broadcast it from their smartphone. Toss in a set of headphones and you’ll be able to stay up all night watching hours of old HBO shows without disturbing anyone in your house.

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Amazon’s upcoming smartphone revealed in photo, reportedly coming in June

Jonathan Kizer May 1 2014 - 8:46 am PT

Following various leaks and rumors, BGR has obtained a photo of Amazon’s upcoming smartphone. While the device itself is still a month or more away from being officially unveiled, the above image is the first to show off the device without a protective case obscuring the design.

The device itself is similar in appearance to the Nexus 4, which received praise for its understated design. As Amazon’s phone will likely compete on price, it isn’t a surprise that its materials will shy away from the flashy metallic materials of devices like the iPhone or the HTC One M8.
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Amazon reportedly set to launch its own cellular plan called ‘Prime Data’

Benjamin Mayo Apr 25 2014 - 8:19 am PT

According to Boy Genius Report, Amazon is readying its own-brand cellular wireless plan as part of its new phone launch.

However, the plans are still quite mysterious. Although the name has leaked, specific details about what Amazon’s cellular plan will entail are not known. Apparently, the plan is “unique”.

The plan is tentatively named “Prime Data,” and it will be positioned as one of several key selling points for the phone.

BGR characterizes the other information in its report as “speculation” from sources. The post suggests Amazon could launch exclusively on AT&T in the US and ‘Prime Data’ would resemble something similar to AT&T’s Sponsored Data offerings. This may mean users get free access to Amazon’s content.

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