There are twenty books on the list overall, but the release is dominated by the editors top ten recommendations (which follows below). The books included are available in physical copy or the ever more popular, Kindle editions.

Pulling from a wide variety of topics, the list is the perfect solution for readers searching for outstanding texts to help them pass the summer hours. Take advantage of their recommendations, you might discover something worth reading.

Sara Nelson, Editorial Director for Books at Amazon.com comments on the the best books of 2012:

“The variety of books on the list reflects the broad range of titles published in 2012 so far,”

“To us, ‘Behind the Beautiful Forevers’ is a masterpiece in nonfiction writing. But we rounded out the top three with a thriller and a young adult novel – there really is something for everyone on this list. Helping customers find and discover outstanding books is an important role for us at Amazon, and we look forward to discovering new and innovative ways of bringing our customers in contact with books we think they’ll love.”

The Amazon Books editors’ picks for the Top 10 Best Books of the Year So Far are:

1) “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity” by Katherine Boo: A Pulitzer-winning author writes the true story of struggle and hope in a Mumbai slum.

2) “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn: Plot twists and revelations make this a psychological thriller of the highest order.

3) “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green: Two kids with cancer deal with the big subjects—life, love, and death—in this perfect blend of levity and heart-swelling emotion.

4) “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” by Ben Fountain: Questions of privilege, power, and heroism swirl in this debut novel about recently returned Iraq War veterans invited to attend a Cowboys football game.

5) “The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson” by Robert A. Caro: The fourth installment in Caro’s authoritative biographical series on Lyndon Baines Johnson – a masterpiece in nonfiction.

6) “The Orphan Master’s Son” by Adam Johnson: A superb novel about freedom, sacrifice and violence, set within the dark borders of North Korea.

7) “Tell the Wolves I’m Home” by Carol Rifka Brunt: A singular portrait of a girl and her family transformed during the late-80s AIDS epidemic.

8 ) “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” by Cheryl Strayed: A memoir of a 1,100-mile journey that nearly broke the author to pieces, before she used those pieces to rebuild her life.

9) “The Age of Miracles” by Karen Thompson Walker: Speculative fiction and a girl’s coming-of-age story meet in this gripping debut.

10) “Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power” by Steve Coll: An examination of the largest, most profitable company in history by a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.

To go along with the release of these top editor picks, Amazon is also having a contest and giving away ten Kindle Fire devices. So if you’re a reader, take a look at the list and get entered to win one of those Kindles. What could be better than a free tablet.

They are also introducing a number of new features that will help their clients increase performance, close security gaps, keep them better informed, and save them money.

Their support engineers are available 24 hours a day, and offer assistance with an unlimited number of cases. The support offering have also been renamed to more closely reflect challenges their clients face.

Brent Jaye, General Manager of Amazon Web Services comments on the change in price structure for support services:

“Amazon has been passionate about customer service since we started the company 17 years ago,”

“Putting customers first is part of our DNA. We not only employ talented support engineers all over the world, but also build technology that enables them to provide proactive and helpful information to our customers. Our new Trusted Advisor program is a good example of that — we use technology to determine if customers have security adjustments they should make, or if they’re not architected as fault tolerant as they might want to be, or if they have under-utilized instances that they can terminate and save money. We then use both technology and support professionals to surface this information to customers.”

Here’s a look at the revised service tiers:

* Basic (Expanded free tier): Upon signup for AWS, all customers are automatically enrolled in Basic support for free. Added features in this tier include immediate, around-the-clock access to customer service by email or phone for billing and account issues, and technical support for system health issues. Customers continue to have access to technical FAQs, best practices guides, the AWS Service Health Dashboard, and the AWS Developer Forums, which are monitored and responded to by AWS support engineers.

* Developer ($49/month and 1:1 customer support): Previously called the Bronze tier, the Developer tier includes all components of the Basic tier, plus the following: 12-hour response time to support cases submitted, 1:1 customer support for any AWS-related question, and access to AWS Technical Support Engineers via email through the AWS online support center during local business hours to help configure, operate, and maintain core AWS services and features. The Developer plan is $49 per month.

* Business (Access to AWS Trusted Advisor): Previously called the Gold tier, the Business tier includes all components of the Basic and Developer tiers, plus the following: one-hour response time to support cases submitted and support engineers available 24/7 via phone, chat or email. In addition to chat capabilities, new features include access to AWS Trusted Advisor, a program that monitors AWS infrastructure services, identifies customers’ usage patterns, and notifies customers when opportunities exist to save money, improve system performance, or close security gaps. Customers also receive support for the most common third-party software running on AWS. The Business tier minimum pricing has been reduced from $400 to $100 per month and a 3% usage-based pricing tier has been added to the existing pricing tiers of 10%, 7%, and 5%.

* Enterprise (New pricing based on usage vs. flat fee): Previously called the Platinum tier, the Enterprise tier provides customers with all of the features of the Business tier, plus 15-minute response time for mission-critical issues, and a dedicated Technical Account Manager who is intimately familiar with the customer’s specific AWS architecture. Technical Account Managers will also conduct periodic business reviews for infrastructure planning, report metrics, collaborate on launches, and connect customers to AWS Solutions Architects as needed. The Trusted Advisor program is also available to all Enterprise tier customers. The Enterprise tier minimum pricing has been reduced from a flat 10% usage fee to usage-based pricing tiers of 10%, 7%, 5% and 3%.

Here’s a little about what Amazon Web Services is and what they provide:

Launched in 2006, Amazon Web Services (AWS) began exposing key infrastructure services to businesses in the form of web services — now widely known as cloud computing. The ultimate benefit of cloud computing, and AWS, is the ability to leverage a new business model and turn capital infrastructure expenses into variable costs. Businesses no longer need to plan and procure servers and other IT resources weeks or months in advance. Using AWS, businesses can take advantage of Amazon’s expertise and economies of scale to access resources when their business needs them, delivering results faster and at a lower cost. Today, Amazon Web Services provides a highly reliable, scalable, low-cost infrastructure platform in the cloud that powers hundreds of thousands of enterprise, government and startup customers businesses in 190 countries around the world. AWS offers over 28 different services, including Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) and Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS). AWS services are available to customers from data center locations in the U.S., Brazil, Europe, Japan and Singapore.

Prime has been attempting to bring their viewers more movies and television shows since they first launched and this new partnership will bring hundreds more. Currently they offer over 17,000 title, but it seems like they get more everyday.

Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition at Amazon comments on their deal with Paramount:

“We are continuing to invest in building a vast selection for Prime Instant Video and are excited to bring Prime customers some of the most renowned and popular films in cinema history under this new agreement with Paramount,”

“This deal will bring Prime Instant Video customers hundreds of new movies to enjoy on their Kindle Fire or any device connected to Amazon Instant Video, including titles such as Star Trek, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Top Gun, The Italian Job and The Truman Show, and we will remain committed to adding even more great movies and TV shows to Prime Instant Video in the future.”

Amazon Prime costs about $80 for the year, and can be viewed on any Amazon compatible devices including Kindle Fire and Playstation 3. The other great thing about is, if you buy anything from Amazon.com, you automatically get free shipping. Depending on how much shopping you do on there, it could pay for itself before the year is over. So there are a couple reasons why it might be worth checking out Amazon Prime.

Kentucky Governor Beshear comments on Amazon’s new facility:

“Amazon’s decision to grow its Kentucky footprint is fantastic news, especially when you consider the impact of more than 1,100 full-time and seasonal jobs it will bring to the central Kentucky region,”

“Kentucky is proud to have Amazon choose Winchester for this growth opportunity and wish them continued success and prosperity.”

Amazon already has a fulfillment centers in Kentucky, but this will be their first device center. A temporary site in the Winchester Plaza could have customer service workers busy in the town by the end of this summer.

Senator R.J. Palmer II of Winchester, KY comments on the decision to expand Amazon’s efforts in Kentucky:

“I am thrilled that Amazon has chosen to open a customer support center in Winchester,”

“Amazon’s investment in this new facility will allow our region to reap the rewards of economic growth, development and jobs. It also speaks well of our workforce that Amazon has chosen to locate its operation here. I applaud Gov. Beshear for taking the lead to support our industry.”

Representative Donna Mayfield of Winchester adds to the sentiment:

“Since first opening the doors of their facilities in Lexington and Campbellsville more than a decade ago, Amazon and the Commonwealth have enjoyed a long and fruitful economic partnership that has created jobs for many Kentuckians,”

“I am pleased that the company once again has selected Kentucky, and in particular Clark County, to open a new customer service center that will employ more than 550 full-time people in our region.”

Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner comments on the effect the new center will have on the local economy:

“Being selected for a project of this magnitude will certainly positively impact our community, now and in the years to come,”

“The investment and careers that Amazon will create will ripple through our economy, putting people to work and generating income for our region. This is what economic development is all about.”

The Winchester facility will be distinctively different from those already in Louisville, Lexington, Campbellsville and Hebron as it will be exclusively focused on technical support and customer service, as opposed to warehouse order fulfillment. Hopefully it will have the economic ripple effect we have seen in other areas of Kentucky.

Unfortunately free cash flow decreased almost 40% and ended at $1.15 billion, as compared to $1.90 billion the year before. Not too hot. Common shares outstanding plus shares underlying stock-based awards totaled 464 million a the end of the quarter as compared to 466 million a year ago. The company purchased $960 million in stock or about 5.3 million shares. They had previously authorized a $2 billion authorization to buy the company’s common stock.

Operating income came in at $192 million, contrasted to $322 million in the first quarter last year. Net income leo decreased to $130 million, which is a 35% decrease when compared to first quarter 2011 ($201 million). That’s $0.28 per diluted share compared to $0.44 in 2011 Q1. Not so great.

Despite the less than stellar quarter for Amazon, there are many great things in the works for 2012. E-book readers and the Kindle store have been big contributors to Amazon’s success this past quarter, and CEO Jeff Bezos has a lot of faith in their new products.

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com comments on the success of the Kindle store:

“I’m excited to announce that we now have more than 130,000 new, in-copyright books that are exclusive to the Kindle Store – you won’t find them anywhere else. They include many of our top bestsellers – in fact, 16 of our top 100 bestselling titles are exclusive to our store,”

“If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you don’t even need to buy these titles – you can borrow them for free – with no due dates – from our revolutionary Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library is heavily used by Kindle owners, and it has extremely unusual features that both authors and customers love. Every time you borrow a book, the author gets paid – and we have an inexhaustible supply of each title so you never have to wait in a queue for the book you want. Kindle is the bestselling e-reader in the world by far, and I assure you we’ll keep working hard so that the Kindle Store remains yet another reason to buy a Kindle!”

Here’s a look at some projections for the second quarter already underway:

* Net sales are expected to be between $11.9 billion and $13.3 billion, or to grow between 20% and 34% compared with second quarter 2011.

* This guidance includes approximately $260 million for stock-based compensation and amortization of intangible assets, and it assumes, among other things, that no additional business acquisitions or investments are concluded and that there are no further revisions to stock-based compensation estimates.

* Lab & Scientific
* Test, Measure & Inspect
* Occupational Health & Safety
* Janitorial & Sanitation
* Office
* Fleet & Vehicle Maintenance
* Power & Hand Tools
* Cutting Tools
* Abrasives & Finishing
* Material Handling
* Materials
* Hydraulics Pneumatics & Plumbing
* Fasteners
* Power Transmission

Prentis Wilson, vice president of the new AmazonSupply comments:

“We’re excited to offer a wide range of items, from basic supplies like drill bits and automatic hand dryers, to hard to find parts like laboratory centrifuges and miniature polyimide tubing, enabling business and industrial customers to streamline their buying processes,”

“Low prices combined with fast, free shipping and a vast selection, make shopping on AmazonSupply a great experience for customers.”

Right now Amazon is offering free two-day shipping on any orders from site that exceed $50. Corporate lines of credit are available to many customers. They also say the high-quality photos and detailed descriptions make it an easy site to buy from. Might be worth looking into, maybe you can cut some costs.

The study asked shoppers to look at 21 of the nation’s top retailers and then select through an extensive battery of questions the “most” and “least” personally relevant retailer in four areas: practicality, values, sensory appeal and social appeal. The study involved more than 2,000 shoppers ages 18 to 65.

Shoppers gave Amazon.com the highest ranking in the area of practical value, which is striking when one considers nobody’s ever physically been to an Amazon store. The findings support ample evidence that retail’s strongest momentum is now in the online experience. And while Amazon trumped all other retailers in practical value, it also led the categories of “Values-based relevance” and “Social relevance.” Target managed to top Amazon in “Sensory relevance,” but only barely. Besides, how exactly could Amazon.com appeal to the human senses? Launch an app for aroma-vision? Apparently it does quite a bit as is because Target only edged past Amazon in this category.

“These are four ingredients of relevance that you look for in everything, from a Google search to a product, candidate, cause, or place to shop,” said Brodeur CEO Andy Coville. “Amazon.com has clearly cracked the code when it comes to being relevant to American shoppers.”

Johnson added, “It shows how technology can move a retailer from specialty online bookstore to one that people view as more practical and value-driven than Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer.”

Indeed, Amazon has become the one store to rule them all. The full list with ratings from each of the four categories is below. So are box stores really losing their charm?

Online Graduate Programs has created a fascinating infographic that displays just how impatient we here in America are when it comes to the Internet and the treasures it can give us. Google found this out when they slowed down search results. The search giant usually fields over 3 billion searches a day. Slowing down the search results by four-tenths of a second led to 8 million less searches.

Another example shows that one in four people will abandon a Web site if it takes more than four seconds to load. Apparently that one person never had to live through dial-up. It gets even worse though when it comes to mobile browsing. Half of all mobile users will leave a site if it doesn’t load with 10 seconds. To make matters worse, three of out five will never return to that site.

This is especially disastrous for businesses as 40 percent of e-shoppers will abandon a Web site like Amazon.com if it doesn’t load in three seconds. It’s said that Amazon could lose up to $1.6 billion a year due to a one second delay on their site.

Unfortunately, our impatience for the Web carries over to the real world as well. Almost half of all Americans would rather pirate a movie instead of going out to watch it in theaters. The impatience applies to our love lives as well with millions of Americans participating in speed dating.

To shame us even more, it was found that the majority of Americans would not wait longer than 15 minutes in line, while one in five people admitted to being rude to someone serving them “too slowly.”

Look America, the Internet is great, but give it a break. It’s not a magical realm where everything always works. It takes the constant vigilance of overworked and underpaid IT workers to make sure the Internet runs smoothly for you. When it doesn’t, just be patient and wait it out. Don’t be a jerk either, just be thankful we have the Internet around to show us the joy of keyboard cat. Without such artistic endeavors, we would still be living in the dark age of bad sitcoms and poorly scripted reality TV shows – oh wait.

Created by: OnlineGraduatePrograms.com

In hindi, Junglee literally translates to “wild” or a person having no human qualities. They usually use the term in reference to jungle animals, I.e. “jungle cat”

The aforementioned source contacted Prabhakar PJ, who is the person in charge of business development at Amazon.com, but he declined to comment on the matter. There are speculations that the website was to officially launch last week, while others say it’s not expected for a few days still. If any developments become apparent, WebProNews will report on the situation.

Amazon Route 53 can be used to route end users to multiple AWS services including Amazon EC2, an Amazon Elastic Load Balancer or an Amazon S3 bucket, and to infrastructure outside of AWS.

Route 53 features a self-service design with a pay-as-you-go model where users pay only for managing domains through the service and the number of queries that the service answers.

Amazon Route 53 uses a network of DNS servers located across the globe, which  allows businesses to keep their web applications available. Amazon Route 53 also lets users place controls over who can manage their DNS system by allowing integration with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).

“Our customers have asked for a DNS service with all the same qualities of the other AWS services that they use every day – flexible, scalable, no commitment, inexpensive, and pay-as-you go,” said Tal Saraf, General Manager of Amazon CloudFront.

“That’s exactly what Amazon Route 53 provides. Now AWS customers who need a DNS service don’t have to work with a separate provider and instead can get this additional infrastructure service with the AWS platform.”