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Amazon Rolls Out Kindle For PC

Amazon.com has introduced "Kindle for PC," a free software application that allows PC users to access Kindle content on their computers. Users will be able to buy e-books from Amazon without having to own its Kindle e-reader. Previously users had to buy a Kindle or an iPhone or iPod touch to buy e-books from its Kindle store. The new Kindle for PC download will be available from Amazon next month. Amazon introduced its Kindle for PC software at Windows 7 launch event today in New York City.

Will E-books As Text Books Ever Work?

As students begin to reject the Amazon Kindle ebook reader, the idea of ebooks as text books for colleges should start taking center stage. What device or system is going to truly work for busy students who want to use ebooks, but are finding it hard to use them at all on any device?

Consumer Interest In E-Readers Mixed

E-readers such as Amazon's Kindle have sparked interest among consumers but have not yet reached mainstream adoption, according to a new report from the NPD Group. Some 37 percent of consumers expressed interest in purchasing an e-reader, but more than 40 percent said they were "somewhat uninterested" or "not interested at all." When asked why, nearly 70 percent said it's because they prefer the feel of an actual book.

Group Calls On Amazon To End Kindle DRM

The Free Software Foundation has launched an online petition to convince Amazon.com to drop its use of digital rights management (DRM) technology on its Kindle. The move comes after Amazon deleted customers copies of George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and "1984" without notice. Amazon says the titles were added to the Kindle store by a company that did not have the rights to them and it removed the copies at the request of the publisher from both its Kindle store and users personal electronic readers.

Amazon Apologizes To Kindle Customers

Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos has apologized for the way his company handled the deletion of two George Orwell titles from its customers Kindle readers. Last week Amazon, without notice, deleted customers copies of Orwell's "Animal Farm" and "1984" later saying the action was taken at the request of the publisher. After removing the titles from its catalogue, Amazon deleted the titles from all of its customers Kindle devices. Customers were refunded for their purchase of the titles.

Amazon Sued Over Cracked Kindles

Amazon.com has been hit with a $5 million class action suit over its popular Kindle 2 book reader. Some Kindle owners who purchased the optional $30 protective cover are complaining it is causing cracks in the device, which eventually lead it to stop working. The cover fastens onto the body of the Kindle with a set of metal clips.

Advertising To Make Its Way Onto Amazon Kindles

Amazon apparently has some big plans for their Kindle e-reader and it involves advertising. That’s right, advertising. After all, what would a good book be without advertising, right?

Amazon Kindle DX to Ship Soon

Update 2: The Kindle DX will ship on June 10th, a spokesperson for Amazon tells WebProNews. "The Kindle DX is currently available for pre-order and all orders are prioritized on a first come, first served basis," they said. Update: The Kindle DX is now available for pre-order at Amazon for $489.

Google Plans Entry Into eBook Market

Google has announced plans it will start selling eBooks by the end of the year. The move will put Google in direct competition with Amazon.com and it is also part of its strategy to promote an open platform for reading and accessing books. Unlike Amazon, Google will allow users to read its ebooks on any Web enabled device including a PC, mobile phone and an eBook reader. "Eventually, we hope to extend this functionality to retailers who embed Google Previews on their website," the company said in a statement.

Amazon Lets Bloggers Take Cut Of Kindle Subscriptions

People who want to make their blogs more accessible through the Amazon Kindle - and get some money as a result - can consider themselves officially encouraged to do so.  Amazon's started a Kindle Publishing for Blogs program that allows for self-publishing and then splits the revenue.