If you read any of the articles on Google Books, it seems the one reason everyone scrapes up that makes Google Books better than Amazon is reading on the web. Of course, Amazon moves quicker than Usain Bolt, so they’ve already announced “Kindle for the Web”.
Specifically, it allows any site to sell Kindle books, plus you’ll be able to read those books without installing any software. It’s all very exciting, except that Kobo’s been offering it for the last year! It’s a bit amusing that pundits have been screeching about how Google has this big leg up, when it’s not a new feature to the ebook world.
Sampling books online is a great feature, but I question how high the demand is for reading a whole book (or even large chunks of it) in a browser. With Kindle apps being available for most smartphone platforms, if you want to read a book on the go you can always use an iOS, Android or Blackberry device. Admittedly, I could see this being convenient in a research capacity more than for non-fiction.
In any case, the full press release is below, and please share in the comments if you have or plan to take advantage of web-based ebook reading!
Every Website Can Now Be a Bookstore
Kindle for the Web enables customers to read full text of Kindle books in their web browser – no download or installation requiredWebsites are invited to participate in decentralized e-book sales
Kindle for the Web is Chrome OS launch partner
SEATTLE, Dec 07, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) –(NASDAQ: AMZN) – Two months ago, Amazon launched Kindle for the Web, making it possible to read free first chapters of Kindle books through web browsers. Today, Amazon announced that Kindle for the Web will expand to enable anyone with access to a web browser to buy and read full Kindle books – no download or installation required. For the first time ever, bookstores, other retailers, authors, bloggers and other website owners will be able to offer Kindle books from their own sites, let their readers start enjoying the full text of these books instantly, and earn referral fees through the Amazon Associates Program for sales made through their sites. Website owners can embed the Kindle for the Web widget in a matter of seconds and start offering Kindle books. The update to Kindle for the Web was demonstrated on-stage at a Google Chrome event today and will support Chrome OS devices, including the new Chrome OS Notebook, as well as the Chrome browser and other web browsers.“Kindle for the Web makes it possible for bookstores, authors, retailers, bloggers or other website owners to offer Kindle books on their websites and earn affiliate fees for doing so,” said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President, Kindle Content. “Anyone with access to a web browser can discover the seamless and consistent experience that comes with Kindle books. Kindle books can be read on the $139 third-generation Kindle device with new high-contrast Pearl e-Ink, on iPads, iPod touches, iPhones, Macs, PCs, BlackBerrys and Android-based devices. And now, anywhere you have a web browser. Your reading library, last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights are always available to you no matter where you bought your Kindle books or how you choose to read them.”
Kindle for the Web joins Amazon’s wide selection of free reading apps for iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, BlackBerry and Android-based devices that let customers read and sync their reading library, bookmarks, notes, and highlights with the device or platform of their choice.
The Kindle Store offers the largest selection of books people want to read, including 101 of 111 New York Times Bestsellers and New Releases from $9.99. Millions of older, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are also available to read. Kindle books offer readers many additional unique advantages, including:
Buy Once, Read Everywhere apps let you sync and read your books, last page read, bookmarks, notes and highlights across Kindle devices and the most popular devices and platforms
Amazon’s Worry-Free Archive automatically backs up your books and highlights online in your Kindle library where they can be re-downloaded wirelessly for free, anytime on any Kindle device or app
Amazon.com customer reviews, personalized recommendations and editorial reviews
Instant 1-click buying using your Amazon account information
Kindle for the Web was demoed on-stage today at Google’s Chrome event, where audience members saw the speed and fluidity of Kindle for the Web operating on Chrome OS. Kindle for the Web will support Chrome OS devices, including the all-new Chrome OS Notebook announced today. Kindle for the Web takes advantage of HTML5 to give users a rich application experience. Kindle for the Web will be available in the coming months. More information about Kindle for the Web is available at www.amazon.com/kindlefortheweb.About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle, Kindle 3G and Kindle DX are the revolutionary portable readers that wirelessly download books, magazines, newspapers, blogs and personal documents to a crisp, high-resolution electronic ink display that looks and reads like real paper. Kindle 3G and Kindle DX utilize the same 3G wireless technology as advanced cell phones, so users never need to hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot. Kindle is the #1 bestselling product across the millions of items sold on Amazon.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, and www.amazon.it. As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
SOURCE: Amazon.com, Inc.
