The UK's biggest bookstore chain has announced that it will start selling Kindles alongside other digital services from Amazon. Waterstones stores will let Kindle owners digitally browse books in-store and link up with special offers, tying into the chain's plans for substantial renovations that would also include dedicated digital book areas and free WiFi. The move follows on flies in the opposite direction of Target, who has started phasing out its Kindle sales in the US. We assume any plans for the bookseller's very own e-reader will remain the back-burner for now.

UK bookseller Waterstones to start selling Kindles originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 04:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As spring reaches full blossom, it's not just the flowers that are beginning to show -- so are the new slates heavy hitters teased back at CES. So, what does that mean? It means it's high-time that we cast a fresh glance over the tablet landscape, took in a deep breath of slate-infused air and exhaled a hearty Engadget tablet buyer's guide. We've been running the smartphone equivalent for a little while now, so we thought it only fair to give the now-mature tablet category one of its own. We're going to look at the main categories of fondleslabbery and carve out what we think are the finest offerings on the market right now. It doesn't matter if you're looking for something big, small, just good enough or so powerful that it could replace your laptop: we've collected our favorites and shepherded them safely into this one humble guide. Of course, if you want to cast your net a little wider, you can always check out our tablet review hub, but if you struggle with indecision, head on past the break to see what's hot right now in Tablet Land.

Continue reading Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: spring 2012 edition

Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: spring 2012 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Certainly it's no great shocker that Amazon's got plans for a new e-reader and tablet later this year. Nor should anyone be particularly surprised at the prospect of a front-lit reader from the retail giant set to compete directly with the latest Nook offering. Reuters, however, claims to have some insight into both, courtesy of an anonymous source. Apparently the aforementioned reader is set for a July launch, arriving in the customary Wifi and 3G varieties. The tablet, meanwhile, is set for a release "closer to the holiday season," according to the source. Amazon, E Ink and the like naturally refused to comment on the matter.

Report: Amazon planning front-lit Kindle e-reader for July, new tablet later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon will never run out of copies of Harry Potter e-books from its Lending Library. Thanks to a new agreement with Pottermore, on June 19th the entire seven-book collection will be among the 140,000 plus you can grab, provided, of course, that you're an Amazon Prime member. If you've forked over the $79 yearly membership fee, you'll have no due date or waiting, and all your highlights and bookmarks will be saved if you need to re-borrow. Unlike your local library, you can only take out one at a time, but at least you won't have to line up behind all the Muggles to get it.

Continue reading Harry Potter e-book loaners coming to your Kindle, if you're Primed

Harry Potter e-book loaners coming to your Kindle, if you're Primed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So you've got yourself Kindle Fire and a house full of young, impressionable children. What to do? Have no fear, update 6.3.1 is on its way, bringing with it parental controls like password protection for purchases, content disabling in the library and the ability to block access to the device's Silk browser. The world will be a safer place once the update starts rolling out over the air in the next few days.

Amazon tablet update brings parental controls, lets kids play with Fire originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

E Ink Holdings made a loss of over $25 million last quarter, despite supplying its backlight-free panels to popular e-readers like the Kindle and the Nook. Why the poor showing after ten quarters of solid money-making? The company's accountants blame "off-season effects" and "inventory adjustments" by customers, which may simply be corporatese for "the screens aren't selling so well." Overall revenue tumbled 63 percent compared to the same period in 2011 and the outlook remains "conservative" -- although it's hard to believe that everyone suddenly wants to stay indoors and stare at pixels.

Sun stops shining on E Ink Holdings: company reports first loss in two years originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's no Apple-sized quarter, but you'd need to be on HGTV's Million Dollar Rooms a handful of times over to scoff at Amazon's Q1 2012 earnings. After reporting $177 million in net earnings last quarter (on $17.43 billion in revenue), the online sales behemoth has today registered $13.18 billion in net sales -- proudly reporting that said tally was up from the $9.86 billion in its Q1 a year ago. Excluding the $56 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales would have grown 34 percent compared with first quarter 2011. As for operating income? That checked in at $192 million (compared to $322 million Q1 2011), with the outfit noting that the "unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter on operating income was $4 million." Net income also sank 35 percent from $201 million a year ago, but it still left Amazon with $130 million more in the bank than it had just three months ago.

It's important to note that the outfit didn't have "the holidays" here to help out, but it's still a bit worrisome to investors when profit margin shrinks. Focusing on more positive things, CEO Jeff Bezos noted that Amazon has "over 130,000 new, in-copyright books that are exclusive to the Kindle Store," again reminding the world that Amazon Prime members can "borrow them for free with no due dates." We're also told that the Kindle Fire remains the top, most gifted and most wished for product across its entire store, while pointing out that the North American sales segment was up 36 percent from Q1 2011 (reaching $7.43 billion). Our overseas comrades -- specifically, Amazon's UK, German, Japanese, French, Chinese, Italian and Spanish sites -- accounted for $5.76 billion in sales, up 31 percent year-over-year. Worldwide media sales saw a 19 percent uptick to $4.71 billion, while global electronics and "other merchandise" saw sales grow a whopping 43 percent to $7.97 billion. Notably, the company continually banged on unfavorable exchange rates, so if you're looking for a place to heap blame... well, there you go.

Continue reading Amazon's Q1 2012 earnings: net income down 35 percent to $130 million, net sales at $13.18 billion

Amazon's Q1 2012 earnings: net income down 35 percent to $130 million, net sales at $13.18 billion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We've seen some pretty clear indications that the Kindle Fire was rapidly gaining market share among Android tablets, and ComScore is now out with a new report that indicates it recently crossed a big milestone. According to the research firm, the Fire's market share in the US fully doubled from December to February, with it standing at 54.4 percent as of the end of the month. Counted together, the Galaxy Tab family sits in second at 15.4 percent, while the Motorola Xoom and Asus Transformer come in at 7 and 6.3 percent, respectively. Of course, the Kindle Fire isn't quite your ordinary Android tablet, so this is likely better news for Amazon than Google. In addition to that, ComScore also looked at the browsing habits of tablet users, and unsurprisingly found that larger screens tended to lead to more content consumption, with 10-inch tablets boasting a 39 percent higher consumption rate than 7-inch devices. You can find all the numbers at the source link below.

ComScore pegs Kindle Fire at more than 50 percent of the US Android tablet market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sure, it may be Barnes & Noble's big day, but Amazon couldn't help but offer up some news of its own. The mega-retailer announced today that its Send to Kindle service is hitting the Mac, letting Apple users send documents and compatible apps from their desktop to their Kindle with a drag and a drop. The app's available now for free. For more info, send your browser to the source link below.

Send to Kindle arrives on Macs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon is now shipping preorders for its Kindle Touch and Kindle Touch 3G in both the UK and Germany, a week ahead of schedule. While eager e-reader... readers in the likes of France, Italy and Spain have to wait a little longer, Germans and Brits can expect their orders to arrive starting tomorrow, with stock also available in bricks-and-mortar options including John Lewis, Dixons, Argos, Carphone Warehouse, Currys, PC World and Tesco. Alas, there's still no news of a Eurozone arrival date for the Kindle Fire. We assume our European readers are still willing to wait, right?

Update: Amazon has contacted us stating that the devices have actually "started shipping to customers in France, Italy and Spain from the respective sites (Amazon.fr, .it and .es), as well as the UK and DE."

Continue reading Kindle Touch gets early release in UK and Germany (update)

Kindle Touch gets early release in UK and Germany (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a move that's likely to grab the attention of more than a few Android developers, Amazon has announced that its arbitrary $20 limit for in-app purchases via the Appstore is no more. The company announced this change in an email to developers, which follows a tweak to the Appstore's parental controls. In-app purchasing is rather new territory for the Amazon crew, which first unveiled the necessary APIs just last week. There's no word on what new monetary limit is now in place, but make sure to watch your spending, kids -- some of these apps are incredibly habit-forming.

Amazon Appstore shatters $20 ceiling for in-app purchases originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Amazon adds in-app purchasing to Appstore for Android devices, Kindle Fire

Amazon adds in-app purchasing to Appstore for Android devices, Kindle Fire originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Illuminated Kindle e-readers could arrive this year, also, might not originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 09:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Amazon launches Kindle eBook store en Español, over 33,000 libros to choose from

Amazon launches Kindle eBook store en Español, over 33,000 libros to choose from originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

That's pretty darn cheap. On today's Gold Box deal, Amazon has chopped an extra 30 bucks from its refurbished Kindle Fire stock The retailer promises that all the tablets are certified to "look and work like new." At the time of writing, tablet hunters had an extra 18 hours to stake their claim, but the sale will stop once it's sold its stock. There's also a limit to five per customer -- a warning to all those auction-based-get-rich-quick schemers.

Amazon offers up refurbed Kindle Fires on sale, cuts price to $139 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kindle Fire update brings sharing, 'print replica' textbooks, more to tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Kindle Touch gets April 27th release date in Europe

Kindle Touch gets April 27th release date in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kindle app for Android updated with Send-to-Kindle functionality, lets you sling documents to green little robots everywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Kindle, Evernote, Vimeo and more get optimized for the iPad's Retina display

Kindle, Evernote, Vimeo and more get optimized for the iPad's Retina display originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon sells over 2 million Kindle Singles in 14 months originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon elbows past Samsung for No. 2 tablet spot in Q4, according to IHS originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon's second-gen, possibly larger Kindle Fire to set off at end of Q2? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Penguin halts over-the-air Kindle borrowing again, this time it's serious originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Windows Phone exec Brandon Watson leaves Microsoft, headed to Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

WiFi Kindle Touch gets its passport, now available internationally originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kindle Fire firmware update 6.2.2 brings full-screen browsing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Surprise! People like free stuff, Amazon's lending library a success

Surprise! People like free stuff, Amazon's lending library a success originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon's Send to Kindle lets you send stuff to your Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon launches touch-friendly, web-based Kindle store for iPads originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: SolarFocus Kindle case eyes-on

SolarFocus Kindle case eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading SolarKindle cover basks in the sun's rays, charges for days and days

SolarKindle cover basks in the sun's rays, charges for days and days originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Amazon marks 'best holiday' for Kindle devices, fills stockings full of cash

Amazon marks 'best holiday' for Kindle devices, fills stockings full of cash originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Got some Kindle hardware burning a hole in your pile of festive gifts? Well, British bookworms have been given some extra yuletide joy courtesy of Amazon UK which has also started a 12-day sale, focusing on its e-book wares. The site vows to add more digital reads each day and it looks like all the additions will stick with their shrunken price tags for the extent of the sale. Head to the source below for some one-click literary gratification.

Amazon UK opens its doors for the Christmas sales, adds hundreds of Kindle books from 99p originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon's latest attempt to lock down root access on its Kindle Fire has been, well, routed. It took the tinkerers mere days to catch up and the new root file is now up for grabs, courtesy of Android Police and a few good devs. The method is app-based and looks to be disarmingly simple, but the usual warnings apply; mess up those software internals and bam, you've voided your warranty. Those still willing to dabble can find the full details at the source link below.

Kindle Fire root reignited, beats 6.2.1 update originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon stops blocking rival e-reading apps on Kindle Fire originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kindle Fire stops blocking Android Market site, hijacking your browser originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon updates Kindle iOS app with new magazine options for iPad, built-in PDF reader originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Kapsule Lightstand puts your Kindle Keyboard in the spotlight

Insert Coin: Kapsule Lightstand puts your Kindle Keyboard in the spotlight originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Kindle devices selling at a rate of one million a week ahead of holidays

Kindle devices selling at a rate of one million a week ahead of holidays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Yifan Lu jailbreaks Kindle Touch, uses a special MP3 file to do so (video)

Yifan Lu jailbreaks Kindle Touch, uses a special MP3 file to do so (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.