Amazon

665 'Amazon' stories October 2010 - September 2013

See All Stories

Amazon is the largest Internet company in the world. Originally started as an online book store, there is now almost nothing you can’t buy at amazon.com.

In addition to its ecommerce store, Amazon offers video streaming, music streaming, a publishing company and cloud services. It has also diversified into manufacturing its own branded consumer electronics products, ranging from Amazon Basics cables to Kindle ebook readers, Fire tablets and TV boxes and Echo speakers.

Amazon has its own intelligent assistant, Alexa. Created for its Echo range of smart speakers, Alexa is also supported by a wide range of third-party products, including speakers, TVs, printers, phones, laptops, cars and more. Over 100 million Alexa devices had been sold as of early 2019.

Amazon Mobile for iOS adds push notifications for shipments, deals and subscription activity

Scott Buscemi Sep 17 2013 - 4:55 pm PT

It’s building up to be a great day for Amazon iOS users. After Amazon Instant Video added AirPlay support this morning, the company has updated their Amazon Mobile app with push notifications for shipments (when they’re sent and when they have arrived), deals, and subscribe & save activity.

What’s New in Version 3.0.0

New for iPad:
• Use the new sort and filter experience on iPad to quickly find what you’re looking for

New for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch
• New notifications make it easier for you to stay on top of your upcoming shipments, Subscribe and Save orders, as well as Deals of the Day
• Bug fixes

The app still has an “antique” non-iOS 7 look, but the push notification options are definitely welcome. Amazon’s relationship with the App Store has been quite shaky to say the least. Apple began a lawsuit against Amazon for using the company’s “App Store” trademark, although that was later dropped. In addition, Amazon does not sell ebooks through the Kindle App Store app since they do not want Apple to take a 30% slice. Customers can make regular retail purchases through the free Amazon Mobile app, though.

Amazon issues “required” iOS Kindle app update to install prior to iOS 7

Mike Beasley Sep 8 2013 - 2:36 pm PT

Amazon’s Kindle for iOS app got an update today to prepare for iOS 7’s upcoming release. According to the change log, the update is required before users update to iOS 7. Failure to install the new version of the app prior to updating to iOS 7 could cause users to have to login again and re-download their books.

While this issue isn’t as signficant as losing all of your Google Authenticator tokens, it could be a bit of an annoyance for users to have to re-download their reading material.

The Kindle update is available on the App Store now.

Using Steve Jobs email as evidence, DOJ says Apple changed in-app purchase policy to retaliate against Amazon

Jordan Kahn Aug 23 2013 - 9:16 am PT

As first spotted by GigaOm, the US Department of Justice has submitted a revised remedy proposal in the ongoing ebook case that previously found Apple guilty of conspiring with publishers to control ebook pricing. While much of the proposal remains the same as the proposal it first submitted at the beginning of this month, the report points out that the DOJ has added more information and a Steve Jobs email as an exhibit showing that Apple changed its in-app purchasing policies specifically “to retaliate against Amazon for competitive conduct that Apple disapproved of.”

While referencing the email above in which Steve Jobs and Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller discuss forcing Amazon to go through Apple’s payment system, the DOJ claims Apple “misrepresented the factual circumstances” since it allows other retailers to bypass its 30% cut:
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: Save up to 60% on SanDisk SD/USB memory products, $30 Western Digital dual-band N router, 20% off iTunes cards, apps/games, more

Aug 14 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to round up the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Today’s Featured deals:

SOLD OUT Amazon 60% off SanDisk SD/USB memory sale: 16GB: $10, 32GB: $17, 64GB: $32

Western Digital My Net N750 HD Dual-Band Router w/ USB connectivity $30 shipped (Reg. $90)

Apple Deals:

iTunes Gift Cards: $60 iTunes gift card for $48 or $50 card for $40. Both deals yield 20% savings on future app, music, movie purchases
iPod Touch 4th Gen. 16GB (open-box) $125
Apple does rare iTunes ‘buy 1 get 2 free’ movie bundle sale (starting $10)

The Steve Jobs Video Bundle: Lectures On The Man, His Legacy & The Future Of Technology $15

Other great deals we love:

New! Game/App Deals: The Last of Us: $45, Portal 2: $17, iOS freebies, more
New! LG 23″ Flat Panel Digital TV Monitor: $140 + $5 shipping (Reg. $240)
New! Microsoft Office Home and Student 2011 for Mac $90 shipped (Reg. $140)

Portable Storage Deals:

Western Digital 1TB My Passport $59
Western Digital 2TB My Passport $100
Seagate Backup Plus 1TB USB 3.0 $60
Seagate Expansion 4TB USB 3.0 $140
Toshiba Canvio 760GB USB 3.0 $50

Stream the entire first episode from the final season of Breaking Bad for free
9to5Toys Exclusive: Get an extra $10 on Gazelle when you trade-in your used (or broken!) electronics
Save a extra 10% today! ZooGue Protective Covers from $3 + $1 shipping: iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy
Kindle Fire 16GB tablet w/ 7-inch1280x800 HD display and Dolby stereo: $159 ($40 off) shipped
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Platinum $5
Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player software $30 (Reg. $40)
500GB Sony PlayStation 3 Assassin’s Creed III bundle $230 shipped (Reg. $300)
Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5″ SATA III Solid State Drive $91 shipped (Reg. $140)
Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones $269 (Reg $299)
Gamers’ Deals: Nearly 200 Mac Games on sale up to 66% off
Popular 1Password iOS app goes on sale for $7.99 until Aug. 16
Get a free $10 gift card when you sign-up for an Amazon Prime membership

Get the most money for your iPhone before trade-in values plummet ahead of Sept. 10 event

Jordan Kahn Aug 13 2013 - 12:46 pm PT

Update: Gazelle has announced an extended 50-day price lock window. That will give you until October 15th to send your iPhone in, but you’ll have to lock in your price before Apple’s September 10th event to take advantage.

With the unveiling of a next-generation iPhone expected on September 10th, it’s once again time to start thinking about trade-in options for your current device. While iPhones typically hold their resale value much better than competing devices, previous iPhone models historically experience a big drop in trade-in value in the 3-4 weeks leading up to an iPhone announcement. That’s highlighted in the chart above showing average decline in selling prices for previous gen iPhones leading up to the iPhone 5 launch.

With reliable reports of the next-gen iPhone coming early next month (no word on if that means the rumored iPhone 5S, 5C, or both), now is the time to get the most for your iPhone if you plan on upgrading when Apple’s new device finally becomes available. Apple is testing its own trade-in program that should launch in the coming months, but until then we’ve put together a chart showing where to get the most out of your device today:
Expand
Expanding
Close

DOJ proposes settlement in Apple ebook price fixing case: end current agreements, link to other stores

Jordan Kahn Aug 2 2013 - 6:58 am PT

After reaching settlements with just about every publisher involved in the long-running Apple/Amazon e-book price fixing case, The United States Department of Justice today published its proposal to end the case with Apple after finding the company guilty of conspiring to fix ebook prices during trial earlier this month:

“The court found that Apple’s illegal conduct deprived consumers of the benefits of e-book price competition and forced them to pay substantially higher prices,” said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “Under the department’s proposed order, Apple’s illegal conduct will cease and Apple and its senior executives will be prevented from conspiring to thwart competition in the future.”

Among the key points in the proposal:
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: Save up to $400 off 15″ Retina MacBook Pro + Free Apple TV, app deals galore, Hulu Plus / Amazon Prime free trial offers, more

Aug 1 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to round up the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Also check out the latest 9to5Mac Happy Hour to hear the latest 9to5Toys segment. During the show, there’s a mention of $50 video conversion software currently available for free and the VPN service proXPN.com available at a 20% discount.

Today’s Featured deals:

Save up to $400 off 15″ Retina MacBook Pros + Free Apple TV at Best Buy

iOS App Deals:

Bad Piggies: FREE, XCOM Enemy Unknown: $15, freebies, more

Readdle iOS Apps up to 70% off: Calendars+: $2, PDF Expert: $5, Printer Pro: $2, more

Trial Offers:

Free 2 month Hulu Plus trial for new customers

Get a free $10 gift card when you sign-up for an Amazon Prime membership

Other great deals we love:

New! $25 for $50 worth of protective gear from Speck for your iPhone, iPad, Galaxy and more
New! Apple Deals: iPad mini 16GB WiFi $298 (Reg. $329), iPad 4th gen. w/ Retina display 16GB WiFi $450 (Reg. $500)
New! 100 MP3 album downloads for $5 each from Amazon: Coldplay, Kanye West, Rolling Stones, U2, more
New! OtterBox Prefix Series Case for iPhone 5 $15 + $4 shipping (Reg. $25)
New! 1-Year subscription to Men’s Fitness for $4.50 (Reg. $40)
New! Power Up: 7200mAh Solar PowerBank Portable Battery w/ 5 Charging Tips $30 shipped
New! PowerDuo Reserve with Backup Battery, Car Charger & Wall Charger for iPhone $10 shipped
New! iGo Charger with 12 AA Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries $15
New! Entourage: The Complete Series on Blu-ray $97 Shipped (Reg. $300)
New! LG 50″ 1080p 120Hz LED (3.22″ ultra-slim) HDTV $598 shipped
New! Hipstreet 3-in-1 Portfolio Case for Select Apple iPad Models in Black $30 shipped
New! Samsung 11.6″ Chromebook goes on sale for $219 shipped at Amazon ($269 for 3G)

Today only get a free game or movie rental from any Redbox kiosk with codes GAMES3B / DVD3B

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 1, 2013

The Air-Fi Matrix Wireless Stereo Headphones for $100 (33% off)
Desktop Cubical USB Mini Aquarium Fish Tank w/ LED Light Lamp LCD Clock Filter $30 shipped
Brother P-Touch PT-H100 Handheld Label Maker $10 Shipped (Reg. $35)
Nexus 7 (2013 2nd gen) Cases: rooCASE folio case w/ stylus $6, MoKo Slim-Fit Multi-angle $6
Urge Basics Soundbrick Bluetooth Stereo Speaker with built-in mic (multiple colors) $34 + $3 shipping (Reg. $80)
Sunforce 60W Solar Charging Kit designed for RVs, camping, back-up, and remote power use $160 Shipped (Reg. $600)
Hitachi Touro 4TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $130
2 x $25 iTunes Gift Cards for $40: Save 20% on future purchases of Apps, Music, Movies, more
Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player software $30 (Reg. $40)
Numark iDJ controller for iPad, $100 off w/rebate: $280 shipped
ZAGGfolio iPad 2/3/4 Bluetooth keyboard case $50 Shipped (Reg. $100)
AOC announces new 16″ DisplayLink USB 3.0-powered portable LED monitor
JBL launches the new WR2.4 Wireless Headphones w/ noise-free, 100ft. reception range
RapidWeaver 5 Mega Bundle – Themes, Stacks, and Plug-ins $80 (Reg. $700)

IMDb iOS app adds ability to purchase movie tickets, Amazon integration for DVDs & Blu-rays, & enhanced bios

Jordan Kahn Jul 15 2013 - 11:03 am PT

IMBb has released a big update today to its iPhone and iPad app, adding the the ability to purchase movie tickets directly from within the app and much more. The feature is initially only available to users in the U.S. and can be accessed directly through a “Showtimes & Tickets” section on listings for movies currently in theatres.

Also included in today’s update is integration with the Amazon Mobile app for one tap purchasing of DVDs & Blu-rays from Amazon:

Want to buy a movie or TV show on DVD or Blu-ray? “Search via Amazon Mobile” to the rescue. Requires that you have the Amazon Mobile app, but we provide a handy link if you don’t have it yet.

IMBd has added even more celebrity bio pages in today’s update and iPhone users now have “one-tap access to the full cast/full filmography.” The updated app also includes a few other UI enhancements and bug fixes listed below:

What’s New in Version 3.3

iPad and iPhone
* “Tickets, please!” You can now conveniently purchase movie tickets via the IMDb App (currently US-only).
* More bios for celebrities you know and love as well as for up-and-comers.
* Want to buy a movie or TV show on DVD or Blu-ray? “Search via Amazon Mobile” to the rescue. Requires that you have the Amazon Mobile app, but we provide a handy link if you don’t have it yet.
* Also, did you know you can tap the “Coming Soon” bar above the title on upcoming movies to add the release date as an event to your calendar?
* Bug fixes. Nasty tricksy bugsies. We hates them!

iPhone
* We heard you. By popular demand, we’ve updated the movie and celebrity pages to include one-tap access to the full cast/full filmography (which, yes, scrolls vertically).
* You’ll see that cute little Watchlist flag almost everywhere now. Tap it to add movies and shows to your Watchlist (and tap-and-hold to add to your other lists as well).

This will be the last update that supports iOS 5. Future updates will require iOS 6 and above.

68% off Sony storage at Amazon: 32GB SD card: $17, 1TB USB3 portable HD: $70, more

9to5 Staff Jul 12 2013 - 3:06 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

Click to enlarge

Amazon’s Gold Box today is up to 68% off Sony storage products. Standouts include:

1TB USB3-powered portable Hard Drive: $69.99 shipped
1.5TB USB3-powered portable Hard Drive: $99.99 shipped
64GB SDHC 40MB/S SD Card :$37.99
32GB SDHC 40MB/S SD Card :$17.49
16GB SDHC 40MB/S SD Card :$9.99
Speedy 40MB/s MicroSD cards: 32GB: $21.99, 16GB: $11.99
More as pictured above.

Apple abandons App Store trademark case against Amazon

Jordan Kahn Jul 9 2013 - 10:48 am PT

Apple’s long-running lawsuit against Amazon for its use of the “App Store” trademark might finally be coming to an end as Reuters reports a judge has dismissed the case at the request of the companies. The report claims U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in California dismissed the case “after Apple issued to Amazon a covenant not to sue, eliminating the need for Amazon to pursue a related counterclaim.”

“We no longer see a need to pursue our case,” Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said. “With more than 900,000 apps and 50 billion downloads, customers know where they can purchase their favorite apps.”

A spokesperson for Amazon said “This was a decision by Apple to unilaterally abandon the case, and leave Amazon free to use ‘appstore’.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Boston University files lawsuit against Apple for patent infringement

Jordan Kahn Jul 3 2013 - 7:03 am PT

According to a report from the BostonHerald, Boston University is the latest to sue Apple for patent infringement claiming several Apple products use technology covered by its 1997 patent for highly insulating monocrystalline gallium nitride thin films. The university filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts yesterday listing Apple’s iPhone 5, iPad, and MacBook Air as infringing devices.

“Defendant’s acts of infringement have caused and will continue to cause substantial and irreparable damage to the University,” BU alleges in its complaint.

The highly technical patent, which can be viewed on the USPTO’s website, was originally awarded in 1997 and lists computer engineering professor Theodore D. Moustakas as its inventor. BostonHerald notes that the university has also used the patent in cases against Samsung and Amazon, and “plans to illustrate that at least one other company pays a licensing fee to use the component in question” during its case with Apple:
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: Warner Bros. $.99 app sale, Amazon Instant Video Half Yearly Sale, $100 Seagate 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop HD, more

Jul 2 2013 - 3:02 pm PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to round up the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+

Today’s Featured deals:

Warner Bros. Mobile App $.99 Sale for iOS: Batman Arkham City Lockdown, Man of Steel, Bastion, more

Amazon Instant Video Half Yearly Sale: Hundreds of free TV show pilots, $.99 movie rentals, more

Seagate Expansion 3TB Black Desktop USB 3.0 Hard Drive $100 Shipped (Reg. $160)

Belkin Charge & Sync Lightning dock w/ built-in 4′ USB cable $25 Shipped (Reg. $35)

Canon announces the new EOS 70D Digital SLR camera, aims to replace your current camcorder… http://t.co/aHlBADzy0a

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 2, 2013

Pre-ordering begins for the 32-inch Asus IGZO 4K UHD display: ASUS, a worldwide leader in… http://t.co/2S5pvYqkzn

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 2, 2013

Other great deals we love:

New! 10-Foot Lightning to USB Cable 2-Pack $10 / 5-in-1 Noodle Style USB Cable $5 Shipped / And More
New! Seagate Momentus XT 750GB internal solid state hybrid drive, 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s: $100 shipped (up to $40 off)
New! HP Deskjet 3520 Wireless All-In-One Printer $60 (Reg $100)
New! Game/App deals & freebies: Field Runners 2 for iPhone and iPad: $1 – $3, iSmoothRun Pro GPS: FREE, more
New! Staples: 20% off in-store coupon or 10% off online

iPhone Case Deals: ~~Incipio Stowaway (iP5) $5 Shipped~~, OtterBox Impact Series (iP4/4S) $10 + $3 Shipping, more
- *The Incipio Stowaway case is now sold out, but you can still grab an Incipio Textured Impact Resistant case or one of several iLuv (Snoopy design) cases for $5 and $4.50 respectively.
Up to 67% off PNY USB 2.0 Flash Drives: 8GB $7, 16GB $10, 32GB $20 w/ free shipping
JLab Crasher Portable Bluetooth Speaker w/ USB charging port (many colors avail.) $40 Shipped (Reg. $100)
Western Digital 2TB My Book for Mac External Hard Drive $70 Shipped
10FT Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable $14 Shipped
Save $30 on all Kindle Fire HD tablets, starting at just $169 w/ free shipping
Gamers’ Deals: MLB 13 The Show (PS3) $25, Amazon Digital Games Summer Sale: freebies & price drops
LaCie 1TB Rugged Thunderbolt HD refurb: $140, LaCie 3TB d2 Thunderbolt HD: $190 shipped
Toshiba Canvio 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $90 Shipped (Reg. $170)

Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 $60 Shipped (Reg. $100)

Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Illuminated Keyboard K811 (Mac version) $73 Shipped (Reg. $100) http://t.co/s6IWOU2uso

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 2, 2013

Amazon’s iPad shopping app makes its way to key China, Japan markets

Mark Gurman Jun 26 2013 - 12:58 pm PT

Today, Amazon has updated its popular shopping app for the iPad to work in China and Japan. Both of those countries are known as critical growth markets for the mobile shopping and technology industries, making today’s update notable. Additionally, the update brings a new “Shop by Department” mode and performance improvements for the iPhone and iPod touch Amazon app.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Review: NewTrent Travelpak Dual USB Port 5V/2A travel charger

Seth Weintraub Jun 25 2013 - 12:00 pm PT

The New Trent Travelpak 4000mAh plug in adapter makes a handy replacement to your iOS device AC USB adapter. I’ve been using the Travelpak 4000mAhfor about 3 months now and find it to be the perfect travelling companion for my phones, tablets and other USB-charged devices. At 4000mAh, you’ll get about 2 full iPhone charges. At 5V/2A, you’ll also get a speedy charge on your iPad, though not as fast as possible. For those focusing on iPad charging, there are bigger versions that come in the 7000mAh and 11200mAh sizes. In fact, the bigger 6000mAh has more ports, a more convenient form factor, and costs less ($39.99). Need more than that? Time for some Hyperjuice.

What’s nice here is that the portable Travelpak can charge two USB devices at the same time while plugged in. It has a nice bright 5 bar light system telling you if it is charging or how much charge it has left (making it a night-light as well). What’s even nicer and contrasts from other plug/batteries is that it turns off when unplugged and only starts charging again when you hit the power button on the side. Where typical generic AC USB batteries will drain unless they are powered down, these will automatically turn off.

On the down side, when the plug is extended, the 4000mAh version can cover up the other plugs in a wall outlet or surge protector making this aspect of the design puzzling. Still, the other plusses far outweigh this technical oversight. It appears that the new high end 6000mAh and 11200mAh form factor fixes this issue and at a cheaper price, it is hard not to recommend this version.

The Travelpak is currently $41.54 at Amazon off the List Price of $79.95 for the 4000mAh version that I tried, but it would appear that the larger 6000mAh version at $39.99 might be the better deal, especially since it adds a MicroUSB port and doesn’t cover up an additional plug.

Apple & DOJ submit closing arguments as e-book price fixing trial comes to a close

Zach Kahn Jun 20 2013 - 4:23 pm PT

After a three week debate between Apple and the U.S. Department of Justice, the controversial e-book price-fixing case concluded today with final summations at the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. As part of its last remarks, Apple presented a 136-slide deck describing its case against the DOJ in full detail underscoring its argument that they did not conspire with publishers to illegally fix e-book prices.

On the other side of the argument, the DOJ argues that Apple was the “ringmaster” of a plot to raise mainstream e-book pricing above Amazon’s pre-established $9.99 price point by moving the industry from a wholesale model to an agency model. In the proposed model, Apple granted retailers the ability to set prices much like Apple’s App Store. Like Apple, the DOJ provided a deck explaining their point of view. Both decks can be viewed below.

U.S. District Judge Denise Cote is expected to rule on the case in the coming weeks.

Expand
Expanding
Close

60% off SanDisk USB Sticks, SD Cards and SSD products at Amazon: 64GB as low as $33

9to5 Staff Jun 3 2013 - 3:37 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

.

Amazon is having a 1 day SanDisk Storage sale across its lineup of products including: USB Sticks, Micro/SD Cards and SSDs. These are the lowest prices we’ve seen on many of these products.

Standouts include:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Amazon launches ‘Login with Amazon’ sign-in service for iOS, Android & web

Jordan Kahn May 29 2013 - 7:58 am PT

Amazon is announcing today the roll out of a new service called “Login with Amazon” t0 allow developers to easily offer an Amazon sign-in option in their apps, games, and websites. Amazon says in a trial with Zappos.com customers chose to sign in using the Login with Amazon service about 40 percent of the time, while a trial with Woot found customers using Amazon sign in “had the highest rate of order conversion”:

“Login with Amazon enables app developers and website owners to leverage Amazon’s trusted sign-in solution, allowing them to focus on providing a great experience for their customers,” said Michael Carr, Amazon Vice President, eCommerce Services. “Amazon customers now have a hassle-free way to quickly and securely sign-in to apps, games and websites, without having to remember yet another password.”

Amazon is making the service available free of charge to devs and has SDKs for both Android and iOS available to download through its new login.amazon.com website.

Penguin agrees to pay $75 million in consumer damages following eBook price fixing case

Jordan Kahn May 22 2013 - 10:57 am PT

We already knew back in December that Pearson, along with a handful of other publishers had decided to settle with the U.S. Department of Justice in the high-profile Apple ebook price-fixing case. Today a statement from Peason’s Penguin unit confirms that it has now also reached an agreement that will see the publisher pay $75 million in consumer damages to the US State Attorneys General on behalf of people that were overcharged due to the alleged price fixing:

Penguin has reached a comprehensive agreement with the US State Attorneys General and private class plaintiffs to pay $75 million in consumer damages plus costs and fees to resolve all antitrust claims relating to eBook pricing. Penguin has also committed to the State Attorneys General to abide by the same injunctive relief as previously agreed in a separate settlement with the Department of Justice.

In anticipation of reaching this agreement, Pearson had made a $40m provision for settlement in its 2012 accounts. An incremental charge will be expensed in Pearson’s 2013 statutory accounts as part of the accounting for the Penguin Random House joint-venture.

Amazon Instant Video strikes new deal for exclusives on popular NBC/Universal TV Shows

May 16 2013 - 9:13 am PT

Today Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, announced that Amazon has struck a deal to add new shows from NBC/ Universal studios to Amazon Instant Video. The additions include Grimm Season 1, Suits Season 1, Covert Affairs Seasons 1-2 with Hannibal coming and Defiance coming at later dates. Amazon has a 4 year exclusivity over these shows, preventing them from airing on competing services such as Netflix and Hulu.

Amazon has been beefing up the content selection for this service recently with the addition of EPIX Studios, which brought “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 2,″ “The Hunger Games,” “Transformers Dark of the Moon,” “True Grit” and more to this streaming service. In its entirety, Amazon offers free streaming for more than 40,000 movie and TV titles.

Amazon Instant Video is free for Prime members, a yearly membership that costs $79. Prime members also receive free 2-day shipping and instant access to thousands of Kindle books.

Apple users can watch Amazon Prime on iOS devices or Macs (which can also Airplay to Apple TVs).

Apple’s to DOJ: Publishers already decided to fix prices before iBookstore came along

Jordan Kahn May 15 2013 - 5:41 am PT

In the ongoing e-book price fixing case with the Department of Justice, in which Apple is accused of conspiring with publishers to fix eBook pricing and cut out Amazon, Apple has again responded to the DOJ’s claims detailing the “tough negotiations” it went through with publishers. To further prove its point that it was not colluding with publishers to fix e-book pricing, Apple said it “one-on-one” and “contentious negotiations” at a time when publishers were already considering methods of getting Amazon to increase pricing:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Amazon announces standalone Cloud Player desktop app, Mac version coming soon

Jordan Kahn May 13 2013 - 3:15 pm PT

Amazon today announced that it is launching a standalone desktop app for its Cloud Player cloud music service that was previously only available through a web app and mobile apps. The desktop app brings offline support and, like the service on other platforms, will offer its usual unlimited storage of songs purchased through Amazon plus 250 imported songs for free. Unfortunately, today’s roll out only includes an app for PC with Amazon promising Mac users “we’re working on a version just for you.”
Expand
Expanding
Close

Weekend 9to5Toys roundup: $875 MacBook Air, $1,150 iMac, 15% off iTunes gift card, $179 Nest thermostat, much more

May 11 2013 - 5:59 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

9to5Toys scours the net each day to bring our US readers the best deals in consumer electronics. Below are the absolute hottest deals going on right now. Most of these promotions are only available for a limited time, so be sure to lock in these savings if you see something you like. Check back often as we are constantly posting new deals.

Also bookmark 9to5Toys.com/Daily-deals for 35+ of the top daily deals across most of the biggest shopping sites in the US including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and many more.

Ending today: Best Buy is taking $125 off the price of MacBook Airs for the next three days to celebrate Mother’s Day. That yields some of the lowest prices we’ve seen. The retailler knocks off $100 across the board, then using code MOM25 knocks off another $25.

Amazon has stepped up and is offering a staggering $150 off three out of four standard configuration iMacs (21″ & 27″). This discount is yielding the lowest prices we have ever seen on these super-skinny iMacs. Don’t wait too long to pull the trigger, this is an unadvertised sale that Amazon could pull the plug on at any moment.

The current generation MacBook Air, iMac and Retina MacBook Pro do not include a CD/DVD optical drive, but you can pickup a discounted Apple Superdrive right now for just $69 (Reg. $79).

Ending today: Best Buy is offering a $100 iTunes gift card for just $85. That is a total savings of 15% off future purchases of Apps Music, Movies and any other content on the the App Store, iTunes, Mac App Store and iBook Store. This is the first iTunes deal we’ve seen in nearly 2 months and a perfect opportunity to surprise Mom on Mother’s Day

Other great deals on stuff we love:

Free and reduced Apps/Games: Assassin’s Creed 2 Deluxe Edition: $5, The Witcher: $4, Bastion $.99, Vice City w/ $5 GC: $5, more
Apple-like Earbuds $8
Nest Learning Thermostat (1st Gen.) $179 + shipped (Reg. $250)
Logitech Z130 Computer Speakers featuring a Compact, Low-profile design $15 (40% Savings)
Seagate GoFlex Slim 500 GB, USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive: $60 shipped
Waterproof iPhone Case with Headphones & Otterbox Commuter Case for iPhone 4/4S $13ea. + $4 Shipping
40% off ‘FX Photo Studio PRO’ Mac app for 9to5Toys readers: $12
Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones $102 Shipped ($58 Savings)
Belkin Dual USB charger + 3-Outlet Mini Travel Swivel Charger Surge Protector $10.65
Seagate Backup Plus 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive $150 Shipped ($40 Savings)
SanDisk – Mobile Ultra 4GB microSDHC Class 6 Memory Card $5 Shipped

Amazon launches Cloud Drive Photos app for iPhone

Jordan Kahn May 10 2013 - 10:18 am PT

Amazon today released an iPhone version of its Amazon Cloud Drive Photos mobile app that it originally launched on Android only back in November. Amazon;’s Cloud Drive Photos app for iPhone, like the Android version, will allow users to back up and view photos to their Amazon Cloud Drive accounts. Up until today, iOS device users have only had access to Amazon’s Cloud Player app for streaming music stored in an Amazon cloud account.

The app provides everything a user might need to ditch Apple’s less than perfect iCloud Photostream feature, including the ability to automatically save photos taken on your iPhone to Cloud Drive, access your entire Cloud Drive photo collection from any device, and easily share through social networks.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Amazon working to move further into hardware space with 3D smartphone, audio device

Mark Gurman May 9 2013 - 11:01 am PT

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announcing new Kindle

According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is working to expand its hardware offerings, this year, beyond the Kindle e-readers and tablets (like the Kindle Fire). According to the new report, Amazon is working on two smartphones, including a high-end model with a 3D display. Like other smartphones currently on the market, this display could be interacted with via a user’s eyes:

Expand
Expanding
Close