Amazon's Kindle opens developers - 01net

01net

22/01/10 at 13:30

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The KDK (Kindle Development Kit) will be available next month in beta and will create what Amazon calls interactive content (active content ), in other words, applications for Kindle. The kit includes sample code, documentation, and a Kindle emulator for Mac, Windows and Linux PCs. The revenue will be shared between the developer (70%) and Amazon (30%), excluding shipping costs (U.S. $ 0.15 per megabyte). Kindle applications may be traded on Kindle Store at the end of the year and should not exceed 100 MB, it will be possible to develop three types of interactive content: free content not exceeding 1 MB, the purchasable content to unit (these two types of content that can not use more than 100K per month per user), and finally an affordable monthly subscription content

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Some publishers have already had the scoop of the SDK. Handmark and working on an interactive guide Zagat, referencing restaurants in some cities of the world. Sonic Boom and EA Mobile, meanwhile, are developing games and puzzles.

On his blog, Fred Cavazza lists the possible uses for this type of machine. It states that “ Touchbooks and e-books are not to be considered as products actually public, but rather offers niche. This does not in any way that these niches will not be profitable, quite the contrary. “

Apple’s tablet in sight

This announcement comes just days before the still hypothetical, tablet from Apple, the Kindle supposed to compete directly in the field of electronic books. We know that the two companies are in tight with the publishers negotiations, observers assume that the Apple tablet would be much more than e-book. With the opening of developers Kindle, Amazon is trying to provide a platform attractive applications, coupled with a marketplace.

War e-book promises to be fierce. Amazon has an edge: in 2009, the e-tailer has sold more books in electronic format that paper size in United States, and is well established. But as the hypothetical Apple tablet will not be disclosed, it is impossible to make predictions. Especially since Google has also announced its intention to sell e-books.