Kindle News-bits The Kindle DX has shuffled off its mortal coil. Amazon may acquire Texas Instruments' mobile chip business. Why those few cents e-book credits.

Amazon in talks with Texas Instruments

NASDAQ reports today that Amazon may acquire the mobile chip business of Texas Instruments, as according to Reuters today, Amazon "is in advanced talks to buy the mobile chip business of Texas Instruments" according to Israeli financial newspaper Calcalist.

Texas Instruments had told investors last month that it would continue support for its customers but that its mobile application chip business, which supports features like video, NASDAQ explains, "will not invest in supporting its customers future roadmap for tablets and smartphones to the same degree."

Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi told Reuters she doubted whether Amazon wants to 'become that intimately involved with hardware.'
  The Kindle Fire uses these chips, and I guess this would be one way to keep costs down for future tablets.  Might they be in the position of providing them for other mobile device makers too? (


Amazon pulls Kindle DX from store
Members of Amazon's Kindle Community Forum had alerts on this in the morning.  The Kindle "Family" header no longer shows the Kindle DX and it's been omitted from the Comparison Table now, even on its own product page, which is too bad because some owners (and buyers in the last two weeks) would like to know how it differs from the Kindle Keyboard for features other than mere size.
  There is still info on specs under "Technical Details," however.

  This is one area where Amazon has fallen down on customer support in that they never gave it a software update even somewhat similar to the update they gave the smaller Kindle Keyboard (with the same Pearl screen) for PDF reading -- an important feature for the larger-screen Kindle.  It's disappointing that they didn't do an update for contrast adjustments. at least, and for somewhat smoother zooming (though the latter might be more difficult, depending on the processor).  Their customer base that bought this paid well for it and deserved more with regard to software upgrades since 2010.
  I did ask if they're considering a software update to it anyway but have not received a response on that.

  Trade-in program
People can still get used ones from 3rd parties from the product page's links OR can trade in a DX in very good shape for up to $98.75.  That could go against the purchase of a $299  8.9" Kindle Fire HD, though that's not of course an e-Ink device.

It's a great e-Ink e-reader, but I do use even the 7" Kindle Fire more, for PDFs and Kindle books.


Those e-book credits mentioned in an Amazon email
A number of Kindle owners received notices of probable credit to be received in 2013 as a result of (preliminary) approval of the U.S. Justice Department's settlements with publishers Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, of the Big5 mentioned in the civil antitrust case.  Penguin and McMillan and also Apple are moving toward a trial on the merits during summer 2013.

  Recent developents
  Judge Denise Cote's ruling on Sept. 6 (same day as Amazon's announcements) stipulated that, for the settling publishers, the current Agency agreements be ended within one week.

  (On their own, "Agency" agreements are considered fine as a method and can be used again after ~2 years, based on individual negotiations vs collusion among publishers to set prices).

  The 45-page opinion claimed a "straightforward, horizontal price-fixing conspiracy," rejected anti-settlement arguments as "insufficient" for denial of approval, and dismissed requests for an evidentiary hearing as an unnecessary delay.

  Also the 3 publishers must terminate current contracts with e-book retailers where these contain restrictions on the retailer's ability to set the store price of an e-book or which contain a "most-favored nation" clause that stipulates no other retailer is allowed to sell e-books for a lower price.

 This is a "cooling off" period to allow the industry "to return to a competitive state free from the impact of defendants' collusive behavior."

  After the next two years, the settling publishers will be able to restrict retailer's "discretion over e-book pricing" and after five years, the publishers will once again be allowed to make contracts with retailers that do include a most-favored nation clause.  The understanding, of course, is that this would not be done in collusion with other publishers to fix prices among them.

  So, the settling publishers' e-books can now have store prices set by the retailer although it's important that any publisher's catalog not be sold at a loss overall.

  In Europe -- Apple and a couple of publishers were close to a deal with investigators to stop their current arrangements, period (essentially), and in return they will not suffer penalties or fees.

 It's likely that this type of settlement might not, though, help them in their court case next summer, and if the decision goes against them, the $$penalties against the publishers will be much worse.  Apple, however, has deep pockets.

  IN THE MEANTIME, the STATES -- all but Minnesota and 5 territories including Washington, D.C. -- received preliminary approval for their $69 million ebook pricing settlement with Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Shuster.  PaidContent's Laura Hazard Owen, who's been on top of all this, and great with follow up, reported September 17 that consumers would be notified within 30 days if they're eligible for a small payment, though there'll be no actual payments until after the "fairness hearng" on the settlement(s) on Feb. 8, 2013 in New York, which will include the "entry of final judgment in this action."

  Consumers who bought qualifying books from retailers between April 1, 2010 and May 21, 2012 will receive an automatic account credit if the settlement is approved.  I've read that it'll be something like $1.32 per NYT bestseller purchased during that perod and $0.25 to $.30 for other e-books, depending on the book's date of publication.

  See Owens' full article Oct 4 (on the preliminary approval of the States' ebook settlement) for all the details of how the credits might be applied by the various retailers.

  Also see the website hosted by the administrator of the settlement, for more information: https://ebooksagsettlements.com/AbouttheAdministrator.aspx

  For Amazon-specific information on the credits: Amazon's own FAQ about the coalition of state Attorneys General Ebook Settlements


OverDrive comes to Amazon's Android App store for the Kindle Fire
  The OverDrive app is now available to Kindle Fire users for easier access to eBooks and audiobooks from OverDrive-powered libraries.  They also released a version for iOS (iPhone/ iPad/ iPod touch).

  Earlier, some had to get the Android app from places like GetJar and 1Mobile.  This app will now be directly downloadable for all your Android devices in one fell swoop.

You can now browse your library's digital collection from within the application instead of having to launch a separate browser window.  You can also share what you're reading on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter and via Email! (Finally).

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.
NOTES on newer Kindles.

US: Updated Kindle Fire Basic  7" tablet - $159 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB - $199/$249 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16/32GB - $299/$369 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G 32/64GB - $499/$599 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $69/$89 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $119/$139 Kindle Paperwhite, 3G - $179/$199 Kindle Keybd 3G - $139/$159, Free but slow web Kindle DX - $379 $299, Free, slow web

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £69 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - £109 Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - £109 Kindle Paperwhite 3G, UK - £169 Kindle Fire 2, UK -  £129 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB, UK - £159/199

OTHER International Kindle NoTouch Basic - $89 Kindle Touch WiFi - $139 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB France Boutique Kindle Deutschland - Kindle Store Italia - Kindle Store Spain - Tienda Kindle

* Kindle Fire HD to be released October 25, 2012 in listed European areas above;
    Paperwhite to be released November 22, 2012 there.


  For daily free ebooks, check the following links:

Temporarily-free books - Non-classics USA: by:    Publication Date      Bestselling   High-ratings UK: PubDate   Popular The Kindle Daily Deal What is 3G? and "WiFi"?       Battery Care Highly-rated under $1,  Newest: $1-$2, $2-$3

Most Popular Free K-Books U.S. & Int'l (NOT UK):    Top 100 free UK-Only:    Top 100 free Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. USEFUL for your Kindle Keyboard (U.S. only, currently):   99c Notepad 1.1,   99c Calculator,   99c Calendar,   99c Converter

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