Amazon buys KindleAir.com in Apple-like hint of new models
updated 07:50 am EDT, Tue August 9, 2011
Amazon buys Kindle Air domain and more
Amazon's plans for new Kindles gained a possible direction in recent days with a few key domain purchases. The retailer has bought KindleAir.com through frequent go-between MarkMonitor. While mostly taking advantage of the domain expiring, it leaves the name open to a future Kindle in a possible nod to Apple's MacBook Air.
The company's feature support also got clues through two domain purchases, KindleSocialNetwork.com and KindleSocialNetworking.com. Onwers recently started seeing the options of profile pages, adding friends, and viewing each other's current reading.
For reasons unknown, Amazon also registered AmazonElastiCache.org and AWSElastiCache.org, hinting at a possible dynamic cloud caching system.
Two new Kindles are rumored to be shipping before the end of the summer, one of which is expected to be a touchscreen model that would likely benefit from a new name. Both will have Internet connections and may make extra use of the social networking features coming into play. [via Fusible]
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Joined: Jul 2006
Why Air?
At first, I wondered why Amazon would be interested in a word like "Air." For Apple it refers to lightness and being connected wirelessly. That seems to have little to do with a Kindle for reading books. They're already light and wireless.
Then it came to me that lightness and wireless connectivity would work well with an color/LCD Kindle intended for web browsing and watching movies.
Does this mean that Amazon's upcoming tablet will be called the Kindle Air? That seems to be too close in name to Apple's MacBook Air, but, as Amazon's app store shows, Amazon isn't afraid to copy names.
Whatever Amazon calls its tablets, look for them to counter Apple's huge advantage in content-creation apps by offering more consumable content free or at a better price.