Kindle Apps Coming

[jxh11215]

Per Amazon press release: AMAZON ANNOUNCES KINDLE DEVELOPMENT KIT--SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS CAN NOW BUILD ACTIVE CONTENT FOR KINDLE

SEATTLE, Jan 21, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- (NASDAQ: AMZN)--For the past two years, Amazon has welcomed authors and publishers to directly upload and sell content in the Kindle Store through the self-service Kindle publishing platform. Today, Amazon announced that it is inviting software developers to build and upload active content that will be available in the Kindle Store later this year. The new Kindle Development Kit gives developers access to programming interfaces, tools and documentation to build active content for Kindle--the #1 bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product across all categories on Amazon. Developers can learn more about the Kindle Development Kit today at http://www.amazon.com/kdk/ and sign up to be notified when the limited beta starts next month.

"We've heard from lots of developers over the past two years who are excited to build on top of Kindle," said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. "The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities--we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent."

The Kindle Development Kit enables developers to build active content that leverages Kindle's unique combination of seamless and invisible 3G wireless delivery over Amazon Whispernet, high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like real paper, and long battery life of seven days with wireless activated. For example, Handmark is building an active Zagat guide featuring their trusted ratings, reviews and more for restaurants in cities around the world, and Sonic Boom is building word games and puzzles.

"As the leading worldwide publisher of mobile games, EA Mobile has had the privilege of collaborating with many dynamic and innovative companies in bringing exciting gaming experiences to new platforms," says Adam Sussman, Vice President of Worldwide Publishing, EA Mobile. "Working with Amazon, we look forward to bringing some of the world's most popular and fun games to Kindle and their users."

Starting next month, participants in the limited beta will be able to download the Kindle Development Kit, access developer support, test content on Kindle, and submit finished content. Those wait-listed will be invited to participate as space becomes available. The Kindle Development Kit includes sample code, documentation, and the Kindle Simulator, which helps developers build and test their content by simulating the 6-inch Kindle and 9.7-inch Kindle DX on Mac, PC, and Linux desktops.

[Mitch G]

Here are the initial "rules"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...cId=1000476231


Mitch

[Ervserver]

let the non expandable memory discussions begin

[NavyDad6]

Maybe a basement software developer will put out a "folders" app... something that is obviously beyond Amazon's ability.

[mjmcleod]

From the "rules":

not be a generic reader

Not unexpected, but a shame. I do rather like my K2, but I'd feel just a little bit happier if it were "future-proofable" by way of a third-party ePub reader app.

[jft]

I don't think that's going to be a problem. If they give us the proper tools to do real software development nobody forces us to use amazon's distribution channel. Amazon is only able to control what's sold on their website. So we are just releasing the "nice" stuff here.

Of course there will be some restrictions like signed software packages and so on. But hey, as far as I know is Sony's PS3 the only device that still resists hack attempts

I just hope it is a C++ SDK

[clarknova]

Originally Posted by jft

I just hope it is a C++ SDK

The framework is java, so this is doubtful.

[jft]

Oh, ok. Nice to know. Do you have some links where I can find more detailed information about that topic? Which java version / runtime and so on. Maybe PM. Thx.

[clarknova]

Originally Posted by jft

Oh, ok. Nice to know. Do you have some links where I can find more detailed information about that topic? Which java version / runtime and so on. Maybe PM. Thx.

I'm not sure about version numbers (I don't really do java... until next month anyway ) but it's J2ME.

J2ME has built in support for the 3g/GSM data stuff (which I'm assuming is why Kindle/Nook use Java instead of natively compiled apps), and speed optimizations for the ARM processor via Jazelle (which I'm also assuming is one of the reasons the Nook is slow -- last I checked Android's java didn't use Jazelle)

[Lemming]

IIRC it's actually not J2ME, it's blackdown's 1.4 JVM. It uses a custom AWT layer to write to the screen - there have been a few threads on the developer forum here about it.

Interesting move, although I can't see a lot of potential for apps other than ones fixing the defects in Amazon's offerings (folders, PDF navigation).

And right - I'm pretty sure Android doesn't use Jazelle because it doesn't use Java bytecode. Google have their own JVM (Dalvik) which is fundamentally different to the JVM - it's register based instead of stack based, for example, and has no JIT.

[Scott Nielsen]

Originally Posted by NavyDad6

Maybe a basement software developer will put out a "folders" app... something that is obviously beyond Amazon's ability.

That was my first thought too. Though I'd be even happier if it could be made to support tags.

[willCode4Beer]

Some links:

Amazon's API: http://kdk-javadocs.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html

JPBP: http://java.sun.com/javame/reference/apis/jsr217/

FAQ: https://kindlepublishing.amazon.com/...t?id=200436000

[angelad]

Originally Posted by willCode4Beer

Some links:

Amazon's API: http://kdk-javadocs.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html

JPBP: http://java.sun.com/javame/reference/apis/jsr217/

FAQ: https://kindlepublishing.amazon.com/...t?id=200436000

Good references Code4Beer

[Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by mjmcleod

From the "rules":

not be a generic reader

Not unexpected, but a shame. I do rather like my K2, but I'd feel just a little bit happier if it were "future-proofable" by way of a third-party ePub reader app.

What prevents users from installing "unsigned" programs directly through their own local computer?

[WT Sharpe]

When are apps going to be available for the Kindle? I'd love a word-processing app with a built-in spell-checker!