Developers can now make apps for Kindle

By siliconindia   |   Saturday, 23 January 2010, 00:32 IST   |    1 Comments
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Bangalore: Amazon has revealed a software development kit for developers to build applications for the kindle. Along with the SDK, Amazon will let developers sell their applications through the Kindle Store, using a self-service publishing platform. Amazon expects to start offering applications sometime this year, according to InformationWeek. Seeing the growth and demand of other e-readers as well as devices like smartphones, smartbooks, mobile Internet devices, and tablet PCs, Amazon believes opening the reader to the developers will give them an edge over competition. Apple is expected to launch the much awaited tablet pc, which will support digital books, as well as music and video, analysts say. With the Kindle Development Kit, Amazon is likely trying to avoid obsolescence of its relatively young product by letting third-party developers expand its usefulness. The kit includes sample code, documentation, and an app-testing Kindle simulator that runs on a Mac OS X, a Windows PC, or Linux desktop. "The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities - we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent," Ian Freed, Vice President of the Kindle, said in a statement. A few companies are already building Kindle applications. Handmark is developing a Zagat guide featuring ratings and reviews of restaurants in cities worldwide, and Sonic Boom is building word games and puzzles. Video game maker EA is also planning to offer games for the Kindle, but has not offered any details. Amazon is offering developers a revenue split of 30 percent to Amazon and 70 percent to the developer. Developers might face restrictions in the use of the kindle's Whispernet wireless connection, which Amazon offers at no charge to customers for buying books directly from the online retailer. Applications that are smaller than 1 MB and use less than 100 KB of wireless data per user per month can tap Whispernet at no charge. More than 100 KB, and Amazon charges 15 cents per MB.