Amazon to boost Kindle appeal with 'innovative' new browser?

by Stevie Smith - Mar 10 2010, 07:05

With rival eBook devices closing in all sides and the Apple iPad looming large, an interesting job vacancy recently posted to the official Amazon website would appear to suggest the online retailer is looking to boost the capabilities and appeal of its Kindle book reader.

The job ad in question, which was unearthed by Wired’s webmonkey, is seeking an ambitious software development engineer to help Amazon “conceive, design and bring to market” an “innovative embedded Web browser” for an unspecified consumer product.

Given that the Kindle’s existing browser is considered to be somewhat basic (i.e., it offers rather limited Web standards and JavaScript support), an improved platform would certainly help the device fend off mounting competition – especially from the iPad.

“The Kindle’s current browsing experience is notably subpar,” writes webmonkey. “It’s good enough to check your e-mail, post to Twitter or read Wikipedia, but it doesn’t handle images or more complex web apps particularly well.”

“And with the coming of the Apple iPad and other threats to Amazon’s dominant e-reader, which should behave on the web about as well as (if not better than) the iPhone, the Kindle had better improve its browser if the device is going to continue to compete with more capable devices,” the report adds.

Apple’s versatile iPad tablet computer, while not a dedicated book reader, will carry a full colour touch-screen display and eBook capabilities through Apple’s new online book store, which is already supported by several major publishers. The device itself will retail for $499 USD – only $120 USD more than the largest Kindle platform.

Around the Web