amazon

Amazon is developing a virtual art gallery that could give patrons an opportunity to buy expensive works of art online starting this summer, according to media reports.

The Art Newspaper reported Thursday that Amazon has reached out to "at least 125 galleries" with the goal of offering more than 1,000 art objects on its site. So far, according to one unnamed dealer, Amazon has lined up 109 galleries.

An Amazon spokesman declined comment, saying "We have not made any announcements about art."

Last month, another art Web site, GalleristNY, reported that Amazon has reached out … Read more

Amazon is facing a few demands from the Chinese government following charges of counterfeit book sales.

China's National Copyright Administration said it recently discovered 36 third-party Amazon sellers hawking books found to have violated copyright laws, according to Sina Tech, as reported by The Next Web.

To remedy the problem, the group wants the retail giant to make four changes: First, Amazon must shut down the 36 sellers in question. Second, it must tighten the criteria through which third-party sellers are approved. Third, it must improve communications between itself, publishers, and the National Copyright Administration and respond to customer … Read more

While junior Texas state senator Wendy Davis got thrust into the national spotlight this week for her starring role in an anti-abortion-bill filibuster, her tennis shoes are enjoying their own run with fame on Amazon reviews.

"Best damn shoe for being on your feet for 13 hours. Also the best shoe to kick Governor Rick Perry's ass!" reads one of a growing number of Amazon reviews of the Mizuno's Wave Rider 16 running shoes the Democratic lawmaker made famous overnight.

Reads another: "I am so glad that I have a choice about what shoes to buy! Imagine if some legislator tried to tell me what type of shoes worked best for me or what type of shoes were available to me... that is so un-American!" … Read more

Amazon now has a new bookstore for both readers and writers of fan fiction.

The Kindle Worlds Store opened its virtual doors on Thursday with more than 50 commissioned, original stories based on familiar series such as "The Vampire Diaries," "Gossip Girl," and "Pretty Little Liars." Kindle Worlds stories typically cost between 99 cents and $3.99 and will be exclusive to Kindle devices and apps.

The goal of Kindle Worlds is to reward both writers and the original rights holders for new fiction based on existing stories and characters.

Kindle World's Self-Service … Read more

I suppose the writing was on the tablet. Back in May, ostensibly in honor of Mother's Day, Barnes & Noble whipped out some pretty hefty discounts on its Nook HD and Nook HD+.

Then, earlier this month, the cuts went even deeper for Father's Day, with the 7-inch and 8.9-inch slates selling for $129 and $149, respectively. But even after the holiday came and went, the discounted prices remained -- and now we know why: B&N is getting out of the color-tablet business.

Bummer. The company produced good hardware from the get-go, and although this … Read more

Amazon and PBS have expanded their streaming partnership.

The companies announced on Wednesday that Amazon's Prime Instant Video service will now included "hundreds of additional episodes" of "Nova," "Masterpiece," and several other PBS shows. More PBS Kids shows, including "Arthur" and "Caillou," will also be available.

The wildly popular "Downton Abbey" has also been worked into the deal, with Amazon becoming the "exclusive video subscription home" to the third season of the acclaimed series. Earlier this year, Amazon announced that it will exclusively carry all &… Read more

Amazon has added some personal touches to its Instant Video app for iPhone and iPad.

A new user interface, earlier uncovered by 9to5Mac, offers more personalized carousels of TV shows and movies on the home screen, which should bring individualized recommendations based on past viewing to the fore right as the app opens.

The update of the Amazon Instant Video app also adds a dropdown menu to make dozens of shows and movies quickly accessible and a navigation bar to find and switch between the different content collections.

Subscribers to Prime get access to the Prime Instant Video still, but … Read more

Amazon Lovefilm subscribers can now trek into space or follow the adventures of a serial killer right from their own homes.

Announced Monday, the new deal between the retail giant and CNET parent CBS expands the number of TV series available for Amazon Lovefilm streaming customers in the U.K. and Germany. The original "Star Trek" and "Star Trek: Yoyager" are two of the series beaming up.

Other CBS-owned shows include "The Good Wife" and "Blue Bloods." Also on the list are three series from Showtime, which is owned by CBS, namely &… Read more

In the cold Alaskan winter, alone with her infant son while her husband was stationed in the Air Force nearby, Ashley Bauza needed something to entertain both herself and her child, something she could get on a tight budget.

She moved north in 2010 and quickly learned after giving birth to Lukas the next year that the rural state not only crimps her kid's playtime options with minus-40 degree temperatures it also amps up the cost of cable and Internet.

"We are on a fixed budget, we do really need to figure out what we forgo," said … Read more