The Amazon Kindle is a series of e-book readers
designed and marketed by Amazon.com
. Amazon Kindle devices enable users to shop for, download
, browse, and read e-books
, newspapers
, magazines, blogs, and other digital media
via wireless networking
.[2] The hardware platform
, developed by Amazon.com
subsidiary Lab126
, began as a single device and now comprises a range of devices, including dedicated e-readers with E Ink electronic paper
displays, and Android
-based tablets with color LCD
screens.
Naming and evolution
The Kindle name was devised by branding consultant Michael Cronan who was asked by Lab 126 to name the product. Cronan and partner Karin Hibma suggested Kindle, meaning to light a fire.[3] They felt this was an apt metaphor for reading and intellectual excitement.[4]
Kindle hardware has evolved from the original Kindle introduced in 2007 and a Kindle D X line (with a larger screen) introduced in 2009. The range now includes devices with a keyboard (Kindle Keyboard), devices with touch-sensitive screens (Kindle Paper white), a tablet computer with a reader app and a color display (Kindle Fire), and a low-priced model with an on-screen keyboard (Kindle).
Amazon has also introduced Kindle software for use on various devices and platforms, including Microsoft Windows,i OS, BlackBerry, Mac OS X (10.5 or later, Intel processor only), Android, web OS, and Windows Phone.[5] Amazon also has a "cloud" reader to allow users to read and purchase Kindle books from a web browser.
