It seems that Amazon has taken to heart negative comments about the web browser bundled with its Kindle ebook reader line, and is now looking for people to develop a new version of the browser.
A new browser would only make the Kindle a more attractive prospect...
The word of the new development on Amazon’s Kindle browser comes via Amazon’s own job listing for developers, who it’s hoping will be able to develop “an innovative embedded web browser” for a piece of consumer electronics. Certainly, that description makes it sound very much like the Kindle is looking for a new web developer.
Considering the fact that there’s been so many complaints about the browser bundled with the Kindle (with one reviewer commenting that it was something akin to using the web ten years ago earlier this month), it’ll be interesting to see what Amazon can do with the device. While the job posting from Amazon highlights the need for three years’ experience with Java, a general familiarity with web browsers and experience working with browser engines and embedded devices on Linux.
Still, at the end of the day it’s worth keeping in mind that Amazon’s Kindle is, at its core, an ebook reader. The display isn’t one for instant refreshes, or even colour, which makes a lot of modern browsing a little beyond the hardware, to say nothing of what a new browser itself might be able to bring to the table.
That said, we’ll be curious to see just what the folks at Amazon manage to add to the Kindle. Realistically, the emphasis on the browser has largely come from the fact that so few other ebook readers actually boast any kind of browser at all (while some, like Sony’s Reader Daily Edition do boast the ability to access certain publications wirelessly). If Amazon can shift to offering a more substantial browser then it seems likely it will be bolstering an already very strong position indeed.
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