ILMK E-books Timeline

ILMK E-books Timeline

I do like timelines.  🙂  This one will continue to grow (both backwards and forwards).   One reason I wanted to create a page for this is to alert people to future events, but I do want to mark things historically as well.

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E-book news is in this style.

Related news is italicized like this.

News related to my own works is bold like this.

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1455

Date approximate: Gutenberg Bible is published, one of the first major mass marketings of literature.  Undoubtedly, some people with illuminated manuscripts declared the end of Western civilization, and claimed they weren’t “real books” 😉

1790

The first US Copyright law is passed.   Copyright term is fourteen years, renewable for another fourteen (if any of the authors is still alive)

1931

Albatross Books of Germany issues the first “paperback books”

1935

Penguin Books begins releasing paperbacks in England

1939

Pocket Books releases Lost Horizon, the first “paperback” in the US.  People undoubtedly declared that they weren’t “real books”.  😉

1984

With the introduction of the Macintosh computer comes MacInTalk, a limited text-to-speech system

1989

Ben Bova’s novel Cyberbooks predicts e-books and speculates on the cultural impact

1996

July 26, 1996: The Chafee amendment is approved, allowing authorized entities to distribute copyrighted works in special editions for the disabled

September 16, 1996: President Clinton signs the Chafee amendment into law

1998: Rocket eBook EBR (E-Book Reader) is released

March 9, 1999: The Internet Sacred Text Archive Internet Sacred Text Archive goes online

2007

November 19, 2007: The Kindle 1 is released, bringing Amazon into the EBR (E-Book Reader) market (at $399)

2008

May 27, 2008: Amazon reduces the price of the Kindle 1 to $359

2009

February 2, 2009: The Kindle Nation Daily by Stephen Windwalker begins publication as a blog

February 9, 2009: Jeff Bezos holds an event to introduce the Kindle 2.  The flashiest new feature is text-to-speech.  The press conference also reveals that when a book is available in both Kindle and paper, 35% of the sales are in Kindle format.  The price is $359

February 12, 2009: The Authors Guild releases a memo claiming that the text-to-speech “…presents a significant challenge to the publishing industry” (statement)

February 12, 2009: The National Federation of the Blind condemns the Authors Guild statement

February 12, 2009: Stephen King’s Kindle exclusive URis released

February 27, 2009: Amazon announces that for the “comfort” of the rightsholders, they will allow them to block the text-to-speech (article)

February 27, 2009: KoboBooks goes live

March 4, 2009: the Kindle apps for the iPhone and the iPod touch are announced

March 19, 2009: A Kindle World blog begins

March 20, 2009: A character makes a Kindle reference on Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse

April 7, 2009: A protest is held outside the Authors Guild headquarters in New York City over the text-to-speech issue (article)

May 6, 2009: Amazon introduces the Kindle DX, with a larger 9.7″ screen.  They also announce a deal with some textbook publishers, and a pilot program at some colleges

May 13, 2009: Amazon introduces Kindle Publishing for Blogs…by the end of the year, there will be more than 7,500 available

June 8, 2009: Amazon announces the Your Amazon Ad contest, having customer submit their own videos of commercials for Amazon

July 8, 2009: Amazon lowers the Kindle 2 price to $299

June 20, 2009: Frequently Asked Kindle Questions is published

July 14, 2009: A lawsuit is filed over covers from Amazon cracking the Kindles

July 16, 2009: Amazon removes copies of a George Orwell book from purchasers’ Kindles, creating a major news flap

July 20, 2009: Barnes and Noble begins selling e-books in a new online store for that purpose

July 23, 2009: Jeff Bezos apologizes for the Orwell removal, including directly in the Amazon Kindle community, calling it ”stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles.” (Amazon thread)

July 23, 2009:  The USA Today begins including e-books in its bestseller list calculations

August 14, 2009: Red Adept’s Kindle Book Review blog  begins publication

August 28, 2009: The first post in the I Love My Kindle blog appears

August 28, 2009: Bufo appears on Len Edgerly’s podcast, The Kindle Chronicles

September 2009: Amazon implements a change in its quality control for Digital Text Platform books.  Free Books for Your Kindle is temporarily removed, then restored

September 3, 2009: Amazon offers consumers from whom it deleted the Orwell book $30

September 9, 2009: The Ted Kennedy memoir, True Compass, gets a staggered release…seen by some as a setback

September 15, 2009: The biggest book of the year is released, and e-book readers cheer the simultaneous release of e-book and p-book.  Stephen Windwalker of The Kindle Nation discovers that, at least at first, the e-book outsells to p-book.  One negative: text-to-speech is blocked in the edition

September 15, 2009: The APA (American Psychological Association) lists a guideline for citing a Kindle edition…the first of the big authorities to do so

September 18, 2009: The Department of Justice issues a statement expressing concerns about the Google Settlement.  Shortly thereafter, the parties ask for an extension to rewrite it

September 21, 2009: Leonard mentions the Kindle on The Big Bang Theory

September 22, 2009: The winner of the Your Amazon Ad contest is announced…the commercial (featuring stop-motion animation over a song, and focusing on the Kindle) will be seen frequently later in the year

September 25, 2009: Amazon settles a lawsuit over deleting the Orwell book for $150,000

September 29, 2009: It’s announced that Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue, will get a staggered release

October  2009: The Stephen King book, Under the Dome gets a staggered release (with the e-book being released after the p-book).  This is seen by some as a setback after the simultaneous release of the biggest book of the year.  King approves of the move

October 7, 2009: Amazon introduces the Kindle 2 international, and drops the price on the Kindle 2 US

October 13 2009: The New York Times writes about Open Road Media, a well-financed company that will seek to obtain e-book rights for older books.  In the article, it’s stated that they have already gotten the rights to Catch-22

October 22, 2009: The Kindle for PC app is announced, allowing users to buy and read Kindle books on a computer (without needing to own a Kindle)

November 2009: the Kindle has its best sales month ever

November 2, 2009: Spring Design announces that it has filed a lawsuit against the nook

November 5, 2009: Borders announces it will close 200 WaldenBooks stores in 2010 (story) 

November 5, 2009: The Kindle store begins exclusively selling the Choose Your Own Adventure books

November 13, 2009: The Authors Guild (sic) reports filing the amended settlement in the Google case

November 17, 2009: The Kindle launches in Canada, with over 300,000 titles available

November 19, 2009: The Collected I Love My Kindle Blog Volume 1 is published

November 25, 2009: Amazon releases software update 2.3 for the Kindle, bringing native pdf support and landscape display to the Kindle 2

November 30, 2009: Barnes and Noble introduces the nook

December 9 (?), 2009:  Amazon enables permanent delete from Kindle archives

December 9, 2009: The Wall Street Journal reports that Simon and Schuster and the Hachette group will release some e-books after their paper counterparts in 2010 by three to four months.

December 11 (?), 2009: Amazon puts an “Add to Wishlist” button on Kindle book product pages

December 11, 2009: Random House sends a letter asserting that contracts that don’t specifically mention e-books or electronic books still grant Random House those rights if it says “in book form”

December 14, 2009: The Kindle for iPhone app goes international

December 14, 2009: Amazon announces an exclusive deal for e-book versions of some of Stephen Covey’s books

2010

January, 2010:  the last B. Dalton store reportedly closes

January 6, 2010: Amazon announces the Kindle DX international (press release)

January 7-10, 2010: annual CES (Consumer Eletronics Show) is held in Las Vegas, Nevada.  New devices are commonly announced and shown off here

January 7, 2010: The Que EBR can be pre-ordered from Plastic Logic

January 11, 2010: The National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind announce a settlement in a lawsuit against Arizona State University that said that giving students Kindle DXs for use with classes was discriminatory against students with print disabilities (News Article)

January 13, 2010: The Department of Justice announces a settlement with three universities which agreed not to use the Kindle in the classroom until its accessibility is improved (DOJ statement)

January 15, 2010: Amazon opens up the Digital Text Platform to rightsholders outside the US (press release)

January 19, 2010: Amazon starts shipping the Kindle DX international

January 20, 2010: Amazon announces upcoming 70% royalty option for independent publishers using the Digital Text Platform (press release)

January 21, 2010: Amazon announced Kindle Development Kit which will open the Kindle to outside apps (press release)

January 27, 2010: Apple has booked a favorite room in SF for new product launches.  Likely to be the iSlate/iTablet (later called the iPad)

January 28, 2010: Last day to opt out or opt back into the Google settlement site

January 28, 2010: Amazon announces a great fourth quarter.  Jeff Bezos says there are “millions” of Kindles.  When a book is in both Kindle and paper, there are six Kindle sales for every ten paper sales (6 out of 16…37%) (press release)

January 29, 2010: Amazon stops selling Macmillan books in a dispute over pricing and release dates

February 2010: Beta of Kindle Development Kit starts

February 4, 2010: Last day to indicate your intention to appear at the Google settlement fairness hearing

February 15, 2010: IREX 800SG EBR officially available (at Best Buy) (press release)

February 17, 2010: Kindle for Blackberry app is released (press release)

February 18, 2010: Rescheduled Google settlement fairness hearing…judge does not announce a decision

February 19, 2010: Amazon adds Spanish, Portuguese and Italian to acceptable languages for independent publication through the DTP (press release)

February 22, 2010: The Spring Design EBR (E-Book Reader) “Alex” is released (website)

February 22, 2010: the Infibeam Pi EBR begins shipping (website)

March 17, 2010: Kindle for Mac is released (link)

April 1, 2010: Several of the biggest pubishers in the US adopt the Agency Model, meaning they set the prices that consumers pay for e-books

April 3: iPad wifi models begin shipping (website)

April: iPad 3G models begin shipping (website)

April 14: The Alex eReader begins shipping (website)

Mid-April, 2010: The Que EBR from Plastic Logic begins shipping (official site)

April 25: Kindles go on sale in some Target stores (first brick and mortar for the device)

April 30: An update is released for Kindle for PC, allowing color adjustments and note-taking

May 7: Borders begins taking US pre-orders for the Kobo reader for $149.99

May 25-27, 2010: The American Booksellers Association conference, BookExpo America, is held in New York City (official site)

May 28, 2010: the IPad goes on sale in the UK

Summer: Kindle for Android to be released

June: Notion Ink’s Adam tablet is scheduled to be released (Notion Ink website)

June 6: The Kindle rolls out to all Target stores after a limited release

June 11: The Kindle for iPhone and Kindle for iPads are updated to version 2.1, giving in-book search to iPhones

June 14: Update 2.5 for the Kindle is available for manual installation.  It enables Collections, social network updating, and more

June 17, 2010: The Kobo e-reader is available from Borders in the US

June 21, 2010: Barnes & Nobles lowers the original NOOK price $60 to $199 and introduces a wifi NOOK for $149

June 21, 2010: Following the B&N drop, Amazon lowers the price of the six inch Kindle to $189

June 27, 2010: Amazon announces Kindle reader apps for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, enabling audio and video content

June 30, 2010:  New 70% royalty option for independent publishers using Amazon’s Digital Text Platform launches

June 30, 2010: Kindle Previewer announced by Amazon, lets web users see book previews

June 30, 2010: Kindle Web Widgets announced: allows bloggers to let Amazon sell through their sites for advertising fees

Late June/early July: Google begins selling books

July 1, 2010: Amazon announces the Kindle DX Graphite

July 7, 2010: the Kindle DX Graphite begins shipping

July 7, 2010: Borders opens its e-bookstore

July 19, 2010: Amazon announces that Kindle books outsold hardbacks at Amazon.com (Press Release)

July 22, 2010: Amazon announces exclusive e-book editions of some A-list backlist titles, including Lolita, The Naked and the Dead, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Portnoy’s Complaint, and John Updike’s Rabbit series (Press Release)

July 28, 2010: Amazon announces the Kindle 3s

August 3, 2010: Amazon announces the Your Kindle Commercial Contest

August 3, 2010: Amazon releases Every Word and Shuffled Row, the first active content games for the Kindle

August 5, 2010: The Amazon.co.uk Kindle store opens

August 25, 2010: K3s start shipping, two days early

August 27, 2010: Official release date of the Kindle 3s

September 8, 2010: Amazon does an early releases of software update 3.03 for Kindle 3s

September 14, 2010: NYT bestselling novelist David Morrell releases new book exclusively for the Kiindle

September 28, 2010: Amazon announces Kindle for the Web

October 6, 2010: Amazon extends the 70% royalty plan for the DTP (Digital Text Platform) to the UK

October 21, 2010: Barnes & Noble announces that NOOKs will be in Wal-Mart stores for the holiday season…possibly as soon as October 24

October 22, 2010: Amazon announces that lending is coming to the Kindle in 2010, and that magazines and newspapers are coming to some reader apps

October 25, 2010: Amazon announces that Kindle books outsold hardbacks and paperbacks combined on the top 1000 books…2 to 1 on the top ten

October 26, 2010: Barnes & Noble announces the NOOKColor 7″ LCD “Reader’s Tablet” to ship in late November

October 26, 2010: Barnes & Noble announces NOOKDeveloper apps store

November 18, 2010: Barnes & Noble announces NOOKbooks en español, “the first Spanish language digital bookstore in the United States”

November 19, 2010: Amazon enables the gifting of Kindle books

November 22, 2010: Amazon has its biggest sales day for Kindle devices to date

November 26, 2010: Amazon sells thousands of new Kindle 2s for $89 apparently in under five minutes in a Black Friday deal

December 6, 2010: Google opens it ebookstore

December 6, 2010: Oprah gives everybody in the audience a Kindle 3

December 30, 2010: Amazon enables Kindle book lending

2011

February 7, 2011: Amazon releases the 3.1 update for Kindle 3s, bringing page numbers to the device, in addition to more social features

February 13, 2011: The official publication date (it appears online on February 11) of the first New York Times bestseller list to provide e-book rankings

March 1, 2011: Random House joins the Agency Model

March 31, 2011: last day to claim your books or inserts that Google scanned and get cash payments

April 11, 2011: Amazon introduces the Kindle with Special Offers, a Kindle 3 wi-fi only that is ad-supported for $25 less

April 20, 2011: Amazon announces public library lending for the Kindle (to be implemented “this year”)

April 21, 2011: Amazon.de (the German site) starts selling Kindles, and Amazon enables Kindle Direct Publishing to the site

April 21, 2011: Amazon updates the Kindle for Android app to work better with tablets, enable shopping, full color magazines, enhanced dictionary look-up

May 24, 2011: Amazon announces the Kindle with Special Offers with wi-fi & 3G

July 13, 2011: AT&T sponsors the ad-supported Kindle with 3G & wi-fi, which drops the price to $139 press release

August 9, 2011: Law firm Hans Berman files a class action suit against the Agency Model

August 10, 2011: Amazon introduces the Cloud Reader

August 31, 2011: Sony announces the Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-11) http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/computer_peripheral/e_book/release/60688.html

September 2, 2011: Kindle for Android is updated (version 3.1.0)

September 6, 2011: Michael S. Hart, the father of the e-book, dies

Mid-September 2011: Sony’s Reader Wi-Fi ships

September 21, 2011: Amazon announces that public library lending for the Kindle is “now available”

September 28, 2011, 10:00 AM EDT: Amazon holds a press conference in New York to announce the Kindle Fire, the $79 Kindle without audio (which I subsequently nickname the “Mindle”), and the Kindle Touch line. All the Kindles except the Fire are introduced both in ad supported and non-ad-supported versions. The Touch line comes with or without 3G. The Kindle 3 is renamed the “Kindle Keyboard”, and the price of the wi-fi only ad-supported Kindle Keyboard drops from $114 to $99

September 28, 2011: The “Mindle” (the $79 Kindle) is available

October 4, 2011: Amazon strikes a deal with California and reinstates the Associate program in that state

October 6, 2011: Best Buy drops the price of the Kindle Keyboard (wi-fi only, ad-supported) to $99

October 7, 2011: Amazon opens the Kindle store at Amazon.fr, the French site

October 8, 2011: Staples starts carrying the “Mindle” (the $79 Kindle)

October 11, 2011: Amazon launches its science fiction/fantasy imprint, 47North http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1615727&highlight=

October 13, 2011: Software update 3.3 for the Kindle Keyboard (formerly informally called a Kindle 3) is released, bringing more personal document services and Amazon Local

October 19, 2011: Kobo announces the Vox, a tablet http://blog.kobobooks.com/kobo-expands-ereader-family-announces-the-new-kobo-vox-with-vivid-color-display-the-worlds-first-social-ereader/

October 21, 2011: Amazon extends the trade-in program to include Kindles

October 28, 2011: The Kobo Vox begins shipping

November 2, 2011: Amazon introduces The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, letting Kindle-owning Prime members borrow books from Amazon Prime members http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1625426&highlight=

November 7, 2011, 7:00 AM Pacific: Barnes & Noble holds a presser…and the invitation has a NOOK logo on it. They introduce the NOOK Tablet. They also lower the price of the NOOK Color $199 and the NOOK Simple Touch to $99  http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/press_releases/2011_11_7_nook_tablet.html

November 8, 2011: the Cloud Reader becomes available for Mozilla Firefox

November 15, 2011: Kindle Fire begins shipping

November 21, 2011: The Kindle Touch begins shipping

November 21, 2011:  Overdrive.com announces that it “…was instructed to suspend availability of new Penguin eBook titles from our library catalog and disable “Get for Kindle”  functionality for all Penguin eBooks.” http://overdriveblogs.com/library/2011/11/21/penguin-library-ebook-update/

November 22, 2011: My book Love Your Kindle Fire: The ILMK Guide to Using Amazon’s Entertablet is released. It will become a #1 bestseller in a couple of categories

November 24, 2011: Amazon puts the Kindle DX on a Black Friday sale at $259

November 25, 2011: Barnes & Noble does an in-store Black Friday sale on the NOOK Simple Touch: $79

November 28, 2011: Amazon announces that customers bought four times as many Kindles on Black Friday as they had the previous year http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1633690&highlight=

November 30, 2011: Kindle Fire software update 6.2 is released

November 30, 2011: Paul Misener of Amazon testifies before Congress in favor of equal collection legislation http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1634490&highlight

December 2, 2011: Amazon opens Kindle stores in Spain and Italy

December 5, 2011: The Bookseller’s Futurebook Conference in London

December 6, 2011:  The European Commission opens an investigation into the Agency Model http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/06/us-eu-ebooks-idUSTRE7B50T820111206

December 10, 2011: my first post as a columnist appears in the Writers Guide to E-Publishing http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/my-writing-life-an-introduction 

December 12, 2011: Amazon announces that two of its top ten bestselling books for 2011 (print and Kindle combined) were independently published e-books through its Kindle Direct Publishing without paper editions http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1638619&highlight=

December 15, 2011: Amazon announces they are selling a million Kindles a week, and that they have sold millions of Kindle Fires

December 20, 2011: Amazon releases the 6.2.1 update for the Kindle Fire, allowing removal of items from the Carousel and password protecting the internet access

2012

February 21, 2012: Barnes & Noble announces the 8GB NOOK Tablet for $199

March 27, 2012: The Harry Potter books become legally available as e-books

April 11, 2012: The Department of Justice files suit against Apple and five large publishers over the Agency Model

April 12, 2012: Barnes & Noble announces the NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight, for release on May 1st (it will beat that date)

April 17, 2012: Amazon announces acquisition of James Bond backlist

April 20, 2012: Amazon begins shipping the Kindle Touch International, seven days early

April 24, 2012: Tor announces that all of its e-books will be DRM (Digital Rights Management) free by “early July” 2012

April 24, 2012: Amazon announces Send to Kindle for Mac

April 24, 2012: Barnes & Noble begins shipping the NOOK Touch with GlowLight

May 3, 2012: Amazon releases the 6.3.1 update for the Kindle Fire, giving more parental controls. A glitch appears to lock some people out of some functions of their devices

May 15, 2012: Judge Cote denies the request of the publishers to a class action suit against the Agency Model ruling

May 21, 2012: Waterstones, a major British book retailer, announces a partnership with Amazon and the Kindle press release

June 14, 2012: the Cloud Reader, Kindle for iPad and Kindle for iOS get an update, bringing Panel View and more capability for children’s books

June 19, 2012: The Harry Potter books are scheduled to become available through the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (KOLL) for eligible Prime members to borrow (up to one a month) at no additional cost

June 19, 2012: The US State Department awards a contract to Amazon for Kindles and Kindle services

July 2012: possible date for ruling on the Google settlement

July 11, 2012: Amazon introduces GameCircle

August 6, 2012: Amazon announces textbook rental program (press release

August 22, 2012: Amazon announces India Kindle store (press release)

August 30, 2012: Amazon patents a two-sided tablet, with a reflective screen on one side and a backlit screen on the other

August 30, 2012: Amazon opens Appstores in Europe

September 6, 2012: Amazon announces a new line up of Kindle hardware and services, introducing the Paperwhite and the Kindle HD models. It reduces the price of the “Mindle” to $69. Among other features that are new: X-Ray for Movies and X-Ray for Textbooks, FreeTime parental controls, Whispersync for games and audio, and immersion reading. They also announce Kindle Serials

September 6, 2012: Judge Cote approves the settlement agreement between the Department of Justice and three publishers over the Agency Model

September 6, 2012: Kobo introduces new models

September 14, 2012: “Kindle Fire SD” is released

September 14, 2012: Kindle Fire HD 7″ 16GB is released

September 15, 2012: Amazon begins collecting sales tax in California

October 1, 2012: Kindle Paperwhite is released

October 11, 2012: Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (KOLL) is announced for UK, Germany, and France

October 17, 2012: Whispercast for Kindle is announced

October 24, 2012: Kindle store launches in Japan, with the Paperwhite available there as well

October 25, 2012: Kindle Fire HD 7″ 32GB is released

October 25, 2012: Kindle for Windows 8 is released

November 15, 2012: Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ ships, five days early

November 20, 2012: Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ is released

November 28, 2012: Amazon Appstore opens in Japan

December 5, 2012: Amazon introduces Kindle FreeTime Unlimited for 2nd generation Kindle Fires and the HD line

December 6, 2012: Amazon opens Brazilian Kindle store for content

December 7, 2012: Amazon opens a Kindle e-book store in Canada

December 13, 2012: Amazon opens a Kindle e-book store in China

December 13, 2012: the European Union’s European Commission announces having reached binding agreements with Apple and publishers over the Agency Model

December 14, 2012: Update 7.2.3 for the Kindle Fire HD 7″ is released

Mid to late December, 2012: Baen books appear in the USA Kindle store

December 18, 2012: Kindles go on sale in Brazil (press release)

December 18, 2012: the Department of Justice announces that Penguin has settled on the Agency Model issue, and that the settlement will be binding on Random House if the merge is approved (DoJ press release)

December 19, 2012: 8.1.4 update for the KFHD8.9 is released, bringing Kindle FreeTime Unlimited to the bigger tablet

2013

“Early” in 2013, VoiceGuide and Explore by Touch come to Kindle Fire 2nd Generation and Kindle Fire 7″ HD (press release)

February 8, 2013: Date set for judicial review of the states’ settlement with Agency Model publishers. If approved, qualified purchasers would get Kindle store credits (although not immediately)

February 8, 2013: Macmillan becomes the last of the “Agency 5” publishers to settle with the Department of Justice

March 28, 2013: Amazon announces the purchase of GoodReads

April 20, 2013: The Digital Public Library launches

May 1, 2013: Text-to-speech (TTS) comes to the Kindle for IOS app

May 3, 2013: Barnes & Noble announces that Google Play is coming to the NOOK tablets

June 3, 2013: Date set for start of Department of Justice trial against Apple and Agency Model publishers

June 27, 2013: the Kindle Worlds store opens

July 10, 2013: Judge Cote rules against Apple in the Agency Model case

August 18, 2013: Barnes & Noble drops the Glowlight price to $99

August 24, 2013: We announce our second Reader Hero

August 28, 2013: Kobo introduces the Aura EBR (E-Book Reader)

September 1, 2013: Penguin and Random House end Agency Model pricing, the last of the “Big Six” (now Big Five) to do so in the USA

September 3, 2013: Amazon announces Kindle Matchbook, a program that allows users to get certain e-books at a discount if they bought the paperbook from Amazon

September 3, 2013: Amazon announces the Kindle Paperwhite 2

September 18, 2013: Collections are added to the Kindle iOS apps, marking the first time Collections have been available in a Kindle reading app

September 25, 2013: Amazon announced the Kindle Fire HDX line, and the second generation Kindle Fire HD

September 30, 2013: Kindle Paperwhite 2 wi-fi only begins shipping

October 1, 2013: Scribd launches an “all you can eat” e-book program for $8.99 amonth

October 2, 2013: Kindle Fire HD 7″ 2 begins shipping

Mid-to-late October, 2013: Sony stops selling EBRs in the USA

October 23, 2013: Apple announces the iPad Air, among other things

October 24, 2013 (approximately): the Kindle Keyboard goes back on sale new from Amazon…within a month, it will again not be available that way

October 25, 2013 (approximately): the Kindle Touch goes back on sale new from Amazon…within a month, it will again not be available that way

October 28, 2013: in a home break-in, eight of our Kindles (both Fires and non-Fires) are stolen

October 29, 2013: Kindle MatchBook launches with 72,214 titles

October 30, 2013: Barnes & Noble announces a new version of the NOOK GlowLight

October 30, 2013: Amazon announces AmazonSmile, an Amazon mirror site where you can benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping

October 31, 2013: the FAA changes the rules on PEDs (Personal Electronic Devices) on flights, allowing them to be used for more of the flight

October 31, 2013: Amazon announces Kindle Countdown Deals

November 1, 2013: Amazon announces Kindle First, a program that allows eligible Prime members to get pre-release books

November 6, 2013: Amazon announces AmazonSource, a program for local stores to sell Kindles

November 11, 2013: Amazon announces a deal with the U.S. Post Office for Sunday deliveries

November 12, 2013: Amazon opens a localized Australian Kindle site

November 14, 2013: Amazon announces customizable covers

November 14, 2013: Judge Chin rules that Google’s scanning falls under Fair Use

November 18, 2013: Amazon releases update 3.1 for Mojito generation Kindle Fires (HDX, HD2), bringing Goodreads integration, Cloud Collections, Dictation, more network support, a clock app, and more

November 19, 2013: Amazon releases update 5.4.2 for the Kindle Paperwhite 2, bringing Goodreads integration, Cloud Collections, and Kindle Freetime.

November 22, 2013: Amazon announces the ability to gift Amazon Prime

2014

January 1, 2014: Jeff Bezos is helicoptered from the Galapagos Islands by the Ecuadorian Navy due to a kidney stone

January 10, 2014 (approximate): a new link allows you to apply a gift card to an e-book purchase

January 16, 2014 (approximate…rolled out): bulk actions come to the Manage Your Kindle page, along with other updates

January 23, 2014: Amazon adds a Christian imprint, Waterfall Press, to its traditional publishing efforts

February 11, 2014: the Scribd app becomes available for the Kindle Fire

March 13, 2014: Amazon raises the price of Prime from $79 to $99 a year

March 25, 2014 (approximate): pay-outs from the state Attorneys General action against the publishers get to customers

April 2, 2014: Amazon announces the Amazon Fire TV

April 10, 2014: Amazon announces that it is buying comiXology

April 10, 2014: Our first Give a Kid a Kindle device is delivered

May 2014: The public becomes aware of a dispute between Hachette and Amazon (which I call the “Hachazon War”) which will go on for months, resulting in reduced availability and other issues for Hachette books to Amazon customers

May 6, 2014: Amazon introduces #AmazonCart, which can get you Kindle samples directly from tweets about the books

May 11, 2014 (approximate): Amazon adds a “Find My Kindle” feature for Kindle Fire HDX models

June 2, 2014: Suzi LeVine, the new American ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, is sworn in by placing a hand on a Kindle

June 10, 2014: Amazon adds Whispersync for Voice to some reader apps

June 12, 2014: Amazon announces Prime Music

June 18, 2014: Amazon announces the Fire Phone

June 22, 2014: we name Spencer Collins ILMK Reader Hero #3

June 25, 2014: Barnes & Noble announces the intention to separate the retail and NOOK businesses

August 15, 2014 (approximately): independent publishers using Kindle Direct Publishing gain the ability to make their books available for pre-order

August 20, 2014:Barnes & Noble introduces the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK…the new co-branded tablet

September 3, 2014: Amazon introduces KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) Kids and Kindle Kids Book Creator

September 17, 2014: Amazon introduces their new hardware, including the Kindle Voyage, touch being added to the least expensive model, and the Kids Edition Fire HD. They also introduce the new Fire Operating System version, which will include the Family Library

October 18, 2014 (approximate): we get the ability to set a default device for Kindle e-book delivery

October 22, 2014: Amazon and Simon & Schuster reach a deal

October 27, 2014: Amazon introduces the Fire TV Stick

October 27, 2014: Amazon opens the Kindle Scout program, an traditional publishing venture where reader feedback helps determine which books are selected for  publication, for voting

November 6, 2014: Amazon announces the Amazon Echo

November 14, 2014: Amazon announces an update which brings the Family Library (sharing with people not on your account) and Word Wise (in situ definitions of “difficult” words) to some devices

November 18, 2014 (approximate): Kindle book samples are stored in the Cloud

November 21, 2014 (approximate): Fire tablet owners get six months of the Washington Post for free

November 24, 2014 (approximate): the USA Kindle store breaks three million titles

December 4, 2014: Microsoft separates from the NOOK

December 20, 2014: Amazon announces Prime Now, one hour delivery of many items (including books)

2015

January 22, 2015: Amazon launches Kindle Textbook Creator http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2009634

February 3, 2015: Amazon releases Kindle Convert (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*), book digitizing software

February 10, 2015: Amazon launches Amazon Giveaway press release with links

February 13, 2015: Kindle Unlimited expands to Mexico and Canada

March 3, 2015: first Kindle Scout books are published

March 11, 2015: Amazon officially opens Write On by Kindle

April 30, 2015: the White House announces a plan to get e-books to low income children https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/04/30/fact-sheet-spreading-joy-reading-more-children-and-young-adults

June 17, 2015: Amazon announced the All-New Kindle Paperwhite, 6″ High-Resolution Display (300 ppi) with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi – Includes Special Offers (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

June 25, 2015: Amazon announced enhanced social sharing of e-books: http://www.amazon.com/bettersharing(http://www.amazon.com/at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

July 1st, 2015: Amazon’s new royalty plan for Kindle Unlimited goes into effect, based on pages read

July 14, 2015: Go Set a Watchman (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*) is published

July 15, 2015: Amazon has its first “Prime Day”

August 16, 2015: A New York Times article by Jodi Kantor and David Streitfeld describes Amazon as a “bruising” workplace

September 9, 2015: Amazon expands Kindle Scout internationally http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2086457

September 17, 2015: Amazon introduces new hardware, including their least expensive tablet…but not another model of EBR (E-Book Reader)

October 16, 2015: The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Judge Denny Chin’s decision that the way Google is scanning and distributing books falls under Fair Use, meaning that it does not infringe on the rightsholders’ rights

October 21, 2015: Barnes & Noble introduces the NOOK GlowLight plus http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151021005368/en/Barnes-Noble-Introduces-NOOK%C2%AE-eReader

November 3, 2015: Amazon opens Amazon Books in Seattle, its first brick-and-mortar bookstore

December 7, 2015: Amazon announces the Fire HD 8 Reader’s Edition http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2120592

2016

January 2016: text-to-speech comes to Alexa

February 5, 2016: Bufo appears on The Kindle Chronicles TKC 392 KINDLE BLOGGER BUFO CALVIN

Mid-February, 2016: Current Kindle EBRs get a major update, changing the homescreen

February 29, 2016: The Measured Circle’s Geek Time Trip launches

March 7, 2016: The Supreme Court refuses certiorari to Apple in their e-book pricing case, effectively ending appeal

March 16, 2016: Amazon merges Shelfari into Goodreads

March 22, 2016: Some older Kindles need to do a software update to be able to continue to contact the Kindle Store wirelessly Critical Software Update for Kindle E-Readers (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

April 27:, 2016 Amazon releases the Kindle Oasis, a new top of the line EBR model

May 2016: Amazon introduces Kindle Paperwhite Blind and Visually Impaired Readers Bundle – Includes Kindle Paperwhite with Wi-Fi and Special Offers, Kindle Audio Adapter, and $19.99 Account Credit (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

May 17, 2016: Goodreads (owned by Amazon) announces Goodreads Deals Goodreads deals announcement blogpost by Annarose Mclaughlin

Late June: Amazon customers see Apple settlement money press release

June 27, 2016: Amazon introduces Amazon Inspire, a resource for schools

June 28, 2016: Amazon introduces an updated version of Page Flip press release

July 7, 2016: Amazon releases the All-New Kindle E-reader – Black, 6″ Glare-Free Touchscreen Display, Wi-Fi – Includes Special Offers (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*), which has Bluetooth audio linking, returning text-to-speech to non-backlit Kindles (when linked to a speaker)

July 19, 2016: Amazon introduces www.amazon.com/singlesclassics (Single Classics) (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

August 24, 2016: Amazon announces the Kindle Reading Fund for community literacy support blog post by Dave Limp

August 30, 2016: Kobo’s Aura One is released

September 8, 2016: Amazon introduces a new Fire Tablet…and it includes Alexa. Alexa is also announced at coming to some earlier Fire Tablets “in the coming months” press release

September 13, 2016: Amazon introduces Audible Channels for Prime press release

September 15, 2016: Amazon introduces the All-New Echo Dot (2nd Generation) – White (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

September 28, 2016: Amazon introduces the All-New Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote | Streaming Media Player (at AmazonSmile*) which has Alexa…meaning that it can read some books to you

October 5, 2016: Amazon introduces Prime Reading (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

October 21, 2016: Bufo appears on The Kindle Chronicles

October 24, 2016: The recent Register of Copyrights resigns after being reassigned, prompting letters of concern https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/unprecedented-removal-register-copyrights-causes-consternation-copyright-community/

November 2, 2016: Amazon announces Amazon Rapids, a text-message style storytelling service for kids http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2218459

November 10, 2016: A federal judge orders Amazon to refund consumers for some kids’ in-app purchases http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/judge-orders-amazon-refund-parents-kids-in-app-purchases-article-1.2869049

November 25, 2016: Barnes & Noble releases a new NOOK tablet for $49.99 NOOK press release

November 30, 2016: Amazon and Intel unveil two new initiatives, one to have Alexa work with an Intel-based SmartHub, and another to have a smart speaker design reference. https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-amazon-unveil-smart-home-technology-amazon-reinvent/

December 5: Amazon Go, a “no checkout” physical store is announced in a YouTube video: https://www.amazon.com/b?node=16008589011#

December 8, 2016: The House Judiciary Committee releases a policy proposal for changes to U.S.A. copyright. https://judiciary.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Copyright-Reform.pdf

December 15, 2016: The Association of American Publishers writes an open letter to the incoming Presidential administration. http://newsroom.publishers.org/aap-letter-to-president-elect-donald-trump/

December 30, 2016: Amazon has its first “Digital Day” sale on content. Digital Day (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

2017

January 19, 2017: Microsoft’s e-book store in Windows 10 launches

January 27, 2017: I report that 1984 by George Orwell is sold out in paper…but available through Kindle Unlimited

March 24 (approximately): Medium offers a $5 a month subser (subscription service)

March 28, 2017: Amazon offers discounts on most EBRs (E-Book Readers) to Prime members

April 1st, 2017: Amazon is collecting sales tax in every state that has it for e-books

April 7th, 2017: Bufo appears in Virtual Reality with Len Edgerly of The Kindle Chronicles to discuss in part how VR and AR will impact the book experience http://www.thekindlechronicles.com/2017/04/07/tkc-453-bufo-calvin-in-virtual-reality/

Late April, 2017: Amazon updates MYCD (Manage Your Content and Devices) so you can resend gifts to a different address…and so you can see which Kindle books are on which device

May 17, 2017: Amazon revamps the Fire tablet line, adding Amazon Alexa http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2273573

May 18, 2017: Amazon introduces Amazon Charts, a sort of “bestseller” list which can report which e-books are being most read, not just purchased

June 7 (approximate), 2017: Amazon updates Kindle notes, introduces https://read.amazon.com/kp/notebook

July 20 (approximate) 2017: Amazon introduces Amazon Spark, a new product discovery social network

October 11, 2017: Amazon introduces the Kindle Oasis 2, the first “waterproof” Kindle

October 19, 2017: qualifying customers are notified of Apple settlement payment

October 24, 2017: Amazon updates the Kindle app

Late November, 2017: it appears that blocking text-to-speech access has stopped

2018

February 27, 2018: TOPPLE, a new Amazon Publishing imprint with Jill Soloway, is announced press release

April 5, 2018: Amazon Key expands locations and services press release

April 12, 2018: Amazon and Ring close acquisition press release

April 19, 2018: Alexa Skill Blueprints are introduced press release

April 24, 2018: Amazon introduces In-Car Delivery press release

April 25, 2018: FreeTime on Alex is introduced press release

May 9, 2018: Amazon Experience Centers are announced press release

June 5, 2018: Alexa and Amazon Echo come to France press release

June 7, 2018: The Fire TV Cube is announced, enabling voice control of the TV and other devices as well as streaming press release

June 19, 2018: Amazon announces Alexa for Hospitality, a special service for hotels press release

June 26, 2018: Amazon announces support for Arabic for Kindle books press release

June 28, 2018: Amazon announces a program for entrepreneurs to start businesses delivering Amazon packages press release

June 28, 2018: Show Mode and Show Mode Charging Deck for tablets (making them function somewhat like Echo Shows) are announced press release

July 20, 2018: Five Kindle Direct Publishing authors are announced by Amazon as RITA winners press release

August 28, 2018: Amazon announces Prime Book Box press release

September 6, 2018: Spanish versions of FreeTime and FreeTime Unlimited are announced press release

September 6, 2018: new versions of the Fire HD 8 are announced, including one for kids and getting hands-free Alexa <a href=”https://press.aboutamazon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/introducing-all-new-amazon-fire-hd-8-alexa-hands-free”press release

September 17, 2018: the launch of Amazon Storefronts (small to medium businesses) press release

September 20, 2018: Amazon announces the 2nd gen Echo Show, Fire TV Recast, and new Echo Devices (including Echo Auto) new Echo devices press release, Echo Show press release, Fire TV Recast press release

September 20, 2018: Many new Alexa features are announced, including Alexa Guard, Hunches, Whisper Mode, e-mail integration, and a browser for the Echo Show press release

October 2, 2018: Amazon sets the minimum wage for all employees (even part-time and seasonal) to $15 an hour press release

October 3, 2018: Amazon introduces the Fire TV Stick 4K press release

October 16, 2018: Amazon introduces the 10th generation Kindle Paperwhite with waterproofing press release

October 23, 2018: Amazon Business launches new Business Prime benefits in the United States, Germany and Japan <a href=”https://press.aboutamazon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/amazon-business-launches-new-business-prime-benefits-united&#8221;

October 23, 2018: Alexa and Echo come to Italy and Spain press release

October 29, 2018: $100 million dollars have been donated to non-profits through AmazonSmile press release

November 1, 2018: Amazon announces the “Amazon Future Engineer” program to help underprivileged youth get into computer careers

November 7, 2018: Schlage partners with Amazon on SmartHome tech press release

November 7, 2018: Alexa and Echo come to Mexico (in Spanish) press release

November 7. 2018: Amazon Music comes to Mexico press release

November 13, 2018: HQ2 (Amazon’s 2nd headquarters, after Seattle) gets divided between New York City and Northern Virginia press release

November 27, 2018: Customers can donate directly to Toys for Tots through Alexa press release

December 21, 2018: Amazon announces leasing an additional ten 767-300 aircraft, bringing the number of aircraft in Air Amazon to at least 50 press release

December 26, 2018: Amazon announces that customers purchased “…millions more Amazon Devices this holiday season compared to last year” press release

2019

January 12, 2019 (approx): Amazon launches ad-supported video service, IMDb Freedive (later rebranded IMDb TV)

January 25, 2019: Amazon announces a kid-focused version of its translation imprint: Amazon Publishing Announces Amazon Crossing Kids, an Imprint for Children’s Books in Translation

February 6, 2019: Amazon Crossing To Publish a True Crime Story From the Archives of Stieg Larsson, the International Best-Selling Author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

February 11, 2019: Amazon to Acquire eero to Help Customers Better Connect Smart Home Devices

February 12, 2019: Forgot Sunscreen, Sandals or Sunglasses? Customers Can Shop and Ship to an Amazon Locker at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

February 17, 2019 (approximately): Amazon makes publishing Alexa skills to the store easy. Bufo publishes four initial skills: https://amzn.to/2EmJkyc

I’ve published my first Alexa skill! Here’s how you can, too

February 28, 2019: Amazon Prime Members: Pick Your Delivery Day, Plan Your Week

March 20, 2019: All-New Kindle Now With an Adjustable Front Light For Just $89.99

Amazon introduces a new frontlit Kindle for $89.99

April 16, 2019: Amazon Publishing Brings Together Bestselling and Award-Winning Authors Blake Crouch, N. K. Jemisin, Veronica Roth, Amor Towles, Paul Tremblay, and Andy Weir for a Sci-Fi Short Story Collection

April 18, 2019: Amazon and Google Announce Official YouTube Apps to Launch on Fire TV; Prime Video App Coming to Chromecast and Android TV

April 23, 2019: Key for Garage Available Starting Today

April 29, 2019: Montlake Romance to Publish International Bestselling Author Sylvia Day

May 1, 2019: Souq Becomes Amazon.ae in the UAE

May 13, 2019: Employees Turned Entrepreneurs: New Amazon Initiative Helps Employees Start Their Own Package Delivery Business

May 15, 2019: Amazon Launches Kindle Lite in Kenya – Free 2 MB App for Android

May 16, 2019: Introducing the All-New Amazon Fire 7: Faster Processor, 2x the Storage, and Alexa Hands-Free—Still Only $49.99

May 20, 2019: Amazon Literary Partnership Announces 2019 Grant Recipients

May 23, 2019: Amazon Launches Support for Traditional Chinese Books on Kindle

May 28, 2019: Mindy Kaling to Publish New Essay Collection with Amazon, Available Free for Prime Members

May 29, 2019: Amazon Introduces Echo Show 5—Compact Design, Rich Sound, and Built-In Camera Shutter—Just $89.99

May 29, 2019: AWS Announces General Availability of Amazon Textract

June 7, 2019: Barnes & Noble announces their purchase by the same company that owns the UK’s Waterstones

July 1, 2019: Microsoft kills their current e-book platform, meaning that customers could no longer access their books

June 27, 2019: Amazon Introduces Counter in the U.S. – Where Customers Can Pick Up Their Package and Shop Too

July 22, 2019: Dean Koontz Signs New Five-Book Deal with Amazon Publishing

July 27, 2019: Five Kindle Direct Publishing Authors Win Top Romance Writing Award in 2019

August 19, 2019: Amazon discontinues Kindle Store blog publishing, causing Bufo a considerable loss of royalty income (but probably not affecting many people much)

Amazon discontinuing Kindle store blog publishing on August 19, 2019

August 23, 2019: major publishers sue Amazon over a speech-to-text software

August 28, 2019: 10 year anniversary of I Love My Kindle blog

September 4, 2019: Introducing the All-New Fire TV Cube—the Next Generation Fire TV Experience with Far-Field Voice Control, and the Fastest, MoDest Powerful Fire TV Ever

September 17, 2019 (approx): Amazon makes Alexa Answers public, where anyone can contribute possible answers for Alexa to use

September 24, 2019: Amazon Publishing Acquires Academy Award-Winner Guillermo del Toro’s First Short Story Collection

September 24, 2019: Amazon and Leading Technology Companies Announce the Voice Interoperability Initiative

September 25 2019: Amazon Introduces 8 New Echo Devices

October 2, 2019: Alexa and Amazon Echo Now Available in Brazil

October 8, 2019: Amazon Launches Amazon.sg, Offering All Customers in Singapore More Ways to Shop and Millions of Products to choose from – On Desktop and Mobile

October 23, 2019: Amazon Adds Thousands of New Locations for Free Package Pickup Across the U.S.

December 3, 2019: Amazon Customers Shop at Record Levels Again This Holiday Season – Cyber Monday 2019 Becomes the Single Biggest Shopping Day in the Company’s History

December 10, 2019: Amazon Surprises Hundreds of Charities by Fulfilling Their AmazonSmile Charity Lists this Holiday Season

December 26, 2019: Customers Shopped at Record Levels this Holiday Season with Billions of Items Ordered Worldwide – Plus Customers Purchased Tens of Millions of Amazon Devices

Undated future

These have been announced by Amazon, but without a real suggestion as to when.

This page by Bufo Calvin originally appeared on the I Love My Kindle blog website.

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