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Amazon working on the unKindle?

The NYTimes are speculating on why Amazon have announced job opening for things like: Supply Chain Project Program Manager, Hardware Engineer and RF Systems Engineer.

Some of the people hired for these positions will most likely work on the next versions of the Kindle, possibly integrating touch screens or even creating a color version of the device. But there’s also a good chance these engineers will be recruited to build other gadgets that Amazon is prototyping in its secret labs.

According to people with direct knowledge of the company’s plans, who declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly about Amazon’s internal workings and unannounced products, Lab 126 has been looking into building other gadgets that it could sell to consumers.

Yes, and no. Yes they are developing new gadgets and no they are not trying to get into the gadget market. If there’s one thing Amazon have made clear by their actions, it’s that they sell the Kindle (and turn a profit on it) in order to have a platform to sell ebooks. If Amazon really wanted to sell other devices then they could have done so any time during the 5 years that Lab126 have been open.

But, I would bet that Amazon have looked at devices that would support their MP3 store and UnBox video store. They’ve never developed them because there was no need. PMPs and MP3 players are well developed markets.

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