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06.24.09
New Amazon Kindle To Use Linux OS
 By
Savio Rodrigues
Very cool news from Amazon that they've released the source code used by the Kindle device. The code is provided as is, off course. There doesn't appear to be a license file in the distribution.
But the folder is named "gplrelease" and they're using Linux 2.6.22 so I suspect it's GPLV2. This means that competitors can utilize the Kindle software to build a competitive device. But I think the more important news is that Kindle aims to become an application platform in the future.
I seriously doubt that a competitor will try and beat Amazon in the ebook reader device market by using the open source Kindle software. Amazon would have access to any of the competitor modifications to the Kindle software. Amazon gains little by open sourcing the Kindle software if there isn't a value to the marketplace. So, what is that value to the marketplace?
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We Canadians can't get Kindle devices so I don't know what restrictions Amazon puts on running other software on the Kindle. I see today's news foreshadowing Amazon opening Kindle up as an application platform, akin to the iPhone/iPod. Why else open up the Kindle code if not for helping developers get a better sense of the platform itself? Clearly an SDK would be the next thing we should expect from Amazon.
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About the Author:
Savio Rodrigues is a product manager with IBM's WebSphere Software division. He envisions a day when open source and traditional software live in harmony. This site contains Savio's personal views. IBM does not necessarily agree with the views expressed here.
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