Amazon is expected to dive into the smartphone business this week. In doing so, notes CNET, “[CEO Jeff] Bezos is escalating Amazon's fight against Apple and Google for control of the hearts and minds of consumers by combining a branded smartphone with a set of services available through its Prime premium membership.” Smartphone + Prime could = killer device/content combo, especially if Amazon can nail ballyhooed phone features such as 3D technology and a Prime Data service that allows for easy video and music streaming. Time, as they say, will tell. Remember, cautions CNET, the smartphone market has stymied some of tech's savviest – think Google and Blackberry— and Amazon is, after all, still primarily a retailer. While we await the launch of Amazon's as yet unnamed smartphone, we can enjoy the coyness of Jeff Bezos, who sent copies of the kids' book Mr. Pine's Purple House to journalists with a note that said in part: "Enclosed is my favorite childhood book … I think you'll agree that the world is a better place when things are a little bit different." — M.B.
Amazon, smartphone home
Republish Article
You can republish articles in print or online. Simply copy the HTML below, which includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline, and credit to Cascade PBS. Republishing of the photos or videos embedded in an article can occur only if the photo or video is a copyright of Cascade Public Media ("CPM") and not of a third party. Photos and videos that are a copyright of CPM are not required to appear in the republished article, but if they are used, they must be embedded where they appear in the original article and must include the attribution to the CPM photographer.
- You may reprint in any medium
- You may edit only for tense and timeliness
- If republishing in print you can edit for length if you follow our print republishing guidelines.
- You may write your own headline
- Include a byline and shirttail with credit and link to Cascade PBS
- Include our tracking pixel
- Remove if we ask
Our members' donations make local journalism happen.
Support once for $1
Support monthly for $7
- Cascade PBS Passport
- Mossback members-only newsletter
- Monthly Viewer Guide
Support monthly for $25
- Invitation to quarterly news and original programming video conference
- Annual in-person meet-up with news & programming teams
- Special event perks (reduced price or free tickets, cocktails, etc.)
By Mary Bruno
Mary was Crosscut's Editor-in-Chief and Interim Publisher. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she has worked as a writer, editor and editorial director for a variety of print and web publications,
Mary was Crosscut's Editor-in-Chief and Interim Publisher. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she has worked as a writer, editor and editorial director for a variety of print and web publications,