Business Bytes
Curt Finch

Developing for the Kindle

 

Amazon.com has decided to allow developers to create applications for the Kindle, according to the New York Times. Next month, a beta group will receive the Kindle Development Kit that will enable them to create either "free applications, one-time paid applications, and applications that require a monthly subscription." Current Kindle owners need not fear — Amazon.com will remotely update your software so you can take advantage of applications too.

Part of the attraction of the internet in the first place was its ability to allow for millions of users with different operating systems and browser types to all interact with applications on the net without installing anything on their desktop machines. With the iPhone, Android and now your book reader we are clearly moving away from that to a place where we all get to manage hundreds of applications on disparate devices. When those apps are toys, I guess that's fine. When they become critical to your life, you have to start worrying about software management issues - bug, upgrades, viruses, backups, etc.

Haven't we kicked this thing into reverse sort of?


Curt Finch is the author of a project management book. He's interviewing PMs managing lots of people and projects for his second book now, contact curt@journyx.com if interested.

Curt Finch has more than two decades of software development and distributed workforce management experience. In 1997, Curt created the world's first internet-based timesheet application and the foundation for the current Journyx product offering. Curt has a B.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech. His book, All Your Money, is available on Amazon. @curtfinch