Amazon

Most people think of Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle as a slim piece of hardware the size of a very thin paperback book. In fact, Kindle is also a piece of software that displays digital books on any device Amazon chooses. On Thursday, the Seattle online retailing giant unveiled a Kindle version for computers. The application was part of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system launch event Thursday in New York. Expected to be released in November, the program will also run on Microsoft's earlier operating systems, Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Amazon could start producing its own smartphone as soon as this year, according to a second report that claims the online retailer is working on a smartphone. The Seattle-based company along with suppliers in Asia are testing a smartphone, the report says, citing "people familiar with the situation. " The report also says Amazon might start production either this year or early 2013. Details are sketchy, but the new report, by the Wall Street Journal , says the device is expected to have a screen somewhere in the 4- to 5-inch range.

Amazon.com Inc. and the nation's bricks-and-mortar retailers are in combat again, this time over the online giant's price-comparison tool that enables shoppers to quickly check out prices at rival merchants. An uproar over the Price Check shopping app, used on mobile devices, erupted after Amazon launched a promotion for Saturday that gives customers 5% off (up to $5) on up to three qualifying items on its site if they check the prices of those goods on the app while browsing at a physical store.

Greed, we are told by the moral philosophers, brings out the worst in human beings. As Amazon.com is about to prove, the same rule applies to big corporations. Last week, the giant online retailer announced that it was backing a ballot referendum to overturn a new state law mandating that it collect the sales tax due on purchases by its California customers. That law, which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown at the end of June, was designed to eliminate the price advantage enjoyed by Amazon, and many other online retailers, over brick-and-mortar stores.

Here is today's Consumer Confidential segment from KTLA-TV. We looked at the announcement from Amazon that its Kindle Fire tablet is now sold out. Really? Could that have anything to do with a mysterious news conference the company has scheduled for next week? We also look at how Americans get off easier at the gas pump than people in other countries, and a recall of more than 600,000 Mr. Coffee machines.  

Amazon.com Inc. upped the ante in its effort to overturn a new state law requiring all Internet sellers to collect sales taxes on purchases by California customers. The Seattle online retailer reported late last week that it contributed $2.25 million to the More Jobs Not Taxes campaign to qualify a referendum for the June primary election ballot. The contribution brought the company's cumulative investment in the campaign to $5.25 million. The referendum, if signed by at least 505,000 registered voters, would ask voters whether they want to uphold the law, which took effect July 1, or repeal it. Amazon is asking for a repeal, saying the California law is an unconstitutional interference with interstate commerce.

On the eve of Apple's expected rollout of a new iPhone, Amazon has slashed by half the price of a Galaxy S III smartphone for new activations. The Seattle online retailer is selling the 16-gigabyte version of the phone for $99 for those who sign up for a two-year service contract with wireless carriers AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. Amazon said the offer was for a "very limited time" but did not specify when it would expire. Amazon is also offering smaller discounts for those who already have an account with one of the carriers and want to upgrade to the Galaxy S III. Purchasers of the Sprint and Verizon versions of the phone can save $50 and AT&T buyers can save $20. Users can also get a discount if adding a family line, knocking the price down to $119 for the Sprint version and $139 for Verizon.

The world's biggest online retailer is now competing more directly with the nation's biggest DVD rental service. Amazon.com has agreed to acquire the shares it does not already own in Lovefilm International, a DVD and online film rental service similar to Netflix that operates in Europe. The Seattle company already holds a 42% stake in Lovefilm, which is headquartered in London and Luxembourg. Financial details were not disclosed, although the Financial Times said the deal values Lovefilm at about $317 million.

Amazon.com rolled out a streaming TV and movie service for its prime customers, taking a direct shot at fast growing rival Netflix. Amazon announced Tuesday that its prime customers, who pay $79 a year for free two-day shipping, can choose among 5,000 TV shows and movies such as "Syriana," "Doctor Who: Season 4," and "Analyze This" to stream through computers and devices such as Roku. Netflix shares fell 4 percent in opening trade on Tuesday while shares of Amazon were down 2.6 percent.

The companies with the most positive buzz last year include retail brands such as Target, automakers such as Ford and tech giants such as Apple. YouGov BrandIndex rated the companies by asking survey respondents throughout the year whether they had heard anything about the brands recently through advertising, news or word of mouth. The most in-the-now businesses, in order: 1.    Subway 2.    Amazon 3.    History Channel 4.    Google 5.    Cheerios 6.    Lowe's 7.    Ford 8.    Discovery Channel 9.    Target 10.    Apple Top-ranked Subway was the only dining establishment to crack the top 10, with its increasing emphasis on fresh and healthy ingredients and sodium reduction while maintaining its reputation for budget meals . Amazon landed high because of its Kindle Fire launch and dominance of online retailing.