Kindle patents ad plans

Amazon.com has filed for a number of patents that hint at ad-supported books for its Kindle e-reader, more specifically, a free or discounted ad-supported e-book for customers who buy the physical version, states CNET News.

Amazon Technologies, a subsidiary of Amazon, filed for a patent ('Method and system for access to electronic version of a physical work based on user ownership of the physical work') in December 2006.

It was approved last month and makes it possible for buyers of a physical book to have an e-book bundled with it.

The iTunes App Store is one year old this week, and Apple is celebrating by promoting some of its favourite apps and games, says Product Reviews.

The App Store's virtual shelves have stocked more than 50 000 apps, hosted more than 1 billion app downloads, and changed the way cellphone users use their handsets.

But the store has generated plenty of controversy, too. Developers have had their apps rejected for obscure reasons or for no discernible reason whatsoever.

Six months ago, talks between Warner Music Group and YouTube over the licensing of the label's music videos broke down, reports CNET News.

The companies have now entered into a new round of talks, according to two sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

While the companies have spoken several times over the past half year, the most recent discussions are more serious, the sources said.