New York Times

Amazon.com unleashed new e-reader software Thursday that enables selected BlackBerry handsets from Research In Motion to access and read e-books directly on mobile devices based in the United States. Called Kindle for BlackBerry, the free beta app is available for download from the world's largest online retailer.

Our own Morgan Meis, six months ago, in The Smart Set:

"Come see our latest creation." Thus reads the Apple invitation appearing in reporter's inboxes on Monday. The e-mail -- with the text displayed against a splashed-paint background -- invites reporters to a Jan. 27 event at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.

The Financial Times reported some weeks ago that Apple would announce on Jan. 26 a long-rumored tablet computer. Monday's invitation -- one day later than the Times reported but in the same location -- indicates the newspaper had the story right and Apple may announce the tablet next week.

Nicholas Wade in The New York Times:

Nine years after its disastrous 164-billion-dollar merger with Time Warner, Internet pioneer AOL traded as an independent public company for the first time Thursday.

Shares of the once mighty Internet provider were down more than 2 percent in pre-market trading as investors and analysts questioned its ability to thrive in the modern online world as it tries to create content that will attract millions of users and help it sell advertising.

From New York Times:

From Salon:

Sony is turning to a combination of tried-and-true and innovative marketing strategies to boost the appeal of the company's e-book offerings to price-conscious American consumers.

Earlier this week, Sony knocked $2 off the prices at its online e-book store for new releases and New York Times best sellers and unveiled two new e-book Readers at reduced price points of $199 and $299. What's more, the company has joined Amazon in offering a few newer titles free from popular authors such as Brenda Jackson, James Patterson, Joseph Finder, and Kim Stanley Robinson.