Mar 9th, 2010 · The Supreme Court has said that retailers can't be expected to collect sales taxes in states where they don't have a physical presence. But as states struggle with huge budget deficits, they want to collect on the billions of dollars of taxes they say online shoppers owe.
Mar 4th, 2010 · The Lost City of Z, David Grann's retelling of British explorer Percy Fawcett's final journey into the Amazon, climbs to No. 2 on this week's list.
Feb 26th, 2010 · California lawmakers are planning next week to impose a tax on sales conducted through Amazon.com and other major online retailers.
Feb 1st, 2010 · Online bookseller Amazon.com has capitulated in a fight with a major publisher. After a standoff with MacMillan, Amazon has agreed to raise the prices of its e-books. MacMillan and other publishers don't like the prices Amazon has been charging — especially that $9.99 price tag for bestsellers. Publishers want to charge more. And they're in a stronger position, in part thanks to Apple, which entered the online bookselling world with its new iPad device.
Jan 29th, 2010 · Two leading technology companies reported big increases in sales and earnings for the most recent quarter Thursday. Amazon.com said it made record profits last quarter. That's the three-month period covering holiday shopping. Microsoft said its profits jumped 60 percent in the last quarter of 2009, compared to the previous year.
Jan 28th, 2010 · While introducing iPad's e-book reader, Apple CEO Steve Jobs declared that that he was standing on the shoulders of Amazon's Kindle. Jobs may be grateful to Amazon for showing the way but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to take over the e-book market that is dominated by the Kindle. Publishers have been anticipating the iPad as an antidote to Amazon's near monopoly on e-books.
Jan 27th, 2010 · When Apple makes its latest product announcement on Wednesday, many expect the company to unveil a tablet-size computer that will compete with Amazon's Kindle or Sony's Reader. It may also change the way the book and newspaper industries view digital publishing.
Jan 12th, 2010 · This week, a novel asks, does God exist? David Malouf re-imagines an episode from Homer's Iliad, and surgeon-writer Atul Gawande offers a simple solution for the complicated problem of healing patients. Also, a memoir of life and linguistics in an Amazon tribe.