It appears that online retail giantAmazonwill launch a new, vastly improved version of its massively popular shopping website in the near future, overhauling its design that not only looks great on the desktop but has been designed to appeal to tablet owners, signalling that the company could soon announce the launch of its own tablet devices. Only a small number of users have been granted access to the new design, some of which have voiced theirsurprise on Twitter, which now sports big tablet-friendly buttons and a bigger, more prominent, search bar....

Amazon.comisenteringthe mobile app business with an Android application store that features Amazon’s unique recommendation algorithm, a paid app for free every day, and free app testing on the Web site before purchase. The Amazon Appstore, which is accessible viaWeband through a mobile app, is a potential iTunes equivalent for Android smartphones and tablets. Initially, users will have access to over 3,800 applications, including titles from Gameloft, Handmark and Glu Mobile. It evenpartneredwith mobile game developer Rovio to launch its new Angry Birds Rio game exclusively on the Amazon Appstore....

Amazon seems to be cooking up a new way to attract users in India to shop on its platform: a free video streaming service. The company launched a new ad-supported streaming platform called Amazon MiniTV that lives inside the main shopping app. MiniTV currently resides in Amazon’s Android app and has various content sections including Comedy, Lifestyle, and Web Series. It’s separate from Amazon Prime Video, the company’s paid streaming service....

Amazon has just launchedAmazon.es, its Spanish store, one day earlier than expected. The store only sells physical goods – books, music, DVDs and electronics – but the company intends its full range of products to be available by the end of 2011, including its popular Kindle e-reader and associated e-books. Shipping costs are as competitive as Amazon’s other stores. Standard 3-5 days shipping within Spain costs € 2.99 per shipment. There’s free shipping on orders for books over €19 (3 to 5 days shipping) and for guaranteed one business day delivery, it will set you back € 8....

We knew that Amazon was working to launch its own Kindle Lending Library service but today the internet retailer hastaken the wrapsoff its book borrowing service that will see Kindle users be able to check-out and read Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. In April, we reportedthat Amazon was keen on creating its own book borrowing service, having seen a number of unofficial solutions such asLendInkand theKindle Lending Clubform to offer the same type of service....