Very true - this is what old WML based devices use to do - WML got compiled to WBXML or WMLC (depending on who wrote the docs :), and that got sent to the devic

Very true - this is what old WML based devices use to do - WML got compiled to WBXML or WMLC (depending on who wrote the docs :), and that got sent to the device, making much easier to handle parsing for the device. There were really big speed ups both computing wise - but (especially in those days) also transport. I don't know how Amazon is doing it with Silk, but I'm guessing they're seeing enough of a speed up to make it worthwhile.