Do I Need a Stylus with a Tablet?

by: admin - Filed under: eReaders, Kindle Accessories

[easyazon-image-link asin="B002BBJMO6" alt="3 Pack of Universal Touch Screen Stylus Pen (Red + Black + Silver)" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417tb3B43YL._SL160_.jpg" align="left" width="160" height="160"]One of the first things that I found when I bought my Kindle Fire was that, as much as I like having a little computer to carry around with me, using the touch keyboard is difficult if you have adult sized hands!  No matter how careful I am, I usually manage to “fat finger” several words in my emails, facebook posts, etc.

It took me less than a week to decide that I needed a stylus.  If you’re not familiar with the term, a stylus refers to the small pen like pointers that you can get for your touch screen electronics, including your tablet computers, video game consoles, and even your touch screen phone. 

The second thing that I figured out was that I needed more than one.  You see, I ordered the cheapest one from Amazon.com, and I was constantly misplacing the thing!  (So, my advice to you, is to get the three pack!  I’ve already ordered more myself.)

Regardless, a stylus is so handy to use with your tablet, you’ll wonder why they don’t just come with one!

 

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Kindle Fire Headphones

by: admin - Filed under: Kindle Accessories

One of the most important accessories that I ended up purchasing for my Kindle Fire turned out to be the headphones to listen to the music and movies that I constantly stream whenever I am using my tablet.

[easyazon-image-link asin="B005VEZ58C" alt="JBuds J5 Earbud-style Metal Headphones for iPod, iPad, Tablet, Kindle (Black Pearl)" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NBEbvaUmL._SL500_.jpg" align="left" width="250" height="250"]At first, I just used a set that I had laying around the house, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I left the pair I had been using at my parents’ home over the Thanksgiving holiday.  So, the first thing I did when I got home Saturday night was to log on to Amazon.com and find another pair! 

While there are lots of options, and there are many much less expensive than these, I decided upon the JBuds J5 Earbud-style Metal Headphones for iPod, iPad, Tablet, Kindle (Black Pearl), because the description indicated that these headphones offered exactly what I was looking for, at a price that was reasonable. 

With my Amazon Prime plan, the headphones arrived yesterday, so I could go back to enjoying my nightly ritual of streaming an episode of Lost from Amazon, without driving other people crazy while I watched the show on my Kindle Fire. 

Out of the box, the JBuds plugged right into my Kindle Fire, and I put them on…talk about a soft, comfortable fit in my ears!  I usually don’t like ear buds because they “bug” me…but these feel as soft as cotton in my ears.  More importantly, the sound quality is not nearly as tinny as some earbuds that I have tried.  The J5′s titanium micro drivers actually deliver an incredibly smooth and consistent response across the entire frequency curve, from deep, rich bass to full, luscious mids and crisp, vibrant highs…which gives me great sound quality when I watch my show, and when I stream music!

And, since I am incredibly hard on little electronic items like this, I appreciate that the 45° angle jack offers me the strength of pure metal with the durability of firm flexing rubber, and that the lightweight cable is reinforced with Kevlar for optimum flexibility and strength.

Even better, these headphones are also compatible with other electronics that you might have in your home, such as: 

  • Tablets: Kindle Fire, iPad, Motorola Zoom, HP Touchpad, Asus EEE Pad, Acer Iconia, Toshiba Thrive, Coby Kyros, Viewsonic, Sony, Blackberry Playbook, Vizio, Archos, Android, Dell, T-Mobile, and other tablets*.
  • MP3 players: All iPods, Sansa, Sandisk, Coby, Archos, Sony, Creative, Sylvania, and others*.
  • eReaders: Kindle and others*
  • Computers: All laptops, notebooks, and desktops*

*JBuds are compatible with any portable devices with a standard 3.5 mm jack. Please check your device specifications or manufacturer for any further compatibility details.

Also available with an in-line microphone (J5M) for use with iPhone, Android, HTC, Blackberry, and other mobile phones, as well as tablets with VOIP apps, including Skype*.

So, what are you waiting for?  Accessorize your Kindle Fire with the JBuds J5 Earbud-style Metal Headphones today!

Price Disclaimer
Prices are accurate as of less than 12 hours ago. Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.
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Kindle Fire Case

by: admin - Filed under: Kindle Accessories

When I bought my Kindle Fire, I automatically purchased the Marware Lightweight case that was shown on the page with my Kindle Fire.  At that time the leather cases were not available, and I didn’t want to have the tablet without a case.  The leather case that I bought for my regular Kindle has saved my device many times.

Price Disclaimer
Prices are accurate as of less than 12 hours ago. Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.
I got the case a couple of days after I got the Kindle Fire in the mail.  Instead of the familiar Amazon box, it came in a padded envelope…a very light padded envelope. 

Of course, I immediately put the case on the Kindle Fire, and I have to admit, it looks and feels great!  The case is charcoal gray, has a rigid rear cover and foldable front cover.  It also has a little strap on the back that folds over the front to keep the screen covered when you’re not using the Kindle Fire.

Since I watch a lot of streaming video on my Kindle Fire, though, the one area that I count as a distinct shortfall is the ability to prop the display up on the lightweight case…for me, it just doesn’t work well, and the Kindle Fire is unstable when propped up this way. 

The back of the case seems to strain, and I suspect that it will not last near as long as the new leather cases that have recently been released.

Honestly, I guess that I was just spoiled by the quality of the leather case that I bought for my original Kindle…hence, I will most likely upgrade the case to the leather case that has now been released for the Kindle Fire.

Price Disclaimer
Prices are accurate as of less than 12 hours ago. Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.
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Do I Need to Get a Skin for My Kindle?

by: admin - Filed under: eReader News & Updates, Kindle Accessories, Kindle Covers

One of the newest accessories available for your Kindle is a “skin,” which is essentially a decal similar to the skins that are used to decorate laptops, video game consoles, etc. 

Price Disclaimer
Prices are accurate as of less than 12 hours ago. Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.
To answer the question, do you need a skin for your Kindle, the answer depends…

  • Do you already have a cover for your Kindle?
  • Is your Kindle showing a little wear (scratches on the back, etc.)?
  • Do you want to personalize your Kindle with a skin that represents your personality?

If your Kindle has a cover, you don’t actually “need” the skin, but if you’re a bit of an individualist, like me, then you might want a skin that reflects your personality…one reader described it as a window to the beach, where she could look and imagine the warmth on a cold day. 

Perhaps you like to read horror stories or thrillers, and want your Kindle to reflect that side of your personality….maybe you like Westerns…or SciFi…there are dozens of ways to personalize your Kindle.  A skin is simply another choice!

 

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Do I Need an eReader Stand?

by: admin - Filed under: eReaders, Kindle Accessories, nook Accessories, Reader Accessories

One of the first things that I ordered after ordering my Kindle was a stand to use when I wanted to read while doing something…

If you’re like me, you’re a multi-tasker…meaning that sometimes you read while you’re working out, while you’re eating (especially if it’s a night when you happen to be eating alone)… heck, I even read a little while I am drying my hair!   I read while I’m laying out in the sun on the beach….pretty much anywhere I am, I’ve got my Kindle.

Price Disclaimer
Prices are accurate as of less than 12 hours ago. Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.

That’s why, as soon as I got my Kindle, I turned around and ordered the stand.  Now, I can read whenever, wherever, and however I want.  AND I can read WHILE I am doing other things. 

Plus, when I am not reading with it, it’s the perfect place at home to store my Kindle – I always know where it is.

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Do I Need a Screen Protector for my eReader?

by: admin - Filed under: eReader Questions, Kindle Accessories

Amazon Kindle

A Screen Protector for my eReader:

Since my Amazon Kindle is now one of my most prized possessions, one of the first accessories that I bought was a clear screen protector for my eReader to keep the screen from getting scratched.  I figured it would be similar to the screen protector I keep on my Blackberry phone, and wouldn’t interfere with my reading experience any more than the one for my phone interferes with my making calls….

The first thing I noticed with the screen protectors for my eReader, when the 3 pack arrived, was that they were GLOSSY…not a good choice for covering the screen of something that you’ll be looking at in bright light, direct sunlight, even in dimmer light.  The glossy clear plastic actually takes away from the carefully crafted screen of the Kindle.  Still, I wanted to protect the screen on my eReader…so I took the first one out of the three pack that I ordered and proceeded to put it on the screen. 

The protector fits the screen perfectly, and it was double sided so that I could peel off the top cover once the bottom was firmly seated….the only problem that I had was that the top cover would not peel off as easily as it looked in the directions…I ended up peeling off the cover tab, but not the cover itself.  When I tried that, the whole thing came off and I ended up trashing cover number 1.

The second eReader screen protector went on a little easier and I managed to get the top cover off easily…however, under the cover were all these little pockets of air!  Now, they give you a little “tool” to remove these air bubbles, but I have to tell you, when I started using that little tool on my Amazon Kindle, the Kindle started acting really weird…waking up, restarting itself, and more! 

Finally, I get a few of the air bubbles out, and I sit down to read…  NOT GOOD!  The glossy screen protector that I bought for my eReader, coupled with a few remaining air bubbles, literally RUINED my reading experience.  Even worse, when I tried to get the cover off…I had a horrible time removing it and was really worried that I would ruin my Kindle. 

Conclusion About a Screen Protector for my eReader: 

I threw the third screen protector for my eReader away unused and ordered a nice leather cover.  Now, when I read, I just open the cover of my ereader and read through the screen as Amazon intended it to look in the first place.  Perhaps you might like a screen protector for your ereader…that is if you are more talented at putting the screen protector on your eReader than I was at putting a screen protector on my eReader!

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