Other Uses for Kindle Fire

by: admin - Filed under: Amazon Kindle

With this past weekend being the Thanksgiving holiday, our entire family got together… of course, we ate tons of food, we visited with each other as many of us hadn’t seen each other in months, and we played games, watched television, and much more. 

But, the biggest ‘hit” of the weekend was, without a doubt, my Kindle Fire.  While I’m not the first in the family to get a tablet computer, I was the first to get the Fire, and literally everyone wanted to see it, and try it out. 

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7My mother, who is addicted to casino style computer games, spent literally hours playing on several different slot machine apps that I downloaded for her. 

My father, who loves to read and plays music, enjoyed the piano player app, and tried out the reading part of the Kindle Fire.

My nephew and his fiance, who are college students, tried out the display and reader to see if they could save money on their college textbooks… (they could)

My brother in law, who is an IT guy and has both a Kindle and an iPad, tried it out to see how well it compared, pricewise and feature wise.  It held up to his expectations!

My nieces, one 11 and one 17, both tried out the games (bejeweled was a favorite), and the streaming music and video…now, of course, both of them have added it to their list for Santa.  Even Santa himself liked the Kindle Fire when he arrived ;)

Overall, the Kindle Fire was a huge hit over the holiday… the only downside…  I never got to use it!  Someone else ALWAYS had my Kindle Fire.  I predict that there will be a lot of Kindle Fire tablets under our family Christmas tree this year…

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Kindle Fire Video

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

Last night, rather than read while laying in bed, I decided to try out Kindle Fire‘s video capabilities, and my free month of the Amazon Prime membership that came with Kindle Fire.

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7It’s actually pretty easy to find something to watch on Amazon Prime… you just go to the video “store” and find what you want to watch.  Off to the right, it tells you if it’s available on your Amazon Prime membership.  After scrolling through a couple of different options…movies and television shows, I settled on watching the pilot for the show, “Lost.”

This was a show that I always intended to watch when it was on television, but never actually got around to doing so.  Regular television is hard for me, because I almost never watch television, and even then, rarely keep up with an actual show that is on once a week or something.  So, the option to choose the show and watch it when I want to is very appealing to me.

Once I selected the show “Lost,” the menu expanded to show me all six seasons.  Tap again, and then you can scroll through the episodes.  I chose the pilot since I had never actually seen the show.  Tap, and the show starts. It really is that easy!

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with the streaming video on Kindle Fire, but as usual, Amazon delivered a high quality picture with none of the pauses, screen freezes, or audio/video lapses that I have seen on other devices, including my high end laptop!

Did the small screen size bother me?  Honestly, at first it did, but as you’re drawn into the show, you do tend to forget the screen size.  And the crisp, clear, high definition display definitely ensures that you don’t miss out on the details!

Want to pause the action?  Tap the screen.  You can even turn off Kindle Fire and not lose your place…Kindle Fire puts the show on your recently used apps shelf, and when you go back to the video, you can resume right where you left off.

Maybe I’m behind on technology?  Maybe all devices of this type do this?   But, if you’re looking for an excellent video experience, with lots of selections, and that’s EASY…you definitely want to get a Kindle Fire!

 

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Buy Your Kindle at Walmart or Direct From Amazon?

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

With yesterday’s announcement that Amazon.com will be selling the entire family of Kindle eReaders in retail stores throughout the country, you might be tempted to buy your Kindle at Walmart, Target, or Best Buy instead of direct from Amazon.com.  Is that necessarily the best choice?

Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6Although it may surprize you, Kindle has been available at Target stores for some time, however, there are real reasons why you may want to consider ordering your Kindle or Kindle Fire direct from Amazon.com, instead of just running to your local big box retailer to pick one up. 

First and foremost, when you order your Kindle direct from Amazon, you’re cutting out the middle man.  Although the pricing is the same, having your Kindle shipped direct from Amazon ensures that you are getting the most recent version of the software.  Models sold in stores may have been on the shelf for a few weeks or even months, and may not have the most current release preloaded.  While it’s no problem to update the software once you get it out of the box, and in fact, Kindle does it automatically, I would just prefer to have the lastest version when I open the box.

Secondly, if you order your Kindle online, depending on where you live, you may not have to pay a state or local sales tax on your Kindle.  Some states charge nearly 10% sales tax, which can add as much as 19.90 to the purchase of a Kindle Fire.  Ordering it online may actually save you money.

And finally, perhaps the biggest reason to order directly from Amazon is that, should you ever have a problem with your Kindle, Amazon will have a record of your order, date purchased, etc., and it will be far easier to get the support that you need to resolve a problem. 

Yes, you may have to wait a couple of days to get your Kindle when you order direct from Amazon, but in the long run, it may be well worth the wait.  Instant gratification is not always the best way to go, especially when shopping for eReaders.

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Kindle Fire vs. Nook Tablet

by: admin - Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble nook, eReader News & Updates

Yesterday, Barnes & Noble announced a new $249.00 Nook tablet…it features a 7″ color touchscreen, comes preloaded with Netflix and Hulu, and is set to take on the Kindle Fire.  Will it be able to steal Kindle’s Fire?

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7Frankly, I just don’t see that happening.  Already the reviews on the new Nook tablet are lukewarm…no one’s really singing the praises.  No real innovation has been mentioned.  In short, the Nook tablet will likely appeal to current Nook owners,  and loyal Barnes & Noble shoppers, but it will not be able to compete with the Kindle Fire. 

Why?  Well, to be honest, at the price point of $249.00, compared to Kindle Fire‘s $199.00 price point, more people will choose Kindle Fire without even comparing the two.  And, once they do compare them, there will really be no question…Amazon’s offering one year’s membership to their Amazon Prime program with the $199.00 Kindle Fire, and this membership INCLUDES streaming video, music, and access to Amazon’s new lending library for Kindle books.  That alone means a huge savings for most tablet owners…with the price of the average book around $9.99, your Prime membership quickly saves you money on the latest books, movies, and more.

Frankly, with all that Amazon is offering with the Kindle Fire, I cannot even imagine that anyone would seriously consider buying any other comparable tablet over the Kindle Fire.

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Amazon’s Own Library!

by: admin - Filed under: Amazon Kindle

Now THIS is innovation in customer service…and if it doesn’t convince you to buy a Kindle Fire Tablet or Kindle eReader, nothing will!

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi List Price: $199.00 Price: $199.00 Read Reviews Buy Now

Direct from Amazon’s site:

“Dear Customers,
     Today we’re announcing a new benefit for Kindle owners with an Amazon Prime membership: the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.
     Kindle owners can now choose from thousands of books to borrow for free, including over 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers — as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates. No other e-reader or ebook store offers such a service.
     The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library features a wide array of popular titles, including Water for Elephants, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, and Fast Food Nation – plus award-winning novels such as The Finkler Question, motivational books like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, biographies and memoirs including Kitchen Confidential, and Pulitzer Prize-winning books like Guns, Germs, and Steel.
     We’re adding the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library to Prime membership at no extra cost — Amazon Prime remains just $79 a year, which gives you free two-day shipping on millions of products, plus unlimited instant streaming of almost 13,000 movies and TV shows. 
     If you’re a Kindle owner with Prime, you can start borrowing books today. If you don’t yet have a Kindle, our all-new Kindle family is available from just $79.
     We’re working hard to continuously drive even more value for Kindle owners. We hope you enjoy the new library — happy borrowing.

 

Jeff Bezos
Founder & CEO”
 

Now, this is a new development in the entire eReader experience!

Visit Amazon.com today to get your Kindle Fire or Kindle Touch eReader and start reading best sellers for just pennies a day.

 

 

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Why I Keep Using My Kindle

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

You know, the one question that people ask me most when they find out exactly how many eReaders and tablet computers I have bought, reviewed, and actually keep laying around, is why they still see me dragging my Amazon Kindle with me whenever I go somewhere, or why it’s laying around the house when I’ve been reading a book.   “Why don’t you just use your tablet to read, too?”  is the question they invariably ask…except for my techie brother-in-law, that is. 

Kindle 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6When we recently took a family vacation to Texas, not only did I bring only my Kindle for reading, but so did he.  Of course, being the geeks that we are in my family, we discussed why neither of us brought a tablet computer, and neither of us brought a laptop…and the concensus was, simply this.  For the best reading experience, absolutely nothing beats the Amazon Kindle. 

Unlike tablet computers, the Kindle isn’t backlit, and you don’t accidentally hit the wrong button on the touchscreen, thereby loosing your place in the book that you’re currently reading.   The Amazon Kindle, with it’s eInk display, and manual page turning buttons on the sides, actually functions better as an eReader than any tablet computer on the market.  And, if you want to just read a book, there is no better device. 

So, yes, while I use one of my tablets whenever I want to search the web, update my Facebook status, or play a quick game of scrabble on Pogo.com, when it comes to reading a book, it’s going to be a long time until I retire the one device that just feels right, looks right, and works right for reading. 

Just like it took some time for many of us to consider switching from real books to the Kindle, they are going to have to retire the Kindle completely before I will switch to reading on anything else.

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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. 

DecalGirl Kindle Skin (Fits Kindle Keyboard) El Paradiso (Matte Finish) List Price: $17.99 Read Reviews Buy Now

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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An Amazon Tablet?

by: admin - Filed under: Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad, eReader News & Updates, Tablet Computers

An Amazon Tablet?

Rumors in the tech sector have been flying for some time about the possibility of Amazon releasing a tablet that will run the Android operating system…apparently those rumors are true!

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Amazon plans to release their own Android based tablet this fall (just in time for the Christmas shopping season!), however, the first generation may not be much competition for the iPad so much as a step towards taking the market away from Google.

Here’s what we know so far about the Amazon tablet:

  • It will have a 9 inch screen
  • It will run a version of Android
  • It probably won’t have a camera

And, this version won’t be designed by Amazon.  Instead, the design and manufacturing of Amazon’s first generation tablet has been outsourced to quickly gain a foothold in the market.  Amazon’s own version, which they ARE designing themselves will reportedly be released next year.

So, is the Amazon tablet an iPad killer? 

Is it even a competitor?  Considering that Apple has a corner on the tablet market that no one has really touched right now, Amazon might be able to compete if their tablet is extremely cheap, and that’s going to be very difficult to accomplish if the technology is to compare with the iPad or other similar tablets on the market.

Still, even if Amazon releases a reasonably inexpensive tablet this fall, would you buy one instead of an iPad?  Maybe.  And again maybe not. After all, this is Amazon’s first tablet, and unless there’s something pretty spectacular about it, it likely won’t be any more of a threat to the iPad than the other tablets…why?  Because there are typically two types of customers.  Apple customers, whom you can’t convince to try any other device, and those who aren’t Apple customers, who probably won’t try the  Apple device. 

Who Should Really Be Worried About Amazon’s Tablet

Either way, an Amazon tablet should be of more concern to Barnes & Noble and to Google, who have both recently released eReaders to directly compete with the Kindle, because Amazon’s tablet will undoubtedly ship with Amazon’s stores pre-installed, meaning customers can access Amazon’s movies, music, books, and much more…all with a single touch.

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Kindle Strikes Back at Google eReader

by: admin - Filed under: Amazon Kindle, eReader News & Updates, eReaders

Amazon Kindle 3G with Special OffersJust in…Amazon strikes back at Google’s release of their own branded eReader this coming Saturday with a price drop on the 3G version of it’s Amazon Kindle, now with special offers! 

Just like the wifi version that’s available for $114.00, the 3G version of the Kindle featuring the special offers will feature non-intrusive, tasteful advertisements for major brands.  And, even better, there’s a $50.00 price drop, bringing the price down to $139.00!

This definitely provides stiff competition to Google’s release of the iRivier Story eReader, offering a WiFi only version. 

What do you think…will this make you decide to purchase the Kindle, a trusted device, with a proven record, or will you go for the newly released Google eReader?

 

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Kindle Samples

by: admin - Filed under: Amazon Kindle, eReader News & Updates, Interesting Reads

How many times have you bought a book that looked or sounded good, only to find that you had to “wade” through the book because you didn’t like the author’s style of writing, or because the storyline was not the way that it sounded on the cover?  Or even because you just didn’t like the pace or tone of the story?

Kindle Keyboard, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers Read Reviews Buy Now

One of the best things that comes with your Amazon Kindle and the access to the Kindle store is the ability to download samples of nearly all the books!  I don’t know if you’re like me, but when I find a new author, or hear about a new book, that intrigues me, I like to actually look at the book before I buy it.  With my Kindle, I can not only look inside the book, but I can also download the first chapter or two and actually read a portion of the book before I buy it.

For me, this especially works well when I find a new author that I am interested in reading, but I’m just not sure yet that I will like the author’s writing style, or even the storyline itself.  If I do, then I buy the book, if not…then I haven’t wasted my money!

After all, it’s true that you can’t judge a book by what’s written on the cover!

Visit the Kindle store now to see how you can sample ALL your books before you buy ‘em.

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