Kindle Fire, Three Months Later

So, it’s been three months since my Kindle Fire arrived at my doorstep…do I regret the purchase?  

[easyazon-image-link asin="B0051VVOB2" alt="Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Xx9W8gdRL._SL500_.jpg" align="left" width="400" height="400"]

Absolutely not! So far, my Kindle Fire has been an endless source of entertainment.  With my  Amazon Prime membership, I’ve been able to watch literally hours of streaming video, and borrow books from the Amazon Owner’s Lending Library.  Since purchasing my Kindle Fire, I have bought three books, at a total of less than $10.00 for all three.

One thing with any version of the Kindle that I really like, is the Amazon bookstore.  Not only are all of the new releases by the biggest authors available, but there are also lots of free books, and books that sell for anywhere from $.99 to $3.99 by lesser know authors.  And, don’t make the mistake of thinking these are all duds…some of these authors have genuine talent and write very well!  I’ve been impressed with many of the free or nearly free books!  (And, honestly, there have been a few that I didn’t finish, but that is to be expected with ANY book, especially if you’re a voracious reader like I am.)

And, I use my Kindle Fire for more than just reading.  I use it to surf the web, update my Facebook status, read my email, and play games, too.  Especially when I am away from home, my Kindle Fire is invaluable to me.  I can just jump on any WiFi, and I’m in business!

Did I accessorize my Kindle Fire?  Yes – I bought a black leather case, a stylus, and a decent set of headphones, all for less than $50.00, and these three things have increased my enjoyment of the Kindle three fold.  While you can get by without the accessories, you’ll be amazed at how handy they actually come in.

 

Google vs. Kindle?

Coming Sunday at Target:  The $139.99 iriver Story HD, a Google branded eReader, is all set to take on Amazon’s Kindle!  Side by side, the devices are very similar in appearance…both are Wi-Fi enabled, both have a 6″ eInk screen, and both have a Qwerty keyboard.  But that may be where the similarity ends.  Beacuse the iriver Story HD is the first eReader integrated with the Google eBooks platform.

Can Google compete with the dozens of digital readers already on the market?  Even more importantly, can it take down Kindle and Nook? 

 

Thinner, Faster iPad on the Way!

iPad 2

PC Magazine:  Apple on Wednesday finally unveiled its next-generation tablet, dubbed the iPad 2. The device is 33 percent thinner, runs a new A5 chip, and will come in white, Apple said.

The iPad 2 will start shipping on March 11 in the U.S., and on March 25 in 26 additional countries. Like the original iPad, pricing will start at $499 for the Wi-Fi-only 16GB. The 32GB Wi-Fi iPad 2 will be $599, and the 64GB will be $699. For Wi-Fi+3G, the 16GB will be $629, the 32GB will be $729, and the 64GB will be $829.

Read the rest of this article at PC Magazine: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381259,00.asp

Coming soon:  Watch for our upcoming review of the iPad 2 as an eReader!

New e-readers storm into ‘exploding’ market

Amazon Kindle: a cheaper Wi-Fi version to ship this month.
Amazon Kindle: a cheaper Wi-Fi version to ship this month.  Online retailer Amazon has introduced a cut price Kindle into the sizzling e-reader space to help fend off new entrants now flocking into the market.

The e-book market has shifted dramatically since the Kindle first arrived here last year, with new devices being launched at almost every conceivable price point.

The cheaper Wi-Fi version of the Kindle, costing $US139 will officially go on sale on August 27, and is available to pre-order now though the Amazon online store… (read more)

(For complete article, visit Digital Life)

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WooHoo! Kindle for $139.00!!!!!!!!!

Kindle Video

Keeping up with customer’s demands.  This is why Amazon’s Kindle continues to dominate the market!


Introducing the all new Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6″ Display, Graphite – Latest Generation

Kindle is our #1 bestselling item for two years running. It’s also the most-wished-for, most-gifted, and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon.


Price: $139.00 FREE Two-Day Shipping from Amazon Details
  o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Pre-order now to ensure release date delivery.
Our all-new Kindle will be released on August 27th.
Ships from and sold by Amazon Digital Services. Gift Wrap available.

Nook Lite & Nook 2

This from Gizimodo today:

   

  This content is restricted.

Wi-Fi-Only Nook “Lite” Coming Soon, Nook 2 To Follow

Wi-Fi-Only Nook "Lite" Coming Soon, Nook 2 To Follow

 

We’re told that Barnes & Noble will be revealing some new products later this year: Nook 2 (“Project Encore”) and a Wi-Fi-only Nook Lite. Meanwhile, a software update that includes a full browser is supposed to hit next week.

Apparently both of the devices are due this year—we’re told that the Nook Lite will be on sale by the end of the second quarter. And while there are no details on the next generation Nook, we are told that the Nook Lite will be a Wi-Fi-only device and sell for $199.

The Nook v1.4 software update is apparently going to be available for download over Wi-Fi next week and will include a browser. [Thanks, Tipster!]

 

Kindle or iPad?

E-book advantages on the Kindle and the iPad

By The Associated Press (AP)

If you’re choosing between a Kindle or an iPad for reading electronic books, you might keep in mind some advantages of both products.

Kindle:

_ Lower price. ($259)

_ Light weight. (10.2 ounces. The iPad is 1.5 pounds.)

_ Can wirelessly download books any time, anywhere from Amazon’s Kindle Store without a monthly fee. The $499, entry-level iPad goes online only in Wi-Fi hot spots. Wireless connectivity anywhere requires an iPad that is $629 and up, plus a monthly service fee.

_ Gray-scale “e-ink” screen that can be read in direct sunlight.

_ Battery lasts up to a week with wireless connection on, or two weeks with it off.

iPad:

_ LCD color touch screen is 9.7 inches diagonally, compared with 6 inches on the Kindle. That can give a more complete Web-surfing experience.

_ It also functions as an iPod and video player.

_ It can download music and videos from Apple’s iTunes Store and games and applications from its App Store — including e-reading apps from Apple and other companies, such as Amazon.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Alex, the Google Android-Based eReader

Alex

On October 19, Spring Design announced Alex™, the first eReader based on Google Android, and featuring full browser capabilities and a patented dual screen interaction technology, the Duet Navigator™. With multimedia links, Alex livens up text, adding a new dimension to your reading experience!  The dual-screen display design joins the efficiency of reading on a monochrome EPD (electronic paper display) screen with dynamic hyperlinked multimedia information and third party input on a secondary color LCD screen, opening a rich world of Internet content that will support the text on the main screen.

Alex is the first Google Android-based electronic reading device to provide full Internet browsing via Wi-Fi or mobile networks such as 3G, EVDO/CDMA and GSM. With dual-screen, multi-access capability, Alex provides the entire Web universe as a handy reference library, prompting users to delve into its vast information base to complement, clarify, and enhance what you are reading. A removable SD card provides extensive storage capability, allowing the expansion of text with multimedia “add on” editions.

Ideal for professional, educational and entertainment markets, Alex will transform the reader’s experience with images, videos and notes inserted as ‘Web grabs.’ You can even create your own images and notes and capture them to augment the original text. Or you can just “grab” relevant content with Link Notes™, an innovative multimedia authoring tool to enhance multimedia publishing.

“This is the start of a whole new experience of reading content on e-books, potentially igniting a whole new industry in multimedia e-book publishing for secondary authors to create supplementary content that is hyper linked to the text. We are bringing life to books with audio, video, and annotations,” said Dr. Priscilla Lu, CEO of Spring Design. “This gives readers the ability to fully leverage the resources on the Web, and the tools available in search engines to augment the reading experience.”

THIS ONE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR!!!!