Did anyone notice the Sorting by "Length"? I hadn't, and did find it an amusing category. As mentioned, Collections are not a sorting category on the new Kindle Fires either.
I do like the new "Time to Read" feature, for the Kindle Paperwhite model, which tracks your reading speed and tells you, at bottom left, how much time it might take you to finish the chapter based on that speed tracking.
Before writing about a couple of more aspects I'd discovered the last 15 hours and a couple of answers I received, here's -- for easy reading, especially for Kindle Edition blog subscribers (UK version) -- a quoting of the new Amazon FAQ about the latest Kindles. This FAQ was posted on the Kindle forum, since these are official answers to questions many have been asking and they hope for widest reading. I'll add bolding of certain points.
' Initial post: Sep 7, 2012 4:08:15 PM PDT
Last edited by the author 4 hours ago
Kevin G. - Community Manager says:
We have seen lots of questions around the new Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Fire, and Kindle Fire HD devices. Here are some of the more commonly asked questions with answers!
Q: Does the Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD support TTS (Text-to-Speech)?
A: The new Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HD 8.9" support TTS in books where this feature is enabled. They also support Audible books for a rich narrated version of the book, and Immersion Reading which is like Text to Speech but with the rich narration of an Audible book.
Q: Do I have to purchase a Kindle PowerFast charging accessory to charge the Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD?
A: No. Kindle Fire HD comes with a USB 2.0 (micro-B connector), which you can connect to your computer to charge your device. If you own a USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) from a Kindle Fire 1st gen tablet, it may be used to charge your new Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD as well. We recommend against using other USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) charging cables as they may or may not work and run the risk of damaging your device. The Kindle PowerFast charging accessory will charge the Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD faster than charging from USB.
Q: Can I transfer my existing Kindle content (including apps, E books, and movies) from my old Kindle device to Kindle Paperwhite or Kindle Fire HD?
A: Yes, all of your past Amazon digital purchases are automatically backed up in the Amazon Cloud so you can re-download them to your new Kindle or Kindle Fire anytime. When you receive your new device, you can download them from the cloud straight to the new device.
Q: Who is the carrier for the 4G service on the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G?
A: AT&T.
Q: What data plans are available for the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G? What happens if I exceed the 250 MB monthly limit on my Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G?
A: We will be sharing more information about the data plans for the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G in the coming weeks, stay tuned for more information!
Q: Can I trade or exchange in my old Kindle for a new one?
A: To learn how to submit a trade-in order for your Kindle please visit this Help page
Q: When will these new devices be available outside of the US?
A: The new Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD will be available on Amazon's international sites in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy and France later this year. For more information about international availability, please visit the Amazon site for your country.
Q: Will it be possible to buy a version of the new devices without Special Offers? Can I remove Special Offers at a later date?
A: We are only offering these devices with Special Offers enabled. By delivering these offers to your Kindle Fire, Amazon is able to sell it for a lower price. Special Offers cannot be removed from the Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, and Kindle Fire HD 8.9".
{Blog update: At ~8PM, Amazon decided to offer an opt-out choice
and updated their FAQ.}
A: For Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD there will be a special offers opt-out option for $15. Customers can do this from "Manage Your Kindle" on http://amazon.com after they have registered their Kindle Fire. We know from our Kindle reader line that customers love our special offers and very few people choose to opt out. We're happy to offer customers the choice.
Q: Does the Kindle Fire HD have a built in microphone?
A: Yes! You can see all the audio information for each device on their product pages.
Q: I purchased a Kindle Fire in the last 30 days? Can I return it for a new Kindle Fire HD?
A: You can return a new Kindle Fire you purchased or received as a gift within 30 days of the day you received the shipment. It must be in new condition and returned with all the original packaging but it is okay if the box has been opened. You can return it by visiting our Online Returns Center
Q: Will Adobe® Flash® Player function on the new Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD?
A: No, this is not supported.[Note by Andrys: Adobe is dropping support for Flash on mobile browsers, but I was told that Youtube uses a different implementation and that it works well on Kindle Fire HD.Q: What languages do the new devices support?
I have a further question re the impact on network tv videos/re-runs but there are other options for those.]
A: The new Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HD 8.9 will support English UK, French, German, Spanish, and Italian when released in those countries. This support will also be available on devices sold in the US at that time. '
Will be back with another post on more unusual details late afternoon or late evening.
See NOTES, tips, and cautions with basic details on new Kindle models
For daily free ebooks, check the following links:
| Temporarily-free books - Non-classics USA: by: Publication Date Bestselling High-ratings UK: PubDate Popular The Kindle Daily Deal What is 3G? and "WiFi"? Battery Care Highly-rated under $1, | Most Popular Free K-Books U.S. & Int'l (NOT UK): Top 100 free UK-Only: Top 100 free USEFUL for your Kindle Keyboard(U.S. only, currently): 99c Notepad 1.1, 99c Calculator, 99c Calendar, |
No international availability for Kindle Paperwhite! As a French owner of a Kindle, I feel that Amazon look at me as a second-class customer and I am very angry. I'll look for solutions outside the Amazon ecosystem.
ReplyDeleteGood post. The Paperwhite model looks promising but the 3G version is disappointing because the 3G will only allow Amazon and Wikipedia. My older Kindle 3/Keyboard has been a great companion BECAUSE it allows me to check email while traveling and able to avoid expensive hotel WiFi/Internet charges.
ReplyDeleteMy wish for future Paperwhite model:
* add audio (for Audible)
* add page turn buttons
* collections
* improved way to move between chapters (on my K3 this is easy by using the right/left button)
Fabien, I'd be highly disappointed too, though I don't think Amazon looks at it quite that way. It's a US company whose first shipments and features have always been for those who are US residents. There's more programming involved (and their e-reader is very much networked and sync'd with other devices rather than being just stand-alone readers, so it's complex and they seem to be working on many things at a time.
ReplyDeleteAs you saw, they're readying the Kindle Fires for Europe. But, if they're not saying anything about the Paperwhite model at this point, yes, I'd look for a front-lit model from another company too if that is important to me. I'm very happy with both the Kindle 3G keyboard and the Kindle Touch and haven't ordered a Paperwhite yet. It's very nice and beautifully done, but it's not something I've needed, and the only reason I would get one is because I have to explain some of its workings for the blog.