Kindle Fire Tips: TODAY's Free Android App of the day Tuesday is "Daily Workouts" - normally $3.99. Amazon's new "Experimental Streaming Viewer" plays Flash video on some websites

The paid version of Daily Workouts app is free today ONLY, Tuesday, June 18

This is one in a series of Daily Workouts that target certain areas of the bod and is said to include most of the single-target exercises available in the other apps ("abs, arms, butt, cardio, legs"), except for the work with a ball and the yoga one.

You can choose to do a workout that'll take 5, 8, or 10 minutes and choose:
. a pre-set routine
. an exercise from the list or
. make your own full-body custom routine from the list

Each group of exercises has a looping video showing you how to do the exercise, and there are text instructions under the video describing the correct way to do the exercise -- things to remember. I have two 5-lb hand weights which of course will work the wrists, forearms, biceps, back, and shoulder muscles and I never knew exactly what might be the correct ways to use them.  This gives several good examples.

There's no background rhythmic music but I guess that if you need it, you can add appropriately bouncy music found online to loop before starting the workout.

Essentially, this is a combination of 5 separate $0.99 apps, including a free advertiser-supported one -- normally for $3.99 but free for today.  It works very well on my Kindle Fire HD 7" model.


Amazon quietly adds Experimental Streaming Viewer to recent Kindle Fire 2nd Gen and HD software updates
As explained in older blog articles linked below, Adobe withdrew support for its Flash Player from Android-based tablets and phones that use later operating systems.  The newer Adobe Flash Player files won't work with them, and that includes the Google Nexus and Samsung mobile devices.

  Some users have found that certain *older* Adobe files will work well with the later Android operating systems, and users have to find them via searching blogs and forums.

Now, Amazon has at least a partial solution -- and they describe the new streaming viewer feature on their WEB help area but did not mention this feature in the software update announcements probably because they'd rather people be watching Amazon Instant Video, since the tablet is sold mostly at cost with revenue coming from use of the tablet with Amazon-offered products and is also a very sophisticated e-reader.

However, when you read the below, be aware that no Android tablet I've heard of (let me know if there IS one) has a solution like this one to the no-flash-player support dilemma -- a built-in workaround with no work on the customer's part, as opposed to finding the right files and installing them to make it all happen.  A vendor would have to pay Adobe a special fee to offer on a mobile device (with later operating system) an authorized working Flash Player with a Flash-supporting web browser.

  I first saw this new web browsing feature mentioned on the Amazon Kindle Forums by Amazon Forum Pros Laura M. Dean and *~*Pineapple*~*

  In addition to the two blog articles (linked just below) on using certain older Adobe Flash Player files that have been found to work with Android-based tablets with later operating systems:

    How to install Flash Player on your Kindle Fire and
    How to install Non-Amazon Apps on your Kindle Fire,

  there are also other good ways to view (and download) YouTube videos -- my favorite apps for that are discussed in "Two favorite Kindle Fire apps: BSPlayer and Tubemate."

The first blog article link just above describes the method I've used, since September 2012, for watching full episodes of TV shows I've missed.  It's worked well, although the new, free ABCWatch app is now available for the Kindle Fire, but the app does NOT work quite as well as just viewing them on the web with Flash on the tablet when that was allowed by ABC.  Now ABC discourages the web method on an Android or Kindle Fire tablet.

However, Amazon's newer Experimental Streaming Viewer (explained at this link) is said by a customer service representative in a reply to forumner John K this way:

' I want to inform [you] that the Amazon Silk web browser on Kindle Fire 2nd Generation / HD doesn't support Flash, but some videos in the Silk browser can be viewed using the experimental streaming viewer.

  Compatible websites will display a notification at the bottom of the screen when Flash is detected.  Tap the notification to watch the video.  You can also tap the Menu icon at the bottom or right side of the screen, and then select "Open experimental viewer."

For the best video playback experience, confirm that you have a strong wireless connection.  Not all websites are compatible with the experimental streaming viewer and video playback quality may vary.

At this time, the experimental streaming viewer is optimized for videos only.

"Currently, we're working on the software updates, so that it can be supported by most of the websites. '

You do need the latest Kindle Fire software updates and
you need to enable "Accelerate page loading" setting in Amazon's Silk web browser menu to do this.

For any website pages that don't work with even the Experimental Streaming Viewer, you can use the workaround many of us have used described in the first blog article link mentioned above.  I've not found a website for which this workaround does not work.

  In the meantime, the new built-in streaming viewer is a more straightforward solution where it works, and Laura M. Dean said it worked for her for CBS, NBC and ABC's Flash where they don't redirect you to their new app when you ask for a full episode.  It's great that Amazon is working on this even though it involves watching video that's not on Amazon.

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!

Kindle Fire HD TIPS - How to Install Flash video player; Step-by-Step Guide; How to use Camera, Video, Panorama mode; app for WiFi transfers from/to computer to Kindle Fire

KINDLE FIRE TIPS

NOTE:  See "HOW TO INSTALL FLASH ON KINDLE FIRE HD" in the step-by-step version.

  In the end, it's also 'How to play Flash on Kindle Fire HD.'

  (The original non-HD version, with an older operating system can play Flash, as Adobe supports the older versions.)

Some of the answers below are solutions to questions asked in the forums.

Q: Why can't I zoom images with the Kindle Fire?
A: You can, on all the Kindle Fires.

  Long-press the Image and, after a couple of seconds, you'll get a popup with an option to "Zoom"   Click on that. If the image is in Landscape mode, rotate the KFire.  Then if you still can't see enough detail, pinch zoom to enlarge it, zooming-in even more for detail.

  NOTE: This also works for the Paperwhite and Kindle Touch except for the pinch-zoom.


Q: Why can't I play network TV (or, at times, Youtube) videos on Kindle Fire HD which are playable with the original Kindle Fire?
A: Although Adobe has ended support for Flash Player on mobile browsers, there are some browsers that support the final Flash Player file, still made available on some developer forums for devices like the Google Nexus and the Kindle Fire.  A few Youtube videos still need Flash to run (Les Miserables trailer was one.)

  Per Amazon's Kindle Forum discussions, users of the Google Nexus and Kindle Fire HD are using, as needed, older Adobe Flash files offered at XDA Developers Forum plus the Dolphin browser, which supports Adobe Flash while the last Adobe Flash update still works.

  When needing to see a video requiring Flash, you'd switch to Dolphin browser for that.  (It's been said that the Chrome mobile browser supports older flash files too, but I've not tried it.)

  A Setting that must be done before doing any of this
  Amazon allows users to choose to install apps from "unknown sources" and you can "enable" that (do this only with files recommended by people you trust) by going to the 'Home' screen and swiping down (lightly pressing and pulling down) from the top of the screen, to see the Quick Settings Menu; then click on "More" at the right, and go down that Settings list to "Device" to Check the box to allow installation of applications from 'unknown sources.'

  Also, when Android devices don't have rights to view some video material, the Dolphin browser has a "user agent" setting and you can then be seen by the video webpage as using an iPad or a Desktop instead, which usually solves the problem.  Remember to switch back to Android later.


Q: Why can't I use the front-facing camera for anything but Skype?
A: You can, as some popular apps can use the camera and there is a way to open or activate the camera via the versatile and free file manager app, ES File Explorer


There are many Kindle Fire apps that can use the camera as a secondary function, and Kindle owners have tended to recommend the Evernote or Facebook apps for this.  But that doesn't give you access to the several features and controls that are there.

Here's how to open the camera via ES File Explorer, once you've installed it.

  1.  Press Apps at the top of the Home screen (or find it in your Favorites
       if you made it a fave) and then click on the ES File Explorer to open it.
  2.  In the top row, click on AppMgr.
  3.  In the top row still, click on Category
  4.  Choose System apps button
  5.  Select camera
  6.  Choose Open

  And that's it!

You'll find yourself with a choice of
  1.   PANORAMA mode shooting (Yes! Works nicely too.)
  2.   NORMAL CAMERA shooting, with choice of scenes, exposure compensation,
        and type of white balance
  3.   VIDEO at 480p, 720p (DON'T use the 1080p one, it crashes)
        time lapse intervals; snd type of white balance
        (It can't do actual HD but it's decent.
         You can see his Skype image at the app page.

The camera's better than I had expected.  From what I've seen, it's just something under 1MB pixels but good enough for casual snapshots and videoclips (which are in MP4 format), considering it's a front-facing camera meant mainly for Skype video-chats.

When you're ready to shoot, including making a sweeping panorama, press the round red button.  For videos, it becomes a square red button that you push when ending the video.

After doing a brief videoclip almost in the dark, I tried pressing a button for 'BBC' to see what on earth that was for, and it offered to send my 'report' to the BBC.  Oh, I don't think so.

You can find the resulting photos and videos under ES Explorer's /sdcard/DCIM/Camera folder.

  I personally find it ultra awkward to shoot a scene or subject without being able to view it except to twist myself into a position to see the front of the tablet at the same time or view it while shooting behind me.  :-)  But it's doable if you really want to record the scene.


Q: Can I transfer files to and from the Kindle Fire HD without a cable?
A: Yes. With WiFi File Explorer PRO ($0.99), you're free of trying to find the cable and make the connections.

• Manage files between your Android device and computer without using a cable
• View and send photos and other files from your phone via a secure Wi-Fi connection
• See all files in a password-protected Web browser
• Stream music from your phone directly to your computer
• Configure port settings to your preferences

Amazon adds:

' When you open the app, it automatically detects nearby Wi-Fi networks and supplies you with a URL address to enter into the Web browser of your computer.   You'll also be prompted to enter a password (which you will create when you first begin using the app).

  Once your phone is connected to the Wi-Fi network, it's easy to go to the computer (which must also be connected to the network) and access the Web address. You'll find that your phone's files are there to be browsed, downloaded, or even streamed whenever you wish.

  In this PRO version, you can also upload, sync, delete, copy, and zip or unzip all the files on your Android phone and computer, which makes it a great overall file manager. '

The free version doesn't allow transfers TO the Kindle Fire, so paying the 99c should be worth it.  
  Be sure to turn off 'sharing' once any transfers are done.


Screen Captures
Remember that you can do a screenshot fairly easily.

---

RELATED posts on Kindle Fire HD 7" which relate also to the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" (descriptions of Kindle 7" features will apply to the HD 8.9" model also).

  . Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires (non-HD Kindle Fires have storage space limitations)
  . How to install Adobe Flash Player
  . Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire, via enabling one device setting
     Also, TubeMate app for Youtube will download videos to play on your Kindle Fire,
      and BSPlayer app will play almost ANY video format.
  . Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
  . Add Wi-Drive pocketable disk/stream'g for Kindle models
      and for other tablet or phone devices,
      or, Portable wireless 320G Patriot Gauntlet drive/stream'g for 7" & 8.9" devices.
  . App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button


Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!

Kindle Tips: Amazon FAQ on Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Fire HD - Update (re Special Offers opt-out)

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.
  I have a further question re the impact on network tv videos/re-runs but there are other options for those.]

Q: What languages do the new devices support?
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,  Newest: $1-$2, $2-$3

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,   99c Converter

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button
Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!

Why was Flash setting set to OFF with Kindle Fire's last Update with nothing said?

WHAT HAPPENED TO FLASH AFTER THE LAST KINDLE FIRE UPDATE?

BLOG UPDATE: - This situation was fixed with Kindle Fire Software Update v6.3 and that's detailed in the March 28 blog post about the software update.

[Earlier]
The most recent Kindle Fire update was January 18, and for some reason Amazon suddenly changed the FLASH (video and scripts) setting to OFF (not 'enabled') as the Default Option.

  They actually RENAMED the setting from "Enable Plug-ins" to the more understandable "Enable Flash" -- and then, they turned it *Off* as a default, leaving customers to flounder about wondering what to do to get it back.

  As a result, as they would know because they do monitor the forums, deleting posts that clearly don't follow board guidelines, the Amazon Kindle Forums have people asking, each and every single day since the latest update, essentially, "I can't see videos on web pages anymore! Can anyone help me?".
  I'm not exaggerating.  There's not a day missed that at least two people posting on the front page threads are upset or just plain angry that the video feature no longer works for web pages.  It's as if they had an iPad, which has this limitation intentionally.

  And who answers these perplexed customers who have wasted a lot of time trying to figure it out before coming to the forums.?  The other customers who hang out to help on the Amazon Kindle Community Forums.

Amazon has excellent phone support for Kindle customers but virtually zero customer-support help on their forums -- not even a boilerplate for a question like this that is asked daily.

  All this does is cause people to think something is wrong with the device, so what is Amazon thinking, to let this go on day after day?

  I realize Amazon is busy with many changes in a competitive business, but it's just Common Courtesy to let their customers know  1) what feature NO LONGER WORKS due to a change they intentionally made in an announced software update -- and  2) what the customer can do if they'd actually like it to work.

  As in, being able to see a video on a web page.  Elementary stuff.

  The ones most asked about are full TV videos from a prior night's prime-time show, at ABC or Fox that they used to be able to watch. But most news site videoclips are also done by Flash and won't work in this situation until you change a setting.

  Why would Amazon take an advertised feature, which they point out the iPad doesn't have but the Kindle Fire does, and suddenly set that feature to *Off*?? -- without any warning to the customers or, after the fact, even bothering to explain it to them when they see that this question is asked by obviously unhappy users each and every single day on their own Kindle forums?

  Amazon's taken pride, in the past, in their focus on making things easier and more intuitive for the customer.  Not in this case.

SIMPLE SOLUTION (if you know the problem is due to a setting and if you know where to find it)
  It's not simple for people new to the Kindle Fire or who are new to tablets and especially new to Android tablets or phones where one must figure out where a setting is, depending on which Android tablet or phone one has.

This specific setting is not in the usual (hidden) Settings Menu at the Top, which you can always get to by lightly touching the top edge in the left or center areas, which will then show it at the right as a 'gear' or 'wheel' icon.  That settings-menu that will appear across the top is for general settings like Volume, Brightness, and WiFi, etc., and "More" will get you, well, more options.

The Flash feature, though, used on web pages, is controlled by a WEB (or browser) setting (Amazon's web browser is called "Silk" but they often refer in wording to 'Silk' without explaining it refers to the WEB browser that comes with the Kindle Fire.

  STEPS

1. Lightly press the HOME icon at bottom left of your Kindle Fire to get to the Home page where the Carousel is (unless you're already there).
       Note that you may not see the Home icon there unless you lightly press the left (or center) TOP edge.  If you're reading a Kindle book, pressing anywhere on the screen except the sides (this would turn a page instead) will also bring up the Home icon and menu options.
   
   
2. Lightly press "Web" at top right menu to get the web browser.
   
   
3. At the bottom line, you'll then see, in the middle, something that looks like a a washboard, a ladder, or air conditioner.  That is probably meant to look like a Table of Contents, though this doesn't usually occur to us at first but that does make sense and is a regular Android feature.
   
   
4. Press that Menu option.
   
   
5. Choose "Settings" in the pop-up sub-menu, at the right.
   
   
6. Use your finger (or stylus) to move the list of settings UP ("swiping up") so that you can see what is lower down on the scrolling page of web browser settings.
   
   
7. Find, in the "Behavior" heading (the headings are in smaller fonts), the setting:
       "Enable Flash"
   
   
8. You'll have three choices: "Always on"   "On demand"   and "Off"

   Many of us choose "On demand" which means the Flash won't load and run until you press on a DOWN ARROW in the rectangular video frame to signal you want to run the Flash feature.
     This saves loading time if you don't want videos to run.
       I suspect Amazon turned it off to make the pages load faster, since people were saying page loads were slower than on an iPad, which doesn't recognize or run Flash at all.
   
     Flash videos on webpages are often ads and most of us would rather not see them.  So, we get a choice this way, and the DownArrow lets us know we can run a videoclip if we press that. (Lightest presses almost always work right away on this touch screen.)
   
     The "Always On" choice loads and runs Flash videos along with the loading of the basic webpage.  Some will prefer it, since they don't have to wait for the page to load (with the usual ads on these pages) and then make a 2nd movement to actually run the video.
   
     Few will choose to Not 'Enable' Flash.

So, that's all it takes.  Obviously, I feel Amazon should have explained this to Customers since they made a change that they knew would make a hugely important feature suddenly not work and then didn't explain it.


NOTE This blog keeps a boxed section for Kindle Support info such as phone numbers, user guides, software updates, ID'g Kindle Models (updated), etc.   That's at http://bit.ly/kworldsupport.



Kindle Touch 3G, US-only   Kindle Touch WiFi (US)   Kindle Touch WiFi-Only, outside US    Kindle Basic   (UK: KBasic)   Kindle Fire Kindle Keybd 3G   (UK: Kindle Keybd 3G)   K3 Special Offers   K3-3G Special Offers   DX

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published ones   Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1 UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones     Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.   *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!

UK Kindle someday + Kindle-Blackberry review + Apple-Adobe conflicts

Amazon to launch a non-import international launch for the Kindle, writes Martin Bryant for The Next Web, UK.  No date was given, but Amazon's Brian McBride "has confirmed that plans are definitely afoot for a proper international launch for the device."

' “Will Kindle become a bigger thing in the UK?  Absolutely, because we have not yet launched a UK version.” '

Instead of importing Kindles and paying higher prices for the books, Kindle owners in the UK would be able to buy locally.

  In the meantime, Apple is currently selling e-books only in the U.S.


KINDLE FOR BLACKBERRY REVIEW AND A WORKAROUND IF NEEDED
We already have a review of Kindle for Blackberry and a fix for a possible downloading problem, by James C. of Kindlelove.

While I will sum up what James says in the report, please go to the site for the full lowdown, well-written, and for Shortcuts that he has there for this app, as well as details of the fix for an app-download-to-Blackberry problem that some might encounter.

Basically, James finds that the Blackberry app loads quickly (2.5 seconds), the books open and download quickly, and you can select Fullscreen display by pressing 'F'...

There are 6 fonts available and James goes into detail re number of locations shown for each size.

Non-copyright-protected MOBI format files from other sources downloaded or transfered to the Blackberry do open in the Kindle app but they should, as that is the basic format that the Kindle uses.

"eBooks, calibre-created newspapers/magazines/blogs, Instapaper files—all work and include the navigable table of contents.  Hyperlinks open in the BlackBerry browser."

Again, go to the page for his clear instructions on what to do if this new app doesn't download to your Blackberry, giving instead an error message.


APPLE CHOOSES OWN DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT ("DRM") OVER ADOBE'S FOR "STANDARD" EPUB FORMAT
Computerworld's Eric Lai headline the other day was that Apple disses our DRM for iPad, Adobe says (and Adobe's Flash too).

Word has been that Apple Inc. will offer publishers its own FairPlay DRM technology to copy-protect iBooks for its iPad and this seems to confirm that.  FairPlay, a source told Computerworld, has been used by Apple to protect TV shows and movies and was used until 2009 for songs sold via iTunes.

' ...But Apple's plan to use FairPlay instead of Adobe's flavor of copy protection will lock customers in to Apple's ecosystem, says [Nick Bogaty, senior business development manager at Adobe], as iPad owners will only be able to buy from Apple's iBookstore, and will not be able to transfer their purchases to other devices.

"With iBooks, there's no freedom of choice," he said. [That's the complaint some have lodged against Amazon's kindle format.]

While Adobe's flavor of DRM isn't an official standard, it's widespread enough, argues Bogaty, that consumers will "be able to use any e-reader they want, and purchase from any point of sale that uses [Adobe] Content Server."
  ...
Opponents of copy protection for e-books decry Apple's use of digital locks. "[FairPlay] is another in a varied number of DRM schemes that will ultimately confuse the consumer and harm e-book adoption," said Paul Biba, editor of the e-book blog TeleRead. '

Apple's Steve Jobs has refused to include support for Adobe's Flash, despite its use all over the Web, which led some to wonder how he could promise at the iPad launch "the best" web browsing experience you've ever had, since it will be displaying empty rectangles where flash videos are (ESPN, Hulu, JibJab etc.)
  There can be workarounds with apps created for that and also with the increasing use of HTML5 in place of or in addition to Flash (which Jobs and others consider bloated and buggy).

' ...Apple blocks the Safari Web browser for the iPhone and iPad from using any plug-ins but Apple's own Quicktime and Preview (for PDFs). That keeps out Flash, Windows Media Player, RealPlayer and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

That's despite claims by Adobe that 7 million people hit its Web site in December alone looking to download a Flash player for their iPhone.

Bogaty says that while e-books that contain interactive elements such as Flash videos might not play fully on the iPad, they should still be able to sell via the iBooks app.  Readers will see a static screenshot of the video, he said, while the text will be unaffected. '

There are solutions for Flash video support in e-books and publications though, as detailed in the article.  Flash-enabled publications would be sold through the App store.

' The advantage is that it will let the Times and Wired directly track what customers are reading.
[ Oh, that's nice, and Plastic Logic's Que is planning that too.. ]

Such usage data is key for newspapers and magazines, who can use it to more effectively demonstrate to advertisers the value of the space for sale in their publications.

Such data would be harder to get if they were sold via the iBooks app's digital newsstand, something those publishers already fear, the Financial Times reported earlier this week. '

Below are ways to Share this post if you'd like others to see it.
-- The Send to Kindle button works well only on Firefox currently.

Send to Kindle

(Older posts have older Kindle model info. For latest models, see CURRENT KINDLES page. )
If interested, you can also follow my add'l blog-related news at Facebook and Twitter
Questions & feedback are welcome in the Comment areas (tho' spam is deleted). Thanks!