A Kindle World blog

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Kindle Tips: Last full day on Amzn's 2-day holiday shipping schedule. Deals on Kindle accessories. Wireless bluetooth keyboards that work with Kindle Fire HD, portable tablet stands, expanded Kindle Daily Deal

Last days for Holiday Markdowns on Kindle accessories:

Amazon's pages have had these for awhile, in December, but today is the last day for the Prime program's free 2-day shipping for arrivals before Christmas. "Save up to 30%"

In addition to these special deals, I'll note some highly-rated but economical options for cases for Kindle Fire HD and for Kindle Paperwhite:

Roocase for Kindle Fire HD 7"

amCase leather case for Kindle Paperwhite

MoKo case for Kindle Paperwhite

Wireless Bluetooth Keyboards - for use with Kindle Fire HD models

Logitech Keybd for Android 3.0+ for Kindle Fire HD 7"

Motorola WirelessKeyboard

Trent Wireless Keybd

Logitech
There's also now a newer Logitech model that is also good for Windows8 and RT as well as Android, but I really like the concentration on Android-feature keys on the one specifically for Android 3.0 Plus.

There are no instructions (unless you go onto their web page) that alert you to the fact you need to press a button on the *back* of the keyboard in order to connect with another bluetooth device.

The stand for the Logitech is very stable for either Kindle Fire Hd 7" or 8.9" tablets and is also a hard-protective case when unfolded.

The older Logitech I bought offers a feature that the Motorola doesn't have -- the ability, when using Dolphin browser on the Kindle Fire HD, to edit with options of going to beginning or end of a line and movement by words. It also allows a direct move to the top or bottom of a page, using Ctrl and Alt keys.

Those editing key-combos don't work with the default 'Silk' browser though.
Here's a quick how-to on using non-Amazon apps on the Kindle Fire,

The function keys also provide PgDn & PgUp movement with the arrow keys.

Motorola
The Motorola Wireless Keyboard with trackpoint and Stand.

Here's the larger image showing the unusual number of keys for a light device. The Logitech is heavier but simpler and more straightforward (and less expensive). They both make very fast typing possible.

The Motorola, with a central trackpoint and a full keypad, is expensive, but I bought it on Woot! a month ago for a one-day sale at $35 and the price has gone up at Amazon since then (Amazon owns Woot!), maybe because it's lighter than the Logitech and it has a tracking pointer and other unusual features.

Its cover/stand is usually a mystery at first, because it seems likely to break if you use force to open it, but force is what's needed and it's fine but is not the smoothest operation.

The little stand that the Motorola has is also, as mentioned, the cover and works better as a stand than expected but, being much less wide than the Logitech one, it doesn't provide as much support for the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" though I do use it for that often as it's easy to pick up and use for a smart phone too. The function keys on this Motorola (at least on mine) don't work for PgUp/PgDn though.

However, its trackpoint in the center (acting as a mouse) means I don't have to have the screen right by me to be touching it all the time, and the full bottom KeyPad with left and right mouse-clicker equivalents works well, working with both Windows and Android 3+.

New Trent
The New Trent iShuffle Multifunctional Wireless Bluetooth keyboard and stand combo works with iPad, Android, and Windows OS tablets, and the company claims it's the only keyboard with a "touch pad" compatible with Android and Windows Tablet and has three switchable models - iOS, Android, Windows. I have no experience with this one, but the pull-out number pad, which seems to also work as mouse/cursor support somehow, doesn't work with the Apple iOS devices.

Apple Wireless Keyboard
The Apple Wireless Keyboard is said to work well with the Kindle Fire HD also. Its function-based keys are geared toward Apple users, with Cmd rather than Ctrl and Option rather than Alt.

Small, Portable Stands
Here's the fairly popular Arkon Portable Fold-Up Stand, with 813 customer reviews as of today and an average of 4.8 stars,

Also, the Amazon Basics Mini Travel Stand, which costs less, with 99 ratings, averages 4.3 stars.

EXPANDED Kindle Daily Deal page
The Kindle Daily Deal now includes deals in genres such as daily romance and science fiction & fantasy.

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.
NOTES on newer Kindles.

US:
Updated Kindle Fire Basic 7" tablet - $159
Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB - $199/$249
Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16/32GB - $299/$369
Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G 32/64GB - $499/$599
Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $69/$89
Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $119/$139
Kindle Paperwhite, 3G - $179/$199
Kindle Keybd 3G - $139/$159, Free but slow web
Kindle DX - ~~$379~~ $299, Free, slow web

UK:
Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £69
Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - £89 Refurb'd
Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149
Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB
Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - £109
Kindle Paperwhite 3G, UK - £169
Kindle Fire 2, UK - £129
Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB, UK - £159/199

Canada - Amazon Canada
Kindle Basic, NoTouch - $89

OTHER International
Kindle NoTouch Basic - $89
Kindle Touch WiFi - $139
Kindle Keybd 3G - $189
Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB

France Boutique Kindle
Deutschland - Kindle Store
Italia - Kindle Store
Spain - Tienda Kindle
Brazil - Amazon Brazil

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.

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Kindle News: Story links - Amazon smartphone, Amazon China hurdles, new Instant Prime Video agreements, Instant Video app for iPhone, iPod touch, Cloud Player for Samsung Smart TVs and for Roku, EU price-fixing settlement

Since I don't blog about everything but do come across some stories that will be of interest to most readers here, I'll provide a listing of links to those from time to time.

Today's, with some catch-up involved

. CENS.com - "Foxconn Allegedly Manufacturing Amazon's Smartphone Model"
It wouldn't be ready until 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2013, at a price between US$100-$200. Details are at this Taiwan Economic News site.

. Morning Whistle reports that China officials are giving Amazon grief about the opening of its Kindle store there. The store, launched Dec 13, is operated by Chinese publishing organization ChineseAll.com -- so, it seems Amazon is using ChineseAll.com's licenses to operate its store, which is a no-no, "per an unnamed source in the publishing industry."

. Amazon announces an "exclusive content licensing agreement with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to add TNT drama series Falling Skies and the Warner Bros. Television-produced TNT series The Closer to its Prime Instant Video catalog," which will be appreciated by Prime members who will then get instant access to these titles at no additional cost.

That includes all seven seasons of The Closer plus the current as well as future seasons of Falling Skies on Prime Instant Video.

. "Customer Favorites: Best-Selling Books of 2012" page (or the latest one) was another announcement by Amazon. These include Adult plus Kids and Teens Kindle books.

. "Amazon Instant Video App Now Available for iPhone and iPod touch" -- it was ready for the iPad some time ago, and one hasn't been announced for Android so far.

. "Amazon Cloud Player App Comes to Samsung Smart TVs" -- good news for those of you who have one...

. "Amazon Cloud Player" Now Available for Roku Streaming Players"

. Mashable's Lauren Indvik on "EU Settles Price-Fixing Investigation with Apple, Publishers" (posted 3 days ago).
"Apple and four of the publishers -- that is, all but Penguin -- have agreed to terminate agency agreements that may have unfairly inflated the prices of e-books...The publishers have promised that retailers will have the freedom to discount e-books, subject to unidentified conditions, over the next two years."
The settlement was accepted Thursday.

. Apple customers elated over Google Maps being available on iPhone again after much unhappiness with Apple Maps.

Note that owners of Kindle Fire HD and Basic Kindle Fire can also put Google Maps on their tablets (but on the Basic Kindle Fire (non-HD), this would depend on how much storage space is left since that tablet has less storage space and also less memory to handle processing of movement around complex maps).

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.
NOTES on newer Kindles.

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Kindle tips: Avoid Google Earth v7.0.2.x (slow). 320GB portable wireless drive. Anti-Aging book free for 2 days. Boost speaker sound. Updated 7/11/13

Google Earth: San Francisco, on KFire HD 8.9"

Google Earth: Golden Gate Bridge, on KFire HD 8.9"

Google Earth: Golden Gate Bridge, on KFire HD 7"

Earlier I'd shown images of Google Maps, Street View, and Google Earth, on my Kindle Fire HD 7" and 8.9" tablets.
That was mainly to illustrate that tech-site reviewers who lament that the Kindle Fire tablets are limited to apps from the Amazon store, are 100% wrong and just have not actually looked at normal Android settings, which include enabling installation of non-Amazon apps if needed, by just marking a checkbox to turn 'On' the ability to install apps from 'unknown sources.'

That's right - you just go to other app-stores if an app you need is not at the Amazon store. Amazon ENABLED this feature. (Barnes and Noble does not allow it.)

However, a caution on the latest version of Google Earth (v7.0.2) It is SLOW, choppy, and useless on the Kindle Fire (one wonders if Google optimized it for their Nexus instead). While the second most recent update, v7.0.1.8239 runs very smoothly on both Kindle Fire HD's, the new v7.0.2 is just ridiculous, crashing all the time.

This latest unruly Google Earth update is affecting other Android devices in the same way, you'll see from feedback at googleplay if you go there.

Since the version from the last few months has been working well on the Kindle Fire HD's, I did a google search for that now older install-file and found it (the atest link I'm using was updated July 11, 2013 for this blog) at the ApkNew appstore, and after removing this week's new Earth update and installing this older file, things are good again.
( Link: bit.ly/g-earth-7018239 )

I went there while on the Kindle Fire HD and downloaded it directly, using the green Download offer in the right column, top (which worked better for me). Download it direct to your device. Unlike Google Play store, other app stores recognize the Kindle Fire.

As before, the following steps listed may help if you want apps from elsewhere (make sure they've been up for awhile w/o problems) but are uncertain about how to do this:

One click on one settings-box is all it takes.

It's much easier than people would guess. At the Top Row Toolbar of the Kindle Fire,
Swipe down to get Settings / More / Device / and then merely CHECK the box that says:
Allow Installation of Applications from unknown sources

That's it! Then you can go to other app stores that are recommended when Amazon does not have a particular app, such as 1mobile.com, androiddrawer.com, getjar.com, iapktop.com slideme.org, handango.com, and others, to find and download the app.

To install a non-Amazon downloaded app (by clicking on that downloaded file), use either ES File Explorer or Easy Installer from Amazon's Android App store. Easy Installer hunts down your downloaded app-install files (*.apk) so it's very useful if you can't find one that you know you downloaded.

I always recommend though that people wait a few days before getting apps from any other sites, to see if anyone is having problems with malware (even at Google Play market, when Google allows access, but Google doesn't acknowledge Kindle Fire devices). Google doesn't take the time to vet apps as Amazon does, to test for both malware or incompatability.

Amazon's appstore should be supported though
Of course, if Amazon carries the app, it's definitely best to get it from Amazon because they do a strong vetting of the apps they offer and because it's the way they make revenue from tablets sold at cost. They also keep it in your Amazon Cloud area, which is useful when you are getting another Kindle tablet or if you just need to re-install the file. I think it's important to support the Amazon Android app store, but I also think it's important that Amazon make more good apps available to us at a faster pace, and maybe they should have a suggestion box for the more popular requests.

The Keys to a Long Life: An Anti Aging Guide for both Men and Women - $0.00 until December 19, 2012.

"Explore anti aging nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. Learn about the best anti aging supplements to include in your diet to slow the aging process and promote health and wellness."

Caution for when it's no longer free: This was from a press release and looked like an interesting free book. However, most of the one-name reviewers have a history of only that one product review. I also see that two others sign off by promoting their own health product.

Patriot Gauntlet 320G Portable Wireless External Drive (PCGTW320S)
Newish, this small external drive has 320GB of add'l space and streaming to several devices at a time + sharing of Internet WiFi. Already it has 10 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5. That's mainly a heads-up. I use the pocketable or purseable Wi-Drive

Speaker Booster has been recommended by several at the Amazon Kindle Community Forums this week, and should be useful for the original basic Kindle Fire released a year ago, which had very low volume. It could be useful for other tablets also. I've tried it on the Kindle Fire 8.9", which has output not quite as strong as the 7" model but considered by many stronger than other tablets and it definitely boosts it.

However, in my hearing you hear quite a bit more treble than anything else, which at least means that in a movie, you'd hear the speech (or sibilants) better. Note that, for a Kindle Fire HD model, it is boosting frequencies while the Dolby is doing its own adjustments for that.

The app creator recommends not boosting the sound more than 40% (the basic double adjustment is reachable via the Navigation swipe-down), to prevent injuring your speakers or your ears (very important). I have my "maximum" set for anywhere from 20-50 and it does help, but it is not the most gorgeous sound. The normal volume will take the booster into account when you adjust that volume as usual.

However, it doesn't actually noticeably distort otherwise until past 60%, and I wouldn't go any higher. It's too easy to harm your ears with unnaturally high volume (and not pleasant to hear with that big a boost) when you have earbuds on and possibly even harm more fragile speakers on a tablet.

If you access this double volume control often to adjust it while in another app (like music), it can freeze on you. I had to go into the Kindle Fire Menu/Settings/Apps to find the Speaker Booster app and then do a 'Force Stop' on it twice. But if I don't overdo the adjustments while in another app, it has been ok. Mainly just do a max setting and then use only the normal volume control.

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Friday, December 14, 2012

Kindle News: Amazon Canada launches, Amazon China too

AMAZON CANADA LAUNCHES, FINALLY! and AMAZON CHINA gets a beta store

Canada
I first heard about Canada's Amazon store launch being imminent from Nate Hoffelder, who's also written about the China launch after being prepared for it since he noticed the Paperwhite's User Manual was available in Mandarin.

I see the basic Kindle is on sale on Amazon Canada's front page, though they direct the interested to Amazon U.S.'s International product page for Canada.

The wording, with no date on when it was posted, reads:

' Over 1,560,000 English-language books to choose from; plus U.S. and international newspapers and magazines are available for your country. Because publishers give us eBook rights on a country by country basis, available titles for your country will vary from our current U.S selection. We are actively working with publishers to get the rights to all titles for every country and adding this selection every day. Check the Kindle Store to see available titles.

Low Book Prices: New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases are $11.99, unless marked otherwise. You'll also find many books for less - over 135,000 titles are priced under $5.99 '

No app store or mention of Kindle Fire tablets. Also, the Kindle Paperwhite has a waiting period in the States (not in stock until Dec. 20 here), so that may be a reason it's not showing in the Canada store at this point.

China

The Kindle e-readers aren't being sold IN China or in the U.S. at this point! Below is what C/NET's Jeff Eisenhauer and Lance Whitney are seeing so far.

There are about 25,000 books, but Dangdang, a major retailer there, offers around 100,000.

Currently, in watching the forums, I've seen that consumers in China have bought Kindles from other countries, as C/NET writes.

While the Kindle Touch and Kindle Fire, as well as two other Kindle devices, did receive, Whitney says, regulatory approval from the State Radio Regulation of China (he cites Reuters), there are apparently some obstacles to these being ready right away, as I've read for the last few weeks.
`
Whitney adds that "Despite not having an official Kindle e-reader for the Chinese market, Amazon is encouraging customers to get the Kindle app for their iOS or Android mobile devices. Just don't expect to get the app through the Amazon website, since the Amazon app store is not yet available in China. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to put the app on the recently available iPhone 5 or iPad Mini."

In the meantime, U.S. residents can choose from approximately 1,480+ Kindle books in Chinese that are in the Foreign Language Books area of the U.S. store.

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

Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.

USEFUL for your Kindle Keyboard (U.S. only, currently):
99c Notepad 1.1, 99c Calculator,
99c Calendar, 99c Converter

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Update v7.2.3 for Kindle Fire HD 7-inch model

NEW SOFTWARE UPDATE v7.2.3 for the Kindle Fire HD 7" tablet - bug fixes and performance improvements

This blog entry also includes links to earlier articles with tips on how to add needed apps from other sources to the Kindle Fire plus Flash player work arounds, as well as some comparison reviews.

Commenter kindleowner alerted us to the update 7.23 received over-the-air by a few without a notice by Amazon the last two days. I saw an added post about it in the Kindle Community Forums Wednesday and one in Mobileread Forums quoting a poster in XDA Developer forums. But that was all I noticed as of early Thursday morning. Then kindleowner saw the update go live on the Amazon software page and let us know later Thursday morning (thank you!).

The new update -- v7.2.3 for Kindle Fire HD 7" -- will automatically download and install for most Kindle Fire customers. My Kindle Fire HD 7" is still on v7.2.2, and sync'g my device didn't seem to show an update file there that could be clicked on, but it takes a while to deliver these huge files and they're installed normally when the Kindle is not being used but WiFi is accessible.
UK Link is: Kindle Fire HD 7" v7.2.3, UK.

Amazon notes only that the update "includes bug fixes and performance improvements" and that, as usual, it will be delivered automatically via wireless.

However, one fix was noted yesterday:

' Posted on Dec 13, 2012 12:09:47 PM PST
Chuck1 says:
Just received the 7.2.3, and it fixed the "destroying of all my calender appointments" after each update..."'

Checking which software version you have.
I checked by swiping down my Top Menu, then clicking on "More" and then "Settings," where I looked at "Device," then "About" and saw that I still have System Version 7.2.2.
Since I am experiencing no problems with it, I might wait for it to be delivered automatically rather than get the file and manually install it.

For those who prefer to do the updates via USB cable because you don't have WiFi, the update files are at the Amazon server locations linked above.

IF Downloading Version 7.2.3

This update automatically downloads and installs for most Kindle Fire customers; however, you can initiate the software update from your Kindle or manually download the software update via USB (some use the excellent WiFi File Explorer PRO app rather than the USB cable hookup).

Again -- before you begin, confirm your current software version:

Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap More.
Tap Device, and then tap About.

The instructions for manually downloading, if needed, the update via USB are at the software update pages mentioned above. Most will find it more convenient to have it arrive via the automated download.

NOTE that when it does, your Kindle Fire will reboot and sometimes it does that twice, so don't be alarmed when it happens while it's idle and you're nearby.

EARLIER posts on Kindle Fire HD

. Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires (non-HD Kindle Fires have storage space limitations)
. More comparisons on iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD
. Basic Features Comparison Table for iPad mini, Google Nexus 7", Kindle Fire HD 7"
. Comparison reviews of the Kindle Fire HD 7" and Google Nexus 7" tablets
. Step-by-step guide for installing a working Adobe Flash player when needed.
. Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire, via enabling one device setting
. Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD
. Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
. App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Kindle Fire HD's HDMI-Out to HDTV - example. Friends + Family Gifting feature. Extended ordering & shipping schedule.

Kindle Fire HD's HDMI-out to HDTV
One of the features that the 7" and 8.9" Kindle Fire HD tablets have and which neither the Google Nexus nor Apple iPad mini offers is a simple, direct HDMI port that takes a microHDMI cable, which is then connected to the HDMI input of an HDTV so that you can show on that HDTV what you're seeing on your Kindle Fire HD.

I was able to just hook up the two end connectors and instantly saw the contents of whichever Kindle Fire HD tablet (KFHD) I was using, full screen, even the 7" tablet -- probably because my LG 22" HDTV (only $235 last year but now selling through others for more) in the computer space, is a 720p display (1080i). It likely wouldn't fill the screen of an HDTV screen with an 1080p display.

The image above is taken with a Sony RX100 camera in a room with no lights on, and so there's no TV frame shown, as the border around the KFire's ABC episode shown (from Castle with Nathan Fillion) is just a lighter black, so I trimmed the photo to show just the screen. I made a somewhat larger version, which shows the grid lines a bit. On the TV itself I see no grid lines, but in photographing it, these show up and it's difficult to do a good photo of screen output like this.

Also tried to video part of a Vimeo video timelapse I really like but was concerned about digital rights violations since my favorite one was taken off of Youtube for country-rights reasons. As for the HDMI-out feature, the plus (or minus) here is that everyone in the room can see whatever material you're seeing while surfing, including normal web pages and whatever video streaming there is. I haven't tried a Prime Instant video yet, as I had read some user reports that it didn't work with those, but I'll try it later today and add an update here. Have something else on right now.

UPDATE - Commenter JeffGr reported that during a recent hotel stay, he watched a Prime Instant movie from his 7" Kindle Fire HD on the hotel room HDTV via the tablet's micro-HDMI out and "it worked just fine."
Excellent news!

Here's the 10 feet micro HDMI to HDMI cable with Ethernet that I used (it went down $1 while I was typing this). It's by BlueRigger, and I chose it only because there was so much positive feedback for their cables and some had already used it for the Kindle Fire HD without any problems. It is problem-free for me - no fancy setups to be done, just a direct connection on each end. Of course this will work only if you have an HDMI connection freeable on your TV. (I've no idea if it works with a switch box for multiple inputs but I kind of doubt it.)

Updated 12/13/12 to add a link to the blog article on how to play Flash files on the Kindle Fires when Flash is required to play video as with many TV network past-episode site pages.

Amazon's new "Friends & Family Gifting" feature
This new feature will appeal mostly to those who like seeing personal recommendations when shopping Amazon. With 9 shopping days left, it'll also appeal to some who might like an organizational and reminder feature with links to the Amazon Wish Lists of potential giftees.

As is so prevalent these days, the connections involve both just adding names to a list on your own and/or using Facebook to add them. Personally, I link my social networks minimally, but many do use the social connection features.

Now, for those who are interested in the feature, here is what Amazon highlights as benefits:
. Keep track of birthdays and gift ideas
. Get shopping reminders for every occasion
. Find and remember friends' Wish Lists

Here's their FAQ on the feature and how it works.

They also have reminders for last minute shoppers on the "Top Holiday Deals" and, in keeping with the new feature, "Holiday 2012 Electronics Gift List"

Free Super Saver Shipping for last minute holiday shopping
Some information from their press release on this:

Amazon has 'extended the ordering deadline for Free Super Saver Shipping by two days. Customers can now place orders through Dec. 18 with free delivery by Christmas on millions of items...'

' Amazon Prime members can place orders up until 7:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 21 to receive deliveries by Dec. 24 using Free Two-Day Shipping (cut-off time varies by item).

For delivery by Christmas, the following ordering deadlines apply:

Dec. 18: Free Super Saver Shipping
Dec. 19: Standard Shipping
Dec. 21: Two-Day Shipping (order as late as 7:00 p.m. EST; varies by item; free with Amazon Prime)
Dec. 22: One-Day Shipping (order as late as 3:00 p.m. EST; varies by item; as low as $3.99/item with Amazon Prime)
Dec. 24: Local Express Delivery (while available; select cities; varies by item; as low as $3.99/item with Amazon Prime)
Dec. 25: Email and printable Amazon Gift Cards can be sent immediately, at any time

Some restrictions apply. Visit amazon.com/holiday-shipping for more details. '

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Monday, December 10, 2012

Kindle Fire HD 8.9-9-inch tablet $50 off Today ONLY - Deal of the Day (for sure)

2-page Kindle book layout on Kindle Fire HD 8.9"	2-page Kindle book layout on Kindle Fire HD 8.9"	2-page magazine layout on Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
2-page magazine layout on Kindle Fire HD 8.9	Google Earth: San Francisco, on KFire HD 8.9"	Google Earth: Golden Gate Bridge, on KFire HD 8.9"

KINDLE FIRE HD 8.9" TABLET IS THE DEAL OF THE DAY TODAY (Monday Dec. 10, 2012)

Am relaying this alert from Amazon, which apparently was in the email box for a few hours.

"Today ONLY -- Save $50 on Kindle Fire HD 8.9".
To get this deal, enter promotional code FIREHD89 at checkout.

Limit one discount per customer. U.S. customers only.
Discount valid on all versions of Kindle Fire HD 8.9” sold and shipped by Amazon. It does not apply to the same products sold by other sellers. Amazon reserves the right to cancel the promotion at any time. Promo codes may not be combined with other offers. If you return items purchased using a promo code, we will subtract the value of the discount from your return credit.
Offer not valid with 1-Click ordering. Void where prohibited."

That's a 16GB 8.9" High Definition (1920x1200) tablet (much more readable than the iPad mini which has far lower screen resolution at only 1024x768) and today's deal makes it $249 for the 8.9" Kindle Fire HD with 16GB.
The 32GB model (I do recommend this if you like to put on things like Google Maps, Street View, and Google Earth) is $319 today.
The 4G LTE models also are included in the $50 off Deal for today (Monday).

Read about it at the link. I have one and it's a beautiful device.

They're limiting it to one discount per customer, so it's not the type of deal you can buy several with for gifting...

Updated with a reference to add a link to the blog article on how to add non-Amazon apps to your Kindle Fire.

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Kindle News: Kindle app for Android updated to v3.8.0 BUT you should WAIT for a fix. Brazil Kindle store up. Kindle apps grow 500%.

Amazon has added another update - this time for the Kindle app for Android
But you should probably WAIT for the next update (see below) to save some frustration.

Kindle Fire tablets come with the Kindle-books feature built in, so there are no Kindle apps for those, of course. However, many Kindle owners also have Android phones and tablets.

ConnectedDigitalWorld's Andrew Edney reports the update, but when I went to Google Play store to see the description, I saw a lot of unhappiness over the font sizing and general line layout, and people are finding it very difficult to read.

I suspect the new font and layout problems are affecting phone-users more, as I saw someone with a Samsung Galaxy Tab who's happy with it while a Samsung Galaxy S2 phone user is not at all happy.

Another user, with a phone and a tablet says "Works great" but others report being unable to resize their fonts (either w/ the option or with pinch zoom).

Amazon Mobile LLC responded to the reviews with this:

' Hi Diane, we are currently working on an update to resolve this. Please stay tuned!
Thanks, Kindle for Android Team '

Amazon highlighting of new Kindle for Android's new features otherwise:
What's New
• Kindle for Android now supports Simplified Chinese, including dictionaries.
• Turn it up to 11! New font sizes now available.
• Read print replica textbooks on Android tablets. Print Replica Kindle books maintain the rich formatting and layout of their related print editions and provide features to highlight passages, add margin notes, and search for keywords.
• Several bug fixes.

We just saw support for the Japanese Language dictionaries the other day, and now we have Simplified Chinese books, including dictionaries, supported as well.

So, Asia, it won't be long! I did read that Amazon had to delay SOMEthing in China recently, as there was a problem over there with server Cloud issues to be worked out.

Welcome, Brazil

TNW's Anna Heim reports on the launching of the Kindle Store in Brazil where a $150 (R$299) Kindle will be available in the "coming weeks."

Heim links to the The Brazilian blog announcement.
See more details at Heim's story on the the "long legal battle" in Brazil with the Internet Domain's previous owner "Amazon Corporation" and she links to what she describes as a bit of a "soap opera."
Amazon has officially announced the store, at www.amazon.com.br.

And here are the full details of what will be available at the store.

Amazon's Appstore downloads grew 500% this year
What it grew from is a question, but most tech writers find it impressive regardless.

For app developers (or customers interested in investing in tablets that may get more support from developers), Ars Technica's Florence Ion relays some interesting details on new features for Amazon developers.

She adds that "A/B testing will also help developers understand what users of the Amazon Appstore and Kindle ecosystem like and need from their applications, as their scope may be increasingly different from that of regular Android users."

Re the free A/B testing service to lure new developers, TNW's Harrison Weber quotes Mike Frazzini, Director of Amazon Games, on this:
"A/B Testing service is essential for developers because it will help offload the overhead costs of building, maintaining and running scalable tests.”

Amazon also noted other developer offerings, including its GameCircle + a new, more interactive Maps API, and localization support for options for different regions, and its Kindle Fire Emulator.

While we're on the topic, check out Amazon's Top-rated Android apps.

Kindle Daily Deal today, Dec. 7
The

Kindle Daily Deal for today, Dec. 7, is a book on "The Ascent of George Washington", by John Ferling, which Amazon describes this way:
"Perhaps the most revered American of all, George Washington has long been considered a stoic leader who held himself above the fray of political infighting. What's gone unnoticed about Washington's life is that he was a consummate politician, as historian John Ferling shows in this revealing and provocative new book."
It's $1.99 at "83% off"

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.
NOTES on newer Kindles.

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

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Updates for new Kindle Fires to add: Swype keyboard, very basic Camera app, Kindle Free Time Unlimited

NEW FEATURES in latest updates for the Kindle Fire HD 7-inch and Kindle Fire 2 tablets

The two new updates -- v7.2.2 for Kindle Fire HD 7" and v10.2.3 for Kindle fire 2 -- will automatically download and install for most Kindle Fire customers.
UK Links are: Kindle Fire HD 7" v7.2.2, UK and Kindle Fire 2, v10.2.3, UK.

GeckoFriend and Betsy the Quilter at Kindleboards.com discovered the updates ready to go on the Amazon servers and they include features people have requested -- one for the front-facing camera app for the 7" HD model and the long-awaited SWYPE keyboard mode for both newer 7" models. Moderator Ann in Arlington points out that the 8.9" Kfire HD tablet already has the camera app built in and comes Swype-featured, which I hadn't noticed

Amazon's sending these over the air already
I just found that I received my v7.2.2 update over the air - Checked by swiping down my Top Menu to get "More" and then "Settings," where I looked at "Device," then "About" and saw that I already have System Version 7.2.2.

Keyboard
The Swype Keyboard mode is accessed by just starting to draw a line through the keyboard characters you want 'typed' pausing slightly at each letter. I just did 'erstwhile' that way and it worked right away. Had never used it before. I could type it faster, but others love this feature.

Camera
Although we mentioned on Nov. 10 the HD Camera app, which has unusually fast and thorough customer support from the appmaker and repeated earlier instructions on how to activate the many front-facing camera features such as panoramic mode, time-lapses and video via the ES File Explorer, Amazon is now offering their own (very basic) camera app.

NOTE that the new Camera app is initiated with an icon of a camera in the Photos section (top menu - Home screen) but it's limited to taking a picture and, as with the more flexible basic mode using ES File Explorer (free) and also the HD Camera app, the basic camera function allows you to send the photos through email or to your Dropbox, for instance.

For those who don't want to wait for the software update to arrive over the air, you can *start* the update from the Kindle Fire (see the appropriate software update page for each on how to do that -- essentially it's sync'g the Kindle Fire with the servers via the option on your top-menu quick-settings row but they want you to make sure you have a full battery before doing the sync).

For those who prefer to do the updates via USB cable because you don't have WiFi), the update files are at the Amazon server locations linked above.

The Kindle Fire HD 7" update includes the following, in Amazon's words (Amazon kept changing the software-update page wording on new features while I was writing this blog and driving me bonkers).

Camera app. You can now use the front-facing web camera to take pictures of yourself with an included camera app in the Photos library.
[It earlier said "New and improved keyboard functionalities" and now says]
Swype. Swype is a keyboard feature that provides a fast way to enter text. It lets you create a word by drawing through letters. Swype also provides additional keyboard functions like copy and paste [ YAY ] and the ability to change the keyboard language.

Japanese support Customers can now select Japanese as the device language.
[This was dropped as a stated new feature while I was typing this article.
But I do see it in my updated software under 'Keyboards.']

Location based services will now be part of the parental control settings and will appear on the page where you can set parental control for individual apps/features [Amazon removed this while I was copying it, but the feature is in the new software.]

Kindle FreeTime Unlimited. Kindle FreeTime Unlimited is a subscription service you can choose to sign up for within Kindle FreeTime. Parents can subscribe children's profiles to a wide variety of videos, apps, and games appropriate for ages 3-8. For more information, see www.amazon.com/freetimeunlimited.

The newer Basic Kindle Fire 2 doesn't have a camera, so no camera app for those.

UK residents: NOTE that the UK listing doesn't include FreeTime Unlimited.

IF Downloading Version 7.2.2 or 10.2.3

This update automatically downloads and installs for most Kindle Fire customers; however, you can initiate the software update from your Kindle or manually download the software update via USB (some use WiFi File Explorer PRO app rather than USB).

Before you begin, confirm your current software version:

Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap More.
Tap Device, and then tap About.

The instructions for manually downloading, if needed, the update via USB are at the software update pages mentioned. Most will find it more convenient to have it arrive via the automated download.

NOTE that when it does, your Kindle Fire will reboot and sometimes it does that twice, so don't be alarmed when it happens while it's idle and you're nearby.

EARLIER posts on Kindle Fire HD
. Basic Features Comparison Table for iPad mini, Google Nexus 7", Kindle Fire HD 7"
. Comparison reviews of the Kindle Fire HD 7" and Google Nexus 7" tablets
. Step-by-step guide for installing a working Adobe Flash player when needed.
. Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire, via enabling one device setting
. Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD
. Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
. App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

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

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Kindle News: Kindle app for iOS gets X-Ray feature. Also, new "FreeTime Unlimited" parental control plan. Kindle Fire HD 8.9" software update v8.1.3

Two Amazon announcements this week and a Kindle Fire HD 8.9 tablet S/W update

First:
Photo credit: Ben Rotman at Lost at e minor.

See the larger version of the penguin-x-rays image and more at that site.

Also, indie publishers, Rotman has an intriguing excerpt (involving a seemingly sleepless child whose nights are spent exploring his urban surrounds on the trains of Paris) from "an as yet unpublished screenplay."

Also check out the whimsical flip flops by Kusa at the end of the page.
(I don't know him -- I found his x-ray images for the blog and enjoyed them and the site.)

Others of you who may be more interested in crafts, might enjoy the feature on Izziyana Suhaimi's "black and white pencil and watercolor drawings with colorful ornate embroidery in her seductive textured illustrations."

All right, when here, I've been gathering and organizing material for some HowTo-oriented articles, but they're not ready at the moment. After that off-topic intro prompted by the X-ray feature, I'll bring you the latest commercial Kindle-related news from Amazon.

Note to Kindle-Edition blog subscribers: Remember that if you click to follow a link, you can click on an article and then choose Menu/ArticleView to read it in a special book-like format.

Kindle for iOS gets X-ray support
PC Magazine's Stephanie Miot relays an alert on the Kindle for iOS app update.

For those who've seen the name of a character on a page and wondered WHO that was in pages past, Amazon's X-Ray can be a Godsend. I've appreciated it most in books like Columbine and for the many characters in Steve Jobs's life. X-ray links you to every appearance of that person in the book, in context of a paragraph for each. True for topics, ideas, etc.

This update for iOS also has manga image rendering improvements.

Kindle FreeTime Unlimited
The key word in the BusinessWire release is Unlimited - and it's an optional upgrade over the free version of FreeTime, which is available for the new Kindle Fire models announced in September 2012.

For families who could benefit from this new content service "for kids ages 3-8," it features unlimited access "to thousands of titles including exclusive-to-Amazon Android apps and games—all curated for age-appropriateness."

The new feature is priced at $2.99/mo. per child for Prime members, or $6.99 per month per family ($4.99 per child or $9.99 per family for non-Prime members). It'll be available "as part of a free, over-the-air software update that will be automatically delivered in the coming weeks."

Owners of any of the new Kindle Fires can try it at no cost during the first month of use.

Per the press release, some of the benefits mentioned:
For children:

They can explore all the content on their own and pick for themselves what to read, watch or play next
With individual profiles, everything in their library is theirs—no sharing a home screen with siblings or parents and no losing their place in a movie or TV show when someone else picks up the Kindle Fire
They can easily explore their favorite topics...

For parents:

All apps have in-app payments, advertisements and social media removed
No worries that the young'un will run up a bill
All-you-can-eat pricing means no negotiations with the kids about what to buy or rent
All content has been pre-screened for age-appropriateness.

For details on the content (which includes "Popular Kids Movies and TV Shows" and how it all works, see the BusinessWire release.

As an aside, when I worked for a science-education museum, I was advised not to refer to children as "kids" as that word refers more to goats :-). In real life, that's the general word though. "The kids [don't] want to do that!"

Software Update for Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch tablet
Software update v8.1.3 was just released and was received at my Kindle Fire Hd 8.9" tablet sometime in the last two days. When an update happens, your tablet may act strangely when you fire it up and it decides there is enough battery power remaining to download and install the new upgrade.

The software update info, including how to tell which software version you have currently, and a guide to how to get the update manually (for what appears to be just a maintenance (glitch-fix) update) is on Amazon's KFHD 8.9" software page.

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.
NOTES on newer Kindles.

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

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Dec's 100 Kindle Books for $3.99 or less - Editors' Choices + Free non-classics by publication date + discounted-book alerts

"DECEMBER 2012's 100 Kindle Books deal, for $3.99 or less"

I highlight the monthly deal at or near the beginning of the month for those who don't know about it or might not remember.

These 100 Kindle books are $1.99 to $3.99 and are "hand-selected" by Amazon's Editors each month.

What you'll see on that special monthly-deals page are the new ones for December 2012.

(Link: amzn.to/100kbooks-2to4)

NON-KINDLE reading for the day, for those who need or just enjoy a chuckle. I don't know if any of you have ever read a police log for your area, but this ongoing one for Arcata is definitely unique and you'll see why it has a larger than local following.

Tweet Tunnel
For any who follow Twitter and also my add'l info bits that aren't generally blogged but tweeted there, I found recently that older ones are organized over time by a site called "Tweet Tunnel" that does this for the now 500 million noisy birds. Here's my recent history of tweeted info, nicely organized; they do a nice job. You can click on any "inReplyTo" links to follow a thread or to see what a comment was about. Without images, it's considerably faster than previous attempts at this type of history. And they're said to be able to show/download past tweets soon (why?). To check yours, use the searchbox on the same page.

Cyber Monday Deals Week continues at Amazon today
For another day, Amazon continues its Cyber Monday Week deals page.
As of this morning (Dec. 1), their page announces they'll begin their Top Holiday Deals tomorrow.

FREE KINDLE BOOKS (Non-classics) for December (and November)
In the meantime, I've updated the "Temporarily-free books -- Non-classics" search results to show free contemporary Kindle books for DECEMBER, sorted by publication-date, as of today, 12/1. There are only a few shown on the first day of any month, and these include pre-orders for December, of course. As ever, on the first day of the month, most are listed as "free preview" of whatever chapters chosen.

Here are the current Search results for free Kindle non-classics, by publication date for November.

Today's Kindle Daily Deal, for December 1, Saturday only, is Pines, by Blake Crouch. Inspired, at age 12, by seeing the television series, Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990), a "quirky show about a creepy town with damn fine coffee and brilliant cherry pie, where nothing was as it seemed" his Pines is about a Secret Service agent who comes to a scenic town to recover two federal agents who went missing a month earlier, but within minutes of his arrival, he's involved in a bad car accident and wakes up in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, no briefcase, and no money -- and, for some reason, unable to reach his boss or his wife.

The 'Starred' Booklist review by Stacy Alesi says, "The suspense builds to an almost unbearable point, culminating with a twist that ratchets it up even further. Fans of Stephen King, Peter Straub and F. Paul Wilson will appreciate this genre-bending, completely riveting thrill ride, which mixes suspense, horror, science fiction and dystopian nightmare all rolled up into one unputdownable book.

It has 467 customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.1 stars.
It's $1.99 for today (Saturday) only. 80% off
Their Kindle Young Readers Daily Deal is "Gooney Bird and the Room Mother" - by Lois Lowry (author) and Middy Thomas (Illustrator).

Discounted / Price Dropped Kindle eBooks II - the ongoing Kindle Forum message thread
There is an ongoing message thread in which Kindle owners share information on recent drops in pricing on specific Kindle books, often with some added info by the person posting it.

Here's a link to the thread starting from a few days ago that includes some books still on sale Dec. 1.

The link I gave is to a specific day to start, in this case, 11/28, mid-point, but you can look at previous days or keep up with ongoing alerts after that, as Amazon keeps track of the last message# that you read, so that you can start from there next time. Most of the better deals seem around $2.99-$3.99 but I saw that there are quite a few good deals during the holidays of course. On the other hand, there are Hachette deals included that ended in a DAY, so you need to double-check the current pricing of any Kindle books that interest you to see if the discounts are still active.

I heard of one small new Kindle book released November 16, "Portrait of a Hero," by Randall H. Miller, with an initial discounted price of $0.99 for the holidays, which is about "Lieutenant Colonel Truman Bishop Ransom who resigned the presidency of Norwich University (the nation’s oldest private military college and birthplace of the citizen soldier) to lead the 9th U.S. Infantry in the Mexican-American War."
Sounds interesting. All I know of the author and his book is that he's an engaging, long-time reader of the blog and we share a mutual enthusiasm for the Beam N Read light, which I no longer need for my (latest) Kindle reader, because it's a Paperwhite, but which I still tend to wear at night for general use.

Prices are discounted for only a very short time, too often, and are promos, and that's another reason to watch the list.

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.
NOTES on newer Kindles.

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

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Monday, December 17, 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012

IF Downloading Version 7.2.3

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Monday, December 10, 2012

Friday, December 7, 2012

Thursday, December 6, 2012

IF Downloading Version 7.2.2 or 10.2.3

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Saturday, December 1, 2012

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