Sunday 30 December 2012

Wireless Reading Device

 wireless reading device wireless reading device reviews


Since the time humans realized to jot down on cave walls, our fascination for reading has become 1 with the vital features that separate us from creatures. From papyrus scrolls to paperback pocketbooks, reading has constantly stimulated our imagination and enhanced our knowledge about life and every little thing in in between.From the digital age, the way in which we read books has evolved once again, thanks to Amazon’s Kindle eBook reader. More and more individuals are wanting to determine in which they are able to buy this innovative wireless reading device.Kindle is surely an electronic digital item marketed by Amazon that will allow you to read eBooks digitally, between other things. It can be a tiny electronic digital handset, about 8.0 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches, that’s able of displaying various details wirelessly. The most current model in the Kindle allows you to connect towards the 3G community, which many Kindle house owners locate very useful.


If you’re looking to buy a Kindle eBook reader, then look no additional than the Amazon on the web outlets. They offer the top deals and hold the widest selection of eBooks that may certainly excite any avid reader and book lover. Aside from your large choice of eBook titles, Amazon also delivers a range of accessories that may go well along with your new Kindle wireless reading device.Having an astounding wireless reading device including the Kindle is just about every voracious reader’s ideal. Granted that holding a real book in your own hand gives a more unique reading practical experience than keeping a gadget, but the Kindle has a lot to offer you. It is actually reader satisfaction guaranteed.


Kindle wireless reading device are paving the way with the extraordinary methods of attaining reading enjoyment. Solely offered in the Amazon store internet site, these are wireless reading device which are possibly essentially the most superior in market place. Actually it serves more than the function of currently being an e-book wireless reading device gadget.Simply packaged as reading instruments, you might be amazed that their capacity extends a lot beyond than this sort of. Kindle wireless reading device can obtain the world wide web, can show visual images or pics, can participate in and store audio information, can jot down notes and could also cut excerpts from texts for being saved elsewhere. Books, newspapers and magazines can now simply be accessed anytime, wherever you can be.


The incredible matter about Kindle wireless reading device is that they serve as portable e-reader gadgets with entirely functioning keyboards. Compared with other present eBook audience inside marketplace, Kindle wireless reading device promise more rapidly suggests to scan by way of your library while using help of these keyboards.The Kindle eBook readers are delightfully equipped with useful, interactive features you wouldn’t expect from a reading apparatus. NowNow is a service installed in Kindle that provides responses to exploration issues. You are able to send messages to Twitter and Gmail from the center of one’s reading. All of these are conveniently accessible in the least Kindle wireless reading device. The Kindle features a ability of 180MB which may accommodate practically 200 ebooks, along with a slot for SD memory card can be accustomed to raise space to enjoy other interesting functions.


An irresistible advertising and marketing strategy inside the Kindle system could be the entry to virtually 90,000 books accessible with the Amazon store. The books readily available involve people ranking high inside New York Situations’ Very best Sellers List. Knowledge the brand new heights of blissful reading gratification. The Kindle wireless reading device let you enjoy technology and its continuous evolution.

Save: $ 189Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White -List Price: $189.00 Our Price: Say Hello to the Newest Kindle Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered wi Save: $ 139Kindle Keyboard, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink DisplayList Price: $139.00 Our Price: The all-new Kindle has a new electronic-ink screen with 50 percent better contrast than any other e-reader, a new sleek design with a 21 percent smaller body while still keeping the same 6-inch-size r Save: $ 159Kindle Keyboard 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink DisplayList Price: $159.00 Our Price: meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" /> The all-new Kindle has a new electronic-ink screen with 50 percent better contrast than any other e-reader, Save: $ 299Kindle DX, Free 3G, 9.7" E Ink Display, 3G Works GloballyList Price: $299.00 Our Price: Say Hello to the Newest Kindle DX All New, High Contrast E-Ink Screen: Our graphite Kindle DX uses our all new, improved electronic ink display, with 50% better contrast for the clearest text and sha Save: $ 259Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, U.S. Wireless)List Price: $259.00 Our Price: At 10.2 ounces, Kindle is lighter than a typical paperback and as thin as most magazines. Barely a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle fits perfectly in your hands.
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Amazon's Kindle covers

kindle covers


If you selected an Amazon Kindle, you need only several ways of deciding. If you are picking a Kindle Cover, there are countless Kindle cover from decide. If you newly towards the Kindle, or just looking for a cover, this guide will help you Wade across the globe of the Kindle cover. When shopping for Kindle Cover should be aware of, so the right way you can to your Kindle model. If you are in need have latest generation Kindle covers you are can be found in the online retailer at a awesome price numerous.The Kindle can be a revolutionary way to read eBooks. The size, the e-ink, the ability to books download in seconds, our primary book may be all. So some have to read it like a book. Those would be the most important way the Kindle Cover , to imitate the of a book. It contains a cover version, which is frequently opened and closed like a real book. It is possible to maintain it with two fingers, or it is possible wrinkles you again to read the coverage and it with one hand.


It offers defense to the front and back with the Kindle, when closed. Some covers have pockets to set cards or notes. The Moleskine Kindle cover have very within the in the lid to the hints and suggestions to write down a note pad. A lot of thickness are not likely add getting a cover on it. The Kindle is incredibly thin, cooperation with the manufacturers recognize that they design and style in the background will be as thin as possible, if the protective measures. Therefore it extremely easy to keep, if you go out with you the Kindle.


Some Kindle the feeling benefit from the Kindle in hand, if they want to read. Tend not to, the Kindle should be covered up. You need it to be "naked". However, they still need a solution to protect it after they take it outside of the House. Often, a sleeve is a fantastic response for Kindle readers who like to maintain their naked. You slide it up and you directly into a sleeve zip it there also, carry where you want to go. Sensation of the Kindle Cover with your hand is amazing.


Sleeves are made from soft material such as neoprene or nylon while the most covers are made from soft leather. Covers and sleeves are the two main forms of the Kindle cover. There is a huge selection, to ensure that all Kindle-Manager. You should look for a Kindle covers, that you provide not only size, but also those regarding proper installation, which provides damping, so that if your goods you won't end with a broken heart. See also Kindle Cover offer superior grip in the direction of the ceremony, if you could make a hand device as falls, are much more likely happen.

You save: $0Kindle Paperwhite, 6 "high resolution display with integrated list price: $119.00 our price: $119.00 world's latest e-reader – high resolution, high-contrast touch screen with built-in light and up to 8 weeks of battery life, even with the light on at 10 set." Kindle Paperwhite delivers clear, save: $0Amazon Kindle Paperwhite leather cover, Black Onyx (NotList does price: $39.99 our price: $39.99 our genuine leather cover was designed to be the lightest and thinnest protective sleeve for your Kindle Paperwhite.) A fusion of premium soft, textured, leather and an innovative, form-fitted store Interio: $0Amazon Kindle fire HD 8.9 "standing, Fuchsia (wList price: $54.99 our price: $54.99 our leather has been developed, the lightest and thinnest protective case for your Kindle fire HD 8.9".) " Textured leather and an innovative form-fitted inside secure your store: $0Marware permanent case for Kindle fire HD 7 vibe ", black (WilList price: $24.99 our price: $24.99 Marware vibe Kindle fire HD 7" case is your new device in almost any position for the most convenient handsfree experience should be possible.) " Sporting an outside vigorously, two-tone, store: $0Amazon Kindle fire HD 7 "standing, Fuchsia (WilList price: $44.99 our price: $44.99 our leather has been developed, the lightest and thinnest protective case for your Kindle fire HD 7".) " A fusion of premium soft, textured leather and an innovative form fitted inside store: $0Belkin Verve tab Folio for Kindle, PurpleList Price: $29.99 our price: $29.99 get cover for transport and easy access when you need it. The fashion-inspired leather case hugs your Kindle and protects it from scratches and signs of wear

Product prices and availability are as of Sunday until December 30, 2012 10: 43: 29 but are subject to change. All information about prices and availability on the dealer page at the time of purchase displayed apply to the purchase of this product.

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Kindle cover

kindle coverKindle leather cover


Kindle cover are between essentially the coveted accessories from the Kindle reader. It can very rarely a swinging show his Kindle operator or their readers, it can be a cover. Apart from the gadget by the dreaded scratches to protect, Kindle cover pretty also play a role in fashion and prestige. A variety of choices are readily available. One could in the direction of choose more practical covers, but could people demanding fashion solutions.Ignition cover fall into this category are basically all those in the scratch protection. Some think just your Kindle inside the cover, some wrapping of the gadgets neat, some others include extra pockets and a pen holder for ultimate comfort. Astute designs also element waterproof covers to protect your Kindle from the water along with the elements.


Prices start at $29.99. The cover is thin and smooth yet sufficiently padded for protection.Edgier possibilities are offered for visitors like to make a fashion statement with their Kindle. Bold colors and graphic design of the covers are out there for fans of decide. Of course, eco-friendly materials and methods use the goods.Discover some nice light cover available on the market, costs almost as much as the Kindle itself. Prices range to $99.99, $119.99.Ignition are circumstances at the moment in essential desire, along with the pill, they were made to protect, which can be officially described the Kindle e-reader.


If you are looking for Kindle coveris out, for different variables of the thinking to get. The most important factor is certainly how well their goal for serves on the screen. Ignition you cover can be installed from a variety of fibers, but they are usually made of leather, which is really made essentially the most protective substance of all. Both people have the feeling from the cover and its weight applause; You also find that it is durable and that it protected the Kindle wonderfully well. See also non-leather alternatives for vegans Kindle entrepreneurs. For example, there is this red faux leather cover of CE compass.


Another popular type of coverage could be the Kindle cover with light. The light can the individual, otherwise go through in one set in insufficiently illuminated. Kindle cover should image and all the his or her accessories fit really well with their owners overall.Men, as an illustration, should covers with more 'male' colors for instance Brown, yellow, or ought to be in a more "feminine" colours such as Lavender have orange, but Kindle cover for ladies, violet or pink. Kindle cover should also be with their owner, skin, hair or eyes, coloring or standard complexion harmonize. Therefore, a blonde man or woman could have a bright ceiling, perfectly co-ordinated get on request.


Save: $0Amazon Kindle lighted leather cover, black (fits not KinList Price: $59.99 our price: $59.99 div class = "Aplus" > Amazon's Kindle lighted leather cover protect and illuminate your Kindle our sleek, form fitted leather exterior looks and feels great, while the inner soft Microfiber save protected: $0Belkin Verve tab Folio for Kindle, PurpleList Price: $29.99 our price: $29.99 get cover for transport), and easy access when you need it. The fashion-inspired leather case hugs your Kindle and protects it from scratches and scuffs store: $59.99Amazon touch of Kindle lighted leather cover, black (price does not fList: $59.99 our price:) Product prices and availability are as of Sunday until December 30, 2012 02: 14: 14 but are subject to change. All information about prices and availability on the dealer page at the time of purchase displayed apply to the purchase of this product.

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Kindle case

kindle caseWaterproof kindle case


Discover a Kindle case for the Kindle 2, Kindle 3 or Kindle DX really should be the first accessory that you consider purchase for your device (with reading lamp after second close). This article with lid 3 main categories of cases. Even if you should to determine a case specifically for your mannequin of the Kindle will, has each category under described cases for all versions available.Although every single RS model is exclusive, all offer a certain amount of protection. However, are all from the described cases far better location on your own eReader, while you're reading. So after setting everyone can get started read it correctly, it will receive.


Kindle leather case are pretty common RS available art really one. Although the most photo a leather pouch leather kindle case is brown or black, are readily available in a range of colors. You may also find that a variety of leather Kindle covers available, some of them with additional functionality. The best examples of additional functional leather cases are made of leather and leather Kindle case Kindle case with reading lamp stands. The majority of the leather side panels include also a range but not protecting the use of the Kindle.A further law typical class are rubber / rubber Kindle case. One of your most important products used silicone simply because if its adaptable however robust nature. This design the case usually a receipt does not include cover and required to secure any additional straps or locks. Quickly, they glide on your own Kindle and you could go perfectly. In addition to other protective rubber cases offer you access a greater surface area to the Kindle, which means that a better probability of is stopped will have your Kindle.


The last case of Kindle is much one the most compact case. Kindle skins, especially vinyl skins are only a few millimeters thick. There are also hundreds of different designs on the basis of plus several skin manufacturers that design certainly can build a customized skin by images or text from your respective decision on. Although skins are doing an excellent job to withdraw your Kindle, it does not protect your Kindle at the same time as the above cases.To questions, if picking a Kindle case is the most important question: what need most of them within the case? For some, it really is safety. There will be fashion for people, but for many it will be a mix of both. A point is something that could have for each Kindle user confident, the categories of cases described above.

You save: $0Kindle, 6 "E-Ink display, Wi-Fi - contains quotes (BList Price: $69.00 our price: $69.00 the new Kindle – small, light, perfect for reading.)" Enjoy 15% faster page turns, new darker fonts for easier reading and new parental controls. Ignition reads like paper, with no glare, even in store: $0Amazon lighted Kindle leather cover, black (fits not KinList Price: $59.99 our price: $59.99 div class = "Aplus" > Amazon Kindle lighted leather cover protect and illuminate your Kindle our sleek, form fitted leather exterior looks and feels great, while the inner soft Microfiber save protected: $0Belkin Verve tab Folio for Kindle), PurpleList Price: $29.99 Our Price: $29.99 get cover for transport and easy access when you need it. The fashion-inspired leather case hugs your Kindle and protects it from scratches and scuffs store: $59.99Amazon touch of Kindle lighted leather cover, black (price does not fList: $59.99 our price:)

Product prices and availability are as of Sunday until December 30, 2012 02: 21: 51, but are subject to change. All information about prices and availability on the dealer page at the time of purchase displayed apply to the purchase of this product.

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The Kindle app

kindle appKindle app for ipad

The Kindle app on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, allowing end-user Kindle bright and coloring to read books on a screen. The Kindle store has over 540,000 eBooks along with bestsellers and new releases.


Regardless of whether you read your Kindle books on your own Mac, PC, BlackBerry app Kindle and Kindle DX, the Kindle app in conjunction with whisper-sync synchronizes your last page immediately read, bookmarks, notes and highlights for all of your devices, so that you can pick up right where exactly you regardless of what kind of computer you stopped will happen on review.


Install is the Kindle app in your eye pad just like Apple Pie. Free download just the Kindle App and my login in your account login. The Kindle app, iPad to synchronize your existing ticket reservations library. There is also the ability, multiple bookmarks delete, including skip, turn animated page turns on or off and adjust the font and background color hue of the electronic pages. Download can be very simple as your books not normally in a slow and long single page mode of your physical Kindle are organized. You get to see the full color book cover, which can easily navigate your finger along your selection by pushing.When you open the settings, you are provided the choice black and white by browsing wallpapers of sepia. Sepia offers probably the most "book" as know.


Virtual screen appears. Create who you want!Feel like an actual book due to the fact that turned each page animated just like a real book to read.After you have purchased your book of choice, it renders take you a simple button that includes Kindle app for iPad, and Safari.We recommend you to purchase an anti-glare overlay when you review a good deal are supported by the iPad. In all other cases, the sharp is crisp and colorful screen far beyond the physical Kindle. You can very easily then bookmarks locally by tapping on the screen, the menu bar, just tap in the upper right corner of the screen to the bookmark icon.


Amazon's free application and selection make it a must have, if you want to read in your iPad books. Although Apple has a proprietary iBook app is really, we expect most people buy their books on Amazon because of its ability to integrate with many units and the physical Kindle app, and especially due to the reduction in prices on books from this composition.Product prices and availability are as of Sunday until December 30, 2012 03: 46: 50 but are subject to change. All information about prices and availability on the dealer page at the time of purchase displayed apply to the purchase of this product.

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Accessories for your Kindle

kindle accessories
amazon kindle accessories The sort of accessories you could possibly end up acquiring are absolutely exceptional compared to other people’s choice. Some basic Kindle accessories on the other hand are particularly useful, there’s almost nothing to lose to suit your needs to think about them.

1. Screen protector
This might sound like essentially the most boring of Kindle accessories but keep in mind that once your Kindle screen is scratched, all is spoiled. A standard protective shield costing you about $24.99 can save you a great deal of grief. Some people might voice concern regarding the modify in display quality however it may be reported that most screen protectors inside the market tend not to alter the screen display quality. Kindle has a fragile look and people tend to become further careful when carrying out nearly anything with it, resulting usually in tentative software of protective shield which may result in some frustrating grapple.


2. Car charger
Kindle comes with a power adapter as well as a USB cable so you might charge the battery utilizing your PERSONAL COMPUTER. Universal car charger works with Kindle, presented you buy the proper idea. A good item which has a lifetime guarantee, a reasonably fast charge, at the same time as defense from overcharging fees you as very little as $19.95


3. Waterproof case
Most of us readers love to soak in warm bubbles, relax and read. Waterproof case on your reader can be one of your Kindle accessories to contemplate, especially if you also carry your Kindle in your seaside vacation. Some concern you could wish to watch out when obtaining a waterproof case is no matter if you are able to still run the keyboard correctly once your Kindle is secured in the case.


4. Kindle stand
Some people read inside tub, some people read whilst they eat – or when their hands are in any other case occupied. Acquiring a reader stand is handy when breakfast (or other meal time) will be the only time it is possible to spare for studying. Typical stand for Kindle expenses $19.99.


Kindle accessories needs may well differ widely from one person to yet another. Some people only but the bare necessities, some people like to see their gadget optimized by additional tools. From the case of Kindle, producers are reaching out to the green local community by generating solar recharger. Kindle accessories are obtainable for optimum enjoyment from the readers; there is absolutely nothing to lose by using a look and contemplating a buy. An accessory like waterproof case might very well save your Kindle from earlier demise.

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Wednesday 19 December 2012

The Kindle PowerFast for Accelerated Charging. must have

The Kindle PowerFast for Accelerated Charging. must have
some review taken from the amazon store. perhaps this will help you to make decision beforebuy the Kindle PowerFast

This device should be standard with all Kindles. Sure, the Kindle will charge just fine via the USB connection to a PC, but this acceleated charger is fantastic!!

By Renee "nee" (River Falls, WI United States) 
This review is from: Amazon Kindle PowerFast for Accelerated Charging (not included with device, for use with the new Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD models) (Accessory)
My husband and I bought each other the new Kindle HD's for Christmas. For the price we paid for each one ($250) Amazon should just throw in the $19.99 charger. I read in one of the reviews that the reviewer had gotten the charger for only $9.99 when they bought the Kindle. I never received that offer so I called Amazon and they honored the $9.99 price for me. It seems that the charger works good but still think that it should just be part of the price of the Kindle.HD 32gb
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Kindle Fire HD The Most Popular of Kindle

Kindle Fire HD The Most Popular of Kindle
Have a 7" HD Display, Dolby Audio, Dual-Band Dual-Antenna Wi-Fi, 16GB or 32GB, then this kindle include 1280x800 HD display with polarizing filter and anti-glare technology for rich color and deep contrast from any viewing angle.
  • Exclusive Dolby audio and dual-driver stereo speakers for immersive, virtual surround sound
  • World's first tablet with dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi for 40% faster downloads and streaming (compared to iPad 3)
  • High performance 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor with Imagination PowerVR 3D graphics core for fast and fluid performance
  • Over 22 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, books, audiobooks, and popular apps and games such as Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, HBO GO, Pandora, and Angry Birds Space
  • Integrated support for Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo! and more, as well as Exchange calendar, contacts, and email
  • Front-facing HD camera for taking photos or making video calls using Skype, Facebook, and other apps
  • Free unlimited cloud storage for all your Amazon content
  • Kindle FreeTime - a free, personalized tablet experience just for kids on the Kindle Fire HD. Set daily screen limits, and give access to appropriate content for each child
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Amazon manager Jeff Bezos talks about the Amazon kindle Fire HD

"We sell the hardware at our cost, so it is break-even on the hardware," chief executive Jeff Bezos told the BBC. is a stark contrast to the strategy of best-selling tablet-maker Apple.

Mr Bezos made the comments as his firm launched its new Paperwhite e-reader and an associated book lending scheme in the UK, Germany and France.
The latest e-ink powered device features a built-in light that will help the firm compete against Barnes & Noble's Nook Glowlight and Kobo's Glo, which offer a similar feature.

Amazon is seeking to distinguish its line-up by offering a subscription package that includes access to the Kindle Owners' Lending Library.The service offers users the ability to borrow up to one book a month from a selection of titles including well known authors - such as JK Rowling - and writers who have published their works through Amazon's own publishing system.Kindle Paperwhite The Kindle Paperwhite has a 6in (15cm) screen and a built-in light

The UK service will include more than 200,000 ebooks at launch.
While other e-readers lack a matching facility, if they support the ePub format their owners can still borrow ebooks from their local library if it supports the OverDrive system.
Bigger appetites Deliveries of Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite will begin in Europe on 25 October, coinciding with the release of its 7in (18cm) Kindle Fire HD tablets.

Mr Bezos made clear that the devices' success would depend on how many books and other media files were subsequently bought by their owners."We want to make money when people use our devices, not when people buy our devices," he told the BBC.
By contrast Apple has indicated in the past that it makes much of its profits from device sales while running its iTunes store "slightly above" break-even.

Android tablet makers also rely on hardware sales. While Google provides their system software for free, the search giant keeps a cut of app and digital media sales made via its Google Play marketplace.Mr Bezos said that part of the reason his strategy worked was that users' appetite for media appeared to grow once they owned one of his devices.
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Google Nexus 7 and also Amazon's Kindle tablets are included in new features

The United kingdoms's Durations report is subsidising the price of the Nexus as part of its electronic versions software. Amazon online is starting an "all-you-can-eat" mass media registration provide focused at kids in the US. One specialist said the goes might help the gadgets task the iPad's "richer app ecosystem".

Apple's discuss of globally product deliveries dropped from about 66% to 50% between the April-to-June one fourth and the July-to-September interval, according to information from IDC. By comparison the Amazon kindle and Nexus devices' discuss increased. Traders will observe to see how that pattern is impacted in the present interval following the release of the iPad Small.
Bundle discount

The Periods is advertising its Nexus 7 Digi Bundle - which gives online entry to The Periods and Weekend Periods documents - by providing the 32GB edition of the product for £50, on top of the price of its conventional program, rather than the £199 it is marketed for in stores.

The cope includes an 18-month dedication to the document, providing the all inclusive costs to £299 for the interval. It is important that the company selected Search engines product, considering Information International's us president, Rupert Murdoch, had formerly described the company as a "parasite" for providing his papers' material in its news search results.

One specialist recommended the cope would confirm an "eye-catching" advantage to the company in the run-up to Xmas - a time when many family associates are considering purchasing a product. "In the future there's no query a important percentage of press will move onto pills, and that's a risk to make guides as it allows people to eat material in circumstances [where] they would have only have study make in the past," Benedict Evans, technical professional at Enders Research, informed the BBC.

"So the Periods is trying to make a habit-making weblink here. But you also need to acknowledge the Periods has an recognized 'customer purchase cost' and has a lengthy custom of using freebies to protected revenue."

Asus - the maker of the Nexus 7 - said the cope had come about after it had been contacted by Information Worldwide. Search engines pressured that it had not been engaged in the agreement.
Child-friendly content

Amazon's FreeTime Endless support expenses a per month fee for entry to book, game and academic apps; movies; and TV reveals.
Kindle FreeTime Endless picture Amazon guarantees to display all material on its FreeTime provide to make sure it is age-appropriate

Disney, DC Comic strips, Nickelodeon and the group behind Sesame Road are among the marketers that have permitted their material to be engaged.

The product is focused at kids outdated between three and eight and will enhance material based on their sex and age.

It costs about $5 (£3) each 30 days per kid, although there is a lower price for associates of the Amazon Primary program.

Amazon had formerly informed the BBC it marketed its components "at cost" significance it only makes money by promoting material to customers and attractive them to make further buys from its site.

The company said it had no information about if or when the support would release outside the US. However, one specialist considered such offers would become more common.

"Android pills have become commoditised components with no one de facto resource of material, so it will be press offers that will help force particular gadgets into the arms of customers," said Frank Natural, major technological innovation specialist at Davies Murphy Team.

"So far this pattern hasn't had too much effect on The apple company, which primarily offers rather than leases material - it's revenue are increasing yearly even though its discuss of the overall market has dropped.

"But if its revenue started to be cannibalised, I believe Apple's technique would change instantaneously."
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Monday 17 December 2012

Trouble emailing documents to the Kindle?

We’re both having major problems when we email documents to our Kindles. Documents aren’t showing up at all. sometimes, they’ve arrived on the device but Amazon’s conversion process spewed such a long file name that the Kindle operating system can’t read it; when we hooked them up to a computer and look at the files, we’ve been able to see them, and if we manually rename them, they will appear on the Kindle.

Sometimes they aren’t showing up even if the file name is fixed; when this happened today, we disconnected the Kindle and NONE of the files showed up. Happily, this was fixed by plugging the Kindle into the charger for a few minutes… but those were more nervewracking minutes that we didn’t need.

Let me know if you’re having problems, please?

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Sony amends regular price to $9.99/book, reduces prices for new readers

The New York Times reports today:
Sony Electronics announced Tuesday evening that it was lowering prices for new and best-selling books in its e-book store, to $9.99 from $11.99….Sony is also introducing two new electronic reading devices: the Reader Pocket Edition and Reader Touch Edition. They will sell for $199 and $299 respectively and will go on sale at theend of August.
How does this change the possibilities for the Kindle?    Since the Kindle is still selling for the reduced price of $299 – equivalent to the Sony Reader Touch edition, I suppose you  can choose for yourself which is more useful:  a touch screen – which reportedly cuts the readability of the e-Ink screen – or the wireless capabilities for the Kindle, including the ability to email documents to yourself, as well as Amazon’s online store.
What do you think?
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Kindle download charges causing Visa to put a hold on some credit cards?

James Fallows at the Atlantic reports that Visa froze his credit card because of “suspicious” charges — many tiny charges from Amazon for Kindle deliveries that … happen to be the same sort of test transactions that credit card thieves use to see if a credit card is valid.Perhaps Amazon should let the credit card companies know about this?

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Manual update may solve Kindle 2 downloading problems??

I’m told that the Kindle 2 has an update that will fix some of these downloading problems.   I can’t verify this, as we have only have Kindle 1.0 here — but I hope the following is useful!if you don’t want to call Kindle support, is to go to the Kindle Support Help page and type “Update Kindle” into the Search Help bar.  Click on Kindle Software Updates, then scroll down to “Applying Kindle Software Updates Manually” and then click on the “Kindle US Wireless” link.  It will download an exe file to your computer. Make sure the Kindle is plugged into the computer via the USB cable and follow the rest of the directions to manually update.


Voila.  All fixed.

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Kindle app for PC & Mac coming soon

ideal for editors, agents, publishers, and other heavy personal document readers.According to Amazon’s Kindle blog, an application to read Kindle books on your PC is comng soon.Fast Company reports that Amazon will also be making a Mac application as well.

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Is Kindle II slower than 1st gen?

Just back from a long weekend in Bermuda, where we met three (!) Kindle readers at our tiny beach. One couple (She: The Girls From Ames, on her Kindle II; He: a thriller, can’t remember what, on his 1st gen.) told us they buy several books per week between them, and report that the Kindle II has much slower download speed.


My wife and kept our manuscript-laden Kindles safely packed away, while I dug into a good old-fashioned paper copy of David Grann’s THE LOST CITY OF Z and a galley of the new Jonathan Tropper novel THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU.  (I’m a new fan).   She read & loved the very creepy Stieg Larsson’s THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO, in paperback.

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Apple reportedly talking to publishers about a new Tablet

The Financial Times reported today that Apple is hurrying to get a tablet-sized computer on the market for Christmas.  Analysts expect the new tablet to have wi-fi but not necessarily phone network access -like the iPod Touch.   It is predicted to have the ability to browse the web, listen to music and see liner notes, probably watch movies or TV.    The Tablet screen could be up to 10 inches diagonally.


The FT also says:



Book publishers have been in talks with Apple and are optimistic about being included in the computer, which could provide an alternative to Amazon’s Kindle, Sony’s Reader and a forthcoming device from Plastic Logic, recently allied with Barnes & Noble.


“It would be a colour, flat-panel TV to the old-fashioned, black and white TV of the Kindle,” one publishing executive said.


Information Week has some interesting analysis on the proposition.



Apple’s success with the iPod, which redefined the market for portable music players, and the iPhone, which did the same for the smartphone category, has shown that the company is capable of bringing game-changing technology to market. But the tablet as described in media reports is not considered a slam dunk by some analysts.


The first issue is the price tag….For the device to be successful, it would have to be an affordable alternative to a netbook, the popular mini-laptops that typically sell for less than $500, and low-end full-size laptops. Wi-Fi would probably prove more popular for connecting to the Web than a wireless connection from a carrier.


What do you think?  Will a large, flat-screen multipurpose tablet beat the Kindle in ease of use or readability?

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There’s Something Fishy About the Kindle Paperwhite’s Delayed Shipments

For several weeks now, all versions of the Kindle Paperwhite—the 3G model, Wi-Fi model, and Special Offers models—have been showing an expected ship date of December 21st over on Amazon.com.I keep expecting the date to change, for them to be sold out for Christmas, but it hasn’t happened yet, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it never happens because something is fishy about the whole situation.I think there’s more to it than a simple supply issue, if that’s even an issue at all.


The reason I question that is I recently took a notion to check local supply of Kindle Paperwhites and much to my surprise they are readily available right now in multiple retail stores with no delay whatsoever. There are several Staples and Best Buy stores in my area that have several Kindle Paperwhites in stock and for sale.


That’s a little odd seeing as how they’ve been supposedly backordered for several weeks on Amazon.com.Then there’s the issue of the date. Of all the dates Amazon could have picked off the calendar, they just had to pick one that makes it seem like it is so incredibly popular that they might run out before Christmas, making customers think they have to buy one now before they sell out.That seems like a shady marketing tactic if you ask me.It might all be legit or just some strange coincidence, but something seems a little off about the whole equation. Generally when Amazon has supply issues with Kindles, the shipping dates fluctuate with demand. But not with the Kindle Paperwhite. It continues to remain at December 21st, even after Amazon says they sold more than twice as many Kindles this year over Black Friday and Cyber Monday than last year, and the fact the Kindle Paperwhite is the #3 bestseller on Amazon. Something doesn’t add up.

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Did you lose your Kindle?

Did you lose your Kindle in a taxi — and is your name John?  if so, the editors at CNet may have found it for you!Their photo editor Sarah found a Kindle in a cab on the way home from the airport.  Unfortunately, there was no entry in the “edit personal info” tab for them to contact John and return his Kindle!


Here’s a lesson:  put a note in the Personal Info setting with your name and phone number,  on the chance that a generous soul finds it and wants to return it!I’d also suggest adding a label to the Kindle, either to the machine, the case, or both, with your phone number!  (Personally, mine mentions a reward if found.   I know I’d be distraught if I lost it, so anything that might entice a would-be returner to give it back could help!)

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The Best Tablets for eReading 2012

I’ve been meaning to write an article about the Best Tablets for eReading for a long time to go along with the Best eBook Readers page, but when you start to think about it it’s not an easy task to complete given the sheer volume of tablets on the market these days. How could I possibly pick just five of them and rank them in order? Well, I can’t. There are too many variables and each person has their own likes and dislikes. So it turned out to be more of a guideline for choosing the best tablet for ereading, rather than just a top five list.


So here it is, the Best Tablets for eReading.Like the Best eBook Readers page, I decided to make it a separate page instead of a blog post so that I can update it each year with a new list. Feel free to come back to this post to leave thoughts and comments.

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Kindle eBooks Now Being Sold From Amazon Canada

Amazon has recently started selling Kindle ebooks directly from the Canadian Amazon website, Amazon.ca.I’ve been waiting for Amazon to make an official announcement on the subject, but it looks like they aren’t going to. I guess they are going for the silent marketing approach on this one.Up until recently all Kindle ebook purchases had to be routed through the US Amazon website for Canadian Kindle owners. Now Canadian Kindle owners can buy them direct from Amazon.ca and pay for them in Canadian dollars.The weird thing is that Kindle devices are still being sold via Amazon.com instead Amazon Canada, and none of the newer models are available yet aside from the latest basic Kindle.


Maybe that’s why Amazon hasn’t announced the Canadian Kindle store yet: perhaps they are waiting to make the launch official until everything is ready.The bigger story here is price. According to early reports at MobileRead, Canadian prices are often higher than US prices for the same ebook, even though the US and Canadian dollar are about the same.Taking a look at the price difference of a few random titles, I’m sure glad I don’t have to pay Canadian prices. The Hobbit is $6.41 at Amazon.com and $11.99 on Amazon.ca. And a lot of the titles on the top 100 seem to be $1-$3 more. It’s not all bad, though. The Hunger Games Trilogy is 22 cents cheaper in Canada.


It’s good to see Amazon finally expanding the Kindle store into Canada, but it’s going to cause a lot of confusion and frustration if this is how pricing is going to work.

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Chuwi V7 Extreme (Speedmax) Review

today we’ve got another user-submitted review of an inexpensive tablet imported from China called the Chuwi V7 Speedmax.It can be had for around $100 from Chinese wholesale websites and is somewhat comparable to the iPad mini in terms of screen ratio and resolution.Thanks to James Cloud for the review. And once again, if you have a review of a tablet or ereader you’d like to submit, please feel free to contact me.

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It’s Not Going to Be a Paperwhite Christmas

This is some weird timing. Two days ago I posted about how I thought it was odd that Amazon has had the Kindle Paperwhite listed as shipping on December 21st for several weeks, even after the busy Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping weekend, and especially when you can go to a Best Buy or Staples store and pick one up right now.But today the shipping date has finally changed. It now shows the Kindle Paperwhite as shipping in 3 to 5 weeks for three of the four models. The $199 3G Kindle Paperwhite without Special Offers is now the only one with a shipping date of December 21st, and for that price you might as well get the 7? Kindle Fire HD.


This is of course bad news for anyone who wants to give a Kindle Paperwhite as a Christmas gift since it is unlikely to arrive by December 25th.If you really want to get one by Christmas, I would advise checking with your local Best Buy and Staples stores to see if they have any in stock, or any of the other retail stores that sell Kindles.Amazon still has other Kindle models in stock online, but they are starting to have supply issues so if you plan on getting one for Christmas you’d better do it soon. The $159 Kindle Fire is expected to ship in 7-10 days (the $129 Cyber Monday deal must have done well), and the 8.9? Kindle Fire HD models are low on stock too and are expected to ship this week and next.


All models of the 7? Kindle Fire HD are currently in stock, and so are the basic $69 Kindles and the Kindle Keyboard. But if you were hoping for a Paperwhite Christmas, you’d better act now or it might be too late.

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8.9″ Kindle Fire HD $50 Off Today Only – All Models

Amazon has decided to run a sale on the 8.9? Kindle Fire HD today. This is a bit unusual because Amazon almost never runs a sale on current Kindle models.Perhaps they aren’t selling as well as the cheaper 7? models, or maybe Amazon has an overload of stock. Either way, getting $50 off is a really good deal if you are looking to snag an 8.9? Kindle Fire HD this Christmas.


The sale takes the price of the 16GB 8.9? Kindle Fire HD to just $249. That’s not a bad deal at all for a tablet with a 1920 x 1200 high resolution screen, an HDMI port, a front-facing camera, dual stereo speakers, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. The sale also applies to the 4G LTE Kindle Fire HD, dropping the price from $499 to $449. I never thought the 4G Kindle was a very good deal, and I still don’t feel like it’s a very good deal because it doesn’t even have a rear camera or a memory card slot for that price. But to each their own.In order to get the discounted price, you need to add code FIREHD89 during checkout.And for those of you wondering if you can get some cash back from Amazon if you recently purchased the Kindle Fire HD at regular price, that’s not going to happen. But if it were me and the order hadn’t shipped yet, I’d cancel it and re-order one at the lower price.

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B&N Permanently Drops Price of Nook Touch to $79

Barnes and Noble has decided to shave $20 off the price of the Nook Simple Touch as of tomorrow, December 9th, dropping the total expenditure down to just $79 plus tax. And it’s not a sale; the price is staying at $79.That’s a pretty good price considering it sold for almost double that ($139) when it was first released one and a half years ago. It also puts more pressure on the competition because now the Nook Touch is the same price as the Kobo Mini, which has a smaller 5-inch screen and no memory card slot.B&N is even beating Amazon on price now. The basic Kindle is $69, but that includes advertisements for that price; the non-ad version is $89. Not only that but the Nook adds a touchscreen and a memory card slot, both lacking on the basic Kindle.


B&N has apparently decided to leave the price of the GlowLight Nook Touch at $119 because there is no mention of it in the press release. That’s not surprising since it already received a $20 price drop back in October.I wonder if the price drop is a sign that B&N is looking to clear out the remaining stock of the Nook Touch in order to release a successor in early 2013. A Nook Touch HD would go along nicely with B&N’s new HD tablets…


Other Nook Deals
Through December 13th, Frys has the Nook HD on sale for $179 in stores. That’s $20 less than normal.
Frys also has certified pre-owned GlowLight Nook Touches for $99. That’s $20 less than new.
Refurbished Nook Tablets can be had from B&N.com and eBay for $149 (16GB) and $129 (8GB).

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Jailbreak for Kindle Paperwhite Version 5.2.0 and 5.3.0

Yesterday a new jailbreak package was posted over on MobileRead that works on all currently available Kindle Paperwhites with 5.2.0 or 5.3.0 firmware.Basically all you have to do is download a zip file to your computer, extract it, and then copy the contents over to your Kindle Paperwhite. It adds a new ebook called “Paperwhite Jailbreak” to the device that you simply have to open and follow the directionsThe process is really easy and only takes a couple of minutes to free your Kindle from Amazon’s controlling grasp and open it up to further customization. Jailbreaking itself doesn’t really add anything, but it opens up the doors to install other hacks. Basically it makes it so you can install custom update packages instead of just the ones from Amazon.


Along with the jailbreak, the package installs the Kindlet developer certificates, the jailbreak bridge, and rescue pack.This is obviously something Amazon frowns upon so don’t expect them to repair or exchange a jailbroken Kindle. Personally I don’t find much use in jailbreaking a Kindle (it’s not like the Nook Touch where you can install a bunch of Android apps), so this is something I’m not going to try. Plus I’m planning on exchanging my Paperwhite to see if I can get one without discolorations. But for those of you eager to customize and hack your Kindle Paperwhite, hit the jailbreaking thread over at MobileRead for the directions and download.

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Marvin is a New eBook Reader App with Artificial Intelligence (Video)

There’s a new ebook reader app for the Apple iPad called Marvin. What’s unique about Marvin is its Artificial Intelligence engine that analyses the book you are reading and then provides additional information about the characters and places mentioned in the book, and more.Basically it’s kind of like the X-Ray feature found on newer Kindles, except there’s more to it than that. It references Wikipedia for additional info on the characters and places in a book, and you can look-up information about the author, read reviews, and you can even pin these articles to the book so they are easily accessible later on.


Another cool feature is you can quickly look-up names of characters that appear in the book to get a popup that brings up the first time the name appears in the book so you can get a description of the character to remind you who they are.There’s also a feature with Marvin that creates summaries of a book, which then creates a separate ebook for that summary.


Aside from the Artificial Intelligence engine, Marvin is a typical ebook reader app. It has a bunch font adjusting options, themes, and custom gestures. Not to mention notes, highlights, dictionary look-up, sharing, bookmarks, etc. Marvin also integrates with Dropbox.There are some limitations with the app, however. First and foremost it is only available on the Apple iPad. Secondly, Marvin only works with DRM-free ePub ebooks. It also costs $2.99, which I feel is too high given the DRM limitations. But right now Marvin is free for a limited time so it’s definitely worth checking out. Here’s a video tour that shows most of the features in action.

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The Best and Worst Selling Kindles Are…

Today I was looking over the electronics bestsellers list at Amazon.com and thought the way the various Kindle models stack up against each other is interesting.Currently the #1 bestselling Kindle is the 7? Kindle Fire HD for $199. That’s somewhat surprising considering the fact that Amazon just ran a couple of sales on the 8.9? Kindle Fire HDs this past week, but there’s only one of those in the top 20 of electronics overall.


Compared to the other Kindle models, the 8.9? KFHD isn’t ranking nearly as high. Both E Ink Kindles are selling better than it and there’s only one of the 4G models on the list, and it’s all the way at #83. The old Kindle Keyboards from years ago are outselling it, and so is last year’s basic Kindle, which isn’t even available anymore.Another interesting thing with the top 100 list is that the Special Offers Kindles always sell more than their ad-free counterparts. A lot of people complain about the ads but a lot of people are buying them anyway (it would be interesting to know how many people pay the extra fee to remove the ads after using the Kindle for awhile).


Here’s the overall list of Kindle devices and their overall ranking in the top 100 bestsellers list as of today 12/14/12:
#1. 7? Kindle Fire HD 16GB with Special Offers – $199
#2. 7? Kindle Fire with Special Offers – $159
#3. Kindle Paperwhite Wi-Fi with Special Offers – $119
#4. Basic Kindle with Special Offers – $69
#5. 8.9? Kindle Fire HD 16GB with Special Offers – $299
#9. 7? Kindle Fire HD 16GB without Special Offers – $214
#10. Kindle Paperwhite Wi-Fi without Special Offers – $139
#11. 7? Kindle Fire HD 32GB with Special Offers – $249
#14. Kindle Paperwhite Wi-Fi +3G with Special Offers – $179
#19. 7? Kindle Fire without Special Offers – $174
#25. 8.9? Kindle Fire HD 32GB with Special Offers – $369
#26. Basic Kindle International Model – $89
#27. 8.9? Kindle Fire HD 16GB without Special Offers – $314
#28. 7? Kindle Fire HD 32GB without Special Offers – $264
#30. Kindle Keyboard 3G with Special Offers – $139
#32. Kindle Paperwhite Wi-Fi +3G without Special Offers – $199
#40. Basic Kindle without Special Offers – $89
#49. Basic Kindle with Special Offers (last year’s gray model) – unavailable
#53. 8.9? Kindle Fire HD 32GB without Special Offers – $384
#63. Kindle Keyboard 3G without Special Offers – $159
#69. Basic Kindle without Special Offers (last year’s gray model) – $89
#83. 8.9? Kindle Fire HD 4G LTE 32GB with Special Offers – $499The only Kindles that didn’t make the top 100 list are the remaining three 8.9? Kindle Fire HD models with 4G LTE.

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Does KDP Select Negatively Affect eBook Sales?

I blogged about Amazon’s KDP Select program a couple of days ago.Since then I’ve been trying it out. Sure its only been two days since I enrolled my books in KDP Select but since Amazon only gives you 3 days to cancel enrollment I have to make a fast decision based on the data I have.Here’s my data from the past two days: 20 eBooks Enrolled 0 eBook Borrowed (note: Units Borrowed is a new column in your report after enrolling in KDP Select)That’s not very encouraging. Particularly since many of the books I have enrolled get sales every day and are on Page 1 in the Kindle Marketplace for multiple keyword phrases.But, there’s potentially even worse news: I think having an ebook in the KDP Select program negatively affects its  regular marketplace sales.I can’t be totally sure about this after only 2 days but i noticed a significant decrease in sales after enrolling the 20 ebooks in KDP Select.


most people who shop on Amazon are not Amazon Prime members. So they see that some people get the ebook for free while they have to pay. Think about it from the point of view of the shopper… “Oh, this book is free if you’re a member of that club so it’s probably not very good. I’m sure they don’t give away their good books.”I’m going to test this out. While I’m going to cancel KDP Select enrollment for my best selling ebooks I’m going to keep a few of the moderate sellers enrolled and see what happens.  By the end of the year I’ll have enough data to make an educated decision about whether or not KDP Select is worthwhile for Independent Publishers.

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Amazon’s New India Kindle Store

People in India already had access to Kindle via costly imports, but now the Kindle and ebook market just exploded in potential with the recent release of India’s Kindle Store. With over one billion people and a bourgeoning middle class, the potential market for ebooks just increased very dramatically.Granted, not all one billion people have the means to purchase and Amazon Kindle. The bare-bones version costs 6,999 rupees (as of writing, that’s equivalent to $126.38 American dollars) and they can be purchased at Croma stores across India. While for most of the population this tablet is still prohibitively expensive, for an ever-increasing group of people this is definitely a gadget that not only falls into their price-range but is also very covetable. For Indians that already have a Kindle, or if they wish to buy one of the more expensive imports such as Kindle Touch 3G, they can still access the recently opened Indian Kindle store on those devices.


Amazon has found a very good population in which to expand their Kindle and ebooks services. The middle and upper classes of India are very literate and fluent in multiple languages, including English (in fact, more people speak English in India than they do in America). Many people are voracious readers. This is a huge boon for Indian authors and publishers – if you are one of our Indian customers reading this blog, start putting your own ebooks onto the Indian store in whichever language you feel most comfortable publishing in, jaldi se! This is a great opportunity to be ahead of the curve and stake your claim in the new world of e-readers and get some easy and evergreen revenue.  Indian authors and publishers will now start receiving royalty payments in rupees, which is very convenient for within India. The market potential is enormous and now is the time to beat the pack!


If you live in a country outside of India but happen to know one of the many languages found in India now would be a GREAT time to publish works in these other languages. It’s still in the early days, but your ebook will be readily available to the constant influx of new customers whose mother tongue is not English (though to reiterate, publishing more ebooks in English is fine because so many people speak perfectly good English…sometimes even better English….than what is spoken in predominately English-speaking countries) and it will maximize your income potential. If you want to write in Devanagari, Tamil, Nastaliq, Malayalam, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati, or one of the other major Indian scripts, please refer to Amazon’s support team for help concerning publishing in these scripts.One thing that will be very interesting to see though is how the Indian government will navigate this unchartered territory. India is the world’s largest democracy, and though freedom of expression is enshrined in their constitution, the government has been known to occasionally censor or ban books in an effort to keep “communal harmony” (that is in itself an interesting topic, but one not meant for this blog). Some of these banned books are available on Amazon’s International Kindle Store, and it remains yet to be seen if they can be published digitally on Amazon’s Indian store. If not, people in India with Kindles should still be able to access banned books via the international store…there is going to be some interesting maneuvering from distributors and/or politicians happening in the near future.

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Sunday 4 November 2012

Which eBook Reader or Tablet Do You Want for Christmas?

It’s the busiest time of year for holiday shopping, and once again ebook readers and tablets are on many people’s lists. But which ones are the most coveted? Both Barnes and Noble and Amazon claim they’ve sold more than double their ereaders and tablets during Black Friday and Cyber Monday than last year (although nobody seems to notice they both have more than twice as many models to choose from this year).readers as gifts this holiday season.


But with all the choices, deciding on the right one can be a difficult decision. It’s not always about getting the best deal on a gadget, it’s about getting the best one for the person you are giving it to. Sometimes getting the cheapest one or the one that’s “on sale” isn’t going to be the best option in the long run.Sometimes it’s better to think about it from a different perspective. One way is to get ideas from other people making the same choice. I’ve already laid out my top picks for ebook readers and tablets for 2012 in previous posts this past week. If I had to narrow it down even further I’d choose the Kobo Glo and Kindle Paperwhite for ebook readers, and the Nexus 10 and Kindle Fire HD for tablets (I’d choose the Nook HD+ over the Kindle Fire HD if custom firmware or sideloading apps was available, though). But what about you? If you had the choice, which ebook reader or tablet would you choose if you could take your pick of any of the devices out there this year?

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Review: Ainol Novo 7 Legend, An Android 4.0 Tablet for Less Than $100

You may recall earlier in the year I reviewed a cheap tablet called the Ainol Novo 7 Paladin that was among the initial wave of sub-$100 Android 4.0 tablets out of China.This time around we’ve got a user-submitted review of a newer model from Ainol called the Novo 7 Legend. It has some improvements over the Paladin model, and has a 4:3 screen ratio instead of 16:9, and still costs less than $100.


Thanks to James Cloud for the review. Like always, if you have a review you’d like to submit, be it a reading device, an ebook, or ereading software, please feel free to contact me.

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Saturday 3 November 2012

PopSlate: An iPhone with a 4″ E Ink Screen, Kind of…

One way or another E Ink is going make its way onto smartphones. A couple of months back Onyx International showed off an Android-powered phone with an E Ink screen, and the company E Ink themselves demonstrated a prototype of a dual-sided Android phone with an LCD screen on one side and an E Ink screen on the other side.Now enters popSlate, a case for the iPhone 5 that has a 4? E Ink screen built into it.


With popSlate you can “Pop” images onto the back of an iPhone using the popSlate app, including photos, iPhone screenshots, web images, and it works with photo sharing platforms like Instagram. You can set the images up to remain static or set up a slideshow.PopSlate can also be used as a mini ereader to display text, including notifications, sports scores, maps, notes, calendars, etc. It will also have an open API for developers.


The popSlate case connects through the iPhone’s lightning connector to get power to refresh the screen, to send data back and forth, and to use the iPhone’s accelerometer to detect taps on the E Ink screen because the popSlate case has no sensors of its own. The fact that it lacks any sensors means its usefulness is going to be very limited, however, because you can basically change the screen and nothing else; you aren’t going to be able to interact with the screen to use an app like on the LCD screen. But E Ink does have its benefits since E Ink screens require no power to maintain an image on the screen, and they are a lot more readable in bright light than LCD screens.


And for those of you worried about the E Ink screen breaking, popSlate is supposedly using a “nearly indestructible” E Ink screen.PopSlate is still in the early stages and isn’t in production yet. Right now the makers are trying to raise funding through IndieGoGo. The goal is $150,000. There’s little doubt they are going to achieve that. They’ve already raised over $126,000 in about a week. At this rate they’ll hit their goal by the end of this week.

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Friday 2 November 2012

New Firmware Updates for Sony Reader PRS-T2 and PRS-T1 Now Available

Sony has released firmware updates for their latest ebook reader, the Sony PRS-T2, as well as last year’s model, the Sony PRS-T1.With the PRS-T2 it will notify you that the update is available after connecting to Wi-Fi and then ask to download and install it. I’m not sure if the PRS-T1 has automatic updates or not (it didn’t used to) so its package may need to be downloaded and installed from a computer.


Regardless, here are the links to the Sony support pages with the firmware downloads and the descriptions of the changes:


Sony PRS-T1
Sony PRS-T2
Note that those links lead to the US versions. If you live outside the US you’ll have to track down the support page from one of Sony’s regional websites.Both updates are dated today, 11/27/2012. The new firmware version for the PRS-T2 is 1.0.04.11081, and the new firmware version for the PRS-T1 is 1.0.05.11130.


The update for the PRS-T1 basically removes the Google Books feature since that is no longer integrated into the Sony’s Reader Store, and it also supposedly fixes an issue for those unable to login to the Reader Store.The update for the PRS-T2 addresses an issue with error messages displaying when going into collections, and login issues with Facebook and the Reader Store.So basically the new updates include some much-needed bug fixes but no new features.

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Thursday 1 November 2012

Software Update for Kindle Fire HD Version 7.2.2 Adds New Features

The Kindle Fire HD got some new features via a firmware update yesterday.The new firmware is labeled version 7.2.2, and it’s for the 7? Kindle Fire HD. The 8.9? model has different firmware, and there isn’t any mention of the new features on its software update page yet—it will probably be updated soon.Here are the three new features added with the update:



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.


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 and the ability to change the keyboard language.


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 http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?&docId=1000863021.


Like usual, the update will download and install automatically to your Kindle Fire HD if it is connected to the internet. You can initiate the update by swiping down from the top of the Kindle’s screen to open the notifications bar and then tap “Sync”.Another option is to download the update to your computer and transfer it to the Kindle via USB. Hit the 7? Kindle Fire HD Software Update page for the directions and download link.

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