Friday, July 26, 2013

Amazon Kicks Off 'Kindle Singles Interview' Series - Adweek

Expanding the range of its Kindle Singles offerings, Amazon has kicked off an interview series on the e-reader. The first installment of “The Kindle Singles Interview” series features Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was interviewed by Tablet magazine’s literary editor David Samuels. Amazon previewed the 42-page piece with a handful of quotes from the octogenarian leader, including his praise for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

With the series, Which will include other “iconic figures and world leaders,” Amazon is borrowing from the format of print magazines and Their high-profile interviews (think Rolling Stone or Time).

“In September 1962, novelist Alex Haley’s conversation with Miles Davis Launched the Playboy Interview, and pioneered the idea of ??a long-form, extended dialogue with the great personalities of our time,” Kindle Singles editor David Blum said in a release. “We hope to carry forward That tradition, and use the unlimited digital space to commit great artists and thinkers in conversation with skilled writers and interviewers.”

Typically, Successful Kindle Singles are the works of Established authors, Which entices readers who are used to Consuming digital content for free on the Web to pony up the small fee Associated with the shorter e-books. But in the case of the new interview series, Amazon Appears to believe the Kindle’s reach is large enough to Attract readers-and theirmoney-based on the interview subjects alone. Amazon reps were not immediately available to comment on other interviews set to be published as part of the series.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

The New Nexus 7 Vs iPad Mini, Kindle Fire HD and Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 - Mashable

What’s This?

Chrsitina-warren-headshot-sq class=”author_name”> By Christina Warren 2013-07-26 01:51:56 UTC

Google Introduced an updated version of the popular Nexus 7 tablet on Wednesday, Adding a higher resolution screen and better processor, while still keeping the price at an affordable $ 229.

When The original Nexus 7 Launched last year, it was remarkable for being a small form-factor tablet with powerful specs and a low price. As Mashable Tech Editor Pete Pachal said last year, “the Nexus 7 is the Android media tablet the [original] Kindle Fire was supposed to be. A year later, dozens of companies have Followed Google’s lead with the Nexus 7, including HP, Acer.

See also: 25 Best Free Android Apps

At the sametime, the biggest players in the tablet ecosystem – Amazon and Apple – have stepped up Their game. Amazon released a better-specced Kindle Fire HD last September and Apple belatedly entered the small tablet space with the iPad mini a month later. And Android leader Samsung isn’ta out of the small tablet space either. Earlier this month, Samsung released the third generation of the original 7-inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, now priced at just $ 199.

So how does the new Nexus 7 compare against the other small form-factor tablets? Quite well, especiallywhen it comes to specs and screen resolution.


Screen Size


Resolution and Pixel Density


Processor Speed ??


Battery Life


Storage Space


Camera


Price


OS


LTE Option


Nexus 7 2

Kindle Fire HD

iPad mini

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 3

7:02-inches

7-inches

7.9-inches

7-inches

1920×1200, 323ppi

1280×800, 215ppi

1024×768, 163ppi

1024×600, 169ppi

Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, 1.5GHz

Dual-core 1.2Ghz OMAP 4460

Dual-core A5

Dual-core 1.2Ghz

Up to 9 hours active use

11 hours continuous use

Up to 10 hours

Up to 8 hours

16 or 32GB

16 or 32GB

16, 32 or 64GB

8GB up to 64GB via microSD

1.2MP front, 5MP rear

Front facing only

1.2MP front, 5MP rear

1.3MP front, 3.0MP rear

$ 229 16GB, $ 269 32GB, $ 349 32GB LTE

$ 199 16GB, $ 229 32GB

WiFi: $ 329 16GB, $ 429 32GB, $ 529 64GB LTE $ 459 16GB, $ 559 32GB, $ 659 64GB

$ 199 8GB

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Forked Version of Android 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich

iOS 6 (iOS 7 Coming this Fall)

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Yes, via Verizon, T-Mobile and AT & T

No.

Yes, via AT & T, Verizon and Sprint

Not Yet, 3G May be coming into some markets

Of course, buying a tablet isn’ta all about specs. Users should consider the ecosystem available to them on a Particular Device – especiallywhen it comes to available media content.

The iPad mini is the leader here – not only in terms of number of tablet-specific apps, but the fact That it & Q media playback from virtually every service on the market (the one exception is actually Google Play video). Amazon is a close second – only iTunes missing from the mix. For some users, That will not matter – the selection available via Google Play is more than enough to keep them satisfied – but it’s something to Consider.

At the end of the day, the Nexus 7 has re-set the bar for small form-factor tablets.

What is your favorite small form-factor tablet? Let us know in the comments.

Images: Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung; Mashable Composite

Topics: Gadgets, iPad Mini, kindle fire hd, Mobile, Nexus 7, tablets, Tech

Amazon reports loss on Revenues of $ 15.7B; highlights Kindle success - GigaOM

36 mins ago July 25, 2013 – 1:10 PM PDT

In a quarterbacks When Amazon’s stock price hit a record high, the company delivered a loss in its earnings report Thursday afternoon even as Revenues rose. Earnings were – $ 0.02 per share, or a loss of $ 7 million, on revenue of $ 15.7 billion, Compared to earnings of $ 0.01 per share, or $ 7 million, on revenue of $ 12.83 billion this time last year.

Analysts had expected earnings of $ 0.06 per share on Revenues of $ 15.7 billion.

Amazon’s operating income, Which Analysts watch competetive Because They worry about Amazon’s razor-thin margins, fell 26 percent to $ 79 million. This time last year, it was $ 107 million.

Amazon’s stock rose to a record $ 308.69 EARLIER this month. This was not precipitated by one big event, but July was a good month for Amazon in party Because a U.S. federal judge found Apple guilty of conspiring with publishers to fix ebook prices at the launch of the iBookstore. That’s Considered a boon for Amazon and its Kindle business. And in the earnings release, Amazon highlighted Kindle: “This past quarter, our top 10 bestselling items worldwide were all digital products – Kindle, Kindle Fire HDs, accessories and digital content,” CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement.

Last quarter, we heard rumors That Amazon is working on a set-top box That would stream Prime Instant Video and other video offerings to consumers’ TVs. We’ve seen no sign of That device yet, but in today’s release, Amazon Mentioned that “Prime Instant Video has surpassed 40,000 titles, including many premium exclusives like Downton Abbey and Under the Dome . ‘It also noted That, through a deal with Viacom, “Prime members now have unlimited instant streaming access to popular kids’ titles Such as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants “- Which shows to Netflix lost the streaming rights.

A few other notes from the report:

  • Amazon Launched the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader and Kindle Fire HD tablet in China in June, and said, “Customer response to this launch Significantly exceeded expectations and product went out of stock in many retail outlets within the first week. “
  • Amazon noted That Goodreads, the social reading site it Acquired in March, DOUBLED its membership in less than a year, to 20 million members. (Goodreads Announced this on its blog EARLIER this week.)
  • North American media Revenues totaled $ 2.17 billion, up 16 percent over last year, and North American sales of electronics and other merchandise were $ 6.48 billion, up 31 percent over last year. “Other” sales in North America – Which includes AWS – were $ 844 million for the quarter, up 64 percent.

    Internationally, media Revenues fell by 1 percent to $ 2.22 billion – Continuing a trend of slow international media sales – while sales of electronics and other merchandise rose 22 percent to $ 3.94 billion.

    For the third quarter, Amazon said investors Should expect Revenues between $ 15.45 billion and $ 17.15 billion, and operating Losses between $ 440 million and $ 65 million.

    Amazon is holding an investor call at 5 pm ET, and we will be on the call.

    This post was updated several times on Thursday afternoon.

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  • How consumer media will change in 2013 December 2012
  • The evolution of consumer media cloud storage July 2012
  • monetizing music in the post-scarcity age March 2012
  • Amazon generated long-form interviews to Kindle Singles - Engadget

    Image

    Amazon’s harnessing the power of the Kindle Single to bring the art of long-form interviews to its e-reader. The new Kindle Singles Interview series offers up conversations with world leaders and other key figures for $ 0.99 a pop, kicking things off with Shimon Peres. The Israeli President and Nobel Peace Prize winner discusses the country’s upcoming peace talks with New Yorker writer David Samuels. The conversation, titled simply “The Optimist,” also touches on topics like Mark Zuckerberg’s “revolution with a billion people.” You can check That out in the source link below.

    Show full PR text

    New Kindle Singles Interview series debuts with Israeli President Shimon Peres

    Amazon.com Announced today “The Kindle Singles Interview,” a new series designed to take full advantage of the Kindle Singles platform by offering major long-form interviews with iconic figures and world leaders. The Kindle Singles Interview is a new exclusive series in the Kindle Singles store (www.amazon.com / kindle ingles). The debut Kindle Singles Interview, “The Optimist,” is an interview with Shimon Peres, the 89-year-old president of Israel.

    Peres, who turns 90 on August 2, was elected president of Israel in 2007. He Previously served two terms as Israel’s Prime Minister, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 (with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin) for his role in the peace Negotiations That point to the Oslo Accords. In “The Optimist,” President Peres insisted That forthcoming peace talks arranged by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry are serious, and asserted That Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is a partner for peace. He overpriced called for a peaceful resolution to his country’s conflicts with Iran, Declaring that “sanctions are functioning” and Adding that “I would not like to start anything by shooting.” In a nearly two-hour conversation last Sunday, President Peres described Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg as the most important revolutionary leader in the world today. “Karl Marx never forecast Zuckerberg,” Peres said. ̶ 0;He made a revolution with a billion people.”

    “In September of 1962, the novelist Alex Haley’s conversation with Miles Davis Launched the Playboy Interview, and pioneered the idea of ??a long-form, extended dialogue with the great personalities of our time,” said David Blum, editor of Kindle Singles. “We hope to carry forward That tradition, and use the unlimited digital space to commit great artists and thinkers in conversation with skilled writers and interviewers.”

    The interview was Conducted by David Samuels, in association with Tablet Magazine. Samuels is a Contributing Editor at Harper’s and a longtime contributor to The New Yorker and The Atlantic, and the author of Only Love Can Break Your Heart and The Runner. Tablet Magazine (tabletmag.com) is the daily online magazine of Jewish news, ideas, and culture.

    The Kindle Singles Interview is available for $ 0.99 EXCLUSIVELY to Kindle customers in the Kindle Singles store (www.amazon.com / kindle ingles).

    Amazon generated long-form interviews to Kindle Singles - Engadget

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    The previous page is sending you to

    http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/25/kindle-single-interview /? utm_medium = feed

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    If you do not want to visit That page, you can return to the previous page.

    Kindle Fire HD tablet sale: Staples selling Amazon tablet at lower price - Examiner.com

    A new Kindle Fire HD tablet sale is going on, but this time the promotion is not through the top web retailer, Amazon.com. Instead, the real world retail store Staples is offering the tablet at a reduced price.

    A report from the Engadget site on July 22 That indicates the 7-inch version of the Kindle Fire HD is currently on sale for just $ 159 at Staples. While They note that the price is $ .99 cents lower than a Recent sale at Best Buy, it’s overpriced noted That the device has a “sorry app economy.” For example, as of this report, gamers still can not download Candy Crush Saga at the Amazon app store, Although thatcould be more an issue with the developers.

    The Staples product page shows off the $ 159 sales price, and indicates thatthis deal is only good in stores, with an instant $ 40 savings taken off at the register. The deal, Which is good on the 7-inch, 16-gigabyte WiFi-only model, will expire on July 27, 2013. Customers May also have the option to locate a nearby Staples store through their website, and then click a “Reserve & Pickup” button so They can make sure to get Their hands on the tablet.

    The Kindle Fire HD has been out since late 2012, and there’s Currently rumors of new devices coming out to the competitive tablet market this event. The first of the new tablets May actually be the Google Nexus 7, Which reportedly has an updated version arriving by the end of this month. Google will host an event on July 24, Which many believe will be the unveiling of this new tablet.

    For more details on the latest Kindle Fire HD tablet sale, see the Staples website.

    Wednesday, July 24, 2013

    Google's Nexus 7 Could Sell 8 Million Units and Top the Amazon Kindle Fire 3 ... - Benz No

    Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) upcoming tablet audit could specimen to be hugely profitable When it is released later this year.

    According To DigiTimes, the second-generation Nexus 7 could sell as many as eight million units worldwide in 2013. This would be a significant bump over the original Nexus 7, Which has sold an Estimated six million units since it was released last summer.

    DigiTimes’ supply chain sources are Concerned thatthis sales estimate could be Bike or Bus to Achieve now that SEVERAL other (lower-priced) tablets are on the market.

  • Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) is currently selling its seven-inch Android tablet for $ 139.99 – $ 30 lower than the MSRP.
  • Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS) overpriced lowered the price of its seven-inch Nook HD, Which now retails for $ 129.
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is expected to drop the price of the Surface RT from $ 499 to $ 349 this Sunday.
  • Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) sells its cheapest tablet, the iPad Mini, for $ 329. The company is expected to release a new version later this year.
  • Related: Hewlett-Packard’s $ 169 Tablet is Just the Beginning

    Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has not Announced When The next-generation Kindle Fire will be released, but many expect it to arrive within the September / October timeframe.

    All of These tablets will produce stiff competition for the new Nexus 7, Which is rumored to containers a 1980×1200 display, a Snapdragon 600 processor from Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) and two cameras (5MP in the rear, 1.2MP in the front).

    If the device can sell eight million units, it Should be able to eclipse the sales of the Kindle Fire is the third Amazon is currently the number-two player in America, but its sales are nowhere near That of the market leader – Apple.

    During the March quarter, Apple sold 19.5 million iPads. Amazon would not say how many Kindle Fires it sold During the same period, but the company is believed to have sold 1.7 million tablets.

    At a rate of nearly two million tablets per quarter, Amazon would not be able to sell more than eight million total units (Kindle Fire 2 and 3 sales combined) in 2013. This could pave the way for Google to take the lead.

    Part of Google’s success is due to its global presence. While the Kindle Fire was Initially exclusive to North America, Google has sold the Nexus 7 in as many nations as possible.

    Louis Bedigian is the Senior Tech Analyst and Features Writer of Benz None. You can reach him at 248-636-1322 or Louis (at) benzingapro (dot) com. Follow him @ LouisBedigianBZ

    Porn on the Kindle: A Catch-22 - The Atlantic

    People like to read erotic literature on an e-readers Because they’re discreet. But retailers can make the smut very difficult to find.

    Max Braun / flickr

    “Many of us Realized Immediately That, like the Internet, the Kindle was made for porn.” So wrote the pseudonymous kinukitty at my website, The Hooded Utilitarian, a while back – and the use of the pseudonym under lines the insight. Consuming porn is something people thwart prefer to do at least semi-anonymously – especially people who happen to be women. By dispensing with book covers, and indeed with books, the Kindle has made it possible for readers to peruse 50 Shades of Grey wheresoer They go, without fear of scorn – and, for that matter, without fear of harassment. According To the (overpriced pseudonymous) porn writer Venus Santiago, back in the 90s, When She Quantity Black Lace titles at a brick and mortar store, “the clerk felt free to hit on me.” After that happened several times, Santiago said, she stopped buying in public.

    With the Kindle, though, you do not need to buy in public. As Santiago wrote me by email:

    The beautiful thing about buying porn on Kindle Is that nobody sneers at you. It’s just you, Amazon, and your staff mobile device. You can read it on the train or subway, at home, wherever, and no one has any idea what you’re ogling. Which Removes most of the outside negative social pressure That Prevents a lot of women who are interested in porn from buying it in the mainstream places (sex shops, online XXX websites).

    As a result, pornographic e-books have taken off. 50 Shades is the Successful mainstream phenomenon That everyone knows about, but there are tons more where thatcame from, and tons kinkier as well. E.L. James’ nervous flirtations with BDSM are perhaps titillating by the standards of the rest of the best-seller list. But her too-timid-to-even-sign-the-contract relationship shenanigans barely even registers as kink Compared to the other offerings available via e-book, where step-sibling incest, minotaur porn, and futanari abound. Santiago for her party has written gay assassin romance as well as a series of cheerfully perverse stories featuring human cow lactation porn, in Which submission, degradation, and impossible busts exist alongside a remarkably detailed grasp of dairy industry mechanics.

    The Kindle, then, provides both privacy and the promise That somewhere, someone has written exactly the gay werewolf paranormal romance you’ve always wanted to read. Combine the privacy and range of titles, and there’s little doubtthat for digital readers is the perfect porn delivery systems.



    Related Story

    Porn for Ladies: The Subtle Sexism of Assessing Female-Friendly Smut


    Which seems to have made Amazon somewhat uncomfortable. Back in 2010, Amazon deleted many erotica e-books with incest themes – not only dropping them from its store, but actually Electronically erasing old titles from consumers’ digital devices. (It later Claimed the Erasure were a mistake, though its policy on incest titles remains Unclear.) More recently, the company has been filtering some erotic titles, so That They do not Appear in the All Departments search. To find them, you need to search Directly in books or in the Kindle store. For example, Santiago’s title Accidental Milkmaid 3: Gangbanged by Bulls shows up in the Kindle Store, but not in the All Departments search. On the other hand, high-profile erotica like 50 Shades , or, for that matter, Lady Chatterley’s Lover , Appears in both kinds of searches.

    Fiddling with the search function May seem like a Relatively benign step. In practice, though, it has an impact on sales, and can render a title Essentially invisible. Selena Kitt, the pen name of a Successful erotica author who makes hundreds of thou sands of dollars a month by writing porn e-books, has Referred to Amazon’s filtering as the Pornocalypse. Previous Amazon rejiggerings of Their search function have at various points cut her monthly income by a third, she says.

    In an essay on her website, Kitt argues That That Amazon’s seeming Efforts to hide the porn are both hypocritical and a bad case of biting-the-hand.

    Erotica, as a genre, has been Amazon’s dirty little secret from the beginning, driving sales of the Kindle to astronomical numbers. Does Amazon really believe That it was all the free copies of “Huckleberry Finn” and “Moby Dick” … That drove readers to buy Kindle devices? Nope, sorry. It was erotica. It was “porn.”

    Kitt is angry, and you can understand why. She works hard, is Successful, and instead of giving her accolades, her business partners keep her product hidden from would-be readers.

    I was not able to get a comment for Amazon for this piece, so I do not know for sure why They are manipulative thing search functions. Nor do I know why They refuse to explain Their standards to authors. One of Kitt’s chief frustrations Is that Amazon will not tell her what she needs to do to keep her book from being filtered, and That They seem to keep changing the rules on her.

    Amazon’s policies May be unnecessarily opaque, but reading Kitt’s essay, you can at least see a possible motivation for the company’s apparent Puritanism. Kitt herself, like Santiago and kinukitty, believes That the appeal of porn on the Kindle is Precisely That it Allows for reading of content surreptitiously. Porn May have helped make the Kindle Successful, but a big part of the reasonthat the Kindle is so perfectly made for porn Is that it does not look like it’s made for porn. Women (and men, too) who want to read porn on the Kindle do not want to be buying Their porn from someplace That screams porn ! Amazon’s advantage as a seller of porn ice Precisely That it sells lots of Things That Are not porn, and That it is known for selling Primarily Things That Are not porn.

    Porn e-book writers and readers, then, are in a catch-22. Folks like Amazon porn Because Amazon isn’ta branded as a porn outlet. But as long as Amazon isn’ta branded as a porn outlet, the company is going to see X-rated content as something of an embarrassment. The same incentives That drive writers to use pseudonyms and readers to use the Kindle overpriced drive retailers to keep porn from showing up in searches and make them want to keep it off the best-seller lists. For many good Reasons, and perhaps some bad ones, nobody – not readers, not writers, not retailers – wants to publically embrace the porn.

    The Survivors Amazon Kindle eBook Giveaway - PR Web (press release)

    Austin, Texas (PRWEB) July 24, 2013

    Join seven ordinary strangers as They’ve become seven extraordinary survivors in The Survivors (Amazon Digital Book, AISN: B00DGKSKOE) by Daniel Harvell. The eBook will be available for download at no charge During a special two-day promotional event on Wednesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 25 at the Amazon Kindle store. The Survivors is a contemporary fantasy novel mixed with mystery, thriller and suspense elements.

    When seven people inexplicably walk away from a horrendous airplane crash, They find themeselves changed in astonishing ways. The survivors are endowed with Powers That defy explanation, though These “gifts” Are not Necessarily blessings.

    After the survivors’ horrific experience, They return to Their normal lives and adapters Their newfound abilities to Their likings-some to serve mankind; others to serve themeselves. The results Are not always pretty, especiallywhen one of them engages in a killing spree. With little more to go on than the psychic link That connects them, the survivors seek out one another to uncover the murderer and bring him or her to justice.

    The fireman, the grandmother, the psychiatric patient, the basketball player, the mute girl, the rich blonde, and the man in the wheelchair-they all have secrets worth hiding. They can not trust eachother. They can not even trust them selves.

    “This tale is a delightful combination of serious drama, tongue-in-cheek humor and mind-bending plot twists,” said five-star reviewer Richard S. “The depth and detail of the characters providesprofessional excellent relationship dynamics That had me chuckling at Their shared jokes and choked up withtheir grief. If you enjoy stories with likeable characters, supernatural powers and a story with more twists and turns than a faulty GPS, then this is definitely the book for you. “

    “When writing the book,” Harvell said, “I wanted to explore the idea of ??’real’ people Developing superhuman attributes. This is not a comic book, there are not any Physically intimidating heroes in skintight outfits. These are normal people who do not fight crime or Strive to help humanity on a global scale. Their abilities, in fact, May be more of a curse than anything. The Survivors is filled with ethical dilemmas That Are not simple and clear-cut. Much like people in the real world, These characters are just trying to get by-that’s what makes the book so relatable, endearing and exciting. “

    Take advantage of this two-day promotional Kindle eBook giveaway event and share your thoughts on the book’s comment page on Amazon.com at http://amzn.com/B00DGKSKOE.

    Daniel Harvell is author of the contemporary fantasy novel The Survivors. For more information about the book, upcoming novels, tips on writing fantasy and more, visit his website at http://DanielHarvell.com.


    Tuesday, July 23, 2013

    I Will not Get Trapped In Kindle Replacement Purgatory Again - The Consumerist

    ( Rusty Clark)

    (Rusty Clark)

    When you own a gadget with a design flaw that’s covered under a warranty, warranty replacements do not give you the comfort or peace of mind That They Should. They’re just a sign That You remainings trapped in Gadget Replacement Purgatory, doomed to experience the same failures over and over.

    We first coined this term for smartphones, having seen cases where customers receive phone after phone That fails. Sometimes They get Their extended warranty. Sometimes They give up. Sometimes They convince the company to give them a replacement of a different model. Reader Joy is experiencing That right now. Every few months, she had to swap her Kindle Fire for a new one When her charger failed. She’s not the only one.


    In December 2011, I received a Kindle Fire as a gift. I was thrilled with it until March 2012, When, after a little over 3 months of normal use, it stopped charging. There was a problem with the charging port and it did not seem to make the connection anymore. I called Kindle customer service and since the unit came with a 1 year warranty, I received a new Kindle within two days of calling, no questions asked.

    In late July of 2012, the same exact thing happened – it stopped charging, I called, another unit – my 3rd Kindle Fire – was late and received on July 20th.

    Fast forward to now, July 2013, and the exact same problem – charging port isn’ta making the connection anymore. Only now, it’s out of warranty from the original purchase date, so this time, Amazon isn’ta so helpful. The best They will do is give me $ 30 off a Kindle Fire HD.

    If I thought this issue was occurring due to misuse of the unit, I’d chalk it up to my own recklessness, but a quick Internet search using the term “Kindle Fire will not charge” shows Numerous other people have had the same exact problem, and this video from another person shows the exact problem I’ve had.

    Apparently, as shown in this video When he takes apart the Kindle, Amazon designers did not solder the charging port in, so after some use, it gets pushed back and will no longer make the connection to charge. This seems like a very ignorant error on someone’s part, and has point to many, many people were having the same problems I’ve had.

    understand how warranties work. I know sometimes products end up with defects That are outside of the control of the manufacturer. But That isn’ta the case here. Amazon has created a product and has known about the issue, yet instead of a recall or someother program to Satisfy Affected customers, they just replace he product with another product with the identical design flaw until the warranty runs out and then leave the customer with a defective product and wasted money, and hope they’ll just invest in a new unit from them.

    I’ve called and spoken with Several people at Amazon, all the way up to manager, and get the same answer every time – that They Are not interested in helping me since the warranty has expired. I will not buy another unit from them and will Encourage others against it, as well.

    I Will not Get Trapped In Kindle Replacement Purgatory Again - The Consumerist

    ( Rusty Clark)

    (Rusty Clark)

    When you own a gadget with a design flaw that’s covered under a warranty, warranty replacements do not give you the comfort or peace of mind That They Should. They’re just a sign That You remainings trapped in Gadget Replacement Purgatory, doomed to experience the same failures over and over.

    We first coined this term for smartphones, having seen cases where customers receive phone after phone That fails. Sometimes They get Their extended warranty. Sometimes They give up. Sometimes They convince the company to give them a replacement of a different model. Reader Joy is experiencing That right now. Every few months, she had to swap her Kindle Fire for a new one When her charger failed. She’s not the only one.


    In December 2011, I received a Kindle Fire as a gift. I was thrilled with it until March 2012, When, after a little over 3 months of normal use, it stopped charging. There was a problem with the charging port and it did not seem to make the connection anymore. I called Kindle customer service and since the unit came with a 1 year warranty, I received a new Kindle within two days of calling, no questions asked.

    In late July of 2012, the same exact thing happened – it stopped charging, I called, another unit – my 3rd Kindle Fire – was late and received on July 20th.

    Fast forward to now, July 2013, and the exact same problem – charging port isn’ta making the connection anymore. Only now, it’s out of warranty from the original purchase date, so this time, Amazon isn’ta so helpful. The best They will do is give me $ 30 off a Kindle Fire HD.

    If I thought this issue was occurring due to misuse of the unit, I’d chalk it up to my own recklessness, but a quick Internet search using the term “Kindle Fire will not charge” shows Numerous other people have had the same exact problem, and this video from another person shows the exact problem I’ve had.

    Apparently, as shown in this video When he takes apart the Kindle, Amazon designers did not solder the charging port in, so after some use, it gets pushed back and will no longer make the connection to charge. This seems like a very ignorant error on someone’s part, and has point to many, many people were having the same problems I’ve had.

    understand how warranties work. I know sometimes products end up with defects That are outside of the control of the manufacturer. But That isn’ta the case here. Amazon has created a product and has known about the issue, yet instead of a recall or someother program to Satisfy Affected customers, they just replace he product with another product with the identical design flaw until the warranty runs out and then leave the customer with a defective product and wasted money, and hope they’ll just invest in a new unit from them.

    I’ve called and spoken with Several people at Amazon, all the way up to manager, and get the same answer every time – that They Are not interested in helping me since the warranty has expired. I will not buy another unit from them and will Encourage others against it, as well.

    Amazon reportedly working on three new Kindle Fire tablets - Inferse

    Brandon Martin
      class=”authorinfo”>
    • On July 10, 2013
    • http://www.inferse.com

    Amazon is working on three new-generation Kindle Fire tablets, Which will replace the ones alreadycreated available in the market in an attempt to Attract more potential buyers through a refurbished hardware, cited anonymous BGR sources who are familiar with the plans of the company.

    Last year, the team of Jeff Bezos cut the price of the Kindle Fire and Introduced the original Kindle Fire HD with 7-inch and 8.9-inch display. Following the same trend, the company is readying new Kindle Fire tablets with upgraded specs rather than completely new products, with more power and better quality display.

    The new Kindle Fire will be equipped with a 7-inch same display, but this time with a slightly higher resolution, raised from 1024 × 600 pixels to 1280 × 800 pixels. Perhaps, the design will not change much, but it will be more powerful than the current version at a low cost again.

    The screen of the Kindle Fire HD with 7-inch will get an upgrade from 1280 × 800 pixels to 1920 × 1200 pixels. The current version of the Kindle Fire HD with 8.9-inch will now arrive at a resolution of 2560 × 1600 pixels. Noticeably, in the latters case, the tablet would sacrifice an even better resolution than the iPad’s Retina Display. The new generation of Kindle Fire HD tablets will have a new lighter body with a sloping back and curved edges. The volume buttons will be placed on the side of the devices.

    It seems That Amazon will introduced the three new tablet before the end of 2013 in stores, and continue to refresh Their devices once in a year. The primary goal is to Attract potential consumers into the holiday season, who could choose Amazon products Compared to Android’s vast panorama.

    Amazon is expected to announce its new Kindle Fire in September, but is yet to be confirmed.

    tags

    Amazon Kindle Fire Kindle Fire HD

    Red Crow Mysteries: Legion, Available Now on Kindle Fire, care of G5 & Cateia ... - Gamasutra

    [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

    For Immediate Release

    class=”c13″> San Francisco, California – July 23, 2013 – G5 Entertainment and Cateia Games are launching a dark hidden object adventure, Red Crow Mysteries: Legion , on the Kindle Fire today. The game is a supernatural hidden object thriller, a blend of challenging puzzles and tired mystery cliches thatwill keep you Clicking away to solve the mystery.

    In the game you play as a “gifted” young girl who wakes to find “something” went horribly wrong. You’re informed by your dead mother’s ghost That you were gifted with special powers thatshould help you in your battle between good and evil. Now you’ll be tested to specimen you are strong enough to defeat the Legion. You will need to explore dark and eerie locations to find clues, search for special items and solve tricky puzzles. Pass the ultimate test, defeat the impending threat and preserve the world as we know it.

    There are three game modes for your choice: easy, casual and adventure. Traditionally, an adventure mode is the most Bike or Bus – the hint recharges much more slowly, you can not skip puzzles, you do not have lists of hidden items and active zones are not highlighted. Whether you are a newcomer to the genre, or just want to spend a few hours looking for hidden items and solving challenging puzzles, Red Crow Mysteries is the right choice for you.

    The game is developed by Cateia Games and published on the Android OS by G5 Entertainment.

    Key Features:

  • 73 hidden object scenes to search
  • 25 challenging mini-games to play
  • Three awesome chapters with six eye-catching locations
  • Three game play modes: easy, casual and adventure
  • Red Crow Mysteries: Legion is available for download on the Kindle Fire today. Gamers can try the game for free and unlock the full version through an in-app purchase for $ 4.99. Originally the game was underdeveloped for PC by Cateia Games. Red Crow Mysteries: Legion is also available on iPhone, iPad, Google Play, Nook and Mac.

    Game trailers:

    Red Crow Mysteries: Legion for the Kindle Fire

    Assets:

    ftp://ftp.g5e.com/PR/

    When: Today, July 23, 2013

    Where:

    Amazon Appstore:

    Red Crow Mysteries: Legion for the Kindle Fire

    For additional information please contact: press@g5e.com.

    About G5 Entertainment AB

    G5 Entertainment AB is a developer and publisher of high quality downloadable games for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Kindle Fire, and Nook tablets. G5 Develops and publishes games That are family-friendly, easy to learn, and targeted at the widest audience of experienced and novice players. G5 owns a number of popular game franchises like Virtual City, Special Enquiry Detail, Supermarket Mania, Stand O’Food, and Mahjongg Artifacts, and invest in creating new games and Bringing Established franchises to new gaming platforms.

    More information about the company can be found at: www.g5e.se/corporate.

    Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD vs Galaxy Note 2: Samsung The Giant Slayer? - Auto-o-Mobile

    One of the best-selling phablets has been the Samsung Galaxy Note series. And people seem to love it, and despite it having a large price tag. But how does the phablet compare to the likes of tablets, Which come with a more attractive price tag, including the Google Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD? Let’s find out.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7

    One Thing That the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Which has the other tablets do not have is the fact That it can make calls. This means That You do not have to carry two devices around at the sametime. The downside to this Is that the screen is smaller. The Google Nexus 7 alongwith the Kindle Fire HD has got both displays of 7 inches. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with a display of 256ppi at 5.5-inches, while others have 216ppi. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has the S Pen too.

    The device has the quad core processor and 2GB of RAM, Which means That apps run very smoothly on it. However if you do not want or need a lot of processing power and you only want somethingthat you can use to check emails, browse the net and play basic games then either the Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 are no slow coaches, especially the latters Which has its own quad-core but not as powerful of a GPU and 1GB of RAM.

    The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with support for SD cards and the maximum is 64GB. The Kindle Fire HD and the Google Nexus both have 32GB of internal storage.

    If you are looking for a device with the best camera then it wouldhave to be the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as it has a back camera of 8 megapixels and a 1.9 on the front. Plus there is the fact That tablets are hard to use as cameras due to Their size.

    The Kindle Fire HD runs on Android 4.0 and the Google Nexus 7 has Android 4.2, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has Android 4.1.2. The tablets will cost you in the region of $ 199 to $ 299; the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is around $ 650.

    There are more advantages with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, WHICH DO make it stand out as the overall winner. It has better portability, it can make calls and it has the best camera. What lets the phablet down is the high price tag, Which is twice That of the tablets. Another thing to Consider Is that ice does not run app thathave been Optimised for tablets. So if you do not need the portability to make calls and alreadycreated have another device for taking pictures, you might save yourself some money and get the Kindle Fire HD or the Google Nexus 7.

    Monday, July 22, 2013

    Staples selling Kindle Fire HD 7 "for just $ 159 - Haverzine

    A good deal for a good tablet

    class=”c1″> July 22, 2013

    kindle_fire_hd_8.9 The Kindle Fire HD is undoubtably an excellent tablet, and Staples has just Announced That for a limited time early you can get one of the best prices ever on one of the best tablets available on the market today. For $ 159, the Kindle Fire HD has an excellent Retina-class high DPI display, can take advantage of the Amazon App Store and all of the applications That exist on it, as well as the entirety of Amazon’s quality ecosystem That Consists of the renting and buying of books, movies, television shows, music, and more.

    The Kindle Fire HD 7 “has a 4:3 display well suited for books, magazines, and webpages, 16GB of internal storage, and a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. Staples isn’ta When saying this deal will end, so if you’re interested you best act quickly. Of course, if you’re the more tech savvy type you just might want to wait for that new Nexus 7 is heading your way soon …

    Via : GDGT (via Engadget)
    Source : Staples


    Blissful Birth release hypnobirthing book on Amazon Kindle - PR Web (press release)

    London, UK (PRWEB UK) 22 July 2013

    Blissful Birth definatley Announced todaythat Their hypnobirthing book has been released in Kindle format, and is available to download from Amazon.

    The announcement was made the same day That the Duchess of Cambridge went into labor and was taken to St.. Mary’s Hospital in central London.

    The Duchess was said to have caused an upsurge in no rest for completely natural labor, and she was reported to have Considered a hypnobirthing approach.

    It’s not the first time the “Kate effect” has boosted demand for products and services worldwide, though it was not clear Which, if any, hypnobirthing program Kate had DECIDED to use.

    Blissful Birth spokeswoman, Heidi Woodgate, says, “It’s probably the worst ‘media day’ to announce That we’ve released our Blissful Birth HypnoBirthing book in Kindle format.”

    “But it is thanks to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, That more and more women worldwide are looking into Blissful Birth HypnoBirthing for the birth of Their Own Children.”

    “And with the world’s media waiting outside the hospital, it will certainly be an extreme test of how well the Duchess can stay calm, relaxed and focussed.”

    Blissful Birth is a downloadable hypnobirthing class created by husband and wife team, Rob and Heidi Woodgate. Both are Cognitive Hypnotherapists and members of the National Council for Hypnotherapy.

    Research has shown That the calmer the expectant mother is, the more beneficial it is for the baby. Blissful Birth teaches expectant mothers how to stay relaxed and calm during pregnancy, labor and birth.

    Blissful Birth overpriced helps expectant mothers to understand what Their body is going through and what to expect. It Allows them to understand why Their body is doing the things it is and helps them to keep in mind That childbirth is a natural part of life and it does not have to painful.

    This program has sample itself time and again to help expectant mothers have a natural birth experience, and it is an ideal partner to traditional antenatal classes.

    Rob Woodgate is overpriced the co-creator of the Hypnotension Program, Which helps people with high blood pressure.

    The Hypnotension ™ Programme looks at a variety of lifestyle factors to Establish Which is likely to be Causing or Maintaining high blood pressure (hypertension). These lifestyle factors are then targeted using specific cognitive and hypnotherapeutic techniques to help reduce the clients blood pressure towards more normal levels.


    Kindle and Other Prizes for Adult Readers - Patch.com

    Aliso Viejo readers have a shot at winning a free Kindle this summer, courtesy of the local library.

    Sure, reading is fun. But it can overpriced win you prizes this summer.

    For every Aliso Viejo library book you read or listen to this summer through August 3, you can enter your name into a drawing.

    to win the grand prize-an Amazon Kindle-you need to write a book review. (The library Suggests you read lots of books and write lots of reviews to Improve your chance of winning).


    Do not feel like writing a book report? You can still win one of two $ 30 Barnes and Noble gift certificates by filling out a drawing ticket for every boo you read.

    Rules:

  • You must be 18
  • One entry per book
  • You can submit unlimited entries
  • You must turn in your entries to the Adult Information Desk at the library (1 Journey) by 5 pm Saturday, Aug. 3
  • What’s on your summer reading list? Tell us in the comments below.

    Become a blogger today!
    Get started now

    Today's Deals: Candles, Kindle Books and Free Photo Books - Money Talks News (blog)

    I subscribe to the promotional emails of hundreds of companies so you do not have to. I sift through 1,000 deal-touting emails every week. Most are worthless. But some sacrifice valuable coupons, promo codes, sales and freebies – Which I collect and organize.

    Note: Expiration dates are in brackets and special instructions are in parentheses.

    Personalized photo products

  • Photo book: Free 5 × 7 softcover photobook – an $ 11 value – at YorkPhoto.com (use code MyBook) [7/31]. This offer is for new customers, who overpriced get 40 free 4 × 6 photo prints withtheir first order.

  • Food

  • Arby’s: Roast beef classic sandwich for 64 cents on Their 49th anniversary, Which is Tuesday (print first) [7/23 only].

  • Home

  • Air freshener: Renuzit Adjustables cone air freshener three-packs are buy-one-get-one-free at Target stores (print first) [expiration unknown].
  • Thermos: Thermos Funtainers are buy-one-get-one-free at Toys R Us online [expiration unknown].
  • Yankee Candle Company: $ 20 off a $ 45 purchase in stores (print first) [8/4].

  • Office and school

  • Office Depot: $ 15 off a $ 75 regular-priced purchase in stores (print first) and online (use code 70344192) [7/22].
  • Stationery: Buy-one-get-one-free at Toys R Us online [expiration unknown].

  • Personal Care

  • Sunscreen: $ 5 off the purchase of two Coppertone products (print first) [expiration unknown]. Check out The Best Sunscreen For Your Money for more ways to save.
  • Ulta Beauty: $ 3.50 off a $ 10 purchase in stores (print first) and online (use code 105441) [7/27].

  • Tech

  • Kindle books: Up to 85 percent off 500 titles During The Big Deal sale at Amazon.com [8/4].

  • Toys

  • The Very Busy Spider Children’s Board Game: 57 percent off at Amazon.com [expiration unknown]. Instead of $ 16, it’s $ 7.

  • Sign up for our free newsletter

    Like this article? Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send you a regular digest of our newest stories, full of money saving hints and advice, free! We’ll overpriced email you a PDF of Stacy Johnson’s ’205 Ways to Save Money ‘as soon as you’ve subscribed. It’s full of great advice that’ll help you save a ton of extra cash. It does not cost a dime, so why wait? Click here to sign up now.

    Google's new Nexus 7 tablet to undercut and beat the specs of the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 ... - PopHerald.com


    Google will not only beat the Kindle Fire 8.9 ‘s display resolution, the search engine giant’s upcoming tablet would undercut it overpriced According To a new leak.

    JULY 22, 2013, 2:03 AM. Article by Carlo Raphael Diokno. Posted under Google .

    Okay, so now we knowthat Google will release a new tablet computer, but what’s the price? Will it follow the Nexus tradition of undercutting its rivals to sell more units – and to expand the market share of untouched Android?

    A leak we alreadycreated reported on Sunday May hold the answer – yes, Google will still undercut its rivals this year, and Best Buy would reportedly carry the Nexus 7 2 for $ 229.99. It is highly likely That Best Buy’s pricing is the “final” price point or the official retail price of the new Android-based device based on previous Google devices launch on the the American electronics retail chain.

    The leaked Best Buy promo overpriced confirmed That the new Nexus 7 will sacrifice a 7-inch display with the resolution similar to the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 – and That is 1920 x 1200 display – and Because the new Google portable tablet comes with smaller display, its “PPI” would be higher than the Amazon tablet. The larger Kindle Fire tablet is currently priced $ 269.00, so apparently, Google will not only beat the tab’s display resolution PPI, but overpriced would undercut Amazon – giving the new Nexus 7 an advantage right off the bat.

    Google-nexus-7-vs-ipad-mini-kindle-fire

    It is overpriced safe to say That Google will sell more tablets this year than its performance a year ago Mainly due to its improved distribution system via the Google Play Store, and better relationship with big box retailers. The prediction is currently on the 8 million, but if Google can Initiate a good marketing play, then the shipments would be higher. Last year, Google won the hearts of consumers, and ad expert, after it Launched the ad run entitled “Camping.” (See the video below).

    According To adage , Google’s Nexus 7 “camping” advertisement has specimens That it can beat Apple in the marketing space. The site reported last year:

    Google is again adroitly pulling at the heartstrings with “Camping,” as it has in Recent TV spots Such as the Chrome browser showcases “Dear Sophie,” where a father digitally chronicles his daughter’s early years, and “Coffee,” where a man asks his ex for another chance. But “Camping” scored Particularly high Because of its demonstration of product utility, a typical strength of Apple’s, According To Jonathan Symonds, Ace Metrix’s exec VP-marketing.

    If Google can re-create a touching new advertisement and pair it with improved support customers and shipping – then it would be a safe bet That the Nexus 7 can take challenge Apple and compete for the “most popular tablet in America” ??title .

    Related Content


    Recommended

      class=”news-block-columns-5 clearfix c12″>
    • Google’s new Nexus 7 tablet to undercut and beat the specs of the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 According To leaks July 22nd, 2013


    • Best Buy ad leaks new Nexus 7 2013 display improvement (Rumors) July 21st, 2013


    • Newer Google Play Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update leaks July 21st, 2013


    • Google Nexus 7:02 a.m. (2013) joining Staples stores with July 31 release date July 20th, 2013


    • Google to unveil new Nexus 7 2013, Motorola’s Moto X Phone this quarterback July 20th, 2013

    Sunday, July 21, 2013

    Social network Path launches app for Kindle Fire HD tablets - TabTimes

    Path, the “staff” social network where users can share messages, photos, videos and more, is now available for Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD tablets.

    The company Announced The New Kindle Fire app in a new blog post, with the Amazon product page detailing thatusers are able to message friends, journal Their thoughts and tweak photos with filters and an in-built editor.

    In addition, the Kindle Fire app users will be able to share what movies, books and music they’re enjoying and Path mail comments to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Foursquare.

    Source article

    The Telegraph for Kindle Fire - Telegraph.co.uk

    Once you have subscribed you can alsoenjoy other Telegraph tablet and mobile apps at no extra charge, plus unlimited access to our website.

    Key Features

    The Telegraph digital edition seven days a week , with Britain’s best journalism available on your device from 5am. Each edition is available for 30 days.

    Puzzles challenge. Choose from 30 days’ worth of puzzles, including quick, cryptic and prize crosswords, and Sudoku. Play on screen and against the clock, and check your results the Following Day

    Weekend magazines. Relax with the best of our magazines and supplements, from fashion and food to celebrity interviews, reviews, travel inspiration and property advice

    Start your day with a smile. Matt and Alex capture the absurdities of everyday life. With a seven-day archive.

    photo galleries and videos. Watch the news come to life, with stunning photo galleries of the day’s best images, infographics and full-screen video

    Compatible with 7 “and 8.9″ Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD devices

    How do I get the Kindle Fire app?

    Just visit Amazon’s Kindle Newsstand app store on your device and search for “The Telegraph”. Tap the T icon then download for free.

    Your subscription to The Telegraph for Kindle Fire starts with a free 30-day trial. To subscribe, visit our Subscriber site . A monthly subscription costs just £ 9.99, and comes with full, unlimited access to the Telegraph website, plus all other Telegraph tablet and smartphone apps at no extra cost .

    Start your 30-day trial today and you will receive a free £ 40 voucher Telegraph Wine (terms and conditions apply) . Plus, your subscription comes with a Telegraph Subscriber Card, giving you exclusive access to offers and rewards at more than 5,000 restaurants, spas and venues across the UK.

    To enjoy These extra benefits simply create a Telegraph Login within the Settings section of the app once it is installed on your Kindle Fire.

    Already a subscriber?

    The Kindle Fire app is free to Existing Telegraph Print and Digital Pack subscribers. To find out more, visit our help site .


    Subscribe to our Complete Pack and get a FREE Kindle Fire

    Take out our Complete Pack subscription for only £ 8 a week and you will receive the Telegraph newspapers seven days a week, full digital access to our website and apps, subscriber offers, plus a Kindle Fire 7 “tablet, worth £ 129.

    Saturday, July 20, 2013

    South Jersey libraries evolve with technology, Adapting to tablets, Nook and ... - Today's Sunbeam - NJ.com

    While Technology Continues to evolve, public libraries are expanding Their Own technology to meet the needs of 21st century patrons.

    From Nooks and Kindles to Droids and iPhones, technology makes the Internet – and all that it has to offer – accessible from almost anywhere.

    As a result, local libraries can provides more options for patrons, including borrowing books without stepping foot into the building and offering workshops to educate residents on These New gadgets.

    Librarians are welcoming the challenge.

    “I see libraries as always being a place for you to get information and expand your education, and I do not see That changing – I see it expanding more and more as people’ve become more reliant on devices , “said Courtenay Reece, director of Bridgeton Public Library.” Our role is to help them navigate Those devices. “

    Located on East Commerce Street in Bridgeton, the public library has underdeveloped technology to assist patrons in Managing Their tablets, Nooks, Kindles, or smartphones.

    According To Reece, the Bridgeton Public Library will offering classes on the Nook, given by a Barnes and Noble representative.

    “The classes are about how to use the Nook as well as getting assistance Directly from the source. We can not learn everything all at once, “Reece explained.

    Additionally, the Most Recent success in library technology is the loaning of library books through eBooks or audiobooks – accessible to download from any location.

    But, “I do not want technology to take the place of social connection,” Reece said. “I believe our role is to continue to educate and inform the public, and to providesprofessional meeting spaces for people to come out. “

    The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Public Library, located on School Lane in Woodstown, has overpriced adapted to the desire for patrons to borrow and download library books, eBooks, and audiobooks Directly fromtheir public libraries. Additionally, residents can access newspaper, magazine, and journal articles fromtheir electronic devices.

    For Jean Rishel, of Upper Pittsgrove, using her Kindle for borrowing or downloading books Proves beneficial due to her frequent traveling.

    “Because Woodstown has this available, and I always travel, being able to access and pick up a new book from anywhere is so easy,” Rishel said. “I can borrow books and have multiple books with me on this device. “

    Library patrons who download These eBooks or audiobooks are actually accessing them from the South Jersey Audio and eBook Download Center.

    “Many of our patrons enjoy reading on eBook readers or tablets – audiobooks are Increasingly enjoyed via downloads and audio services,” Offered Debby Dietrich, librarian at the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Library.

    class=”adv-photo-large”> GLOUCESTER LIBRARY LMN_3216.jpg Jerry Lee Winslow, of the Information Technology Department at the Gloucester County Library System’s Mullica Hill branch, right, trains John Fitzpatrick, of the circulation department, how to download e-books on the iPad and other devices like the Kindle and Nook, on Thursday, July 18, 2013. Library members can borrow e-books from the library for up to 14 days for free (Staff Photo by Lori M. Nichols / South Jersey Times).

    Diane Dorrell of Pilesgrove uses her Nook to borrow library books and read them without needing to stop by the library itself.

    “It’s very easy, and if there are books I do not want to buy, I can just get them from the library online. What’s great is you can get audio books and listen to the book while multitasking, “Dorrell said.

    According To spokesperson and reference librarian for Gloucester County’s main library, located on Route 45 at Wolfert Station Road in Mullica Hill, many residents Began to inquire about use of electronic tablets for books a few years ago When The Became popular devices first.

    “The public is aware of technological services as far as the Internet and public-use computers and now downloadable books,” said Nancy Polhamus.

    But library technology is a lot more than that, she suggested.

    “With the popularity of the Kindle, Nook, and other devices like iPads and other readers, That opened a whole new world for us,” she said. “Our staff has been trained on the devices and have a general idea how to use them. “

    Libraries have pulled together to providesprofessional the South Jersey Download Center database, from Gloucester and Salem counties all the way down to Cape May.

    “We have a strong commitment to keep up with emerging technology,” Polhamus added. “We are talking about how, from now on, the biggest changes in libraries are going to involved technology.

    “We are always on top of emerging demands from the public.”

    Contact staff writer Brittany M. Wehner call 856-935-1500 or email bwehner@southjerseymedia.com

    Tablet Showdown: Surface RT vs. iPad Mini, Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD 8.9 - Technology Personalized

    A which Microsoft slashed down the price of the notorious Surface RT tablet by $ 150, our attention was swiftly shifted towards the Windows world once again. Taking into consideration That the Lightest version of the series can now be Considered as affordable, with prices starting from $ 349 for the entry-level 32GB model, we thought of Comparing the product against other popular variants, Such as the Apple iPad Mini, the Amazon Kindle Fire 7 HD and of course, the wild Asus Nexus 7.

    In a time and age where the Nexus series is expected to receive a new 7-inch member and Microsoft, as well as Apple is rumored to renew Their versions as well, it’s more than adequate to put head to head the best of what this market has to offer in a classic versus match . At the end of the day, Deciding Which Tablet You should buy Should not Be That Hard.

    surface rt vs ipad mini kindle fire nexus 7

    Click for full Rezolution


    Against the iPad Mini

    ipad-mini-vs-surface-rt-1

    With the newly discounted price, the Surface RT May seem appealing to enough out there. Before you choose Microsoft’s tablet against Apple’s creation, you need to knowthat the Surface ice 38 percent longer and 26 percent Wider than the iPad mini. The same Applies to thickness as well, the iPad Mini being around 31 percent thinner. Putting both devices on the scale will show You that Apple’s product is overpriced 55 percent lighter .

    Both tablets are constructed with premium quality materials and unlike Samsung’s tradition, the plastic is not something to be Considered. In concept, the Surface is built using VaporMg, a magnesium alloy with a luxury feel while Apple has chosen anodized aluminum and black shades for its smaller slate.

    When it comes to the display and viewing surface, the iPad Mini loses big, offering just 62 percent as the Surface . Even though Apple’s resolution is way smaller, the iPad Mini panel is populated with 163 pixels / inch while Microsoft’s gadget comes with 148 pixels / inch. While a higher pixel density USUALLY means crisper images, we have to note that Microsoft’s ClearType technology with subpixel rendering has the upper-hand.

    Those wondering about processing power should know That the Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3 GHz and equipped on the Surface RT outscores iPad Mini’s by around 90 percent (measured with Geekbench) on paper . In the RAM section Surface overpriced wins by a mile, with four times more memory than its competitor. But then, nVidia’s Tegra 3 has been notorious with poor battery performance and overheating, and overpriced These numbers do not Directly impact performance, specially when comparing devices running different operating systems.

    Storage, another wildly Discussed subject this year, is won by the Surface slate at the first sight, mostly Because while both products integrate 32GB and 64GB versions, only Microsoft thought of Implementing a microSD card slot. When taking a deeper look, we found That Windows RT S requires a huge recovery partition Which occupies around 17GB of the 32GB version. On the other hand, even the 16GB iPad Mini offers 13.5GB of usable storage, thanks to a light, optimized operating system: iOS 7.

    ipad-mini-vs-surface-rt-8

    Microsoft loses big in matters of connectivity with only a Wi-Fi antenna against Apple’s wireless and LTE capabilities . Even though This should be seen as an advantage in the battery segment, the bigger unit packed on the Surface falls two or three hours short When Compared with the iPad Mini (mostly due to the bigger display).

    A similar advantage can be seen in the camera section, where a more CapAble camera was mounted on the back of the Apple unit. Unfortunately, we can not say the same for connectivity ports, with the Apple Lightning technology being quite limited in comparison with the classic USB 2.0 and micro-HDMI ports mounted on the Surface. Also, it’s worth mentioning That the loading port Allows Microsoft lovers to stream 1080p Full HD movies on a compatible TV.

    Microsoft has put a lot of effort into marketing the Surface RT with a detachable keyboard built in style. You must know thatthis keyboard, baptized Type Cover, ice USUALLY sold for $ 129 and besides looks and functionality, it does not bring much value to the game. While Apple doing now? Designed an official model, there is a wide range of 3 rd party manufacturers That sell iPad Mini keyboards for cheaper prices.

    Another small, but interesting aspect is the fact That the Surface RT comes with a built-in kickstand and the capability of Adapting a regular mouse, besides the keyboard. Both of These features paint from the iPad Mini.

    Software wise, the iPad Mini wins by a mile. While Windows 8 is not an awful creation, the slimmed RT version offers limited functionality. Future users can only access the touch-based navigation method, formerly known as Metro. Even though the Windows Store has over 100,000 applications optimized for touch, Necessary and highly valued titles can hardly be found.

    Except Office 2013 RT, there’s pretty much Nothing that can beat Apple and its army of premium developers. Once again, in matters of experience, iPad Mini wins by a mile.

    Winner : iPad Mini, only Because Windows RT is dreadful.

    Against the Nexus 7

    surface-vs-nexus

    While the similarly sized opponent from the Google camp, the Nexus 10, is way more expensive than Microsoft’s creation, the Nexus 7 is still a slate to Consider. Even though the size and price are in a completely different price range and a sequel is rumored to hit soon, we’ve taking into consideration of Analyzing this Asus creation and compare it with the Surface RT. First stop, size and dimensions.

    As seen from the picture above, the Surface ice Clearly a full-sized tablet while Nexus 7 is just a mini device. Microsoft’s product is mostly designed for a landscape view while Asus has a thing for portraits. Despite its larger panel, the Surface is a bit thinner than the Nexus 7 and exactly twice as heavy .

    Returning to displays, the massive 10.6-inch panel mounted on the Surface RT comes with a slightly bigger resolution than the Nexus 7. When we compare the pixel density indicator, we See that Asus has the upper hand with 216 pixels / inch while Microsoft boosts only 148 pixels / inch (of course, once again, with a ClearType feature That Should Increase quality).

    In the processing segment we find thateven though Microsoft has more room to innovate, an almost identical chip ice packed on both products: NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core. The only difference can be spotted in the clock frequency, where Surface RT outpaces Nexus 7 with 100 MHz. A bigger edge in performance can be observed in the RAM section, where twice the memory was integrated by Microsoft.

    surface-vs-nexus-3

    Battery life overpriced goes in favor of the smaller Nexus, eventhough a larger unit was attached on the Surface RT. As for cameras and connectivity options, there is not much That sets the two products apart.

    When we reach the party software, Windows RT still falls as an issue to most consumers and considering the fact thatusers will not enjoy the traditional desktop environment and the wide range of applications thatcame alongwith it, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the OS packed out-of-the-box on the Nexus 7 is the clear winner here. With Android and its Unmatched marketplace of all mobile platforms out there, future owners will surely find morethan CapAble titles.

    Last but not least, the official detachable keyboard of the Surface RT represents a small advantage against the Nexus 7 and an expensive one as well. While the Asus-made slate is Purely constructed for portrait views, 3 rd party manufacturers have adopted wireless keyboards as well so in case you wanted one, options exist.

    And let’s not forget the pricing figure, shall we?

    Winner : undecided – if you want a Broader viewing area and not much besides movies and media, go for Surface RT. If you settle with a smaller screen BUT a wide range of apps, the Nexus 7 will do just fine.


    Against the Amazon Kindle Fire 8.9 HD

    windows-surface-tablet-vs-kindle-fire

    Amazon has its sacred place in this round-up with an interesting productthat sells for a rather affordable price, at least the Wi-Fi only version. For starters, Unmatched Kindle Fire version comes with an 8.9-inch screen and a healthy resolution. When comparing the pixel density between the two, we FindThatBand Amazon managed to reach “Retina” levels while Surface RT is stuck in the low-range section.

    On the other hand, Microsoft’s creation wins in the processing section where the quad-core Tegra processor squeezes quite a punch. Unfortunately, the Kindle Fire HD is not a tablet Meant for powerful tasks, as you’re about to see In the following lines.

    Returning to specifics, both slates come with large storage capacities and no external expansion options. The Kindle Fire HD has the upper hand here, with a much optimized operating system That occupies just a small portion of the storage capacity.

    In matters of connectivity and ports, the two are pretty matched. A huge advantage is given to Amazon thanks to a 4G/LTE antenna, integrated in the more expensive models. This portability advantage grave leaves marks on the price, with the 32GB 4G version costing $ 399 at this moment.

    Even though the Surface RT is a 10.6-inch tablet, its larger shapes were integrated into a lighter bod y, weighting just 1.14 lbs. On the other camp, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is a bit bulkier, with a final count of 25.1 lbs.

    As with any other opponents Analyzed above, the larger battery of the Surface RT fails short against a smaller, more optimized screen. In otherwords, Kindle Fire users should get more life out of Their gadget but I would not vouch for that to happen once That greedy LTE antenna is enabled.

    In matters of software and functionality, the Amazon Kindle family is powered by a highly modified version of Android, Which acts simply as a frame and does not bring its wide market aboard. In a few words, the operating system of the Kindle can hardly ask Organisations recognized as an android member and it’s Purely concentrated on media consumption. Because is a proprietary technology, multitasking does not work as good as in Google’s camp and some described it as filled with Unnecessary clutter and too much gestures to reach a basic function.

    As for experience, we have to acknowledge That Amazon has Unmatched entertaining database. Filled with movies, books and audio files, the Kindle Fire HD has access to millions of interesting titles and to special offers like the Amazon Prime. Unfortunately, it lacks greatly in applications.

    Because Amazon has chosen to Promote its own marketplace instead of Google Play, Their clients do not have access to regular Android applications, Which is a huge drawback. Interesting titles do not exist on Amazon’s domain, but They are sparse. On the other camp, Windows RT is a better choice for productivity and management, eventhough it lacks the desktop component.

    Winner : choose Surface RT if you want some work done or the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 if you simply enjoy watching and reading stuff.

    Bottom Line

    Surface RT

    In my opinion, Microsoft’s move was done in the right direction but it’s a bit too little and a little too late. A 30 per cent discount will not make the Surface RT a viable option for both business and consumer markets instead of tougher opponents Such as the iPad Mini. It comes with an awful price, a terrible operating system and a highly limited application offerings. Even though Windows RT has the Microsoft Office Advantage (and soon Outlook), the Redmond-based company has made That package available for iOS as well.

    Then, there’s the fact overpriced That Surface RT Essentially stay connected the external keyboard, however, to get some work done, and That slashes $ 100 more of your pocket When bought at a package with the slate.

    It’s a tough world, but Microsoft would pull it through if the Surface RT would cost $ 250 and $ 300 with the keyboard dock. Until then, seek a better option.