Amazon adds new streaming content for Kindle Fire

Amazon adds NEW library content to PRIME from ABC Studios, Disney Channel, ABC Family...

  The first new person I met opened up a small case to take a note, and I saw she had a... Kindle :-)
  Peeking in and will pass on an Amazon announcement for those who don't get them - as this is another set of streaming video that will be available for the Kindle Fire.

Here's the announcement. Will do some regular blogging later tonight.
' SEATTLE, Oct 31, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
...

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Free Kindle books

Julius Katz Mysteries, by Dave Zeltserman, 9 customer reviews, 4.8 stars $0.00
From Product Description: "...award-winning Julius Katz mysteries...first appearing on the pages of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in 2009...introduced readers to Boston's most brilliant, eccentric and possibly laziest detective, Julius Katz, as well as his sidekick, Archie, a tiny marvel of whizbang computer technology with the heart and soul of a hard-boiled PI..."

  "Superb mix of humor and horror" -- Publisher's Weekly, starred review
  "Delicious horror-ish novel" -- Newsday
  "Dave Zeltserman is at it again writing about ex-con antiheroes with the kind of panache that would make Jim Thompson, king of the psycho killer novels, proud." -- Boston Globe
  "Written in a spare, terse style, and with chapters alternating between past and present, we slowly learn more about March. But even then the closing chapters present a devastating twist and shocking conclusion."-- Sunday Tribune...

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Kindle Owners Lending Library

BORROWING OPTION - HOW TO ACCESS IT

I just received a comment on it not being able to see "Borrow" option on a Kindle 2 device.  I have to power mine up to test it to see how the Menu options show up there, but this is (slightly modified for the blog) what I answered on what I see on my Kindle 3.

  ' Looking at the bottom of the Amazon.com Prime Kindle Owners Lending Library product page at Amazon.com, there are images at "How to borrow from your Kindle."

  Mine is different in that "Kindle Owners Lending Library" doesn't show up under MENU the way it shows in the image of the Menu there. '

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Free Kindle books - Where to Find Them

Interim posting for Nov. 3 - 4 books in Joyce's morning list.

Too much going on with Lending Library questions etc and must be gone for hours, so here are links to the early threads on free books today and the ongoing discounted-book alerts thread.

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Twitter Not Connected to Amazon Feature?

One of my complaints with the first Kindle was that there was no way to quickly tweet book excerpts.  The new Kindle lets you tweet as you read, of course, but it's a cumbersome process.  How many key combinations does it take to send a single tweet?!

Process aside, I'm very disappointed with the way Amazon handles the excerpts you want to point to.  For example, I'm reading Jane Leavy's terrific biography of Mickey Mantle called The Last Boy.  I came across a cool link in the book pointing to a simulation of a tape-measure home run Mantle hit at Yankee Stadium in 1963 (go here and click on mantle_hr_63 to see it yourself).  Here's the result of tweeting the excerpt...


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Free Kindle books (11/4) - 4 free + discounted-book alerts + usual promos

Commune of Women, by Suzan Still, 24 customer reviews, 4.6 stars $0.00

7 women, with quite different cultural backgrounds, waiting out a terrorist attack on the L.A. International Airport

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Why Can't I Subscribe to an Author?

What do you do when you discover a new author but you've read every book they've written?  You probably go to their website.  Maybe you subscribe to the site's RSS feed.  Perhaps they're a columnist, so you subscribe to the magazine or newspaper they write for (or maybe you just read that content for free online or you grab it's RSS feed).  If they're into Twitter you probably follow their tweet stream too.

The good news is there are quite a few options besides books if you want to keep up with what your favorite author has to say.  The bad news, IMHO, is there's no single service tying all this together.  I subscribe to way too many RSS feeds, so the result is I don't read many of them at all.  I've also been cutting back on magazine subscriptions, so I'm losing that option as well.  And even though I use TweetDeck to help split up the various groups of people I'm following (e.g., colleagues, publishing industry people, sports figures, etc.), I never find myself going from one tool to the next for a particular author.

Here's what I'm talking about: I used to subscribe to The New York Times on my Kindle.  I did so, not because it was my news source, but because I enjoyed getting the latest articles from my favorite columnists including Thomas Friedman.  When I dumped the subscription I realized I wasn't subscribing to The New York Times; I was subscribing to Thomas Friedman (and a few other columnists).  Steve Rushin is another example.  Steve stopped writing for Sports Illustrated years ago but he's active on Twitter.  I follow him there and I even have "Steve Rushin" set up as a constant search on Google News.  (Yes, I'm that big of a fan!)  So I have to check in on Twitter every so often and then look in my Google News tab to see if there's anything recent from him.  What a waste of time and effort.

Why not just have an author feed subscription via the Kindle?  Yes, Amazon sells blog feed subscriptions, but that's a ripoff and I'm looking for more.  I don't want something I can get via an RSS reader for free.  I want a combined feed of the author's blog, their Twitter activity and any publication/website they write for.  All in one.  I'd be willing to pay a modest amount for this ($10/year?), at least for the 4 or 5 authors I care most about.  And heck, go ahead and include some advertisements in it if necessary.

This is all about the convenience of having everything from one author in one source, automatically pushed to my Kindle (via WiFi) on a regular basis.  It seems like an opportunity for Amazon to extend the Kindle's functionality as well as a terrific way for authors to engage with their readers.  On top of all that, it's a great way for authors to let their fans know when their next book is coming, perhaps give them a preview or even a loyalty discount.

Posted byJoe Wikert 

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New Amazon Kindle Fire - Secrets Revealed

Finally, some definite Kindle reviews about the new tablet from Amazon coming out soon!
Techcrunch has brought us some real information on the new Amazon Kindle Tablet and actually got their hands on one to try. Here’s the scoop on what is coming:

Android…Plus More

The new Kindle Tablet will be running Android, but it will not have the type of Android that you may be used to using if you have the Android operating system on your phone or Tablet. The system has been fully redesigned by Amazon and will look completely different than what you are accustomed to. It will be a very unique experience overall.

Being an Android device, you will have access  to the Amazon App Store (which was our first hint that Amazon planned to break into the tablet market), but apparently not the main Android app store. I think that not having the main Android app market could be a mistake, but time will tell.

Some Specs

The initial device will be 7 inches. The original plan was to have a 7 and a 10 inch version, but for now, the company plans to roll out just the 7 inch version and put the 10 inch tablet out there if they think it will do well, probably some time in early 2012.

Interestingly enough, this device will not have an e-ink screen on it. I have to say, I love the e-ink screen, so this makes me a little concerned, but I am certainly willing to give it a try.

Pricing

The new Amazon Kindle Tablet will cost $250 initially, not bad when compared to other tablets out there. In addition, it appears that owners of the device will get a free subscription to Amazon Prime, which right now cost $79. This is a great idea and a great benefit for folks like myself who use Amazon Prime and buy a lot of items on the site.

Amazon Kindle Tablet Not Replacing Current E-reader

For those of you who love your regular Kindle, not to worry! Your ereader is not going away and may in fact be reduced in price again. It is possible that the DX could be phased out.

As we had reported before, the company plans to roll out the new Kindle tablet sometime in November in order to beat the holiday shopping season, and I think they are going to see a huge rush to buy this unit.
I do have some worries, though – now will it really compare to the current version when it comes to the screen? that’s my big question. I guess we will see in a few weeks when the Amazon Kindle tablet finally makes it’s debut!

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Amazon Kindle Tablet Unveiled Wednesday

admin

We have been talking up the Kindle tablet for some time now, and it appears that we will finally get a full look at it on Wednesday!

Amazon has scheduled a press conference in New York on Wednesday to unveil the new device to the public and let everyone finally get a peek at it.

There is a lot of buzz around this device, and it is pretty obvious that Amazon is gearing up for big sales around the holiday season! I think this is a very smart move by the company, and I guarantee they will move a bunch of these units as holiday gifts. The initial offering, unless they change something at the last minute, will be a 7 inch tablet built on the Android framework. Right now, in early 2012, they plan to unveil a 10 inch model as well.

In addition, as we have mentioned before, the current Kindle models will hang around. This is good news for those of you who like having the advantages that the e-ink screen offers, such as little to no glare and no eye strain.

We will cover everything here on Wednesday and let you know what comes out of the press conference.

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Kindle Fire Covers

So you bought the newest Kindle from Amazon, and now you need to keep it covered? While there isn’t a lot out there to base any reviews on quite yet. I have tried to pick a few that will fit and that come from good companies. Once we are able to actually get our hands on some, I will update this post as well, as I update the other threads on kindle covers.

In the meantime, here are a few that look spectacular. You can see Amazon’s current full line of them here

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How Proprietary Will Kindle the Tablet Be?

I recently got into a fun Twitter debate with Andrew Rhomberg. He wanted to know if I thought the much-anticipated Amazon Kindle tablet will be open, with no restrictions onwebsite access or Android app support. I stubbornly said yes, it's got to be or it won't be successful. Andrew then pointed out that everyone's not as "geeky" as me, that he doubts it will be as open as I suggest and that the mainstream market doesn't need it to be.

Gulp. You know what? I'm afraid he's right...sort of.

Most people probably don't care that today's Kindle web browser is awful. They're using the device to buy and read content. I think that changes when you go to a tablet. Of course, what we don't know is whether Amazon will market this device as a tablet or simply a color reader. If it's the former they better support any and all websites. After all, what if Barnes & Noble comes up with a cloud-based reader just like Amazon did? That should be usable from every device.

The same goes for apps, but I realize this is more than wishful thinking on my part. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize Amazon built their own Appstore for Android because they want a cut of every app bought for their device. I'm sure they'll also configure their Android Kindle so that you're only able to install apps from their app store on it. I figure there will be no support for the broader Android Market.

That would be a shame and it would prove that Amazon isn't confident enough in their own content ecosystem to offer a completely open device. What I want is a Kindle tablet that lets me install apps from any Android storefront. Sure, there's a nook app for Android. Let me run it on the Kindle tablet. More importantly, Amazon, make your reader app and content so irresistible that I don't even want to consider other apps. But don't lock them out. Besides, if Amazon doesn't offer a completely open device they'll only invite hackers to unlock it. I'd prefer not voiding the warranty but I'll seriously consider it if the tablet is too closed. You should too.

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A Kindle Membership Program?

Amazon is selling millions of Kindles every year and, of course, they're selling even more ebooks, so perhaps they don't feel the need to sweeten the customer pot with a membership program like the one Barnes & Noble offers. You could argue the B&N program is more oriented towards physical products with in-store discounts and free express shipping. Then again, that sounds a lot like Amazon's own Prime program; Amazon has at least started migrating Prime more towards digital content with their TV/movies streaming service. I think it could be even more valuable in the digital world though.

Here's a good example. Do you check out the Kindle Daily Deal every morning like I do? I find myself simply hoarding content from it now. After all, if a book is usually $9.99 or more and available for only a buck or two, how can I resist? That only leads more to the Amazon formula factor I mentioned in an earlier post: the more I buy the more I feel compelled to stick with Amazon's platform. I'm already way behind on all my reading and these cheap daily deals are creating even more of a backlog.

Does Amazon really need to take these deals all the way down to 99 cents though? What if there were two tiers instead? For the general public, also known as non-members, that $9.99 book is $4.99 today; for members of a Kindle program the price is 99 cents. Membership could cost $20, $50 or whatever makes sense per year. Discounts could also apply to other products on Amazon (e.g., magazine or newspaper subscriptions, accessories, etc.) In short, they'd need to come up with a program that's compelling enough to get you and I to fork over money in advance. If they come up with the right formula I'd definitely sign up.
Posted byJoe Wikert

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Kindle Cloud Reader: First Impressions

How Apple Is Pushing Me Away, Towards Amazon ►  July(1)I Want an Uber-Magazine Subscription ►  June(3)Why Can't I Subscribe to an Author?How Amazon Could Improve DiscoverabilityDelivereads, eReaderIQ & Amazon's "Sunshine Deals"... ►  May(2)Sharing Within Your Kindle AccountWhy Isn't Twitter Connected to Amazon's "Look Insi... ►  April(3)Kindle Likes & Dislikes: Another Point of ViewKindle Lessons Learned After a Year AwayWhy I Bought a New Kindle (as an iPad Accessory) ►  2010(5) ►  April(1)This Site Officially Under Deconstruction ►  March(1)WANTED: Kindle Fan for Debate ►  February(2)Kindle app for BlackBerry -- a first lookToo Little, Too Late ►  January(1)Here comes another one ►  2009(73) ►  December(1)A Christmas gift from The Book View Cafe ►  November(2)Book View Cafe embraces the KindleFrancis Hamit: An Author's Point of View ►  October(1)Coming Soon to Your PC: Kindle Books ►  September(2)The Asus Eee-Reader: I Don't Get ItManaging Stolen/Lost Kindles ►  August(2)Sheet Music on Kindle DXSlowly Losing Interest in Subscriptions ►  July(7)Lessons from the iPhone App StoreA glimpse of the future?How Amazon Should Have Handled the Orwell Situatio...Follow-up: More publishers delaying e-books?How do you spell "shortsighted?"PC Mag and BusinessWeek on the KindleUR, by Stephen King ►  June(6)A Kindle App OpportunityWhen Two Out of Three Ain't GoodWSJ's Mossberg on the KindleDX: "Bigger, Not Bette...E-Books get OlfactoryDo You Want More Magazine Options on the Kindle?The Lion That Squeaked? ►  May(5)Unlike Texting, Reading While Driving is SafeKindle File Manager is AwfulThoughts on Amazon's New Whispernet Charge PolicyKindleFeeder Free Wireless Is Back!Thoughts on the Kindle DX ►  April(7)Some Kindle pundits have caught Whine FluThe New York Times Laments Forward Progress with t... ►  March(9) ►  February(26) ►  January(5) ►  2008(125) ►  December(7) ►  November(6) ►  October(11) ►  September(10) ►  August(11) ►  July(15) ►  June(10) ►  May(6) ►  April(12) ►  March(9) ►  February(13) ►  January(15) ►  2007(23) ►  December(23)

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Amazon Expected sales of 2 Million Tablets in 2011

admin
As you probably know by know, the big Amazon Kindle tablet is coming out, very, very soon! We can’t wait to get our hands on it. In the meantime, some of the heavy hitters in business are already making predictions about how many units they expect Amazon to sell.

The Wall Street Journal came out with their estimates this week, stating that they expect Amazon to sell 2 million of their new tablets before the ned of 2011. An impressive number when you consider that it may not even come out until November!

Of course, this is really just pure speculation on their part at this point. The actual number of sales will depend on a plethora of factors, the main one being how well the new tablet is received by current and future Kindle users. If you read our review, you know we are excited, but also somewhat skeptical of what is coming. I really hope it is well received!

Personally, I think you are going to see two camps when it comes to the Kindle when this comes out – the folks who like it just as it is, with the e-ink screen and without all the other apps, mostly made up of people like me that use the Kindle exclusively for reading and have no need for anything else, and the folks who want to have the full Amazon experience that will come with the new tablet. As we have discussed, these new tablets will be sold alongside the current version of the Kindle.

Amazon is expected to sell more than 21 million total Kindles before the end of the year, a huge jump from last year, with most of those obviously being the current models. Next year, Amazon plans to unveil a 10 inch Kindle tablet, and the 7 inch version should go live in the next few weeks.

Are you considering buying the new model? Or will you be sticking with the current Kindle?


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Expected Sales of 5 Million Kindle Fire Tablets this Year.

Analysts have now seriously ramped up how much they expect the Kindle Fire to sell this year. Bigtime.
They now expect them to sell more than 5 million units in the first quarter alone!

This is great news for Amazon, obviously, and I think it reflects that people are really starting to come over to the “Amazon brand.” Amazon has begun to adopt an Apple-esque strategy, in that they are looking to brand their own Marketplace for apps, their own marketplace for books, their own marketplace for music, etc.

Soon, Amazon may have the type of cross-platform abilities that Apple has. They are missing a few elements, such as a smartphone, although they do sell them but they don’t have their own brand, but it seems to me that the Kindle Fire could easily be adapted to a phone operating system...


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The Kobo Vox Verses The Kindle Fire

, which is going to compete head-to-head with the new Kindle Fire come the holiday system. It is, like the Fire, as much a tablet as it is an ebook reader, and is also based on Android. However, there are some major differences -

Platforms
The Kindle Fire does not have access to the full Android Market. However, it does have access to all the Amazon Marketplace and all of the Amazon content, including the video on demand service and mp3 system (which has effectively replaced iTunes for me. I can’t tell you the last time I bought any music on iTunes. I buy everything on my cell phone through Amazon mp3).

So, if you really want the access to the full market, the Kindle Fire might not be your choice. However, I will say this – there are so many apps on the Amazon Marketplace, you won’t be missing much. Many of the popular apps are on both, and for me, having access to all the other Amazon stuff will make it worth it for me. If you want all the Amazon Marketplace apps like I do, go with the Kindle Fire instead...

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