Get More Out of Your Kindle Fire Tablet: Five Tips

Five months after Amazon debuted its $200 "game-changing" tablet, the Kindle Fire is feeling more like a McDonald's hamburger next to Apple's prime-rib, third-generation iPad. But it doesn't have to be that way. Since PCWorld's first roundup of recommended Kindle Fire apps, a cavalcade of new apps, tips, and hacks that breathe new life into the tablet have surfaced.
Now you can tweak the user interface, no rooting required. You can also view full desktop versions of websites, instead of the default--and minimalist--mobile versions that the Kindle Fire normally delivers. And you can add several gigabytes' worth of music to your device without hogging valuable storage.
Here are five tips to rev up your Kindle Fire and put a bit of that tablet swagger back into your investment.

View Full Websites, Not the Cruddy Mobile Versions

The mobile version of Facebook is fine when you're on your iPhone or Android handset, but the stripped-down version seems inadequate on the Kindle Fire. Other badly stripped-down sites include CNN, ESPN, and Gmail. For me, the Kindle Fire has more than enough screen real estate to support full websites.
To configure the browser to serve up the full desktop versions of websites, open the Kindle Fire Browser app, go to the bottom of the screen and enter the browser settings, and choose Desktop or mobile view. Select the Desktop: Optimize for desktop view option.

Get Apps Amazon Doesn't Want You to Have

Kindle Fire viewing the mobile GetJar app store.Amazon's Kindle Fire app store is a far cry from the Google Play app store when it comes to selection. And good luck downloading apps from Play to your Kindle Fire--you can't, unless you're prepared to do some serious tinkering. Pay a visit to GetJar, Only Android, Opera's app store, or SlideMe on your Kindle Fire, however, and you can download and install hundreds of non-Amazon-approved apps.
To get started with these app stores, you must first configure your Kindle Fire to be able to download and install apps from third-party app stores. To do this, go to Settings, Device and turn on Allow Installation of Applications. Afterward you can start downloading great apps such as Grooveshark or HD Dolphin Browser, both of which are unavailable from Amazon.

Add 5GB of Music Without Taking up 1MB or Spending a Dime

Amazon offers 5GB of free storage with its Amazon Cloud Player, which means you can upload a decent amount of music for streaming playback to your Kindle Fire without consuming any of the tablet's physical storage space. Songs you purchase via Amazon MP3 don't count toward your 5GB limit, and you can buy more space starting at $20 for 20GB (up to $1000 for 1000GB).
To access the music you store on Amazon's Cloud Player, simply launch the Music app and select Cloud.

Add Your Own Music, Movies, and Documents

Using a Mini-USB cable, you can transfer movies, music, and documents from your desktop to your Kindle Fire. You will need to familiarize yourself with the Kindle Fire's file-management system. For navigating folders on your Kindle Fire, I suggest the free file-navigating Android app AndroXplorer.
Documents: To put .pdf, .txt, and .prc documents on the Kindle Fire, plug your tablet into your PC. Now open the Kindle Fire folder on your desktop, find the Documents folder within, and drag and drop the files to the folder. Next time you open the Docs app, they will be available. (You can also send files to your device via the dedicated email address listed in your Docs app.)
Video: You must first convert video files to a format that the Kindle Fire can play, such as MPEG-4. I use the free transcoding program Any Video Converter, which does an excellent job. After you've converted your video files, dump the files into your Kindle Fire's Video folder. To enjoy them, navigate to the Video folder on your Kindle Fire using AndroXplorer, select a video, and tap to play.
Make sure that each video conforms to the size best suited for the Kindle Fire. The specs that worked best for me: MPEG-4, a 624-by-252-pixel frame width, a 757-kbps data rate, and 24 frames per second (admittedly, not high-def).
Music: Simply drag and drop MP3 tracks to the Kindle Fire's Music folder while it's connected to your desktop. Next time you open the Kindle Fire's Music app, they will be listed.

Revamp the Kindle Fire's Ugly Interface With Go Launcher EX

Three different customized versions of the Kindle Fire running the Go Launcher EX program.
One of my biggest issues with Amazon's forked version of the Android operating system is that the user interface isn't easily customizable. You might want to consider installing the handy program called Go Launcher EX, which allows you to customize your Kindle Fire user interface without having to root the device. Go Launcher is one of several launcher programs that allow you to customize the Kindle Fire in the same way you can trick out an Android phone or tablet with shortcuts, widgets, multiple screens of tablet icons, and personalized themes.
Once you install Go Launcher EX, familiarizing yourself with its workings takes a little time. The change is dramatic, so it's important to know how to revert to Amazon's user interface if you need to.
First, enable third-party app installations by going to Settings, Device, and turning on Allow Installation of Applications. Now launch your Kindle Fire browser and point it to the Go Launcher website. Download the newest version of Go Launcher EX.
Once Go Launcher is downloaded, tap the upper-left notification bar, and then tap the file to install. Now you'll have the option of using Go Launcher EX as your default user interface. To add widgets and features, swipe up on your Kindle Fire home screen, and you'll see a link to the Go Store, where you can add clocks, weather, and texting widgets, along with tablet themes.
The next time you start your Kindle Fire, it will ask you to designate either the Kindle Fire interface or Go Launcher EX as your default launcher. Choose the latter. Your Kindle Fire bookshelf interface doesn't go away--instead, it becomes an app that you can choose to launch.
To revert to the familiar Kindle Fire interface, go to Settings, Applications. Now go to the top of the screen and filter by all applications. Scroll down and find Go Launcher EX, and select it. Within that menu select clear default. Now, when you press the home button, a dialog box will ask you whether to use Go Launcher EX or the Kindle Fire launcher as the default. Choose the Kindle Fire launcher to get the old look back.

Rekindling a Relationship

Honestly, I've been neglecting my Kindle Fire ever since my honeymoon with the device ended about three months after I bought it. But with these handy tips, I've gotten a lot more value out of my $200 investment--and you will too.

pcworld.com

Amazon Kindle Fire 2; what are expected

Amazon Kindle Fire 2 is going to be a reality pretty soon. Here Abdul Vahid V discusses some great features that Kindle Fire fans want to see in their next gen tablet.
Amazon, the most successful tablet vendor after Apple last year, is rumored to launch an upgrade to its famous Kindle Fire tablet. Well, we are rumored to get a Kindle Fire 2 sometime this year. What things are we really expecting Amazon to add on new Kindle Fire? Let us go through some important features Kindle Fire owners wish to see on the device’s second edition.
Kindle Fire has become one of the most successful tablets in the market, not because it is a premium device like iPad. The 7-inch tablet from Amazon dominates the market mainly with its low price factor and its reader-friendly features. Here are a few rumored features expected to appear on the new Kindle Fire anyway.
Two versions: There is a strong rumor that Amazon will launch two versions of its new Kindle Fire; a 7-inch and a large 10-inch. One of web’s top tech rumor sites, the DigiTimes has firstly reported that Amazon was working on two models of Kindle Fire. To an extent it is a rational guesswork. Amazon planned a low-priced Kindle Fire when Apple iPad was the ruthless dominator of market. Right now, the situation has changed. Though Apple continues its supremacy, 10.1-inch tablet like Samsung Galaxy Tab, Asus Transformer Prime and other are the shining stars of stores today. So we can’t tell Amazon won’t go ahead to launch a 10.1-inch cheap Kindle Fire.
Ice Cream Sandwich: Yes, it should be there. Amazon should launch its new Kindle Fire with the Ice Cream Sandwich. The current version of Kindle Fire runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The ICS is making rounds in tech markets today. Customers are passionately waiting for more tablets with ICS. A low-priced 7-inch or 10-inch ICS tablet from Amazon will again make the tablet market tumultuous.
More connectivity features: One of the biggest shortcomings of the Kindle Fire is that the device lacks enough connectivity features that a typical tablet should have. See, the Kindle doesn’t feature GPRS, EDGE and Bluetooth. For connectivity, users depend only on the integrated Wi-Fi.
Camera and multimedia: As well, Amazon skipped both front and rear cameras on Kindle Fire. Of course, it is a tablet with major focus on reading and content consumption. It rocks a rich load of content from Amazon or other sources. But, the device should at least have a front camera, which will help users make video chats with their friends. A back camera is almost useless on a tablet like Kindle Fire, because most people who buy the device are avid readers.
Anyway, we know that Kindle Fire hasn’t been anything like Amazon’s Kindle eReaders. It is a semi-tablet with access to some multimedia features. However, it is not a complete tablet like an iPad or others. When upgrading the device, Amazon should consider adding even more multimedia features to the pack, though. It will make the device more rich and competitive device in shelves.
More memory: The original Kindle Fire has only 8GB of internal memory and no microSD slot. But, users can store much more data on Amazon’s cloud services. It is a nice thing; however, Amazon should either add more memory or put a microSD slot on the new Kindle Fire.
Quad core processor: Boy Genius Report sometime back reported that Kindle Fire is to mount a quad core processor. Amazon was “planning on releasing at least two before the end of the year… the big boy? That’s codenamed ‘Hollywood’ and will be based on the Nvidia Tegra 3 which will bring a screaming quad-core processor with a 500 percent performance increase,” BGR wrote. Sure the current Kindle Fire is a bit slow with its dual core 1GHz Cortex-A9 processor. If Amazon to mount a quad core processor, it would be a great thing. But, chance is less; because, Amazon more looks to sell its Kindle Fire for a small price.
Conclusion
It looks like that it is the right time for Amazon to launch a new version for its reader-friendly Kindle Fire. Amazon could sell 3.98 million units of the device in the last quarter of 2011 and the sales still goes on hot. With a new upgrade for the same affordable price, Amazon can again stand out in the tablet market, which has become more crowded with a huge variety of products from various tech makers

nvonews.com

Readerdock's Kindle Fire and Nook Color speaker docks go up for pre-order

Last week, Grace Digital announced the forthcoming release of its FireDock charging speaker dock specifically designed for Amazon's Kindle Fire. We said that this was one of the first to reach the market. Well, here's one of the others. The FireStation from Readerdock is not only going to hit the marketplace well before July, but it's a good deal cheaper too. The company has also created a dedicated speaker dock for Nook Color users called the N-Station, that's due for release at the same time.

Readerdock's FireStation and N-Station are essentially the same dock, the only difference being the device connections on the cradle. The FireStation features a dual connector and the Kindle Fire is powered on or off via a button the front of the cradle. There's a 3.5mm audio jack next to the USB charging port at the rear which acts as a headphone output.
As the audio-out jack on the Nook Color is at the opposite end to the USB charging port, the N-Station runs an audio patch cable between an input on the base and the output of the docked Nook, which also means that the N-Station can be fed audio from any 3.5mm audio source (such as an MP3 player). The Nook is switched on using the power button on the device itself.

As soon as the tablet device is placed in the appropriate dock, charging begins – confirmed by a yellow light on the front of the cradle that turns green when the docked device is fully charged. A button on the base at the back turns the 3W/4 ohm stereo speakers on or off, and there's a volume control at the front. Both speaker docks have an audio frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio of -80dB.
Users can choose whatever viewing angle suits thanks to a cradle that can be rotated left or right, or up and down. There's an adjustment screw to lock the cradle in the desired viewing orientation.
The FireStation and the N-Station both carry a recommended retail price of US$59.99 but Readerdock is currently knocking $5 off the ticket price to those who pre-order, with free shipping as an added incentive. The first Readerdock charging speaker docks are expected to be shipped out at the end of April 2012.

gizmag.com

Kindle Fire Review – Top Six Features Of The Fire

This article talks about the top six features of the Kindle Fire. It enables user to surf the internet, listen to music, watch movie, read books and etc. Here are the top five features of the Kindle Fire that i am going to share with you:

Dual core processor

The Kindle Fire utilizes the dual core processor for fast, powerful performance. Stream music while browsing the web or read books while downloading videos. It can handle multitasking smoothly.

E-reading

Millions of books can be found in the library. You can borrow books from the library. Besides that, you also can download the sample and read the reviews. If you are looking for an e-reader with amazing color display, The Fire is a right e-reader for you.

Free one month membership of Amazon Prime

You will be able to stream unlimited of TV shows and movies. There are thousands of movies in the library that are available to stream, download, purchase or rent. You can stream and watch it anytime, anywhere you want as long as your Fire gets connected to the wireless. With the membership, you get to access to the Lending Library where you can stream thousand of movies from there.

Free cloud storage service

Stop worrying about memory. Amazon gives you a 5GB free storage for all your Amazon digital contents. You get to download and stream all your movies and apps instantly with a touch of your finger.

Amazon’s Apps Store

You can download apps from Amazon’s apps store. It has a wide range of apps you can download. Besides that, it offers a paid app for FREE everyday! You can play Angry Bird on your Kindle!

Kindle owner’s Lending Library

There are over a hundred thousand books in the Lending Library. With an Amazon Prime membership, Kindle owners can choose a book to borrow for free.

Fire is a good choice among all the tablets. It features amazing color display, wide range of apps, streaming music and movies that is compatible with Adobe’s Flash. In term of price, it costs only $199. It is very cheap for a tablet. It allows you to get virtually 5GB free storage with Amazon’s Cloud storage. Besides that, none of any users complain about the Kindle Fire’s battery life. Start asking yourself, what are you actually looking for? If you just want to read some books, surf the internet, listen to some musics, why not going for this great device?

Thanks for reading the top six features of the Kindle Fire.

By Ket Phin Wong

Ket Phin Wong is a Kindle Fire enthusiast.
cmvlive.com

Refurbished Kindle Fire $139 Today: Firmware Update Available Now

For today only, Amazon's Kindle Fire is cheaper than ever, with refurbished models on sale for $139.
The refurbished Kindle Fire is Amazon's Gold Box deal of the day, valid on March 29 or while supplies last. Normally, refurbished models cost $169.
(See Related: Get More Out of Your Kindle Fire Tablet: Five Tips)

Firmware Update

If you've already got a Kindle Fire, there's still some good news: The latest firmware update, being delivered over the year this week, adds new features and improvements to the tablet.
The update includes a reading view for Amazon's Silk browser, which renders the body of a Website in an easy-to-read format. It also has some new book features, such as the ability to share passages on social networks and with other Kindle users.
With the version 6.3 firmware, personal documents can be stored on Amazon Cloud servers and re-downloaded at any time. For movie rentals, the rental period now begins when the user starts watching the movie, instead of immediately after initiating a download.
The firmware also includes general performance enhancements, such as faster reconnect to Wi-Fi after the Kindle Fire has been asleep. This update, combined with a major update pushed out last December, should help correct some of the general sloppiness that the Kindle Fire suffered at launch.

Kindle Fire 2.0?

As for new hardware, Amazon hasn't announced anything yet, but rumors about a larger tablet have persisted since the original 7-inch Kindle Fire launched last November. A recent report by Taiwanese news source SENS claimed that Amazon will launch two new Kindle Fires this year, including a 7-inch tablet with 1280-by-800 and an 8.9-inch model with 1920-by-1200 resolution.
Amazon hasn't disclosed sales figures for the Kindle Fire, but has said that it sold millions of them during the holiday season. Barclays analyst Anthony DiClemente estimates that Amazon sold 5.5. million Kindle Fires last year.

pcworld.com

The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library is a little … odd

Summary: While it’s nice to be able to “borrow” books on the Kindle, our impressions are that the service is a little early for prime time, and — frankly — a little odd.

My wife and I have been poking around the new Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, trying to get a feel for what it offers and how to use it. While it’s nice to be able to “borrow” books on the Kindle, our impressions are that the service is a little early for prime time, and — frankly — a little odd.
First up are the book choices themselves. Because participation by publishers in the Lending Library means giving up some revenue in return for what is, essentially, promotional benefit, most mainstream publishers have chosen not to participate. There are a few notable exceptions like Scholastic. They’ve made “The Hunger Games” available on the Lending Library.
Update: I got this wrong initially and thanks to the folks who pointed out the error. Actually, it turns out Amazon has reached agreements with publishers to include titles for a fixed fee. In other cases, Amazon is purchasing a title each time it is borrowed by a reader under standard wholesale terms as a no-risk trial to demonstrate to publishers the incremental growth and revenue opportunity that this service presents. Amazon recently published a press release highlighting further details of this program.
Even with this compensation model, the vast majority of books available for lending are self-published books. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with independently-published books (I’m a big supporter of the creative process), self-published books often suffer from somewhat less formal editing than books published by traditional publishing companies.
I’ve spent more than 25 years as the head of a publishing company (my day job) and I can tell you, publishing is a tough business with a lot of work. Publishing a traditional book often requires teams of people doing everything from making sure there’s a big enough market for a probable return on investment, acquisitions editors to do the deals, content editors who read, edit, re-read, and re-edit to make sure the books are crisp, and the entire sales and marketing challenge, making sure readers can find the books wherever they shop.
Kindle distribution disintermediates all that — for both good and bad. The good is that great stories and great authors can reach readers without having to pass the “will it make it in the mass market?” test that all traditional publishers require. This means — like with indy music — you’re getting access to funky, fascinating, fabulous stuff that otherwise just wouldn’t be available.
On the other hand, there is the spam problem. I’m going to address the spam problem on Kindle in a future article, but let’s just use one book as an example. There’s a guy out there listing a book entitled “Only Rich People May Buy This Story.” It’s free in the Lending Library, but if you want to buy it, it’s $200. There are hundreds of these artificially high-priced books out there, just trolling for the inattentive buyer to hit “Buy now with 1-Click.”
The enormous prevalence of indy books in the Lending Library means that the entire service could probably be renamed the Kindle Indy Book Library and it’d be just as accurate. There are amazing books available in the Lending Library, but it’s quite difficult to tell what’s brilliant and what’s mislabeled spam.
While we’re on the subject of hard to find, Amazon needs to improve its browsing interface.
Even finding a selection of lend-enabled books for a particular genre is a challenge. You can’t do it easily from the menu. Instead, you have to do so by setting the Search box drop-down to Books and hitting Go. Then you have to select the Kindle Edition tab. Then, from the menu on the left, check Prime Eligible. Only now are you able to see lend-enabled books.
Once you’ve found lend-enabled books, navigating genres is particularly wonky. For example, there are 12,468 lend-eligible books in the “Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense” genre.
While you can further narrow the field to Mystery (3,913 books), Police Procedural (476 books), or Thrillers (7,692 books), that’s about as far as you can get. The Sort drop-down menu lets you sort by popularity, price, and publication date, but there’s no easy way to browse by, say, author or even book title.
Worse, although there are 12,468 results shown, you can only browse 12 books at a time, and only select up to three pages out. If you want to see what’s available, you’d actually have to hit “Next” something like a thousand times.
Here, too, we have spam. There are books posted in categories where they don’t belong and books posted in numerous categories (somehow gaming the system), which also brings down the quality of the overall service and selection.
Then there’s the way you borrow books. You know how you can go onto Amazon with your browser using any ol’ computer and send a book to your Kindle? Well, you can’t do that with borrowed books. You have to borrow the book directly from your Kindle device, using the device’s rather convoluted mechanism for finding books.
My wife has taken to searching for the book she wants to read on her computer, then going to her Kindle Fire to download it. She actually owns two Kindles, both registered in her name: a third generation e-ink Kindle and her Kindle Fire.
Weirdly enough, though, while you can borrow books only from the device, if you want to have a borrowed book sent to another Kindle that you own (and is registered to the same account), you have to go to the “Manage Your Kindle” page from a browser and send it down to the device from there. If you try to download it directly onto the second Kindle, you will see a message that you’ve hit your limit for the month.
We’ve also found that it’s easiest to return books from the “Manage Your Kindle” Web interface, rather than the devices themselves. By default, when you “check out” a new book, you’re prompted to return the previous borrow (and if you don’t, you don’t get the new loaner). But if you just want to return a book without borrowing a new one, you can’t do that from the device. You have to go online. It’s not difficult, just a little … odd.
Finally, the lend-enabled books are only available to be read on actual Kindle devices.
This doesn’t really make all that much sense. Let’s use my wife as an example again. In addition to her two Kindle devices, she’s also got the Kindle Reader app registered on her desktop computer, her netbook, her iPad and her iPhone. It would seem to me that as long as she’s got a Kindle registered (meaning she’s actually a Kindle owner), she should be able to read the borrowed book on any of the Kindles or Kindle readers — just like with all the other Kindle books.
After all, once she’s paid into Amazon both for the devices and for the $79/yr Prime membership, it would seem a no-brainer to let her use the service for lend-worthy books just like all the other Kindle books she’s purchased. It’s not like Amazon doesn’t know she owns Kindle devices.
The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library is a nifty idea, and I applaud Amazon for thinking outside the straight-jacket constraints of traditional book publishers, but I do wish they’d make the interface a little more consistent.
This article may seem like it’s full of criticisms, but Amazon deserves kudos for experimenting with new business models. There is a lesson all businesses — small and large — can take away from this. Sometimes it’s okay to offer a new service or a new product that’s not yet perfect. Sometimes it’s okay to get it out there, see how it works, and tweak it over time to make it better and better.
After all, the Amazon we first met in 1995 is nothing like the Amazon we rely on today. They’ve constantly evolved, upgraded, experimented, and innovated — and suffered criticism for most of their changes. But the result of all those experiments is an amazing company that provides a marketplace and infrastructure that millions rely on.
So, go ahead. Take a chance. Offer a service that starts out a little … odd. Who knows where that outside-the-box thinking will take you.

zdnet.com

Unfriendly skies for a Kindle owner

I am happy that Jennifer Clardy Chalmers got her teddy bear back after she left it on a flight from Texas to Louisiana [“iPad, come home,” Travel, April 8]. I was not as fortunate when I left my Kindle Fire in Seat 2F on United/Continental Flight 1080 on Feb. 12, from Newark to San Jose, Costa Rica. It was left where no one but an airline employee could have found it. There is no doubt in my mind that my loss was one of the unfortunate realities of “the staff member with sticky fingers”mentioned in the article.  The Kindle was labeled with my name and all my pertinent information. The airline, on which I am a frequent flier, had all my contact information. I filled out two claims forms and went twice to United’s lost-and-found, and yet United and Continental dismissed my claim, stating it was my responsibility to check to see if I had everything before deplaning. I was offered no remuneration or apology.

washingtonpost.com

Amazon shops for content to fuel international Kindle Fire

Amazon is hustling for content, rights and product on all platforms as it gears up to launch the new video friendly Kindle Fire to international markets.
Amazon’s head of global video Anthony Bay delivered a MipTv keynote with the message, “if you not talking to us, you should be.”

With digital ruling the roost at the online retailer, Bay said that the transition between selling physical and digital consumption is on track. “The number of electronic books we sell exceeds the number of physical books.” But he claims it does not cannibalise physical book sales with customers buying both.

“We have a very similar chart for video: DVDs and Blu-rays, and digital video. The trust that we’ve built up with customers in physical is transitioning very very well to digital,” he said.
There are around 120,000 titles available in the Amazon Digital Video store and with the acquisition of streaming film service LoveFilm in 2011, now has more http://www.reghardware.com/2012/03/22/lovefilm_says_video_streaming_outnumbered_disc_rentals_in_february/than two million subscribers.
Meanwhile, IMDb, the film and TV database has more than 150 million unique visitors every month, with 40 million via its mobile app. “We’re spending a lot of resource to help educate consumers about internet video,” said Bay.
He hinted at a European and wider international launch for Kindle Fire very soon and believed it would be driving higher video consumption. “The Kindle team would describe it as a content-forward strategy. When you turn on the Kindle, it goes right to the books. And when you turn on the Kindle Fire, it goes right to whatever you’ve been watching or listening to.” 45% of Amazon’s revenue now comes outside of the US.
Meanwhile, the tech giant has giant the content creation bandwagon with the creation of Amazon Studios where Amazon will take the role of producer to help fund and create commercial content. “People who would otherwise be unable to find an audience for their script can put it on Amazon Studios. We have a long heritage of helping people who make wonderful content sell and market their content. And digital is not fundamentally different… We believe we can be a great partner.”
He added that Amazon "has a deep knowledge of customers” and can offer them not only the content they love via recommendations but also richer data experiences through IMDB.
"We are active in all market segments, from the physical DVD rental subscription system streaming. We are able to offer a complete range of business models to our partners, "he said. ®

By Natalie Apostolou

theregister.co.uk

Kindle Fire Case Review: M-Edge Trip Jacket for Kindle Fire Review

Kindle Fire Case Review: M-Edge Trip Jacket for Kindle Fire Review

Editor's Ratings (1-5): 4

What's Hot: Sturdy and very protective of the tablet, solidly built, good color selection.

What's Not: The built-in stand is too stiff to use easily when the case is new, covers one of the speakers.

Reviewed by Tong Zhang

M-Edge makes several jacket style cases for the Kindle Fire including the Hampton Jacket, the Incline Jacket and the Trip Jacket. While they have similar designs, the Trip Jacket offers a couple of extra features than the rest. The two-tone case offers very strong protection for the Kindle Fire tablet and comes in four colors including Purple, Coral, Pink and Black.



Design

The M-Edge Trip Jacket has a portfolio design. The right side is a jacket that holds the Kindle Fire tablet and the left side covers the front screen of the tablet. The Trip Jacket closes like a notebook, and has an elastic strap that shuts the case securely. The exterior of the Trip Jacket uses rugged canvas material that's treated with ScotchGard to repel liquids, and both front and back the case have very stiff inserts that give your tablet some strong protections against drops, pokes, bumps and more. A strip of thick leather connects the front and back of the case which provides some flexibility for folding while working with the built in stand.



The M-Edge Trip Jacket has a cream colored microsuede like interior that feels soft and won't scratch the surface of your Kindle Fire. The tablet holder and the leather connecting trim have matching colors, coming in a darker cream color (closer to sienna) on Purple, Coral and Pink cases, and black on the Black case. The Trip Jacket looks and feels very sturdy and solidly built with strong stitching. It does add some bulk to the tablet and 4.8 oz. of weight.



Features

The M-Edge Trip Jacket case for the Kindle Fire is very easy to use. The tablet holder on the right side only comes out half way of a full length of the tablet, but the form fitting pocket with elastic strips plus the grippy microfiber interior help hold the tablet securely inside. It's very easy to slide the tablet in to the case and take it out. The thick leather trim is stiff when the case is new, but with use, it will get more flexible. The back of the Trip Jacket case folds half way, and you can fold the cover back to stand in one of the two ribbed slots in the front cover. This built-in stand offers two viewing angles, a flatter angle for media viewing and a more upright angle for using with an external keyboard and more. As with the leather trim, the foldable flap is also a little stiff when the case is new. It might take a bit of conditioning for both parts to make the stand work more smoothly.



Since the Trip Jacket case covers part of the tablet, the audio jack, charging port and the power button on the bottom of the Kindle Fire are exposed for easy access. You should have no trouble using any headset or charging cable with the Kindle Fire while in this case. The top strap of the tablet holder does however cover the left speaker while leaving the right speaker in the open.





Conclusion

If you are looking strong protection for your Kindle Fire, the M-Edge Trip Jacket offers that in a reasonably slim form and in different colors. The case has a very sturdy treated canvas exterior with some seriously stiff inserts and soft lining. The case provides very good shock protection and keep your tablet away from damages in a backpack or travel case. The built-in stand provides two convenient viewings angles, albeit a little too stiff to use smoothly while the case is brand new. The Trip Jacket offers easy access to the bottom controls but covers one of the stereo speakers on the top.

Price: $39.99
Web site: M-Edge

Draw Something Review

Why can’t you financially-challenged Fandroids go anywhere on the internet without preaching to people about how much you hate Apple? Does Google really need your help that badly? Do you see no irony in the fact that you berate Apple users for supposedly never shutting up about their products, when in reality it’s the Fandroids who never shut up about theirs?
Firstly, it’s pathetic, and secondly, you are wrong. What would you people know anyway? I’m a qualified SysAdmin with 8 years experience, and iOS is far superior. Comparing iOS and Android is like comparing Apples and… turds. Seriously, it’s not even close. You’ll find that most IT people are actually fairly pro-Apple because we’ve had to make extensive, first-hand use of all their stuff, and that of the competition. We’ve used everything, and as a result we can make proper, informed comparisons. You will find that 99% of the time, the most vocal Apple-haters are generally mindless consumers who read somewhere on the internet that Apple was bad, and decided that was their opinion.
Speaking as someone who actually possesses the necessary knowledge to do so, Android is like a beta-version iPhone, and calling it beta is being very generous. It’s woefully unfinished. Terrible interface, half-assed apps, consistently awful battery life, a Store nobody cares about loaded with useless apps and malware, much less developer support… There is iOS, then there is Windows Phone 7, and only if you can’t afford one of the other two, there is Android. But it should be your last choice, because it’s basically a disaster.
And whatever about arguing the merits of Android phones, don’t even bother talking about tablets. If someone tries to tell you there are alternatives to the iPad, laugh in their face, because they are delusional. Nothing comes anywhere close. The only reason to buy an Android anything is if you can’t afford the proper Apple version and have to settle for a third-rate knock-off.



Download free version of Draw Something on Kindle Fire here :
 f.1mobile.com/mobile_software/puzzle/com.omgpop.dstfree_1003006.apk

How to create a masterpiece: Draw Something tips, hints, and cheats

Everybody and their mother is playing OMGPOP's rather excellent iOS and Android sketch-'em-up Draw Something, which managed to nab a shiny Gold Award at review.

To be fair, it's ruddy addictive. The aim of the game, in case you're one of the three people who's yet to play it, is to grab your durable iPaintbrush (your finger) and create a Rolf Harris-esque masterpiece from scratch.

Your opponent then has to guess what your frantic scribblings actually are using the jumbled letters that are displayed on-screen.

And that's pretty much it. Oh, before we forget, check out what we think are 20 of the best Draw Something creations. They're absolutely fabulous, dahling.

Drawing up a storm


In Draw Something, you take on multiple opponents in asynchronous matches, which you can drop in and out of at will. If an opponent successfully guesses your creation, you get the chance to guess theirs. A match continues until somebody gives up.

When it's your turn to sketch, you're greeted by a screen that contains three different words to choose from - all of which vary in difficulty: Easy, Medium, and Hard. The amount of coins you earn depends on the difficulty level you choose to undertake.

If you don't think you can transform any of the words into a glorious picture, you can use your limited supply of bombs to get three fresh choices. Or you can simply close the app, remove it from your multitasking dock, and then fire it back up again to be greeted with three new words. The choice is yours.

Purchase at least one new pack of colours (by tapping the '+' symbol next to your existing colour palette) using the coins you save using that cheeky cheat in the above paragraph. We suggest you stump up the cash for the Mardi Gras package early in the game, for it features a nice selection of colours that you don't have access to from the off.

Take your time while you're drawing: this game is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't just blob a ton of colour onto the playing field and hope for the best. A thin black pencil and a little outline can go a long way.

Finally, try to colour the objects you're drawing with a high degree of verisimilitude - it makes life a lot easier. Have you ever bumped into a purple hamster in the real word? Thought not.

The guessing game


There aren't many tips we can give you for guessing your opponents's drawings. To be frank, some of them are shocking. However, Draw Something does give you a helping hand.

For starters, the game lets you know exactly how many letters make up the word that your partner is attempting to convey.

It also gives you 12 jumbled-up letters with which to construct this word, so you're not entirely on your lonesome here. If you're still stuck, bombs can be used to remove the letters that you don't really need.

Cheaters never (read: always) prevail


If you're still left scratching your head after you've exhausted the above avenues, there's only one thing left to do: cheat.

We don't normally condone cheating here at Pocket Gamer Towers, but there are plenty of ways to dirty your Draw Something hands out there on that thing we call the internet.

Firstly, you can simply head on over to the Win Every Game website, which is a website designed to help Scrabble players get one over on their intellectually gifted opponents. Just enter the letters that you've been presented with in Draw Something on this website, and it'll give you a list of anagrams - it's that easy.

Alternatively, you can head on over to Apple's App Store and download the aptly named Draw Solver Pro - Cheat at Draw Something! application for the small sum of 69p / 99c [buy].

This application allows you to upload a screenshot of the picture you're trying to guess - complete with the letters Draw Something has given you - and almost instantly receive the correct answer.

Just remember: the above method of cheating guarantees your passage into hell.

You can download Draw Something as a Universal app on iOS in one of two flavours (or both, if you wish): a 69p / 99c ad-free version [buy], and a free-to-play ad-supported version [download].

Likewise, you can download a free Android version of Draw Something for, well, free [download]. Or you can shell out 62p for the ad-free Android edition [buy].

pocketgamer.co.uk

Download free version of Draw Something on Kindle Fire here :
 f.1mobile.com/mobile_software/puzzle/com.omgpop.dstfree_1003006.apk

Draw Something is more than a social game, it's a window into the minds of others

Draw Something is more than a simple Pictionary clone. While it stems off the same concept that has been used over and over, there are no time limits and no punishments for incorrect guesses. These aspects, along with the one-on-one setting, remove any sense of competition from the game. The resulting experience is less a game, and more an insight into individual personalities.
I met Mr. Frost in one of my first matches. Over the next few days, we played when we had time. We're about 50 rounds in so far, and we haven't missed a word yet. Our pictures started as silly little sketches consisting of only black and primary colors and evolved into vivid scenes and occasionally hilarious situations. I didn't just get to sit back and watch my own ability grow—my artistic ability has indeed grown, at least by Draw Something standards—I also got to watch someone else grow alongside me.
We both started off with the same crude style, but as we played, those styles grew apart. I've found I use a lot of color to illustrate my words, while Mr. Frost puts more emphasis on detail. Neither is better than the other, but it leads to completely different drawings for the exact same word. For “EMINEM”, I'd draw a bunch of candies, while Mr. Frost would likely try drawing the rapper himself.
Mr. Frost and I have learned a lot about each other through the way we play the game. I've never met the guy, but based solely on word selection and the guesses we make, I can't help but think we'd get along in real life. When it's your turn to draw, you get the choice between three words Each one is more difficult than the last, but also nets you more coins if your partner guesses it. Mr. Frost and I seem to move straight toward any video game-based word we come across. And if we're stumped, we both often make guesses about the video game universe. Even when those guesses are wrong, we just rearrange the letter bank until we find a suitable word that fits the allocated space. Mr. Frost and I think alike, and our synergy has grown as we've played the game.
My experience from Mr. Frost came from a random pairing. You can choose to play with friends, and that's a completely different experience. When I linked my Facebook account and created a new game, I was able to see which of my friends were already playing, and I was given the option to invite others. As new friends picked up the game, I got to see shades of my past. While I've earned enough in-game coins to unlock various colors and shades, my friends were stuck with the same four options I had at first. Without saying (or writing) a word, I was able to show them some of the tricks I've learned, and they – perhaps inadvertently – showed me some new things.






Linking your Facebook account isn't the only way to play. You can use email or a username to find people you know too. You can play a bunch of games at the same time, and you'll want to, because your bank fills with coins each time you get a word correct. These coins can be used to purchase more colors or buy bombs that eliminate incorrect letters from the letter bank. The bombs are nice, but I only found good use for them when my partner really struggled with the drawing. On the other hand, colors enrich the experience, but you'll find a lot of creativity from those who have only the default choices.
There's both a free and a paid version of the game. Both versions allow play between iOS and Android users, and they both play identically. The paid version eliminates ads, adds about 2,000 more words, and gives you 400 free coins (you can also opt to buy coins separately if you'd rather not wait to earn them). Those who play a lot may want to put down money for the paid version, as there are only so many times you can stand having to draw Shrek.
Draw Something is neither a challenge nor a competition. It's a social game in its purest form. Whether you're playing a close friend or a complete stranger, you learn about who they are. How somebody approaches Draw Something tells a lot about them. Perhaps they have an eye for detail, maybe they enjoy a good joke, or maybe they play in a way that’s completely unique. There are some bad eggs that try to earn a quick coin by simply writing their word. Like the rest, that action alone gives us an insight as to what kind of person we're playing with.
The lack of competition and challenge will understandably be a turnoff to many. The rest will discover pure, innocent fun, and an amazing window into the minds of others.


gamezebo.com




Download free version of Draw Something on Kindle Fire here :
 f.1mobile.com/mobile_software/puzzle/com.omgpop.dstfree_1003006.apk

Draw Something on Kindle Fire

The most popular social drawing and guessing game on Android!. A new game for your kindle fire to share your crazy drawing ideas to every one, changeling game, one of the hottest game this week. This Android Game : free version (with ads) and paid version (with more features). It can play smoothly on my Kindle Fire tablet

Here are screen shots 





















Draw Something Trick



***The #1 Free App, #1 Paid App and #1 Word Game in over 80 countries!***

Play the Free version of Draw Something, the most popular social drawing and guessing game on Android! Experience for yourself the laugh-out-loud game your friends are raving about! Plus get these special bonuses:



Download free version of Draw Something on Kindle Fire here :
 f.1mobile.com/mobile_software/puzzle/com.omgpop.dstfree_1003006.apk

Kindle Fire Update Brings Sharing, Book Extras, Print Replica Textbooks To The Masses

Hey there, Kindle Fire owners — Amazon’s rolling out a brand new software update for you, and it packs quite a few worthwhile (and arguably overdue) tweaks for your budget-conscious tablet.

Take sharing, for example. Oddly absent from the Kindle Fire at launch was the ability to share interesting snippets of text like its e-ink brethren, but that functionality has been added, along with the ability to tap into Amazon’s people-powered Shelfari service for what the company calls Book Extras — extra related information pertaining to the book a reader is poring through.

Amazon is also positioning the Kindle Fire as more of educational device than before with support for print replica textbooks, though I’m hoping against hope they eventually work up something like Apple’s more hand-on approach. Be warned though students — speaking as someone who tried in vain to give up textbooks in exchange for their e-book editions for a semester, you’d best be prepared for a bit of learning curve. If nothing else, the update makes it easier for owners to skim through long articles online, as Amazon has also added a special reading view for their Silk browser that that strips out all the cruft in favor of a less-is-more reading experience.

Also included are a handful of miscellaneous fixes that range from the minor (WiFi reconnects faster after the Fire wakes up) to the thoughtful (the time limit on movie rentals now starts when it’s first played, not when it’s downloaded). Alright, it’s not the most mind-blowing update, but Fire owners probably won’t be looking this gift horse in the mouth.

Amazon has said that the update will be pushed to be devices over the coming days, but particularly anxious Fire owners can go ahead and take the plunge now. And for once, you don’t have to worry if you’re rocking a rooted Fire, as the folks on the XDA forums have already managed to score root access to the thing — you’ve gotta love that ol’ hacker spirit.

techcrunch.com

How to download and install the Kindle Fire Software Version 6.3 (new updated)

Amazon’s ambitious Kindle Fire has just received a brand new software update to version 6.3. It’s now live and available for anyone with the device, downloadable here directly and over-the-air.

The update comes with many new features including the ability to share within books. Notes and highlights can be now be shared while reading, making it easy to see what other readers are saying about their books. This particular feature sounds useful for students and joint note taking.

Among the other new features include Book Extras that provide supplemental material, an archive of personal documents, a special reading view for Amazon Silk and timing changes to movie rentals.

amazonfire1 Kindle Fire update 6.3 now live, brings sharing, book extras, textbook replicas & moreInstalling this update will effectively un-root your device (if you’ve done that), but a work around the update has already been created. According to Android Police, “you’ll need to have fastboot and ADB working for the Kindle Fire, along with a handful of other files. For more information, including detailed instructions on the process, check out this thread on XDA.”

Kindle Fire Software Update Version 6.3
For more details on the update, check out Amazon’s official post. Last we heard, Amazon has plans to reveal three new Kindle devices this year alone, and the Kindle Touch 3G has just been made available for global preorder. As the Kindle continues to grow in popularity, we’ll keep our eyes out for how this stands to affect the tablet market.

http://thenextweb.com

Cheaper iPad 2 Is Still No Kindle Fire Competitor

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Today @ PCWorld
Cheaper iPad 2 Is Still No Kindle Fire Competitor

By Jeff Bertolucci, PCWorld Mar 7, 2012 4:14 PM
Complete Coverage

Review: Apple iPad (third generation) family

Review: Amazon Kindle Fire
Best current price: $199
Check Prices

Apple today, in addition to unveiling its latest iPad, announced that it has lowered the price of the iPad 2, which now starts at $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model--a $100 reduction from its previous price.

The iPad 2 price cut, while not unexpected, is a little less aggressive than what many armchair pundits--myself included--had anticipated.
Amazon's Footsteps

With its $199 Kindle Fire selling well, Amazon has proven there's sizable consumer demand for a low-end, 7-inch color tablet. Last month, in fact, research firm IHS iSuppli reported that Amazon shipped 3.9 million Kindle Fires in the fourth quarter of 2001, enough to snare 14.3 percent of the global tablet market.

Cheaper iPad 2 Is Still No Kindle Fire Competitor Apple's iPad 2As a result, many industry watchers assumed Apple would price the iPad 2 very aggressively--perhaps as low as $299--to offer tablet shoppers an Apple-branded alternative to the Kindle Fire.

But at $399, the iPad 2 is better positioned to challenge the growing throng of 10-inch, Android-based tablets priced between $300 and $400, including the Toshiba Thrive and Asus Eee Pad Transformer.
The 7-Inch Solution

So is Apple willing to cede the 7-inch tablet market to the likes of Amazon, Barnes & Noble (maker of the Nook Color and Nook Tablet), and Samsung (Galaxy Tab)? It seems unlikely, particularly when the iPad still dominates the market for larger slates.

One persistent rumor suggests Apple is developing an "iPad Mini," a 7-inch device designed to compete head-on with the Kindle Fire and the rest of the petite pack. If true, it's possible that Apple is preserving the $299 price point for its 7-inch slate--$100 more than the Fire.

Cheaper iPad 2 Is Still No Kindle Fire Competitor Amazon's Kindle FireEven if it cost more than a Kindle Fire, a 7-inch iPad Mini would likely find a receptive market. The Kindle Fire, after all, lacks a camera and has other well-documented shortcomings as well.

The addition of an iPad Mini could further Apple's tablet dominance. With iPad models starting at $299, $399, and $499, Apple would compete in three segments of the rapidly expanding tablet market: 7-inch; bargain 10-inch; and premium 10-inch.

pcworld.com

How would you change Amazon's Kindle Fire?

The Kindle Fire is less a tablet and more a $200 window into Amazon's storefront. The 7-inch slate that shares its DNA with the BlackBerry PlayBook lacks any physical features bar a micro-USB port, headphone jack and speaker.

Internally, that 1GHz CPU is paired up with 512MB of RAM and 8GB storage, with no option for increased size, Bluetooth, 5GHz WiFi or 3G. Performance was fine inside the company's carousel sandbox, but step outside and things became outrageously herky-jerky, especially in the Silk browser, which didn't live up to its name. We found that there was plenty we'd like to change to make it more of a useful tablet, but did we miss the point? You probably had one bought for you in the Holidays and it's had three or four months solid use since then, so what do you think? Is it a good companion on your daily commute, did it justify winning our E-Reader of the year prize and if Jeff Bezos was reading all of your comments in anticipation for version two, what would you demand he changes?

engadget.com

Amazon Kindle Fire: Updates, Plus New Tips and Tricks

On March 28, 2012, Chris notified me that Amazon released the latest version (version 6.3) of its Kindle Fire. At that time, he included a list of the newest features and performance upgrades that Amazon has added or changed from the previous version. Since this is a device that I have written about in the past, I told Chris that I would install the update and check out these new features and write a review on my findings. In preparing to write the article, I also decided to include a section on some of the new tips and tricks that I have discovered while investigating what the Amazon Kindle Fire brings to the plate for our folks here at LockerGnome who own their own Amazon Kindle Fires.

Of course, all articles begin with testing or researching your topic; so, after receiving the email from Chris, I immediately updated my system. To follow along with me, you can update your system and confirm you have the latest bells and whistles by clicking on the cog wheel located at the top right of the screen. Doing this allows you to then select the Sync icon, which in turn then allows the update to be downloaded and installed onto your system. If you still have questions, you can then confirm that you have the latest update by clicking on the More icon, then Settings followed by choosing the Device option. Once on this screen, look under the System Version to confirm that you do, in fact, have version 6.3. You can read about all of the new features at the Amazon Kindle Fire update site.

So what makes this latest update worthwhile? It comes down to the following sentence taken from Amazon’s website:

‘This update will also bring some of the features customers have requested, including faster re-connect of Wi-Fi after Kindle Fire has been asleep, and general performance enhancements.’

After reading this sentence, I knew that, for me, it was a must-have update. Don’t get me wrong; I believe that all of the enhancements being offered will benefit most users, but a faster re-connect of Wi-Fi is one of my pet peeves and here is why. I have set my Gmail account to automatically be checked any time I crank up my Fire. However, due to the slow Wi-Fi connection, I usually end up with nothing more than a message stating that the program has failed.

Did the update work? Yes! My email now magically appears as soon as I start my Fire.

While this was particularly satisfying to me, there are several other new toys worth mentioning. I even believe that some of these new toys will ultimately change the user’s experience. Fortunately, these innovative changes don’t even require your Fire to be ‘rooted’ before you can enjoy them.

One such change was my ability to change, for free, the look of my tablet’s screen to the appearance of the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Below is a picture of that change.

Amazon Kindle Fire: Updates, Plus New Tips and Tricks

So let’s get started in transforming your standard carousel, bookshelf, and ho-hum desktop environment into what looks and works like Ice Cream Sandwich. Don’t worry. If you don’t like the changes, you can revert back to the standard desktop at the click of an icon or you can uninstall everything and return your Fire back to its original appearance.

Amazon Kindle Fire: Updates, Plus New Tips and TricksThe first step in making this change is to enable the installation of third-party applications. To do this, click on the cog wheel, followed by More, then Settings, then click on Device. After this, scroll down until you are able to click on the Yes button where you will find the option to Allow Installation of Applications from Unknown Sources.

Next, we need to create a file manager so that we can locate some of the files that we will be downloading. I have found a good file manager that is called ES File Explorer. This program can be downloaded, for free, from the Amazon App Store. However, to use it, you may want to take advantage of another free program offered at Amazon’s App Store called Easy Installer. This program makes installation of other non-Amazon approved applications a cinch.

For those of you who have tried installing apps from Google Android Market (aka Google Play) onto the Fire, you have found that these apps are blocked by Amazon and will not install directly. If you find that this is your problem, go to the developer’s website, find the programs we will be using, and download them to your Amazon Kindle Fire (or onto a computer, then transfer the files over to the Fire). Either way will work.

The application we next need to download and install is called Go Launcher EX. Once again you have the option of downloading it directly to the Fire or onto a computer. If you choose the latter, the file must be transferred from your computer over to the Fire via a USB cable. Once Go Launcher EX is on your Fire, go to Easy Installer, select Go Launcher EX, and it will be installed for you. For some of you, this may be as far as you wish to go since Go Launcher EX comes with different themes and changes to enhance the desktop of your Fire.

The great thing about using Go Launcher EX is that you can set your system to boot into the new desktop or the old. In addition, a Launcher icon will be incorporated into your new theme so that you can continue to access the carousel bookshelf.

Amazon Kindle Fire: Updates, Plus New Tips and Tricks

However, if you want to install the Ice Cream Sandwich theme from Kovdev, you will need to download the .apk file to an Android phone or other device that has access to Google Play. Unfortunately, I am unaware of any reputable sites on the Internet from which one can download the file directly. However, once the file is transferred over to your Amazon Kindle Fire, Easy Installer can be used to install the Ice Cream Sandwich theme. Then, once it is installed, you can launch the theme through Go Launcher EX. Once it is installed, you can use ES File Explorer to clean up any downloads or other .apk files that are no longer needed.

Comments welcome.

Note: I discovered that I personally preferred booting into the standard desktop first, then launching Go Launcher EX after the standard boot. Why? For the most part I enjoy using the standard Amazon Kindle Fire desktop carousel shelving experience. However, I also like the Ice Cream Sandwich interface. Here is what you need to do to reverse the order of which GUI boots first. After installing Go Launcher EX, you will be asked which launcher you wish to use. If you select Launcher as the default, you will first boot into the standard desktop GUI. If you choose Go Launcher EX, the default will be booting into Go Launcher EX or Ice Cream Sandwich if you choose the ICS theme.

Amazon Kindle Fire: Updates, Plus New Tips and Tricks

Either way, you will enjoy a new and unique experience.

lockergnome.com

Apple leaves the Kindle Fire alone with latest iPad

Despite speculation about an iPad that would rival the Kindle Fire, Apple ignores its only real competition in the tablet market.

If Apple is at all worried about Amazon's emerging iPad rival, the Kindle Fire, it showed no signs of it at the launch of its new iPad today.

The rumor mill, always in overdrive in advance of Apple launch events, suggested that the company might debut a smaller iPad that would compete more directly with the 7-inch Fire. There was some speculation that Apple might try to match the Fire's $199 price, or at least offer a device that was within $50 or so.

There was some logic to that thinking. The Fire has become the only true competition to the iPad in the tablet world. Stifel Nicolaus analyst Jordon Rohan estimated that Amazon sold as many as 6 million Fires in the fourth quarter.

Apple CEO Tim Cook launching the new iPad.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)
Like plenty of rumors about Apple launches, the Fire-rival speculation was wrong. Apple launched the third-generation iPad, but it comes in the same 9.7-inch size as the current model. And the pricing scheme is roughly the same as well, starting at $499, though the iPad 2 will stay on the market and cost $399.

Apple executives barely mentioned the competition at all. At one point, Chief Executive Tim Cook tweeked the Samsung Galaxy tablets as being overgrown mobile phones.

"The competitive tablets aren't gaining traction," Cook said.

Amazon, though, was never mentioned. That may be because the Fire's price tag is simply too low for Apple to match. Amazon, after all, benefits from selling books and other goods through its online store, allowing it to accept razor thin margins on the device.

During the presentation, Cook mentioned that the iPad was the favorite reading device among Apple products for its customers. It was also the favorite gaming device and e-mailing gadget as well. To Apple, the iPad fills more than just the niche in which the Fire resides.

cnet.com

Next for Amazon — big Kindle Fire or refresh existing model?

Summary: Rumors are flying that Amazon is preparing a 10-inch tablet for market. Maybe a solid refresh of the Kindle Fire would make more business sense.

Sales numbers are elusive but indications are the big tablet competition for the iPad is Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Sales of several million have been thrown about, and if accurate makes the Kindle Fire the top tablet without iOS.

I hesitate referring to the Kindle Fire as an Android tablet because it is marketed and supported totally outside the Android ecosystem. Most buyers see it as a purely Amazon creation and know nothing about Android. However the Kindle Fire is perceived, it is time to start wondering what is next for Amazon with the product line?

See also: Kindle Fire: Blurring the tablet and ereader markets

Rumors have been floating around that a 10-inch Kindle Fire is on the way to compete with larger tablets from Apple and Android tablet makers. If Amazon chooses to produce a second model in its tablet line it won’t be without a fair amount of risk.

Amazon is selling the small Kindle Fire at a loss in order to sell more content from its store. A larger tablet would be more expensive to produce, and Amazon may have to take more of a loss on each unit to sell it.

I believe the Kindle Fire has been so successful due to the $199 price point. This puts it just under the impulse price point where folks who find the tablet interesting are willing to give it a try. Amazon is savvy about retail and no doubt why the Kindle Fire is priced the way it is.

See also: Forget the iPad: Android tablet makers better fear the Kindle Fire

I don’t see how a larger tablet could be sold as cheaply without damaging the existing tablet’s market. Priced higher than $200 and a larger tablet would not fall in that impulse buy category. That may find prospective buyers unwilling to give the new device a try without a lot more thought. Amazon may have to give some additional incentives to get them over that hump.

If those incentives push buyers to the larger tablet, that could harm sales of the Kindle Fire. Amazon certainly doesn’t want to compete with itself, but it may end up doing so with a larger model. Plus, the Kindle Fire is being sold as a Kindle with benefits. Amazon doesn’t have to market it as competition for other products. It would be hard to sell a larger tablet that way, it would likely be viewed by prospective buyers as competition with the iPad and other tablets.

Amazon may have something up its sleeve with a larger tablet, aimed at selling video content. That could work if it uses its video on demand service as an incentive to keep the selling price down as low as possible without intruding on the Kindle Fire market. Position the Kindle Fire as the ereader that does other stuff, and the larger tablet as a video device that does also does Kindle books. Maybe offer the larger tablet with an exclusive video deal that can’t be found anywhere else, like Game of Thrones.

It might be better business to stick with the Kindle Fire, but add capability with a product refresh while keeping the existing price. It could add a camera and better components, and stay with a single product in the tablet line. Amazon is entering an important phase this year with the Kindle Fire, and it doesn’t want to upset the good thing it has going.

What do you think? Should Amazon introduce a second, larger tablet or improve the Kindle Fire in the next go-round? Share your thoughts in the comments.

zdnet.com

Kindle Fire helps Amazon Appstore hit 31,000 apps in first year

Amazon Appstore for Android, which helped lay the foundation for a big Kindle Fire launch, is celebrating its one-year anniversary and has now eclipsed 31,000 apps, up from 4,000 at launch. That’s a strong first year for an app store that began as an alternative to the Android Market and then became the primary channel for Kindle Fire users to get their apps.

The store and the Kindle Fire have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship, which has been a boon for developers who have built Kindle Fire apps. As we’ve reported before, a number of developers have seen a big boost in downloads, particularly for paid apps; something that is still harder to achieve in Android Market. Game maker Glu Mobile said its revenues from Amazon grew by more than 1,000 percent after the Kindle Fire launched in November. Other developers like Pandora also touted the better engagement they’re seeing in their apps on the Kindle Fire.

Amazon is not releasing download figures for Amazon Appstore, saying only that users have downloaded and tested “millions” of apps. That’s in keeping with the company’s habit of keeping certain numbers close to the vest. It’s still not saying how many Kindle Fires it has sold and download numbers would help draw other comparisons to iOS and Android.

But the fact that it’s gotten 31,000 apps is still pretty impressive. These are basically Android apps but they have to pass review by Amazon and they’re subject to specific rules including the fact that Amazon can set the pricing on apps. That caused the International Game Developers Association to warn its game developers not to go with Amazon Appstore. Some developers have also called out Amazon for the way it runs its store, including one who called it a “disaster.” Amazon is also still facing a lawsuit from Apple over the use of the term “appstore.”

Still, Amazon has soldiered on and continues to push its store, using its free app of the day and test drive features to lure users in. And with the early results of developers on the Kindle Fire, it’s likely Amazon will continue to see more momentum for its Appstore. Good Technology, for example, said earlier this week that it is making its Good for Enterprise suite available on the Kindle Fire.

To continue the momentum, Amazon is offering discounts for a week on some of its top games starting today with Plants v. Zombies. It’s also starting a sweepstakes to give away eight Amazon Kindles. You can check out the deals and offers here.

As we’ve mentioned before, there’s increasingly more thought being put toward treating the Kindle Fire as its own platform. Om wrote recently that Android developers should focus their tablet development on the Kindle Fire. With robust Kindle Fire sales and signs of high engagement and downloads, it sounds like the Amazon Appstore will only get bigger in year two.

Here’s a few more tidbits about the store and a list of the top downloaded apps in the past year:

The most popular app category for Amazon Appstore was games followed by entertainment and productivity. Amazon has offered nearly $1,000 in discounts through its free app of the day feature. Users have spent more than 7.7 million minutes test driving apps.

Top Paid Apps

1. Cut the Rope
2. Angry Birds (Ad-Free)
3. Where’s My Water?
4. Angry Birds Rio (Ad-Free)
5. Angry Birds Seasons (Ad-Free)
6. Plants vs. Zombies (Kindle Fire Edition)
7. Fruit Ninja
8. SCRABBLE (Kindle Fire Edition)
9. UNO (Kindle Fire Edition)
10. TETRIS

Top Free Apps

1. Angry Birds Free
2. Netflix
3. Solitaire
4. Fruit Ninja Free
5. Angry Birds Seasons Free
6. Bubble Buster
7. Little Piano Free
8. Roller Lite
9. Jewels
10. Hangman Free

gigaom.com

Top Kindle Fire Activity: Reading E-Books, Says Citi

Analysts don’t know how many Kindle Fires have been sold any more than you do. Sometimes, though, they do cool stuff like an analysis (PDF) of their family’s Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN) Prime usage — or, in the case of a new Citigroup report released today, a survey on Kindle usage and Prime membership.

Even better: This report includes the term “bull-twinkie.”

Some tidbits from Citi analyst Mark Mahaney’s survey of over 1,100 “U.S. Internet consumers” (so just imagine “Citi says” in front of all these bullets):

–Twenty-three percent of survey respondents own a Kindle e-reader — just a Kindle, not a Kindle or some other type of e-reader. A July 2011 Pew report estimated U.S. adults’ e-reader ownership at 12 percent, hence Citi’s assertion that “Kindle ownership has increased about 100% over the past 7 months”). Six percent of respondents own a Kindle Fire.

–”We see Amazon’s eReader revenue contribution as actually materially greater than its Tablet revenue contribution for the foreseeable future.”

–”E-reader owners purchase about 2.4 books per month….this survey finding is higher than our prior assumption of about 1.5 books purchased per month by Kindle owners.” Also, 24 percent of respondents said they’d purchased five or more e-books in the past 30 days.

–Kindle Fire owners are most likely to use their device to read e-books (35 percent), browse the Internet (18 percent), and play games (18 percent).

–Eighty-one percent of Kindle Fire owners have purchased digital products, 10 percent have purchased physical products and 8 percent have purchased nothing.

–About 20 percent of Amazon shoppers in the survey were also Prime subscribers — most through a paid annual membership (58 percent). Also, Citi agrees with me that this Bloomberg report on Prime subscribers is stupid: “12 percent of Amazon shoppers in our survey are paying Prime subs. Although a relatively low %, this would seem to suggest that the recent report that Amazon has only 2-3MM Prime Subs was a bunch of bull-twinkie.”

–”Prime subs shop more frequently (22x per year vs. 9x purchases per year done by non-Prime subs) and spend more dollars ($458 vs. $310, or about 48% more than non-Prime subs.”

–Finally, for those who just really like analysts’ estimates of devices sold: Citi estimates that 30 million Kindle e-readers will be sold in 2012, compared to 12 million Kindle Fires. And Citi estimates Amazon’s e-book sales at $6.2 billion this year, up 176 percent from 2011.

paidcontent.org

New iPad vs. Kindle Fire: Which Tablet is Right for You?

Pitting the souped-up Apple iPad against the budget-focused Amazon Kindle Fire might seem like an unfair fight, but for many, a new tablet will come down to a choice between the two.

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Contents

New iPad vs. Kindle Fire: Which Tablet is Right for You?
Content, Value, and Conclusions

New iPad vs. Kindle Fire: Which Tablet is Right for You?

Let's get it out of the way up front: The new iPad and the Kindle Fire are two completely different beasts. It's almost pointless to do a general side-by-side spec comparison without considering the varying needs of different tablet users. For some, the budget-friendly, reading-centric Kindle Fire will be more than enough. For others, though, the genre-defining iPad will be the obvious choice. So let's take a look at the various factors to consider when you're looking for your next tablet:

Media Content and Reading Experience
Easy and convenient media consumption is a must when it comes to tablets. Both the new iPad and the Kindle Fire do this particularly well, offering up a solid collection of content.

Amazon offers more than 100,000 movies and TV shows to rent or buy, and Amazon Prime users can access unlimited free streaming for over 10,000 titles; Apple offers no such program. The iTunes store has more than 15,000 movies and 90,000 TV episodes. Both Amazon and Apple tout music collections nearing 20 million songs. Selection is always changing, so content-wise, the two are equally impressive.

When it comes to music, Apple has the benefit of iTunes, with special features like Genius and iTunes Match. And again, the iPad also features Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay for wireless streaming to compatible devices.

Price varies depending on the content, but, from a quick comparison of some top albums, Amazon appears to offer the same content for slightly lower prices than Apple. You should also consider flexibility of use. Amazon allows a little more breathing room for playback on other devices; from phones to other tablets to internet-enabled TVs. Apple is more restrictive, limiting media to its own devices.

Then there are books, newspapers, and magazines. Amazon's selection is superior, but with the Kindle App for the iPad, there really is no advantage there. For students, Apple's recently launched iBooks 2 with digital textbooks could be an important factor. Both devices, again, have pros and cons when it comes to reading experience. The Retina display, with its 264 pixels per inch, will make for far sharper text compared with the Kindle Fire's 169 ppi. But don't forget about comfort. The Kindle Fire is smaller (7.5 by 4.7 by .45 inches) and lighter (14.6 ounces) than the iPad (9.50 by 7.31 by .37 inches and 23.04 ounces), which is a big factor for longer reading sessions. Sure you could set the iPad on your lap, but that position is not ergonomically sound and you run the risk of developing "tablet neck."

Advantage: Push. Both Amazon and Apple have impressive collections of music, movies, TV shows, and books. The smaller Kindle Fire will be more comfortable to hold for long periods, while the high pixel density of the new iPad's Retina display will make a big difference for text.

Pricing and Value
The Kindle Fire costs $199, while the entry level 16GB iPad will cost $499. Ouch. If your intentions are purely casual, like light Web browsing, email, and Angry Birds, then the Kindle Fire will likely suffice. But if you want your tablet to replace your laptop, or at least come close, the iPad is more powerful, feature rich, and offers a superior, tablet-optimized app selection.

Advantage: Amazon. You can't deny the fact that the Kindle Fire is less than half the price of the least-expensive iPad, and less than one quarter the cost of the most-expensive model.

Conclusions
It's impossible to recommend a single tablet for all. Not everyone can spend $500 on a new tablet, but, at the same time, you don't want to plunk down $200 on a tablet that can't do everything you need it to. Depending on how you weigh each of the factors above, either of these tablets could come out on top.

So which, if either, will you choose? Is there another tablet on your wish list? Let us know in the comment section below.

pcmag.com
Specs
Hardware isn't everything. That said, the new iPad absolutely creams the Kindle Fire in a strict spec comparison. Not everyone needs Apple's dual-core A5X processor with quad-core graphics. After all, the dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP4 processor in the Kindle Fire is no slouch. A tablet's screen is one of its most important features, and the iPad's ultra-sharp 9.7-inch 2,048-by-1536-pixel Retina Display can't be beat. But what if you want to slip your tablet into your jacket pocket? The Kindle's 7-inch (1,024-by-600-pixel) display makes it a lot easier to tote, but it also limits your screen real estate.

Both tablets offer unlimited cloud storage for their respective eco-system content, so internal storage may not be a huge factor, but it's worth considering if you want to load your own content. The Kindle Fire offers 8GB, while the iPad comes in 16, 32, and 64GB capacities. Neither, however, supports microSD or any other storage expansion options.

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As far as connectivity, the new iPad offers 4G LTE compatibility, which gives it an edge over the Kindle Fire, but don't forget that there are plenty of solid and affordable mobile hotspot options that will bring the same capability to Amazon's Wi-Fi-only tablet. Both tablets are 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi compatible, but only the iPad supports AirPlay and Bluetooth—this is especially important if you want to stream music or videos wirelessly to your compatible speakers or HDTV.

If, for whatever reason, you want your new tablet to replace your digital camera, then the iPad's new 5-megapixel camera will be a big factor. The Kindle Fire lacks a camera for stills or video, but the general usefulness of tablet cameras is still up for debate. Battery life will likely be longer on the iPad too, but that's because it's a bigger tablet that can house a bigger battery.

Advantage: Apple. The new iPad packs a vastly superior screen, 4G LTE compatibility, more internal storage, and more wireless connectivity options. Amazon did not skimp on components in the Kindle Fire, but it still cannot compete with the new iPad on a strictly hardware level.

Software and Apps
This is not your standard iOS vs. Android showdown. The iPad runs Apple's iOS mobile operating system and has access to the Apple App Store. The Kindle Fire uses a heavily modified version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which makes for a smooth, simple, and intuitive interface that is drastically different than the stock Google software. With those changes, though, the Kindle Fire also loses the Android Market (now rebranded as Google Play). You can, however, install your own APK's onto your Kindle Fire with the right tools, opening up the possibility to get nearly any app available in Google Play. The Amazon Appstore is perfectly capable too, with thousands of choices, but it can't compare with the more than 170,000 native iPad apps in the Apple App Store.

It's hard to argue with the simplicity and elegance of Apple's iOS. Android has made significant strides, but still lacks some polish—especially in older flavors like Gingerbread and Honeycomb. Amazon's reimagined Android is undeniably smooth and easy to use, but it also loses some of that customizability that makes Android so attractive in the first place.

Advantage: Apple. Android is fine, and Amazon really did a lot to make it painfully clear what to do with the tablet. However, iOS is still the more polished, intuitive, and feature-packed of the two.

Amazon Kindle Fire 6.3 Update Goodies Video Walkthrough

Amazon just released the 6.3 firmware update for the Kindle Fire tablet, and it brings more than the average amount of goodness to the table, so we've put together a video covering the new features. For those who like to read, here's the list of changes compiled by Amazon and yours truly:

- Sharing: You can share favorite passages and notes from their books directly from Kindle Fire, without even leaving the book. Simply highlight a passage and select "Share" or choose the "Share" option from the toolbar within a book, write a note if they choose, and select which social network to share with. Passages or notes a customer chooses to share will be displayed to other Kindle readers viewing the same book, and customers can also choose to share via Facebook and Twitter.

- Book Extras: Powered by Shelfari, Amazon's community of book lovers, Book Extras make it easy for customers to see supplemental material about the book they are reading, without even leaving the book. You can view descriptions of characters, a glossary of common terms used in the book, information on the authors and common locations referenced in the book, and more. To view Book Extras from within a book, customers simply tap the top of the screen to bring up the toolbar, tap the menu button and select "Book Extras."

- Archive of Personal Documents: Your personal documents will be stored in the Amazon Cloud and available for re-download at any time from the Documents tab on Kindle Fire. Just as with Kindle books, Whispersync will automatically sync notes, highlights and last page read for personal documents.

- Print Replica Textbooks: Students can buy thousands of print replica textbooks to read on their Kindle Fire and save up to 60% off the list price of the print textbook. Print replica textbooks maintain the rich formatting, color and layout of the print editions, with features including notes and highlights, zoom and pan, linked table of contents, real page numbers and whispersync of notes, highlights and last page read.

- "Reading View" for Amazon Silk: There is a seemingly endless array of interesting and engaging content available on the Internet. Sometimes, unfortunately, that business article, blog post, or sports recap you clicked on is surrounded by a host of competing material. With Reading View on Silk, the content that you're interested in is elevated above the clutter. When invoked by the customer, Silk will load the body of the page in a reading-optimized, single screen view (even for multi-page articles). The full page is still available in the background, allowing the reader to easily toggle back to a traditional view to see other interesting features on the page.

- Movie Rentals: The rental period for movie rentals that are downloaded to Kindle Fire now starts when a customer starts watching the movie, rather than when a customer starts downloading the movie.

- Additional Enhancements: This update will also bring some of the features customers have requested, including even faster re-connect of Wi-Fi after Kindle Fire has been asleep, and general performance enhancements.

- Keyboard layout changes

- Still no on-device collections

- By default, the Amazon App Store now silently downloads and installs updates unless there are permission changes. You can change this if you want to be notified of newly installed updates or want to update manually.

- There are still no page numbers in books, only location numbers in books.

- You can make the display dimmer than before, which is easier on the eyes when reading in a dark room.

- The Adobe Flash plugin is now turned off by default in the web browser settings, but you can go into settings and turn it on.

- Note to those who have rooted their Kindle Fire. You'll lose root when this update is installed, but 6.3 is rootabe using the latest version of Kindle Fire Utility and via other methods (visit XDA Devs to learn more).


Here's our video walkthrough of the Kindle Fire with the new 6.3 firmware features:



mobiletechreview.com