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