Kindle in the pool - reading while swimming

The Kindle ebook format has completely changed how I read.    Instead of carrying a book everywhere with me, I now read my current book on the nearest electronic device.   My sister gave me the first Kindle, because she could see how perfect it was for me.   I took that Kindle on my next three week business trip to China and did not take a half a suitcase filled with books.  (Not many English books in the Shanghai bookstores)

I read my Kindle books almost anywhere - in line at Disneyland, on the plane, while waiting to pick up my daughter, and now - in the pool.    On Amazon

Dear Amazon - a wish list for Kindles and Kindle apps

Don't get me wrong - I love my Kindle ebook.  I use the Kindle app on my iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, and PC.   I also have a Kindle Paperwhite

How Amazon FIre HD is like the Titanic - not putting women and children first

I received my Amazon Fire HD the first day it was available.   Based on the announcement, I was pretty excited about this new version.   The reality is much less exciting.   It's not the features you expect that disappoint you.  It's the surprises.  

Size

Fire HD

Original Fire

The screen is still 7".  But the size of the e-reader is bigger than the original fire.  How much bigger?   Just big enough that I cannot hold it securely in one hand.    The pictures show my fingers grip the original Fire (right)  securely in one hand and the Fire HD barely in my grasp(left) with only the tips of the my fingers on the edges.\The narrower original Fire made it possible to hold in one hand and turn the pages with my thumb.   The Fire HD is just too big.

I checked the official Amazon measurements.  The original Fire is 7.5" x 4.7" x 0.45".  The Fire HD is 7.6" x 5.4" x 0.4".   That difference is major to the portion of the population with smaller hands.  Such as women.  And children.  Unlike the Titanic, the designers did not put women and children first. 

Bezel
What's a bezel?   It's that frame they put around the screen that displays absolutely nothing.   The Fire HD almost doubles the size of the bezel on all sides.   I understand the need to increase on one side to hold the camera, but why the other three also?   I find it distracting when I read.  It also contributes to the ungainly width I mentioned above.

Special Offers
Special offers is a fancy name for ads.  I dislike turning on my Kindle and reading an ad before I can see my book.   Amazon claims that "customers love our special offers and very few people choose to opt out."  After resounding negative feedback from the customers who do NOT love special offers,  Amazon is going to let Kindle owners opt out for a fee.   I will be paying, just as soon as I decide whether I am keeping the device.    I would also pay to remove ads on any device given to a child. 

The New Navigation
One of the things I liked most about the Fire and its interface was the carousel of apps.   The apps or books I touched most recently display as a series of enlarged (2.75" high) icon that I could quickly flip through.   90% of the time I navigate on my Fire from the carousel. 

The carousel is still with us - but now with a matching display of recommendations at the bottom.  Translation: more ads.  The first time I use an app I may be mildly interested in the "recommendations."  After the 3rd time the ads are just annoying, and consume battery to get content and refresh the display. 
 
Positives
The HD screen is nice, but to my eye, not that much better.   I like the camera and Bluetooth connectivity.  

 Bottom line - I am happy to still have the original Fire.   I am still deciding on whether to keep the new Fire HD or not.  I have 30 days to decide. 

The most boring iPhone ever - iPhone 5 has no clothes

Apple announcements are usually a media event, followed by the race to the online store to try to order.  This week's iPhone announcement almost put me to sleep.

The fan boys and girls of TWIT, Engadget, Gizmodo, etc. all tried to whip up the enthusiasm.  The feed was refreshed frequently, and each new feature was greeted with glowing reviews

Frankly, it was a case of the emperor having no clothes. 

Apple says: The screen is a little longer.
Gadget Girl says:  Another row of targets too small to manipulate.  And my case won't fit any more.

Apple says:  Better camera with human driven panorama.
Gadget Girl says:  4S  has an excellent camera.   Until you add zoom, yawn.

Apple says: Twenty percent lighter
Gadget Girl says:  Love losing weight.  But is it worth $500?

Apple says:  Faster processor and improved wireless reception.
Gadget Girl says:   Faster, duh - totally expected.  Wireless?  Got to have a signal first.

Apple says:  New improved connector.
Gadget Girl says:  All my docks and other peripherals will need converters.  Not good.

So unlike some of the other pundits who present the features and "leave it up to you", Gadget Girl gives this a solid no.   If you are due an upgrade, or are still on 3GS, then consider it.  Otherwise, save your money for another gadget this fall.

Fire up, Baby

Today the Apple fan boys are all up in space about the Apple announcement, but the fun for me started last Friday when Amazon announced the new Fire.

Dear Amazon -
You must have read my Letter to Santa last November when I described my ideal tablet.   To re-iterate,

1. 3G - or a case with a pouch for my Mifi -
2. 7-8 in  screen size -  I want it to fit in one hand.   The Kindle Fire and Galaxy Tab both nail this one   
3. Streaming video - that works.  Not like the Fire.   More like the iPad. 
4. Great App Store - like the iPad.  
5. Front camera.  Rear, too would be nice.   
6. Bluetooth - for keyboard and drive mapping -  
7. SD slot - for viewing pictures, and transferring information  
8. Long Battery (over 12 hrs) 
9. Lightweight (less than a pound) 
10. And Santa - make it around $300.   In case it isn't in my stocking   

The new 7" Fire HD hits   6 out of 10 of my wishlist.   Maybe 8 out of 10 if the app store and streaming are good.  The new 8.9" Fire HD hits 4.5 out of 10 of my wishlist, and possibly 6.5 if app store and streaming are good.

Both offer some really neat features for segregating a Kindle library for kid-friendly usage, carrying content, and display via an HDMI port.  I am hoping these new features are designed to be easy to set up.   I also look forward to putting my Kindle content into folders.  My library is much too big to manage with the current interface.

So the 3G/4G version is bigger than I want, and more expensive.   Looks like I am saving some money on the next Kindle.   My new Fire HD arrives September 14.     New toy for Gadget Girl!!

You had me at Dear Muggles

Dear Muggles . . . says Amazon, we now have electronic versions of Harry Potter in the Kindle-verse.   You can even borrow them instead of buying.

I'm in.    Even though I have first editions of the last four books of the series bought as close to midnight on the release day as I could possibly manage wearing self-designed release day t-shirts and read cover-to-cover before dawn, I'm ready to buy again.

To be able to read my favorite books any time I want, from a totally portable medium like the Kindle is a dream come true.   I find I am buying books I already own again for the convenience of having them at my electronic fingertips, or because it is more difficult to carry them around.

Clever, that Amazon is.  It reminds of George Lucas's many editions of Star Wars.  Even though I have seen them in every reincarnation, I can't resist  seeing these beloved old friends again, particularly on the big screen.

Still loving Amazon Fire - 6 months later

Amazon Fire is taking over the Android side of the tablet market, and the Apple fans do not understand why.  I own both, and I totally get it.

Amazon is criticized for customizing the Android layer, but they totally knew what they were doing.   Even though I could use the classic Android/iOS page of icons to get to my apps, I don't.   I love the carousel with the extra-large icons that gives me one-tap access to what I was last doing.  It is easy to read and fast - who wouldn't want it?

Apple fans, obviously.   People with more time to waste than I have.