Kindle Fire News: Software Update x.4.6 finally, for HD models and 2nd Gen Kindle Fire available today.

Amazon's product pages are now showing a software update for the Kindle Fire HD 7", 8.9" and Kindle Fire 2nd generation models -- the update avoids glitches with website Flash that had been experienced by a few customers who had received (over the air only) the earlier planned update version [x].4.5


The workaround with Dolphin web browser that many have used for its support of an older, working Flash Player by Adobe (who doesn't support newer Flash Players for mobile devices with Android OS 4.x) was suddenly not working.

  A few blog entries here noted this problem with the planned update (version [x].4.5) which was sent to a few.  Forum regulars and this blog gave a couple of workarounds for that until Amazon's Kindle team could resolve the problems with a newer update, which forum posts by customers reported Kindle Team WAS developing.

  That software update is now here and customers say that Flash pages they've used with Dolphin are again working and, as I said earlier, there was general rejoicing.  Now we can download it manually if we want this new update sooner.

Remember that recently Amazon's Android Appstore apps were being made available to customer Kindles outside the U.S., in almost 170 countries now activated for access to that app store.

ALSO fixed, according to customers at the Amazon forum, are some oddities the "Time [left] to Read" estimates at lower left hand corner of books.

  Am also adding, as usual, UK software pages:

Amazon's new, free software update for Kindle Fire 2nd Generation, Kindle Fire HD 7", and Kindle Fire HD 8.9 are now available at the usual software update help pages:

Kindle Fire HD 7":
Head over to the Kindle Fire HD 7" Software Update page for more details:
  v7.4.6 US/Most Int'l here.   UK software page.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9":
Please see the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" Software Update page for more information:
  v8.4.6 US/Most Int'l here   UK software page.

Kindle Fire 2nd Generation Software Update page contains information on how to manually install the update if you'd prefer:
  v10.4.6 US/Most Int'l here.   UK software page.

If you need assistance with any of these updates, you can find help at the Kindle Help Forums.

IF Choosing to Manually Download This Version

(instead of waiting for it to arrive via WiFi)
This update automatically downloads and installs for most Kindle Fire customers; however, you can initiate the software update from your Kindle or manually download the software update via USB (some use the excellent WiFi File Explorer PRO app rather than the USB cable hookup).

Again -- before you begin, confirm your current software version:

1. KF: Tap the top of the device -- KFHD: Swipe down from the top of the screen.
     Then tap More.
2. Tap Device, and then tap About.

The instructions for manually downloading -- if needed -- the update via USB are at the software update pages mentioned above.  Most will find it more convenient to have the update arrive via the automated download.

NOTE that when it does arrive, your Kindle Fire will reboot and sometimes it does that twice, so don't be alarmed when it happens while it's idle and you're nearby.


EARLIER posts on Kindle Fire HD

  . Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires (non-HD Kindle Fires have storage space limitations)
  . More comparisons on iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD
  . Basic Features Comparison Table for iPad mini, Google Nexus1 7", Kindle Fire HD 7"
  . Comparison reviews of the Kindle Fire HD 7" and Google Nexus1 7" tablets
  . Step-by-step guide for installing a working Adobe Flash player when needed.
  . Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire, via enabling one device setting
  . Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD
  . Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
  . App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.

US: Updated Kindle Fire 2 Basic  7" tablet - $159 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB - $199/$229 * Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16/32GB - $269/$299 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G 32/64GB - $399/$499 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $69/$89 Kindle Touch WiFi - $99 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $119/$139 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi+3G - $179/$199 Kindle Keybd 3G - $139/$159, Free slow web Kindle DX - $379 $299 (Yes)

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £69 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - ~£89 Refurb'd Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - £109 Kindle Paperwhite 3G, UK - £169 Kindle Fire 2, UK -  £129 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB, UK - £159/199 Canada - Kindlestore, CDN-$ Kindle Basic, NoTouch - $79 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $129 Kindle Paperwhite, 3G - $199 Kindle Fire HD 7" - 214.00 KFire HD 7" $214,  8.9" $284

*OTHER Int'l pages* Kindle NoTouch Basic - $89 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Paperwhite WiFi $139, 3G/Wifi $199 KFire HD 7" $214,  8.9" $284 France Boutique Kindle Deutschland - Kindle Store Italia - Kindle Store Spain - Tienda Kindle Brazil - Amazon BrazilRp China - Amazon China [?] Japan - Amazon Japan

Kindle Fire HD 7: * $40 off on both 16GB and 32GB models, 8/4/13, for a limited time.

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

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Kindle Fire Tip: Photo Transfer app (wireless, Android to/from iOS) is Free Android App of the Day, Wednesday 8/6/13

Free Photo Transfer App (wireless) today

This app by ERCLab is normally $1.99 and and is Wednesday's Free Android app of the day.  It's compatible with all Kindle Fire devices and Android ones.

 This is a mixed bag.  It has an average rating of almost 4 stars out of 5, with 284 customer reviews as of today.

  An upside is that if it works for you, you can transfer photos without having to first upload them to a server from one device and then download them from the server on another one.

  Another upside is that the app should work between Android and iOS devices.

  However, there are problems for 48 of those 284 customers as of today's stats, and it involves the fact what one reviewer mentions a lack of security for your photo files  And, for some of these customers, the app worked at one point and stopped working sometime afterward.

  Nevertheless, 196 as of today give it a 4 or 5-star rating.

  I'm letting people know about it in case they want to try it to see if it'll do the wireless transfers for them (and quickly) as it does for many.

Added Tip: Remember that Amazon recently added a "Cloud Photo" feature that automatically backs up, to your server area at Amazon, all photos you put on your Kindle Fire.  You can disable that in Settings if you don't want that done (for space reasons etc).

  All Amazon customers get a free 5 GB of server storage space for almost any kind of file (this includes Video files, but one of those very large multimedia files could eat up most of your free space).

  Kindle owners also get an additional 5 GB of free storage space specifically for "Personal docs" - text files that are not Amazon purchases.



  For daily free ebooks, check the following links:

Temporarily-free books - Non-classics USA: by:    Publication Date      Bestselling   High-ratings UK: PubDate   Popular The Kindle Daily Deal What is 3G? and "WiFi"?       Battery Care Highly-rated under $1,  Newest: $1-$2, $2-$3

Most Popular Free K-Books U.S. & Int'l (NOT UK):    Top 100 free UK-Only:    Top 100 free Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. USEFUL for your Kindle Keyboard (U.S. only, currently):   99c Notepad 1.1,   99c Calculator,   99c Calendar,   99c Converter

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

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New Kindle Fire HD tablets said to have killer specs. Also, Viewing on a Kindle Fire your photos/videos in your Cloud area and uploading them there automatically

BGR has new details from "trusted sources" on the new Kindle Fire HD's expected in late Fall

BGR's Zach Epstein seems to have the scoop on what Amazon plans to launch in (now) "late September," saying that Amazon is reported to be "on track."

  Today's news include details added to the information on very high display resolutions described July 15 and repeated as background in their current report

  Their headline is "From kindling to inferno: Full specs for next-gen Amazon Kindle Fire HD tablets"

The specs (that unexpectedly include the very fast SpeedDragon 800 processor, etc.) look very similar to today's new Google Nexus except that the Kindle Fire HD would likely be keeping its popular HDMI-out port for direct connection to HDTVs (which some complain is missing from the Nexus), and their new back-facing camera is set to be 8 megapixels.  That camera is said to be included only on the 8.9" model (which will likely make it more popular than the first larger Kindle Fire HD) but not on the 7"HD  model -- this is according to BGR's "multiple trusted sources" who provided "the devices’ complete specs."

BGR is uncharacteristically exuberant in its descriptions. Examples:

' [Subtitled] Amazon to combine powerhouse specs and affordable prices in bid to scorch the competition '
. . .
If you think the new Nexus 7 is impressive, just wait until you see what Amazon is preparing to debut this fall.

If the current tablets are kindling, Amazon’s next-generation Kindle Fire HD tablet lineup is a full-blown inferno.
. . .
We’re told the tablet will be powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974) system on a chip, which includes four Krait 400 CPUs and Adreno 330 graphics.  Prototypes are said to be clocked at about 2GHz.

As with the Nexus specs, BGR's sources describe a device with 2GB of RAM, similar storage capabilities, though it seems they'll offer an additional, 64GB option in addition to the 16 and 32GB ones.

  As said July 15, the tablets are said to be both smaller and lighter.

  Again, they're reporting that Amazon is trying to keep similar price points to the current models' non-sales pricing.


The big difference with the Nexus
That would of course be direct access to the Google Play store apps (instead of getting them from places like 1mobile.com as we do now for apps not in the Amazon Appstore).

Barnes and Noble, in May, was in a position where they needed to agree to Google's terms.  The Nook tablets were just not selling, due - partially - to a very limited ecosystem for multimedia tablets and also very limited customer support.  I don't know what Google's device customer support is like, but their Nexus users have seemed pretty happy, in general.  For most things, Google company humans are not easy to get on the phone, so this will be interesting to watch.

  What's not generally described was reported in an ABC news story about the kinds of terms Google requires for competing bookstore and app vendor access to the Google Play store.

' Typically Google requires official Android devices with the full app store to preload Google's own suite of apps, including Gmail, YouTube, Google Play, Music and Chrome.  As such, Barnes & Noble had to remove some of its own store apps to gain access, including its own music app.

[B&N VP] Hilt wouldn't comment on the terms of partnership when asked.  Barnes & Noble's Nook Store, which has millions of books and magazines, will still come preloaded on the tablets. '

  For those who want Google Play Store access, can we imagine Amazon giving up its own Music app or even its own browser, or appstore?  As it is, Kindle Fire owners can get the Chrome browser easily as a secondary web browser.  Apple and Amazon have cooperated in the past, so it's not totally impossible Google and Amazon could do a deal that's better for both of the companies.

  It's not likely, though, as Google books, Cloud, and Music are in competition with Amazon, and the Kindle Fires have been the 2nd most purchased tablets next to the iPad, while using an operating system built on top of Google's Android system.

 I've also read that the current Nexus doesn't yet have as robust a parental control setup.  The Kindle Fire interface is easier for most of its target consumer audience, which seems generally not much into setting up their own layouts and with a family-sharing focus.  The Google Play Store does make it easier for anyone to get those Google apps though.  I personally find it easy to get any apps I want from the secondary Google-apps stores like 1mobile.com, iapknew.com, and others noted in blog entries on installing non-Amazon apps.

 It's good that Google will provide the device competition Amazon customers lost with the current halt of production on the Nook tablets.

  I like the Amazon ecosystem, its customer support, and recent improvements like the Cloud Photo feature this week that, on 2nd Gen Kindle Fires, automatically stores in your Cloud (by the Photo feature's default setting) any photos on your Kindle Fire.  Amazon customers get 5 gigs of free storage space for any type of file.  See the Cloud data storage page.  This is in addition to the 5 Gigs available, to Kindle owners, for 'Personal Docs'


Cloud Photo Storage and Viewing
 You can now view, on your Kindle Fire, all photos stored in your Amazon Cloud (the first generation Kindle Fire requires the Android app for that.

  In Landscape mode, the thumbnails are in varied, larger, sizes and easier to view.   In Portrait mode, they're smaller and are all the same size.  You swipe left or right to see Album contents and click on individual pictures to view those.  Again, the Kindle Fire 2nd Gen tablets automatically send copies to your Cloud area, by default, but you can change the Cloud Photos setting to avoid that if you prefer.

  Importing all your photo albums from Facebook to your Amazon Cloud so that you can view those at anytime on your tablets or phones is now lightning fast.
  Viewing those albums on your Cloud is also a speedy, ultra-clear experience (at least on a cablemodem ISP).  I have tons of images on Facebook, and the transfer of umpteen albums of many photos  to my Amazon Cloud area finished in a couple of minutes.

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.

US: Updated Kindle Fire 2 Basic  7" tablet - $159 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB - $199/$229 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16/32GB - $269/$299 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G 32/64GB - $399/$499 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $69/$89 Kindle Touch WiFi - $99 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $119/$139 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi+3G - $179/$199 Kindle Keybd 3G - $139/$159, Free slow web Kindle DX - $379 $299 (Yes)

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £69 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - ~£89 Refurb'd Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - £109 Kindle Paperwhite 3G, UK - £169 Kindle Fire 2, UK -  £129 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB, UK - £159/199 Canada - Kindlestore, CDN-$ Kindle Basic, NoTouch - $79 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $129 Kindle Paperwhite, 3G - $199 Kindle Fire HD 7" - 214.00 KFire HD 7" $214,  8.9" $284

*OTHER Int'l pages* Kindle NoTouch Basic - $89 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Paperwhite WiFi $139, 3G/Wifi $199 KFire HD 7" $214,  8.9" $284 France Boutique Kindle Deutschland - Kindle Store Italia - Kindle Store Spain - Tienda Kindle Brazil - Amazon Brazil China - Amazon China [?] Japan - Amazon Japan

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Kindle Fire News: Software Update version x.4.3 for HD models and 2nd Gen Kindle Fire now available

Amazon's product pages are now showing a software update again for the Kindle Fire HD 7", 8.9" and Kindle Fire 2nd generation models

On June 12th, I did an alert that software update x.4.1 had been withdrawn from the product software pages and those pages had returned to software version x.3.1, although at least two of us had received x.4.3 'over the air' without explanation.

 The wording on the software update pages at Amazon for the new version x.4.3 update now states what was announced when the software update version x.4.1 was offered and they mention the changes (battery percentage status shown, Canadian language support) as if we had not received them before.

There are a couple of features for each plus at least one which had not been mentioned in the earlier announcement of version x.4.1  and that's the implementation of Amazon's Android Appstore apps being made available to customer Kindles outside the U.S., in almost 170 countries now activated for access to that app store.

That and the new Battery Percentage shown in the Status Bar (when enabled) are the key features we see again.

(Other changes that had been reported by customers for x.4.1 (the latest today is x.4.3)
  . Notification sounds are working for some for whom that was not working.
  . Map apps showing location using home location referencing WiFi IP address
      has been fixed for at least one customer (probably using
      nearby WiFi network access info.)

  Am also adding, as usual, UK software pages:

Amazon's new, free software update for Kindle Fire 2nd Generation, Kindle Fire HD 7", and Kindle Fire HD 8.9 are now available at the usual software update help pages:

There are, in addition to bug fixes and performance improvements, the following features added to the three Kindle Fire models noted below the product page descriptions of the changes:

  . Language Support for Canadian English and Canadian French
    You can now change your device language to Canadian English and Canadian French.

  . Enable Battery Percentage in the Status Bar [Applause from many]
    You can now see the total percentage of battery life left when you enable this feature from the Device menu.

Kindle Fire HD 7":
Head over to the Kindle Fire HD 7" Software Update page for more details:
  v7.4.3 US/Most Int'l here.   UK software page.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9":
Please see the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" Software Update page for more information:
  v8.4.3 US/Most Int'l here   UK software page.

Kindle Fire 2nd Generation Software Update page contains information on how to manually install the update if you'd prefer:
  v10.4.3 US/Most Int'l here.   UK software page.

If you need assistance with any of these updates, you can find help at the Kindle Help Forums. '

IF Choosing to Manually Download This Version

(instead of waiting for it to arrive via WiFi)
This update automatically downloads and installs for most Kindle Fire customers; however, you can initiate the software update from your Kindle or manually download the software update via USB (some use the excellent WiFi File Explorer PRO app rather than the USB cable hookup).

Again -- before you begin, confirm your current software version:

1. KF: Tap the top of the device -- KFHD: Swipe down from the top of the screen.
     Then tap More.
2. Tap Device, and then tap About.

The instructions for manually downloading -- if needed -- the update via USB are at the software update pages mentioned above.  Most will find it more convenient to have the update arrive via the automated download.

NOTE that when it does arrive, your Kindle Fire will reboot and sometimes it does that twice, so don't be alarmed when it happens while it's idle and you're nearby.


EARLIER posts on Kindle Fire HD

  . Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires (non-HD Kindle Fires have storage space limitations)
  . More comparisons on iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD
  . Basic Features Comparison Table for iPad mini, Google Nexus 7", Kindle Fire HD 7"
  . Comparison reviews of the Kindle Fire HD 7" and Google Nexus 7" tablets
  . Step-by-step guide for installing a working Adobe Flash player when needed.
  . Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire, via enabling one device setting
  . Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD
  . Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
  . App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.

US: Updated Kindle Fire 2 Basic  7" tablet - $159 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB - $199/$229 * Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16/32GB - $269/$299 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G 32/64GB - $399/$499 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $69/$89 Kindle Touch WiFi - $99 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $119/$139 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi+3G - $179/$199 Kindle Keybd 3G - $139/$159, Free slow web Kindle DX - $379 $299 (Yes)

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £69 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - ~£89 Refurb'd Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - £109 Kindle Paperwhite 3G, UK - £169 Kindle Fire 2, UK -  £129 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB, UK - £159/199 Canada - Kindlestore, CDN-$ Kindle Basic, NoTouch - $79 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $129 Kindle Paperwhite, 3G - $199 Kindle Fire HD 7" - 214.00 KFire HD 7" $214,  8.9" $284

*OTHER Int'l pages* Kindle NoTouch Basic - $89 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Paperwhite WiFi $139, 3G/Wifi $199 KFire HD 7" $214,  8.9" $284 France Boutique Kindle Deutschland - Kindle Store Italia - Kindle Store Spain - Tienda Kindle Brazil - Amazon Brazil China - Amazon China [?] Japan - Amazon Japan

Read More

Kindle Fire HD Sale returns for Father's Day, thru' June 15 - $20 off any Kindle Fire HD tablet. Some other Amazon specials.

Today's Amazon pages show a RETURN of the discount of $20 off any Kindle Fire HD tablet, this time through June 15, 2013 when using the same special promotional code.

See the information page with the title "Father's Day Sale."

The Promo Code DADSFIRE, used at checkout, will get you the $20 off any of these HD models.  Although it mentions that this discount with code is good through June 15, they add (as they did last time) "Offer good while supplies last," which is wording commonly seen in any of these time-limited offers.

That means:
  The 16 GB Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablet would start at $179 for this time period, when using the promo code.
  The 32 GB Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablet would start at $209 (the 32 GB one is my recommendation, due to the large size of multimedia files.

    The models with 'Special Offers' shown on the opening lock screen
    are always priced $15 lower than the ones without the special offers.

  The 16 GB Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch model would start at $249.
  The 32 GB Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch model would start at $279.

  The 32 GB KFHD 8.9-inch tablet with 4G LTE cellular network access: $399.
  The 64 GB KFHD 8.9-inch tablet with 4G LTE cellular network access: $479.

    For comparison on pricing with the 4G LTE models,
    The 32 GB Apple iPad 4G LTE tablet starts at $729 (vs the $399 KFire HD 4G LTE).


This is just another quick alert.  The promotional info page has a thumbnail for every model, so click on any for specific information on that model.

(I saw this announced by a gadget news site last night, but the Amazon pages had not changed to show this, so they apparently got advance word.)

NOTE: If you bought a Kindle Fire between June 9 and June 12,, Amazon tends to give credits if the price is reduced within 30 days of your purchase, so call 1-866-321-8851 or contact them at http://amzn.to/kcallme


In the meantime, Amazon is still in larger sale mode and pricing aggressively for
  .  Father's Day in general
  . "Gifts for Dads & Grads in Electronics" through 6/17/13, and
  . "June Audio Month" deals, up to 50% Off Select Items, through 6/30/13

Read More

Kindle Fire HD Sale through June 8 - $20 off any Kindle Fire HD tablet. Some other Amazon specials.

Today's Amazon pages show a discount of $20 off any Kindle Fire HD tablet through June 8, 2013 when using a special promotional code.

See the information page with the title "Father's Day Sale."

The Promo Code DADSFIRE, used at checkout, will get you the $20 off any of these HD models.  Although it mentions that this discount with code is good through June 8, they add "Offer good while supplies last," which is wording commonly seen in any of these time-limited offers.

That means:
  The 16 GB Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablet would start at $179 for this time period, when using the promo code.
  The 32 GB Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablet would start at $209 (the 32 GB one is my recommendation, due to the large size of multimedia files.

    The models with 'Special Offers' shown on the opening lock screen
    are always priced $15 lower than the ones without the special offers.

  The 16 GB Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch model would start at $249.
  The 32 GB Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch model would start at $279.

  The 32 GB KFHD 8.9-inch tablet with 4G LTE cellular network access: $399.
  The 64 GB KFHD 8.9-inch tablet with 4G LTE cellular network access: $479.

    For comparison on pricing with the 4G LTE models,
    The 32 GB Apple iPad 4G LTE tablet starts at $729 (vs the $399 KFire HD 4G LTE).


This is just another quick alert.  The promotional info page has a thumbnail for every model, so click on any for specific information on that model.

In the meantime, Amazon is in larger sale mode again and pricing aggressively for
  .  Father's Day in general
  . "Gifts for Dads & Grads in Electronics" through 6/17/13, and
  . "June Audio Month" deals, up to 50% Off Select Items, through 6/30/13

Read More

Kindle Fire News: Software Update x.4.1 for HD models and 2nd Gen Kindle Fire available today. Updated info from customers added.

Amazon's product pages are showing a software update for the Kindle Fire HD 7", 8.9" and Kindle Fire 2nd generation models

I looked for information on this after getting an alert from MyKindlestuff's Jesslyn that a new update was apparently being made available on these models.

There are a couple of features for each plus at least one which was not mentioned in the announcement and that's the implementation of Amazon's Android Appstore apps being made available to customer Kindles outside the U.S., in almost 170 countries now activated for access to that app store.

That and the new Battery Percentage shown in the Status Bar (when enabled) are the key features I see.

(Other changes reported by customers:
  . Notification sounds are working for some for whom that was not working.
  . Map apps showing location using home location referencing WiFi IP address
      has been fixed for at least one customer (probably using
      nearby WiFi network access info.)

  Am also adding, as usual, UK software pages:

Amazon's new, free software update for Kindle Fire 2nd Generation, Kindle Fire HD 7", and Kindle Fire HD 8.9 are now available at the usual software update help pages:

There are, in addition to bug fixes and performance improvements, the following features added to the three Kindle Fire models noted below the product page descriptions of the changes:

  . Language Support for Canadian English and Canadian French
    You can now change your device language to Canadian English and Canadian French.

  . Enable Battery Percentage in the Status Bar [Applause from many]
    You can now see the total percentage of battery life left when you enable this feature from the Device menu.

Kindle Fire HD 7":
Head over to the Kindle Fire HD 7" Software Update page for more details:
  v7.4.1 US/Most Int'l here.   UK software page.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9":
Please see the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" Software Update page for more information:
  v8.4.1 US/Most Int'l here   UK software page.

Kindle Fire 2nd Generation Software Update page contains information on how to manually install the update if you'd prefer:
  v10.4.1 US/Most Int'l here.   UK software page.

If you need assistance with any of these updates, you can find help at the Kindle Help Forums. '

IF Choosing to Manually Download This Version

(instead of waiting for it to arrive via WiFi)
This update automatically downloads and installs for most Kindle Fire customers; however, you can initiate the software update from your Kindle or manually download the software update via USB (some use the excellent WiFi File Explorer PRO app rather than the USB cable hookup).

Again -- before you begin, confirm your current software version:

1. KF: Tap the top of the device -- KFHD: Swipe down from the top of the screen.
     Then tap More.
2. Tap Device, and then tap About.

The instructions for manually downloading -- if needed -- the update via USB are at the software update pages mentioned above.  Most will find it more convenient to have the update arrive via the automated download.

NOTE that when it does arrive, your Kindle Fire will reboot and sometimes it does that twice, so don't be alarmed when it happens while it's idle and you're nearby.


EARLIER posts on Kindle Fire HD

  . Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires (non-HD Kindle Fires have storage space limitations)
  . More comparisons on iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD
  . Basic Features Comparison Table for iPad mini, Google Nexus 7", Kindle Fire HD 7"
  . Comparison reviews of the Kindle Fire HD 7" and Google Nexus 7" tablets
  . Step-by-step guide for installing a working Adobe Flash player when needed.
  . Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire, via enabling one device setting
  . Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD
  . Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
  . App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.

US: Updated Kindle Fire 2 Basic  7" tablet - $159 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB - $199/$229 * Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16/32GB - $269/$299 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G 32/64GB - $399/$499 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $69/$89 Kindle Touch WiFi - $99 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $119/$139 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi+3G - $179/$199 Kindle Keybd 3G - $139/$159, Free slow web Kindle DX - $379 $299 (Yes)

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £69 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - ~£89 Refurb'd Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - £109 Kindle Paperwhite 3G, UK - £169 Kindle Fire 2, UK -  £129 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB, UK - £159/199 Canada - Kindlestore, CDN-$ Kindle Basic, NoTouch - $79 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $129 Kindle Paperwhite, 3G - $199 Kindle Fire HD 7" - 214.00 KFire HD 7" $214,  8.9" $284

*OTHER Int'l pages* Kindle NoTouch Basic - $89 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Paperwhite WiFi $139, 3G/Wifi $199 KFire HD 7" $214,  8.9" $284 France Boutique Kindle Deutschland - Kindle Store Italia - Kindle Store Spain - Tienda Kindle Brazil - Amazon Brazil China - Amazon China [?] Japan - Amazon Japan

Read More

Kindle News: Canada gets the Kindle Fire HD models for its own Amazon store. Both Kindle Fire HD models are available worldwide.

Canada received it own Amazon announcement for pre-orders and shipping of the Kindle Fire HD models

This is mainly an alert for Amazon's Canadian customers and to let global/international customers know that BOTH Kindle Fire HD models are eligible for delivery.

  In connection with the blog article the other day about the Kindle Fire HD finally being made available to almost 200 other countries, Amazon made a separate announcement for Canada because Canadian residents won't be using the Kindle International model product pages as other countries will.

  Canada's own Amazon store will carry these for orders, so they have different product page links.  I've now added those to the original article.

  Here are the links for Canadians:
    Kindle Fire HD 7",  Kindle Fire HD 8.9"

  Links for International/Global info and orders are:
    Kindle Fire HD - 7",  8.9"

These are expected to ship June 13.

Our neighbors to the North have been waiting for this a long time!

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Kindle Fire News: Kindle Fire HD (7 and 8.9 inch) + Kindle Fire (2nd Gen) get software fixes in updates 7.3.1, 8.3.1, and 10.3.1

Amazon's product pages are showing software update for the Kindle Fire HD 7", 8.9" and Kindle Fire 2nd generation models

There was no notice of this, but at about 5pm Wednesday, I just noticed, there were notes in the Kindle forum that a couple of Kindle Fire owners saw updates happen on theirs.

  My Kindle Fire HD tablet hasn't received the update, so I checked the product pages.  However, there have been reports of glitches on the three software updates x.3.0 made to the three models on March 30.

  The sofware update pages that the changes include: "bug fixes and performance enhancements."

As usual, am adding UK software pages to the info here, though their pages haven't been updated.  The link will go to whichever is the current software version for that model.

Here are the software update pages for each model:

Kindle Fire HD 8.9":
  [v8.3.1 here]   [Probably soon: UK software page].

Kindle Fire HD 7":
  [v7.3.1 here].   [Probably soon: UK software page].

Kindle Fire 2nd Generation:
  [v10.3.1 here].   [Probably soon: UK software page].

If you need assistance with one of these updates, please visit the Kindle Help Forums. '

IF Choosing to Manually Download the Latest Version

(instead of waiting for it to arrive via WiFi)
This update automatically downloads and installs for most Kindle Fire customers; however, you can initiate the software update from your Kindle or manually download the software update via USB (some use the excellent WiFi File Explorer PRO app rather than the USB cable hookup).

Again -- before you begin, confirm your current software version:

1. KF: Tap the top of the device -- KFHD: Swipe down from the top of the screen.
     Then tap More.
2. Tap Device, and then tap About.

The instructions for manually downloading -- if needed -- the update via USB are at the software update pages mentioned above.  Most will find it more convenient to have the update arrive via the automated download.

NOTE that when it does arrive, your Kindle Fire will reboot and sometimes it does that twice, so don't be alarmed when it happens while it's idle and you're nearby.


EARLIER posts on Kindle Fire HD

  . Follow-up info on v7.3.0, v8.3.0, and v10.3.0 updates (Apr 9)
  . Software Updates for v7.3.0, v8.3.0, and v10.3.0 updates (March 30, 2013)
  . Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires (non-HD Kindle Fires have storage space limitations)
  . More comparisons on iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD
  . Basic Features Comparison Table for iPad mini, Google Nexus 7", Kindle Fire HD 7"
  . Comparison reviews of the Kindle Fire HD 7" and Google Nexus 7" tablets
  . Step-by-step guide for installing a working Adobe Flash player when needed.
  . Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire, via enabling one device setting
  . Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD
  . Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
  . App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

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Kindle Fire News and Tips: X-Ray feature being added to TV shows. A brief listing of recently X-ray-enabled TV shows and movies.

The Latest TV and Movie Instant Videos with X-Ray Feature This feature lets you see who the actors in the current scene are, when you tap the screen or pause the video. Videos with the X-Ray feature are ID'd at IMDB, an Amazon subdidiary whose databases are used for the X-Ray features. For TV, these now include episodes from: Doctor Who; Grey's Anatomy; Justified, Downton Abbey; Glee... For movies, these include: Zero Dark Thirty; Walking Dead; Les Miserables; Life of Pi; Lincoln; Skyfall... (Django Unchained isn't for Amazon rental currently.)

X-Ray for Movies & Tv is available on Kindle Fire and Wii U devices.
  To access this info while watching an Amazon Instant Video title, tap the screen or pause the video to launch X-Ray (then tap it again or start Play to continue the video).

  IMDB plans to "add X-Ray to more television content each week."

IMDB's pages say that to see if a title supports X-Ray, you should look for the "Includes X-Ray" icon on the title's Amazon Instant Video detail page.  (I'm not sure it always shows up -- maybe they're behind on that, or I'm just missing it.)


Will end this here, as I'm working on some follow-up info on the recent Kindle Fire software updates, and I'll do that separately to save the eyes and minds.

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

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Kindle Fire News: Kindle Fire HD (7 and 8.9 inch) + Kindle Fire (2nd Gen) get large software updates 7.3.0, 8.3.0, and 10.3.0

Amazon announces software update for the Kindle Fire HD 7", 8.9" and Kindle Fire 2nd generation models

The notice was in a forum post, dated May 27, which I looked for after seeing a reference in a news article to a new feature we've been waiting for: the ability to read Kindle books that contain audio and/or video clips (formerly possible only with the iPad and other iOS devices).

There are a number of new features for each, including some that were introduced with the Kindle Paperwhite, (which Forbes described yesterday as "the consensus best e-reader on the market."

  I'll include the full forum post here (boldface for emphasis and bracketed notes are mine).
  Am also adding UK software pages:

' Initial post: Mar 27, 2013 2:18:39 PM PDT

Kevin G. - Community Manager says:
  Amazon Official

We have a new, free software update available for Kindle Fire HD 8.9", Kindle Fire HD 7" and Kindle Fire (2nd Generation). The software update will be delivered wirelessly and includes several new features and performance enhancements.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9":
* Change your device language - Set your default device language to one of eight languages, including English (U.S.), English (U.K.), German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese (Simplified).
* Track your reading progress with Time To Read - Kindle Fire HD 8.9" calculates your reading speed to let you know when you'll finish a chapter or book.
* Support for Kindle Editions with Audio/Video - You can now read books that contain audio and/or video clips.
* Print Replica Textbook Enhancements - Scroll through thumbnails at the bottom of the screen to preview pages and jump quickly between chapters, and mark important notes and highlights in your Notebook for easy reference.

Please see the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" Software Update page for more information:
  [v8.3.0 here]   [UK software page].

    [XRay for textbooks isn't mentioned for the 8.9" model -- maybe an oversight.]

Kindle Fire HD 7":
* Support for X-Ray for Textbooks - Explore the "bones" of your textbook, and access all the most important terms and concepts, with glossary definitions and links to relevant textbook pages.
* Simplified Chinese Support - In addition to the other languages offered, you can now change your device language to Simplified Chinese.
* Track your reading progress with Time To Read - Kindle Fire HD 7" calculates your reading speed to let you know when you'll finish a chapter or book.
* Support for Kindle Editions with Audio/Video - You can now read books that contain audio and/or video clips.
* Print Replica Textbook Enhancements - Scroll through thumbnails at the bottom of the screen to preview pages and jump quickly between chapters, and mark important notes and highlights in your Notebook for easy reference.

Head over to the Kindle Fire HD 7" Software Update page for more details:
  [v7.3.0 here].   [UK software page].

Kindle Fire 2nd Generation:
* Support for X-Ray for Textbooks - Explore the "bones" of your textbook, and access all the most important terms and concepts, with glossary definitions and links to relevant textbook pages.
* Simplified Chinese Support - In addition to the other languages offered, you can now change your device language to Simplified Chinese.
* Track your reading progress with Time To Read - Kindle Fire 2nd Generation calculates your reading speed to let you know when you'll finish a chapter or book.
* Support for Kindle Editions with Audio/Video - You can now read books that contain audio and/or video clips.
* Print Replica Textbook Enhancements - Scroll through thumbnails at the bottom of the screen to preview pages and jump quickly between chapters, and mark important notes and highlights in your Notebook for easy reference.

The Kindle Fire 2nd Generation Software Update page contains information on how to manually install the update if you'd prefer:
  [v10.3.0 here].   [UK software page].

If you need assistance with one of these updates, please visit the Kindle Help Forums. '

IF Choosing to Manually Download This Version

(instead of waiting for it to arrive via WiFi)
This update automatically downloads and installs for most Kindle Fire customers; however, you can initiate the software update from your Kindle or manually download the software update via USB (some use the excellent WiFi File Explorer PRO app rather than the USB cable hookup).

Again -- before you begin, confirm your current software version:

1. KF: Tap the top of the device -- KFHD: Swipe down from the top of the screen.
     Then tap More.
2. Tap Device, and then tap About.

The instructions for manually downloading -- if needed -- the update via USB are at the software update pages mentioned above.  Most will find it more convenient to have the update arrive via the automated download.

NOTE that when it does arrive, your Kindle Fire will reboot and sometimes it does that twice, so don't be alarmed when it happens while it's idle and you're nearby.


EARLIER posts on Kindle Fire HD

  . Getting non-Amazon apps on Kindle Fires (non-HD Kindle Fires have storage space limitations)
  . More comparisons on iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD
  . Basic Features Comparison Table for iPad mini, Google Nexus 7", Kindle Fire HD 7"
  . Comparison reviews of the Kindle Fire HD 7" and Google Nexus 7" tablets
  . Step-by-step guide for installing a working Adobe Flash player when needed.
  . Google Maps, Street View and other apps on my Kindle Fire, via enabling one device setting
  . Downloading and playing YouTube videos on Kindle Fire HD
  . Using the camera and Video, Panorama mode, Time Lapses
  . App for WiFi file transfers w/o cable.

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

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Kindle Fire News: Why a Kindle Fire HD? Why price reductions - why not free? Real questions as headlined. UPDATED

Kindle-related news over the last few days

Apologies to Kindle-Edition blog subscribers, as I needed to be away the last few days.  I used my tablet to look at the news and, as far as the Kindle world goes, not much was happening except tons of reactions to the reduction in prices on the Kindle Fire 8.9" HD and what it all means, including the expansion of the tablets to Europe and Japan.

  The reviews of the 8.9" model were similar to what we've read before but far less detailed.  They were actually more restatements of the product page information, so those past reviews, linked, are a bit more informative.  At the end, in response to people in the forums asking whether to get a Kindle Fire HD 7" or 8.9" (if wanting a Kindle Fire HD at all), I'll add links to a couple of earlier blog articles and the earlier basic comparison chart of Kindle Fire HD, Google Nexus, and Apple iPad mini, so those are the most popular 7" to 9" models.

BUT, a reaction column that most struck me was one that didn't wonder why the prices are now lower but asks instead when will Kindles (the topic being tablets) become free, and the writer, Beth Bacon, for Digital Book World, asks further why one would get one when the Apple iPad is available, which she considers more fully featured.
  She seems sincere in thinking most wanting a tablet would prefer a pure Android tablet or a Microsoft OS or spend $230+ more for the most basic iPad because, as she explains, Kindle owners would mainly want to read books and Kindle books can be read on an Apple while Apple books can't be read on any other system.

?  Hasn't the general complaint by general gadget writers and news-site commenters been that Amazon's attitude is wholly proprietary and you HAVE to buy a Kindle to read their books?  Yet it's Apple, she points out, that keeps other devices unable to read Apple iStore books.  And this is written as a Plus!

  As many know, you can read a Kindle book on almost every operating system under the sun, which can make words on an LCD screen somewhat hard to read.  You don't need a Kindle at all, to read a Kindle book.

  But what many general gadget reporters aren't familiar with are the many convenient features the Kindle Team has given their devices, and just a few of these are;
  1. Syncing of the reading of a book among all your devices (Apple doesn't even try);
  2. a free, private, password-protected personal webpage for your annotations on all your books;
  3. features that tell you which actors are in the current streaming Instant Video scene you're watching;
  4. the quickly-findable X-Ray'd info on any character or event name in a book you're reading, and
  5. if you choose a Prime Shipping program feature for free 2-day shipments of physical purchases, you also get the now 16,300+ no-fee Prime Eligible instant videos to watch at any time.

  On Friday, before leaving, I did respond to The Digital Books World article, and Bacon was good enough to print it (this is not always the case when a commenter adds some conflicting information).  Here's what I wrote -- not even mentioning the 5 points above! -- plus a correction I'm making:

' Andrys on March 15, 2013 at 8:42 pm said: [to]
Why would anyone buy a Kindle when there are full-featured tablets like Apple’s $500 one or the $900 Microsoft Surface Pro?

Factors include what features people are looking for.  David makes good points about ease of accessibility to the media mentioned.

Others:
1. A microHDMI port out to an HDTV (the Apple doesn’t have this) and people have used it to watch their Kindle tablet videos (even Prime Instant) on hotel HDTVs that way. **

2. A stereo set of speakers that are placed on on each end when watching movies or TV show videos and with Dolby Stereo for unusual spatial qualities and automated frequency emphasis depending on whether it’s speech or music.
  The iPad has two small speakers almost side by side on one short end – no stereo effect during movies unless you put on headphones or use external speakers

3. Amazon allows apps from "unknown sources" (Non-Amazon app stores) and Kindle Fire users can download, direct to the tablet, the popular Dolphin browser which supports the older Adobe Flash Reader still available that can be used easily, despite Adobe’s dropped support for mobile devices using the later Android 4.x systems.

  Because of this, Kindle Fire users can watch free network TV full-episodes like ABC’s entire primetime programs (and some daytime shows) when they missed an episode, as the network TV websites still use Flash for that, and Apple's Steve Jobs disdained running Flash on iOS, depending on sites to use HTML5. ***

4. The 7" size is proving very popular and Amazon’s has Retina-type high resolution while Apple’s iPad mini has lower, standard resolution but costs more.

5. It's like deciding not to bill for purchase of an economy car (giving them away instead) when an advertised-full-featured car is available (and when the fuller-featured car does not have some high-valued features that the less-expensive car does have).

6. There are now many Android app stores, including 1mobile.com, which carries over 200,000 apps, which are directly downloadable and usable for Kindle Fire devices. '

Here's the blog article on how to install non-Amazon appstore apps, which is done with Amazon's own settings option (an option which Barnes and Noble kept off the Nook system so that people have to find risky 'rooted' solutions to get the same features, which is one reason the Nook tablets haven't done as well in market share, in addition to having far less of an ecosystem for tablet entertainment).

In-depth Reviews comparing the Kindle Fire HDs, the Google Nexus and the Apple
Here are what reviews-in-depth reported in comparisons of similar-sized tablets, which found aspects not touched upon by the more superficial reviews citing pure speed or direct access to Google Play (and I would recommend that those who love games most get a Nexus and those who want apps that are compatible with their iPhones get the iPad models)

  1. Reviews of Kindle Fire HD 7 vs Nexus

  2. More on iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD


Also, I'm placing below, the basic comparison table I put together in September, which has been updated for changing prices (please let me know if I've missed anything in that).

QUICK table of differences in features for price, with Google Nexus and IPad mini

Kindle Fire HD 7" $199 7-inch display 1280 x 800 resolution 216 ppi 16GB storage 1GB RAM Dual stereo speakers   w/ Dolby Plus HDMI-Out to HDTV Front-facing camera, 1.2MP Dual core TI OMAP 4470 w/ Imagination PowerVR 3D graphics core Dual band, 2 antenna WiFi Battery-life claim: 11 hrs Customized Android, does Amazon store w/setting that allows apps from other app stores 50,000 apps + access to getjar.com, 1mobile.com, etc for google-play apps $10 more for a charger if you need one  Older Kindle & smart phone chargers work $15 add'l: no lockscreen ad $229 for 32GB model ($269 for 16GB 8.9" 1920x1200 resolution, 254 ppi) ($299 for 32GB 8.9" 1920x1200 resolution, 254 ppi)

Google Nexus 7" $199 7-inch display 1280 x 800 resolution 216 ppi 8GB storage (up'd to 16GB) 1GB RAM One mono speaker * No HDMI-out to HDTV Front-facing camera < 1 MP Quad core Tegra 3 Basic WiFi Battery-life claim: 9-10 hrs Pure Android and can do direct Google Play store ~600,000 apps $249 for 32GB model

Apple iPad mini 7.9 inch/ $329 7.9-inch display 1024 x 768 resolution 163 ppi 16GB storage 512MB? Per A5 chip specs. TBC. Built-in speakers *   Nov. 2, Apple finally added an 's' to 'speaker' * No HDMI out to HDTV ** Front (HD) & Back (to 1080p) cameras Dual-core A5 Dual-Band WiFi Battery-life claim: 10 hrs iOS 6 275,000 heavily-curated tablet-optimized apps  (Can also run small iPhone apps - any w/ Retina resources can scale w/o pixelating. 450,000 add'l.) 23% & 53% lighter than iPad. Lighter than the other tablets. $429 for 32GB model

  * iPad mini: See Speaker discussion - to be changed when Apple changes its iPad mini specs page.
    Update - On Nov. 2, Apple finally updated their iPad-Mini specs page to show "Built-in speakers" instead of "Built-in speaker" -- something I requested they do since Specs pages are official reference pages.  The speaker grilles are about an inch or two apart, on one short side, and maybe that's why they don't mention 'stereo' after the correction.  The whole thing has been bizarre.  This might be the first iPad w/ two speakers with separate baffles but they can do nothing for movies or videos viewed the usual way, as they are close together on just one side.

    Google Nexus: See Nexus owner forum thread about the speaker.

** Those w/ Apple TV's can do AirPlay Mirroring to them.
   Contributor Tom Semple adds: Apple's new $49 "Lightning" adapter can provide HDMI out.

***Tom Semple adds he uses Puffin app to access Flash video on his iPad.

**** 7" HD Kindle Fire pricing was changed from $249 to $229 on April 11, 2013.

Table updated March 19, 2013, April 11, 2013

For the initial comparison article, I didn't include the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet HD,
which has higher display resolution - but it has no cameras, not even one for Skype (important for family & friends who like to communicate via video chat), and B&N will not allow owners to enable installation of apps from non-B&N sources.  I may do an additional table later though.

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Kindle Fire News: Kindle Fire's fast-growing popularity: 2nd most popular tablet vendor...Gets Green Throttle gaming system before Google Play

"Amazon: The Second Most Desirable Tablet Vendor" - per BGR

BGR's Tero Kuittinen wrote that headline yesterday, when they took a look at a survey by Yankee Group that showed the Kindle Fire as the "second most desirable vendor among consumers planning to buy a tablet" per BGR, while the graph showed survey responses to "What brand tablet do you intend to buy?"

Of course, Apple, at 47% of US Consumers citing that brand, leads the pack with its iPad, the first one released almost 3 years ago.  Yankee Group's report focuses on Samsung's plans to double their tablet sales in 2013, but while they've been in that business for awhile, the graph shows a somewhat higher percentage of consumers intending to buy an Amazon Kindle Fire tablet.  Now, the 7% vs 6% number isn't statistically meaningful, but what stands out is it came from virtually nowhere to "squeeze ahead" of both Samsung and Hewlett-Packard, not to mention the other biggies such as Dell, Motorola and HTC.  As BGR puts it:

' The jumped-up bookshop has managed to seriously challenge leading hardware companies. '

They point out that the Nook's continuing inability to make its mark in consumer mindshare (and not mentioned in the survey) will continue to be a factor in Kindle tablet's momentum.

  In fact, Yankee Group doesn't mention Amazon's survey results, and its own story about the Nook's problems had some interesting wording in it:

About Barnes & Noble Board chairman Leonard Riggio's plans to buy all the assets of the bookseller's retail business while excluding the Nook business, CEO William Lynch put it this way:

  “We see substantial value in what we’ve built with our Nook business in only two years, and we believe it’s the right time to investigate our options to unlock that value.”

  "Unlock" is the new "Dump."

  In my blog article (Feb. 14) detailing three big reasons that B&N's tablet, with good hardware, could not succeed in B&N's closed-off view of the world, it should be clearly seen how difficult it will be for another company to make it work.  I didn't even mention the well-known problem of a non-competitive ecosystem for that tablet.

  In fact, in the same Yankee Group article, Yankee Group Research VP Carl Howe doesn't mention the long-range planning that has been Amazon's basic mode nor that store's ability to profit from the presence of desktop- and tablet-using consumers exploring all that is retailed at Amazon, not all of it with smallest margins.

  He looks at it from a more limited point of view:

“Barnes & Noble is experiencing the pain that comes from competing with an irrational market competitor, Amazon.  Amazon doesn’t try to make money from its Kindle e-readers, while Barnes & Noble thinks making money on hardware would be a good idea..."

  Um...

  Back to BGR's Tero Kuittinen. "...if the tablet market continues shifting towards the sub-$200 price bracket, Amazon is now best-positioned to benefit from the trend."

  Yes.  And would the auto industry offer only more expensive cars and ignore those whose priorities would lean toward economy autos?  Would Sony make TVs only in the most expensive range?  It's not so much about shifting but scaling.


Green Throttle launches Kindle Fire HD gaming system with local multiplayer support
In line with the above, TechSpot's Jose Vilches writes that "Led by Guitar Hero co-creator Charles Huang, Green Throttle aims to turn any Android device into a gaming platform by pairing it with a dual-stick gamepad and what they call a multitiered gaming system housed on an Android app."

Surprisingly, the Green Throttle Arena app is available for the Kindle Fire HD (both the 7" and 8.9" models) before it rolls out to the Google Play Store by the end of the month, for other Android-based tablets and smartphones, "starting with the Samsung Galaxy S3 (which means my Kindle Fire gets it well before my Samsung Galaxy S2).

  The Atlas controller

' connects via Bluetooth to the Kindle Fire HD, which itself pipes out video and audio from the Arena app to an HDTV via a micro HDMI cable.  Fire everything up and you can start gaming on your living room TV. '

(Some of us already have an HDMI cable to show Kindle Fire videos and web browsing on an HDTV.)

Of course, one would have to buy the hardware first.  Amazon carries both the Single Controller and 2-Player Bundle and they're eligible for Prime shipping.
  The free app itself already has two reviews, but although they are Amazon Verified Purchases, both are from reviewers who started reviewing at the time this product was released.  There are no hardware reviews yet for either controller product.

  AFTER I wrote this, I saw that TechSpot wrote this from Venture Beat's article by Rus McLaughlin.  There's more detail in that article.  McLaughlin writes:

' The Arena app leverages existing mobile hardware and creates a central hub for finding, buying, and playing games.  Connect your device to a television using a Micro HDMI cable, and those games automatically scale to the HD picture.  I watched a simple twin-stick shooter go from a 7-inch tablet screen to a 55-inch LCD with absolutely no loss in image quality. '

  As for the reason the Kindle Fire was chosen for the first release of Arena:

' “It’s a way to promote different game developers and different games that work with our controllers,” says Matt Crowley, an alumnus of Nokia, Palm, and Philips Electronics now serving as Green Throttle’s chief operating officer.  “We decided to do our commercial release on the Kindle Fire — it’s marketed as a $199 e-book, but it’s actually a pretty good gaming system.” '

  McLaughlin adds:

' Priority goes to the devices that make the games look good. The hardware itself handles the negotiation for scaling up to an HDTV...
...
...the powerhouse game consoles set to release this fall could find themselves at a severe disadvantage. Green Throttle’s hardcore gaming system will run on hundreds of popular devices that iterate on a yearly basis, and with a (perceived) entry cost of $40, it will easily run consumers 1/10th or less the likely purchase price of a PlayStation 4. '

The display resolution of the Kindle Fire HD 7" is 1280 x 800 pixels, suitable for a 720p HDTV.
The Kindle Fire HD 8.9" is 1920 x 1200 and would more likely fill a very large HDTV screen better.

VIDEO: VentureBeat's GamesBeat has an exclusive video on how this new gaming hub works (setup, mostly), presented by Jason Woodward, the low-key designer of the Arena software, though they don't actually show a game being played.  They should issue follow-up, higher-energy video though.
  NOTE: Kindle-Edition subscribers of the blog won't be able to get the video on their e-Ink Kindles.

Update - The Sacramento Bee has a PR release that details existing and upcoming games.

---

Current Kindle Models for reference, plus free-ebook search links.

  NOTES on newer Kindles.

US: Updated Kindle Fire 2 Basic  7" tablet - $159 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB - $199/$249 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 16/32GB - $299/$369 Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G 32/64GB - $499/$599 Kindle NoTouch ("Kindle") - $69/$89 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $119/$139 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi+3G - $179/$199 Kindle Keybd 3G - $139/$159, Free slow web Kindle DX - $379 $299 Discontinued

UK: Kindle Basic, NoTouch - £69 Kindle Touch WiFi, UK - ~£89 Refurb'd Kindle Keyboard 3G, UK - £149   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - £109 Kindle Paperwhite 3G, UK - £169 Kindle Fire 2, UK -  £129 Kindle Fire HD 7" 16/32GB, UK - £159/199 Canada - Kindlestore, CDN-$ Kindle Basic, NoTouch - $89 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi - $139 Kindle Paperwhite, WiFi+3G - $199

*OTHER International* Kindle NoTouch Basic - $89 Kindle Touch WiFi - $139 Kindle Keybd 3G - $189   Keybd: w/ Free, slow 3G WEB Paperwhite WiFi $139, 3G/Wifi $199 France Boutique Kindle Deutschland - Kindle Store Italia - Kindle Store Spain - Tienda Kindle Brazil - Amazon Brazil China - Amazon China Japan - Amazon Japan

---

Check often: Temporarily-free recently published Kindle books
  Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources.  Top 100 free bestsellers.  Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
    Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

  *Click* to Return to the HOME PAGE.  Or click on the web browser's BACK button

Read More