About
This blog is by Kindle author Bufo Calvin, and focuses on Amazon’s electronic book reader, as well as the world of e-books in general.
If you would like to contact me privately, you can leave a comment on this page. Please indicate in the comment that you would like it kept private. When you leave a comment, I can see your e-mail, but my readers can not. If you tell me your comment is private and you would like to be contacted, I can send a message to your e-mail. If you do not indicate it as private, I may choose to publish your comment, as you see below this.
September 2, 2009 at 3:38 am |
Hi Bufo! I am really enjoying your blog. The only thing that would make it better is if I could subscribe to it at at the Amazon Kindle store so I could receive it on my Kindle…
September 2, 2009 at 3:55 am |
I appreciate that, Peggy.
There are two factors affecting the blog getting into the Kindle store, although that was my intent from the beginning. I figure my other titles are there, it makes sense for this to be there.
The first one is that I’ve asked Amazon a couple of questions about the agreement for the blog publishing. They are supposed to get back to me soon.
The other one is that someone recommended to me that I wait a little bit until I build up a few posts. That made sense to me. When people try the 14-day free sample, it would be nice if they got some real value for it, and something that will give them a sense of what to expect.
My guess is that it will be in the Amazon store within a week or so, if all the things work out as expected.
Thanks again for the kind words!
December 3, 2011 at 6:37 pm |
Hello Bufo,
I can’t tell you how helpful your blogs are to getting the most out of my Kindle Fire. I am Canadian living in the US for 6 months. I have concerns about how much I can do on my Kindle Fire when I leave for home at the end of April. Do you think that Amazon will have them available for Canadians by then? Your comment that some of the sites serve more than one country listing Canada among others confuses me. Can you explain further what you mean?
December 3, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Thanks for writing weaverjudeJudy!
Thanks for the kind words! I’m glad you’ve found the blog useful.
First, let me address the concern about other countries.
These are the specific sites. When the French Kindle was released, Amazon said that it covered France, Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Interestingly, the German one overlaps some of these (as do the languages: Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.
I assume if you live in, say, Switzerland, you could buy from either Amazon.de or Amazon.fr.
Canada does not have its own Kindle. If you try and buy a Kindle from the Canadian Amazon site, it directs you to buy one from Amazon.com.
As to the Fire…it would have reduced value in Canada right now. You couldn’t, for example, use the free Prime streaming video. Americans traveling abroad have some restrictions:
Traveling with Fire Amazon help page
In your case, I assume you have Canadian credentials (credit card, address). Currently, with the Fire, you may not be able to purchase anything.
That has to do with licensing restrictions. A company that has purchased the rights to show a movie in the USA, may not have the right to show it in Canada.
Will Amazon make enough deals to make this work in Canada within six months?
I’m always sure that Amazon would like to sell everything everywhere…on the Earth and off it.
Strictly guessing, I’m thinking that yes, the Fire might be sold in Canada by May of 2013. It might not have access to everything a US Kindle Fire has…in particular, it might not connect with the Prime streaming videos. It would still be useful, though.
I’m just speculating…I’ve been wrong before.
December 21, 2009 at 9:33 pm |
Hi Bufo,
I have no idea as to the proper etiquette involved, but I took the liberty of linking to your blog from my own. I hope this is okay.
I like your site, BTW. This ought to keep Santa’s favorites (new Kindle owners) busy for a while.
Regards,
Spad
December 22, 2009 at 1:26 am |
Thanks for posting, Spad!
I think you’ll find that nobody minds if you link to their blog…I don’t think you even have to ask first. That’s assuming it is a public blog, of course.
The only thing where I’ve ever seen concern expressed is when a page is linked on a site (as opposed to a blog) that isn’t the first page. That may mean that people skip some important introductory information, and that can be a problem if there are disclaimers on that first page.
I haven’t had a chance to look at your blog yet, but I will.
I’m sure I’ll be linking to it, but I don’t want to do it until I’ve seen it. For those of you who are curious, Spad does a blog of literary anecdotes (and more). You can see it here: http://spad1.wordpress.com/
January 4, 2010 at 1:29 am |
HNY BUFO….I took the Gramma’s to Utah over the weekend….to play “Gramma” natch! and….I finally got some quality KDX time….I find it addictive and all I’ve done is (review/trial some) look at all the rags and blogs. I found a “sensitive” spot on the side of my KDX close to the bottom of the “next page” bar…if you accidently touch that area the machine re-boots….but all of home page did return when done. My gel cover is BO, I have to hold it somewhere? (the slippery little devil) I was wondering if your blog is atomatically sent out to all subscribers every 24H?….it seems whenever I wake B’s'K up….”YOOP there you are”…I enjoy ILMK don’t even think otherwise….am just learning, thats all. Last question? I am hopping you share a “work” email with newbies?…I don’t Twit nor Face…I think one day everyone’s address/personal info & all their BF’s same is all going to be hacked then “spoodged” w/spam….so, if you could, it would like….help one more stupid person allot!…thanks for all the “tips” so far.
January 4, 2010 at 1:44 am |
Thanks for writing, blair!
I’m glad you’re getting some time with your KDX.
There shouldn’t be a sensitive spot. If it’s bothering you, I’d consider contacting Customer Service to exchange your Kindle (if it’s within 30 days of purchase, certainly). On the other hand, you’re right that a cover could resolve it. ..even a skin could reduce the sensitivity.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/kindle-help.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200316870&type=email&skip=true#csTop
The way you are contacting me, by commenting on the About page is a good way to reach me. I check this frequently.
I typically send out a new post at 5:05 PM Pacific time…sometimes I do more than one in a day, like the Flash posts. However, that’s when it appears at the website. When you set up a blog at Amazon, they ask you how often you will post, and I said once a day. So, I assume they roll it out once a day…it may not update to everybody’s Kindle at the same time. Of course, you have to turn on the wireless to receive it.
When you get it, you’ll get the most recent ten posts on your Kindle.
January 18, 2010 at 5:31 am |
Bufo,
I have a new Kindle as of Dec. 18th (as a gift). I signed up for your blog on December 22 and my account shows my credit card was billed the 0.99 on January 5 (approximately 14 days after I signed on). I haven’t received a blog on my Kindle since the one I got on January 5. It looks like the account gave me the 14 day trial, then stopped.
Can you help or should I contact Amazon?
Thanks,
Tim
January 18, 2010 at 1:00 pm |
Thanks for writing, Tim!
Hmmm…if it’s really the 14-day trial and out, that suggests that there is a problem with the payment method. You could contact Amazon for that…
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/kindle-help.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200316870&type=email&skip=true#csTop
If the 14-days is a coincidence, you may have what I call a “blogjam”. I have steps to resolve those here:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/if-a-blog-has-stopped-delivering-to-your-kindle-blogjams/
January 20, 2010 at 11:27 pm |
I have to jump on the “I love my Kindle” blog bandwagan as well. Your OCD gets in the way occasionally
but thats a good thing. I just got “Tim’s” (above) “about” post @gmail address?…is that because I signed up for it?….I thought I would get only responces to some problem that I posted?….but “whathehey”….Tim, I’m sure that Big AM’s programming charges plastic one minute after the 14th day to the minute before that you signed up….just in case you wrote yourself a note to cancel on the day but forgot to write down the time you signed up….why you didn’t recieve but one is something I have not experienced yet….I had to start a note folder of all the tip’s and tricks.
February 2, 2010 at 1:33 am |
I was poking around on Amazon trying to figure out the book sharing among users question and I saw a post from you. I am 99.99995% sure I knew you way back in time (over 30 years ago), since there can’t be very many Bufo Calvins out there.
– Mike Weston
February 2, 2010 at 2:22 am |
Thanks for writing, Mike!
Hmmm…Mike Weston. You certainly might have known me…give me a little more context, if you like.
I’m pretty sure I’m the only one out there.
Did you have a question on the book sharing thing, too? I actually have a question into the Amazon legal department right now, since they appear to have changed their language a bit.
May 21, 2010 at 3:43 am |
“mulling my options” – if you buy anything but a kindle then how will you still produce the ilmk blog? if this happens i will have to drop my paid subscription! would advise you to buy a kindle or shut down the blog!!
May 21, 2010 at 3:51 am |
Thanks for writing, wilford!
Not to worry, I have a Kindle I’m using now.
As you may have noticed as I listed the options, the Kindles are all pretty much a better option for me. I have a K1 I’m using, but I did want to give people an insight into my thinking. I can’t see getting a nook or a Sony, really, for example.
As to shutting down the blog: I write quite a bit about e-books in general, as you probably know. I could get another EBR (but again, that doesn’t seem the most likely), and still write based on my K1 and on the other topics.
I appreciate that you are a subscriber, and any decision you would make would be up to you, of course. I can’t see any course where I wouldn’t be keeping you up to date on Kindle information, and I hope you would make the decision to continue or not based on the blog, and not on my personal circumstances.
I certainly wish I still had that Kindle, and virtual fingers crossed, I still hope it will come back…that would be the ideal solution.
May 21, 2010 at 10:20 am |
Bufo.
My post was partly toungue in cheek but at the same time I have to admit that it ‘seems’ like k2 specific tips have been down since your loss of your loved one. May just seem that way to me and pleaaase dont spend time prooving my gray hair wrong statistically! LOL! The k2 will work on the web as both of these blog post were done from mine – hate the tiny keyboard but that is also why I dont send text messages!! Buy a K2 & lets get back to work!!!
May 21, 2010 at 12:03 pm |
Thanks, wilford, I appreciate the clarification.
I will say that I’d really like to write a thorough post on collections, but I’m a little reluctant to do it without having been able to experiment with them. I’ll probably do something, though.
Maybe I’ll just go ahead, but I’m thinking I may wait one more month…there may be Dads and Grads specials that could make a difference.
In the meantime, I’m reading on my old K1.
August 15, 2010 at 4:49 pm |
Hi, I am a big fan of all your blogs and books and subscribe to 2 of your blogs on my Kindle. I have followed your posts about the Agency Model publishers with much interest and for the most part avoid buying their books. I recently discovered a charge from Amazon that was for an amount I knew I had not charged (a recent credit card hacking incident has made me much more vigilant about keeping track of charges). I went through my order history and found the charge in question and was very surprised to find I had been charged sales tax for this purchase. This hadn’t happened before and I have made purchases since this one that were not charged sales tax. Puzzled about this, I contacted Kindle CS and was told that since the book was sold by Harper Collins and not Amazon, that sales tax would be charged (I knew this was an Agency Model publisher book but I REALLY wanted it). The CS rep told me that any book sold by the publisher (stated under the price on the product page) would have sales tax charged. It was my understanding that a company had to have a physical presence in my state to charge sales tax. Looks like I’m going to have to double my resolve to not purchase from Agency Model publishers!
August 15, 2010 at 6:00 pm |
Thanks for writing Jeannine!
I’m glad you enjoy the blogs, and I always appreciate it when someone subscribes.
Yes, sales tax being collected at the time of sale changed when publishers became the “sellers of record” under the Agency Model. The publisher does have to have a physical presence in your state for that state to be able to compel Amazon to collect sales tax at the time of purchase. However, a physical presence doesn’t have to be a buliding, it can be a sales force.
You may find this earlier post helpful in explaining it:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/your-state-and-sales-tax-at-amazon/
August 22, 2010 at 8:40 pm |
Not sure where to leave this question, but it seems like you are the guy to ask!
I thought I remembered that some folks *received* their Kindle 2′s **on** the release day. Is that right? Do you think that is possible this week w/ the Kindle 3s?
If they ship on Friday, that means I won’t get it until Monday or Tuesday!!! Wahh!! I’m just excited to see it!
August 22, 2010 at 10:53 pm |
Thanks for writing, Andrea!
I think it is possible some people will get their K3s on the 27th…but I think that’s really the day it is supposed to ship for the earliest orderers. I wouldn’t count on it being there before Monday or Tuesday. That said, Amazon has beaten some deadlines before, so we’ll see.
Virtual fingers crossed for you.
Do you have an Estimated Delivery Date yet? I don’t…
August 22, 2010 at 11:16 pm |
Nope, no estimated delivery date. I ordered 7/29, fwiw. I’ll try to keep my expectations on next Tuesday, that way I won’t be disappointed and *if* it comes early, I’ll be pleasantly surprised!
November 19, 2010 at 1:40 pm |
Hi,
I’m Kindle-fan and I like your blog very much.
I think you might like to re-publish this nice infographic: http://www.website-monitoring.com/blog/2010/11/14/kindle-facts-and-figures-history-specs/
Xaban
November 19, 2010 at 2:56 pm |
Thanks for writing, Xaban!
That’s interesting…it’s similar to my timeline, but I do like it. Oh, it’s not the same…I wasn’t suggesting that…just that we happened to cover similar things.
December 8, 2010 at 5:26 am |
Nice blog!
I happened on your site while searching google on an annotations backup issue.
Have you ever heard of anyone having “Annotations Backup” turned OFF and then when they turned it back ON the highlights from books they marked while the feature was OFF don’t sync.
I did this accidentally and really want to see all my highlights synced to the web. I’d LOVE any help.
thanks!
December 8, 2010 at 12:56 pm |
Thanks for writing, winsomemarketing!
Thanks for the kind words! Always appreciated.
There are two things that occur to me:
First, the sync to the web feature (where the highlights show up at http://kindle.amazon.com ) only works on books you bought from the Kindle store. If you got the books somewhere else, you can see the highlights on your Kindle, but they don’t go to that site.
Second, you would have to sync from your Kindle before they could show up:
Home-Menu-Sync & Check for Items
Usually, mine do show up pretty quickly
Let me know what happens…I’m curious.
December 11, 2010 at 7:09 pm |
Bufocalvin-
Been reading your blog on my Kindle 3/3G (first model ever for me) for a few months now- well done!
A few comments on what I’m seeing and my observations:
1) As someone who has been involved in the PDA ebook/software adventure since the Pilot5000 days of 1996-’97, and was VP Marketing for Quickoffice for 4 years, and read MANY books, including 3 of the Harry Potter books on my PalmPilots, I think MANY similar issues are playing out in the eBook market that have/are happening in the mobile software market…but I’ll get to that.
[[BIG aside: I negotiated the first PDA deal to bundle Quickoffice, an Office-compatible file editor suite with a handheld (HandEra 330)-- including the app Quickword, that could also open and edit Palm Doc files (thanks, Rich Bram, father of the eBook IMHO, for creating the Palm 'Doc' PDB/PRC format, and the creator of SmartDoc--which we licensed--for so nicely handling these files) and included a feature that STILL is not present on the mainstream eInk eReaders-- adjustable speed scrolling text... is that even on the Nook Color(?) where I see Quickoffice is now again bundled... I am still on frequent contact with the 1996 founder of Memoware.com, Craig Froehle, a professor at Univ of Cinncinnati.]]
2) There are some massive ironies out there in the market right now: I was noticing the incredible wackiness of Seth Godin (somewhat of a guru I follow and see as a pretty bright guy) who was one of the first to provide free PDF book publishing/distribution, toyed with multi-copy sales/distribution models, and is generally a guy who ‘gets it’ to the point he is working with Amazon on the new Domino Project (http://www.thedominoproject.com/frequently-asked-questions) yet has been publishing his books with Penguin (the devil incarnate to Kindle owners opposed to the Agency Model – see http://seekingalpha.com/article/208017-penguin-group-upsets-kindle-owners-with-exorbitant-prices). So, is Godin truly ‘walking away’ from traditional publishing and leaving the Penguin out in the cold with one less author? Is he taking his ball (bald head full of great stuff like purple cows) and going home to type and publish all by himself? We’ll see, but one wonders WTH has taken so long, if he, and other popular business thinkers truly ‘get it’…? Take Guy Kawasaki – great guy, Apple stalwart, who wrote Reality Check in 2008, published through — Penguin — and seems to flash that toothy smile as the Kindle edition sells for $19.99– $.22 more than the paperback edition does!! One has to wonder about these guys.
So, We have a changing ePublishing marketplace to be sure. Free books aren’t getting near the recognition they’d like. Only “branded” authors who have established a following in past years of bookstore/old-model pre-eminence are currently still able to maintain the high former prices. But how long will this hold? Let’s look for an analogy at the mobile software market evolution during the past 13-15 years:
Originally, Mobile computing devices (yeah, we’ll ignore that they have been called many things over time, and now they all have phones crammed into them, too — we are simply ignoring dumb phones here) were purchased by a smallish band of technophiles, largely male, and ready to spend money for useful software. Or books. So, despite the fear intrinsic in publishers’ early wanderings into ebook distribution (Peanut Press history — see http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/02/the-once-and-future-e-book.ars/4 ) the few who were interested actually paid full hardback or paperback prices for the convenience of having their tome in the manner they desired it. And, they paid a market price for software too– between $19 and $35 commonly. Lots of software developers, selling only between 30k and 50k copies per year, earned enough to quit their full time jobs and just develop mobile software. Ah, the good old days. Flash! forward to today: Apple iTunes store and regimented controls on VISIBILITY of titles means that TO GET ANY VISIBILITY AT ALL, you have to INTRODUCE YOUR TITLE FOR FREE. Look at Angry Birds on Android – ad supported. Free. But, look at it on webOS, where only a few enthusiast are buying phones and software is commonly sold higher than iPhone’s typical $.99 fare: it’s $1.99 at Palm’s store.
The parallels to ePublishing should be obvious: lesser known authors will struggle for visibility by providing ‘samples’ such as prequels, limited chapters, and older writings for Free in online stores, and actual prices for their main works will be in the couple bucks range. books will become low-risk “trial ware”. What will be necessary to change these dynamics is to upset the stranglehold on sales website layout and shopping experiences, and for a new MODEL for online book display and browsing to come to the forefront. My prediction is that the REAL advantage of the color eReaders will be their ability to use HTML5 and video (animation? live action clips?) to SELL the storyline of an eBook or ebook series in a redesigned ebookshoppe that is designed around ebook buyer experience with the SHOPPING DEVICE in mind.
My thoughts, for what it’s worth.
Mike
March 26, 2011 at 10:09 pm |
I notice that you’ve done reviews of Kindle apps in the past. We’ve shipped a version of Checkers for the Kindle:
Checkers
It would be great to see a review if you feel its relevent to your readers. Thanks for your time.
April 18, 2011 at 6:17 pm |
Bufo Calvin [name corrected],
I was googling around and saw your site doing news blurbs and happenings concerning Kindle and ebooks.
As a hobby thing, I’ve written a chrome web app which emphasizes fast and painless browsing deep into Amazon’s Kindle books offerings. An alternative means to find a good kindle book to read. It started out as a personal project, but I’ve been thinking of elaborating it out. Trying to entice a few users, get some feedback that sort of thing.
Not sure it falls into your usual news happening, but if you like the concept and its execution was wondering if you could do a paragraph or two blurb about it .
http://goo.gl/tPPJz
Either way any feedback or suggestions concerning it is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Ray
April 28, 2011 at 4:03 pm |
Hey there
Long time reader, first time poster. I really enjoy getting your blog on my Kindle. Consistently great stuff, and I really appreciate it.
I just wanted to give you a heads up on an Android App that you may like. This provides a daily “top ebooks” list. http://bit.ly/mPR3O5 or https://market.android.com/details?id=com.appmakr.app178039&feature=more_from_developer
The creator of the app is a friend named Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff, who is a fantastic author in his own right and very much gets the whole “digital revolution” thing. http://wordsushi.com/
Thanks again for all your good work and keep the posts coming….
Todd
May 13, 2011 at 5:11 pm |
Hi Bufo -
I know you’re interested in tools for the disabled. I saw this at Digital Reader and thought of you, have you seen it?
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/2011/05/13/pagebot-makes-the-kindle-accessible-to-the-disabled/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDigitalReader+%28The+Digital+Reader%29&utm_content=Bloglines
June 5, 2011 at 5:50 am |
Hi Bufo,
After much searching and thinking and experimenting, I finally figured out how to reset the last page read on Kindle books, for those of us who are multi-Kindle families sharing one account. My husband has wanted to be able to read a book on both his Kindle and his phone, and that has been difficult to do when it’s a book I’ve already read, because the furthest page read has been set to where I finished. I couldn’t find a full answer on the web, but here’s what worked for me:
Go to “Manage your Kindle”
At the bottom, click on “Manage synchronization between devices”
Click the button to turn OFF synchronization for the account (the only option.)
Go to your Kindle and open the book(s) you want to reset. Go to the beginning, if you’re not already there.
Sync your Kindle.
Back at your computer, turn synchronization back on.
You may already know this, but I couldn’t find it, so I thought I spread the information around!
June 5, 2011 at 12:54 pm |
Thanks for writing, Sherri!
I appreciate you sharing that. I have read that technique on the web (or something very close to it) before, tested it…and I did not get consistent results. According to Amazon, you contact Kindle Customer Service and have them reset it at this point. That’s one of the tweaks I’d like to see: a menu choice to “set farthest page read to current location”.
If it worked for you, great, but if you try it with other books, let me know if it continues to work.
June 29, 2011 at 12:50 am |
Bufo,
New feature on Amazon.com in the Kindle store, although apparently not everyone can see it yet. Amazon is adding Click to LOOK INSIDE to ebooks in the Kindle Store. (I started a thread with this subject in the Amazon.com Kindle forum.)
June 29, 2011 at 1:50 am |
Thanks for writing, Vince!
That’s come up once before and I couldn’t verify it as widespread at the time. I reported it here on May 13, and it links to an earlier thread:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/look-inside-available-for-kindle-books/
July 16, 2011 at 3:32 pm |
Bufo, wonder if you can answer this. A friend from Taiwan would like to buy a Kindle to take back to TW. To save money, she would like to buy the Kindle WiFi+3G with Special Offers. The question is, will that KSO work in TW? She doesn’t care about the offers themselves, but of course needs the Kindle to work.
I think probably the KSO will work. She could register it either in TW or the USA; at worst, she would have the usual limitations of traveling with a Kindle.
Have you heard definitely about registering a USA-bought KSO to a foreign country?
July 17, 2011 at 2:49 am |
Thanks for writing, Ralph!
Amazon says:
“Kindle 3G with Special Offers is currently only available in the U.S. Customers in Taiwan can purchase our bestselling Kindle 3G from this page.”
I don’t know definitively, but my guess would be that the Kindle with Special Offers can only be registered to someone’s account whose country in
http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle
is the USA.
If your friend is living in the USA, then buys a KSO, then takes it to Taiwan, I think that would be fine.
I’m sure the advertisers are paying for ads in a particular market, and that’s what lowers the price…
If I find out anything more specific, I’ll let you know…it’s possible people will comment this with their experiences.
July 18, 2011 at 11:26 pm |
News tip (if you haven’t seen it, which you probably have):
Borders to close and shut 399 stores
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-18/borders-landlords-and-creditors-kobo-object-to-bankruptcy-liquidation.html
July 19, 2011 at 3:44 am |
Thanks for writing, Roger!
Yep, I’ve seen that one…a bit sad, actually.
July 18, 2011 at 11:35 pm |
PS: This will probably hurt other bookstores for two months, as a huge load of current titles is “remaindered” (in effect). But then the elimination of a big competitor will bring them more sales. B&N especially should get a couple of years of breathing room.
If publishers haven’t yet set aside loss reserves for losses for this event (not getting paid by Borders for books shipped to it), their next earnings reports will suffer.
July 19, 2011 at 3:46 am |
Thanks for writing, Roger!
Yes, the quarter that has the liquidation in it will hurt similar bookstores. It depends on how quickly paperbook sales retract (in chain brick and mortar bookstores). If that process is significantly accelerated by this, we’ll have to see how much benefit it is for B&N and B-A-M.
July 22, 2011 at 9:44 pm |
Another article about Borders closing:
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/another-retailer-bites-dust-borders-doomed-amazon-deal-163606690.html;_ylt=AgaNVE9daGHlSWc76pk_9Su7YWsA;_ylu=X3oDMTFjMHAwNWdwBHBvcwM0BHNlYwNGUERhaWx5VGlja2VyQmxvZwRzbGsDYm9yZGVyc2Rvb21l
I have your blog delivered to my Kindle wirelessly and read it there, so I’m not quite sure where to post a general comment like this
August 25, 2011 at 3:37 pm |
For A Limited Time – Ebooks from Mary Higgins Clark, Jeffery Deaver, and James Lee Burke for $4.99:
http://news.simonandschuster.com/servlet/website/PersonalizedForm?lpthgEL8hhrl.20TBUYVTUUE.26f7be_7.2e.2ey.26zzEqLllpJHDHILssFlpthgHgKlJoNlmLkDJht
September 3, 2011 at 11:17 pm |
I love “I love my kindle.”
I am one of the few without internet access due to a rural location. Well I have dial up but that’s not really internet access. My kindle with 3G is my internet.
I have two kindles. When I added the second one, 1 click in the kindle store stopped working without it requesting a sign in and password. This defeats 1 click entirely. I called kindle customer service twice. One person had no idea. The other said that’s the way it is if there is more than one device on the account. Any way around this?
I have an amazon credit but purchases in the kindle store are not using it up. They still bill my VISA. What to do to apply it?
And the new free book format is too cluttered and NOT worth your time. How about just the genre??
Finally,since my kindle is my internet I am wondering wat kind of access the new tablet might have. Free 3 G possible?
September 4, 2011 at 5:40 am |
Thanks for writing, Kerrin!
Thanks for the kind words!
Tell me a little more about this…are you using the Kindle store on each of the Kindles (rather than through dial-up)? You do have to put in the username and password to register a device from the Kindle itself, and it does have to connect wirelessly once so it knows it is registered.
Outside of that, though, you should not need to enter the name and password each time you order something. Tell me a bit more about what you are doing when you see that requirement.
If you apply a gift card or gift certificate to your account, 1-click will draw from that before your Visa (until it is gone). When you say you have an Amazon credit, what happened with that one?
Just the genre would be one way to go, but more work…I’d have to select one out of the list of categories, and that creates a new decision point. Decision points are what take time when working with a computer. Not impossible, but harder. I appreciate your feedback on this…I’m looking at all the comments on it.
It’s certainly possible that Amazon would release a tablet with 3G…but free 3G on a tablet would be much more expensive for Amazon than free 3G on an EBR (E-Book Reader). Streaming or downloading a movie would be a much higher cost absorption for Amazon than downloading an e-book. I think free 3G or 4G is unlikely on a tablet, but not impossible (they might get sponsors to support it somehow, or charge a lot initially).
September 4, 2011 at 5:43 pm |
Thanks for answering. So great.
I have internet DSL at work so I manage my accounts that way. I have a regular Amazon account. My kindle shops in the kindle store and I click and buy books easily. That is when I enter a title or go to the kindle storefront. The page for the book looks different than in the amazon site. The buy botton just says BUY,not 1 click. That buy button works on my kindle.
BUT I used to click on the links you put in the blog and ‘buy with one click’ and the book would download. That page looks like amazon shopping site, not the kindle store. NOW that I added a second kindle (I got a refurbished one) when I push the 1 click button on a blog link page, from either kindle, I get a new page with the amazon account sign in and password request. I called amazon kindle support twice, no help. I restarted both kindles, no help.
Right now I memorize the title, go to kindle store and type it in.
Other topic- the refurbished kindle came with USB cable but no electric plug adapter. Annoying for a person like my mother, how to charge it without a computer at home? I had a kindle charger already so no problem for me. Amazon gave me a $20 credit for that and I had previously returned a couple small things for credit. So I am supposed to have $ at Amazon to spend. How can I see the balance and use it for kindle books? The phone help person said I would see a place to apply it at checkout,but the buy button checks out without additional steps.
I love the name Bufo. What is the story behind that? Where can I get the t-shirt?
Should Kindle be capitalized?
Kerrin
written entirely on my Kindle
September 6, 2011 at 6:56 pm |
Thanks for writing again, Kerrin!
Sorry to take a couple of days to get back to you on this.
I’m going to ask for one more clarification:
You are reading my blog on your Kindle through a subscription you have. You click on a link in the blog, and it takes you to the book’s product page in the Kindle store at Amazon. When you click on
Buy now with 1-click
it asks for your username and password?
When you are on that page, does it show you as signed into Amazon? Right below the address bar, to your right of where it says Amazon.com, you would see something like, “Hello, Kerrin X. We have recommendations for you.”
If it doesn’t say that, what I would suggest is that you your Kindles’ browsers (on each of them) to go to
http://www.amazon.com
and log-in. Once you’ve done that, I think you’ll stay logged in on that device. My intuition is that the 1-click button would then work for you the next time. Try that on one of them, and let me know what happens.
When you got the credit, was a number to enter somewhere or did you just get a credit on your credit card? It sounds like you had a number. If you’ve entered that number once, and if it’s treated like a gift card balance, it will be applied to your 1-click purchases before 1-click goes to your payment method. If not, maybe there is something you want that isn’t a Kindle book, and you can buy it without using 1-click? It could be for your Kindle…a cover, a light, a skin…
My first name is classical Latin. When people ask what it means, I tell them, “It means your parents were geeks, too.”
That’s just a joke, though…the connotation is wisdom.
I don’t think the t-shirts are still available…just as well, it was sort of weird.
Kindle should be capitalized when it is used as the name of Amazon’s device.
September 23, 2011 at 3:25 pm |
Bufo,
I have noticed a huge number of books disappearing from the copies available list at my library and a significant increase in the number of holds put on books as well since the Kindle came on line yesterday here. I am wondering if others have noticed the same, and what effect this more than doubling of prospective users is going to have on the system.
By the way, thanks for all you do for the Kommunity (I just coined that, feel free to steal it), Your efforts have increased my enjoyment of my Kindle significantly.
Ed Foster
September 29, 2011 at 11:26 am |
Please can you post a Q&A about the whole “Due to copyright restrictions, the Kindle title you’re trying to purchase is not available in your country” issue. As a non-US Kindle user, this is very frustrating for me. Thanks!
September 29, 2011 at 6:27 pm |
Thanks for writing, Derek!
I think I’ve written about that before, but I’ll look at revisitng it. I talk a little bit about it here:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/kindles-all-over-the-world-join-in/
Just so you know, the same thing happens with us in the USA, sometimes (not as often). There may be books that aren’t available to us but are available in other jurisdictions.
It starts with copyright, but tends to go to licensing. As global rights purchasing becomes more common, it will become less of an issue, I believe.
September 30, 2011 at 10:37 am |
You left out “store” in:
“It’s the ability to personal documents in your Cloud Drive.”
September 30, 2011 at 12:54 pm |
Thanks for writing, Roger!
You are right…I was on a really short break when I wrote that one.
I really appreciate you pointing out little slips like that.! If you can comment the post with the problem, it makes it easier to fix…I can click from the comment to get to the post and fix it.
Thanks again!
September 30, 2011 at 11:43 am |
Change to Andrys
Change to ” … fewer.”
September 30, 2011 at 12:42 pm |
Thanks for writing, Roger!
Good catch on Andrys’ name…just a typo.
The second one is a perfect example of where an author needs to be involved in copy editing. I didn’t mean “more problems”, I meant more capabilities….I think. I’ll have to go back and look. Since you didn’t comment the specific post, I’ll have to find the post. I presume you did that on the About post to save me embarrassment, and I appreciate the thought. However, I want you to credit for spotting my errors…I don’t want to hide that I make them sometimes.
Thanks again!
September 30, 2011 at 8:58 pm
The “fewer” suggestion applies to the “Which Kindle should you get?” thread, just before the table (at the end).
October 3, 2011 at 7:34 am |
Here are some typos in Roundup #48, in sequence:
Change to “cost” in:
“the book looks decent, takes a few minutes to print, and will probably costs you about ”
Change to “their” in:
“Amazon has approached Netflix about doing an app; and it supports there formats…”
Two “n”s in:
“although New Millenials”
Change to “your” in:
“Have you had someone take you Kindle and try ”
Change to “is” in:
“My first thought it to cover Kindle Fire news in this blog”
I’m not being critical–I’d make more mistakes.
October 3, 2011 at 1:00 pm |
Thanks for writing, Roger!
Hey, I really appreciate it! After I finished it, it actually occurred to me that it was so long, Roger would probably find some errors.
It’s bad that I make those errors…words substitutions like “there” for “their” I never used to do at all, and I notice them still when others do it. If I have time to re-read my own work, I’ll see it.
As I make more mistakes like this myself, I forgive others more.
Again, I really appreciate you reading me that carefully, and then taking the time and effort to let me know.
I’m going to correct those…and I’m going to mention you in the post.
I don’t want to rely on you doing it…it’s just that writing that much that quickly, it’s tough to be perfect. I can’t guarantee I’ll be better than that…but don’t feel obligated to send me proof-reading…just welcome.
Thanks again!
Update: Whew! The word substitution wasn’t what happened! It was a typo…that part is supposed to say “these formats”. I’m much more comfortable with a simple typo than with a word substitution. Those formats aren’t Amazon’s, of course.
October 4, 2011 at 2:05 pm |
I just saw this and thought you would be interested. It is a short article on a local website, describing a dispute between the state of Kansas Library and Overdrive. But it says that Overdrive is going to have a 700% price increase over the next three years.
It also indicates that Kansas doesn’t understand the concept of licensing a book as opposed to buying a book any better than the folks on the forums do!
http://salinapost.com/2011/10/04/dispute-may-put-a-hold-on-e-book-lending-in-kansas/
Take care, Ed
October 4, 2011 at 3:24 pm |
Thanks for writing, Ed!
I’ll take a look at it…thanks!
October 4, 2011 at 6:56 pm
A longer article about the same issue.
http://www.kansas.com/2011/10/03/2044746/dispute-may-put-a-hold-on-e-book.html
October 4, 2011 at 7:10 pm
I also noticed the mention of 3M. I hadn’t heard about 3M’s entrance into library E-reader market, but it looks like my ability to check out books on my kindle is going to be short lived as the Kansas library is planning to move over to 3M in December, and of course, 3M is not yet compatible with Kindle.
October 5, 2011 at 8:05 pm |
I’d love to receive comments on this idea. I even sent it to Amazon.
I’m really excited about the prospect of having both the Kindle and the Fire. Here’s why.
Kindle — Does one thing, and does it really well: Allows you to read text comfortably. Not so great, however: photos, any graphical material, flipping through pages, especially back and forth between an illustration and the associated text.
Fire — Great graphics, speed. Text not as easy on the eyes as e-ink.
Now, what I’m visualizing is an e-book cover that holds both a Kindle and a Fire, side-by-side, or back-to-back. Both have Wi-Fi. Here is where it gets fun: I want them to be configured to talk to each other, with an (as yet nonexistent) synchronizing app that would give me the ability to have the graphics – photos, maps, diagrams, charts, graphs, equations, whatever – presented on the Fire, the associated text being on the Kindle. If I touch (or select) the text, “See Figure 1″ on the Kindle, Figure 1 shows up on the Fire, where I could zoom or pan it, in full color of course, while easily referring back to the associated text.
Likewise, if I am browsing my favorite website on my Fire, and come to a lengthy article I’d like to read, I can select it and send it to the Kindle side, as with the “Readability” app that is currently available.
I could do most of this now, but it’d be kind of a duct tape and baling wire setup. Wouldn’t it be great to have one app to sync the whole thing?
October 6, 2011 at 4:13 am |
Thanks for writing, Dennis!
I don’t think most people would want to deal with two screens most of the time. I know you are proposing an app and a cover mechanism, but the Entourage eDGe was a dual screen device that failed in the market. I believe it worked somewhat the way you describe. The first NOOK had a small color screen, then a big reflective screen…so did the Alex.
I have used my Kindle for PC to look more easily at images in a book I am reading, using Whispersync to get to that spot. I don’t think I’ve kept the image on the PC while I read the text on my Kindle, though. I could, just by not syncing while I read, though.
I think what will happen eventually is that we’ll have a screen location that can switch between a reflective screen and a backlit screen. Apple has patented something that does that, and there are probably many approaches.
I do think your idea might have appeal for students, but I’m not sure fiction readers, for example, would utilize it very often…except for the maps in books like the Lord of the Rings, maybe.
We’ll see what other comments you get…I like it when people come up with innovative ideas.
October 7, 2011 at 12:52 pm |
[dont care about this being private or not]
Any word on how to tell what apps will run on the Fire?
Some seem to think that all apps in Amazon’s Appstore for Android will be supported (which seems unlikely with the lack of a camera or microphone).
I know that Angry Birds is going to be there… but a calendar, phone book and text editor would be nice too.
Also wondering if developer’s have had early access to the hardware yet.
What I really crave is to able to run Evernote (or something like it), but Evernote hasn’t replied to questions about the Fire in their own forums.
Knowing what will and will not run on it is going to make or break some buyer’s decisions. Though I am 96% sure I will be buying one as soon as they hit the brick and mortar stores.
October 7, 2011 at 1:57 pm |
Thanks for writing, jhitt!
The product page for the Fire
Kindle Fire
says this:
“Amazon Appstore – thousands of popular apps and games”
However, as you point out, not every app in the Amazon Appstore will work on the Kindle Fire…while it may be possible to attach a camera (and I don’t know that yet….I’ve heard both things about the USB….that it’s only there for charging and that you’ll be able to attach peripherals which you can’t do on a Kindle), I don’t think you can attach a inclinometer.
It also says
“Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies, The Weather Channel and more, plus a great paid app for free every day. All apps are Amazon-tested on Kindle Fire for the best experience possible.”
My guess is that it will run anything in the Appstore…but some of them won’t really work. I think we’ll see an indication that the app is “optimized” for the Fire or some such…sort of like the enhanced books with audio/video you can download to Kindles, but the audio/video part can’t be accessed on anything except an iDevice (currently).
October 7, 2011 at 3:13 pm
I’ve wondered about that “Amazon Appstore” verbage.
On the website it’s called “Appstore for Andriod”.
A small difference that I hope means nothing at all.
None the less, seeing a “Runs On Fire” badge on tested apps would be nice.
October 7, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Thanks for writing, jjhitt!
Yep, I think we’ll see something just like that. Probably won’t be on the Voice Changer app I have…
October 12, 2011 at 4:07 pm |
Woo hoo! I fired up my Kindle for PC reader today, and a question popped up asking me if I wanted to import collections from another device. So I did! And it worked!
October 12, 2011 at 7:39 pm |
Thanks for writing, katxena!
Yes, that’s great! I find it easier to manage my Collections on my Kindle for PC and then import them to my Kindle.
That update came on July 21…you may find this post of mine on it interesting:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/in-depth-with-collections-in-kindle-for-pc-1-6/
October 14, 2011 at 2:18 am |
Wow. I had no idea. I use the kindle for PC reader fairly often (1-2 times a week) and I never saw that update until a few days ago. It was a pop-up, so I know I would have seen it before, had it come up. I’m really happy to have that feature — it’s just crazy that it took so long for me to get it! Thanks for pointing me to your write-up about it.
October 14, 2011 at 12:01 pm |
Thanks for writing, katxena!
Well, that’s one of the things people say….Amazon doesn’t do a very good job of letting us know about changes. Maybe if it was a subscribable update to go straight to the Kindle/apps. Something like Kindle Developments?
That’s one reason people read blogs like this, I think…I stay on top of a number of things. I typically check several places a day…not something most people have time to do.
I’m glad you like it the new feature!
October 16, 2011 at 4:43 am |
I know you’ve followed the Borders closings. I found the following message from Barnes and Noble in my spam folder, but it seems to be legit as it came to the e-mail address I used for my Borders card. I was wondering if you got a similar e-mail or if this really was spam. I was also wondering what has happened to the “empty” stores left behind when Borders moved out. My local Borders is now the Halloween Store. I don’t know if it will go empty at the end of the month or convert to a Christmas store. Time will tell.
Dear Borders Customer,
My name is William Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble, and I’m writing to you today on
behalf of the entire B&N team to make you aware of important information regarding your Borders account.
First of all let me say Barnes & Noble uniquely appreciates the importance bookstores play within local communities, and we’re very sorry your Borders store closed.
As part of Borders ceasing operations, we acquired some of its assets including Borders brand trademarks and their customer list. The subject matter of your DVD and other video purchases will be part of the transferred information. The federal bankruptcy court approved this sale on September 26, 2011.
Our intent in buying the Borders customer list is simply to try and earn your business. The majority of our stores are within close proximity to former Borders store locations, and for those that aren’t, we offer our award- winning NOOK™ digital reading devices that provide a bookstore in your pocket. We are readers like you, and hope that through our stores, NOOK devices, and our bn.com online bookstore we can win your trust and provide you with a place to read and shop.
It’s important for you to understand however you have the absolute right to opt-out of having your customer data transferred to Barnes & Noble. If you would like to opt-out, we will ensure all your data we receive from Borders is disposed of in a secure and confidential manner. Please visit http://www.bn.com/borders by November 2, 2011 to do so.
Should you choose not to opt-out by November 2, 2011, be assured your information will be covered under the Barnes & Noble privacy policy, which can be accessed at http://www.bn.com/privacy. B&N will maintain any of your data according to this policy and our strict privacy standards.
At Barnes & Noble we share your love of books — whatever shape they take. We also take our responsibility to service communities by providing a local bookstore very seriously. In the coming weeks, assuming you don’t opt-out, you’ll be hearing from us with some offers to encourage you to shop our stores and try our NOOK products. We hope you’ll give us a chance to be your bookstore.
October 16, 2011 at 12:16 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
Let me research that one. A quick look shows stories that say that’s what happened, but I do want to verify it. I was a Borders member…doesn’t look like I got one. If this an opt-out, I want to verify it.
Would you mind telling me the date and time you got it, and the sending address? That will help.
Edited to add: I forgot to mention, my former Borders also has a Spirit Halloween store in it right now. I’ve considered taking a picture of that, but that isn’t that uncommon with a large empty store this time of year.
I don’t know what they’ll get to go in there…they tend to have a lot of floor space.
October 16, 2011 at 5:47 pm |
The date and time sent was October 14, 2011 11:16 PM
The sender was Barnes & Noble
I haven’t clicked on any of the links just because I wasn’t totally sure it was the real deal or not. I use a Mac, but I’m still cautious about clicking on links when I’m not sure of the sender.
October 16, 2011 at 6:36 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
Hmm…appears like I haven’t been sent that e-mail yet. However, you just got yours Friday, and it’s possible the next wave of deliveries won’t be until Monday.
I’ll dig more.
Clicking on links can be dangerous, even on a Mac…
Update: I’m satisfied now that it’s real. I’ll write a post on it…thanks!
October 24, 2011 at 8:44 am |
The current (Nov.) issue of “Fast Company” has a cover story and four sidebars on “The Great Tech War of 2012: Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook”: here:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/160/tech-wars-2012-amazon-apple-google-facebook
October 24, 2011 at 12:22 pm |
Thanks for writing, Roger!
Looks interesting! I’ll try to get through it today.
October 31, 2011 at 6:35 pm |
Bufo, I came to U.S. yesterday, I will spend three weeks here, but my first steps went to Target to buy a $79 Kindle. (I could not wait couple of days to get one from Amazon) We have two KKs at home already. When I came to my hotel I connected to wifi, registered the Kindle to my account, I named it Mindle (!) and after several minutes I was able to pick up in a book which I started reading on Kindle on iPad on a page where I left. Beautiful. And out of five offers that appeared on my Mindle I will use two immediately, just have to decide which cover to buy
October 31, 2011 at 9:48 pm |
Thanks for writing, Marian!
I appreciate you letting me know! Just so people know, how would you compare reading on the iPad to reading on the Mindle?
November 1, 2011 at 12:36 pm
For reading a book, definitely a Kindle. iPad is unusable outside because of the light. E-ink is much better for my eyes. And it is also much lighter. I love iPad for apps and videos, for reading I will use Kindle. I wonder how long it will take to have e-ink and lcd displays in one device
November 1, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Thanks for writing, Marian!
That’s pretty much what I figured.
As to your question…I think it’s not too far away. There was the Entourage eDGe, which had two physical screens (one of each). Apple has a patent for a switchable screen. I suspect there will be other solutions. My guess? Within three years…
November 1, 2011 at 1:56 pm |
Hello, Bufo. I enjoy your blog. I have subscribed since I got my first Kindle. If you didn’t know already, Consumer Reports reviews the Kindle Fire in its December 2011 issue. The headline is “Content is King on new Kindle Fire. The bottom line is that the Fire is competent and affordable.
November 1, 2011 at 8:12 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lona!
I didn’t see that online right away…I’ll see if I can run into it.
They were reviewing it…but I assume it was hands-off?
November 1, 2011 at 2:49 pm |
There is now way you want to use ipad as your main reading device. The screen is far too bright and the whole experience is the web all over again. Use an eink device by it a Kindle or any other.
November 1, 2011 at 3:14 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jon!
As this point, I wouldn’t consider using a backlit device (like an iPad or the Kindle Fire) as my primary reading device…I was just asking Marian to share her experience for the benefit of others.
Reflective screen devices (E Ink is a brand name, by the way) like the other Kindles, the original NOOK or the Sony Readers have some significant advantages for long form reading.
November 1, 2011 at 3:19 pm |
Yep, understand and agree. There is still a form factor and capability question to be answered but reading on a backlit screen can never be a long term solution.
If eReaders get to ipad type levels of power and feature set (touch, colour, connectivity, zoom etc) then for me its really getting perfect. I clip web content to the Kindle all the time as I hate reading on the web so for me I am already half way to a Kindle only reading experience.
All that said I think you will have both types of devices. ereaders after all are not the device to be using for the transactional web experience.
November 2, 2011 at 1:38 pm |
The article says, “Based on our brief experience using a preproduction Fire …” It’s a half page article on page 27 of the December issue. This issue focuses on electronics and has an article on tablet computers on the facing page. On page 29 there is an article on e-book readers. That article gives the Nook Simple Touch the highest marks, but 3 of the 4 “best buys” are Kindles.
November 3, 2011 at 3:34 am |
Hi Bufo,
I’ve been subscribing to your blog and loving it since I got my first Kindle 2 eons ago. I am a Prime member, and have been since long before my wife and I got Kindles. We do an awful lot of shopping at Amazon.
In response to the queries in your latest post. “Water for Elephants” is available in the Owner’s Lending Library for Prime members. And my Subscription Settings page does have a Manage Prime Membership link.
I’m anxiously awaiting my Fire and my Kindle Touch. After reading on my iPhone Kindle app I sometimes try touching my Kindle’s menus but it never works
Jim
November 3, 2011 at 3:58 am |
I re-read your question about “Water for Elephants” and realized you were asking about a link on the web page. There is no link on the web page. It looks like the only way to borrow it is through the Kindle Store on one’s Kindle. On my Kindle, there is a “Buy” button and a “Borrow for Free” button with the limitation “Prime members only” below it.
November 14, 2011 at 8:13 pm |
Bufo:
Fire and Touch user guides are available, but hidden. Here’s the Fire one:
http://kindle.s3.amazonaws.com/Kindle_Fire_Users_Guide.pdf
go to the help page, select kindle, then in the left sidebar, select the model of the kindle, then down at the bottom one of the links is to the user guide…
November 14, 2011 at 8:35 pm |
Thanks for writing, tuxgirl!
You made my day! I’ve been checking the Kindle documentation day, and it hasn’t been there. This deserves its own post (and I’ll credit you). I’ll also get to reading.
Thanks again!
November 18, 2011 at 5:42 pm |
Hey Bufo,
I stumbled upon this in the discussions boards today (11/18/11) and did not remember any post from you on this. I could have missed it though
http://www.amazon.com/forum/kindle/ref=cm_cd_ttp_ef_tft_tp?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdThread=Tx3RREJMCPFYF0Z
It appears that you can now subscribe/unsubscribe to special offers weather you ordered a Kindle with SO or not.
PokerRun3
November 19, 2011 at 12:42 am |
Thanks for writing, PokerRun3!
That’s great! With all the Fire stuff and my new Touch, I hadn’t seen that one yet.
That deserves a separate post and will get one…thanks!
November 20, 2011 at 5:39 pm |
Bufo-
Have you heard anything about Penguin /Putnam pulling out of the Overdrive Library Lending Program?
People are reporting huge drop in available titles at their libraries.
nospin
November 20, 2011 at 6:08 pm |
Thanks for writing, nospin!
Hadn’t heard that one yet, but it’s certainly possible. Macmillan and Simon & Schuster do not license e-books to public libraries at all, and HarperCollins limits check-outs.
I found the Overdrive announcement when Penguin came onboard, and didn’t see a length of term for the contract:
http://overdrive.com/News/getArticle.aspx?newsArticleID=20080827
Hmm….I just checked my public library…no e-books from Penguin, but other format books. That’s suspicious. I’ll ask the blog readers. That wouldn’t be a big surprise, but would be disappointing.
November 21, 2011 at 4:53 pm |
I have had a weekend with my Kindle Fire and I have noticed three bothersome things. I contacted Kindle Support and got non-responses. I thought I would share these with you. If you know any fixes that would be great. If there are none, publicizing the problems might help. These are either “bugs” or “features” according to the spin.
1. No blogs (I read yours from my wife’s subscription or online). Why?
2. Reading magazine articles there are no bookmarks nor does the Fire save your place when you go to Home to do something else. I was reading a novella and you can imagine the fun. I had to write down the page numbers and flip through to get back where I started.
3. There is no way to clip items and no equivalent to My Clippings.
I like the Fire but that’s a lot to give up (I still have my Kindle 2).
November 21, 2011 at 8:25 pm |
Thank you, Bufo for all your time and patience in the blog and forums.
I have a heads up for your and your readers on a TTS issue.
I was happily listening to the Isaacson biography of Steve Jobs as my “commute book” until the drive in to work this morning. TTS was disabled when i accepted the “corrected” file over the weekend.
The product page now does say TTS Not Enabled, FWIW.
I double checked the email from Amazon about the corrected file; there was no mention of disabling that feature. I emailed Kindle Tech Support this morning, but they can only tell me that they will offer a refund if I want one and that they have no control over what the publisher’s file contains. The direct quote is:
The content in the Kindle Store is provided to us directly by the publishers or authors who own that content. They may choose not to include items that appear in the printed version such as a text to speech, cover image, linked tables of contents, linked endnotes, etc.
[Query how and when TTS appears in a print version, but I quibble].
I just wanted to give you a heads up on this issue. While this is not the magnitude of the 1984 issue, if a feature is going to be removed from a book, as opposed to making corrections, I think the purchaser should be warned. I would have elected not to get that update and kept listening to the book had I been given the choice.
Actually, in the best of worlds, I would have finished the 12% I have to go, then gotten the corrected version if I want to re-read it or use for a reference in the future.
Cheers,
GeekyGal
November 21, 2011 at 10:03 pm |
Thanks for writing, GeekyGal!
I checked that book as soon as it was listed in the store, and it said at that time that the text-to-speech access was blocked. That’s why I haven’t mentioned the book before.
My very strong guess is that when you bought it, it said the feature was “Not enabled”.
My thought here? It was accidentally sent out without the code that the publisher inserts to block access. If they do nothing, the book will be accessible via text-to-speech. So, the correction was to make it match the product page.
How sure are you that you checked the product page when you bought the book?
November 25, 2011 at 11:22 am |
I’m on a trip to Jamaica right now, and I’ve brought along my Kindle Keyboard with WiFi and 3G, and My Fire. I thought you might be interested in what I could and couldn’t do outside of the US with both devices. I’ve been connected to the resort wifi hotspots off and on depending on where I move about (and where I stop to read for a few hours!)
I was able to purchase a book with the Kindle (KK) from the Kindle Store as I do at home – but I didn’t try it with the Fire. The book did show up immediately on both devices, but I had to download it from the cloud with the Fire. I tried to rent a movie with the Fire, but Amazon told me that I could not make purchases outside the US.
I borrowed a book from my public library at home using my Netbook computer, and it oddly shows up in the Fire – but not to my Kindle, where I had it sent to from my Amazon account. When I went to the Archives to retrieve it on the KK, it was greyed out. I’m assuming I will be able to retrieve it as soon as I re-enter the states.
The Kindle has a few messages from Amazon, informing me about subscription services while overseas. I have opted to suspend my service until I return. I use SendToReader also and I do get those deliveries every time my KK detects a hotspot.
I was able to purchase free apps on the Fire and download but not apps that require payment.
I have been carrying both devices with me constantly since I left home, and alternate between the two. I found using the KK for email (with my Gmail account) is easier in the bright sun of Ocho Rios than finding shade to see the Fire, even though the Fire is much quicker. When I come into restaurants for a drink or a bite to eat, the Fire has been fast and perfect for keeping up with the kids (who I left at home) via Facebook and a text messaging app I downloaded before leaving home. Taking the KK on a sunny tropical vacation – well, that speaks for itself! My vacation wouldn’t be nearly as nice without it. I’ve also noted I’ve seen a few Nooks and a few Fires, but mostly I see Kindle Keyboards at the resort, and at the airport.
Also, the Fire has been very fast and responsive – faster even than my pc.
I subscribe to your blog through Amazon, it’s the first one I read when I get multiple updates! I hope this comment is useful for you and you are welcome to share it with your readers if you think my experiences would be beneficial to others.
November 25, 2011 at 8:12 pm |
Thanks for writing, Kim!
Thanks for the kind words! Thank you especially for subscribing…that really helps.
I love field reports…especially “far afield” reports like this one!
I’m sure that will be useful for other people. I’m not quite sure what’s up with that…it should be available in the archives to both devices. It’s possible the book has one device license, particularly if it’s a textbook..that’s very unusual, though.
I was on a tropical island on vacation once, and read through all of the books I had brought with me pretty quickly (no surprise…I use to pack an extra suitcase for paperbooks). The only books to buy on the whole island were Remo Williams books…I read several of them, even though that wouldn’t necessarily normally be my first choice…
November 27, 2011 at 2:14 pm |
Just finished your “Fire” book-good info. What I am missing on my Fire is the tweet/share feature at the end of a book; did I overlook this, is it not there, or is it coming? I enjoy sharing a good book via facebook.
Thanks.
November 29, 2011 at 6:30 am |
Bufo:
Heads-up on an important Fire bug. I reported to Amazon already, but we need to make sure people know about this. If you have magazines or newspapers that you have marked “keep” on, to keep them on the device, rebooting the device *will* clear the “keep” flag. I’m going to be backing up my magazines to my laptop for now, to avoid losing anything, but if somebody reboots their Fire, it’s completely possible that they may permanently lose access to a subscription item due to it being removed automatically.
November 29, 2011 at 12:43 pm |
Thanks for writing, tuxgirl!
I appreciate that.
When you mark something as “keep” on a reflective screen Kindle, the file is actually stored locally, and I would guess that would happen with a Fire. Did you search for the file? I’m thinking maybe it’s just the newsstand display that’s affected, rather than the loss of the file.
I use the free app
ES File Explorer
December 1, 2011 at 10:41 pm
I haven’t searched yet… I just have noticed I have to.periodically go in and re-keep the files… I’m particularly nervous because on my k3 one time, I had a magazine where each issue was removed when the next arrived, and you couldn’t download.past issues at all. I had a really busy month, and didn’t even get around to keeping.an issue, much.less reading it, and I.lost it completely. It was frustrating, since I had paid.for the.issue, but was never able to read it.
November 30, 2011 at 5:46 pm |
Link to article about bookstore in NH sign re don’t buy Kindle:http://t.co/YoNJHvGG
Hope it works. I copied it from the PW Tweet this morning.
December 3, 2011 at 8:39 pm |
Bufo, you answered all of my questions and some. Thanks so much. I will be enjoying my KF for the next 5 months and I am hopeful that it will be functional in Canada sooner rather than later. I do have an American bank account for purchases.
December 6, 2011 at 3:00 am |
Hi, Bufo -
Wondered if you’d seen Jakob Nielsen’s column on Kindle Fire Usability:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/kindle-fire-usability.html
I was going between giving my husband a Kindle Fire and a “Mindle” for Christmas; now I’m leaning toward the latter. (Also, I actually don’t think he’d get enough use out of the Fire to justify the purchase.)
December 6, 2011 at 11:12 pm |
More on the sales tax question, especially in states other than California:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2011/12/04/amazons-special-deals-with-states-unconstitutional-law-profs-say/
December 8, 2011 at 6:41 am |
When I clicked on the Forbes link, it brought up a gray page with no text. Is it a subscribers only page?
December 8, 2011 at 6:03 pm |
If I forget to click the gift button and receive the Fire can I change the account from mine to the recipient anyway and how?
December 8, 2011 at 7:11 pm |
Thanks for writing, Don!
Yes, absolutely.
Settings Gear – More – My Account
Edited to add: sorry I couldn’t be more thorough…I was replying from my phone.
If you mark a Kindle Fire as a gift when you are purchasing it, it should come unregistered to any account. If you don’t, it should come registered to the account on which it was purchased.
However, you can always deregister a Kindle and register it to another account. On the Kindle Fire, I’ve given you the instructions above. You’ll see the Setting Gear in the top right corner of the homescreen.
You can also deregister your Kindle Fire from
http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle
under
Manage Your Device
If you have more questions about it, feel free to ask.
December 9, 2011 at 1:28 am |
I’m noticing, when I try to clip articles from the blogs I subscribe to, that I get a message telling me I’ve exceeded my clip limit. (Actually, the message doesn’t, but that’s another story. (I’ve sent a complaint to the Kindle team.) It wants to tell me that. And there’s a correct notice in my My Clippings file.)
First, maybe you could fill people in on the subject of these limits, as a general matter. Who sets them, what are the pros and cons, etc.
Second, it’s occurred to me that the availability of free PC/Mac apps like SENDtoREADER (thanks to alerting me to it, BTW) might affect the rationale for where to set clip limits. If nonpaying online blog users are now able to “clip” articles without limit, it seems odd to impose much of a limit on the paying (penny-a-day!) customers. Your thoughts?
December 11, 2011 at 12:40 am |
I, too, encountered the “exceeded” notice today when I tried to clip an article from the NY Times blog. It was about a book that the author was writing, and it sounds like a book I’d be interested in reading once it’s done. I can’t make notes in a blog. I can’t highlight in a blog, so clipiping the article is the only way I can save the information to check for the book in the future. Unfortunately, the small part of the story that did clip didn’t contain the information I needed, so I had to go to the NY Times website to find the article and use copy/paste to make a note on my computer.
December 11, 2011 at 1:48 pm |
Bufo -
I just got word back from the folks at Buzz Voice that they fulfilled my request and added ILMK to their blog list. Tried it out and it works great. Now you can listen to ILMK with text to speech on Kindle Fire.
December 12, 2011 at 4:40 pm |
Bufo -
Fire is in the NY Times this morning:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/technology/personaltech/amazons-fire-some-say-may-become-the-edsel-of-tablets.html?_r=1&ref=technology
Not completely flattering, but does mention a planned software upgrade in a couple weeks.
December 12, 2011 at 5:12 pm |
Thanks for writing, John!
Wow! I haven’t had that unpleasant a spin since the teacup ride at Disneyland.
I may have to write about that article. It’s so hyperbolically negative, it could be a 1950s cautionary short. My favorite line from the article:
“If I were given to conspiracy theories, I’d say that Amazon deliberately designed a poor Web browsing user experience to keep Fire users from shopping on competing sites,” Mr. Nielsen said.
I’m happy to see that Amazon will continue to improve the Fire for its customers.
December 13, 2011 at 7:59 pm |
This comparison of Fire, Nook and Vox in ComputerWorld yesterday:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222529/In_depth_Using_the_Kindle_Fire_vs._the_Kobo_Vox_vs._the_Nook_Tablet?taxonomyId=15&pageNumber=1
December 15, 2011 at 12:55 am |
hello- love your blog- have subscribed to it since i got my first kindle- just got my second- a kindle keyboard and need to move all my books to the new one from my kindle 2- have checked the discussions and your blog- is the only way to move books is to go to archives and move them one book at a time- i have over 500 books on my kindle 2!!!! i moved collections over and when i move the archived books it DOES go into the right collection but this will take forever- is there another way using the usb on your computer?
also does the kindle Fire have whispernet on it or do you have to have an external internet service- i am unclear on this point…..thanks and keep up the great work
December 16, 2011 at 4:23 am |
Thanks for writing, Elaine!
Wh
Thanks also for the kind words! I really appreciate you being a subscriber…that’s part of what makes this possible for me.
The key question is…why do you want to move the 500 books to the new Kindle? I only keep about ten Kindle store books on my Kindle at a time. The rest (more than two thousand) are in my archives, and I can get them easily enough when I want them.
If you do want to move them, it is one at a time. There are a couple of reasons for that:
* When you download a book from the Kindle store, it is usually keyed to a specific device. That’s partially to keep people from distributing them freely on the internet. That means you can’t take your book files from one of your Kindles and directly transfer them en masse to another Kindle
* Kindles can’t handle a lot of files at once very well. They have to index each file as they get it, and that’s an effort. When people back up their Kindles, and then put those files back on the same device from which they got them, I recommend they do it in fairly small batches and wait in-between
As to the Kindle Fire…it has wi-fi, and does not have 3G.
The early Kindles only had 3G. Current RSKs (Reflective Screen Kindles) may have just wi-fi, or wi-fi and 3G.
Either one is just a way to get to the internet.
With 3G, you are basically using a cellphone network.
With wi-fi, you are connecting to a short range broadcast of the internet…often about the size of a house.
A Kindle Fire would be a lot harder to use if you didn’t have wi-fi in your house. If you have internet in your home (maybe from your cable company), you can typically buy a wi-fi router (under $100, usually) and use that to set up the wi-fi for your Fire. Otherwise, you could wirelessly download at places like a Starbucks or a McDonalds. You can download book files using your computer and transfer them to the Kindle Fire…but you could watch streaming video if the Fire doesn’t have a wi-fi network to use.
December 16, 2011 at 4:16 am |
Bufo, Amazon has added the ability to return Kindle content directly from the Manage Your Kindle webpage.
Found it in the Amazon.com Kindle forum.
Return for Refund from the Manage Your Kindle page
Link to discussion:
http://www.amazon.com/forum/kindle/ref=cm_cd_ttp_ef_tft_tp?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdThread=Tx38JY9XSPP2J78
December 16, 2011 at 4:39 am |
Thanks for writing, Vince!
I hadn’t seen that one yet..it’s worth a post.
Thanks!
December 16, 2011 at 4:24 pm |
Thanks so much for answering my question- the reason i keep so many books on my kindle- in case you wondered:) is i download a lot of free books and keep them on my kindle in collections- since they are free and there are a lot of them i cant remember all the titles and their content- so when i am reading and feel like say a mystery i go to my kindle and look under mystery and find several books that i can choose from and know they are mysteries- that way i can check the description in only a few books rather than my entire archives
thanks for the info about the kindle fire- my husband is looking for a tablet and although we have read many different reviews about the fire- we are still deciding how we can utilize its features for what he needs it for most.
i love my kindle 3- it is very crisp and clear- i forgot about that feature
December 19, 2011 at 6:18 am |
Wow, incredible blog format! How lengthy have you been running a blog for? you make running a blog look easy. The entire glance of your web site is fantastic, let alone the content!
December 19, 2011 at 2:39 pm |
Thanks for writing, Ereader!
I have virtually nothing to do with the appearance of the blog…it’s standard WordPress (the Kubrick template, I believe).
I appreciate your comments about the content, though. It’s interesting…if you weren’t “Ereader”, I would think that this might be one of those generic compliments people do just to link to their websites…I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt here, though.
The first post was on August 28, 2009…over two years now!
December 23, 2011 at 1:47 pm |
Hello Bufo,
I don’t know if you noticed, but there was an update to Kindle on iPad app which allows to download personal documents to iPad from the cloud ! It also gives to iPad app an unique email address. Very nice.
December 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
Thanks for writing, Marian!
I hadn’t seen that one, but that’s great!
I talked about Amazon saying that the personal document service was coming to reader apps
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/personal-document-service-coming-to-fire-kindle-apps/
back in October…glad to see it’s here for the iPad.
Thanks!
December 25, 2011 at 8:31 am |
Bufo! so great to get up to speed on the Fire before I get one.
You said that if you deregister a Kindle the books already downloaded will remain BUT that then you can’t get them on a new Kindle after that. What about other Kindles already on the same account? can they no longer download them? If they are on those other Kindles do they disappear?
ps. one click on my Kindle still requires email and password everytime. Does not keep me logged in to Amazon account. Annoying.
kerrin
December 25, 2011 at 12:59 pm |
Thanks for writing, kerrin!
The books remain available to all of the Kindles on the old account. What happens if that the person who left that account (by deregistering the Kindle) couldn’t download them to a new Kindle not on the old account.
I’m going to make that part clearer as my next move this morning.
Let’s go back to Mom, Dad, Sister, and Brother.
Sister deregisters a Kindle from what I’ll call the “family account”.
The books that are on Sister’s Kindle (actually downloaded to it) stay there, as long as it isn’t a Kindle Fire. Mom, Dad, and Brother can download them to their Kindles and to future Kindles registered to the family account.
Sister can read them…until she deletes one. If Sister buys a new Kindle which is not registered to the family account, she can’t put the books from the family account on that one.
Where are you running into the issue about having to re-enter your password? Is that on a Kindle Fire, or on a computer?
It sounds to me like you either didn’t check a box to keep you logged into Amazon, or you don’t have cookies enabled. I can explain more about those, if you have questions.
Do other websites keep you logged in on that device?
December 27, 2011 at 5:20 am |
The Amazon website gives good directions for how to borrow a book if you’re a prime member, but it really doesn’t say how one returns it. I know you’ve recently joined Prime. Have you borrowed a book yet? If so, does the borrowed book have a “return button” at the end where a purchased book would have the “rate this book button”?
December 27, 2011 at 12:51 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
The Kindle Owners Lending Library (KOLL) became available to me in November, when I got my Kindle Fire. I did pay the $79 annual fee to continue having it…convinced in part by free Prime streaming video, in part by the KOLL…and yes, I enjoy the accelerated shipping (even if we don’t save a lot of money doing it in our household).
I’ve borrowed the maximum…one book a calendar month so far:
The LAST LECTURE
by Randy Pausch (currently priced at $9.44)
Water for Elephants: A Novel
by Sara Gruen (currently priced at $5.44)
I know I haven’t answered your question yet…that’s coming.
I wanted to list the prices because, although i see people vehemently talling others on the forum that it isn’t worth it to get Prime for the KOLL…that it’s just an added benefit for people who have Prime for the shipping, that hasn’t been the case for me so far.
If you divide $79 by 12, you get about %6.58.
On that basis, I’ve saved money with Prime just for the KOLL. That’s $14.88 for me so far, at a cost of $13.16. I don’t know that it will continue that way, but so far, so good.
I certainly get the other benefits, though..I’ve used the Prime video.
Now, as to your question…
There is no due date when you borrow a book from the KOLL. You could hypothetically keep one forever.
The limit is that you can’t borrow more than one at a time.
So, the fact that you have a book out from the KOLL doesn’t really matter until you want to get another one.
What I did was go to borrow the second book after everybody on my account was done with the first one. When you do that, it tells you that you have one out, and asks if you want to return it. I said yes..mission accomplished.
You can also return the book at
http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle
and using the Action button.
I know some people like to clean things up, even if there is no practical impact.
For more information on the KOLL, see this:
Amazon’s KOLL Help Page
December 27, 2011 at 10:56 pm |
>>I know some people like to clean things up, even if there is no practical impact.
I’m still in the one month free trial, so I was worried what would happen if I decide not to continue with the plan once I have to pay for it. I didn’t know if it would just take a phaser hit and disappear or if I’d be charged for it if I hadn’t returned it. It took me awhile to find a book that hadn’t originally been free or at a reduced price. I finally chose one of the Richard Castle books. I’m a fan of “Castle,” but I wasn’t sure if I would like to book or not, so I didn’t want to risk the cost. So far, I’m enjoying it, but I don’t think it will be a “keeper.” I probably will stay with prime after the trial is up. It would be a better value for me if I had WiFi and an iPad or Fire.
December 29, 2011 at 4:51 pm |
This comes from an old F___t that came late to electronics. I have a couple Kindles including the Fire and have enjoyed the reading sessions. Now to the fire, and it’s / my problem with it. I have spent several hours and several emails with Amazon tech reps about email problems on my Kindle Fire with disapointng results. I can send and receive email to myself with both Kindle and PC, but only to and from myself. If I try sending to any of my contacts, it says “unable to send some messages” and they remain in the out folder until I delete them. I have purchased and read your book, “Love your Kindle Fire” and even that dosn’t help me. For the Kindle, I am using an AOL account as on my laptop. My son has a Fire and has the same problems. This make me wonder, how many others have this problem and do you have any suggestions?
December 29, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
Thanks for writing, Allen!
I’m testing that for you, and haven’t had a problem yet.
Two things:
Are you typing in the address or adding it from a contact?
My other concern is that you might not be using the whole address. For example, you might be able to use something like
sherlockholmes
when you are using AOL if the consulting detective had an AOL account…and need to spell it out all the way
sherlockholmes@aol.com
when in the Fire’s e-mail app.
Update: my sending to a different address was successful.
December 29, 2011 at 5:57 pm |
Thanks for the rapid reply. I know what my problem is now – one must be smarter than the average box of broken rocks! Since I posted, I reread your book and went back to my old DOS memory stage. It was then I remembered to check spelling and syntax. Typing on the Fire can lead to much misspelling and other errors. Thanks to you and old computer use, I think my problem is solved after correcting mistakes in my contact list. Time will tell.
Thanks again. Allen
December 29, 2011 at 6:22 pm |
Thanks so much for letting me know what happened, Allen!
I really appreciate that kind of feedback.
December 30, 2011 at 10:19 pm |
Do you think that the Kindle versions of blogs will ever have the capability of becoming interactive? I subscribe to this blog on my Kindle because I prefer reading things on the Kindle screen, but I also have it e-mailed so that if I want to comment on articles, I can. It may seem silly to pay for what I’m also getting for free, but I think you more than earn that $0.99 a month! Just curious.
December 30, 2011 at 11:52 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
You know, I’ve never quite understood their strategy towards blogs. I don’t know if they make money on the program or not, for one thing. I think it may be the only content area of Amazon that is shrinking.
No blog subscriptions on the Kindle reader apps, or on the Kindle Fire, or in most countries.
My guess is that those of us with bestsellers make them money…and that the vast majority of them don’t. Then, if having the blogs in the store cost them money (for accounting, for example), they might be a net negative. Allowing links might make that worse, due to 3G charges.
I would presume that wi-fi changes that calculation, so maybe this will change…
December 31, 2011 at 1:54 pm |
Hi Bufo. I am a Prime subscriber and while I would normally prefer reading to watching TV, I must confess I’ve been enjoying some of the “free for Prime members” movies and old TV shows. I have discovered a wonderful feature of Amazon Prime but thought I’d run it past you before posting anything on the Boards. We have a TV that is web enabled. Playing around, my son in law discovered an Amazon icon. Following the simple instructions on the screen, we were able to link that icon to my Prime account, allowing me to watch the free Prime videos, movies and TV show on the big screen. I can also watch any of the “for pay” shows. The cost will be charged to my Amazon account. This is very cool!
I hesitate to mention this on the Boards because set up may differ from TV to TV, opening up more questions than I can answer there. What do you think?
Carol
p.s. No need to keep my identity private if you decide to talk about this in your blog.
December 31, 2011 at 7:05 pm |
Thanks for writing, Carol!
Yes, that’s going to vary by TV. I use my Roku to do the same thing, with what is now an older (not web-enabled) TV. Another cool thing you’ll find: you can watch part of the movie on the Fire, and pick up in the same place on your TV! That’s fun.
I think if you do post it on the forum, you’ll find quite a few people know about it, and others will appreciate hearing about it. I wouldn’t worry too much about the questions: you won’t be held responsible for answering all of them.
December 31, 2011 at 10:03 pm |
Hi Bufo,
I’m a long-time reader of your blog and thoroughly enjoy it. I suspect you may have a similar problem to the one I have since I have collected physical books for more than 50 years and now seem to collect ebooks.
My problem is with the Carousel on the Fire. According to Amazon, I have over 4,900 books in my account. So when I received my Kindle Fire, all 4,900+ books showed up on the Carousel and I couldn’t get rid of them. Now they have given us the option of removing them from the Carousel but, alas, only one at a time. Removing 4,900+ books one at a time is next to impossible for me because of arm and hand problems. Amazon tells me they cannot move them to my Cloud (or anywhere else) as a group.
As a sidenote to this, when I order ebooks from Amazon, I tell it to send the book to my K2, the Cloud or the Fire. That part is great! However, no matter where I tell it to send the book, they all end up on my Fire – so I still have to remove them one at a time. It would be so nice if it would only send the ones to the Fire that I ask to be sent to the Fire.
I’ve had several people from Amazon tell me they have never seen someone with that many books, so I’m not sure how problematic this is. However, I think that the longer we have access to ebooks, the more prevalent this will become.
Any ideas, discussion, solutions or help?
December 31, 2011 at 11:35 pm |
Thanks for writing, Dottie! Thanks for the kind words, and for being a reader…both of my blog and other things.
4,900…I’m impressed!
That’s not contributing to the issue, except for the additional labor involved on your part.
First, let me say…hang in there.
I do think we’ll get the ability to control this, and my guess ie that it will be in the first month or two of next year.
Second, what’s confusing when you order is that what you are seeing on the Carousel is both the books on your device and on the Cloud (in your archives). It would be as if, on your K2, your books didn’t show up as an Archived Items line item on the homescreen, but all of your archived books showed up as individual items on your homescreen as well as the ones you’d downloaded.
When you tell the book to go to your K2, it’s doing that…it’s not actually moving to the Fire, it’s just showing up in the archives. You can tell this if you go to the Books tab, and tap on Device and compare it to Cloud. The ones on the Device tab are on the Fire…the other ones are not.
That doesn’t make the mechanical operation any easier for you, but I hope the explanation helps.
There are a lot of ways for Amazon to approach this, and I think they’ll figure something out soon…
January 4, 2012 at 2:56 pm |
[dont care about this being private or not]
ScreenDim (Pro, didn’t try the free version)
Strongly recommend adding this to the “must have” list of apps.
I’ve no connection whatsoever with the developer, I just find myself reading in the dark often.
This app allows you to dim the screen all the way to black.
January 4, 2012 at 7:05 pm |
Thanks for writing, JJ!
Since you don’t care, I’d rather other people benefit from your experience.
My new Fire should be here on Thursday. The free version is a three day trial, so I’ll get it and check it out.
I think it’s because of my partial color vision deficiency (“color blindness”), but I see really well in the dark. I’d love to have the screen get darker…
January 6, 2012 at 2:30 am |
[Don't care about privacy either]
Hi, just curious what your take is on the Kindle Compass newsletter flap; what it says about customer service, the thinking behind the newsletter, and if you know anything more about it?
Great blog as always,
thanks
January 6, 2012 at 5:59 pm |
Hi Bufo, I discovered your blog after I upgraded/added a Fire to my first gen Kindle. I enjoy reading the blog — and getting the emails from my subscription.
Don’t know if there is any help for this, but it is nice to share. I enjoy using the map app on my iPhone and would like to do the same on the Fire — just for planning purposes. There is no resident program, but there is Mapquest. I know there is no GPS. One fellow in the review of Mapquest was amazed it seemed to know just where he is located — or pretty close. I expect they are using a method of wifi tower pinging, similar to what Apple was doing early on with its phones.
Here’s the problem: I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas, but most all the time it locates me just south of Fort Worth, which is over 400 miles away. I have tried deleting, shutting down and also doing several wifi syncs before opening the program. Mostly it puts me up in Fort Worth. Mostly. Once in a great while it will place me not only in the right city, but on the right street. But, this is seldom.
I wrote two emails to Mapquest through their provided contact link and got no response. I called Amazon and they said it has to do with the location of my internet provider. (I think this is bogus. My provider is AT&T and they are nationwide. I can’t imagine everyone in the country with a Kindle Fire coming up as located just south of Fort Worth.)
Amazon said also since this is a free app there isn’t much they can do. They were very nice and even posted a few dollars to my account.
They are right this is a free app. It is also the only mapping app I can find for the Kindle Fire free or paid. I’ve tried to get Google Maps, Yahoo Maps and done general searches, but have found nothing. I would be glad to pay a resonable fee for a map app that works as Mapquest says it should — and as it may be working for most users.
That’s probably more than you want to hear or know about this, and the fact is I use my Fire a lot more for reading and streaming videos than the small amount of time I spend on maps, but I would like it to work as intended.
January 6, 2012 at 6:55 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jeff!
Thanks for the kind words!
Well, as you note, the Kindle Fire doesn’t have the GPS hardware, so there is only so much you can do. On the Mapquest app’s product page in the Amazon Appstore, it says:
I’d say 400 miles is less accurate than four meters.
Are you able to manually enter your address? I’m unfortunately unable to test it right now.
January 6, 2012 at 7:29 pm |
Thanks for your quick response. Hope you are soon reunited with your missing Kindle Fire and the one on order becomes a bonus.
As I said, I know there is no GPS, but if they are going to use a wifi location system I wish it would work — at least to get me in the same city. What’s really annoying is that it does just that sometimes, but very rarely. About once in 30 times.
Yes, I can manually enter my address. I wish there was a way to “lock” the “homebase” in as the “current location.” Silly me, but I just think if it says it will find your approximate location using wifi then it should do so. I’d be happy if it was in the same city. (I’d also be happy if there were an alternative map program to compare.)
January 7, 2012 at 10:48 pm |
Hi Bufo! I have been a loyal DX user for about 3yrs but I think the time for me to trade it in has come. The fact that it is no longer supported plus the trade-in value of $100 has made my DX loyalty waiver
In your opinion, would it be a better choice to get the Kindle 3G Keyboard or the 3G Touch? I would like to choose the one that has the “best bet” in being supported the longest. When I got the DX I was unaware that it would be a flop (in Amazon’s opinion) which led to them not pushing updates anymore. I want the 3G option but special offers is fine. Money isn’t an issue & I’m neutral about touchscreen vs keyboard, my focus is software update longevity. Any opinion on the Touch vs keyboard?
January 8, 2012 at 6:27 pm |
Thanks for writing, Morgan!
That’s an interesting question!
In the case of tech hardware like this, I would be reluctant to make a decision based on future support for that particular model. A Kindle is so much more than the hardware…it’s what I call the “Kindle Service”. The important thing is to go with a company you think will be around, and who won’t abandon the concept entirely.
You appear to have already made that decision.
Let’s see…the Kindle Keyboard has already been around a relatively long time. I would also consider it the more mature device: I think it does what it is supposed to do better than the Kindle Touch at this point.
On the other hand, the Kindle Touch has the X-Ray feature, which I think may eventually really catch on for school use. If it does,that could give it a slice of the educational market, which really helped Apple survive years ago.
I took a look at the popularity and satisfaction (based on the star ratings) of the current models.
The sales ranking is
Fire
Touch wi-fi only
Mindle
Touch 3G & wi-fi
Keyboard 3G & wi-fi
That’s ignoring ad-supported or not.
However, looking at the ratings, it’s different:
Model Average Reviews Points
Keyboard 3G&wi-fi 4.51 36179 163515
Mindle 4.31 2765 11909
Fire 3.93 10626 41790
Touch wi-fi 3.85 8051 2093
Touch 3G&wi-fi 3.85 2104 8099
That was interesting to do! I would have guessed the Mindle (the $79/$109 model) was most highly-rated, but it’s the Keyboard. The Touches are the lowest out of this set of five…lower than the Fire.
That would suggest that the Keyboard might be around longer…but I wouldn’t bet on that. It could also mean that the Touch will get more attention, since it’s flagging a bit in satisfaction.
Thanks for asking the question! I’m not giving you a very definitive answer, but hopefully, this helps a bit.
January 9, 2012 at 3:27 am |
Thank you so much! Your response helps ALOT. I wil still “sleep on it” but the fact that the Touch is “flagging a bit” really stands out for me- that is what occured with the DX (as you know). I love Amazon, the Kindle, the CS, everything… that being said, I find it very irksome that the DX isn’t supported anymore and I would like to avoid that experience again. Obviously I know that what I buy next will eventually be phased out but, in my opinion, the DX was ended prematurely. Also, thank you for pointing out that the Touch has xray. I hadn’t realized that the Keyboard didn’t.
January 9, 2012 at 3:59 am
Thanks for writing, Morgan!
Great, I’m glad you found that information useful!
I’m not quite sure why the Keyboard doesn’t have X-Ray…I don’t see a technical barrier to it…
January 8, 2012 at 1:31 am |
I got the following e-mail in the account name I use for Amazon purchases. It seems legit. I haven’t read the book yet. I downloaded it because it was free or very reduced in price, I can’t remember which now. I won’t lose any notes because I haven’t made any. Is there any downside to allowing the update to, well, update?
Hello,
We’re writing about your past Kindle purchase of Megan’s Way (2011 Beach Book
Festival Award Winner, 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist) by
Melissa Foster. The version you received had formatting issues that have been
corrected.
An updated version of Megan’s Way (2011 Beach Book Festival Award Winner, 2010
Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist) (ASIN:B002LISR7C) is now available.
It’s important to note that when we send you the updated version, you will no
longer be able to view any highlights, bookmarks, and notes made in your current
version and your furthest reading location will be lost.
If you wish to receive the updated version, please reply to this email with the
word “Yes” in the first line of your response. Within 2 hours of receiving the
e-mail any device that has the title currently downloaded will be updated
automatically if the wireless is on.
You can find more information about Kindle related topics here:
http://www.amazon.com/kindlesupport
Please Note: in order to receive the updated version, your e-mail response must
come from the e-mail address associated with your Amazon account. Responses from
other email addresses cannot be processed.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your business with
Amazon.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Department
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/
January 8, 2012 at 6:29 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
Yes, that should be fine…I’ve gotten several like that.
That’s what I’ve been trying to get them to do with Love Your Kindle Fire, and they say they will…but it hasn’t happened yet.
January 8, 2012 at 3:38 pm |
As an early adopted of the iPhone I watched as it was improved and features added to the iOS. In many cases “fixes” came as a result of input from users.
I’m certain you and your readers have good ideas and I’ll bet Amazon is listening.
How about a little “survey” asking what one feature or tweak your readers would like Amazon to add in the next update?
For me it would be adding one virtual button. I like to keep an eye on my battery status. I’d like to be able to press the gear button in the upper right hand corner and, in addition to being able to change volume, adjust brightness and access wifi, i would like to check my battery percentage without the extra step of having to drop down to “device.”
January 8, 2012 at 7:05 pm |
Thanks for writing, JefF!
It’s been a while since I did a poll like that…maybe I’ll think about doing it again.
This was the most recent, I believe:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/what-do-you-want-to-see-in-the-software-update/
I find the visual representation of the battery enough for me. I think there are some apps to be able to make checking it easier.
That wouldn’t be very high on my list (text-to-speech which is compatible with Kindle Store books would come first), but i wouldn’t mind it.
January 9, 2012 at 2:09 am |
Bufo – Have you taken a look at the app, Splashtop, in the Fire app store? It was offered as the free app of the day a day or two ago. I’m using the app to run my Macbook Pro laptop from my Fire with the computer’s desktop on the Fire. Now I can do on the Fire everything I can do on my laptop!
Just started playing with it so I don’t know all the pros and cons yet, but this is potentially really useful. I do have a few observations though.
1. Responsiveness – pretty good. Fully adequate for non-video function; a bit laggy for video but tolerable.
2. Works for remote access to multiple computers, both Mac and PC. (Windows on Kindle!)
3. Control and navigation – Here’s where the balkiness of the Fire touch screen is a bit annoying. The remote desktop has small features since it’s presenting a large desktop on the small Fire screen. Sometimes really challenging to click on the precise place given Fire’s somewhat imprecise touch registration (even with a stylus).
4. Security – need to make sure you use a strong password for access to the remote computer so you don’t expose that system to being run by someone else. Also, current version doesn’t encrypt traffic, so you might want to think twice about doing anything with sensitive information from a public wi-fi hotspot. (I read in one of the review entries that the app authors may be working on adding encryption, but that’s certainly not authoritative. )
Anyway, you might want to check this out. It certainly expands what you can do from the Fire.
Regards,
John
January 9, 2012 at 2:57 am |
Thanks for writing, John!
Yes, I mentioned to one of my other readers, Edward Boyhan, that I got it as the FAOTD (Free App of the Day). I have been playing with it a bit today, but not enough to review it yet.
I did think the set-up was pretty easy…and I do also find the interface a bit balky. I sometimes had to drag the mouse arrow where I wanted to click, rather being able to just click. There might be a setting that affects it…but I found the documentation lacking.
On the other hand, it really has potential. I can see definite uses.
After I try it out a bit more, I’ll write about it.
I appreciate you taking the time to give people such a thorough comment!
January 12, 2012 at 1:40 am |
OK, this is odd. Based on your article in the blog today, I went to the Amazon website intending to write a positive review about this blog. I got to the page that lists the blog, but I was stopped by this notation:
This mobile site does not currently support the purchase of this item. Add it to your Wish List and you can view and purchase it from your computer.
I WAS viewing it from my computer!!! I don’t know if this is a temporary glitch or what, but I don’t have any mobile devices, other than the Kindle, with which I could access Amazon.com. And even the Kindle 3 has trouble accessing the Kindle store because what ever G3 network they use for it has lousy coverage where I live. I’ve never had a problem connecting with my Kindle 1, but trying to connect or stay connected with the K3 is an exercise in patience and futility!
January 12, 2012 at 4:08 am |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
I used to see that mobile warning when clicking links from my Kindle, but haven’t notice it recently.
Maybe you are using a browser that fooled it? Do you mind sharing which one?
If your K1 connected better, that suggests that you may get Sprint better than you get AT&T…
January 12, 2012 at 6:01 am |
I’m connecting using an ancient eMac running system 10.4.11 and the most recent version of the Camino browser. I thought maybe it was a browser problem, so I emptied my cache and tossed my cookies, but the problem persists. I wanted to order an item later this evening using one click, and it told me I needed to turn one click for mobile on. Since I’m not using mobile, I didn’t want to do that. I wrote to Amazon, but they want me to call them, and I’m too tired and cranky to deal with it tonight. I also want to try different browsers to see if it’s totally browser related. And then, we all know that sometimes if you just ignore a problem long enough, it goes away on its own. If it’s still a problem tomorrow, then I’ll call.
January 12, 2012 at 1:46 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
Hm…I don’t know much about Camino, except that its Mozilla-based, I believe.
If you do hear more from them after you get some sleep, let me know.
January 13, 2012 at 12:07 am |
When I checked this afternoon, I found this reply to my second attempt to get an e-mail reply. I checked, and sure enough, everything is back to normal.
“I understand that Amazon.com is treating your Mac computer as mobile.
I’ve reported this to our technical team, and they’re working on it.
Errors like this are usually corrected shortly after they’re reported.
We appreciate your patience while we fix this problem. We look forward to seeing
you again soon.
Thank you for your recent inquiry. Did I solve your problem?
Best regards,
Abhilash T
Amazon.com
Your feedback is helping us build Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company.”
January 13, 2012 at 2:30 am |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
I appreciate hearing about the resolution…I also think “Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company” is an interesting goal…
January 16, 2012 at 5:49 am |
I don’t know if you saw this or not, but it’s another NY Times article that seems to have an anti-Amazon spin. Just thought you might be interested.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/business/some-shoppers-rebel-against-giant-web-retailers.html?_r=1&hpw
January 17, 2012 at 10:38 am |
Hi Bufo
USA Today had an interesting article on e-textbooks
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-01-16/ebook-textbook-sales/52603526/1
January 17, 2012 at 1:44 pm |
Thanks for writing, Tom!
Interesting article!
I think the trick may be to break what is now one big textbook into individual topics (sort of the way iTunes broke albums into individual tracks). It’s that chunk of money all at once that’s hard, especially if you are buying many textbooks. If students could buy the digital “chapter” they needed when they needed it, it would make it appear more affordable and work better with cash flow. An e-chapter would likely be cheaper than a used full textbook, and could be updated more easily.
January 20, 2012 at 2:58 pm |
just wanted to say how much i enjoy your blog. i am a tech-idiot and yours is the only blog i have ever read. i find i dont always know what you are talking about, but the things i do understand are fascinating
keep up the good work. thank you!
January 20, 2012 at 3:17 pm |
Thanks for writing, Robin!
Thanks for the kind words!
That’s really important feedback. There are times I know I am writing more “inside baseball”…when using the jargon is a way to connect with the intelligensia on the topic. I try to be careful to define things most of the time, though. If you ever have a question about something I’ve said, feel free to ask.
I probably get accused of over-explaining a lot more than I do of under-explaining…but I can be a pedantic geek (and use words like “pedantic”). 
January 20, 2012 at 9:18 pm |
I really enjoy your blog. Your post on Apple getting into the publishing business was interesting. Here’s another take on it, in case you don’t already know….
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/apples-mind-bogglingly-greedy-and-evil-license-agreement/4360?tag=nl.e539
January 26, 2012 at 4:26 am |
Would like to thank you for your help, You have been most informative for the past few years. Again, thank you. You may be able to find or know the answer for me. At the end of Jan 2012 Brilliance audio will no longer allow Overdrive public libraries to purchase downloadable audio books. My concern is that many of our patrons favorite authors like J.D. Robb, Stuart Woods and a host of others will no longer be accessible. There are many good reasons to have downloadable audio books both for the library and the patrons, I find this outrageous and disappointing. I have search the Web and have yet to find a good reason for this decision. I wrote to Amazon since it is the owner. Do you know or can you find out? Brilliance nor Overdrive have explained this. We at the library will be left to try and explain this to our patrons with no good explanation. This is a bad move. Thank you for all you do and God Bless.
January 26, 2012 at 1:22 pm |
Thanks for writing, Deborah!
I appreciate the heads-up on that! I hadn’t heard about it, and I’ll research it.
I can see a few reasons why this might occur (including some sort of reorganization at Brilliance), but I’ll dig more into it. It’s probably worth a post, and that may result in additional information.
It may also tie into some other method of distribution…I could see this being tied into Amazon’s Prime program in some way, since they have indicated more benefits were coming to that.
Thanks again!
January 26, 2012 at 3:02 pm |
hi –
Have enjoyed becoming aware of and reading your blog.
I happen to discover that the WordPress blog has the companion articles posted for RSS readers.
Therefore, I am reading the blog via my Pulse app on my NookColor running full Android tablet with the N2A SD card. I would rather continue reading via Pulse vs having a Kindle subscription and having to open the Kindle app on the Nook.
Since your blog is an interesting resource for me, I would like to contribute to it’s well being.
Therefore, I would like to suggest that you add on your blog a place for “donations” via Paypal or other means to show appreciation without doing a Kindle subscription.
tnx -
January 26, 2012 at 3:25 pm |
Thanks for writing, Phil!
Thanks for the kind words! I’m glad you’ve got it set up on your NOOK. I use the Pulse app on my Kindle Fire, and really like it.
I believe setting up PayPal contributions would complicate the tax situation. When people contribute a random amount that way, what are they getting in return? One reason I like going through Amazon is that those tax liabilities are appropriately reported for me, and that wouldn’t happen in the case of PayPal.
January 26, 2012 at 10:09 pm |
>>Getting to Amazon through links on my blog is helpful…
Do you get any credit for clicking on the links to the freebies?
January 26, 2012 at 11:43 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
Um…I can’t really answer that. In fact, thinking about it, I’d better edit that comment.
January 27, 2012 at 10:37 pm |
Bufo – thought you ight be interested in these stats. http://gigaom.com/2012/01/27/kindle-fire-edges-galaxy-tab-as-most-used-android-tablet/
January 29, 2012 at 4:50 pm |
Hi, I am a subscriber to your ILMK and receive it on my Kindle KB 3G. I also now have a Fire and am wondering if I can receive it on that as well (via wi-fi)?
Thank,
BillC
January 29, 2012 at 5:42 pm |
Thanks for writing, Bill!
Thanks also for subscribing! That’s really what makes this possible.
Unfortunately, you can’t subscribe in the Kindle store and have it sent that way to your Fire.
You can, though, get it through the Pulse app.
Here are some instructions, from my book on using the Kindle Fire:
Go to your homescreen and tap the Pulse app (you’ll probably see it on your Favorites shelves) or open it from the Apps tab
Click the menu icon (the horizontal lines in a box) at the bottom of the screen
Choose Manage Sources
Tap the blue bar with the plus on it
Tap the Search magnifying glass at the top of the screen
Tap the Search box and type ILMK
Tap the magnifying glass
It should find I Love My Kindle at http://ilmk.worpdress.com/feed/. Tap the blue plus box at the end of that line. It will say “Added”
Tap the back arrow…you can drag it to the top of your feeds, if you want, or wherever you want it to be
Love Your Kindle Fire: The ILMK Guide to Amazon’s Entertablet>
February 3, 2012 at 3:08 pm |
Hi Bufo -
I’ve been reading for a little over a year and send any new Kindle owners your way. I appreciate the thoroughness of your posts and your fair views on the ebr world.
I tend to read my blogs on my iPhone (iOS 5). Yesterday I ran into Kindle book links that don’t actually allow me to purchase. It wasn’t universally yapping yesterday, but it is today. Instead of the usual “Buy Now with 1-Click” and a drop down to choose the device I want it delivered to I get a “Shopping Cart” button and a “Wishlist” button. If I scroll all the way to the bottom there is also no longer a “Full Site” link which I used fairly frequently to check on lending ability. I’m curious if you’ve heard anything about this? Is this due to another power struggle thing between Apple & Amazon?
I’ve tried the Kindle Store short cut I set up when the purchase option was removed from the app (which I never really used, I read on my K3) but the result is the same. Oh, and the shopping cart button doesn’t even work. It takes you to the cart, but doesn’t add the item to the cart.
I can provide you with some screen shots if you would like. Just let me know!
Thanks!
February 3, 2012 at 3:27 pm |
Bufo – More survey information about user likes/dislikes about Fire done by Changewave Research: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-57370148-64/survey-cites-amazon-kindle-fire-likes-and-dislikes/?tag=rtcol
February 3, 2012 at 3:41 pm |
Thanks for writing, John!
I have that one sitting in my queue to write about.
I went with the Walmart ad, since people might have been buying a Kindle Fire today…
They can see it from yours, though, and I do plan to write about it.
February 4, 2012 at 1:03 am |
Bufo, you can now download the Bluefire reader from the web. See blog http://www.bluefirereader.com/blog/
I did and works like a charm!
February 4, 2012 at 1:04 am |
I meant to say for the Fire!
February 5, 2012 at 12:16 am |
I thought you would find this portion of an email I received 1/28/12 from Goodreads.com… Wonder what Amazon’s restrictions are?… The email says, in part. “For years, we’ve used Amazon’s data for information such as the book title, author, and publication date. Unfortunately, the terms required by Amazon have now become so restrictive that we decided it makes better sense to work with other data sources. However, the deadline to make the transition is Amazon’s, and they have told us that we must stop using their data by January 30. We have to meet this deadline.”
February 5, 2012 at 1:00 am |
Thanks for writing, Morgan!
Hmm…I’ll dig more into that. I wasn’t aware of any recent change, but there was a change a while back I recall. Basically, Amazon makes its database available for people who want to link to Amazon to sell things. If you are using their data but linking other places, they may not approve that use. I’m not sure those are the rules, but I’ll check a bit more. Of course, Amazon owns Shelfari, which could be considered a competitor for Goodreads…
February 5, 2012 at 1:33 am |
Morgan, I did find more about this on GoodReads blog:
http://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/338-goodreads-transitions-to-new-data-sources
They talk about restrictions that Amazon has in using their database, and they don’t seem unreasonable to me (including not taking Amazon’s information in order to link to other bookstores).
I find this comment of GoodReads’ odd:
“If you see a book missing a cover, feel free to find a new one on the author’s or publisher’s Web site and upload it to Goodreads. While many of the missing cover images will be included very soon in our ongoing imports, we also welcome book information from Goodreads members. ”
It’s one thing to link to an image, but if you are actually copying a copyrighted image without permission, especially for a commercial use, I would think that would be an infringement in many cases…
February 5, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Thanks Bufo! I did see your blog posting about this, I must admit it made me happy to see a “shout out” to me in your blog
… I think Shelfari is a competitor to Goodreads. I know that I switched to Shelfari b/c I buy 100% of my books from Amazon & shelfari allows me to upload my purchases. Another plus is that I like the “bookshelf” better b/c it contains the book covers.
February 6, 2012 at 5:42 pm |
Bufo -
Amazon in the Process of Launching a Retail Store:
http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/amazon-in-the-process-of-launching-a-retail-store/
Regards,
John
February 7, 2012 at 7:25 am |
I’ve had my Kindle 3 (renamed Kindle Keyboard) for about a year now, and it’s gotten to the point that I have to recharge the battery almost every day. At first, I could go at least a week between recharges. I’m not using it any more or any differently than when I first got it. (I access Whispernet 2 or 3 times a day to allow blogs to download.) Is it possible to replace the battery? I’ve changed out the battery twice now on my Kindle 1, but I can’t see any way to get inside my K3.
February 7, 2012 at 1:52 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
If you are within a year, I’d definitely talk to Kindle Support at
http://www.amazon.com/kindlesupport
You’ll see a
Contact Us
button on your right. I’d call them or have them call you.
The K3 doesn’t have a user-replaceable battery in the way a K1 does, but you can do it…there are videos on the web. Doing that, though, may invalidate your warranty (it’s possible just opening the Kindle does that), so I’d go for an Amazon solution first.
You could also try resetting it to factory defaults: I’ve heard of people having success with charge issues that way. However, it does wipe out a lot of things you may want on your Kindle (including wi-fi networks, if you have wi-fi, and internet bookmarks). I’d typically try other answers first.
February 7, 2012 at 1:36 pm |
i needed that, yet another fantastic read. thx, you have made my day:)
February 8, 2012 at 7:46 pm |
Hi Bufo, I have been enjoying your blog since I got my KK last January. I came across something odd in my library’s lending of Kindle books yesterday. Several of the newly released books I wanted to check out from Random House are only available in epub. These are ones that have come out in the last few weeks. They include: Behind the Beautiful Forevers; Orphan Master’s Son; Defending Jacob; and Thuvia, Maid of Mars. I hadn’t heard of Random House limiting their checkout of library books in any way. Did I miss something?
February 8, 2012 at 8:02 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lisa!
That’s interesting, because it was recently reported that Random House specifically wasn’t limiting their library lending (unlike some other big publishers):
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/random-house-continues-its-commitment-to-unrestricted-public-library-lending/
Hm…I get the same results with Defending Jacob.
I’m not, though, seeing a big mismatch between Kindle editions and EPUBs from Random House. My library’s most recently added title was in both.
I’ll keep my eyes open…
February 8, 2012 at 8:09 pm |
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly! I had read that about Random House and that was why I was baffled when I saw that yesterday. The thing I noticed is that the only books that don’t have the Kindle editions are the recently PUBLISHED titles. (Behind the Beautiful Forevers was actually published yesterday). Older titles that the library recently acquired have both Kindle and Epub editions. Could it be that it is just taking longer for the Kindle editions to be posted?
February 8, 2012 at 9:08 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lisa!
I appreciate that clarification!
When I search at my library by date published, rather than date added, it does match what you saw, I think.
The most recent Random House Kindle edition released was on November 29, 2011. Books published November 30, 2011 and after are only in EPUB.
When I don’t limit it to Random House, the most recent Kindle edition was released on January 31, 2012.
I don’t feel like there is enough data here to really make a conclusion yet…we’ll see if others chime in.
February 9, 2012 at 5:56 pm |
I’m trying to help a friend select a Kindle and he asked a question I can’t answer. He is leaning toward a Kindle Touch 3G and he wants to know if he can send and receive email. I could find no reference on the Amazon web site for this device, so I did an online chat. The rep told me that it was possible, but I still have to wonder if that IS a feature why is there NO reference I can find among the various bullet points for the Touch.
February 9, 2012 at 8:20 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jeff!
Nice of you to help your friend!
It’s because it isn’t a specific feature of the Touch. You are just going to use your web-based e-mail through the experimental web browser…and I’ll warn you, it will be a clunky experience. I’ve done it on RSKs (Reflective Screen Kindles…anything but a Kindle Fire) since the Kindle 1. It has improved, but if e-mail is an important function, an RSK isn’t the best device. You can read the e-mail (slowly), but composing can be quite hard. For one thing, an RSK can only have one window open at a time…I think that’s still true.
If reading books is ninety percent of the use, an RSK is good. If it’s not, looking the Fire make sense.
This earlier post may help, but do ask if you have questions…I did that one before I had hands on with the latest versions:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/which-kindle-should-you-get-fall-2011/
February 9, 2012 at 8:28 pm |
Thanks Bofo, I have a first gen Kindle, in addition to my Fire, and I have surfed on it some. That is a tough way to go. My friend really needs a unit with 3G to meet his specific needs. I have been pitching the Fire. (First hurdle was to get him to actually consider an ereader. ) The 3G is the reason he started to lean toward the Touch. The email question kind of came out of left field. Thanks for your explanation, that explains why Amazon doesn’t make a deal of email access on the web site.
February 12, 2012 at 1:11 pm |
Bufo, is there a way to get email contacts imported into the Fire? The only choices I see are importing from SD (internal) and exporting. I was able to set up 3 email accounts fine, but don’t want to manually set up all those contacts! Thanks, and hope your birthday is off to a great start!
February 16, 2012 at 2:09 am |
Nevermind, I figured it out. Since my contacts were in Outlook I just converted them to a .vcf file and manually transferred them to the Fire root directory and they worked fine.
February 12, 2012 at 8:26 pm |
I’d like to point out that the Kindle Fire has GPS available out of the box. Use the Map Quest app, free, and check it out. You can use it to show routes between your location and a specific address. It will show you food and gas locations on request. Of course, you must have wi-fi available to take advantage of it.
February 13, 2012 at 3:29 am |
Thanks for writing, Harvey!
When people use the acronym “GPS”, they are typically referring to a specific type of hardware that uses satellites…one definition of the term is “Global Positioning Satellite”, although it’s more properly Global Positioning System.
My understanding is that the Kindle Fire does not have this hardware.
That doesn’t mean it can’t do some kinds of “geolocating”, as you note. If you take a look at the product page of the Mapquest app, it says:
“NOTE: MapQuest is most accurate when it uses GPS to obtain and update your location. If your device doesn’t have GPS capability, the app will use a Wi-Fi Internet connection to obtain your position. In this case, MapQuest’s location will likely be less accurate than if it were using GPS.”
That latter method is, I believe, what is happening with the Fire…
February 14, 2012 at 1:19 am |
I understand what you are saying but for all intents and purposes the app works nicely. When I typed in an address to MQ the map updated to show me a yellow route line from my residence to that address. You can’t use it in a vehicle of course but for locating places it seems accurate enough.
February 14, 2012 at 2:35 am |
Thanks for writing, Harvey!
Yes, that app does work with it…good to point that out. I believe that there are quite a few apps taht need an actual GPS to work, but I’m not positive about that. Some apps do need a higher level of precision, but Mapquest can wi-fi can find a building-sized object okay.
February 15, 2012 at 4:17 pm |
Hi Bufo, I just learned an interesting thing with Mindle, maybe it is widely known, but it was new to me…
I am on a business trip to Dubai. I have only wired connection in the hotel room. So I started Linux with wifi hotspot. I can browse through it with my iPad easily. But when I try to connect with Mindle, it complains that it cannot use corporate or peer-to-peer networks to connect to Internet. And indeed, when I tried it in the office (corporate network), I got the same message.
Just wanted to share…
February 15, 2012 at 6:12 pm |
Thanks for writing, Marvin!
Yes, that’s right…your iPad may have greater wi-fi access than your Mindle (the $79/$109 model). That’s also true of a Kindle Fire, by the way…although I do think that may have improved since the initial release. This is what it says on the Mindle product page:
“Supports public and private Wi-Fi networks or hotspots that use the 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n standard with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS); does not connect to WPA and WPA2 secured networks using 802.1X authentication methods; does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks. “
February 19, 2012 at 10:08 pm |
I’ve downloaded the”Tonido” app which looks to be very useful. However, I’m stumped at the registration. There are spaces to enter: Server, then Account and last Pasword. The server box must begin with http:/ . Can you help me figure this out? I always thought my server was Century Link but when I enter that it gives me http://tonidocenturylink and that’s in no way right by them. Can you help, please? I know it works on the Kindle because Steve Meyers mentioned it on Len Edgerly’s blot #185.
February 20, 2012 at 2:35 pm |
Thanks for writing, Deb!
I’ll try and test it out for you…don’t know offhand.
February 20, 2012 at 2:35 pm |
Hi Bufo,
I have a question
1) I added a contact to my gmail account on my kindle fire. However it did not sync to my gmail account when I used my laptop. It is on the kindle fire gmail contacts …but not synced so I can use it when sending an email from my laptop
Is there a step in getting it to sync? I tried tapping the” gear” and then i clicked “sync”
Thanks you, Wes
February 21, 2012 at 1:58 am |
Thanks for writing, Wes!
If you are using the included e-mail app on the Kindle Fire, I don’t believe it will sync to your account. While it may seem to you that you are adding the contact to Gmail there, you are, I believe, just adding it to the Kindle Fire’s contacts.
Were you using that app, or something else?
February 21, 2012 at 4:34 pm |
Yes, I was using the E-mail included app. Really limits the appeal of the app, I think. Thank you for your timely reply. I really appreciate your posts and insights.
February 21, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Thanks for writing, weshenson!
Well, I love that I can see several of my e-mail accounts in one unified app. It would be complex for it to merge your Gmail, AOL, and Hotmail contacts and sync all of those to those different entities.
Have you tried using any of the Gmail-related apps in the Amazon Appstore?
You could also use something like Splashtop to host your Gmail on desktop, but work with it on your Kindle Fire.
February 20, 2012 at 4:24 pm |
I did a search on the blog and didn’t notice this but…
What’s going on with HarperCollins and the Agency Model?
While looking through some of my wishlist I noticed:
Amazon.com: The Lord of the Rings eBook: J.R.R. Tolkien: Books
$21.99 for LotR trilogy on that edition but there’s another edition where there’s an Amazon price of $9.99 If you click on the Amazon version of the ebook then the $21.99 copy isn’t available (though searching takes you to the more expensive one still at this point).
The Hobbit has a similar situation: http://www.amazon.com/The-Hobbit-ebook/dp/B0026REBG4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329754694&sr=1-1
Maybe it’s just related to LotR as the Narnia books are through HarperCollins and they still show the “New from” price instead of an Amazon price option.
February 20, 2012 at 11:25 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jonward!
I don’t think that’s an Agency Model thing in that case. If you take a look, there are two different publishers.
The one you linked
Amazon.com: The Lord of the Rings eBook: J.R.R. Tolkien: Books
is published by HarperCollins, as you note, and is $21.99.
The other one
The Lord of the Rings: One Volume
is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and is $9.99.
They also have a different number of pages in their sources paperbooks.
I don’t know why the e-book rights would have been negotiated with two different companies, but perhaps they are two different editions.
February 20, 2012 at 4:48 pm |
I could have sworn I could click on a KOLL book on my iPad or laptop in Nov. and borrow for free. I noticed that now you can only get that “Borrow for Free” bitton on your Kindle. Was I imagining things? I usually shop on my iPad and send to whichever Kindle I want it on.
February 20, 2012 at 11:30 pm |
Thanks for writing, Pam!
As far as I know, you’ve always been only able to borrow a KOLL (Kindle Owners’ Lending Library) book from a physical Kindle device. You can see if you can borrow them other places, but the actual borrow button doesn’t show in any of the apps, I believe.
February 22, 2012 at 1:13 am |
Bufo, did u see the free book “the Last Bookstore in America” by Amy Stewart? Thought u might be interested since you used to manage one.
February 22, 2012 at 1:34 am |
Thanks for writing, Pam!
I appreciate the tip! I picked it up.
For those of you who are interested…
The Last Bookstore In America
February 22, 2012 at 5:46 am |
Where did my collections go? AARRGGHH!!!! I got a phone call when I was in the middle of a game on my Kindle Keyboard, G3. I set it down, and it went to sleep in game mode. When I tried to wake it up, it got cranky and decided it needed to reset itself. By the time it got done, all my collections had disappeared any my 256 items were all out of their folders. So many of those had been “freebies” that I had downloaded for future reading. When I downloaded them, I had the description to go by and put them into folders for Sci-Fi, or Mystery, or Memoir, or all of the other headings. I made sure to create just enough folders so that they took up a whole page meaning that when my blogs downloaded, they would all be at the top of the second page and I wouldn’t have to scroll all the way to the bottom to read the new blogs. (Please, Amazon, could you have blogs load ahead of folders instead of behind them? I know, Amazon isn’t reading here.)
Anyway, is this a common problem? Was it caused by not exiting the game before letting the Kindle go to sleep. I’m starting to see a pattern that ever since I downloaded that addictive little game, my Kindle has been having major behavior disorders. I also finally downloaded the software 3.3 version and installed it a few days ago. Was that the problem? (The game is Bubble Pop, but you can delete that if you think it’s irrelevant. I don’t want to sully the reputation of a fun little game if it’s not at fault.)
It took me hours to put all the books back into folders. In some cases, I had to go to Amazon to remind myself which category the book belonged in. Oh well, it could have been worse. I could have been required to download them again!
February 22, 2012 at 1:10 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
I’m sorry you went through that!
I have seen reports of people losing Collections before. I believe what Amazon recommends is deregistering the device and then re-registering it…and the Collections are back, Bob’s your uncle. It should be able to be done in a minute or so. It might be necessary to sync after that, and I suppose it’s possible you’d be taking the steps to add your own device’s Collections…but I haven’t heard that part.
It’s hard to say if the game is responsible. I’m going to leave the name in there, so people know about the game, and we might get some other people’s experiences with it. My guess is that your post will sell more of the game than discourage people.
February 23, 2012 at 6:34 am |
I was afraid if I deregistered it, I would have lost everything! I know I probably keep too many books on the Kindle, but with 3G, it takes forever to upload and download. I wish there was some way to switch my Kindle Keyboard to the same wireless carrier as the Kindle 1. I rarely connect at more than 2 bars on the newer, and nearly connect with 5 bars with the old one. I rarely lose connections with the old one, but I usually lose the connection every time I click a new link or go to the next page on the newer one. And when it loses connection, instead of trying to reopen the 3G connection, it tries to grab on to the wi-fi networks of the houses on either side of me. Why on earth don’t we have the option to tell your Kindle not to even bother to look for a 3G network unless we specifically tell it to? I keep suggesting. Maybe someday!
February 23, 2012 at 1:58 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
With anything except a Kindle Fire, deregistering is not a huge inconvenience. Certainly, it feels scary, but your books will stay on your device. I did it at one point, just to test something…probably on a Kindle 2.
I don’t remember if I had to redirect my subscriptions afterwards…that’s possible.
As to control over network type, that makes good sense.
I presume they don’t do some of these because they want to reduce friction…if somebody turned off 3G, and forgot (or if somebody else using the device did it), they might be calling Customer Service later…or just complaining to friends and online that they can’t get a signal.
I’d generally rather have options, personally…just speculating about why it might be.
March 5, 2012 at 6:00 pm |
Bufo, when you search the store on the KF, shouldn’t it check for all books and not just kindle books? I had to go to the website to buy a book because it wasn’t Kindlized. Also, if I want to clean off my K3 and start over because there’s too many books and it’s way too slow, do I just deregister and then register again? I don’t care about collections – i just want a clean slate! Thanks!
March 9, 2012 at 11:58 pm |
hi Bufo, just wondered if you saw the report today of possible 2 more Kindle Fires.
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Digitimes Reports 7″ and 10″ Fire Tablets Are Coming
March 9, 2012
March 10, 2012 at 2:45 am |
Thanks for writing, jean!
I’m not quite sure where you copied this?
That would match what I’ve been suggesting…
March 18, 2012 at 12:54 am |
Wow! Amazon has changed the look of their home page online. The first thing I usually check is the “recommendations” to see if they’ve added something new. I couldn’t even find “recommendation” when I first clicked on the home page. I finally found it on a drop down menu under “your account.” They’ve added some sort of gimicky feature named “betterizer” that seems similar to the “like” feature on Facebook, though it doesn’t seem to be connected to Facebook. I’m not a Facebook member and don’t plan on becoming one any time soon.
Ewwww! I hate changes. I’m a spatial learner, so when familiar places get moved around, I don’t like it one little bit.
March 18, 2012 at 3:22 am |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
I’m not seeing it yet. I have been seeing two different versions of Amazon for a while…one which is more tablet friendly. I’ll see what happens after I log out.
I’m not a big fan of change…my life is pretty good the way it is.
I’m not such a spatial person, though.
March 19, 2012 at 8:06 pm |
I sent feedback to Amazon letting them know that I felt they were making it harder to navigate. I also told them I thought the whole “betterizer” thing was a crime against the English language. Anyway, I got the following reply which explains why we might be seeing different things:
“From time to time, we test both new and existing features on our website to determine which characteristics or services drive customer purchases and satisfaction. We’re currently testing our new website look with new features.”
But for now, clicking on the Amazon home page is taking me to an ad for the Amazon dress shop. The last time I bought a dress was for my mother’s funeral 20 years ago,o obviously their betterizer needs some tweeking if its purpose is to steer me towards something I’d actually purchase.
March 21, 2012 at 3:46 am |
Hi, ive been reading your book, “I Love My Kindle Fire,” which is very helpful, thanks for writing it. I have a question that I don’t see covered. With my kindle, I could make groups of books,by authors, genre,etc. It was especially helpful to make a group of sample books to choose from when I was ready to make a purchase. Is there’s way to do this on the Fire?
March 21, 2012 at 12:20 pm |
Thanks for writing, Linda!
Thanks for the kind words on the book!
The feature that enables the ability to organize the books into groups is called “Collections” on the other Kindles that have it. That feature is not currently available for the Fire, although I have seen indications that Amazon has said it will happen. You could wait a bit and see…or, if you think the experience of the Fire outside of that is worth it to you now, go ahead and leap into the Fire, so to speak.
My guess is that we may see some implementation of that before the middle of the year, but I’m just guessing.
March 28, 2012 at 12:22 am |
Hi! So excited that I just figured out how to find your blog (duh, just search for it!) but I’ve enjoyed ILMK on my Kindle 3 for several years now. Glad to finally have a way to interact with you. This post is about Pottermore. I just discovered it several hours ago and ordered the 7 book set. Interestingly, I first tried to order it thru IE browser thru rr.com and it didn’t give the set as an option, AND it wouldn’t take my credit card after setting up an account and going thru the entire order process. I called Chase amazon visa and they said they had authorized it, and they were just waiting for Pottermore to release the order confirmation. but, it would never go thru even after trying again after my call to chase amazon. Later I tried again thru aol, then amazon, then pottermore, used a different credit card, a different Visa, was able to get it in the set for 10% off and this time all went thru perfectly. And, they
downloaded effortlessly into my kindle. Wondering if others might have a similar problem on the sight. I was quite surprised to see the books being offered, but am happy to now have them forever. Love the ILMK, keep up the good work
March 28, 2012 at 5:30 pm |
Thanks for writing, Joann!
I’m glad you found me.
I also really appreciate getting that field report.
Could you do one thing for me?
Check at
http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle
and see if your omnibus (the combined books) appears there under books? If it does, it should be the same as ordering them one at at time, in terms of functionality.
Thanks also for the kind words!
March 28, 2012 at 11:52 am |
6.3 located here:
http://kindle-fire-updates.s3.amazonaws.com/update-kindle-6.3_D01E_4019920.bin
First undocumented change I noticed is the keyboard layout is different (the hide key is on the left now).
March 28, 2012 at 2:44 pm |
Another keyboard change: a long press on the period brings up a pick list of other punctuation marks. Pretty sure it didn’t do that before.
March 28, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Thanks for writing, jjhitt!
Yes, that looked new to me, too.
March 28, 2012 at 6:28 pm |
Hello again,
To answer your question, all 7 Potter books are listed individually in the manage my kindle list, book#7 listed as most recent. I just digressed to check to see if Potter #1 opened correctly on my Kindle3G keyboard, no problem whatsoever. On that kindle home list, #1 is listed first (?!)You might want to know that the Pottermore customer service was excellent, getting back to me way sooner than 24 hours to reassure me I wouldn’t be billed twice, and back again to answer my “why” didn’t the amazon card work. As with Amazon, I appreciate good CS.(I think I mentioned I called chase amazon right away and they had authorized the charge pending Pottermore. Should someone else have this problem, chase amazon assured me the charge would just fall off, but to check my online account.swell)This minor annoyance didn’t damper my enthusiasm that Potter is now a part of the e-world. I thought about getting the volumes a few at a time, but worried so many people would want them they might become limited, so went for the omnibus! ILMK is the first thing I read every day, then on to special offers which I also love and opted in for. Thanks for a great blog experience!
March 29, 2012 at 1:46 am |
Facebook is updating its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities — if approved, account holders must agree not to use the words “Face,” “Poke,” or “Book.” Seriously???? What about all the Facebook accounts that have to do with books?http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57405532-93/facebook-users-beware-dont-use-the-word-book/?ttag=fbw
March 31, 2012 at 2:27 pm |
Hi ! My daughter managed to hit my mindle screen with a pen. Now I have there a thin mark about 2mm long, the ink is always on at that spot, looks like kind of a print error you see sometimes in printed books. But this one appears on every single page, in every book, in every magazine. Something which one would not consider when buying EBR
But I am not going replace my Mindle…
April 1, 2012 at 12:26 am |
Thanks for writing, Marvin!
Sorry that happened! E Ink screens (like the Mindle uses) can be damaged by pressure, from what I’ve heard, and the sharp impact of the pen might have done that.
First, I’m going to presume that you are sure that the mark isn’t ink from the pen.
I’d turn the Kindle all the way off, and try cleaning the screen.
Second, Amazon may replace it for free for you, even though you said you don’t want to replace it. I’d check with them at
http://www.amazon.com/kindlesupport
You’ll see a
Contact Us
button. I’d call them or have them call you.
If they don’t replace it, you are no worse off…
They replaced a Kindle of mine that was knocked out of my hand.
April 1, 2012 at 1:53 am |
Hi Bufo! I’m one of the state reps for the class action suit and wrote you one other time in the past. This was posted online today and I will let you know how this affects the class action suit once I hear something.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31747_7-57407363-243/apple-publishers-to-settle-e-books-price-fixing-suit-report/?tag=mncol
April 1, 2012 at 3:24 am |
Thanks for writing, Sue!
I remember you.
Interesting article! This is what I’ve thought was a likely scenario…that the Agency Model folks would settle to avoid a court battle.
The “most favored” clause wouldn’t affect just Apple, by the way…
I think the class action might get settled with pay-outs: that’s a different matter.
April 1, 2012 at 3:10 pm |
Hi Buffo! I recently purchased a Kindle Fire and a copy of your
“Love Your Kindle Fire” ebook. I have a question about installing an app that is now approved by Amazon. I changed my settings to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources. I then went to Google Play to install the “Launcher Ex” app in order to customize my Kindle fire home page. The Silk browser on my Fire shows that it was downloaded. However, I don’t see the app listed among the apps on my Fire. Can you help?
April 1, 2012 at 6:35 pm |
Thanks for writing, dorachild!
Google Play can complicate things, since you have to go through an account there, I believe. I’ll check that out more.
In the meanwhile, I tested this method for you.
Download from here:
http://golauncher.goforandroid.com/2012/03/go-launcher-v2-85-beta/
After that, it was easy…you’ll see the notification number in your top left of the screen change, showing you that it is downloading. When it’s done downloading, tap it there, and it will install.
I haven’t done much with it yet, but that seemed pretty much like it, in terms of getting it installed.
April 1, 2012 at 3:40 pm |
Bufo – Here is an interesting article about long-term competition in the non-iPad tablet market. Author makes a case about Amazon’s ability to compete against Google.
: http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9225707/Why_Amazon_can_t_win_a_tablet_price_war_against_Google?taxonomyId=15
Not sure I buy this thesis. I think it hinges on the assumption that people who are attracted to low-price tablets are also not going to spend much on content. I’m not sure that’s true. People LOVE their movies and surfing even though they may want it in the cheapest “box” (the tablet) they can get.
April 1, 2012 at 6:44 pm |
Thanks for writing, John!
No surprise for a tech writer, but there is a major non e-component that the writer is missing…and where Google doesn’t compete with Amazon.
To me, one of the main purposes of the Fire is to get people to buy Prime, so they buy physical goods (and get those “boxes” the author references). That’s where the money is…not in what I would guess is low profit digital content.
As I like to say, “It’s about diapers and windshield wipers”.
Amazon can keep dropping the price of the tablets if they make up that loss on people buying physical goods.
April 2, 2012 at 11:18 am |
Sure you already know, but just to add to the chorus: Potter has arrived. (squee!
Cheers,
Evan in NY
http://ebm.e.bn.com/c/tag/hBPeU50B8GcokB8hn7vNstFVPYf/doc.html?t_params=EMAIL%3Deselinske%2540aol.com%26PASSWORD%3DB8GcokNstFVPBPeU505atuhX2s08Tz&sourceid=L000004573&cm_em=eselinske@aol.com&cm_mmc=Non-Member-_-Misc-_-120402_NH_HARRY_POTTER_SOLO-_-hps3
April 2, 2012 at 1:32 pm |
Thanks for writing, Evan!
Yes, good to see them! Here’s my article on it:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/all-seven-harry-potter-books-can-now-be-purchased-for-the-kindle/
April 7, 2012 at 3:00 pm |
Bufo – an interesting take on DRM:
DRM is crushing indie booksellers online
http://paidcontent.org/2012/04/06/drm-is-crushing-indie-booksellers-online/
April 7, 2012 at 6:56 pm |
Thanks for writing, John!
You are right…that is an interesting perspective! I can sense the spirit of a fellow bookseller in it, but I think they misunderstand a couple of key points.
This paragraph, in particular
“Once one of the big “A”s can freely set the price of e-books, they can determine the conditions of the market for everybody. They can charge consumers anything, pay publishers very little (for who will exist to sell their products otherwise?), and leave writers hoping for some small crumb of the pie.”
shows that they don’t understand the existing dynamic between Amazon and the biggest publishers. Amazon doesn’t set the prices: the publishers do. Amazon doesn’t pay publishers very little…they pay them more (70%) than they do for paperbooks. That could change with the Agency Model evolving or disappearing, but this idea of Amazon controlling the market just doesn’t fit with my sense of it. Nothing stops the publishers from selling directly to consumers, and with e-books, that could happen. From what I’ve seen, Amazon has lost every time they’ve fought the publishers (text-to-speech, the Agency Model).
Amazon is trying to build a way around that by being more of a publisher itself, but right now, what the article describes just isn’t a threat, in my opinion.
The other key thing is that the publishers don’t require small sellers to provide DRM: they require them to sell books with DRM. That’s a very different thing. Many small entities are making money, I believe, by being Amazon Associates (and other similar arrangements). No, you don’t get the 50% markup: you have to sell more licenses than you do copies…but you also benefit when somebody clicks through a book you recommend and buys a…microwave oven.
Then there is the idea that “casual sharing” of paperbooks means that there should be casual sharing of e-books..the agreement is very different, but we share e-books in my family far more readily and commonly than we ever shared paperbooks.
I think that the authors want a direct analog of a brick and mortar store to an online store, and I just don’t think that’s how the logistics and economics work.
April 19, 2012 at 5:15 am |
I have a question about the Audible Audio Books for Kindle. I know you like text to speech, but have you tried the Audible books? Do they contain the full text as well as the spoken word? I’m not an auditory learner, so when I listen to a book it tends to go in one ear and out the other. There are a few books I’d like to reread that are only availble for Kindle in the Audible Audio Books library. I’ve tried to be patient and hope the eventually become available, and a few of them have. But I’m losing hope that Travis McGee will ever make it to the Kindle, and I’d really love to reread the whole series start to finish, but I can no longer read paper books.
April 19, 2012 at 3:35 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
Yes, I’ve done a few audiobooks from Audible. That’s not my preference, as you note, but I’ve found it interesting.
Audiobooks are like listening to a vinyl record: there isn’t any text with it.
When we see audiobooks and not Kindle editions, that suggests that the rights for the e-books haven’t been negotiated in the jurisdiction. One exception is that there may be e-books in Canada in particular that aren’t for sale through Amazon, but may be through, say, Indigo.
They’ll all come to e-books eventually…unless the rules about public domain are changed.
I don’t think we’ll have to wait that long, but presuming all the rules were followed and the copyright was renewed, the first one (The Deep Blue Good-bye) would enter the public domain in the US on January 1, 2060. That’s not even forty-eight years from now…no big deal, right? 
Amazon just made the deal for the Ian Fleming James Bond series…wouldn’t surprise me if this on their acquisition list (along with Perry Mason, another frequently requested).
April 19, 2012 at 11:31 pm |
I’ll just have to live to be 108! I wonder if books and Kindles will still be around by then. Maybe they’ll have perfected the holodeck and we can watch the book like a 3D movie and interact with the characters. I’m still amazed that Star Trek “communicators” turned into flip phones, so anything is possible.
April 20, 2012 at 1:55 am |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
Given my preference for text-to-speech over audiobooks, maybe I could set the holodeck on “stick figure mode”.
April 20, 2012 at 10:19 am |
Bufo, have you noticed that for some books you buy, you can’t send to the cloud reader? Every other option is available, but cloud reader is greyed out. Why is that?
April 20, 2012 at 12:32 pm |
Thanks for writing, Pam!
I have had that happen! I haven’t gone back and checked to see if there was anything special about the individual books…not sure what that would be. It certainly seemed random to me at the time. That’s where I normally send e-books if I don’t want to read them right away, so that’s where I’ve seen it.
April 27, 2012 at 8:56 pm |
Hey Bufo, looks like I missed the closing of Longest thread-where’s the new hangout? See you soon, Lisa
April 28, 2012 at 1:44 am |
Thanks for writing, Lisa!
It’s here:
Elephants Three at the Grandest Hotel
The name may seem weird, and might tickle your brain a bit…Elephants Three is an anagram of Stephen Leather (who started the first thread) and Grandest Hotel is an anagram of The Longest Thread.
May 2, 2012 at 2:36 pm |
Hi! My mom told me this morning there is a different charger available for the Fire that allows you to charge while watching video. I’ve searched the internet high and low and can’t find anything about a different kind of charger. Do you know anything about this, or has she been misinformed? Sorry if you’ve already covered this somewhere – I swear I searched for an hour with no results before I decided to ask.
May 3, 2012 at 1:26 pm |
Thanks for writing, onmylunchbreak!
I wanted to wait to test it out for you.
I figured that you could charge the Kindle Fire with the charger that came with it while you watched video, but I wanted to do the experiment.
My Fire was at 93% (you can check by going to Settings Gear – More – Device).
I plugged it in, and had it run a half hour sitcom streaming from Prime. That’s probably about 22 minutes.
At the end of the video, my Kindle Fire was fully charged.
So, it charged while it was showing a video, with the standard power cord that comes with it.
May 3, 2012 at 4:22 pm
I asked mom for more details on this elusive power cord she was talking about and was she SURE she couldn’t watch video and charge at the time? At this point I was concerned something was wrong with her Fire. Her response: “Well yeah, if you’re close enough to a power outlet!” Sigh. Sorry to have bothered you… LOL! I’ll get her a power strip with a longer cord for Mothers Day.
May 3, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Thanks for writing, onmylunchbreak!
Wireless transmission of power is, I believe, something in our future. I think it’s been done already for short ranges, but we don’t have it yet.
May 3, 2012 at 2:32 pm |
Hi Bufo! You said at one point that I could get all my books off my K3 by “resetting it” I think, but not sure what you mean. I chatted with Amazon C/S and they said I had to do one by one. If I deregister, I believe that whatever is on the K3 stays, you just can’t add. There has GOT to be an easier way! Can you elaborate? Thanks!
May 3, 2012 at 4:22 pm |
Thanks for writing, Pam!
Sure.
You can reset it to factory defaults, but it’s worth noting that is an extreme solution.
It will:
* Remove all downloaded Kindle store books (you can redownload the ones you want, except in rare cases where the book has been removed from the Kindle store for legal reasons)
* Delete all personal documents you’ve put on the device
* Delete your internet bookmarks (that’s the one that takes me the longest to restore)
* Wipe out any wi-fi networks you’ve had it memorize
Pretty much, it’s everything you’ve done to the Kindle except for Kindle software updates.
To do that:
Home – Menu – Settings – Menu – Reset to Factory Defaults
Notice that you are hitting Menu twice to get there…that’s to make it less likely that people do this by accident.
May 3, 2012 at 9:00 pm |
Bufo – IDC estimates of Fire sales Q4 and Q2: http://blogs.wsj.com/overheard/2012/05/03/kindle-fire-sales-extinguished-in-q1/
Hopefully, not correct.
May 3, 2012 at 9:15 pm |
Thanks for writing, John!
That’s not a big surprise to me. It was a new, super-hyped product in Q4 (which is the holiday season). No surprise that sales might significantly drop in Q1. 700,000 in Q1, if accurate, doesn’t sound that bad to me. Sales will bump up for Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Graduation, and in the holiday season. Just staying at 700,000 for twelve months is about 8.4m units. I would guess they could sell ten times that in the holiday season. Doesn’t sound like an allusion to a tragic mass suicide is justified to me.
May 6, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Another view on this topic – Fire winning in Android sub-market, but everyone still losing to iPad: http://www.forbes.com/sites/adriankingsleyhughes/2012/05/05/kindle-fire-is-the-ipads-latest-casualty/
May 6, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Thanks for writing, John!
Yes, I think that article gets it, even though the headline has no real connection to the story.
The headline says that the Fire is a “casualty” of the iPad…at the same time showing how much the tablet market grew. The say (significantly):
“According to comScore, over the December 2011 to February 2012 period, no other tablet gained market share, which seemed to indicate that the Kindle Fire was cannibalizing sales from all the other players. In fact, in two months Amazon had almost doubled its market share and driven all the completion bar one player — Samsung — into single-digit market share.”
The headline makes what I think is a mistake of thinking that the iPad and the Fire compete head-to-head…despite different price points and different marketing (and markets, in my opinion). That may change as they both introduce new hardware. For now, though, the market in which the Fire is competing is growing very rapidly, and it’s market share of that market (not the overall tablet) is increasing. Sounds like a good place to be.
May 8, 2012 at 5:31 pm |
I enjoy your blogs and your books. Both have been very helpful. On Monday, you wrote that if we clicked on ___, we can watch the “SNL Parody” on the Kindle but naturally, I can’t on my (keyboard) Kindle, and I learned that we cannot get your blogs on the Fire (I have both). Someone suggested I get your blog on PULSE which I haven’t tried yet. Is that what I need to do?
I especially love my keyboard Kindle and am just learning how to use the Fire. I am sure there are things I can consolidate as sometimes I am carrying BOTH Kindles with me (which makes my purse heavier than it needs to be….LOL…)Unfortunately, I read that Kindle Fire email doesn’t ‘recognize’ AOL email as it does Yahoo and Hotmail. Is that true?
Thanks so much. (Can’t wait for the T-shirts to be ready too so I can purchase one).
May 9, 2012 at 1:15 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lois!
Thanks for the kind words!
You are right: Amazon doesn’t make blogs available by subscription through the Kindle store for the Kindle Fire. I really appreciate people who do subscribe (thanks, subscribers!): it’s a large part of what makes the time and effort I spend on this justified.
You can get the blog on your Fire, and that’s where that Pulse app comes into play. Here is how to get ILMK delivered to your Fire:
===
Go to your homescreen and tap the Pulse app (you’ll probably see it on your Favorites shelves) or open it from the Apps tab
Click the menu icon (the horizontal lines in a box) at the bottom of the screen
Choose Manage Sources
Tap the blue bar with the plus on it
Tap the Search magnifying glass at the top of the screen
Tap the Search box and type ILMK
Tap the magnifying glass
It should find I Love My Kindle at http://ilmk.worpdress.com/feed/. Tap the blue plus box at the end of that line. It will say “Added”
Tap the back arrow…you can drag it to the top of your feeds, if you want, or wherever you want it to be
===
That’s an excerpt from Love Your Kindle Fire:
Love Your First Generation Kindle Fire: The ILMK Guide to Amazon's 1st Entertablet
On the t-shirts…I think that’s something a reader of mine was doing at one point: I don’t remember exactly.
May 16, 2012 at 12:34 pm |
Hello,
i have site similar to kindle.. i would like to purchase 125*125 banner sidewise
let me know your contact detail so we can discuss the price
thanks
May 16, 2012 at 2:01 pm |
Thanks for writing, nauman7859!
I appreciate your interest. However, I do not currently sell advertising on this site.
The way you reached me is a good way to go. Just so others know as well, if you want a comment to remain private, please let me know in the post.
May 23, 2012 at 12:51 am |
Hi Bufo,
A question: I’ve had a Kindle 3 since it came out that I love, and now my son wants a Kindle for his birthday. I’ve had a look at the different models side by side in both Target and Best Buy, and It looks to me as if the screens on the Touch and the “Mindle” are not as bright as on the 3/keyboard.
The specs all say that both the Touch and “Mindle” have the latest pearl e-ink displays, but I could swear they are darker and greyer; more like 2nd gen Kindles. Have you noticed this or Is it just my imagination?
Thanks much as always!
Cheers,
Evan
May 24, 2012 at 4:51 pm |
Thanks for writing, Evan!
The Mindle, the Kindle Keyboard, and the Touch all use the same screen technology.
There is some individual variability in the screens, from what I’ve heard.
It’s also possible that how bright it looks to you may have to do with the color of the device. Generally, a darker frame around a screen makes the screen appear lighter to people. Another thing is that there are display settings (such as the typeface choice) that make change that.
I’m unfortunately not the best person to ask about how dark they are, since I have some color vision deficiency (“color blindness”), which means I see the way they look differently from most people.
May 28, 2012 at 10:52 am |
Hello Bufo,
I think you use (or used to use) also Kindle for Android. I’ve got my first Android phone, my first app installed was Kindle. I see all my clound content, I downloaded one magazine. But, when I read the magazine and then close the app and open again, I am at the table of content, never on the page where I left. I am not talking about sync between devices, I know it does not work for magazines, but I cannot get Kindle to open on the page where I was when I left. Is that normal behavior ?
And the other problem is, I cannot setup an email address for this device, I see the default one in my MYK page, but I cannot change it as I was able to do for my iPad Kindle app.
Any suggestions ?
Thank you
May 28, 2012 at 8:31 pm |
Thanks for writing, Marvin!
Interesting point! I hadn’t really used Kindle for Android for a magazine, but I did just test it a few ways for you, and you are right…it did not reopen to where I was in the magazine. It did indicate which articles I had read by changing the appearance of the descriptions in the table of contents. So, I’d say it is normal behavior.
Zinio takes me right back to where I was very well, by the way.
I didn’t have any trouble changing my SmartPhone’s e-mail address when I just tested it.
http://www.amazon.com/myk
Then
Personal Document Settings
not
Manage Your Devices
You should see an Edit button…if you don’t, or you have other questions, comment again.
May 28, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Thank you, you are correct about changing the email address, that helped.
May 28, 2012 at 10:36 pm
Thanks for writing, Marvin!
Excellent! I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
May 30, 2012 at 2:53 pm |
Hello! I’ve only spent a little time perusing your site but didn’t see this issue tackled.
I recently downloaded a digital audiobook from my local library. Originally I was going to listen to it via my ipod but that didn’t work out as the file type is incompatible with the ipod. So, I then decided to try listening to it on my Kindle. I figured it would be a snap! Hm. Not really. I moved the file from my computer to the Kindle via usb. It shows up in the audiobook files perfectly. But, the Kindle itself doesn’t show the file and a search brought up nothing. I’m afraid that I’ve found another incompatible file/device.
Do you have any idea of what I might be doing wrong or if the file is not compatible?
I appreciate any help you can offer, even if you say to stop trying to listen to audiobooks
Thank you!
May 30, 2012 at 6:54 pm |
Thanks for writing, April!
I’d never suggest you stop listening to audiobooks, even though I don’t do it much myself…I prefer text -to -speech, which I know is unusual.
It seems odd that it wouldn’t work on both your iPad and your Kindle, unless it was WMA.
I’d be surprised if your library doesn’t have MP3s available.
What kind of Kindle do you have?
May 30, 2012 at 6:59 pm
It is a Kindle 3 Keyboard. And it was an IPOD not an IPAD that it also wasn’t compatible with so that might make a difference.
What is WMA? Whatever it is, it is probably something not compatible with either – which is how my luck generally plays out! Perhaps it would be better if I got the cd version of the audiobooks and then downloaded and converted to something useable by one or the other?
May 30, 2012 at 9:35 pm
My apologies for not being more complete. I am away from a computer, which adds a considerable degree of difficulty. I’ll give you a fuller reply later. If you don’t mind sharing, which public library is it? WMA is Windows Media Audio.
May 30, 2012 at 11:11 pm |
Not a problem! Thank you for the response. The book is from the Orange County Library in Orlando Florida. Now that I’m home I can now see the file and the extension is .odm whatever that might be.
I appreciate the help. They have many different versions of some books and I probably got the wrong one though I had thought that the little icons said it was compatible with Kindle. I’ve been known to leap before I look though, so anything is possible!
May 31, 2012 at 1:47 am |
Thanks for writing, April!
Okay, I’m on a computer with a physical keyboard now…I still find that much easier.
ODM files are “Overdrive Media” files, and are designed to be used with the Overdrive Media Console. That can not be installed on your Kindle Keyboard, but can be installed on the Kindle Fire…they might have been talking about that.
I checked the Orange County Library for you. They have specific collections for MP3s, which will work on your device. Here are the MP3 fiction titles:
http://ocls.lib.overdrive.com/D6554C5E-F044-44E6-8F88-0B34DD833E17/10/527/en/BrowseMP3Fiction.htm
Here are the MP3 nonfiction titles:
http://ocls.lib.overdrive.com/D6554C5E-F044-44E6-8F88-0B34DD833E17/10/527/en/BrowseMP3NonFiction.htm
If you need more help with this, let me know.
May 31, 2012 at 9:05 am |
Ok, thank you very much for the help!
June 9, 2012 at 2:57 pm |
Dear Bufo,
My name is Kenny Dill and I have a new book out called Get a F**king Job (written by Kenny Dill, illustrated by Vincent van Gogh). It was recently featured on the blog of best-selling Kindle author Colleen Hoover (http://colleenhoover.com/). Best of all, it is free in the Kindle Store for all of Saturday, June 9th, 2012. I hope you love it.
Sincerely,
Kenny Dill
p.s. Here is the Amazon address: http://www.amazon.com/Get-F-king-Job-ebook/dp/B0074YV95K/
June 9, 2012 at 7:34 pm |
Thanks for writing, Kenny!
As my readers know, I don’t post advertising, but given that the book is free for today, I went ahead and approved this in case they are interested.
I’ll take a look at it myself, as well…
June 9, 2012 at 9:38 pm
That’s awesome Bufo! Have a great weekend!
June 21, 2012 at 6:59 pm |
Is there some reason you’re aware of why Amazon won’t let us buy, download samples or add to wish list the Harry Potter books directly from the Kindle Store? Accessing the Kindle store from a Kindle leads us to a url for Pottermore, but with a G3 that has an aging battery, websites don’t work well on my Kindle. So I tried to access from the Amazon website, but again, you can’t access the buy, download sample or add to wish list buttons from the website. The only, to get there, you have to click a “Buy” button, and I don’t know if it automatically purchases the book or if it takes you to the Pottermore site. At least on the Amazon store page on my Kindle, I got the URL of the Pottermore site. If there’s a link to Pottermore on the website, I can’t find it. And the url is on my Kindle in the other room, and I don’t want to distrub the cat (who’s draped across my shoulders) to go get it. You shouldn’t need both the Kindle and the computer to find purchasing information about a kIndle book! The borrow button is there on both Kindle and Amazon, but I’ve already borrowed a book this month. I like to download a sample before I buy or borrow a book just to make sure the formatting is something my eyes can cope with, but I can’t find the road leading to samples or wish list.
June 21, 2012 at 11:27 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
That need to go to Pottermore isn’t done by Amazon.
JK Rowling is selling them through Pottermore, and all sites that go to sell, I’m sure, are directed there. You set up an account there…but one nice thing, it appeared to me that I could use that same purchase and get a Kindle or a NOOK license (or both, basically).
Here’s my article that gives you the details. It also has the links to the books, so you don’t need to disturb the cat.
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/all-seven-harry-potter-books-can-now-be-purchased-for-the-kindle/
June 23, 2012 at 5:02 pm |
can I download the apple app 4 the Ny times to my fire? it is the one u. down load onlline
and then can read offline. thx.
June 23, 2012 at 6:20 pm |
Thanks for writing, george!
An Apple app is going to use the Apple operating system, and won’t work on an Android device (like the Kindle Fire).
You can subscribe to the New York Times for your Kindle Fire:
The New York Times
That’s designed for people who don’t already subscribe.
I’ve seen good reviews for this one, but I haven’t tried it. It looks like it gives you an easy interface to the NYT webpage, but I haven’t tested it:
US Newspapers
The New York Times also has an Android app:
http://www.nytimes.com/subscriptions/Multiproduct/lp5558.html?campaignid=37WYW
You would want to get one for a tablet, but it hasn’t been approved by Amazon for the Fire. It’s possible it wouldn’t work and hypothetically possible (but unlikely) that it would damage your device.
To install it, you would need to go to
Settings Gear – More – Device
and allow installation of apps from unknown sources.
July 5, 2012 at 12:47 pm |
An article about a UK hotel providing the Bible as a Kindle read.
http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2012/07/hotel-puts-bible-on-kindle-ereaders/796583/1?csp=tf
Thought you’d like to pass this on to your readers as a new post.
July 5, 2012 at 1:37 pm |
Thanks for writing, Coleen!
I’ve had this version saved for a few days:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/02/uk-hotel-ditching-paper-bibles-for-kindles-rocky-raccoon-to-get/
I do intend to write about it, but it isn’t particularly time sensitive.
My guess is that I’ll include it in a round-up in the next day or two.
I need to go back and look at something I wrote about hotels and Kindles some time ago, to give it some background.
July 23, 2012 at 1:05 pm |
Hi Bufo. Nice blog, but I have a suggestion. Your first post is a pinned listing of current kindle models, which is useful, but the first thing a visitor sees on your blog is a post that appears to be from November 2010.
My first impression when I first visited your site was that it had been abandoned since 2010. I decided to scroll down for the heck of it and discovered that it was indeed active.
You might want to move the listing of Kindle models to a sidebar rather than a pinned post at the top.
July 23, 2012 at 1:37 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jim!
That’s an interesting suggestion, and I’ll definitely think about it.
The post looks different (it has a different background), and it’s quite short. My thought would have been that most people would not find it as a barrier to getting to the most recent post. However, like everyone else, I have to take into account the smaller screens e(cellphones) people may be increasingly using (although I have speculated that tablets may, and I emphasize may, come to dominate those small screens in the next few years if they can make phone calls effectively.
I do find that many, many people don’t see the sidebar…I’m impressed that you found the information to leave a comment on the About page.
Edited to add: I found a simpler fix…I changed the publication date for the sticky post.
I’ll just need to remember to do that from time to time…thanks!
July 23, 2012 at 8:50 pm |
Hi Bufo, very nice blog! The info about e-book is very helpful and comprehensive. As a doctorate student in Economics, I’m doing a research project on e-book market and I’ve learnt a lot from your blog!
I was wondering whether you can help me get some information about historical e-book prices and ranking data. I noticed that you do a snapshot of Amazon webpage every month. All the info I need are exactly in that single webpage. I have a list of consumer transaction records at hand and I need the corresponding paperback price and ranking info.
Your help will be very crucial to me and I’ll really appreciate it if you can help me get the data, or suggest any other ways to get them (e.g. other websites taking snapshot and have historical data?) Perhaps we can discuss it in detail via email if you like. Thank you very much!
Looking forward to your reply!
-Catherine
July 24, 2012 at 1:09 am |
Thanks for writing, Catherine!
I’m glad my Snapshots are going to prove useful to you!
I think this site of past New York Times bestseller lists may help you get the comparative data you need:
http://www.hawes.com/pastlist.htm
If that doesn’t have what you need, comment again.
July 24, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Hi Bufo,
Thank you for the info! I didn’t know that website before. It’s exciting to see that such kind of websites do exist! The problem is that most of the book titles I have in mind fall off the top 15 list in that webpage. For each book title at a particular point in time in 2011, its Amazon.com webpage actually has all the info I need: price and sales ranking of the paperback and the kindle version respectively. I was wondering whether you happen to have the cached historical info while you do the snapshot. Please let me know. Thanks a lot!
Catherine
July 24, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Thanks for writing, Catherine!
I think that the Amazon pages you are seeing may be giving the current (2012) price, rather than the 2011 price.
I don’t cache any data like that…I gather that day and put it in to the spreadsheet, but I don’t have anything additional.
Your best bet may be the “Wayback Machine”. You may be familiar with that, but here is the link for Amazon:
http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http://www.amazon.com
Let me know if that works for you…
July 25, 2012 at 2:14 pm |
Hi Bufo,
Thank you very much for your suggestions! I totally agree with you that the price and ranking data on the current page of Amazon are 2012 ones, not 2011 ones. The “Wayback Machine” helps, and it seems not comprehensive enough to cover my search request.
May I ask what kind of data are there in your spreadsheet? The title, price, ranking, and the date it was gathered? Feel free to reply by email if you find it more comfortable.
You’ve been really helpful in guiding me to boarder information sources. I really appreciate your timely reply! Thanks again!
Catherine
July 25, 2012 at 2:25 pm |
Thanks for writing, Catherine!
Everything that is in my spreadsheet is in the post, I believe.
I don’t record the titles of the New York Times hardback fiction bestseller equivalents, for example. In the past, quite a few of those would block text-to-speech access, and for that reason, I didn’t want to promote them…so I didn’t record the titles.
July 25, 2012 at 2:38 pm |
Oh I see. Thanks for your reply! Have a nice day!
Catherine
August 1, 2012 at 8:09 pm |
Bufo, did you see that there is a new iPad app for Amazon videos? http://tablet.pcmag.com/?ref=299555&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Farticle2%2F0%2C2817%2C2406293%2C00.asp
Also got an email that Amazon Visa Reward Members get 40% off plain Kindle and the one with special offers, along with sale on accessories. Sounds like a new one is coming!
August 2, 2012 at 12:52 am |
Thanks for writing, Pam!
Thanks! I did see that about the iPad app. It’s interesting…you can now watch Amazon videos on an iPad, and easily import your iTunes music to your Cloud Player (well, 250 songs of it easily).
The hardware decision may become decreasingly determinative of your media purchases…
New models? I’m waiting with bated breath.
August 8, 2012 at 7:47 am |
Bufo,
In Round up #101, you discussed a new press release from Amazon.co.uk, and said “England has, of course, a very rich and strong traditional publishing history …”
Please note that Amazon.co.uk serves the entire UK, not just England, and that it is the entire UK, not just England, which has a long and proud publishing history. The UK comprises 4 constituent nations: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
August 8, 2012 at 1:02 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jean!
I appreciate you bringing that up. I did actually think about it being the UK when writing the post, and I didn’t mean to short anybody. Scotland has, for example, the Scottish Publishers Association
http://www.publishingscotland.co.uk/Default.aspx?pid=1
The Macmillan brothers, who founded the well-known publishers, were Scottish.
Northern Ireland also has a publishing group:
http://publishingni.com/
I know this might seem surface, but being a fan of Torchwood has raised my awareness of Wales.
I’m sure many of my readers are familiar with the Thursday Next series by Welsh writer Jasper Fforde. For more on Welsh writers, see
http://www.literaturewales.org/home/
I do think we Americans tend to shorthand the UK as being the same as England, and of course, as you point out, it isn’t. I’ve found a bit of a parallel when I’ve been outside the USA and people find out I’m from California…and assume I live in Hollywood and know movie stars.
Thanks for standing up!
August 10, 2012 at 2:22 pm |
It’s all your fault!!! I have a new addiction since you introduced me to Flipboard on my Kindle Fire! Thanks for brightening my days with your wit and wisdom.
August 10, 2012 at 6:24 pm |
What is flipboard? I must have missed that, sounds interesting. Thanks for all the info.
August 10, 2012 at 7:20 pm |
Thanks for writing, Linda!
Flipboard is a free “magreggator” (I just made that up)
app. It takes news sources you choose, and turns them into a sort of magazine.
It has become, for me, like a morning newspaper in the old days.
This is it:
Flipboard: Your Social News Magazine
I’ve written about it a few times…if you have questions, let me know.
Oh, this is only for the Fire, amongst Kindles.
August 16, 2012 at 7:10 pm |
Hi Bufo,
At the risk of sounding like a weirdo, I ask if you see a color RSK in the future? Is it even possible?
The reason I ask is that I don’t want all the bells and whistles of the Kindle Fire — I just want to read in color! I also don’t like the weight difference of the Fire.
I want to stick with Kindle so I have access to all my books (I have about 200.) Please give me your best guess for the future. I’ve had my Kindle for 2 years and I’m ready for an upgrade.
Gail Ford
August 17, 2012 at 2:05 am |
Thanks for writing, Gail!
Nothing wrong with sounding like a weirdo…if there was, I don’t think I could get away with writing.
Yes I think we’ll see color reflective screen devices, perhaps before the end of 2013.
It’s a little tricky, though: as I understand it, color devices like that are likely to be more expensive, slower, and use more battery charge than grayscale. What I’ve seen in the media so far has also looked washed out compared to a backlit screen.
Still, it would be seen as an innovation and make news.
The other thing is that reflective screen devices will probably eventually be fast enough to give reasonable animation…at which point the demand for color would be high.
August 21, 2012 at 9:35 pm |
I got notice from Amazon that “Love Your Kindle Fire” has been updated, so I downloaded the update. Thank you for making it available. Why does somebody who doesn’t have a Kindle Fire care? Because I hope to have one someday;)
August 21, 2012 at 10:08 pm |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
I just wrote about the update…thanks for letting me know about the e-mail.
It’s a big update.
Hey, nothing like being proactive…
August 27, 2012 at 3:48 am |
Just in case you haven’t already seen this article in the NY Times, I thought you might find it interesting.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/business/book-reviewers-for-hire-meet-a-demand-for-online-raves.html?pagewanted=all
August 28, 2012 at 3:49 am |
Article of possible interest:
A Novel’s Odyssey from print to ebook
http://www.blackgate.com/2012/08/27/lord-of-the-crooked-paths-a-novel%E2%80%99s-odyssey-from-print-to-ebook/
August 28, 2012 at 12:59 pm |
Thanks for writing, Patrick!
I am going to leave this comment posted, but in the future, I strongly recommend that you identify yourself as the author when linking to articles about your own books. Many readers interpret it as deceptive when you don’t.
In this case, I appreciate that you didn’t promote the book in the comment (“possible interest” is pretty soft), but it would have been more upfront to say something like, “Your readers might find this article I wrote about my book’s path from print to e-book interesting.”
If you had posted it on the Amazon forum the way you posted it here, I’d be quite sure you would have gotten some negative responses…
August 30, 2012 at 10:33 am |
Thought you might find this interesting -
http://www.boston.com/2012/08/29/massachusetts-consumers-get-million-part-proposed-million-ebook-pricing-settlement/3Bw182WFGcPTL4WjOA0ukN/story.html
Diane Fowler
August 31, 2012 at 2:05 am |
Thanks for writing, Diane!
I appreciate the heads-up…you’ve probably seen that I’ve already thanked you in the blog.
September 6, 2012 at 1:02 am |
Bufo, back in early June, you posted a news tidbit saying that Amazon would begin offering closed captioning on Prime Instant Videos that meet certain criteria, as of July 15th. That date has come and passed, and I have not found any items on Prime that are either captioned or subtitled. I’ve spot-checked several recent TV series and a few movies – nothing. Do you have any additional info on this and/or can you follow up with Amazon for a status on that initiative?
September 6, 2012 at 1:37 am |
Thanks for writing, Penny!
It wasn’t specifically an Amazon initiative…my understanding of it (now and then) is that it was a legal requirement.
I also have not found it.
Are you trying it on a device that shows you closed captioning on video from other sources?
I’m hoping we get some announcement about this tomorrow as part of the press conference…
I’ll try asking Amazon again.
September 6, 2012 at 6:27 pm |
Howdy… just in case you haven’t seen this: Judgement in the price-fixing case. (Busy day in the Kindle world!)
http://paidcontent.org/2012/09/06/breaking-judge-approves-e-book-price-fixing-settlement/
September 21, 2012 at 7:12 pm |
Ars Technica has a very interesting review of the Fire HD:
“When your best just isn’t good enough: the Kindle Fire HD”
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/09/when-your-best-just-isnt-good-enough-the-kindle-fire-hd/?utm_source=Ars+Technica+Newsletter&utm_campaign=34a8b7282f-September_02_201rorlin@mac.com1_Newsletter&utm_medium=email
September 21, 2012 at 7:13 pm |
Corrected link:
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/09/when-your-best-just-isnt-good-enough-the-kindle-fire-hd/?utm_source=Ars+Technica+Newsletter&utm_campaign=34a8b7282f-September_02_2011_Newsletter&utm_medium=email
October 1, 2012 at 2:39 pm |
Bufo -
Two quick items that I’d love your feedback or article/discussion on:
1. I’ve never heard you discuss the inconsistency between the icon image of a book (as seen on the store, your Kindle Fire carousel etc) and the “cover” that you get when selected from the TOC.
Often the TOC cover is bland, mostly text with a plain background, instead of the image normally seen when purchasing the book – kindle or paper edition.
This really bugs me. Is there a reason i can rarely view a full screen image of the book cover art?
2. I’m noticing more and more ebooks being sold as DRM free. Mainly science fiction publishers such as TOR or Baen books. (Though I haven’t found out how to buy DRM free from TOR yet).
Today I noticed a message:
“At the publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.”
at the bottom of a classic scifi book by Verner Vinge on Amazons Site.
I think this is very interesting but I’ve not heard further mention anywhere.
Keep up the good work!
October 5, 2012 at 8:56 am |
Dear Bufo, I seem to recall a post you did once about books disappearing off the Amazon Kindle store. Wondering if you could point me to the link? I have a friend who has self published using KDP and for some inexplicable reason his book has disappeared from the Kindle store. No explanation from Amazon or anything. It’s not even like his book is in need of censoring since it’s a finance book. Can you help shed light on this mystery?
October 5, 2012 at 1:23 pm |
Thanks for writing, Daz!
Your friend should e-mail
kdp-support@amazon.com
and ask what is happening. It’s actually best to do it through the KDP website (where your friend published the book), but you can do it directly…the book title and ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) should be included.
October 6, 2012 at 7:40 pm |
Hi Bufo,
I am a long time subscriber to your blog and just received my new Paperwhite. How do I change my subscription destination? I’ve looked all over and it seems my only option is to cancel the subscription, then resubscribe, directing it to go to the PW. That does not seem right. Please advise.
Carol
P.s. I love your blog! Keep up the good work.
October 6, 2012 at 8:10 pm |
Thanks for writing, Carol!
Thanks for the kind words!
It’s at
http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle
under
Subscription Settings
Sorry this looks weird…on my phone
October 10, 2012 at 2:28 pm |
Hi Bufo,
For some reason your blog is not updating on my Kindle Fire HD – Pulse App. All the other blogs I have configured update fine but not your’s. Do you have any insight on this?
Thanks,
October 11, 2012 at 2:30 am |
Thanks for writing, Bill!
I’ve written to Pulse, and haven’t heard from them yet. I think it must be them, because the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed works in other places.
I’m looking for an alternative to Pulse for people on the Fire.
I appreciate you being concerned…you’re not the first to mention it, and I’m concerned about it myself.
October 11, 2012 at 3:41 pm |
Thanks for looking into it.
I’m still reading your blog regularly on the web. I’ve got full wireless coverage in my 3-4 worksites so it is no problem. I just like the aggregation of all my interest in one place that Pulse gives me.
I’m looking forward to the issue being resolved.
October 12, 2012 at 10:50 pm |
Hi Bufo,
I’ve been enjoying your helpful hints for years (5 Kindles worth). After the last page in Kindle books, I have always rated the book. I could then go over to Kindle.Amazon.com and it was recorded there. The rating is no longer transferred over. Does a setting need to be changed on my Kindle 4 or PaperWhite?
Thanks for your help.
Donna
October 15, 2012 at 2:27 am |
Thanks for writing, Donna!
No, there shouldn’t be any setting to change. They recently changed that
http://kindle.amazon.com
site, and people haven’t been happy with it. After they changed it once, they changed it again, and I think they are just working out a few things.
October 15, 2012 at 1:03 pm |
Thanks for answering, Bufo. I also discovered my Paperwhite was not syncing so I did a hard reset. That solved both problems. I should have remembered in the world of electronics to always try that first!
Thanks again for always patiently being there for everyone in “Kindle World.”
October 15, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Thanks for writing, Donna!
Great!
That reminds me of the old joke:
There are three engineers in a car: an electrical engineer, a civil engineer, and a Windows engineer.
The car starts developing a problem.
The electrical engineer says, “It’s probably the electrical system.”
The civil engineer says, “It’s probably the road.”
The Windows engineer says, “We pull over to the curb, roll the windows down, roll them back up again…it should work.”
October 13, 2012 at 2:49 pm |
- OK to make public or use in part -
On learning that there would be no more updates to the 2011 Kindle Fire, I decided to take a chance on upgrading mine to Jellybean (Android 4.1).
Results: Mixed
It makes the Fire a profoundly better tablet.
It makes the Kindle a somewhat mediocre reader.
Despite the claims, I did not find the process to be “easy” or well documented. There are several web pages that give step by
step instructions, but even then there is a rather high assumption of previous knowledge (ie: you are told to copy a package, but not told where to copy it to).
Very, very glad I made a back-up. The whole process took several attempts and about three hours to get it right. I can not recommend this process for the casual or non-technical user.
But when it’s done the Fire is like a brand new device… and it now has a sync-able calendar and access to Google’s Play (Amazon take note: you could easily have kept me as an exclusive customer).
Of the apps I bought from Amazon, only one refused to download and install (out of dozens and dozens).
The one really big negative: the Kindle reader app for Android is slow, frequently Force Closes and took more than a day before it was fully synced with my library of 14K+ titles.
October 13, 2012 at 6:56 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jj!
I’m sure that field report will benefit other people who may or may not do the same.
My one question is that you seem to have predicated doing this on the basis that Amazon will not be updating the Kindle Fire 1st Generation. I’m curious where you saw that, since I haven’t seen anything from Amazon on it and I personally would guess that they will update it in the future.
October 13, 2012 at 8:46 pm
This admittedly second hand reference to an anonymous source:
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/10/old-dog-new-tricks-the-159-kindle-fire-review/
“… the 2011 Fire is still running the older Android 2.3-based operating system, and an Amazon representative informed us that the old Fire would not be receiving an upgrade to the new software despite the fact that it was released less than a year ago and has very similar internals.
This is the approach that the company usually takes to updating its E Ink Kindles, so it’s not entirely surprising that last generation’s products won’t receive this generation’s software improvements.”
October 13, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Thanks for writing, Jj!
Oh, yes, I wouldn’t expect them to update to a later version of Android. First, you would get some people mad doing it (bye-bye native Flash, for example…I think that would happen), but the difference in the “internals” can’t be ignored. The processor and the drive space are both significantly different, I believe. I think I heard that Android requires (or at least recommends) there to be 16GB to run some later versions of the OS…don’t hold me to that, I’ll have to double-check.
I do think we’ll get other updates, though…new features, in particular. Not necessarily the same ones the KFHD models will get, though.
Update: I’m talking about the Kindle Fire HD, and now that I’ve gotten to the article, I see they are also talking about the KFSD (or Kindle Fire 2nd Generation), as well.
October 15, 2012 at 2:32 pm |
I didn’t know if you had seen this, but I think for some folks this will be a big deal…
http://audiobooker.booklistonline.com/2012/10/12/overdrive-app-for-kindle-fire/
October 19, 2012 at 11:27 pm |
I have a question about something I’ve been noticing on the product page for some Kindle books lately. It says “Kindle Edition with Audio/VideoAudio/Video content only available for iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touch devices.” Does this mean that the content is not available for Kindle Fire? Why would Amazon offer something that can only be viewed on competing products? [I'm considering getting one of the Kindle Fire 3G's, but if they aren't fully functional, I'll probably opt for the iPad.]
October 20, 2012 at 12:34 am |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
That’s been the case with those “Enhanced editions” since they were released. If you buy one of those for a Kindle, you can read the text, but you can’t use the added multimedia content.
As to why carry them? Amazon’s Kindle store is used by people who use iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. I think it doesn’t make sense not to carry something that those people want to buy, even if not everybody who uses your store can use the product. For me, that wouldn’t be enough to switch me to an iPad, but up to you. Neither device is “fully functional”, since the Fire can get content the iPad can’t (there are many exclusives for the Kindle, for one thing), and vice versa.
October 22, 2012 at 5:51 pm |
Speaking of Robots Bufo, did you ever see Runaway (1984) with Tom Selleck in the 80s? That was one of my favorite bot movies of all times. I thought the spider robots were so cool. Here’s the imdb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088024/
October 22, 2012 at 6:51 pm |
Thanks for writing, Paul!
Yes, Runaway is great cheese.
Gene Simmons brings the “ham” to the cheese sandwich. 
October 26, 2012 at 12:44 am |
Hey Bufo,
Don’t know if you’ve heard about this from your other readers, or on your own FB pages… but this just came in my newsfeed on FB today from Amazon.com;
Kindle Fire HD Giveaway
Learn more: http://amzn.to/RhTjG1
October 29, 2012 at 4:39 pm |
I just wanted to drop you a line to tell you that my 10-year-old daughter Claire has published her first Kindle ebook called “The Halloween Plan” to the Kindle Store today. Claire is already an avid Kindle reader and with this ebook she is becoming a writer too.
My wife and I were stunned when we read the book; it’s really good and not just for a 10-year-old! Claire wrote and edited the story all by herself. My wife was on the edge of her seat and had tears in her eyes at the end.
I hope lots of kids will read it and perhaps be inspired to write and publish their own stories. Claire is donating all proceeds to her school.
It would be amazing if you could help get the word out. Not only would Claire be very proud and encouraged to write more but it would help her school as well (Westwood Charter School in Los Angeles).
Best wishes,
Dotan (AKA proud papa)
October 29, 2012 at 6:15 pm |
Thanks for writing, Dotan!
I don’t usually approve posts that just promote a book, but given the circumstances, I’m going to go ahead. I appreciate that you didn’t link to the book actually in your post. I also see it is available in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (KOLL).
For my readers, here is the book:
The Halloween Plan
The payment cycle does take a while, so I hope the school trip isn’t too soon…
October 29, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Thanks for helping her cause! Much appreciated.
Dotan
Sent from my iPhone
November 7, 2012 at 6:35 am |
I saw this cartoon online and thought you might appreciate the humor:
http://www.gocomics.com/moderately-confused/2012/11/06
November 9, 2012 at 3:06 am |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
That reminded me of this one, as I think it might also have reminded you:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/if-e-books-were-first/
November 11, 2012 at 8:37 pm |
Hi Bufo,
As a person who has every Kindle, would you recommend more the Kindle Fire or the Paperwhite for reading in bed without disturbing the spouse?
I really do mean strictly that criterion. I’ve never been drawn to the Kindle Fire for it’s tablet features — I simply like to read. But though the next logical purchase for me, now that my keyboard is 2 years old, is the paperwhite, the ads make it look as if it glows brightly. What do you think?
Gail
November 11, 2012 at 9:35 pm |
Thanks for writing, Gail!
If what you want to do is read, I’d definitely recommend the Paperwhite. The screen brightness is adjustable (although it can’t be all the way off). The Fire is also adjustable, but the light from the Paperwhite is directed towards the screen, not towards the reader…less obnoxious for someone else around.
It’s also much lighter (in terms of weight, not in terms of brightness). You wouldn’t want to accidentally drop a Fire on your face if you fell asleep. Battery charge life is also significantly longer.
No reason to get a Fire unless you want the tablet features and/or text-to-speech (which the Paperwhite doesn’t have; no speakers).
November 11, 2012 at 11:01 pm |
I see Groupon has the Nook Color 8gb refurbished tablet for $75 if anyone is interested.
November 20, 2012 at 1:01 am |
Is there a problem with receiving your blog in a timely manner? I got last Thursday’s post and then didn’t get anything until late Sunday evening. This seems to be happening more and more.
November 20, 2012 at 2:43 am |
Thanks for writing, Dottie!
Thanks for letting me know! There was a problem a little while back with Pulse delivery, but outside of that, I’m not aware of anything.
How are you subscribed to it?
November 20, 2012 at 5:52 am |
I have it sent to my Paperwhite, which I love by the way!
November 23, 2012 at 8:59 pm |
Thanks for writing, Dottie!
Okay, I’ve rerouted mine to my Paperwhite to give it a test.
In the meantime, try this one…you’ll have to adapt it slightly to the Paperwhite, but it may help:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/if-a-blog-has-stopped-delivering-to-your-kindle-blogjams/
November 25, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Dottie, mine delivered to my Paperwhite once I turned on the wi-fi and did a sync and check. Did you get your post today?
It’s “Kindle file management I’d like to see”.
November 23, 2012 at 10:18 pm |
I have not received a post today. I just now cleared my cache and cookies. Hope it helps.
November 24, 2012 at 3:47 am |
Thanks for writing, Dottie!
I think you’ve cleared it since my last posting. I’m hoping to get one out tonight, so you should be able to tell if you don’t get it tomorrow (especially if I do).
November 26, 2012 at 12:18 am |
I leave my wi-fi on all the time and when I’m home, my Paperwhite lives about 10 feet from the router. Yesterday (Saturday) I got it after 10 PM. I haven’t gotten it today yet (it is after 6 PM Central Time). I did a sync and check at least 3 times yesterday and today.
November 26, 2012 at 12:40 am |
Thanks for writing, Dottie!
Great, it sounds like it is working, then! I probably haven’t sent one out since it delivered, based on what you are saying on the time. Was the last one you got about Kindle file management? If so, you seem to be back getting them.
I’ll send another one out pretty soon.
November 26, 2012 at 1:24 am
I just sent one out…while I don’t think they get delivered to everybody instantly, it shouldn’t take long.
Please let me know if you don’t have it by tomorrow.
November 26, 2012 at 3:54 am |
Yes, I may be getting them on time now. The one I got around 9 PM Saturday (24th) was the Kindle file managment one and looks like it was sent at 8:21 PM (I don’t know what the time difference is.). The one you sent today (25th) at 7:21 PM came in around 9:30 PM Central Time. I hope I keep getting them when you send them. I don’t like it when I don’t get any for 3 days and then get them all at once.
December 14, 2012 at 2:30 am |
Kindle Fire HD 7″ just received another update (7.2.3) — not sure what was changed/fixed?
December 17, 2012 at 12:33 am |
Thanks for writing, Jay!
This one is just “bug fixes”…we probably won’t see much in the interface.
December 19, 2012 at 1:43 am |
One down, 2 to go!
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/penguin-settles-with-justice-department-in-ebook-price-fixing-case/
December 30, 2012 at 2:54 pm |
I wanted to start off by thanking you for your blog–I read you on a regular basis. But the real purpose of this post was to bring something to your attention that I haven’t seen commented upon in the Kindle blogsphere.
I didn’t know that the Kindle bookstore offered the option to rent books but I saw an option to “rent this book” in the Kindle store for the book “The Final Freedom: The Civil War, The Abolition of Slavery and the Thirteenth Amendment” by Michael Vorenberg.
I think that the option to rent a Kindle book is an absolutely fantastic idea! The listing for this book in the Kindle store gives you five options. You can buy the ebook for $14.04. You can rent the book for 30 days for $7.73; 60 days for $9.67, 90 days for $11.37 or 120 days for $12.32.
Do you know anything about the “rent this book” option in the Kindle bookstore Buffo? How wide spread is it? I think that many Kindlers would just love to be able to rent Kindle ebooks for limited periods of time.
December 30, 2012 at 5:41 pm |
Thanks for writing, dorachild!
Thanks for the kind words!
Yes, the rental program has been around for a while, specifically for textbooks. I think they may be classifying this book that way.
Here’s some more information on it:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/amazon-launches-kindle-textbook-rental-program/
The one you cited isn’t priced like a textbook, though, so they may be expanding it.
January 3, 2013 at 6:30 pm |
The Kindle Fire as part of pop culture!
I don’t know if you or your SO are fans of the TV cooking competition, Top Chef on Bravo. Last night, the Kindle Fire played an important role in the main challenge. Each contestant had to pick out a Kindle Fire that contained an iconic past moment from one of the 9 previous seasons. Their challenge was to update the “dish” featured in the video clip on the Kindle Fire.
When it came time to tell the loser to “Pack your knives and go,” the Kindle fire made one final appearance. The bottom two once more viewed a clip, this time from their own season, and had a final face off to decide who stayed and who went home.
January 5, 2013 at 3:10 pm |
I want my iPad to remember my amazon password so it won’t ask for it every time I download a kindle book. I don’t want it to remember all my passwords because this is a library iPad that is going to be used by the public. How do I get it to remember just the amazon password?
January 16, 2013 at 1:21 pm |
Hello there Bufo, since the word is that you are everything that is Kindle, I wanted to check to see if you are interested in doing a blog report or having me do a guest post about a unique kindle product. Currently it is the only movie-style spy thriller graphic novel series on the Kindle platform. I just started the series. Let me know if there is an interest.
Angelic Genesis (Chapter 1) (The Angel of Death)
Shaun Hoilett
[Bufo's note: I removed a link to the book so this wouldn't be seen as advertising by my readers.]
January 16, 2013 at 1:54 pm |
Thanks for writing, Shaun!
I removed the link to the book (but added the title), so this comment isn’t seen as advertising by my readers. I have downloaded a sample, and I’ll take a look at it.
January 25, 2013 at 5:59 pm |
An article in Forbes shows the differences in decision-making and buying habits of users of iPads and Fires… frankly I found the results unsurprising, and my guess is that a much greater divide would be between users of tablets and e-ink devices of any brand. (Which may speak to the stereotype that e-ink devices are used by “serious readers.”)
http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelwolf/2013/01/24/3-ways-ipad-and-kindle-fire-users-behave-differently-when-it-comes-to-e-books/
Cheers
February 13, 2013 at 11:46 am |
Hello Bufo. My Kindle 4 (Mindle) just downloaded and installed an update. It is 4.1.1(1813030025). I cannot find anything new in menu. I tried to check on the web, but I found no information what was changed. Any idea ?
Thank you
February 13, 2013 at 2:46 pm |
Thanks for writing, Marvin!
The Amazon website says:
“The software update will be delivered wirelessly and includes optimizations for your Kindle’s performance.”
That typically means it’s just bug fixes and such…I wouldn’t expect you to see any new features from it, just (hopefully) improved performance.
February 13, 2013 at 3:22 pm
So no glowlight
That would be a software update which I would gladly pay for 
February 18, 2013 at 3:20 am |
Hi Bufo! I like your blog a lot, especially the snapshots you are keeping about all kinds of stat about Kindle books. I’m thinking about using these figures to do a final project for my stat course. I was wondering whether you have an excel version of those snapshots – in that case I might not need to manually enter the numbers from your blog post – and if yes, can you send it to me? I’ll appreciate it very much!
Also, those snapshots are about Kindle books only, right? Do you happen to have similar snapshots for print books available on Amazon?
Thanks in advance!
February 18, 2013 at 2:42 pm |
Thanks for writing, Catherine!
Although I have used Excel in producing the Snapshots, I don’t think it’s in a format that would be all that useful for you. Since I just use that as a tool, I don’t tend to label things well and there are many elements that don’t get into the spreadsheet. I also sometimes correct the posts without correcting the spreadsheet. I wouldn’t really be comfortable sending that out.
Yes, what you are seeing there is only for digital media. In doing your own strong work for your final project, there are two resources that might be helpful for physical media:
Amazon maintains bestseller lists for previous years on their website:
Amazon Past Bestsellers
including books and the subset which are Kindle books.
I assume you are familiar with Archive.org’s Wayback Machine, which preserves websites at specific points in time, but here’s the link for Amazon:
Archive.org Wayback Machine for Amazon.com
If you are comfortable sharing your project with me later (I won’t publish it anywhere without your permission), I’d be curious to see it.
February 18, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Thanks Bufo for your prompt reply and helpful information!! I’ll start working on the data and hopefully get some interesting results to share with you
-Catherine
February 18, 2013 at 5:31 pm |
Hi there. I just wanted to say I am enjoying a couple of your books. I loved the Star Trek parody. Now I am not saying I love my kindle but I have gone from about 100 books to 3800+ books since I got my kindle fire in December. Yes most are free.
February 21, 2013 at 9:50 pm |
Guessing you may have seen this, but if not:
http://lifehacker.com/5985336/heres-how-to-see-all-the-books-you-can-borrow-for-free-on-your-kindle-from-your-browser
I found it helpful because I could never figure out the simplest way to sort and browse them.
Cheers,
Evan
February 21, 2013 at 11:08 pm |
Thanks for writing, Evan!
I’ve given instructions (and a link) for doing that before, but I think they should always be accompanied by a very strong explanation. You can not borrow the books from your computer, although you can search for them. I mention that because I have many times seen where someone is asking why they were charged for a book in the KOLL (Kindle Owners’ Lending Library). It often happens because they ordered it from the computer.
The key things are:
* You must borrow a book from the KOLL from a hardware Kindle (not a computer, not a Kindle reading app)
* You must click a button that says “Borrow”, not one that says “Buy”
I appreciate you sharing that! I just want to make sure people don’t make a mistake with it.
March 8, 2013 at 4:02 pm |
[...] My reader commented on the About page for this blog, and asked me to keep the comment private. That is the best way to reach [...]
March 9, 2013 at 7:47 pm |
The Pulse feed for ILMK has stopped again. The last article that came through was on Feb. 28. Has anyone else reported this or is it just me? My other blogs are updating without issues. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks.
March 10, 2013 at 5:37 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jackie!
Thanks for letting me know! I’ll check my devices and follow up on it, if necessary. Which Kindle Fire do you have?
http://www.amazon.com/help/kindle/which
March 11, 2013 at 4:38 pm |
Bufo, have you seen this article? It seems Amazon is looking into the possibility of a market for “used” ebooks
Amazon received a patent in January to set up a “secondary market for digital objects.”
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/03/09/coming-soon-a-market-for-used-e-books/
March 11, 2013 at 5:28 pm |
Thanks for writing, Carol!
I hadn’t read that particular article, but here’s my take on the patent:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/patent-suggests-amazon-could-create-used-e-book-market/
Looks like I’d beaten them by a day.
You might find my analysis of the economics interesting…
March 13, 2013 at 4:48 pm |
Is there a topic thread about this over on the Kindle forum ?
Can’t seem to find one….
March 13, 2013 at 5:35 pm |
Thanks for writing, phil!
A topic thread about what, specifically?
If it’s about this blog, authors don’t post about their own writing on the general Amazon Kindle forum…that’s not really an appropriate place for it.
However, we can also have our own Amazon Author Central pages, which have their own forums. There is a thread for this blog on my AACP:
I Love My Kindle blog thread
March 13, 2013 at 5:43 pm |
sorry – related to the latest posting…. the article about the Amazon selling back issue or donating – how it relates & compares to paper and the copyright law, etc – Was just searching on the Kindle forum and couldn’t find a thread about the Amazon/Kindle patent and/or a link to your take on the economics of the scenarios.
March 13, 2013 at 7:30 pm |
Thanks for writing, phil!
Here you go:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/patent-suggests-amazon-could-create-used-e-book-market/
March 16, 2013 at 2:16 am |
In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day Audible has ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ available for free.
http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B00BQZRPAQ
March 19, 2013 at 4:05 pm |
Bufo,
I didn’t know if you had seen this yet,
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/copyright/article/56435-supreme-court-upholds-first-sale-in-landmark-kirtsaeng-ruling.html
but, I think it is going to be a big deal. The affirmation of First Sale in this case, doesn’t directly affect ebooks, but it does seem to follow a pattern of reasserting copyright law for what once would have been considered “extraordinary” kinds of circumstances.
I think we are in the next few years finally see the orphan book issue resolved and many of the other copyright issues associated with ebooks as well.
Anyway, thought you might want to take a look.
Your supporter,
Ed
March 19, 2013 at 10:11 pm |
Thanks for writing, Ed!
Thanks for the link!
Yes, I’d heard about it, but I want to read the opinion before I write about it, so it may be a few days before I do a full post on it.
I don’t see this as definitely directly related to e-books, but I will need to read it first. I think it’s also possible that other countries are not going to be happy with this (since it’s possible that it could be interpreted as us ignoring their copyright laws), which could ultimately have a negative impact on e-book readers.
E- book licenses are more directly equatable to contracts than they to paperbooks manufactured in another country, but again, I’m going to try and read the decision first.
I always appreciate a heads-up, even when I’ve heard of it already…thanks again!
March 20, 2013 at 6:40 pm
I appreciated your analysis on the front page. Copyright certainly makes for interesting debate and consideration. I thought I would point you to a link I gleaned from the Publishers Weekly latest comment on the ruling. At the end of his article James Grimmelmann writes, “Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante is already proposing significant reforms to the Copyright Act. Ladies and gentlemen, start your lobbyists.”
The link takes you to this speech, http://www.copyright.gov/docs/next_great_copyright_act.pdf while the topics she hits are wide ranging, it is also fascinating.
March 20, 2013 at 11:29 pm
Thanks for writing, Ed!
I’ve read the statement, and I may write about it. I try to keep my site varied, and not post too many similar things in a row. Nothing there is going to immediately create action, so I want to take my time to really absorb it before I do write about it. I didn’t want to wait on the Kirtsaeng case, because I thought people might be led to making unsupported conclusions by the coverage, and those are hard to change later.
It won’t surprise me to have somebody say, “Didn’t the Supreme Court legalize selling used e-books?” based on some of the stories I’ve seen…
The process for change in copyright is interesting in and of itself. On the one hand, you have one individual, the Register of Copyrights (currently Maria Pallante), who has a lot of power, and can yet can actually move pretty quickly by making what are basically administrative rulings. On the other side you have Congress, which can change the laws…but moves really, really slowly (if at all). The Supreme Court is also a major player, but they can make a ruling like Kirtsaeng and then essentially say, “If you don’t like it, Congress, pass a law.”
March 28, 2013 at 9:00 pm |
Here is another story I bet you will want to get out in front of. We have been asking for something like this… I wonder how the GoodReads folks are going to react?
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/56575-amazon-buys-goodreads.html
March 28, 2013 at 9:42 pm |
Thanks for writing, Ed!
I’d started to write an article on it when I saw your comment…I appreciate the heads-up!
March 29, 2013 at 1:11 am
You are welcome… Seems like there is a lot happening in the publishing – reader world right now. The Harper Collins/Open Road lawsuit is interesting too.
Thanks for all that you do. You really are an invaluable part of the eReader community!
March 29, 2013 at 2:28 am
Thanks for writing, Ed!
That one is on my list.
Unless something is about to disappear, my main goal in the blog isn’t always to be first. I like to bring more insight into it, if I can. For example, on the HarperCollins/Open Road bit, I’ll tie it into the Rosetta/Random House case. So, I expect to get to it, but probably not right away.
I like to get lighter things into the mix as well, and I think that’s probably next to be done.
March 30, 2013 at 6:24 pm |
I think you meant to say:
March 30, 2013 at 8:19 pm |
Thanks for writing, Roger!
I’d be interested to hear your opinion on the grammar, but that is what I intended to say.
What I mean by it is that I might link to a book thinking that it did not have text-to-speech blocked, and then it might turn out that it does (for example, they might block it after I created the link…people sometimes visit these posts years later).
Edited to add: I was responding on my Fire, so I want to make this clearer now that it’s easier to post.
My construction is meant to say that I might accidentally link to a book that blocks text-to-speech, but that is not my intent.
Your construction would read to me to say that I take a purposeful action not to link to books with text-to-speech blocked.
My intention is the former.
March 31, 2013 at 5:58 am |
OK
April 6, 2013 at 5:28 pm |
Bufo, I’m sure you have probably read this already but in case you haven’t I thought it was an interesting read. I think the author erred in saying that there are no distribution costs associated with e-books. Anyway, here’s a link to the article:
http://gizmodo.com/5993800/why-do-we-keep-making-ebooks-like-paper-books?utm_source=Gizmodo+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5c246f4e79-UA-142218-3&utm_medium=email
April 6, 2013 at 6:28 pm |
Thanks for writing, Glenn!
Yes, I read it this morning through Flipboard, but thanks! I might include it in the next Roundup. It felt a bit to me like the person had just found e-books, and wasn’t aware of earlier thinking around them. The basic idea, that e-books shouldn’t try to emulate p-books, is a good one.
April 18, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Good morning! I’m sure you’ve already read about this but thought I would throw it out there anyway. Here’s a link:
http://www.kobo.com/koboaurahd/
April 18, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Thanks, Glenn!
Yep, it’s on my list for today.
I still always appreciate a heads-up, though…I do sometimes miss things, and it also lets me know what is catching my readers’ eyes. 
May 3, 2013 at 5:29 am |
Just thought you would like to see this…maybe Amazon will follow the same? I would like some apps that are not available in the Amazon app-store but is available in Google Play.
http://techland.time.com/2013/05/03/barnes-noble-puts-google-play-and-google-apps-on-the-nook/
May 14, 2013 at 9:49 pm |
I don’t know if you saw this or not: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/05/14/corporate-logos-subliminal-messages/
It singles out the “smile” and the arrow pointing from A to Z. Somehow, those never seemed subliminal to me. Amazon even points out the smile in its ads. Just thought it might give you a smile.
May 15, 2013 at 12:14 am |
@ Lady Galaxy:
You’re unusual IMO in noticing the little visual quip in Amazon’s logo. It was news to me until I read the Amazon-biography, “Get Big Fast.” My guess is that 90% of Amazon’s employees and customers are similarly unaware, unless it’s been explained to them. (And a quip that has to be explained lacks wittiness.)
That’s because the arrow in the Amazon logo does not actually point TO the Z (although it “clips” its lower right corner). It points toward the O (if you look at where it is pointing, not the letter it is under). In order to make its “point” clear, the arrow-head should be left-shifted by half a letter, and the lower left corner of the Z should stretch out downward and to the left to connect with it, the same way the lower right corner of the A stretches out to link to the tail of the arrow.
I’ve suggested this improvement in an on-site comment to Amazon. The person I talked to there who called me back was unaware of the A-to-Z “message” of the logo until I told her about it, and agreed with me that a redesign would make sense. So I urged her to buttonhole JB at the water cooler about it, which made her laugh. (“God is high above, and the Czar is far away,” as the old Russian saying goes–or went. Meaning the bigshot is out of reach and out of touch.)
(And try getting the original logo designer to agree that he made a blunder! It’s clear to HIM, so that’s the end of the discussion!)
May 15, 2013 at 12:43 am
PS: Bufo–Why don’t you poll your readers as to whether they were aware of the A-to-Z quip implied in Amazon’s logo? It might impress Amazon that a change is needed if only a minority “get the ‘point’.” (Especially since the unaware are less likely to report truthfully than the witting.)
May 15, 2013 at 2:25 am
Thanks for writing, Roger!
Well, there is a very big difference between a quip (which is aimed at the conscious level) and something which is subliminal (which is aimed at the subconscious level).
I also don’t consider the design to be a blunder. You are extending your vision to where the arrow is pointing. As somebody who has worked with flowsheets, I see the line as connecting the two letters, and the arrowhead just to show the direction of flow (A to Z, not Z to A). The line even distorts the Z where it bumps into it.
This reminds me of the line from Bruce Lee’s character in Enter the Dragon:
“It is like a finger pointing a way to the moon. Don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory. Do you understand?”
You could argue that you are seeing the moon…but I do think the connection is what is intended, and in a geektopia like Amazon, I’m sure flowcharts were a common frame of reference.
It would also, of course, be tremendously expensive to re-do a logo. I might do a poll…but I’d include the question of whether or not people think it should be changed. I wouldn’t want to be presumptive that people would agree with me and the designer, or with you and the person to whom you talked.
May 15, 2013 at 6:55 am
OK, “quip” wasn’t the mot juste. “Double entendre” or “pawky humor” are better terms–their “points” are implicit, like the point of Amazon’s logo. But the A-to-Z link-up isn’t made clear enough in the graphic to give the viewer the hint that it’s trying to convey a subtle message. All most viewers get, IMO, is the image of a smile.
But it doesn’t bump into it, because it’s not pointing at the indentation in the Z. It’s not even pointing at the Z!
May 15, 2013 at 6:59 am
Oops–I mis-indented at the end above.
PS:
But nearly all viewers lack that background, so they’re less likely to see what you see.
May 15, 2013 at 7:05 am
PPS: If the message Amazon wants to copmmunicate with its arrow is “A to Z,” the arrow should point TO the Z! If it doesn’t, many viewers will miss the message.
May 15, 2013 at 2:18 am |
Thanks for writing, Lady!
That is a cute point…pun intended.
I think Lab 126 is more subtle…126 also stands for A to Z (A being the first letter of the alphabet, Z the 26th).
May 16, 2013 at 12:53 am
Oh my! What have I started here? Do we need a time out? Do I even want to get involved? All I know is that the arrow pointing me to the exit doesn’t have to actually touch the exit door handle for me to find the way out. So I will follow in the footsteps of Snagglepuss and “exit, stage left.” Or was it “stage right”? Oh dear, where is that blasted arrow????
May 16, 2013 at 1:07 am
Thanks for writing, Lady!
Oh, believe me, I’m grateful. My Significant Other used to say that our kid and I would “argue for sport”.
We once spent half an hour in the car debating (we prefer that term) over whether or not my kid had ever seen the back of their own head (the key point…did a reflection in a mirror count?). 
Snagglepuss was often, “Exit, stage left”, but it depended on the exit, or course.
May 23, 2013 at 5:11 am |
Hi Bufo,
I’m not sure if you know about http://www.clippingsconverter.com. I run the site and of course would be over the moon if you could mention us to your readers.
Thanks
Jim
May 23, 2013 at 4:55 pm |
Thanks for writing, Jim!
It’s a free service, so I’m posting your comment. I’ll have to experiment with it before I share.
May 24, 2013 at 4:19 pm |
Thank you so much for taking the time to look at our site. Thanks again…Jim