Amazon announces new Kindles: Paperwhite, Fire HDs

Today Amazon put to rest tantelizing whispers regarding new Kindles in the works. In a press conference, Jeff Bezos announced a new type of Kindle ereader and several new Fire tablet models. Here's the run-down:

• Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE Wireless, Dolby Audio, Dual-Band Wi-Fi (32 GB or 64 GB)
• Kindle Fire HD 8.9", Dolby Audio, Dual-Band Wi-Fi (16 GB or 32 GB)
• Kindle Fire HD 7?, Dolby Audio, Dual-Band Wi-Fi (16 GB or 32 GB)
• Kindle Paperwhite 3G, 6" High Resolution Display with Built-in Light, Free 3G + Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers
• Kindle Paperwhite, 6" High Resolution Display with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi

Also included in the announcement were price drops: from $79 to $69 for the Kindle, 6" E Ink Display, Wi-Fi (also known as the Kindle Basic) and from $199 to $159 for the Kindle Fire 7", LCD Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB (the original Kindle Fire).

Even though I'm drooling over some of the new Kindle Fire HD features, having the best reading environment is my priority. It's finally time to upgrade my Kindle Keyboard. Even though I will miss the easy keyboard access and the audio capabilities, I'm excited by the rest of the improvements in the Paperwhite.

Do you know anyone who wants a Like New white Kindle Keyboard 3G? Mine is for sale via Amazon, and I'll even throw in a cover and a free copy of Pink Snowbunnies in Hell: A Flash-Fiction Anthology. If you contact me after purchase, I will also keep your information and email you a free copy of Dormant after publication.

Searching for Kindle Fire accessories: New covers released by JAVOedge

As I mentioned in my Kindle Fire first impressions blog, I'm hunting for the perfect cover. Hopefully the search will soon be over. My beautiful teal Kindle Keyboard cover will shortly be match by a version for the Kindle Fire.

JAVOedge just announced that they are taking pre-orders for Fire covers. The flip style is what I have for my Kindle Keyboard, but I may wait until the book style is available for my next purchase. Most of the time I like to prop up my Fire resting horizontally.

I have the AYL Frameless case, which I managed to snag for about $8, but I'm still looking. Despite the ingenious stand that allows both horizontal and vertical viewing, this just isn't the optimum case for me. My problem is the attachment system. The silicone adhesion method holds securely, but it does not allow me to easily remove and re-attach my Fire. This is a problem because I prefer using the naked device while at home.

My JAVOedge Kindle Keyboard cover is a nice combination of protection without added weight, aesthetics (love the teal), and functionality. I'm hoping that I can find all of that in the new JAVOedge offerings for the Kindle Fire. I'm certainly going to give it a try.

Now if only someone would come out with an orange cover with a stand; the color seems appropriate for a tablet named Fire, and it would go so nicely with the DecalGirl Flower of Fire skin on my wish list.

Update 12/9/11
DecalGirl gave me something new for my wish list. They color-adjusted the Flower of Fire pattern to my preference. The resulting shades of teal and blue are very pretty, and I like the unique twist. A company representative replied to my question quickly and was very helpful with the customization, so consider that option if you love everything about one of their designs, except the color. I own several of their skins and my experience with them has always been positive.

Google pilot testing to compete with Amazon Prime

I'm in the midst of wrapping up final Christmas gift-giving details. With the added lead-time needed to send a care package to Korea, boxes are landing on my doorstep daily.

As I mentioned in my last blog, online shopping is a great way to avoid exposure to all kinds of germs. My personal reasons go beyond that. I prefer to avoid as much of the commercial holiday rush as possible. A recent trip to a well-known super store (after Christmas lights for our house, along with a few groceries) left me feeling exhausted. Why deal with that when I can get what I need with a few clicks from the comfort of my home computer, iPhone, or Kindle Fire? Online shopping does lack the thrill of instant gratification, but with Amazon Prime patience is quickly rewarded.

Next Christmas, Amazon's Prime service could have some hefty competition. Google appears to be feeling out various retailers to create a service to let customers receive their orders within 24 to 48 hours. Under the proposed system, when shoppers place an order on an affiliate's website, Google's system could kick in to offer them an option for same-day or possibly next-day delivery. I have used Google check-out on occasion, so I can imagine this being offered as an additional drop-down on the shipping options menu. Pilot testing of the new service is anticipated to begin sometime in 2012.

I'm all for a new shipping option. I hate paying shipping fees, but whatever Google offers will have to be both affordable and easy to use. Amazon already has a considerable lead in the ease-of-use category, particularly with their recent Kindle Fire release. It will be hard for any company to compete, but if anyone can, Google is it.

What do you think of Google's plans? What conditions would they have to meet for you to use their quick shipping service?

Have robotic bear pillow... will travel?

With Thanksgiving just two days away, many of you are packing to visit relatives. Do you pack your own pillow or wait to see what you find on the other end of your journey? I'm of the pack-your-own camp. There's no substitute for your own pillow when rest is on the line. (Extra geek points to whoever can name the reference.) If I could, I'd even pack my bed, but I don't think my king-sized, fabulously-comfortable monstrosity would fit into my duffle.

"Jukusui-kun" or "deep sleep"

This year I'm hosting instead of traveling, but I am still considering pillow options—for hubby.* This snoozing polar bear lays benignly spread-eagle on its back. But wake the bear at your own peril. A snore triggers arm movement designed to let the new Japanese pillowbot gently brush your cheek. The result? You stop snoring. Immediately. Even if it means you've bolted out of your bed as the bear's arm moves toward your face.

Called "Jukusui-kun" or "deep sleep" in Japanese, the robot is designed to help people sleep better by stopping chronic snorers and those who suffer from sleep apnea, which causes breathing difficulty by sleeping. Blood oxygen levels are measured by a bear-shaped fuzzy glove while a sensor placed below the sheets detects loud noises. There is also a microphone in the pillowbot to monitor snore decibel levels. Add a wireless terminal, pre-programmed with your vital stats, and you're good to go.

Watch the video below to see how it works:



Just one problem.... Jukusui-kun polar bear and accessories will probably require a suitcase all its own.

*My husband sent me the article. I didn't promise not to blog about it.

Playing with Fire: Kindle Fire first impressions

I always did like playing with fire…. Now I have a whole new reason. My Kindle Fire arrived yesterday afternoon. I have only used it for a few hours, but so far it has been a whole lot of fun.

It's heeere!
(Pardon the cheesy iPhone snap.)

The Fire is a Kindle in name only, and I hope that prefacing the name with the word Kindle doesn’t confuse too many people. The Fire is not an e-reader. Yes, it can be used as such, but the experience of that aspect in no way lives up to the experience on an e-ink Kindle. Reading is workable for shorter time periods. I set the display to sepia, which helps, but I'm still mostly using the Fire for cookbooks and children’s books, where it’s a treat to see color pictures. I’ll leave the bulk of my reading for my Kindle Keyboard.

The form factor is nicely compact and simple—perhaps too simple, because I really miss having physical buttons for home and volume. On the plus side, I felt no strain from holding my Fire for extended periods.

This is my first Internet-capable device in quite a while without 3G, so I really feel the restriction. I hope future offerings include a 3G option. Meanwhile, I’m working on planning ahead a bit more. Part of my Fire playtime last night was devoted to downloading an eclectic collection of books, music, apps, and shows from the Amazon Cloud. The Cloud-focused device should at least help me keep my Fire tidy and uncluttered with unused files. On the negative side, the Fire’s performance was sluggish during media downloads.

The screen is very sensitive. At first it took a bit of adjustment to learn where to tap for certain things, such as pulling up a book from the carousel. The item would often scroll and snap back. After a couple of hours, I mostly get it right on the first go. Typing is requiring a similar adjustment. The space bar placement catches me out because it's slightly offset to the left. It’s one of those typing quirks that I never realized until now; I almost always hit the space bar with my right thumb.

I had a lot of fun exploring everything from books to video. I set up my email without any more trouble than it took to remember my password. My Words with Friends app took up where I left off on my iPhone—nice! Videos via Netflix and Amazon loaded well. I watched a bit of a few different movies and shows and later settled in for an entire episode. There was a slight pixilation a couple of times during the show, but mostly it looked great. The sound is definitely better with headphones.

Audio books work well. I was able to access my Audible account and download a book (The Family That Couldn't Sleep: A Medical Mystery) that my hubby and I started listening to on the way to work this morning. Songs from the Amazon Cloud were there at a tap of the finger; I downloaded about 40 to my Fire. I purchased a couple of trial magazine subscriptions and was happy to see all the pictures available (National Geographic Magazine and Bon Appetit). I haven’t used the web browser much yet, but the couple of pages I looked at loaded quickly.

I still have a lot of exploring to do, but I would say that the Fire is a great first-generation device. Yes, there is room for improvement, but that will happen quickly. Meanwhile, those of us who are early adopters get a head start on the fun.

Deciding on the right case for my Kindle Fire is proving to be the hard part. (My Teal JAVOedge MiMo Flip Case for Amazon Kindle Keyboard is fabulous, so I hope that they come out with something for the Fire.) At the top of my wishlist is some kind of stand to prop up my Fire for hands-free use, and it would be even better if the stand could do both landscape and portrait. The stand could be integrated into the case, but it doesn't have to be. I also need the case/cover/skin to be protective (toddler in the house) and I would like it to be attractive. Bonus points if it's a fun color. If you have recommendations, please post them in the comments secton below.

World's first simulation of complete H1N1 influenza virus

Happy 11/11/11 and happy Veteran's Day! Here's some food for thought, before you head off to whatever activities you have planned to celebrate the occasion.

Scientists in China have created the first computer simulation of the complete H1N1 influenza virus, down to the atomic level. This is a major break-through was announced just yesterday. Until now, studying viruses in the laboratory has been challenging because reactions occur too quickly to observe. 



Supercomputer

Simulating billions of particles in the correct conditions was no small feat. The researchers, at the Institute of Process Engineering of Chinese Academy of Sciences, used over 2,200 Tesla GPUs to power the Mole-8.5 supercomputer.

I suspect that the technology will need fine-tuning, but the possibilities are exciting. Using the H1N1 simulation, and others like it, scientists will be able to perform new research—an important step in developing more effective ways to control epidemics and create anti-viral drugs.

With this kind of detail for a virus, I can imagine a future where computers will have enough processing power to create a realistic simulation of places and even people. Perhaps someday my son will visit a real holodeck.

Does a Kindle get heavier when you add a book?

Since the arrival of my first Kindle in June 2008, I have reveled in how light and compact it is. Carrying around hundreds of books now weighs less than one of the books that used to accompany me everywhere. 

This week, I have been following a discussion on the Kindle weight debate, posted on a Discovery channel forum. Does my Kindle actually weigh more with my books loaded onto it than it did the day I removed it from its packaging?

When I download a book to my Kindle, the device is carrying more electrons than before. That means that, theoretically, my Kindle does get heavier as I add more information in the form of e-books. That said, the mass of an electron is quite negligable, though on a particle physics level this extra mass may be noteworthy and therefore calculable. However, the difference in weight would be so tiny as to not be measurable.

In other words, I didn't feel any difference in the weight of my Kindle after I added my newest e-book—The Nighttime Novelist, a writing-related read on loan via Amazon's new Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

Amazon announces Kindle Fire and Kindle Touch

    Amazon just announced its new tablet, the Kindle Fire, along with two Kindle Touch models (one 3G and one WiFi only), which will be available with the re-designed original kindle. Further details and pictures are available in the Amazon Kindle Store.

I just ordered my Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi! It will arrive on November 16.


Links to the new Kindle and Kindle Touch models:

• Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display
• Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display 
• Kindle Touch 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display

Note: All come in versions with and without "Special Offers," which are basically sponsored advertisements. Apparently these advertisements sometimes contain goodies, like free Kindle books.

Amazon Kindle Tablet will be announced tomorrow!

On your marks, get set....

Amazon invited press to a media event tomorrow. They did not give any details, but I (along with everyone else) expect that they will use the event to reveal the new Kindle Tablet. I'm waiting to click the big, yellow order button. I will take a packing break, or three, to check in on the details. (Hubby promised not to cancel the internet until then, on pain of....)

That's it. Time to get back to packing. If you want more information on the device, you can read my previous post on the Amazon Kindle Tablet.

Amazon will soon release a Kindle Tablet

Rumors about a new Amazon Kindle device have been flying for several months. Now "Amazon's Kindle Tablet is very real. I've seen it, Played with it," according to MG at TechCrunch. My first reaction? Ooh, shiny! I love gadgets.

Here are the highlights:

• Color tablet
• Android
• 7 inch screen
• Two-finger multi-touch
• WiFi
• Kindle app book reader
• Kindle Cloud music player
• Instant Video movie player
• Amazon's Android Appstore
• Possible free subscription to Amazon Prime

The new Kindle Tablet is expected to sell for $250, and Amazon is purportedly working with carriers toward a 3G version. The latter would be a huge selling point for me; I love the integrated 3G on my Kindle.

The initial inclination is to compare the Kindle Tablet to the iPad, but it isn't. Rather than taking on Apple on their own turf, Amazon is actually designing their device to fit into the e-reader market that they already dominate. They are keeping the tablet small and comfortable to read. The smaller form factor also means that it will be cheap, about half the price of the cheapest iPad. Amazon is also moving away from the direction taken by most other Android tablets. Instead of trying to do everything, the Kindle Tablet is keeping it simple by putting the focus on books, movies, and other media.

I would never give up my Kindle ereader. The E-Ink screen simply can not be beat if you do a lot of reading, and I'm an avid reader, at least as much as I can fit in between my numerous other roles. However, I am eagerly anticipating the release of an Kindle Tablet. I envision my Kindle coexisting beside the new device, with each having its own purpose.

Based on the substantial rumors circulating the Internet, I expect to see an Amazon announcement about their new Kindle Tablet in the next two to three months. I have never regretted coming in on the ground floor with the launch of the original Kindle in 2008. Despite the marked improvements and drastically lowered price point of four successive Kindle generations, I have enjoyed many happy hours reading on each of my Kindles. The Kindle is the ultimate device for someone, like me, who is passionate about reading and writing. I envision the Kindle Tablet as an expansion into other types of media.

Contrary to many who are looking for an all-in-one device, I look forward to the day when I can replace the functions of my smart phone with my third or fourth generation Kindle Tablet. Devices like my Kindle, Roku, and iPod have taught me that a device dedicate to a certain function is often superior to one trying to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Smart pen is a smart choice for writers and students

First we had the smart phone and now we have the smart pen. I love gadgets, especially my beloved Kindle, but it looks like I've been missing out on an important one for writers. Omar Gallaga at The Statesman says, "Livescribe digital pen a smart idea for writers and students." 

"The Livescribe pen can record audio while you write on specially coded "Dot Paper." You can transfer everything you write to software that allows you to see your words on-screen and to hear audio that is synced up. Tap on a part of your notes and the exact point in the audio that matches up with it plays. You can also play the audio back from the pen itself, which has a tiny screen and a speaker."

Not only can you sync writing to audio, you can also send the notes to services like Google Docs, email, or even Facebook. To entice even more, the "pencasts" (audio plus visuals of notes) can be viewed on my iPhone, or on an iPad (for those fortunate to own one of those lovely gadgets). Once your notes are uploaded, you don't even have to keep the paper copies.

Where oh where was this when I was in school? I was never very good at taking notes. It seemed the more detailed my notes the more I missed of what the professor said subsequently. And yet, who wants to sit through the lecture all over again by replaying the entire recording, just to find that brief point you half remember? This would solve that problem. I could jot down important points and use them to reference the relevant part of the lecture.

Today, I could see this as being applicable at work—for taking notes when I conduct newsletter interviews or attend meetings. However, as a state worker I'm not holding my breath. I added the Livescribe 4 GB Echo Smartpen to my Amazon Wish List for further research, or perhaps to be discovered by a hitherto-unknown rich relative.

Users do list a few drawbacks. You have to buy special Dot Paper. Some are not thrilled with how much thicker the Livescribe Smartpen is when compared to a regular pen. Apparently software, sold separately, to convert handwriting to typed text doesn't work very well. You can not use Livescribe to record phone interviews. It does not have wireless capability. The company shut down its app developer program. Hopefully the last point does not mark the death knell for this technology. I would love to see a version developed that addresses many of these issues.

Google to Release New Kindle Competition

Jimi's Kindle

The release of the Story HD, Google's eReader, is just days away. On July 17, 2011, it will be sold in Target stores for $139. The new eReader comes equipped with a QWERTY keyboard and WiFi capabilities. Though the new device isn't yet ready to be serious competition for Amazon's Kindle, more eBook readers mean more support for digital books. That's a good thing.

Today, I puffed beneath the weight of the overflowing box of books as I lugged it toward the back of Half-Price Books. The thump of the box on the buy counter brought only relief, despite the fact that it signaled my parting with long-time friends—the survivors of the downsizing from previous moves. An amazing device has prompted the dramatic reduction in my paper book collection.

When Amazon announced the launch of the Kindle, it was my dream device come true. I love both reading and gadgets, so nothing could be better than combining the two. I could see the end of packing a stack of books for each trip, choosing purses based on whether a book would fit in them, and breaking my back moving multiple bookshelves worth of books every few years. On June 6, 2008, I purchased my first Amazon Kindle.

Now I am on my fourth Kindle. I sell the previous iteration and trade up with each new model released. It just keeps getting better.

Buy Groceries with Your iPhone

QR-Code

A grocery store has launched a program to allow virtual grocery shopping using your smart phone. The catch: you have to live in South Korea.

Tesco's Home Plus supermarket decorated a subway station wall with images of grocery shelves, turning wait time into the opportunity to get a dreaded chore out of the way. To shop, just scan the product's QR code. The item is added to your virtual grocery cart. After check-out, the groceries are scheduled for delivery to your home.

I'm ready to sign up. Unfortunately, we don't have Tesco in Texas, let alone virtual grocery shelves. Maybe I will get a chance to try it when I visit my parents after their move to Korea. They can at least give me a report.

Below is Tesco's presentation on the technology. Would you shop virtually, or do you prefer to pick your own produce?

The Death of the Book

“Pity the book. It’s dead again,” writes Ben Ehrenreich. Kudos if you make it through his lengthy article “The Death of the Book.” Despite my interest in the facts included about the history of books, it took me two sittings to get through all 2,644 words (not counting the title, byline, and citations). Perhaps it was simply that I disagree with his major premise. Maybe it was only because I don't like to read for long on my computer screen.

Ehrenreich says, “Last summer Amazon announced that it was selling more e-books than the paper kind. The time to fret had passed. It was Kindle vs. kindling.” To be fair, he does illustrate that the death of books has been discussed for generations, but he also includes his personal bias. “For the record, my own loyalties are uncomplicated. I adore few humans more than I love books. I make no promises, but I do not expect to purchase a Kindle or a Nook or any of their offspring. I hope to keep bringing home bound paper books until my shelves snap from their weight, until there is no room in my apartment for a bed or a couch or another human being, until the floorboards collapse and my eyes blur to dim. But the book, bless it, is not a simple thing.

Despite his clever analogy, I must take umbrage with Ehrenreich’s view of the electronic book (eBook) reader as the opponent of books. I see it instead as the companion and expansion of books. Books have been my lifelong love, a fact which I touched on in my opening blog (Beginnings: I am a writer because I am a reader). I lugged six bookshelves worth of books through numerous moves, and I would return from my frequent library visits with a stack of five, six, or even seven books.

Jimi with her Kindle

Then Amazon announced the Kindle. I jumped to be an early adopter, placing my first Kindle order on June 6, 2008. I have upgraded with each successive generation. My paper book collection has reduced in inverse relation to my eBook collection. This is a good thing for my sometime nomadic lifestyle. My back is thankful each time I pack my slim Kindle in preference to my previous stack of paper books. Like my paper books, eBooks take me to new worlds, challenge me with new thoughts and ideas, and teach me new skills (like photography). And yet there will always be bookshelves in my home. There are some paper books that I will never trade for eBook editions, though I might also buy the eBook version.

An eBook is no less a book for being electronic; it is simply a book in another form. Books are not dead. Growing and changing is a function of living. Books are very much alive, and I am eager to contribute this growth by releasing my novel as an eBook.

Is an eBook a real book? What is your reading platform of choice: paper, Kindle, Nook, Sony, computer?