Handwriting for tablets and cell phones wasn’t too popular as it require some trainings to use properly so today’s devices doesn’t come with this feature. But the battle is not complete lost: Puzzle technology startup Puzzazz is giving handwriting recognition to any touch ebook readers (including Kindle Touch).
TouchWrite technology recognizes your handwriting, so you can write in numbers on the screen. Just use your finger -like you were writing in the sand -and your number will appear in the square. You can also tap in a square to enter notes.
The first ebook to incorporate TouchWrite technology is Sudoku Unbound Volume 3 by our own Scott Blomquist. It’s the third ebook in our top-rated and best-selling Sudoku Unbound series of Sudoku ActiveBooks. The ebook features 100 carefully crafted puzzles sure to delight solvers. In addition to Kindle Touch, Sudoku Unbound Volume 3 is also available for all other E Ink Kindle models, including the current-generation Kindle and the Kindle Keyboard (though handwriting recognition is only supported on the Kindle Touch).
Are you looking for an alternative to Kindle or Nook? Here it is what you need: JWF eReaderPRO. The JWF eReaderPRO is a 6″ E Ink (800×600 resolution) e-reader and the overall aim of the eReaderPRO is to make the whole experience as simple as possible – for all users.
JWF eReaderPRO is due for release Feb 25th in the UK and it will be available at a later date in the US (it will be primarily be available on Amazon).
JWF eReaderPRO specs
6″ e-ink 16 level gray scale display (800×600 resolution)
180g in weight
10mm thick
128mb built-in memory (with SD card slot to support up to 8gb – an SD card may be part of a bundle package with the eReaderPRO)
Charges through Micro USB (via PC or USB wall charger (UK charger included))
eBook support: PDF,TXT,EPUB,FB2 and more
Image support: Most formats
Audio support: Most formats
A soft-touch rubber outer coating – making the eReaderPRO both comfortable to hold and durable
A 4-way D-pad with central select button
5 physical function buttons
11 vertical buttons, allowing fast navigation through menus, chapters, and games (#0-9 and a ‘Trash’ button allowing file organisation on the device)
Headphone jack
A graphical menu for quick and easy navigation
Book cover preview on your reading list
Favourites list
In-book options including: bookmarks, font size, contents, jump to etc.
Games – including Sudoku and Othello with fast navigation and use of number keys
Applications – including Calculator and Calendar
One good feature of Kindle is E Ink Pearl display as you can easy read in bright sunlight and let your eyes rest with no strain. In the same time as the E Ink Pearl is like normal paper you cannot read in the dark so you will need a source of light. As you will need a cover to protect your ebook reader why not buy a lighted cover? And better buy a solar lighted cover like this one from SolarFocus.
Solar cover for Kindle 4 by SolarFocus features a built-in solar panel that charges the reserve battery for the LED reading light while also providing extra power to the Kindle. Moreover the reading light draws power from the reserve battery, not the Kindle, so you won’t have to worry about draining your Kindle’s battery.
You can even charge your Kindle using the cover’s built-in reserve battery. Press the power button once and the LED indicator first shows the reserve battery’s remaining power level for about five seconds. After that it’ll blink red while the Kindle is being charged. To turn off charging, press the power button again and the LED indicator shows the reserve battery’s remaining power level before turning off.
A fully charged reserve battery requires only eight hours of direct sunlight and provides up to 80% of backup power to the Kindle.
I think that Kindle Fire is the best 2011 gift for yourself. It is affordable and it is a pleasure to play with it. I’m against LCD ebook reader device and I ignore iPad but Amazon do a great job with Kindle Fire so if you like to read magazines or comics books this 7 inch tablet can be your dream ereader.
What are Kindle Fire greatest strengths as a ebook reader? It is color, touchscreen, offer a lot of content and has a crazy price: only $199. Isn’t any wonder that Amazon sold a lot of Kindle Fire on Black Friday and Cyber Monday even without any discount, coupons or bundle promotion!
In terms of design Kindle Fire is not innovative. In fact we can see a crystal clear similarities between the Kindle Fire and Blackberry Playbook.
To close the discussions i can tell you the Playbook price: 259.99 cut down from $499.00 (16GB), $299.00 cut down from $599.00 (32GB). Also, the content is the king and Kindle Fire has a lot of it…
Kindle Fire vs PlayBook: similar looks but different price and content available
Kindle Fire run on Android, but Amazon has completely changed the user interface so you will think is a new OS. Amazon did a great work with the interface so all items all well organized and can be easily accessed. If you open an item or app the icon of it will be arrange into a carousel. The problem is that you cannot delete any item from this carousel so you should be carefully if you barrow the tablet to someone else.
Amazon make a lot of noise with Silk Web browser but it looks slow to me. Maybe the software is fast but the hardware cannot run it and the overall experience with Internet browsing is not one of the best on a tablet.
Kindle Fire display
Kindle Fire feature a 7″ multi-touch display with IPS (in-plane switching) technology and anti-reflective treatment. Even with this anti-reflective treatment is not OK to read outdoor. When I trying to read outdoor I imediatlly miss my old Kindle… But this is a common issue of all tablets not Kindle Fire in special.
The resolution is 1024 x 600 pixel resolution at 169 ppi, 16 million colors.
Kindle Fire Storage
The weak point of Kindle Fire is storage. Amazon choose only 8GB internal (6GB available for user content, 2GB for operating system). Amazon try to solve this issue caused by targeted price of $199 by including of free cloud storage for all Amazon content. Is it OK in theory but I don’t want to search for Internet WiFi every time when I want to access my files stored on Amazon servers. Moreover, Kindle Fire is lack of 3G so you will need WiFi connection.
The problem can be solve with a 3G Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot GSM but do you really want to have another device with you?
Kindle Fire Content
The content is the strong point of Kindle Fire: ebooks, magazines, video, apps… So many, so easy to download them. It is a haven for any devouring information…
Kindle Fire portability
Kindle Fire is smaller that iPad 2 and it is easy to carry around.
Battery life is good but not exceptionally good: 8 hours of continuous reading or 7.5 hours of video playback, with wireless off. Also a fully charges takes 4 hours via power adapter.
Conclusion
To be all clear I separate my conclusions in pro and con.
Kindle Fire Con:
- no cameras
- no GPS
- no microphone
- no 3G
Kindle Fire Pro:
+ very attractive price
+ easy to use
+ lot of content
Overall I highly recommend the Kindle Fire.
Where to buy it
The best place to buy Kindle Fire is Amazon:
Amazon US
Amazon UK – not yet available
Amazon De- not yet available
Do you have a ebook reader or a tablet with WiFi only and you dream to 3G connection? Is not a big problem!
With Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 3G Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot GSM (Unlocked) you will be able to connect up to 5 WiFI devices to 3G network (requires a SIM card with activated data plan).
It is compatible with AT&T, Bell, Rogers, Telus, Movistar, Telcel, etc. If you have Verizon you should try Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 3G.
Connect up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices
It is highly recommended if you frequently travel and need instant net access for your ebook reader or for your no 3G tablet like Kindle Fire.
Link to buy (List Price: $379.99 Deal Price: $129.00)
All Black Friday long I was waiting for some deals for Kindle family but only Kindle DX was in the list at $259 (down from $379). Now all our hopes goes to Cyber Monday. I know that Kindle Fire is already under-priced as it costs $209.63 to build and Amazon sold it at $199. Using [...]
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I’m waiting Black Friday to see if some retailer make big discounts for ebook readers, or alt least to some ebooks. Now, I’m glad to find that Walmart has announced its Black Friday preview, this Saturday at 11 a.m. The name of the event is Super Saturday and I find a ebook reader in discount [...]
