The hope of this launch is to bring more customers to the Amazon Appstore, and also to give developers another incentive for creating and adding apps to the Amazon Appstore. While the Kindle Fire has a decent selection of apps, Google and Apple still have nearly ten times as many apps. Amazon wants to continue growing the variety and availability of content within the Amazon appstore, and the Amazon coins is just one of the innovative ways they are working toward this goal.

Amazon Coins presents a great area for growth and an easy way to make in-app purchases, which is good for the user and developer alike. In-app purchases increase the profits of developers, allowing them to continue creating apps and expanding ones they’ve already created. Plus, by having an easy virtual currency to make in-app purchases, consumers can make their purchase with an easy transaction that doesn’t require pulling out their credit card all the time.

With Amazon’s forward thinking, there are other potential uses for Amazon Coins. For example, Amazon Coins could be used in conjunction with Kindle FreeTime, giving parents the ability to award kids some digital spending money, while still using the FreeTime system to keep their kids safe from content they don’t need to be viewing. This is just an idea of course, one that Amazon has not endorsed or released plans of using.

Amazon continues to grow the platform for the fantastic Kindle Fire, making it a great choice for individuals and families alike. Tablets are all the rage, and finding one that fits the needs of individuals and families can be difficult. Kindle Fire takes this difficulty out, and with Amazon bringing new and innovative features to the table all of the time, you just can’t go wrong when getting a Kindle Fire.

Those thoughts are being changed as many self published Kindle books are gaining popularity, and even rising to the top of the Amazon best seller list. As more books and authors are joining the self published ranks, these numbers are sure to increase. And while not all self-published books may reach the best sellers lists, there are authors finding this to be a viable source of income.

The biggest drawback for authors that choose to self publish their work to the Kindle is that they are responsible for building and maintaining their own platform and fan base. While building a platform and fan base is important for authors who choose more traditional forms of marketing, those authors often receive marketing support from their publishing house. Word of mouth proves to be an invaluable asset to marketing for authors no matter how they choose to publish their work, however. As we all know, when someone reads a book they love, they share the title with their friends and encourage the reader base to grow.

The perks of self-publishing aren’t limited to just the author, but readers are reaping the benefits as well. The amount of books available for entertainment and learning is growing daily, and many self-published titles are available at a lower price than traditionally published books. This allows a reader to fill their library with countless titles for a fraction of the cost. For readers that aren’t concerned with big name publishers, or even best sellers, some of these obscure finds or lesser known titles prove to be a great literary adventure.

Along with the cost savings, there are a huge variety of self-published titles available. Plus, purchasing self-published Kindle books is like “shopping small” – you know, like shopping at a local shop as opposed to a gigantic retailer. These titles may, in fact, be supporting an author and his or her family.

Keeping your Kindle Fire HD 8.9” is probably one of your biggest priorities – it is mine, especially with 4 lively boys and a baby girl on the way. So, selecting a case that incorporates both the safety I need, and the keyboard that makes it easier to send an email is a great option for me. Plus, this Belkin Bluetooth Keyboard Case is a certified “Made for Kindle” accessory. The keyboard functions allow users to easily copy and paste, adjust the volume and also control the music they are listening to.

This case allows users to tuck away the keyboard when it’s not in use. This keeps it from being a target for spills and messes when it doesn’t need to be. Plus, with the adjustable stand, users can find the viewing angle that best suits where they are sitting and how they prefer to view their screen. With magnetic tab closures, the cover can be securely closed when the Kindle Fire is not in use, and can be folded back out of the way when the device is being used.

This multi-feature keyboard and case combination is great option for busy users. The bluetooth connectivity of the keyboard means you can set it in your lap while propping your Kindle Fire up on the table or couch (or other surface) beside you. This is a great accessory to have with the Kindle Fire HD 8.9” because it is functional and protective, two features that are unbeatable, especially when paired together.

Find out more here!

The geniuses behind Amazon, and the Kindle Fire, recognized how important family is, and created a phenomenally well-rounded tablet and Ereader combination just to meet the needs of families everywhere. Not only can Mom and Dad stream the content, read the books, and play the games they want, but now they can keep Junior safe while he/she uses the device as well.

Kindle FreeTime allows parents to set screen time limits that give kids time for games, apps, and books. If Junior should be spending 45 minutes reading, but only 15 minutes on games or apps, all Mom or Dad has to do is set up his or her profile, and define these time limits. This makes it much easier to monitor how the kids are using the Kindle Fire. Plus, parents can set up profiles for up to 6 kids, so each child can have his or her own profile.

Time limits are not the only thing parents want to monitor. The Internet opens the door for kids to access content that may be questionable, and parents are forever trying to find ways to protect their kids while they are learning what is right and wrong. Kindle FreeTime allows parents to set restrictions for content, so they can protect their kids from those questionable sites we all want our kids avoiding.

In my opinion, the Amazon Kindle Fire should be the top choice for families looking for a tablet. The amount of content available is fantastic, and the control that parents have is just right. By keeping families in mind, the makers of the Kindle Fire have created a family friendly tablet and eReader combination that is at the top of my list this holiday season.

More to come on this soon!

This is great news and it actually excites me. as much as I love the Kindle Fire and think most people are going to flock to a more typical tablet, I absolutely love reading on my Kindle. I still have my old school Kindle and still love the e-ink screen, and it looks like this type of e-reader is not going anywhere anytime soon!

By the way, if you are thinking about getting a Kindle Paperwhite, I would suggest doing it now, evn if you do have to wait. Demand for Kindles goes through the roof around the holidays, so those waiting times may just get worse, not better! Click here to check out the Kindle Paperwhite on Amazon.

The Kindle Paperwhite is designed to be an upgraded and expanded version of the basic Kindle e-reader. It features a slim, sleek interface and, according to early reports, it’s surprisingly lightweight. It also features a strong battery life and a responsive touch interface. In short, the Kindle Paperwhite appears to have improved on all of the complaints the original Kindle e-reader faced when it was first released.

The Paperwhite improves the e-reading experience in a number of powerful ways. Here are a few advantages that users can expect from their new Paperwhite, set to be released later this fall.

Better reading display than the Kindle Fire or the iPad

There is one major difference between e-reader tablets and conventional tablet computers: the display. Today, most e-readers use display technology like “e-ink” to display words and pictures on the screen. Although e-ink is only available in black-and-white, the display tends to resemble a normal book. And, since the display isn’t backlit, e-readers tend to be easier to read. Since the Kindle Fire and Apple iPad are both backlit, they’re not ideal for reading. The Kindle Paperwhite, on the other hand, is designed to make reading as easy as possible with its crisp and clear e-ink display.

Top-down light

You can’t read e-readers in the dark without a light source, and Amazon has solved this problem by including a top-down light on every Kindle Paperwhite. Instead of having to turn on a light source or sit near a lamp, the Kindle Paperwhite includes a light wherever you go. The light easily illuminates the entire display and it is specifically designed to limit glare, which ultimately makes the reading experience as easy as possible.

Better contrast

When reading information in black and white, contrast is important. Contrast measures the distinction between black and white colors on any display. Amazon made contrast a key goal with the Kindle Paperwhite, and it promises to have a 25% better contrast ratio than the basic Kindle Fire. As Jeff Bezos said in his announcement speech, “the whites are whiter, and the blacks are blacker.”

8 weeks (!) of battery life

Jeff Bezos claims that the Kindle Paperwhite will last for an astonishing 8 weeks – even if users leave the backlight on to read. As with any early reports about battery power, it’s difficult to verify these claims as of yet, but if the 8 weeks promise is true, then the Paperwhite will be one of the longest lasting e-readers on the market today.

3G model available

In addition to the $119 Wi-Fi model of the Paperwhite, Amazon also offers a $179 3G model. This means users will be able to download books even when they’re outside of Wi-Fi coverage – provided they have subscribed to a 3G data plan.

Kindle Paperwhite release date

The Kindle Paperwhite seeks to improve on all of the criticisms past e-readers have faced. If you want an e-reader with sharper contrast, a better display, and a top-down light, then the Kindle Paperwhite will start shipping on November 1, 2012.

Well, Amazon has finally announced its new lineup of Kindles! On September 6, 2012, Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos took the stage in Los Angeles to announce the Kindle Fire HD and the Kindle Paperwhite. While the Kindle Paperwhite is slim, sleek, and inexpensive, the Kindle Fire HD takes the brand in the opposite direction by offering a high-definition display and powerful hardware. Check out our full Kindle Fire HD review below -

Here are some of the key features that we know about the Kindle Fire HD so far:

1920×1200 HD display on the 8.9-inch model

Most HD displays come at a resolution of 1920×1080. This is called 1080p, and it’s the resolution that most HDTVs and HD computer monitors run. The Kindle Fire HD, however, seeks to take HD resolutions to a new level with a 1920×1200 resolution display. Early reports say the screen is much improved over the Nexus 7 – which is (so far) the Kindle’s biggest competitor in the lower-end tablet market, at least until the iPad Mini is announced. Any Kindle Fire HD review out there should focus on the screen, as that is going to be a huge sell for Amazon.

1280×800 HD display on the 7-inch model

For consumers who are looking for a great screen at an even better price, the smaller version of the Kindle Fire HD will be a good solution. Priced at just $199, it costs less than half the price of the newest $499 iPad. The 1280×800 resolution

display ensures that users won’t see any pixels during use, and TV shows and movies still look crisp.

Faster Wi-Fi speeds

Another innovative feature in the Kindle Fire HD is its fast wireless data processing. The Kindle Fire HD promises to be the first tablet with dual-band, 2.4GHz and 5GHz MIMO technology. Amazon promises that this could lead to 41% faster Wi-Fi than competitors like the iPad. Faster internet is never a bad thing. (All Kindle Fire HD reviews should focus on this as well. Faster tablet web speeds are going to become more and more important.)

X-ray prov

ides insight into movies and TV shows

How many times have you been watching a movie or a TV show only to wonder, “where have I seen that actor before?” Amazon has made this question easy to answer by including a suite of features called ‘X-ray’. With a single tap on the screen, Kindle users can view important information about the TV shows they’re watching. Information about the actors, scenes, and IMDB data will instantly come up on screen. X-ray was already a useful feature on the Kindle Touch for books, and now it’s coming to the Kindle Fire for TV shows and movies.

11-hour battery life

For a tablet with an HD screen, the Kindle Fire HD appears to have a surprisingly strong battery life. Amazon promises an 11-hour battery life, but it’s difficult to say if the Kindle Fire HD will live up to that promise.

Front-facing camera

Kindle Fire users who have been waiting for a good front-facing camera finally have their wish. The Kindle Fire HD features a front-facing camera that will integrate with apps on the device, making it easier than ever to stay in touch with friends and relatives.

Kindle Fire HD release date

The 7-inch version of the Kindle Fire HD will start shipping on September 14, while the larger version won’t be available until November 20.

The Verdict

All in all, it looks like the latest product line from Amazon is going to be a great improvement over the current versions. My personal favorite addition to the Kindle Fire family is the 4G version, which would allow me the freedom of not having to worry about wifi. In addition, finally having a front facing camera will be nice.

We will continue to expand our Kindle Fire HD review on this page as the new models come out and as we get our hands on them!

But what if you want to have all your photos – from Instagram, Flickr, and Facebook, for example – in one spot? That’s where Woven wants to help. Woven is a recently released free app that provides iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire users with an easy-to-use photo album viewer.

Woven’s interface is very intuitive. Some apps have trouble integrating with touch-screens, but according to early reviews, Woven has been designed to seamlessly integrate with touch-screen devices.

So how does Woven work? Well, users put all their photos from their smartphone, Instagram, Flickr, Facebook, and other accounts into one single app with a simple interface. Let’s say you want to show your friend a new profile pic on Facebook. Instead of having to log in to Facebook manually, you can just go to Woven, tap the ‘Facebook’ section and see a grid of all your recent photos.

Woven automatically pulls photos from all your social media accounts. There’s no manual dragging and dropping. Instead, Woven keeps track of recent updates across all your accounts, and any new photos are instantly added into your Woven account.

Here are all of the social media accounts that are currently integrated with Woven:

• Flickr
• Facebook
• Picasa
• Instagram
• Windows Live
• Photobucket
• Dropbox
• Shutterfly
• SmugMug

It’s important to note that Woven doesn’t pull photos from friends’ Facebook accounts. So if you’re planning on stalking your Facebook friends from the safety of a third-party app, forget about it.

If you’re looking for a free, simple, and effective way to manage all your photos, then Woven can certainly help. Check it out today on the Amazon app store.