28 replies to this topic

[Mt_Rider]

Wow, that's a Happy Mother's day, Arby! Yeah, the Kindle, etc are certainly a portable way of having a whole library. And Internet access too? Coool. All those resource books you can download.

MtRider [...never too many books!!!! ]

[windmorn]

@ Jeepers - Aww shucks Thanks Jeepers.

@ Mt_Rider - no ipods don't have sd cards. I think they did that to make you spend more money to buy the larger storage capacity. They cost about the same to make, but they jack the price up for the higher storage ones. If you change your email address, just use the one you signed up with to sign in with Amazon. You can change it in the my account section.

@ Arby - could you use the gift card toward the food saver? You can get a usb keyboard to type directly to your Fire. You could use Google Documents for free and have access from just about any device. I have had trouble with format staying the same if I transfer it to an office program, but I think they fixed it. I haven't used it too much since I lost my job at the school a couple of years ago. There's also a quick office app. I've got the free one to read docs, but I think the paid version might let you create them. Yes it does rotate so you can read in landscape mode instead of vertical. If you pull down the little gray bar at the top, you can turn on and off the screen rotation.

[windmorn]

I forgot to add to the above, if anyone is looking at buying an ipod check out the Samsung Galaxy players. The 5" one has a screen (larger than an entire ipod) and is only $40 more than the 8g ipod and has expandable memory and can play flash. They just came out with new ones. I think there's one about the same size as the ipod, which IS much more pocket friendly. If dd had gotten hers before I got the fire, I might not have gotten the fire. It's nearly as big and can do most of her school work that's on the pc on her player, plus has access to kindle and nook books. I don't look for free books there very much, even though I can get them on my phone because to me the selection isn't as good and I have a harder time finding them.

If you want to personalize your kindles or almost any device check out http://www.decalgirl.com/. They have 100's of designs to choose from. They are removable and last. DS has had some on one of his devices for years. It is one he doesn't play as much anymore, but they are still stuck and look just as good as when he put them on.

I got a Klear Kase for the Fire. It is waterproof and provides protection from falls. Since it's clear, the decals show through as well. It was kind of pricey, but worth the protection with dd using it - she was really hard on electronics until this past 6 months or so.

[arby]

Mt Rider -- I know the kindle fire which is 199$ has web access. Not sure about the mid or first version of kindle however. Just check on amazon to see if they do.

Windmorn- I was able to order the stylus for the kindle touch key board. Its not bad but I figured the stylus is cleaner and more definite than trying to touch it all the time with my fingers which are square shaped.

Not sure the keyboard for usb , unless its specifically set up for kindle , would work because there is no regular usb connection point on the kindle fire.

I found the Microsoft Office ( temp) program you are allowed to use and activated it on this new HP laptop, but am glad I saved a test doc because when I looked at 'all programs' later, could not find this particular temp program on that list and no shortcut to open it and just had to click on the 1doc I had saved! It takes a bit to re-download this bitty program but at least the format is Office Word. ( the re-download happens automatically so its on the microsoft site I guess?)

A bit tedious but at least its something to use if I don't lose it in the meantime!


I AM going to try and start a new doc to label it specifically for Word doc use for now until I can save for the Office program costs.

Going to set that second doc up ......


Otherwise I have Abiword which is a free word processing program from download.com

I did check the way amazon kindle helps you do ebook publishing.... and its different than most other places ..

I have info on all the current websites and their deals to get this done because even though you can create a pdf, tis hard to change it over , so these websites offer help to make sure formats change over and there were suggestions for editing and covers and such things. Prices were not bad at all and on my tiny budget its the way to go.
I was thinking of a list of a series of books I could write , that really would work for me, subject wise anyhow, too...
wrote a list on a doc and saved it, or I thought I did???? Can't find it... so have to go do list again.

( already have two started on that subject as it is so why not make it a whole series?)

Edited by arby, 15 May 2012 - 10:04 AM.

[windmorn]

You can get a USB to Micro adapter if it the keyboard doesn't come with one. I haven't used one, but I've looked at them. Let me do a little more checking on this one. I've looked at keyboards that came up in a search for a keybord for kindle fire, but I didn't go much further. I haven't found a definitve answer on if they actually work with the fire, but there are adapters to make the usb fit.

The other thing I was going to tell you is when I use the Fire, I turn it upside down with screen rotation on. I found if I don't turn it upside down, I tend to hit the off button at the bottom. I usually lock it as well, especially if I'm laying down. I don't like the screen rotating if I change posistions. Luckily the skin I bought for it looks the same upside down as it does right side up.

[arby]

ok, this just had the power button, the recharge receptor which is small , and the headphone receptor .

I will check back later, have things I need to do afk..... like get a meal in me! ETC ETC

[Jeepers]

Congrats on your new Kindle!

[arby]

thanks Jeepers !

[arby]

ok, got some cool apps for the kindle fire last night. Including that edible plants dictionary, most common ones found, it can help for review.

Also went ahead and spent 2.99 for the more complete ASL sign language app and also got the free one for ABC signing. You never know when you may come across someone who needs to use signing and its good for quiet communications when outdoors and such too , if needed.

Picked up spanish and french apps that were free, some were quite extensive. something you can refresh your memory with .....not complete however , still it was free and I need to do everything I can to brush up. Either language can be handy here, or down in TX if I ever get that far again.

vocabulary builders for GRE and SAT, that should help me alot. I am so rusty!

one maze game that is cute . not sure if it works offline, if so good for when I have to wait around at VA stuff. if I dont feel like studying vocabulary , lol.

Calculator stuff and an appts app and stuff too. even a diary app. memo notes, kitchen timer, flashlight that you can change colors on , and a candle which is pretty nice lighting. If needed.
Others can't recall all of them, but there were quite a few free.

but getting it set up. Still have to download the other books in my amazon library . Is there a way to highlight and download more than one at a time?

Edited by arby, 06 June 2012 - 06:56 PM.