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Kindle Nation Daily Digest
Kindle Nation Daily Digest – October 12, 2011
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Now Live on the Web: This Week’s Kindle Nation WEEKENDER, including all the info you need on the $199 Kindle Fire, the $99/$149 Kindle Touch, and the new $79 Kindle!
In This Issue
- They’re Here, and They’re Gamechangers! Amazon Announces Four New Kindles at Stunning Prices, Including a $199 Kindle Fire Tablet, a $99 Kindle Touch, and a New $79 Kindle Base Model
- Links to More Information on the New Kindles
- The Kindle Touch At a Glance
- The Kindle Fire at a Glance
- Kindle Nation Briefs and Bargains – October 1, 2011
- Over 1,100 Free Kindle Books, Sponsored by Sandra Balzo’s UNCOMMON GROUNDS
They’re Here, and They’re Gamechangers!
Amazon Announces Four New Kindles at Stunning Prices, Including a $199 Kindle Fire Tablet, a $99 Kindle Touch, and a New $79 Kindle Base Model
By Steve Windwalker
October 1, 2011
Amazon held a press conference in New York Wednesday morning, and Kindle Nation was well represented by correspondent Len Edgerly of The Kindle Chronicles, who provided our readers with a live blog of a truly dazzling event marked by the launch of four brand new Kindles — include the new Kindle Fire tablet — at prices that shocked us all.
One of the recurring themes from Jeff Bezos and other Amazon spokespersons this week has been these new Kindles are high-end products at low-end prices. And just to put a punctuation mark on that value proposition, although I am not going to attempt a direct comparison of the iPad and the Kindle Fire until I have both units in my hands, I will say this: I spent $599 for my 32GB wi-fi only iPad (plus another $100+ on sales tax and accessories), but I just bought all four of the new Kindle models released this week for a grand total of $526. That’s a family of Kindles that will keep my entire household busy feeding their brains.
It will be interesting to see how things develop with regard to usage patterns between the Kindle Fire tablet and the three new Kindles to which Amazon refers as a dedicated readers. But two things are clear from the start:
- The Fire is going to be a huge success, and it has already taken over the #1 bestseller spot in the entire Amazon Store.
- The Fire will leverage and be leveraged by every other product sold by Amazon to an unparalleled extent, as witnessed by its placement across the top not only of the website’s front page, which is nothing new for a Kindle device, but across all of Amazon’s main pages for print books, ebooks, music, tv and movies, and apps.
There’s a lot of information to share with you, but we’re going to try to strip it down and proceed from the simple to the sublime, with links to more information and video for those who want to read more.
In that spirit, let’s begin with a very simple comparison chart for the hardware Kindle models that were unveiled Wednesday:
COMPARING THE NEW KINDLES
| Model | Kindle* | Kindle Touch* | Kindle Fire |
| Price | $79.00 | $99/$149 | $199.00 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | $99 Wi-Fi Only; $149 Free 3G+Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Release Date | Avail. now | 11/21/2011 | 11/15/2011 |
| Covered by 30-day no-hassle return policy | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Content | Millions ofbooks, newspapers,
magazines, games, and docs |
Millions ofbooks, newspapers,
magazines, games, and docs |
18 million movies,TV shows, apps,
games, songs, books, newspapers, audiobooks, magazines, and docs |
| Web browser | Experimentalbrowser | Experimentalbrowser | Amazon Silk cloud-accelerated browser |
| Display | 6″ E Ink Pearl | 6″ E Ink Pearl | 7″ Vibrant Color IPS |
| Battery Life | 1 month | 2 months | 8 hours continuous reading or
7.5 hours video playback |
| Cloud storage | Free for allAmazon content | Free for allAmazon content | Free for allAmazon content |
| Dimensions | 6.5″ x 4.5″
x 0.34″ |
6.8″ x 4.7″x 0.40″ | 7.5″ x 4.7″x 0.45″ |
| Weight | 5.98 ounces | 7.5/7.8 ounces | 14.6 ounces |
| Interface | 5-way controller | multi-touch | multi-touch |
| *Models with Special Offers | Kindle | Kindle Touch | Not yet |
| *Prices with Special Offers | $79.00 | $99/$149 | Not yet |
| *Models without Special Offers | Kindle | Kindle Touch | Kindle Fire |
| *Prices without Special Offers | $109.00 | $139/$189 | $199.00 |
Oops, here’s a late addition: The Kindle Touch has Text-to-Speech, but the Kindle Fire and the $79 base model Kindle do not.
The Kindle Nation Weekender – July 23, 2011: Announcing the Most Powerful Kindle Bargain-Hunting Tools Ever!
Greetings from Kindle Nation!
( GENERAL LINK FOR THIS ISSUE: http://conta.cc/WEEKENDER-072311 )
Things have come to a head here at Kindle Nation.
Don’t get me wrong. We haven’t quit doing any of what we had been doing. In this issue you’ll still find news about new Kindle features, other ebook readers, benchmarks in the ongoing Kindle Revolution, and insightful analysis by Publetariat founder (and Kindle Nation general manager) April Hamilton on ebook business-to-consumer models.
But we never forget how important it is for us to deliver value to our readers, and to respond to your requests. So — in addition to information on Amazon’s Kindle BIG DEAL ebook sale this week, the new Kindle Textbook Rental program that was announced the other day, and chances to win a free Kindle or a $25 gift card — we are today unleashing the most powerful Kindle bargain-hunting tools ever, and we are announcing them here first.
It’s not just one thing.
When we launched Kindle Nation Free Book Tool with category search and sort features several weeks ago, we immediately began to get emails asking for additional categories. We got right to work on that, and today we are delivering a full set of genres and categories in our Free Book Tool. Just navigate down to this week’s Free Book Alert to see the complete list — all of them linked so you can check any of them out with a single click.
But we didn’t stop there, because the key to saving money on Kindle is not just the ability to find free and bargain books, it’s the ability to find the free and bargain books that you want.
We are also, today, unleashing an amazing Kindle Nation Search Tool for Quality 99-Centers. There are tens of thousands of cheap books on Kindle, but this tool, and with an amazing array of search and sort categories and features, will allow you to hone in one the best books — those with 4-star ratings from at least 4 reviewers — priced at 99 cents and below. Sunshine Deals and Big Deals may come and go, but from now on you’ll always be able to count on Kindle Nation Deals.
A little further below you’ll find a full set of linked categories for quality 99-cent books, but first….
… yes, first, I just wanted to call your attention to our sponsors — like the weekly sponsor of this issue and our Romance of the Week and Thriller of the Week features. Their sponsorships pay for our ability to hire the web developers and staff to create the features that we deliver each week with Kindle Nation, so … well … I’m just saying. What goes around comes around. Don’t ever buy any books you don’t want, but when you see something of interest by one of our sponsors, I hope you’ll jump on it. And thanks. Nuf sed, I imagine.
And here are the categories in our new Quality 99-Centers Book Search Tool:
- All Quality 99-Centers
-
FICTION
- Classics
- Erotica
- Fantasy
- Gay & Lesbian
- General
- Horror
- Literary
- Mystery & Thriller
- Romance
- Science Fiction
-
NONFICTION
- Advice & How-To
- Arts & Entertainment
- Biography & Memoir
- Business & Investing
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- General
- History
- Lifestyle & Home
- Parenting & Families
- Politics & Current Events
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Travel
-
- YA & Kids
Enjoy,
Steve
Steve
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Don’t have a Kindle 
?
? “The book is a sailing person’s dream….a lot of seafaring terms and fun details for folks who enjoy being on board a ship/boat. The beautiful landscape of Tahiti was also well described, along with some mystery and, of course, romance.”
–Elizabeth
Here’s the set-up:
Who hasn’t dreamt of sailing in the South Pacific as the owner of a sleek, gleaming yacht? Ben Beck finds that dream job as a crew member sailing on just such a ship. With a history of working ‘too good to be true’ opportunities, he still can’t believe his luck. Sailing excursions in Tahiti for a year then sell the yacht and get a nice chunk of the proceeds.
The ad said, “No Sailing Experience Necessary” and he had the qualifications. His fellow group members include Carl, the millionaire boss, Duane, a hard-to-please captain, Purrette, a serious beauty and Rudy, a potential danger.
After a confusing start of mis-information, Ben isn’t sure of exactly what he’s gotten himself into. How many partners does he have? Where exactly are they going?
And then there’s Tahiti.
Can they sail the southern seas without any mishaps? When Ben finds out what’s really going on, can he save the dream?
One Reviewer Notes:
“When something is too good to be true, it almost invariably is. Better Than Ever, Again is a story of Ben Beck, who follows his dreams of sailing the South Seas despite having no nautical experience whatsoever. A crew filled with offbeat characters, plenty of danger, and Tahiti, Better Than Ever, Again is a quirky and fun read that will prove hard to put down. “
–Midwest Book Review
- This Week’s Kindle Nation Sponsor: Better Than Ever, Again, by Mitch Davies
- Four Days Left for Amazon’s BIG DEAL!
- Amazon Launches Kindle Textbook Rental Program; Promises Savings Up to 80% for Students
- Less Than 48 Hours Left to Enter! Win a Free Kindle 3G in this Kindle Nation Sweepstakes Sponsored by Bestselling Novelist M.J. Rose
- If You Count Titles Available for Pre-Order…. Kindle Store eBook Inventory Reaches the Million-Title Mark!
- Write a Review for Chance to Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Over 100 Free Kindle Romances, Sponsored by a Must-Read Romance of the Week: Kailin Gow’s BEAUTIFUL BEINGS
- eBook News You Won’t Want to Miss, From Our Sister Site, BookGorilla
- Over 100 Free Kindle Thrillers, Sponsored by an Edgy 5-Star Thriller of the Week: Brent Battles’ SICK
- Eileen Schuh’s compelling debut novel THE TRAZ confronts young readers with life’s complicated and unsettling issues, but it also provides a guide to help illuminate these challenges – 12 straight rave reviews, just $2.99 on Kindle
- Here’s a new release from Kindle Nation fave and NY Times bestselling novelist Victorine Lieske: THE OVERTAKING
- Publetariat Dispatch: Could the Subscription Model Work For Trade Publishers?
- Guest Kindle Nation Post: Experience Overwhelming Relief with THE BOOK OF AWFUL, by Romi Moondi
- Think “Huck Finn meets Kerouac meets Catch-22 against the backdrop of a 60s haze” and you might be ready for George O’Har’s humorous 5-star road novel THE THOUSAND HOUR CLUB
- Kindle Nation Free Book Alert: Over 800 Free Contemporary Titles on Kindle – With New Search Categories!
Free Online Now: Kindle Nation Weekly Digest for 6.17.2011 – Interactive Novels, eBook News You Won’t Want to Miss, and More!
Click here to read the entire issue free online now
eBook News You Won’t Want to Miss
Last Chance to Enter to Win a Kindle Tablet (Sweepstakes Ends June 21)
(See Below for Details)
In This Issue
- This Week’s Sponsor: TAG by Simon Royle
- Publetariat Dispatch: Interactive Novels? Not So Much.
- eBook News You Won’t Want to Miss, From Our Sister Site BookGorilla.com
- We’re STILL Giving Away a Free Kindle Tablet And There’s STILL Time to Enter!
- Don’t miss the latest reviews at Kindle Kids’ Corner!
- A New Source of Help for Authors and Indie Publishers
- Kindle Nation Free Book Alert: Over 800 Free Contemporary Titles on Kindle!
Click here to read the entire issue free online now
BACK ISSUES FROM THE LAST MONTH:
- June 17, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly
- FKNS – June 16, 2011 – GUARDIANS OF EDEN by Leslie DuBois
- FKNS – June 13, 2011 – “KISSING KELLI” by Kathy Carmichael (6/14/2011)
- June 12, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly (6/13/2011)
- FKNS – June 11, 2011 – THE PACK by L.M. Preston (6/11/2011)
- FKNS – June 9, 2011 – BARBADOS HEAT by Don Bruns (6/9/2011)
- FKNS – June 7, 2011 – STILL COMING by Joseph Flynn (6/7/2011)
- June 3, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly (6/3/2011)
- FKNS – June 2 2011 (6/2/2011)
- FKNS – EASY INNOCENCE, 5.28.2011 (5/28/2011)
- FKNS – May 27, 2011 – Skinny Thinking for Men (5/27/2011)
- May 27, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly (5/27/2011)
- 5*F MAY 25 2011 (5/25/2011)
- FKNS May 23, 2011 – TO SPEAK FOR THE DEAD (5/23/2011)
- FKNS – May 20, 2011 – DEEDEE DIVINE’S TOTALLY SKEWED GUIDE TO LIFE (5/21/2011)
- May 20, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly (5/20/2011)
- FKNS – May 18, 2011 – VIRTUAL STRANGERS by Susanne O’Leary and Ola Zaltin (5/18/2011)
- FKNS – May 16, 2011: TWO STORIES by Chris Meeks, author of LOVE AT ABSOLUTE ZERO (5/16/2011)
Kindle Nation Weekly Digest for 6.13.2011 – DEADLINES, DEADLINES! Don’t Let These Kindle Deals Expire Without Taking Advantage!
Click here to read the entire issue free online now
Kindle Sunshine Deals expire June 13;
Last Chance to Enter to Win a Kindle Tablet (Sweepstakes Ends June 21)
(See Below for Details)
In This Issue
- This Week’s Sponsor: The House of Sherbet by Simon Dale
- Dimes to Dollars: Kindle’s Slice of Amazon Revenues Rising
- CITI Analyst Estimates 16 Million Kindle Sales in 2011; 26 Million Kindles and 752 Million Kindle Books in 2012 … And We Think He’s Right
- SUNSHINE DEALS at Kindle! The Biggest Sale Ever on Desirable Kindle Titles Expires Wednesday Night, June 15
- We’re STILL Giving Away a Free Kindle Tablet And There’s STILL Time to Enter!
- Amazon’s Sunshine Deals May Influence a Wider Range Of Publishers’ Prices on Kindle … and That Would Be a Good Thing
- Don’t miss the latest reviews at Kindle Kids’ Corner!
- Kindle Nation Free Book Alert: Over 650 Free Contemporary Titles on Kindle!
Click here to read the entire issue free online now
BACK ISSUES FROM THE LAST MONTH:
- FKNS – June 13, 2011 – “KISSING KELLI” by Kathy Carmichael (6/14/2011)
- June 12, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly (6/13/2011)
- FKNS – June 11, 2011 – THE PACK by L.M. Preston (6/11/2011)
- FKNS – June 9, 2011 – BARBADOS HEAT by Don Bruns (6/9/2011)
- FKNS – June 7, 2011 – STILL COMING by Joseph Flynn (6/7/2011)
- June 3, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly (6/3/2011)
- FKNS – June 2 2011 (6/2/2011)
- FKNS – EASY INNOCENCE, 5.28.2011 (5/28/2011)
- FKNS – May 27, 2011 – Skinny Thinking for Men (5/27/2011)
- May 27, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly (5/27/2011)
- 5*F MAY 25 2011 (5/25/2011)
- FKNS May 23, 2011 – TO SPEAK FOR THE DEAD (5/23/2011)
- FKNS – May 20, 2011 – DEEDEE DIVINE’S TOTALLY SKEWED GUIDE TO LIFE (5/21/2011)
- May 20, 2011 – Kindle Nation Weekly (5/20/2011)
- FKNS – May 18, 2011 – VIRTUAL STRANGERS by Susanne O’Leary and Ola Zaltin (5/18/2011)
- FKNS – May 16, 2011: TWO STORIES by Chris Meeks, author of LOVE AT ABSOLUTE ZERO (5/16/2011)