But it's not a great all-round Android device. It's limited and confusing.
I've set it to accept "other" sources of apps, and it seems to work. But for some reason downloads/installations from the PlayGoogle app store seem to take hours.
And I have to do something. See here, I had to look up something on Wikipedia, and this is the view I get in Silk, the Amazon browser:I'm sorry, that's unreadable. And the crime is that there is no "reader" function in the browser that I can see, to format the text better, as with Instapaper or Apple's Safari "Reader" function. There is not even any function to change the text size. Very poor show.
(Oddly, it also took Apple yeeeears to give such functions to the iPhone and iPad browser. What's up with this? Do all developers have 30/20 vision?) Desktop browsers could change text size since the beginning, and it's way more needed on small devices.
I found a Wikipedia app, that should help at least with that site (which needs to reconsider their formatting). I'm also trying to install the Dolphin Browser, which apparently allows changing of text size.
Oh, and by the way, it seems the view on the Kindle Fire HD does not even rotate!* (Which can make reading easier when lines are long). At least not when using a web browser. Again, quite poor show. Rotating views have been standard for yonks and yonks.
But again, it's a good ereader, if you like backlit screens. And it's probably a good shopping window for Amazon, though I haven't really used that. And the screen and the speakers are good.
---
*My bad. I had looked all through the settings and couldn't find anything about the rotation.
Well, after nigh 20 years of web use, I *still* sometimes forget to just google something. I think my brain is frozen. Turns out when you swipe down from the top to get the most-used settings, rotation lock is there. I may have clicked it accidentally.
My only defence is that Android icons are usually quite tiny, especially on a high-res display. I just hadn't seen it.
30 comments:
If I remember correctly Amazon Silk renders the page at server side.
Granted, I don't see why it couldn't still communicate the desired point size to the server, but it can not reflow text once it has been handed to the client.
If it can't, then that's a serious downside.
Anyway, it doesn't seem to really make the browser faster to me, or anybody else I've heard.
Oh, and by the way, it seems the view on the Kindle Fire HD does not even rotate!
What?! Oh, MY! Now, that was one step BACK, if you ask me! Not sure I want to trade that off...for an extra speaker, etc.! Very strange! (Are ya SURE? That just doesn't make sense!) :-( I was just beginning to watch a movie, today, and had decided that I was going to "treat" myself to the new Fire because of the dual speakers...for, um, "one" reason! Boo, if you can't find a rotating lock! :-(
Just found this. I'll wait awhile, I guess! ;-)
My bad. I had looked all through the settings and couldn't find anything.
Well, after nigh 20 years of web use, I *still* sometimes forget to just google something. I think my brain is frozen. Turns out when you swipe down from the top to get the most-used settings, rotation lock is there. I may have clicked it accidentally.
My only defence is that Android icons are usually quite tiny, especially on a high-res display. I just hadn't seen it.
The dual speakers are good, by the way. For example, I have an iPad stand which is great-looking and perfect for the KF. And no matter how I place it, there's always at least one speaker free.
My bad. I had looked all through the settings and couldn't find anything.
Well, after nigh 20 years of web use, I *still* sometimes forget to just google something.
Yes..."Google is my new Best Friend," I always say, these days! ;-)
I think my brain is frozen. Turns out when you swipe down from the top to get the most-used settings, rotation lock is there.
Yes...I was going to ask you about that but...got side-tracked, since writing on here. Sorry.
I may have clicked it accidentally.
Very easy to do! Just having your left thumb touch the screen, in that upper left corner, while you're doing something else, in that screen could cause that to happen...
My only defence is that Android icons are usually quite tiny, especially on a high-res display. I just hadn't seen it.
I went and "teased" myself with holding a mini, after dinking around w/my friend's 10-inch (that doesn't sound right but...you know what I mean! Doesn't hurt to do a play on words, every once in awhile, neither; keeps people awake! ;-) and...I am convinced that I'm really NOT interested in having a full-sized Pad! It's too durn heavy and...I just LOVE the Kindle size! That mini sure is thin! So...the dude said that they should be rolling out bluetooth/wireless keyboards, for mini's, any day; before Christmas, anyway. I was kind of surprised to hear this but...man...that would be cool! I have decided that I just want a keyboard but...it needn't be attached. In fact, I'm quite a "non-conventional writer:" I throw my legs over the side of a chair (dang but that looks like a cool chair, too! My version is a little more slouched!) and lean back and don't use a table, all the time, so...a separate keyboard would probably be fine!
Well...there's that and...then, I "fell in love" with...an AirBook! Oh MY!! INSTANT "LOVE!" :-P (But...that's for another time! Right now, I'm trying to decide if I would like to get the new KF HD or...consider the mini...or some other 7-inch tablet where a wireless keyboard would work. :-) I just want something portable...where I can type, when I want to, and I don't mind carrying a little keyboard around.
Yes, many people, including me, are suspecting that the Mini is for many purposes the more natural size. But it couldn't have been made three years ago!
Did he say what brand keyboard it would be, Apple? Sounds interesting.
Oh, your comment had for some reason got caught in the spam filter. Maybe the link was part of it. But we never know, and usually the filters are good.
Yes, many people, including me, are suspecting that the Mini is for many purposes the more natural size. But it couldn't have been made three years ago!
Right...of course! :-P
Did he say what brand keyboard it would be, Apple? Sounds interesting.
He didn't and...I didn't think to ask; I was, still, "chewing" on the "fire hose" of information that he just "dumped" on me, while I was asking him a gazillion questions! :-/
I happened to look up "bluetooth keyboards for the mini iPad" and found one that is, technically, a "mini," itself, but...I'm *so* TIRED of "all things thumb-pecked (texting! YUCK!)" and just want a more portable keyboard! As it stands, Amazon has some pretty cool "travel-sized" keyboards...which are probably going to be as small as I want to go. That KeyPad Ultra looks quite interesting. I like the fact that it all goes together so neatly. But, yes, that is the regular Pad, as well, so...hoping they will have something on the way, for a mini.
Also...that folding Matias looks pretty interesting, to me! There's my "flexibility" option, right there! :-D Full keyboard, as well...INCLUDING a number pad, for the times a person might need that! I, actually, prefer to have that! Very cool! Very appealing! Must re-visit this idea, again, soon! :-) And, then, of course, finding a bag that works for everything; you know how we are/I am w/that issue, as well! See how similar?! Can't help it! :-D
Looking @ that Matias, again, I'm thinking "I WANT!" :-P Now, to afford the mini Pad! And...the store doesn't even have any in, right now, so...I'll probably just wait, until after Christmas blows over, 'cuz, pretty soon, it's going to go into "desperation" mode, everywhere, what with everyone wanting to get them; I'll wait for the dusk to clear; I'm not that "hard up!" lol! I would just like to, FINALLY, be set up more "compactly" (especially weight and size-wise) than I am, right now! TIRED of lugging around a laptop just because the KF is so cumbersome to try to type on! And...I'm not terribly fond of "thumbing" my way through the day on my day! Oh...did I already mention how SICK I am of "texting" e-mails?! *So* time-consuming! :-(
I have the Matias.
I should test it more, barely used it.
It's the biggest of my portables (Save Apple's, which was not really a Portable.), but it is full sized, and compromise-free, I think.
But it's rather bigger than the mini! And it does not seem to have a lock to hold it flat, so if you use it in your lap you'll need a flat surface under it.
The Matias is the real deal for typing.
But do notice the size. It weighs 430 grams, 1.5 times the weight of the Mini! :-)
I have the Matias.
I wondered why it sounded familiar!
I should test it more, barely used it.
Would be interesting to hear what you think about it. No pressure! :-D
It's the biggest of my portables (Save Apple's, which was not really a Portable.)
I know; saw them, yesterday.
, but it is full sized, and compromise-free, I think.
Yes; sez so, right in the advertising (right under the picture).
But it's rather bigger than the mini!
True dat BUT...if folds in HALF so...that's really the only place where I care how long it is; the transport. :-) So...folded in half, it measures to 10 inches. Close enough...for now! What's 3 inches diff...behind the zipper...[of a case, I mean]?! LOL!! :-D (sorry...being silly, again! Hope you're OK w/dat! :-)
And it does not seem to have a lock to hold it flat, so if you use it in your lap you'll need a flat surface under it.
Well...that's a little bit annoying! I wonder if anyone has ever written them a letter about that; that seems sort of lame! :-(
(frick sake; I am, now, on my THIRD captcha! I can't read the crap!!!!!) ROFLMAO: I was given "10 rterrr," this time! No...can't see that! :-P
The Matias is the real deal for typing.
But do notice the size. It weighs 430 grams, 1.5 times the weight of the Mini! :-)
That's FUNNY BUT...I, really, don't care! :-) It's just not that "dead weight" of the fricken regular Pad that I would need to deal with, were I using a regular Pad; in fact, my LAP or a tabletop will "carry" it! :-D Of course, it is nice to get a light and portable keyboard but...there don't seem to be too many other options; and...it would feel really nice to just have a keyboard where a person's hands are placed, comfortably, vs. those silly travel versions where the hands are cramped together; no? :-)
What was the name of that brand that stopped making theirs? Started w/"K;" didn't it? Wonder what they're up to! Or...contacting Matias and seeing if they have any plans for a lighter "mini" version where the thing LOCKS!!
ROFLMAO! Now, "one" just needs to have a silly amount of "expendable" income to purchase this one! WILD! I don't know if I could get used to this! Looks like they've got nuttin' else on the menu...right now, anyway! Boo! :-(
(Captcha #2: titckno 176 Google must know who I am conversing with! ;-)
Aha... the AmazonBasics Bluetooth Keyboard looks really interesting. Cheap and just about the right size and weight, almost full sized, but compact. (You can fite two on a letter sized piece of paper.)
First thing I've heard of AmazonBasics. Interesting. A supermarket here, Sainsburys, have a Basics line, quite decent products (like shampoo) at very low prices.
Aha... the AmazonBasics Bluetooth Keyboard looks really interesting. Cheap and just about the right size and weight, almost full sized, but compact.
True! Funny...I showed it to you but I got hung up on the ones, below! lol! I had forgotten about that one! :-/
(You can fite two on a letter sized piece of paper.)
Took me a minute to figure out what you were trying to say, here. I guess I'm in a rather "focused and literal" kind of mood, today! :-) Let's see: length: 10 inch. I guess same as the folding one. (I had gotten quite "attached" to that one, already! lol!
I sure like the price! :-D
First thing I've heard of AmazonBasics.
I would never even have noticed, had you not just pointed that out!
Interesting.
'tis...
A supermarket here, Sainsburys, have a Basics line, quite decent products (like shampoo) at very low prices.
Cool! Perhaps you "should" walk over and see if they have one; buy it and tell me what you think of it! :-D It would be a good "excuse" to get out and stretch that "old" body of yours; TEASE me some MORE! ;-)
Make sure the Matias is bluetooth. Mine is just USB, it seems, and tablets generally don't have that.
See also;
http://ereaderjoy.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/four-portable-keyboards-for-ios_3030.html
(Did you read my comments to your last post? Looks like they ended up in the spam hopper, as well. :-(
Make sure the Matias is bluetooth.
Yes...sez "bluetooth" right on the description. :-)
Mine is just USB,
Bummer. After reading this, I seemed to remember how you used to say that you didn't have much luck w/bluetooth keyboards and their reliability, as well. That's a drag, as well, if that is still the case! I wonder if the technology(?) has gotten better, since then.
...it seems, and tablets generally don't have that.
Yes. Good advice. Thanks.
See also;
http://ereaderjoy.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/four-portable-keyboards-for-ios_3030.html
Yes...there it is; that cutie the 'Think Outside!' But...BINGO! They've even got that pin, for the lap use, to prevent it from caving in! COOL!! :-D Here is the i-Connex that you wrote (in that review) that you liked...and...your link lead to Amazon and is no longer being carried by them BUT it is by 'Freedom Input.' :-D MORE research; there's MORE keyboards, on that link!! DUDE!! Now, imagine the mini set up like this! (although, I sure wouldn't want that keyboard much smaller!) :-P I'm not entirely sure I'm jazzed re: the "stand;" it doesn't look like it has any adjustability, whatsoever. Disappointing! :-(
I have used an iPhone and the Think Outside to write in a cafe. That's really fun. Then you put both in your pocket after.
--
Yes, a couple more of your comments stopped by the spam filter.
Hmm... try only putting links in small, extra comments posts. We'll see if it's the links doing it.
Matias answered me:
---
Hello Eolake!
How have you been?
Sorry, these keyboards do not lock open, ever.
My boss ran into trouble with hinges that locked open staying locked and
not closing again so went with the current version. He simply places the
hinge on his thigh instead of between his legs when travelling and has no
issues.
Barbara
I have used an iPhone and the Think Outside to write in a cafe. That's really fun. Then you put both in your pocket after.
Yes; cool! Wish I could afford an iPhone and contract...much like a LOT of "poor middle-class Americans" seem to be able to afford! But...yes...that would be cool! :-D
--
Yes, a couple more of your comments stopped by the spam filter.
Hmm... try only putting links in small, extra comments posts. We'll see if it's the links doing it.
Yes; you're right; that's probably what is happening. I don't usually do so many links...on your comments, here. :-) Will try...just for grins, in a bit, I guess. :-) I'll tell you about my laptop "drama," in a separate post.
Matias answered me
You're my HERO! That was sweet of you to write them; thanks for doing that! :-D
---
My boss ran into trouble with hinges that locked open staying locked and
not closing again so went with the current version.
Makes sense to me.
He simply places the
hinge on his thigh instead of between his legs when travelling and has no
issues.
Good to know! Thanks for sharing with me/"us" (the community..."at large;" your "public service" to ALL of us. I/"we" appreciate it! :-)
Earlier models of the iPhone are sold for *Much* reduced prices, I think even the iPhone 4, which is awesome. (I don't know how the contracts are though.)
Yeah...I am not "allowed" a 'Smart Phone' contract; it costs 170/month, for me, and...I don't think Sprint offers them, yet, either; they've been locked out of the whole "i" thing...if I remember, correctly. Good idea, though; thanks. :-)
Eo, have you dinged around on your Matias keyboard, some more? I got the Kindle Fire HD and I am, now, working towards the purchase of a wireless/blue-tooth keyboard. I don't want to lug around on my laptop, anymore. :-(
I'm, especially, loving the dual speakers, myself, and...the front-facing camera so that I can Skype w/it, now! Cool! Working on down-sizing and still being able to have the capabilities of a laptop. :-)
And...really love that they have it so that you can view videos from either landscape position; the first one kind of annoyed me w/the position of the cord and whatnot.
Now, I just need to figure out the keyboard and...the best writing app (I have the 'My Writing Spot' which I think you recommended). I see that they have OfficeSuite Pro (for $14.99), as well...which is Microsoft's Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Cool! (Oooh, just saw that they also offer the OfficeSuite Font Package, as well...although it doesn't seem to be very good; couldn't even get a full 2 stars...with 114 reviews! OUCH!!) Might just get that, as well. One of the self-publishers accepts MS Word files; might be a "good enough" start. :-)
So far, I only have a couple (OK 3) disappointments w/the new Kindle: not happy w/how difficult it is to figure out where the on/off button is and...the volume buttons; which is up/down. Grrr! I think I'll use some nail polish or something to mark the "on" button and, perhaps, the "up" volume.
And...I was surprised to see the lag on the screen fill, when scrolling...at least on Facebook. Disappointing. And...I almost feel that the screen, on the first rev, is clearer than this HD screen! Quite disappointed...'cuz I have sold my first one to pay for this one. :-(
I haven't found a foldable keyboard which is *really* good.
Take note if the Office suite actually will let you create and edit documents. Mostly it's for viewing, on tablets.
"not happy w/how difficult it is to figure out where the on/off button is and...the volume buttons; which is up/down."
I know! that's really lousy design. It stands on my bedside table and I have to fumble for them every time.
I haven't noticed any lags. (Though I don't surfe much on it.) Sounds weird, it shouldn't have that. Go to youtube and see if other samples have. If not, complain to Amazon, you'll probably get another one.
I haven't found a foldable keyboard which is *really* good.
Yeah. Next thing to try to figure out. I don't much care for the continuous popping up of the screen keyboard...sigh...
Take note if the Office suite actually will let you create and edit documents. Mostly it's for viewing, on tablets.
Yeah...I'm going to hafta look @ that closer, one of these days. It sounded/looked good, when I discovered it but...seeing some reviews with "SCAM" on it so...thanks for the warning!
"not happy w/how difficult it is to figure out where the on/off button is and...the volume buttons; which is up/down."
I know! that's really lousy design. It stands on my bedside table and I have to fumble for them every time.
So...here's some things that I am trying to do (just have to LAUGH at the design of this stuff, sometimes; HECKA ANNOYING!!):
If it was me, first off, I got a 360 Kindle Fire HD Case; LOVE it! I would set it, horizontally, with the camera in top position. To the right and to the very bottom of the volume/power button cut-out, you would reach to turn it on. So...if you set it up, that way, after each use, then, you'll know where that pesky little button is, without too much of a search headache!
I laugh because of how ANNOYING the design placement is of their fricken usb & HDMI plugs are. "WHY there, Guys?! Why couldn't the plugs have just been put on the OPPOSITE SIDE of the volume/power buttons, 'cuz there is NUTTIN' on that side to get cluttered!!!!!!!" Because...that makes, what I just wrote, above, IMPOSSIBLE to do; so...a new configuration needs to be set up, if it is charging, so that the cords aren't damaged and obstructed: plug to top; power, etc. nitch to the left side; and, now, power button is in the top position there; see? :-D
I haven't noticed any lags. (Though I don't surfe much on it.) Sounds weird, it shouldn't have that. Go to youtube and see if other samples have. If not, complain to Amazon, you'll probably get another one.
I haven't had time to work on this part, anymore. All I know is that it is much worse than my old Fire which is, now, gone...so...I must try to "be brave" and "just deal with it," for a little while; I am barely home but 3 times/week, these days; just long enough to do some clothes and have a decent night's sleep, and...it's "off to the races," again! :-P
Post a Comment