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Posts Tagged ‘Gifts’

Amazon’s 2009 Success – Due To Highly Gifted Kindle Reader

January 13, 2010

Amazon must be absolutely delighted with the performance of its Kindle reader family in 2009. The Kindle 2.0 was launched in February and the large format DX followed shortly afterwards in June. The Kindle very rapidly became Amazon’s top selling product – even before the international launch of the Kindle 2.0 in October.

During the course of the 2009 festive season, the Kindle achieved the status of “most gifted” product ever for Amazon. More Kindle books were sold on Christmas day than traditional paperbacks and hardbacks. That was most likely due to all the lucky new Kindle owners who found one of Amazon’s readers in their Christmas stockings of course. Having got it out of the box, it would have been only natural for users to want to test their new toy. This would probably have taken the form of logging on to the Amazon Kindle store (wirelessly of course) and downloading a few Kindle e-books.

Nevertheless, selling more Kindle books than paperbacks and hardbacks is still a significant milestone. Whilst some may think that the way this was achieved was slightly artificial then perhaps that simply confirms the Kindle’s suitability for the Amazon way of doing business.

Needless to say, Amazon’s competitors have been keeping a watchful eye on Amazon’s success and taking steps to ensure that they secure a share of the developing e-book reader market. There’s a long list of companies who have their own e-book readers under development right now. It reads like a role call of electronics manufacturing giants. Apple, Microsoft, Samsung and Sony are just a few of the big names who will compete with Amazon during 2010. Barnes and Noble, the book selling giant, have also launched their own “Nook” reader.

Many of the next generation of e-book readers will incorporate features which will make the current Kindle offerings look out of date. Color displays, touch screen functionality and the adoption of a standard e-book reader format which will allow e-books to be transferred across different readers, or even borrowed from digital libraries, are just a few of the options that users can anticipate.

You can be sure that Amazon will not rest on its laurels while their competition enters the market which Amazon has worked so hard to develop. The current Kindles, as innovative as they were just a few short months ago, probably bear little resemblance to what e-book readers will be like in the (very) near future. Amazon probably already has their next generation Kindle under development (the Kindle 4?) and, considering the level of drive and innovation that they have displayed thus far, Amazon will be probably be looking forward to even greater success during 2010. Kindle users can look forward to an updated, enhanced Kindle packed with new features – probably in the first half of 2010.

Learn more about the amazing Amazon Kindle reader and have a look at the full range of Kindle accessories available to help you customise it to suit your taste.

Digital Textbooks – Saving Money And Benefiting Students

December 16, 2009

The world of academic publishing is perhaps not the first thing that many people would think of when considering new and innovative technology. So it may be somewhat surprising to learn that it is exactly this very arena which is driving huge changes in the way that we read books.

The Amazon Kindle ebook reader was first launched in November 2007. At that time, it didn’t really register in the academic community. When the new Kindle 2 was released in February 2009 there was perhaps a little more interest – but not that much.

It was only with the announcement of Amazon’s Kindle DX that it became clear that our reading habits were about to be subject to major modification. The large screen of the DX, coupled with its native pdf file handling ability, made it ideal for academic textbooks containing large quantities of graphs and pictures.

Educational establishments quickly cottoned on to the fact that they could save money by using digital textbooks and e-book readers. Without the cost of paper or ink, and with none of the distribution fees which would normally be required for a physical product, e-books are a much cheaper alternative to a conventional paper book. Considerable financial savings could be made by schools, colleges and universities by making the switch to electronic textbooks.

In addition to financial considerations, updating of electronic media is much faster and easier. Currently, there is an average gap of seven years between revisions of standard textbooks. A change to digital textbooks would allow much more frequent revision and help to keep textbooks up to date and current.

Another benefit which is of interest to many academic establishments is the environmental aspects of electronic books and e-book readers. Even considering the materials used in the manufacture of the readers and the electricity required to operate them they are much more eco-friendly than the normal paper based alternative.

Whatever way you choose to look at it, the introduction of electronic textbooks makes perfect sense. They are already in use in many educational establishments and, when you look at all the potential benefits outlined above, it seems highly likely that their usage can be expected to increase rapidly in the near future.

Find out more about Amazon’s Kindle reader – including how to save money by downloading free Kindle ebooks.

What Does The Future Hold For E-Book Readers?

December 12, 2009

Amazon have had a very good year in 2009 – and a lot of the credit for that must go to their Kindle e-book reader. The original Kindle was released in November of 2007. It sold out in less than six hours and no new stock was available until April of 2008.

In February this year, Amazon released the Kindle 2 which featured several enhancements over the original. The large format Kindle DX followed shortly after in June. Amazon now had a Kindle “family” and, aided by a lot of free publicity from bestselling authors like Stephen King, partnerships with colleges and universities plus a lot of discussion in political circles, the Kindle became virtually synonymous with e-book readers.

Unsurprisingly, a number of other manufacturers were casting their eyes over the developing e-book reader market and considering how best to get their share. Right now, the list of manufacturers who have their own e-book readers under development is impressive and includes such names as Microsoft, Apple, Asus, Barnes and Noble, Sony and Plastic Logic.

Any e-book reader which displays potential is instantly dubbed the “Kindle Killer”. The technical features of each new reader are scrutinised and reported upon, especially when it incorporates a feature lacking from the current Kindle – the touch screen control of the Sony Daily Edition reader for example.

However, whilst the technical aspects of e-book readers are certainly important, they are not the be all and end all. Some of the key factors in the Kindle’s success to date were the large choice of books on Amazon’s website, the freedom to download books in under a minute wirelessly – without the need for an internet connection and without monthly fees – and Amazon’s highly trusted brand name.

Many of the new readers will have wireless connectivity, and Barnes and Noble’s Nook will offer users a choice of over 1,000,000 titles. However, the single unifying theme that seems to be developing is the emergence of a standard e-book format.

The large majority of the new readers seem to be adopting the ePub format. The Kindle however, uses a proprietary format which means that Kindle books can only be used on the Kindle reader.

Currently the Kindle is so dominant that it isn’t much of a problem. Nevertheless, it’s possible to imagine that, in the not too distant future, users may want the ability to lend books to friends and family or to port them from one type of reader to another.

The Kindle is now Amazon’s top selling product. It currently has a 60% share of the U.S. market and has recently been launched internationally. Amazon won’t be giving up their top position without a struggle. Perhaps 2010 will see the release of the Kindle 4? It will certainly include a number of functional improvements – but might it also adopt the ePub format?

Find out more about the Amazon Kindle reader and learn how you can save money by getting free Kindle ebooks direct from Amazon’s website.

A Look At Buying Twilight Products

December 5, 2009

With the increasing popularity of the twilight franchise there has also been an increase in the desire for related accessories and merchandise. We will look at a few broad categories of twilight merchandise that is available. For our purposes this list will include stationary(bookmarks),jewelry and clothing. Of course there are other items available but these are what we will focus on in this article. Let’s start with the jewelry. . .

Jewelry

There are more then a few on-line stores that carry twilight related jewelry. For the most part this takes the form of an item that has the Edward Cullen family crest in it. You will also find some pieces that are related to the Gothic movement as well. If you are looking for even more one of a kind pieces then we would suggest looking on eBay for fan made accessories. Of course this subject leads to clothing . . .

Twilight Clothing

Given that the movie wasn’t about fashion design you can’t really expect to find a lot of stylish choices here. The safest route is to stick with the authorized 100% official t-shirts. Of course there are some other clothing replicas from the movie that can be found to wear as well. It really comes down to your level of style and what you feel ok with wearing. As we finish this subject we are now presented with the final topic of twilight related stationery.

Twilight Related Stationary

Keep in mind since the movie is primarily about a love store between a human and non humans there wasn’t an emphasis on anything as mundane as stationary. Regardless of that fact you can find a large selection of twilight calendars and bookmarks at the Twilight Merchandise mall. You can also use eBay to increase your choices regarding this specific area of products.

The purpose of this article was to take a look at the broad types of Twilight related products available for use as a gift for a fan. This left us looking at stationery, jewel and clothing related to Twilight. For sure we didn’t cover all of the twilight related merchandise that is available. We feel by knowing and understanding what is available upfront your purchase decision can be more well informed.

Searching for the best deal on Twilighted Bookmark, then goto John’s internet site to get the additional facts concerning twilight new moon jacob black bookmark official licensed merchandise for your benefit.

Is The Kindle Cost Effective?

December 1, 2009

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past ten months or so, you’ll be aware of the huge buzz surrounding the Amazon Kindle ebook reader. Amazon’s Kindle 2 was launched in February of this year and they then followed up just a few short months later with the large screen Kindle DX.

The Kindle has now, in a very short time, become Amazon’s number one selling product. At the moment it is lapping up an incredible 60% share of the American e-book reader market. Amazon have now launched the Kindle 2 on the international stage – selling to more than 100 countries worldwide. A similar high level of success in the global market seems very likely.

Amazon’s Kindle is now virtually synonymous with e-book readers – but it is far from the only show in town. Consumer electronics manufacturers such as Apple, Microsoft, Sony and Barnes and Noble – to cite just a few examples from a very long list – all have their own e-book readers due for release in the immediate future. There is going to be cut-throat competition in the e-book market. In a way, it’s a compliment to Amazon that virtually any e-book reader in development which shows the slightest promise is immediately named the “Kindle Killer”.

Currently the Kindle 2 has a sales price of $ 259. Tha may be $ 100 lower than the launch price of $ 359 – but it’s still a fairly high price tag. Many analysts seem to think that a retail price of $ 150, or thereabouts, would be the magic number which would let e-book readers move from the high tech gadget arena into the mainstream marketplace. Higher levels of competition will surely force prices lower and 2010 could very well be the year that we see that $150 price tag.

If you’ve been considering treating yourself to a Kindle but have been holding off due to the cost of the device, then it might be worthwhile looking at the overall financial picture. E-books generally cost a fair a bit less than traditional paper books. They don’t use paper, ink or bindings and have no delivery costs. If you get through a book a week then you could recoup the price of your Kindle in just a few months.

Even better than cheap e-books, you can download a large selection of totally free e-books direct from Amazon’s Kindle store. Many of the free books are classics which are now out of copyright – Gulliver’s Travels, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Sherlock Holmes are just a few examples. You will also find more recent releases, possibly on special offer from publishers. In addition to completely free e-books, there are many books included among Amazon’s 360,000 Kindle titles which are available for a purely nominal fee – $ 0.01 is really quite common. You could very easily get the cost of your Kindle reader back just by using free, or low price, books for your Kindle.

Find out how to quickly and legally download free Kindle books and make your Amazon Kindle reader pay for itself in no time.

Ten Good Reasons To Treat Yourself To An Amazon Kindle

November 25, 2009

E-book readers have been available for ten years now. The original reader – the Franklin Ebookman – launched in’99, and it’s still on sale today. However, 2009 has been the year when these devices really entered into the mainstream marketplace. Right now, the Amazon Kindle reader family are the front runners. E-book readers and the downloadable books to read on them are the perfect product for Amazon. So maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that they launched two new readers in the first half of 2009.

The first to launch, in February 2009, was the Kindle 2. The large format Kindle DX – with its 9.7″ display – followed in June. If you haven’t taken any notice of these devices thus far, or if you’ve been wondering if an e-book reader is a sensible choice for you, then here are ten reasons why you might want to consider putting one of these devices on your Christmas wish list?

1. Never find yourself without something to read again. You can download a book from the Amazon website in less than a minute.

2. E-books don’t use ink, paper or bindings – and there’s no distribution. That means that your e-book is better for the environment than the equivalent traditional printed volume.

3. No need to worry about “getting connected”. Amazon use a fee free 3G wireless technology to download Kindle books.

4. You can carry a small library of book with you wherever you go. There’s enough room in the Kindle 2′s memory for 1500 books. The DX can store a mammoth colection of 3,500 books.

5. Customize your Kindle and express your personality. You can even get beautiful leather covers that will make your Kindle look more like a “real” book if you like.

6.There are over 300,000 books at the Amazon website for you to choose from – and that number is increasing every single day. There’s bound to be something that you’ll like.

7. The Kindle reader can store and play mp3 music files – so you can enjoy a little background music whilst you read your latest bestseller.

8. As well as being environmentally friendly, no printing costs and no distribution means that you will pay less money for an e-book than the equivalent print version.

9. Save money by downloading free Kindle books straight from the Amazon site. Many of these are out of copyright classics – 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Sherlock Holmes etc. – but modern books are available also.

10. Try before you buy. Download the fist chapter of most Kindle books for free so that you can be sure you’re going to like a book before you spend your hard earned cash.

Check out the Kindle soon – it’s the future of reading.

Learn more about the Amazon Kindle ebook reader, and discover how to save money by sourcing free Kindle books direct from the Amazon website.

Personalized Children’s Books

November 6, 2009

A crucial step for a child’s education is learning to read. You can make your child the star of each story. Personalized Children’s Book’s are a fun and exciting way you can help your child learn.

A personalized dedication is also included to make this a truly special gift that the child can cherish for years to come. Use the child’s name, hometown, age and much more to create an exciting reading experience where your child has the leading role in their own personalized children’s story. From being the star in their very own circus to helping Elmo learn to count, there are many adventures your child can star in with their very own personalized children’s book.

Whether is the child’s first birthday, a holiday or just because you love them, there is a wide range of books that would make great gifts for each child. Also Personalized Baby Book’s make a great baby gift for the parents of a new baby. Personalized children’s books are a great gift idea for all of the children in your life.

Your child is taken on an exciting adventure where they are the main character, or “hero” of the story. In many cases, they are joined by some of their favorite cartoon characters, such as Spiderman, Scooby-Doo, the Little Mermaid, Elmo, and Batman.

Personalized children’s books can be educational as well as fun to read. From learning to count and learning their ABC’s with the Sesame Street characters to imagining the many things they can be when they grow up, personalized educational children’s books are a great way to help your child learn. What better way to make learning fun than to make them the star of the story.

How excited will your child be when they can help their favorite Super Hero conquer the bad guys? Let them be the main character in their favorite Super Hero story.

Want to find out more about Personalized Children’s Books, then visit Kelly Coldfeather’s site on how to choose the best Personalized Children’s Educational Books for your child.

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