I've noticed this before, but don't recall if I've shared:

You all know that all of these books do end up in KU and available as either Prime Reading Borrows or KOLL. Well they ALSO are listed (most of them) on GoodReads as Kindle Giveaways. They usually have around 100 copies they'll give away and the odds are not generally astronomical.

There's another thread with some basic discussion of the new Fire models, HD 8 and HD 8 Plus: https://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,323725.0.html

I have had several Fire models -- still have at least one, in fact, but haven't used it in a while. Honestly, I've not been particularly impressed. For me, Samsung tablets, though a bit more expensive, are way more bang for the buck. My feeling is the Fires are designed to be content consuming devices -- so videos, music, etc. For most, they're probably fine for that, but I need a tablet that can double as an 'everything' computer if I'm traveling. And the Fire just didn't do that well for me. The latest models are very integrated with Alexa, if that's something you want. Again, not a thing I care about particularly.

And ... welcome to KBoards.

I've got an iPad Pro 10.5" that is good so far although no longer current. I'd like to have a bit larger screen although that may not work out. I don't think I'll spend this kind of money next time and will look seriously at the Fire options. Hopefully one will hit the spot.

Keep in mind that moving from an iPad to a Fire means you have to download new apps as the operating systems are different. That's probably not a huge deal for most but I know some people actually spend money on apps ()* and they'll have to spend it again if they switch from one to the other. Not an issue at all, I'd think, if you're mainly using it for media consumption.



* I kid. I have spent a bit of money on some apps.

Oh. Was there a new Fire announced? I guess I'm completely out of the loop!

Not in the market for a tablet, and haven't been thrilled in general with the Fire line. But I got nothin' better to do, so maybe I'll take a look.

The Fire HD 8 seems to start at $90, but add another $30 for the Amazon case/cover (or $35 if you want a Disney or NatGeo branded one). You can add a memory card.

The Fire HD 8 Plus starts at $110, covers are same, memory card the same (though the product page offers a bigger card as an add on than on the HD 8 page). Has wireless charging and if you want to buy it with the dock included, it's $140. The dock doubles as a display stand.  You can buy it later for $40 so you save $10 buy getting it when you buy the Fire. Reference to "ANGREAT" as the manufacturer -- no idea if that's compatible with Qi, though it says it should charge other devices that have wireless charging capability IF the coils line up.

They have the same processor, though the existing Fire 10 seems to have a better one. The Plus has more Ram than the HD 8. Oh, and they're also both USB-C -- so existing Fire adapters will NOT work.

First reads for June

Crime Thriller: Find Me

Suspense: The Bone Jar

Contemporary Fiction: Someone Else's Secret

Thriller: Never Look Back

Book Club Fiction: The Lending Library

Epic Fantasy: Scarlet Odyssey

Historical Fiction: Opium and Absinthe

Children's Picture book: Kat and Juju

A couple of possibilities here, for a change. (For me, anyway). Epic Fantasy is new! I'll check back in a few days for reviews.

I got a reminder the other day that I hadn't picked one yet. Took a second look, and I think I'm going to pass entirely this month.

Just saw an update that came across my GR feed that a friend of a friend finished his goal of 75 books already. So I figured I'd check where I stand, just to see.

In 2019 I made my goal 100 books. Which I thought was about right. I think I ended up reading 120 or so. So, for 2020, I figured I should officially up my goal to 110. Not that I am really interested in reading just to see 'how many'. Mostly, I just want to enjoy my leisure time. But it's a thing, so what the heck?

Anyway, it's just about the end of May and I've finished 50 books. And there have been at least a half dozen that were DNF.

So, I guess I'm on track.   GR says I'm 7 books ahead of the pace.

I have not even tried prime reading. Since I have kindles, prime account and KU, I should what, get 21 books total a month checked out at a time? But that wouldn't really be important to me since I can only read one. But I haven't tried getting to the prime reads yet. So if I have 8 KU titles checked out, then I could get one of the prime reads? Are some of those not part of KU? This is really confusing at this point with those 3 different reading programs.
Of course I just brewed my coffee and haven't sipped yet, so my brain is a wee bit foggy still.

I don't have KU. But I am a prime member and as a Kindle owner have access to KOLL. Here's what seems to be the case.

There's a big overlap in between the KU catalog and the KOLL catalog -- it may even be identical. I have a wish list of KOLL books and borrow one a month as I'm allowed. Generally, if they're in KU -- which the product page always clearly shows -- they're also in KOLL. But, of course, I have to actually borrow from the kindle vs on the computer and send to a device. No biggie. Once it's borrowed, I can go to the computer, to Content and Devices and send the KOLL borrowed book to my another device. All I have to remember is whether I borrowed one this month already, and to return it the next month to get another.

Books in Prime Reading are often in KU, but not always. As noted above, there are certainly some 'big publisher' name books that are there. The catalog is not static -- titles wander in and out periodically. A Prime member can have 10 borrowed at a time. Also, if you borrow a book and it later goes out of the Prime catalog, it stays in your account/on your devices until you return it. I have some I borrowed a while ago and I'm sure not all are currently available as PR borrows.

Based on the brief time I had KU as well, books in PR that are not big publisher titles, tend to be better written, better edited, and just generally better books. They're clearly curated vs the author/publisher can just push a button to be in the program. Many are from Amazon imprints and/or translations done for Amazon. Translations can vary in quality, but most I've read are pretty good. A few have felt somewhat stilted and/or written to a somewhat low reading level; it's hard to know, in those cases, if it's the translator, or the original text.

As KU is the PAID subscription service, I guess it's not too surprising that any borrows are considered done under that program if you have it. As I say, KOLL is, functionally, using exactly the same catalog, and with PR there's a lot of overlap. The more we talk about this the more I think someone made the discovery about KU and KOLL early on -- namely that it's 10 borrows if you have both and not 10 for KU plus one a month for KOLL.

I don't know that we'd looked closely at PR before. I guess I thought it was pretty separate, but at least it's fair that you can still borrow non-KU books that are in the Prime program. You do pay for the Prime membership (as of course you do for KU) but what you get is so much more than just some free borrows each month. Probably for many the 10 borrows is incidental and probably most Prime subscribers don't use 'em. I'm sure most people use the video freebies more than the book freebies.

And, when you think about it, having 10 books borrowed at a time is probably enough for most people. Except, maybe, all of us here.

After a little more exploration.

The Aa menu also looks a bit different, but doesn't seem to have any new functions. (edit: actually it does, see below)

In settings, I went to Device Options and there are one or two new/changed things in Advanced Options.

One is 'storage management'. Now, possibly this has been there for a while, but I don't recall that we used to be able to remove things en masse. There's an option to manually remove all of any one type of thing and also to archive anything that's not been accessed within a period of time. There are 4 options from 1 month to a year. It also clearly says how much storage is being used vs how much is free.

The Popular Highlights, Book Mentions, and Word Wise are no longer in Reading Options. They're now part of the Aa menu while you have a book open.

FYI, the firmware is 5.12.5

Thanks for confirming I'm not going crazy!

I'm also having the same issue with Prime Reading titles.

I currently have borrowed 10 titles under my KU subscription. I have fewer than 10 titles borrowed under the Prime Reading program. However, while browsing the Prime Reading catalog and selecting a new title to borrow, I get the screen showing my KU library and am instructed to return a title in order to borrow what should be a Prime Reading title.

Something's screwy here.

Yeah .... I think Prime Reading and KU are supposed to be separate.

I had KU for a few months and the behavior Atunah describes concerning how it works with KOLL sounds familiar. BUT, I feel like I remember that Prime books were separate -- because it's a smaller curated catalog but not strictly a subset of KU. For example, there's usually one or more of the Harry Potter books available as well as titles by other authors that are "big name" published.

I could be misremembering, though -- as I say, I only had it a few months -- got some free months on a special deal with a new kindle at some point -- and didn't keep it when the subscription was up. Sorry to not be of more help.

After using our Kindle Touch readers for the last 8 years, they have began to be somewhat flighty.  I ordered a Paperwhite to replace the most used one and received it this week.

I don't do well trying to read instructions on the Kindle and then leaving to see what works.  Is there a printable instruction manual for the PaperWhite?

Go to the product page of the kindle you ordered. Scroll down to the 'technical specifications' section. There is a section called 'documentation' and includes a link to a PDF version of both the Quick Start Guide and the User Guide. These are in English but there are other languages available.

Also, it should be available electronically in your kindle library, assuming you have it registered at Amazon. I get that it's hard to try things while you're reading about the device ON the device. But if you have a tablet you could download the kindle App and then download the manual to the tablet. Or, for that matter, put the PDF on the tablet.

Also, feel free to ask questions here. Many of us have been around since Kindle version 1 in 2008, but also have had many kindles over the years. A lot of us do use the current models and can probably answer any questions you may have.

If my friend send a PDF book to my Kindle email address with the word CONVERT in the Subject line, will Kindle charge me a fee?  And, if so, how much?  THANKS !!!

Note that you have to have your friend's email address -- that they're sending from -- whitelisted in your account or it won't work.

Also not sure about a cost, but there may be a size limit if delivery is via the cell network vs wifi. Which might be something you can change in your account? Like Barry it's been ages since I did any such thing, so don't recall the particulars.

I finished the latest St. Cyr a week or so ago; still working on the Lady Darby series and not yet caught up ... so I guess that's good for me. Hmmm ... I don't even have it on my master list but I'm sure I've read some. Will have to update!

Just came available at the Library: Death in Kew Gardens which features the cook Kat Holloway. Author is Jennifer Ashley -- probably heard about it here. I think it's listed as the "Below Stairs" mysteries. Completely enjoyable.