Sync2Play

Do Amazon Kindle Special Offers Ads Display While Reading?

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:20:23 -0800

"I'm thinking of buying a new Amazon Kindle e-reader. I'm ok with paying less and putting up with the advertising in the Special Offers version, but I'm curious if the ads display while I'm reading a book?"

I have owned each generation of the Amazon Kindle line now known as the Kindle Keyboard. None of the Kindle devices I owned had the Special Offers feature, because it hadn't started at the time I purchased. I just purchased the new Amazon Kindle that is the cheapest starter version and was concerned about whether I'd be annoyed by ads while reading too.

How to Delete Ebooks from Kindle Android App

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:59:43 -0800

One of the things I love most about the Amazon Kindle app is having a massive library of books I can take with me anywhere. The one downside to this is all those books take up space on my Android phone. While buying a larger MicroSD card certainly helps with the space issue, there are books in my Kindle library I'm unlikely to ever read again. In an effort to conserve space on my phone, it's easier to simply delete ebooks from the Android Kindle app.

Reset Google Nexus One to Factory Settings

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:13:25 -0800

You've probably reset your Nexus One many times, simply by power cycling the phone or pulling the battery if the operating system freezes. This type of reset causes the hardware to reboot and the operating system to be loaded back into the phone's memory. If you want to reset your Google Nexus One Android phone back to factory settings, you need to do a more complete hard reset, which removes all the applications installed in the device memory along with wiping your personal data from the internal device. Follow the steps provided here to reset your Nexus One to factory settings.

How Long Should I Charge my iPad the First Time?

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:59:14 -0800

You just got a brand new iPad, peeled off the protective plastic and connected it to iTunes on your computer. The iPad battery comes with some charge, but the iPad isn't at 100% battery power right out of the box. How long should you charge your iPad the first time before you can start enjoying all those great apps?

Ryan Barnes Craigslist CEO iPhone Scam

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:04:36 -0800

I meant to write about the emails going around promising a free iPhone from Craigslist CEO Ryan Barnes some time ago. I forgot, but was reminded recently that it might still be an issue. If you get an email about a free iPhone from Craigslist, you can assume it is a scam.

One of the key things that should clue you in to this phony iPhone offer is the fact that the real name of the Craigslist CEO is Jim Buckmaster. Another good clue is the offer is too good to be true. There's no good reason Craigslist needs to give away free iPhones.

Android Voice Recorder

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:34:59 -0800

Voice recorder functionality is a must for Android phone owners. If you want to record audio notes, send yourself an audible reminder, create a recording for transcription by your secretary (don't we all wish we had this luxury), or capture the important points from a lecture, having an Android phone voice recorder makes life easier.

Can you Play Games on the Kindle?

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:33:31 -0800

"I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Kindle or something else. I'm curious what else I can do with a Kindle besides read books. For instance, can you play games on the Kindle?"

While Kindle readers are at their best when used for reading ebooks, Amazon does include a few additional features with all versions of the latest generation of Kindle reader hardware. One of the features Amazon added to the Kindle is the ability to play games on the Kindle.

How to take an iPhone Screenshot

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:28:19 -0800

"I want to email an iPhone screenshot to a friend. Is there a free app for taking iPhone screenshots I can email?"

You don't need an app to take an iPhone screenshot. Apple built the ability to take an iPhone screenshot into iOS starting with version 2.0. To Take an iPhone screenshot, all you need to do is hold down the home button, then press the sleep/wake button at the same time. This should make your iPhone screen flash white and a camera snap sound effect play through your speakers.

How to Move iPad Icons

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 04:55:37 -0800

"How can I move iPad icons around on the screen? I want to put my most frequently used iPad apps closer together."

When you download iPad apps from the iTunes Music Store, they are automatically put in the next available spot on the screen. You can move iPad icons around on the screen, move iPad icons to a new screen on the iPad or delete them entirely. The first thing you need to do is press and hold any of the iPad app icons on the screen.

A Better Music Player for Android is Winamp?

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:08:38 -0800

Winamp spent many years as my favorite music player for Windows. More recently I switched to Media Monkey, because it does so many things better than the desktop Winamp. Now Winamp is reinvented as the best music player I've seen for Android to date.

Audible adds Sales Tax to Washington State Subscriptions

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:39:41 -0800

If you subscribe to Audible.com, you can anticipate a slight increase in your subscription price starting November 1, 2010. As a part of Amazon, Audible has a physical business presence in the state of Washington, making it required to collect sales tax from Washington residents. As a resident of Washington, I like this approach better than the slippery slope that is I-1098, which introduces the first income tax to the state. If I don't like the tax on my Audible subscription, I could always cancel it.

Kindle for iPad gets Software Update

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:29:17 -0800

Amazon just updated the iPad Kindle app with what I consider to be the most important feature enhancement to date. When reading in Landscape view on the iPad, the Kindle software now splits text into two columns instead of one. While this sounds like a non-event, for improved reading speed it's a huge boost. Instead of having to scan the entire width of the screen as you read, the text is now broken into two neat columns. This also brings the Kindle iPad software closer to the features of the iBooks app, which means you will notice less difference between the two if you try both.

Kindle Case with Light Review

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:38:20 -0800

A Kindle Case with light built-in could be the most essential accessory for Amazon's Kindle hardware. Whether you get the Kindle with WiFi, the Kindle with 3G and Wifi, or the much larger Kindle DX you will definitely find occasion to read in bed. The best way I've found to make reading in bed with the Kindle pleasant is a Kindle case with built-in light.

Should I buy a Kindle or iPad?

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:20:14 -0800

"I want to read ebooks, should I buy a Kindle or iPad?"

My first response to this question is what else do you want to do with your purchase. If all you want is an elegant reading solution, buy a Kindle end of story. If you have designs on doing anything other than reading with your new gadget purchase, we need to dig a little deeper before I can make a recommendation.

How many books are available for the iPad?

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:51:54 -0800

"How many books are available for the iPad? I'm trying to decide whether I should buy an iPad, a Kindle, or a Nook?"

While there are many other factors that go into choosing an ebook reader than just how many books are available, I'll start with that as a metric since that's the question. There are two primary ways you can easily get books for an iPad. You can download the free iBooks app from the App Store, or you can download the free Kindle app from the App Store. Both have a huge number of books, although the Kindle store currently has more.