As most of you avid readers know, the “Kindle Fire” came out last week. My husband and I, of course, got our hands on one and played with it right away. So now, I would like to share my insight on the Kindle Fire.
Look Feel & Size
First off, I would like to say I love the size and feel of the Kindle Fire. It fits comfortably in my hands and the body is smooth, but, at the same time, not too slippery.
The first question on everyone’s mind (at least what I have been asked) is, “What is the screen size like?” or just plain, “What is the size like?” The Kindle Fire has a beautiful 7″ color display. It is very eye catching and easy to read. The whole body is 7.5″ and it weighs about 15 ounces. A little heavier than the Kindle Touch and Kindle Keyboard, but, to me anyway, that is not a big deal. The Kindle Touch as well as the Kindle Keyboard both have a display of 6″. Of course the full body size is around 6.8″. So, you are getting 1″ more of eye pleasing color display and about .7″ more whole body size.
Ease of Use
Okay, the next big question is, “How easy is it to use?” I find the Kindle Fire very easy to navigate through. The touch sensitivity is pretty good. I do think that will sometimes depend on the App that you download from the Amazon App Store (Yes! You can play with Apps on it too!), and also how well that application has been programmed/written. I find it easy to browse the Amazon Kindle Book Store and download books quickly on Kindle Fire too. I just love the Kindle Book Store!
Navigating is easy with Kindle Fire. Upon opening up one of the header items on the home screen (Newsstand, Books, Music, Video, Docs, Apps or Web,) there are four option icons at the bottom of the screen. Home, Back, Menu and Search. These are each pretty basic and easy to use and understand.
The home screen shows large icons of recently used items like books, apps, videos, etc. Below the recently used icons is a space for favorites. Just click on the pic to see a bigger view. At the top right of the home screen there are three small items. Settings, Wi-fi connection symbol & battery status. These are important. Especially the Wif-Fi and battery icons. When the the Kindle is charging the battery icon will have a green bar that keeps moving to indicate that it is really charging. I am just charging the battery for the first time today and it’s been about a week since we received it. I did play with apps, but also there were days I didn’t touch it because I was too busy. I am unable to give an estimate on battery life, but I think we all need to keep in mind that Kindle Fire is more than just a Kindle. It is like a mini iPad so it will have many different uses besides reading alone, so there is bound to be more battery charging going on. When you do not have a Wi-Fi connection a small “x” will appear next to the Wi-Fi icon. My above picture shows what the home screen looks like.
Fun Stuff! What you Can Do.
Now for some fun stuff! Kindle Fire is super cool! I own an iPad and my feeling is that if I was someone who did not own an iPad, and did not want to spend so much for a tablet, I would definitely go out and buy one! Well, regardless, my husband did. I have a feeling this will be excellent competition for the iPad. Sorry Apple, but it is always healthy to have a bit of competition. I think this is the first gadget that will give iPad a little wake up call. All you Kindle fans… this is awesome!
The Kindle fire will play any videos purchased from the Amazon Video On Demand Store. Netflix, Hulu plus, Pandora, Facebook & even Words With Friends can all be used on Kindle Fire. Pretty much any App from the Amazon App Store is usable. The apps are set up for an Android platform. I used to use the Amazon App Store before going back to iPhone from my horrible Samsung Galaxy S (that is another story in itself) and I found the App store is pretty easy to navigate and use. My husband is super excited that Kindle Fire plays ESPN live so that he can stream his soccer games.
Download Time/Streaming Speed
Finally, one of the last questions most people ask, “How is the download and streaming speed?” The Kindle Fire downloads items fast! Of course, sometimes that might depend on your Wi-Fi connection. Don’t start blaming the device if download time is slow. Chances are, it is the Wi-Fi speed. For example, going to a local coffee shop where there are about ten other people sharing the same connection will definitely effect that Wi-fi speed. Kindle Fire also seems to respond quickly in opening apps when selected.
CONS
Okay, I know I have given tons of positive feedback and many of you may think I am super biased. Just remember, I am an iPad user who got rid of my kindle before, because I use iPad for my Kindle. So, I am in no way biased. I have not used a Kindle Device for a few years because I like my iPad so much. I did find a couple of things I did not like, but to me, they are not “cons” that would make or break me wanting it. Others may feel differently.
Cons:
- My Finger/Hand keeps hitting the power button and making the device sleep while I am using it. Who puts the power button at the bottom of a device that is handheld? Not a good idea. Anyway, holding the Kindle Fire upside down while using it will solve that problem. The display will flip along with the device.
- Volume can only be changed in settings or in certain apps with volume control. There is no volume control button on the body. This is very inconvenient when opening an app in a quiet place such as a library, office, classroom, coffee shop, etc. The app may open with the volume blasting and… oops! It can not be turned down immediately. Just keeping that in mind when using the Kindle Fire may aid as a reminder to silence the device or wear headphones while using it in quiet places.
Well, those were the two major cons on my list. I am sure others have found features they do not like, but I am not super nit-picky about some things that others are. I do have to say that I was surprised to find that some who are not gadget minded and who had no interest in any tablets of any sort have shown interest in the Kindle Fire. I think that is great! Way to go Amazon Kindle!
Deccan Diamond
My book Deccan Diamond is available for download on Kindle for $2.99. If you are interested, just click on the icon to the right of the screen. I am currently working on book 2.
I would love to hear what everyone else thinks about the Kindle Fire as well. Feel free to comment. Your comments are always welcome.
Welcome back all you Deccan Diamond fans! I have some news to report this time so get ready to hear it… I mean read it.
As those of you who have been following my blog on this site know, my husband and I have been praying for God to make a way for me to have more writing time. We’ve tossed ideas around here and there and, for some reason or other, didn’t move forward with anything. We knew what we wanted, and had an idea of what God wanted, but it took a few years to get ready to take that step.
Well, for over a year I was having chronic neck, shoulder & back pain that I thought/hoped would just disappear one day. When my doctor asked me if I wanted xrays I kept saying no. Finally I couldn’t stand it anymore and it wasn’t going away, so at my last check up I finally caved and told my doc that I would go get the xrays. I then received a call from my doctor telling my I have bone spurs/arthritis in my cervical spine (Cervical Osteoarthiritis.) Well, that pretty much helped us make the decision take the step to me ending my secular job and begin what we’ve been really wanting me to do for years. I can write, take care of my home, my hubby and my health. After we made the decision, and I was ready to turn in my resignation, we spoke to someone who gave us confirmation without knowing that we had made that decision. It’s like God was saying “will you do it already!”
Quitting has made a huge difference in my pain level and believe it or not, both of our lives. I have much more energy and much less pain. There are days when I do have pain, but they are outweighed by the days of less pain! Of course, we are less one salary in our home, but God will always be here with us providing for whatever we, his children, need.
So, basically, my news is that I will have a little more time to write. I have been working on some housekeeping things and we’ve also had a lot of guests at home over the last few weeks, so I haven’t done much. However, I did manage to write a little! Also, I have outlined a couple of new ideas. I also want to work into podcasting at some point and I am starting to get our websites up and moving again. ( http://www.livethefaith.net & http://www.amyvishwa.com )
I am hoping to have the sequel to Deccan Diamond finished by year end. That is my goal for now. (I need to be realistic right?)
Okay! That is all the news I have for now. I will leep you posted as I progress. Hoping this doesn’t turn into a trilogy!
Have a great day everyone & God bless!
Amy
Hello Everyone,
I know it’s been a long time since my last update, and I am sorry for that, but I’ve been a bit busy the last few months. Unfortunately, it did not include writing. I am finding it difficult to find time for that at the present. Don’t panic just yet! I am praying for more opportunities to do much more writing. Pray with me I that it will happen.
I hope that you all enjoyed your holidays as much as I did mine. Being together with family and friends is a true blessing! An added bonus is the time off from work during that time. Oh, the joys of being able to relax…nothing beats that!
Over here in Connecticut, we have had a few heavy snow storms that left over 77″ of evidence of their wrath. Not to mention some nasty ice storms as well. This has indeed been a record breaking year for the weather, but I hope it becomes a record breaking year for my writing.
Have a great day and thanks for your patience while I try to get my second book finished. I appreciate every bit of your support!
God Bless!
Amy
Isn’t it the best time of year? I just love the crispness of the air and the smell of the fallen leaves. This is the time of year I feel most alive. How can anyone look at the beauty that surrounds us and not love this time of year? There is just one thing that I do not like about it, and that is that it will go away in a couple of short months. Why is the most beautiful season is seemingly the shortest?
Ayway, I did not log on to post about the weather and the gorgeous highlights of fall. I am very sorry that I missed my August update, but at last I am giving my latest update. I hope you all are very patient as I try to fit my writing in between working full time, church and of course taking care of everyday needs at home. One day, both my husband and I are praying, that will not be the case. Our goal is for me to eventually be able to write and be a domestic goddess (homemaker) full time.
I now have sixteen chapters writen in my book. The characters still do not want to cooperate. I will have to sit them all down in my mind and have a good talk with them. Maybe I should threaten them with and eraser…wait that won’t work. I will have to threaten them with the backspace key. That should do the trick.
Thanks again for all your patience and support while I work my way through my second book. God willing, I hope to add more chapters soon.
Have a great day!
Okay! As you all know, I have been working on the sequel to “Deccan Diamond”. I have around fourteen chapters so far. My characters upset me a bit when they forced me to write in the middle, a place where I hadn’t even made it to yet. I wrote three chapters that I have no idea where they will be. Ugh!! Then, to top it off they made me write the…..wait a minute, I don’t think I will completely divulge that information as of yet, but just know, they really were not being cooperative. They think it’s all about them or something. Imagine the nerve! Anyway, I am slowly progressing. Please pray with me that I get more writing time and that the creative juices keep flowing. Oh, and that these characters would straighten up. Thanks for all of your support! You all are great!
God Bless,
Amy
How it all started:
I began writing Deccan Diamond in February of 2005. The idea, the opening of my book, started from a dream that I could not get out of my head. Since I was in between jobs, working through a temp agency, I had a lot of free time on my hands to keep thinking about it. I ended up getting a temp job as a receptionist at a local factory, and it was very slow. There were hardly any phone calls or visitors, and I was completely bored out of my mind. Luckily, I had taken my note pad and pencil with me. I thought to myself, “Why not try to write about my dream?” So, I took that pencil and started writing in my note pad. I had not written any fiction since high school and it was difficult at first. After a couple of hours, it began flowing and Deccan Diamond was birthed. Some things changed a little, so it’s not exactly to my dream, but it was close. Writing Deccan Diamond was an awesome experience that left me hanging, wondering what would happen next, every time I stopped writing. I literally had no clue what would happen next as I wrote. What a treat it was being sucked into that world that I had created, watching the characters in my head as each scene played out.
My favorite scenes?
My first favorite scene is the chapter at Holiday Village. I will not go into detail; because many of you may not have read it and I do not want to ruin it.
I also like the chapter where she runs into Sameer after singing, and then has a run in with Suneel right after.
I like too many to list them all.
Do I know who gets the Girl yet?
I am really struggling with this. How will she choose? Will she really choose one of the two heroes? Sorry to say, I have no idea. I guess Bella will keep me hopping! I hope she stays out of trouble a bit better than she has been though.
The guys:
These boys (Yes, I’m sighing), sometimes they irritate me. How can these characters act like they do at times? I don’t expect some things from them, you know. Who says guys are so predictable anyway?
The Names:
This was not as easy as everyone might think. I did searches on name sites. I wanted to know what the names meant. I knew I needed a male Hindu and Muslim name and wanted a name that I really like for the heroine.
Suneel: A gem, Scented Cool Breeze
Sameer: Wind, entertaining companion
Arabella (Bella): Prayerful; Beautiful Alter; Beautiful Lion.
Bella: Means Sweet In Kannada
It seems Arabella’s name is a perfect fit and the guy’s names, it turns out, should really be swapped if we really want their name meaning to match their characters.
Where do my Villain ideas come from:
Let’s just say I have a vivid imagination, combined with watching a lot of Hindi movies…. Hehehehe. J.W. really is a jerk isn’t he? (You have to read the book to know more about him.) And yes, my dreams do give me ideas as well, not that I enjoy that part of dreaming.
How Many Books in the Deccan Diamond Series?
Honestly? Your guess is as good as mine. I am in the process of my second. I do have a few other novel ideas, so maybe DD will get a break after this? Or not.
How long did it take to write Deccan Diamond?
I started working full time right after I started writing that day. So, I juggled between home, work, all of my responsibilities at church and also between friends, and it took me until January of 2008 to finish. So, after three long years of wishing these boys would stop fighting over Arabella and that they would all solve the issues at hand, they decided to let me wrap it up. (They were tired too I guess.)
What is it like to spend long periods of time writing?
It’s like I am sucked into the world of the characters and am watching what they are doing. I am there with them standing on the side lines, and when I stop, I am completely out of it. Like how you feel when you take too long of an afternoon nap and you wake up feeling like you are in a tunnel. I am here in reality, but I’m not. You get what I mean?
How did it feel when I finished writing my last words in DD1?
I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry. I almost did both. I didn’t want it to be over yet…. What was going to happen? At the same time I wanted to scream “wooooooohoooo, I finished!” I kind of walked around the house in a daze for a few minutes. I was also trying to get back into reality after writing for those last few hours.
Okay, enough of questions for one day. If you would like to know anything else, just ask by emailing me at amy@deccandiamond.com
Have a great Morning, Afternoon or Evening, depending on where in the world you might be.
God bless you,
Amy L. Vishwanatha
As Promised, here is the excerpt.
Arabella sighed as she dropped into the large, plush recliner. What had gotten into her, she wondered.
“I was a total fool. He is a complete stranger and I all but invite him for dinner. How could I tell him my name like that? After knowing him for only one minute!” Rubbing her brow, her head rested on the chair’s back.
“Vik will kill me when he finds out.”
“When I find out what Bella?” Vik walked into the room with an amused smile spreading across his face, “What have you done this time?”
Vikram had become her friend over the last few months, but remained very strict in his duties as her assigned CBI officer. He was her only source of true conversation and companionship since the CBI instructed her to not make close acquaintances.
“Oh, it’s probably nothing. Maybe I should just keep it to myself, so I don’t unnecessarily upset you.” Smiling, she waved her hand to pass off any further inquiries.
“Bella, you should really give up trying to hide things from me. I told you before, I can see right through you.”
Letting out a large sigh he sat on the arm of the chair. “Now, confess.”
The doorbell chimed and, with his eyebrows arching in quizzical motion, he got up and walked towards the door then turned to Arabella, “You stay where you are.”
A sinking feeling grew in Arabella’s stomach as she rose from the chair and slid along the wall near the door. She heard the question in Vik’s voice as he opened the door.
“Yes, sir? May I help you?
“Oh, pardon my intrusion sir, but I was told I could find Bella here.” Albert held the piece of paper with the address out to Vik, “This is the correct address on the paper is it not?”
Vik eyed the paper suspiciously and then looked back to Albert, “This is the correct address, but I do not understand why you are here.”
“I am looking for a woman,” Arabella heard a short silence then he continued, “a very beautiful woman. She left her sweater behind at the library.”
“I am sorry sir, I cannot help you out.” Vik’s thumb jabbed his own chest, “I am not a woman, and would not very make a very beautiful one at that.”
Albert chuckled at the joke. “Well, that is the truth of it now, isn’t it? I am sorry to have bothered you sir.”
As he turned to leave, Vik stopped him. “Excuse me sir, but maybe if you describe this woman to me I can be of assistance to you, or if I see her I can let her know that you are in search of her?”
“I assure you, my description could never do her justice. She is quite exquisite, even wearing a denim skirt. I can tell you that she has the most sweet, natural smile that I have ever laid eyes upon.”
While Albert continued through his list of adjectives for Arabella in his thick English accent, she peered around the corner to see Vik’s white knuckles gripping the doorknob. She knew he was going to give her a good punishment this time. He would probably tie himself to her and tape her mouth shut, and Albert was not making it any better going on and on as if they had talked for hours. She stifled a groan and tiptoed to her room before the conversation ended. Maybe if she locked herself in her room she could escape the same long, detailed lecture she endured every time she made a mistake of this sort. This time, Arabella knew, was different. Albert had searched for, and found her. As much as she hated to admit it, this was one time she could not accuse Vik of being too overbearing. A sigh escaped her as she quietly shut the door. She had really messed up.
“How odd that he should come looking for me because I left my sweater?” She crossed her arms and rested her chin on her knuckles.
“In fact, the normal thing to do would be to take it to the desk and give it to the librarian. Surely, he would know I would go claim it.”
A knock at her door told her the time had come to face Vik. She hoped he would go easy on her.
“Come in, Vik.” She squared her shoulders and braced herself for his immediate speech as the door opened.
Vik stood looking at her, his eyes not holding back their immense anger. She noticed that his fair face seemed flushed.
I am in bigger trouble than I thought. He is too angry to speak.
————-
I hope you enjoyed my small excerpt. I did not want to reveal too much, so it was really hard to pick a selection. Please remember, this has not been edited and I’m still early into my book. Anything can happen and anything can change. Please give me an honest opinion on what you think of the excerpt.
Thanks a lot!
Amy
Okay everyone. I know I am supposed to be updating my site every month, at least, and since life became so busy over the last few months I have not been able to do that. So, I have decided that I am going to post a “sneak peek” excerpt out of my new book. That being said, you probably want to know when to expect this little sneak peek don’t you? Save the date! On March 12, 2010 (this coming Friday) a short excerpt of the 2nd book in my series of Deccan Diamond will be posted. Don’t miss it and please leave your comments after reading…I just love reading them!
Have a great day!
Lord Bless,
Amy
Hello Everyone,
I hope everyone (who gets the seasonal change) has been enjoying this gorgeous Autumn weather! Nothing like a cool crisp morning with the golden sun hitting the vibrantly colored tree…..sighhhhhhh…. oh, I got lost for a moment, back to my update.
The latest and greates news in my progess is….. I have finished 11 chapters. I know my progress is slow right now, but I am praying that I can dedicate more time to that soon. I can’t keep you all on pins & needles forever while you wonder what happens next. I only hope I can keep you as engrossed as I did in the first book.
Personal News:
I am beginning work on my Author Webpage…..with the help of my wonderful hubby. I am also going to start a Pod Cast on our Live The Faith Ministries website. If you have any subjects you would like to hear about let me know…I will work them in some how.
I have to run for now…. I pray that God blesses each of you!
Amy V.
Hello Deccan Diamond Fans. I just want to keep you all updated on my progess with my 2nd book in the Deccand Diamond Series. I am almost eleven chapters into the new book. I do not have a title as of yet, but I will inform you all as soon as I do. This book is, again, surprising me as I write because I do not follow any specific outline. It just flows. I hardly ever know what my charaters are going to say or do. I hope that I can create the same feel that I did in the original and leave you longing to read each time you set it down until you reach the end.
Pray that I find more time for wrting, only then can I make significant progess and get this book out faster.
God Bless You All! Thank you for all of your support.
Amy