Best Travel Apps for the Kindle Fire

Kayak for the Kindle Fire HD

Kindle owners can use the Kayak app to search for flight, hotel, and car rental availability as well as pricing. The app allows comparing the rates of each provider to insure they are getting the best deal. Hotel accommodations and flights can be booked directly from the app. Once a trip is booked through the app, users can receive notification of cancellations, delays, and gate changes. This makes late gate arrivals a thing of the past. Users can also access airport maps and locate airport restaurants and restrooms. The app also has extensive access maps of ATMs and restaurants. The general consensus on Amazon is that this is a better app than Tripit. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/KAYAK-Software-Corporation/dp/B004JJUY4K/

Trip Advisor for Kindle

The Trip Advisor app allows users to search for hotels, flights, restaurants, shopping as well as sightseeing opportunities in whatever city they’re in. Users can also see recommendations relative to their current location. Trip Advisor also includes restaurant reviews with menus and information on pricing and ambience. The app aggregates reviews across users, so it’s a great opportunity to also contribute your own reviews to hotels and restaurants. If you're visiting a city, you can find out about the best attractions and restaurants. You can also try the convenient "Near Me Now" button to see hotels, restaurants, and activities near you right now. The app includes the user forums and the "Find a Cheap Flight" feature. The Kindle Fire version of Trip Advisor has gotten rave reviews and looks great on the tablet:

Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/TripAdvisor/dp/B005LHOKFS/

MyTopo Maps Pro by Trimble Outdoors

If you’re an outdoor explorer type, then supplement your GPS, compass and paper maps with the topographical maps produced by the MyTopo app. The MyTopo app delivers access to over 70,000 topographical maps in the USA and Canada, which is perfect for hikers, climbers, campers, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts. It also yes that's too bad provides information for finding over ten millions of trails, lakes, valleys, mountains and rivers. The app has five different views to select from, including road, airborne, hybrid, topographical, and terrain vantage POVs. You can even store maps in the app so you don't need Wi-Fi in order to use it. Great for preplanning hiking trails, camping and ATV offroad trips. The topographical map app is optimized for the Kindle Fire:

Cost of the app is $4.99 and can be downloaded at http://www.amazon.com/MyTopo-Maps-Pro-Trimble-Outdoors/dp/B0080G64TM/

Permalink: https://digital-cave.blogspot.com/2013/02/best-travel-apps-for-kindle-fire.html

Best Real Estate Apps for Kindle Fire

Zillow Real Estate - Homes & Apartments, For Sale or Rent

Hunting for a home or apartment doesn’t necessarily mean highlighting classified ads and making numerous phone calls. The Zillow App for Kindle features up-to-date home pricing data, integrated maps that allow for filtering different property types and reports on trending neighborhoods. Drive through any neighborhood and pull up the Zillow Real Estate app to get housing information filtered by price, proximity to schools and sales closing status.

Get a Zestimate value of any U.S. home so you can better place a competitive bid. The app also comes with a voice search to dictate locations to the app. The app features high resolution photos, and each searched location can be saved for future reference. Instead of writing down an address, let the Zillow app give you driving directions with Google Maps. Instead of taking down a realtor's phone number, Contact real estate agents and property managers directly from the app. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Zillow-Real-Estate-Homes-Apartments/dp/B004GWRMWC/

HotPads

Hotpads give you a glance at the properties available for rent in the area of your choice, and you can easily customize the search to meet your requirements. The app features

• Map-based housing search interface
• Search apartments, rental houses, and real estate
• See detailed listings with high resolution photos
• Quickly scroll through photos while still seeing listing details
• Advanced filtering options help you narrow your search

Download app at http://www.amazon.com/HotPads-com-HotPads/product-reviews/B006ZZERJ4/

Apartments by Apartment Guide

The Apartments app for Kindle provides listings of available apartments nationwide, delivering results through customized searches, and even includes pictures! The user taps in their requirements (location, size of apartment, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage) and the app will give you back pinpointed results. Result listings include price, landlord contact information, lease terms, as well as a general description of the apartment complex. The app is simple to use and features full maps of apartments in whatever area you are looking in. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Primedia-Apartments-by-Apartment-Guide/dp/B006OP04ZQ/

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Apps that Use the Front-Facing Camera on the Kindle Fire

Did you know that there is a built-in, front-facing camera on your Kindle Fire HD? After taking some photos, you might want to edit, add effects and even share your creatively altered photos on social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Here are some of the best photo editing apps for the Kindle Fire HD.

PicShop Lite - Photo Editor

This app is very useful for editing photos on the Kindle Fire HD and has support for HD images up to 8 megapixels. The editing features included with this app include filters (hue/saturation, RedEye and Blemish Removers, Auto Correction) Crop, Rotate and Flip, and more. It’s actually a full editing suite that works great on the Kindle HD. And it’s free. This app also allows you to share images on Facebook, Twitter, or via Email with a simple click. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/esDot-Development-Studio-PicShop-Lite/dp/B007FFZSE6/

Camera Fun Pro by SpiceLoop

The Camera Fun Pro lets you apply a variety of unique camera lenses to your Kindle Fire HD photos after you have taken them. This app will make pictures fun again, especially if you like using filters.

1. 29 special effects and lenses to apply to your photos: Sepia, X-Ray, Night Vision, Sketch, Water Color, Canvas, Swirl, Stretch, Tunnel, Thermal, Neon, and Mirror.
2. Place frames around your pictures.
3. You can then share your photo with others via Facebook or email.

Cost of the app is $.99 and it can be downloaded at http://www.amazon.com/SpiceLoop-Camera-Fun-Pro/dp/B004JOXGPO/

Pic Collage

After you get all your photos into your Kindle, how about manipulating those photos of your friends and gatherings in a unique and artistic way? Pic Collage allows you to input photos from your picture library and resize, rotate, combine them and otherwise manipulate them. You can

1. add popular filters
2. add some text in various colors
3. rotate photos with two fingers
4. create collages and draw on your photos
5. post your creations to social media networks

Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/PicCollage-Pic-Collage/dp/B00A6S051A/

Permalink: https://digital-cave.blogspot.com/2013/02/apps-that-use-front-facing-camera-on.html

GPS & Map Apps for the Kindle Fire HD

MapQuest for Kindle Fire

MapQuest is a navigational app that offers its users turn by turn directions to any location. Voice guided instructions help users navigate anywhere. If you're driving, then you can use voice requests to get directions from the app. The app also broadcasts live traffic updates and crash reports. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/MapQuest-Inc/dp/B004TI2ZXY/

Compass photo by Steve Snodgrass (Flickr)

HopStop for Kindle HD

HopStop gives you thorough info on anything related to public transportation. If you're traveling, it can help you feel like less of a tourist by getting you to the nearest transit station. It can provide you with transit maps (subways, trains and buses) as well as the upcoming schedules for each of the routes. HopStop is ideally suited for travelers and can give you taxi phone numbers as well. It can also tell you the best route to take on foot. The app works for cities in the USA, Canada, and Europe. The app polls hundreds of dynamic schedules for trains, buses, subways, ferries and more. Because it’s dynamic, it can give you estimated wait times for various transit options. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/HopStop-com-Inc-HopStop/dp/B005CDK5IM/

Compass App for Kindle Fire

For those who would like to find their own way in the world, and would prefer to defer to a Compass, instead of turn by turn GPS instructions, the Compass+ Flash app is the perfect combination of old school guidance, and new school technology. The app comprises six different compasses, including nighttime, antique and more traditional styles. The integration of the GPS allows for exact measurements in elevation, place, and pitch and roll. The app can be readily calibrated and adjusted, and allows for notes on favored places and locations. Cost of the app is $.99 and can be downloaded at: http://www.amazon.com/SaintTech-Compass-Flash/dp/B009Y6OFDO/

Permalink: https://digital-cave.blogspot.com/2013/02/gps-map-apps-for-kindle-fire-hd.html

Best Music Apps for the Kindle HD

Pandora for Kindle Fire HD

The Pandora Radio app allows users to enter song titles / artists and then have various Pandora "stations" play back music similar to the user's tastes. Users often find new artists and genres to listen to that they might not have been aware. The Pandora library comprises almost a million songs. Listeners can rate how well they liked the songs that Pandora plays for them, which allows Pandora to refine the user's musical selections. Users can purchase songs / entire albums while they are listening, can bookmark songs as well as create their own personalized radio stations right from their Kindle tablet. The free app is supported by ads.

Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pandora-Media/dp/B005V1N71W/

Spotify for Kindle

The Spotify app allows users to stream music directly from their Kindle Fire HD tablet while searching for particular musical interests using song titles, artists, album title, record label or genre. Upon initiation of a Spotify account, a free six month subscription is authorized and provides the user with unlimited access during that time. At the end of the trial period, music play is restricted to ten hours per month, and only roughly two and a half hours per week. During those ten hours the listener is subjected to ads. An unlimited listening subscription is available, allowing users access to music whenever they choose, without ads. The premium Spotify service allows people to stream music at a higher bit rate without any ads. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Spotify-Kindle-Tablet-Edition/dp/B008RBZA4A/

TuneIn Radio

This app pulls in lots of radio stations from all around the globe as well as internet stations. This radio app scours every continent on the planet and finds all kinds of radio programs (music, sports, news, current events). In total, TuneIn offers more than 50,000 radio stations and 1.2 million on-demand streams. Sure, the Pandora App is great for discovering new music, but TuneIn streams not only music stations, but talk radio as well. The TuneIn Radio Pro app allows users to record any of the station's radio programs, kind of like a Kindle DVR for radio. This makes it convenient to play the programs back at a later time. One caveat: change the Apps settings so that it does not enable shake mode for changing the stations. Otherwise you’ll be activating your Kindle HD at odd times. Standard Download of this app is available for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/TuneIn-Radio/dp/B004GYY714/ The Pro App Costs $.99.

Slacker Radio

Slacker is an ad supported radio app allowing listeners to appreciate music the song lists of some of the world's most best DJs. It’s kind of a toss up whether people will like this service better than Pandora. But while the service is good, the Kindle Fire version of the Slacker Radio app is plagued with buffering and connectivity problems. So, sadly, until these issues get resolved, I recommend sticking with Pandora. You can download the free app to test it out yourself: http://www.amazon.com/Slacker-Inc-Radio/dp/B004SV7744/

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Best Alarm Clock for Kindle HD

My Alarm Clock Free by Apalon

This app will turn your Kindle HD into a full fledged alarm clock. It will make your Kindle function as an alarm clock even when the app isn't running. That has numerous alarms, from traditional buzzers to music. It also has sleep timers that are great for naps, as well as a weather function. The app also lets users control the brightness of the screen. It works in either portrait or landscape modes for ease of use. Features include:

1. Dimming feature: change the screen brightness so that it doesn't blind you after a good night's sleep
2. Weather information: check live local conditions and temperature
3. Sleep Timer: fall asleep to white noise
4. Night stand mode: turn your device into a gorgeous bedside clock
5. Multiple alarm support
6. Background alarm support: alarm will ring even if the app is not running

Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Apalon-My-Alarm-Clock-Free/dp/B009ZZDNT6/

Alarm Clock Xtreme

This alarm clock for the Kindle Fire HD has a gentle wake function whereby the volume is gradually raised. This makes it less jarring when the alarm wakes you. You can also program it such that it makes you solve a math problem before going back to snooze. I guess it's almost automatic that people hit the snooze button on their alarms. The Alarm Clock Extreme makes it a little bit harder, so perhaps one of these times you’ll just get up after solving the math problem instead of going back to sleep. The alarm clock includes the following features: unlimited alarms, repeating alarms, music alarm, random song alarm, gentle alarm volume ramp up, math to snooze/disable, shake to snooze/disable, minimum speed to disable, nap alarm with countdown timer, large snooze button, snooze 1-60 min, decrease snooze duration after each snooze, max number snoozes, auto-snooze, auto-dismiss, option to keep screen locked keeping the phone safe in your pocket. http://www.amazon.com/Angle-Labs-Alarm-Clock-Xtreme/dp/B004VMUS9G/

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Best Health & Fitness Apps for the Kindle Fire HD

Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker by MyFitnessPal

The Calorie Counter app makes it easy to see nutritional information. You can share your weight progress and workout statistics to others through Facebook and Twitter. This is a great way to stay fit: made a New Year's resolution to lose weight, and broadcaster wait to your friends on social networks so that they will keep you accountable to your resolution.

The app is cured towards helping people lose weight. It provides the caloric information for thousands of different foods. To help you lose weight, it helps you keep track of your daily food intake. It also has a database of exercises that allows you to easily enter how many calories you have burned as you make progress towards your weight loss goals. It really is a complete weight loss app for the Kindle Fire, as all your reports will be online along with a list of your goals and charts showing your progress. All this helps to keep you motivated. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Calorie-Counter-Diet-Tracker-MyFitnessPal/

Ultimate Food Value Diary

This food value app allows you to quickly scan in the foods you are eating to see how much calories they are adding to your waistline. The app is not only good for grocery foods but also for restaurant items. It's designed to help people track their weight loss and keep a strict diet.

• Food, Exercise and Daily allowance calculators
• Accurate and detailed daily tracking with healthy checks and daily notes.
• Online database with 180+ Restaurants , over 500,000 food items and 1 million barcodes.
• Barcode scanning to get values instantly (requires camera)

The app costs $3 and is available at http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Food-Value-Diary-Edition/dp/B004UMLBCA/

WebMD for Kindle Tablet

The WebMD app helps you identify the precise nature of whatever physical ailment, pain or perceived symptoms you are experiencing. The app makes it easy research what exactly your condition is. The app helps users understand causes and treatments of the displayed condition. In addition, it can supply use and interaction information for prescribed and over the counter drugs (a pill recognition tool is part of the app, so you know just what you are consuming). These safeguards are instrumental in keeping you and your family safe from any potential concerns that may cause medical issues that would commonly go undetected. First aid advice is also provided by the app. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/WebMD-LLC-Kindle-Tablet-Edition/dp/B008AZGWYK/

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Best Restaurant and City Info Apps for Kindle Fire

Yelp App for Kindle & Android

Yelp is great for searching for great restaurants, shops and even local events while on the go with your Kindle. The app will also show you related Yelp Deals that can be redeemed right from your Kindle tablet. The Yelp App for Android / Kindle features:

• An easy to use search to locate places to eat, shop, as well as entertainment.
• Use your device's camera to identify landmarks and get instant Yelp listings.
• Check in to let your friends know where you're hanging out.

One drawback of using the app is that you need a Yelp account for it to function. The app is available for free at http://www.amazon.com/Yelp/dp/B004SZ3RU8/

Urbanspoon app from Wanderspot

Urbanspoon offers a genuinely fun way to decide where you are going to eat. It includes a restaurant slot machine, where you can shake your smartphone / tablet and the app will randomly select a restaurant given your criteria. The app provides ratings, popularity and pricing of restaurants. You can even check table availability and even make reservations directly from your Android Tablet or Kindle Fire HD tablet. Whether you want to eat at a Chinese, Middle Eastern, Italian or Mexican restaurant, you can read reviews from other restaurant customers. Once users choose a restaurant, they can map it directly using the app. You can even post your own review after enjoying a meal. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wanderspot-Urbanspoon/dp/B004SZ3IRA/

Open?

The Open? app gives you store hours as well as addresses and other information for local companies all across the US. You can search by store name, by category or centered on your GPS location, the app will show you the closest stores. You can become a storehours scout yourself and make money with the entry of each store at www.istorehours.com. Download this app for free at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/1337-UGC-GmbH-Open/dp/B008RVHRT6/

OpenTable

With OpenTable, you can make free restaurant reservations at more than 15,000 OpenTable-enabled restaurants in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. Just join Open Table and make your reservations, it is free and very easy to use. Find restaurants nearest to your current location with real-time table availability Manage upcoming reservations and browse previous reservations Earn Dining Rewards Points redeemable for Dining Cheques good at any OpenTable restaurant You can reserve tables, without calling. OpenTable is my favorite restaurant app, but I hesitate to recommend it here because it works better on smartphones than on tablets currently. The Android app is available at http://www.amazon.com/OpenTable/dp/B004SJSGA0/, but user experience may not be great for the app on the Kindle Fire.

Permalink: https://digital-cave.blogspot.com/2013/01/best-restaurant-and-city-info-apps-for.html

Color Kindle DX in Late 2012 According to Sources

DigiTimes is reporting that Amazon will introduce a color e-book reader in the second half of 2012 and will include multi-touch capacitive touch panels instead of infrared touch panels used in the previous black and white e-book readers. Hanvon already has an ebook reader with a color e-Ink Triton display, but it's seriously lacking in functionality when compared to the Kindle.

This will be a huge advancement for ebooks since it will then be practical to actually read ebooks with charts, pictures, diagrams and all sorts of full color information. A color Kindle DX would be the optimal size for students wanting to read textbooks on their Kindle (at 9.7") and older adults who value the larger screen size.

The color e- ink screen will enhance the visual presentation of magazines and children's books on the DX. 

If Amazon already has the color Kindle Fire, why release a color e-ink model ?

The advantage would be that the new color e-ink model would not have a backlit screen, as opposed to the Kindle Fire. Many people have difficulty reading on a backlit screen. Especially if you work on computers all day or wear glasses, we think you'll find that e-Ink feels less stressful on your eyes compared to the LCD screen of a backlit device (like a laptop, lcd monitor or smartphone). Here are some additional benefits that a color Kindle DX would have:

• Textbooks that contain any kind of color diagrams don't work well on the color Kindle.
• Kids are more interested in color on the pages when reading stories, and while kids may lose interest reading on a black and white DX (and currently prefer either the Kindle Fire or the iPad) they would be able to continue using the color Kindle DX and have it hold their attention.
• It would also be great to shop the Kindle Store directly from the device with the muted color screen making it easier and more enjoyable to flip through the catalog.

Permalink: https://digital-cave.blogspot.com/2012/05/color-kindle-dx-in-late-2012-according.html