UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

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message 1: by Simon (Highwayman) (last edited Jan 08, 2012 06:15AM) (new)

Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments The Kindle FAQ. Thanks to all who contributed over at the Amazon forum. More suggestions welcome.

What is the CURE-ALL for most Kindle LOCK-UP, DEATH, HANGING, STRANGE SCREEN IMAGES etc?
Try a reset: HOLD THE ON/OFF KEY TO THE RIGHT FOR 20-30 seconds. LET GO. LEAVE THE KINDLE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES then see if it is "cured".


How do I enter numbers?
you can use the Sym key, but if you only want numbers, it's quicker to use "Alt" with the top row of letter keys (Alt+Q=1, Alt+W=2 etc., Alt+P=0)


How do I get MP3 files onto my kindle
A good explanation is at http://www.kinworm.com/2010/10/music-...


How do I get to other Kindle Forums such as "Kindle Book" and "kindle Authors"?
Kindle Book Forum
Action Forum
Fiction Forum
The Kindle Author Forum is pretty much dead.


How do I let my kids / children buy ebooks without giving them access to my credit card?
Set up a shared account (so they can share books), Don't give credit card information. Buy them Amazon Gift Certificates and apply them to the account. (if you've got more than one kid, I don't know how you tell which bought what, unless they download to their own Kindle).


How do I read Amazon books on my Kindle when I cannot transfer them wirelessly?
If you have bought an Amazon book and chosen your Kindle for PC app for download, you cannot transfer this file to your kindle (well you can, but kindle can't read it) So, in this event, if you cannot connect your kindle wirelessly (3G or wifi), you need to use your pc to go to your manage your kindle page. Find the book, and in the deliver to drop down option, choose deliver to Transfer via PC, when you do this you'll be asked which kindle the book is for, then a file will be downloaded to your pc. This file can be copied to the documents folder on your kindle via usb, and you will have your book. (You won't be able to open the file in Kindle for PC though).


How do I remove items from the archive?
The archive collection shown on your Kindle home screen does not contain any books. It is a list maintained by amazon of all of the e-books you have bought that are not currently held on your Kindle. The list is updated when you switch the wireless connection on and Sync and Check for Items. The archive list will be different for each device you have registered (Kindle, PC, iPad, mobile phone, etc). When you remove a book from your Kindle it will appear in your archive list so that you can download it again if you need to. You can remove a title permanently from the Manage Your Kindle page but you will have to buy it again if you want it back. The archive deals only with e-books bought from amazon - for any you buy from other suppliers you are responsible for keeping backup copies.


How do you create collections if the option is greyed out?
Resolved by connecting to whispernet at least once. This is usually only an issue with a wifi only Kindle where the Kindler does not have home wifi. Find a wifi hotspot (eg McDonalds or Starbucks, or a friend's wifi) and connect! Alternative contact your ISP and ask for a wireless router


How do I use an Amazon gift certificate to buy books on Kindle?
There's good info on this in the help files Amazon Gift Vouchers


Can I sort my books, articles, PDFs, or whatever into folders?
Yes. They're called "Collections." From your "Home" screen, click the "Menu" button and choose "Create New Collection." Once you've created it, you can add/remove items, change how you sort through them - the works. Great way to group by kind, genre, category or to be read or read etc.


I'm in the UK, can I buy from the USA (and vice versa)?
no. If you are a UK resident (and you have a UK address and card on file with Amazon) you must buy from the UK store. If you are in the US, you must buy from the US store. If you are in ANY other country, you are considered by Amazon to be "rest of the world" and you must order from the US store. There is a slight grey area as to whether you can switch from .com to .co.uk to buy books. Also, if you buy a Kindle in the UK and move for a long period to (say) Germany, then Amazon may restrict your purchases from the UK store and ask you to switch to the US store - again this is rather grey and new and will develop. Hardware purchases however ARE restricted as above.


Is it better to turn it off or put it to sleep?
The Kindle is designed to go to sleep, thereby using less battery power.


Is it normal for the screen to turn black for a fraction of a second - should I send mine back because it does this?
All e-book readers do this it is not a fault and you soon get used to it.


Is there a backlight?
No - the Kindle doesn’t use a backlight, it is e-ink technology. This gives a much nicer reading experience and reduces eyestrain. It looks like ink on paper and unlike monitors, mobiles, iPads etc, it works even better in sunlight. The kindle product page gives full details.


Is there any way of filtering out adult content?
No.


Registration - Do I have to have a credit card?
No.


Registration - What do i need to supply to register?
your name and address.


What can I access without a payment method?
You can download free books and book samples. Note: if you have a credit card and a gift certificate it may not be obvious that the deduction came from the Gift Certificate. Your credit card is debited on the left of your statement but credited from your certificate on the right!


What do I do if I purchase books by mistake!
On buying on the kindle, the first page you see has an option to cancel the purchase. If you miss that you have a 7 day period to contact Customer Services to cancel. The item will be removed from your device and archive.


What is the button for on the bottom of the Kindle (with + and - on) to the left of the USB socket?
The Volume Control, with ear / headphone socket to its right.


Where are the page numbers?
The bar along the bottom of the page shows the percentage. When you press Menu in a book you will see the location, and if page numbers are available you will see the page number for the equivalent paper book. (Look at the product description for the ISBN of the paper book).


Where Can I Buy Really Cheap Books For My Kindle?
There are also hundreds of Free Books on Amazon, mainly books that are out of copyright. Amazon produces two bestseller lists, one for books that are paid for, and one for free books. There are non-Amazon sites offering free, cheap (and expensive!) ebooks in .mobi - a format compatible with the Kindle


Where can I see a Kindle in the flesh before buying one?
John Lewis, Tesco, PC World, etc. etc.


Where can Kindle be delivered to?
When ordering from the Amazon.co.uk wbsite, Kindle can be delivered to any address within the UK including the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man. If you live outside of the UK or would like to deliver a Kindle internationally, you will need to order from Amazon.com The Kindle Store at Amazon.co.uk is for UK customers only. If your home address is outside the UK, you can shop in the Kindle Store at Amazon.com.


Where is my supplied USB cable?
The USB cable for the Kindle is attached to the three pin mains plug when you take it out of the box. Attach it to a PC to transfer files or to the 3-pin plug to charge the Kindle battery from the mains.


Which one should I buy - the wifi or 3g?
It depends on your circumstances. Wifi will tie you to getting online either at home if you have a wifi network, or out and about if you can find a free wifi hotspot. The 3g version allows you to buy books wherever you find a vodaphone mobile signal, worldwide. wifi only does work abroad, but again, only in a wifi hotspot. 3G is also easier to use out of the box if you have little or no computer skills.


Why do I only have one page of settings options?
Resolved by connecting to whispernet at least once. This is usually only an issue with a wifi only Kindle where the Kindler does not have home wifi. Find a wifi hotspot (eg McDonalds or Starbucks, or a friend's wifi) and connect!


Why do some books show on the Kindle store, yet are 'unavailable' when you visit the book page?
It's sometimes because there was a Kindle edition available and the publishers have pulled it because a) they don't have the publishing rights to sell the e-book b) the first edition had errors that people complained about, so they pulled that edition while they updated it. It's also sometimes because the Kindle edition is coming but they don't have a release date for it yet.


How to find the serial number of an unregistered kindle for which you have no box.
Connect Kindle via USB to PC
Goto Control Panel
Select Device Manager
Click the + sign next to Universal Serial Bus Controllers
Scroll down to USB Mass Storage Device and double click
Select the third tab which is labelled details
From the drop down "property" list select Device Instance Path
The numbers and letters after the last \ is the serial number


message 2: by Steve (new)

Steve Robinson (steverobinson) | 2926 comments If I bought a Kindle book in my own name before I got my Kindle, and then when I got my Kindle I registered it in my wife's name because it was a present for her, is there any way I can get the book onto my wife's Kindle without buying it again using her Amazon account?


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Nope. Sorry Steve.


message 4: by Simon (Highwayman) (last edited Dec 01, 2012 04:56AM) (new)

Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments Maybe, just maybe....

Register her kindle to your account.
Download the book from archive
Deregister her kindle and register it back to her account.


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Oh yes, that will work. It will then be on the kindle but if you archive it again you'll have register to the other account again to retrieve it again.

Friends on the island did that. I'd forgotten sorry.


message 6: by Steve (new)

Steve Robinson (steverobinson) | 2926 comments Thanks, I could give that a try... Or I could buy another copy of the Goodread's Gallimaufry, which is the only book I'm concerned about because I wanted to have a read of it on the Kindle over Christmas. 86p or hassle de-registering and reregistering to me, then de registering and registering it back to my wife.


message 7: by Kath (new)

Kath Middleton | 23860 comments Let's have a whip-round for Steve - I'll let you have 50p!


Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments You would rob the group of 86p Steve....

I'm glad I read your book over someones shoulder on the 'plane now :)


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments I've got a couple of 2p coins...


message 10: by Steve (new)

Steve Robinson (steverobinson) | 2926 comments I thought I'd leave it open to get a reaction. Not like me to show a little cheeky mischief at Christmastime... How could any of you think such a thing as to suppose I wouldn't rather fork out another 86p from the earnings you lined my pockets with. Shameful. :o)


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Patti (Totally Bananas) wrote: "Oh yes, that will work. It will then be on the kindle but if you archive it again you'll have register to the other account again to retrieve it again.

Friends on the island did that. I'd forgotte..."


I'm embarrassed by how 'agains' I used in that post.

And Steve you are a cheeky git!


message 12: by Harry (new)

Harry Nicholson (harrynicholson) | 209 comments Just seen this by a chap on facebook:

"3 out of 5 people queueing in front of me at the Curry's checkout were buying a kindle, so I asked the assistant how well were they going and she said its their biggest seller thats why they stored them at the checkout. Guess that means there is going to be a massive surge Christmas morning of new books sold."


message 13: by Shelley (new)

Shelley (shelleylea) | 6 comments I love my kindle - ive had it a month and can't stop ordering cheap and free books. I think I've worn it out. Last night, it froze - I can't put it to sleep or turn the pages. It was still the same this morning. I's be grateful for advice please!!!!


message 14: by Maureen (Mews) (new)

Maureen (Mews) (mews) | 711 comments Shelley, have you tried doing a re-set? Slide and hold the on/off button for 20 seconds and then release it (if it's the new baby kindle then it's a button you have to PRESS I think and not a sliding button like the old version). Then walk away and leave it for 10 minutes.

If that doesn't work. Plug it in and charge it for awhile and then try the re-set again.

If that doesn't work then I am afraid it's a call to Amazon Customer Services. They are very helpful though.


message 15: by Shelley (new)

Shelley (shelleylea) | 6 comments thanks Maureen - I'm at work at the moment, so will have to wait until I get home tonight. Its awful after 6 weeks with kindle at my side virtually 24/7, to be without it!


message 16: by Maureen (Mews) (new)

Maureen (Mews) (mews) | 711 comments Awww that's awful Shelley :(

I hope it works for you. Come back and let us know if you get it fixed. Amazon are usually really quick to send a replacement though. Hopefully the re-set should work and you don't need to call them.


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Thanks Maureen.

Shelley, I replied to you in the other thread you posted in.

As I said, don't panic. Kindles freeze all the time. It'll be fine. The reset works 99 times out of 100.


message 18: by Fiona (Titch) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments Can I ask if you have PDF files to be downloaded on to the Kindle, what's the best site for it please as I have a few I need to download.


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments I'm not as good with this stuff as a couple of our group geeks but what I do is email PDF documents to my free kindle address as an attachment. Just remember to put the word 'convert' in the email's subject line.

Did that make sense, Fiona?


message 20: by Fiona (Titch) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments Patti (Still totally bananas) wrote: "I'm not as good with this stuff as a couple of our group geeks but what I do is email PDF documents to my free kindle address as an attachment. Just remember to put the word 'convert' in the email'..."

What free kindle address is that?


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments I knew you'd ask that. Ummmm...let me grab my kindle.....

Okay, for it to work, you need to be connected to wifi.

I'll post this now so you know I'm working on the answer. I'm SUCH a slow typist...:)


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments On your kindle, go to 'home' then click 'settings'. On page two of settings you'll find something that says 'send-to-kindle-email.

Your kindle email address will show there. To send documents for free just change after the @ to free.kindle.com.

Open an email from your usual account, attach the document you'd like to send, put 'convert' in the subject line and the document should should up on your homepage. As I said, be sure your wifi on your kindle is turned on.

I hope that makes sense. If not, we'll keep at it til I do! ;)


Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments Also, on your pc you need to go to 'manage your kindle' and add the email address you are sending FROM to allowed email addresses.


message 24: by Fiona (Titch) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments Mine says my email address @kindle.com


message 25: by Fiona (Titch) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments Simon (Highwayman) wrote: "Also, on your pc you need to go to 'manage your kindle' and add the email address you are sending FROM to allowed email addresses."

Simon, where abouts am I?


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Not sure where Simon has gone. I'm thinking a bacon bap. I'm sure he'll be back to help, though.


Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments Give me ten minutes and I will put up a step by step guide


message 28: by Fiona (Titch) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments Thanks Simon.


message 29: by Simon (Highwayman) (last edited Jan 08, 2012 06:09AM) (new)

Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments How to send a PDF to your Kindle



First you need to prepare your Kindle account on Amazon :

Click this link :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ap/signin?_e...

You will probably be asked to log on to your amazon account.

Now you will see your kindle library.

On the left you will see : “Your Kindle Account” and “Personal Document Settings”

Click "Personal Document Settings"

First make a note of the email address near the top, it will be something like Fiona_99@kindle.com

Now scroll down to "Approved Personal Document E-mail List"
There is probably nothing in this section so you need to click 'Add new approved e-mail address'

You need to put your normal email address here ie:fiona@hotmail.com or fiona@gmail.com etc...

That is the set up finished.

Sending an email to your kindle
Now go to your usual email system (outlook express, hotmail, whatever) and compose a new email.

The recipient needs to be the address you noted above (fiona_99@kindle.com) except to avoid paying it needs to be fiona_99@free.kindle.com (If you do not add 'free' to the address you will be charged. If you do add 'free' it will only go to your kindle when you are on WiFi).

The subject needs to be 'convert'

Attach the PDF

Send.


message 30: by Fiona (Titch) (last edited Jan 08, 2012 05:25AM) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments What do I do if I have the emails from people who have sent PDF items?


message 31: by Fiona (Titch) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments Worked it out after forwarding the PDF items to the email address x


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Are you all sorted now Fiona?


message 33: by Fiona (Titch) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments Yes and Simon, I have passed these details on to a group of mine as it might help other Kindlers lol x


Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments Make sure you give them a link to this group then Fiona....


message 35: by Patti (baconater) (last edited Jan 08, 2012 06:05AM) (new)

Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Yay! I'm glad you're sorted! Yes please tell your friends about us. We love to meet new people. :)


message 36: by Fiona (Titch) (new)

Fiona (Titch) Hunt (titch) | 942 comments Just added this group on my RISI (read it swap it) :-)


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Double yay!


message 38: by Elle (new)

Elle (louiselesley) | 6579 comments I should know this. I really should. But a friend got a K3 for Christmas and was asking all the questions the other day and I got stuck at this one.

I am aware that the dots underneath are to show the length but does each dot have a meaning? Like a dot = so many pages?

ALSO:

What is a location? Like I know *what* it is, but what does it mean?


Gingerlily - The Full Wild | 34228 comments I think a dot means a chapter, but I could be wrong. And a location is something like a sentance - again I could be wrong.


Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments A dot isn't a chapter. I'm not sure what a dot represents but the number of dots represents the relative size of a book.

The definition of a location has been warred over many times on amazon with do definitive answer yet.


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments A location is the numerical value of the spot assigned to a given word or character within the book.

There's probably some correlation between the number of dots and the percentage thingy. Perhaps one dot for every time the percentage number changes?

The book I'm reading now, 11.22.63, has teeny triangles as well as dots. The triangles seem to be showing the books within the book, if you get my meaning...

I'm sure I've read some books where there was a slightly larger dot at each chapter break...


message 42: by Paul (new)

Paul (latepaul) IME the dots are positions within the TOC - usually chapters but not always. They are the points you can jump to. If you press the right or left button whilst reading you'll see you jump to the next or previous dot.

I quite like then for seeing whether the current chapter is long or short when my eyes are drooping :)


message 43: by Elle (new)

Elle (louiselesley) | 6579 comments It would of made total sense for a dot to mean so many pages so you can tell how many pages a book has at a glance (or at least estimate) but that makes too much sense now doesn't it?!

And Okay, I'll go with that explanation on location, Patti, thanks!


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Hmmmm. Just tried that and it just jumped to a random page, not the next chapter...


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Oh wait. Tell a lie. Yes it did. Thanks for that Paul.


Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments I thought the triangles were chapters.


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Actually what was looking at are teeny rectangles. The triangle marks where you start reading each session.


message 48: by Karina (new)

Karina Kantas I have a quick question. Twice now at my wifi cafe I've tried to download books. I can get onto Amazon store but when I try to buy, a message comes up saying that I'm in a different country that what the Kindle is registered in.

I'm not. I'm in Greece and the Kindle was registered in Greece.

Any help you can give me will be gratefully appreciated.

Cheers.

Oh, and I have bought books from this same wifi location before without any problems.


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Try a restart. If that doesn't work, we'll look further.


Simon (Highwayman) (highwayman) | 4276 comments Hmm, it could be that the wifi cafe has changed. At work I now get German adverts because they have moved our main servers to Germany.

If that is the case you are going to have problems. Can you find another wifi hotspot just to confirm the problem is not on your kindle?


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