Amazon Promises a Makeover of Kindle FreeTime

Amazon Promises a Makeover of Kindle FreeTime

Earlier this week Amazon announced a new version of Kindle FreeTime that will be coming too its lines of Kindle Fires in the coming weeks. The update adds time limits for weekdays and weekends and a curfew time called “Bedtime”. The update brings educational goals: parents will be able to set educational goals such as reading from Common Core standard-aligned books for a set amount of time before going on to play a game or video. Amazon also promises a much larger library of educational books, apps, games and videos to be added to Kindle FreeTime Unlimited. In the press release Amazon states, “in the coming months, parents will be able to borrow a Kindle book from a participating public library, and make it available to their kids in FreeTime”. Owners have been able to borrow Kindle books from participating public libraries for sometime but the ability to share library books with children through FreeTime is a welcome addition. Amazon is anticipating that these updates will make their line of tablets even more irresistible for parents.

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Which Tablet is Best for Your Child?

Which Tablet is Best for Your Child?

The pros and cons differ with each tablet and the ecosystem that it represents. However, the most important feature with any device a parent hands to a child is the maker's implementation of parental controls, how easy they are to set up, and the granularity of control they give the parent.

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Post One Year Review and Reflection on iPad, Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD

Post One Year Review and Reflection on iPad, Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD

Over the previous year I have been using / long term reviewing three devices. The Apple iPad (3rd Gen), Google/Asus Nexus 7, and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD. This review isn’t about specs and price points which are easily attainable in numerous other places. This review is about long term user experience living with the device day in and out. It is telling after long term use to stop using a device for a period of time and reflect on what one most misses.

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