Chapter 12

Ten Helpful Kindle Paperwhite Tips

In This Chapter

arrow Be a bargain hunter

arrow Personalize your device

arrow Be clever with collections

arrow Have fun with words

arrow Keep your device safe

arrow Fly with your Kindle Paperwhite

arrow Drive with your Kindle Paperwhite

arrow Troubleshoot your device

arrow Give great gifts

arrow Convert a friend

In trademark For Dummies style, this chapter contains ten tips to make your Kindle Paperwhite more useful. These concise and easy-to-digest tips can benefit power users and casual readers alike.

Be a Bargain Hunter

Many people ask if you can buy an e-book version of a previously purchased printed book for free or for a reduced price. Until November 2013, the answer to that question was no — but then Amazon introduced Kindle Matchbook. This program allows you to buy e-books of print books you've previously purchased on Amazon. (Not all books are in the program.) If you've been a loyal Amazon customer, you probably have many books on your shelf that will qualify for this program.

You can search for other bargains in addition to Matchbook. Amazon has a Daily Deal, where you can buy current popular books at deeply discounted prices, often $1.99 or less. These deals last only a day, so make sure to take advantage of them when you see ones you want.

To find out about free books, peruse the Top 100 Free Books at the main page of the Kindle Store. This list is updated hourly and new free books appear on a regular basis, so be sure to check the list often.

Kindle First is another program that allows you to get one new release per month for $1.99 or free for Amazon Prime customers. You may choose from four books selected from Amazon Editions. To find out more, go to www.amazon.com/gp/digital/kindle/botm/?tag=viglink126429-20. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to be alerted to the choices on the first of the month.

Whispersync for Voice allows you to read a Kindle Paperwhite book and listen to an Audible book at the same time. When you switch between devices, you can pick up where you left off in the other version. Many Audible books are offered at discounted prices if you own the Kindle version, often $3.95 or less (the usual price is generally over $20). If the Audible version is available at a reduced price, it will say so on the Kindle version's product page.

Personalize Your Device

Make your Kindle Paperwhite unique. Here are two tips to personalize your Kindle Paperwhite so that everyone knows it's yours:

  • Name your device. Give your Kindle Paperwhite a special name that reflects your — and its — personality. Perhaps you want to give your Kindle Paperwhite a character's name from a favorite book, a name you love (or even wish you had), or a meaningful phrase. I know of a Kindle Paperwhite named Catalyst because it's a catalyst for reading. To change the device name, tap Menu⇒Settings to display Device Options, and make your change. You can name your device also on Amazon's Manage Your Kindle area (www.amazon.com/myk).
  • Change the font and font size. The Kindle Paperwhite has six fonts. Play around with them to find the one that's most comfortable for your eyes. Note: You have to be in an e-book (or other content) to choose the font options. While reading a book, tap the top region of the screen to display the toolbar. Tap the Text (Aa) icon, on the left of the toolbar, and then tap through the eight font sizes, six fonts (Baskerville, Caecilia, Caecilia Condensed, Futura, Helvetica, and Palatino), line spacing, and margins. (See Chapter 2 for details.)

Be Clever with Collections

Many readers organize their Kindle Paperwhite e-books into collections so that they can quickly find their favorites among the dozens — or even hundreds — of books stored on the device. Although names such as Bestsellers and Finished are serviceable, why not have some fun? Here are a few suggestions culled from Kindle users:

  • Once Upon a Time (young adult/children)
  • Books that Make Me Look Smart (classics)
  • Small Servings (samples)
  • On the Nightstand (currently reading)
  • On the Docket (coming up next)
  • What Was I Thinking? DNF (did not finish)
  • Maybe Someday (all unread books)
  • Can't Resist a Bargain (cheap or freebies)
  • Tell Me about Your Life (autobiographies and biographies)
  • A Blast from the Past (historical fiction)
  • Magic and Mayhem (fantasy and paranormal)
  • Future Bestsellers (books from indie authors)
  • Extra! Extra! (subscription content, such as newspapers and magazines)
  • Let's Eat! (cookbooks)
  • Technical Manuals (guilty pleasures and erotica)

Have Fun with Words

Here are a few tips for having fun with words on your Kindle Paperwhite:

  • Use the dictionary to look up unfamiliar words. Simply press and hold down on a word. The dictionary definition appears automatically.
  • Share new words on Facebook or Twitter. From the dictionary definition, tap More, tap Share, add a note, and tap Share. The information will be posted to your Facebook page and Twitter feed. A notation (superscripted number) will also be linked to the passage on your Kindle Paperwhite.
  • Translate words into another language. The Kindle Paperwhite allows you to translate words (and phrases) into sixteen languages, including Chinese (simplified and traditional), Hindi, and Russian. Press and hold down on the word. From the dictionary definition page, tap More, and then tap Translation. On the screen that appears, tap To: English to see the list of languages and choose one. (To see the entire list, drag it up and down with your finger.)
  • Translate words into English. Are you reading a book that contains words or phrases in another language? You can translate them to English. The Kindle Paperwhite will even detect the source language!
  • Use Vocabulary Builder to learn new words. Every word you look up in the dictionary is added to a list in Vocabulary Builder. Tap Vocabulary Builder from the Home screen to access the list. For each word, its dictionary definition and usage will be displayed. After you've committed a word to memory, tap Mastered to remove it from the list.
  • Play Every Word. Every Word is a fun word-building game designed for the Kindle and available for free from Amazon.

Keep Your Device Safe

The following list provides tips for keeping your Kindle Paperwhite safe and in working order:

  • Don't drop the device. A drop from just a few feet can be enough to destroy the screen. Treat the device carefully and try to prevent drops.
  • Keep the device away from water. The Kindle Paperwhite and water don't mix. A spill into the tub or pool is a sure way to turn your Kindle Paperwhite into a paperweight. If you want to use your Kindle Paperwhite in watery environments, protect it. Many users report that heavy duty Ziploc bags work well. Others opt for custom waterproof jackets, such as those sold by M-Edge. (See Chapter 10 for details.) Even with protection, however, the device can be damaged if an accident occurs.
  • Keep the device clean. Sand or dust can damage the internal circuitry and make your Kindle Paperwhite unusable. If you opt to read at the beach or the Mojave, protect your Kindle Paperwhite with a bag or a plastic jacket. A can of compressed air is great for getting dust out of the corners of your Kindle Paperwhite, too.
  • Don't use, store, or charge the device in extreme temperatures. By extreme, I mean below 32°F or above 95°F (0°C to 35°C). Outside these temperatures, the e-ink display might become damaged. If you're waiting on an elevated platform on a frigidly cold day in Chicago, keep your Kindle Paperwhite in your briefcase, warm and protected.
  • Keep the device in a cover, sleeve, or jacket. Even if you prefer to hold the Kindle Paperwhite without a cover for reading, keep it covered when you're not using it to protect the screen. You can find many attractive covers, sleeves, and jackets from simple to fashion-forward, from inexpensive to pricey. To keep your Kindle Paperwhite safe, consider this important investment. See Chapter 10 for accessories.
  • Don't let young children handle the device. Many people ask, “How old does a child need to be to use a Kindle Paperwhite?” If children are old enough to read books with chapters, they're probably old enough to handle a Kindle Paperwhite with minimal supervision. Children younger than 5 might not understand that the Kindle Paperwhite is delicate and needs to be treated gently. To be on the safe side, keep your Kindle Paperwhite out of their hands completely.
  • Protect your Kindle Paperwhite from your pets. Keep your device safe from canine and feline friends. I've heard of dogs chewing a Kindle Paperwhite to pieces and cats walking across — and cracking — the screen.
  • Don't leave your Kindle Paperwhite on a chair or bed. It's easy to sit on your Kindle Paperwhite, roll over on it, or put your elbow through the display.

Fly with Your Kindle Paperwhite

The Kindle Paperwhite is the perfect traveling companion, helping you get through hours of waiting in airports. And for those people who catch up on overdue reading during their vacation, the Kindle Paperwhite is ideal.

The following tips will help make your trips smooth and trouble-free:

  • Use common sense for airport security and screening. Take the Kindle Paperwhite out of your bag or carry-on and put it in the screening bin, along with your cellphone and any other electronic devices. The Kindle Paperwhite needs to be turned off, the wireless needs to be turned off, and the device must be in Airplane mode (see Chapter 2). Many ask if x-ray screening can damage a Kindle; I've traveled with my Paperwhite throughout the United States and abroad without any problems.
  • Don't leave your Kindle Paperwhite in the seat pocket of the plane. In every sad story I've heard of a Kindle left on a plane, it was left in the seat pocket. Don't tempt fate. Keep your Kindle Paperwhite in your purse, briefcase, backpack, or carry-on when you aren't reading it.
  • If you are requested to do so, turn off the Kindle Paperwhite during takeoff and landing. In the eyes of the FAA, the Kindle Paperwhite is a portable electronic device and must be turned off (not just in Sleep mode) for takeoff and landing. To turn off the device, press down on the power button for 7–15 seconds and choose the Screen Off option in the menu that appears. Then, when the announcement is made that it's safe to use portable electronic devices, you can take out your Kindle Paperwhite, tap Menu⇒Settings, and then toggle Airplane mode to On.

    Until November 2013, airline passengers were required to turn off their Kindles (all models, including the Kindle Paperwhite) during takeoff and landing and any time the plane was flying at less than 10,000 feet. However, the FAA has recently amended its rules to expand the use of personal electronic devices during all phases of a flight — they hope to provide passengers with a “gate-to-gate” reading, gaming, and video-watching experience. Each airline carrier will be able to decide individually how to implement these new rules. As a result, things will be “up in the air” for several months as airlines decide how to proceed. Listen carefully to all announcements from the flight attendants and pilot and, if required, turn off your Kindle during takeoff and landing.

  • Never turn on 3G on airplane. Even though you can read a Kindle Paperwhite while flying, 3G (if your Kindle Paperwhite is so equipped) must be turned off, as with a cellphone. If the airline provides in-flight Wi-Fi, you can turn on the wireless on a Wi-Fi–only Kindle Paperwhite when the flight attendant or pilot allows it.
  • Make sure you have the proper charging equipment when traveling. The Kindle Paperwhite ships with only a USB cord. You can use this to charge your device from your computer, but it's a good idea to have a plug adapter, too, so you don't rely on only one charging option. If you're traveling outside the United States, you'll need a plug adapter if you want to charge your Kindle Paperwhite from an electrical socket. The Kindle Paperwhite is a dual-voltage device, so you do not need a converter.

    If you regularly travel to the same country, consider buying a plug specific to that area. See Chapter 10 for details.

  • Load your Kindle Paperwhite with reading content before you leave. The Kindle Paperwhite works internationally, so Wi-Fi and 3G should work everywhere. Even so, take some time before your trip to dig out e-books from the archive or buy some e-books from your wish list. Then while you're traveling, you'll have dozens of e-books available at your fingertips — without worrying about buying or downloading them.

    tip_4c.eps If you're planning a cruise, realize that Wi-Fi access can be expensive, amounting to a surcharge on every Kindle Paperwhite e-book you download. Now you have an even more compelling reason to load up your device before you leave!

Drive with Your Kindle Paperwhite

If you travel a lot by car, consider getting a car charger. Then you won't need to charge your Kindle Paperwhite in a hotel room, which means you'll have less chance of leaving the power cord, plug, and even Kindle Paperwhite behind. You can find a variety of Kindle Paperwhite–compatible car chargers at different price points on Amazon.

If you frequently travel by car, consider getting a Kindle/Audible audiobook bundle to use with your preferred audio device. Whispersync for Voice makes it easy to listen to a book while you're driving. When the day's driving is done, you can pick up your Kindle Paperwhite and sync to the last place you listened to on the audio device.

Troubleshoot Your Device

Having trouble with your Kindle Paperwhite? Following are some of the most common resolutions to Kindle Paperwhite issues:

  • Turn your Kindle Paperwhite off and then on again. Many Kindle Paperwhite issues will resolve themselves by simply cycling your Kindle Paperwhite off and then on. Turn off the device by holding down the power button for 7 to 15 seconds and choosing Screen Off from the menu that appears. Then turn on your Kindle Paperwhite by pressing and releasing the power button.
  • Restart your Kindle Paperwhite using the menu. Try restarting your Kindle Paperwhite through the menu system. Tap Menu⇒Settings⇒Menu⇒Restart.
  • Perform a hard restart of your Kindle Paperwhite. Hold down the power button for 7 to 15 seconds and then choose Restart from the menu that appears. You'll see the Kindle logo with a progress bar. When the restart is completed, your Home page is displayed on the screen.
  • Make sure your Kindle Paperwhite is fully charged. Many users have reported a variety of issues ranging from books not downloading to problems with syncing when the battery charge drops below 25 percent. If you're having problems and the battery indicator is low, plug in your Kindle Paperwhite and let it recharge to full strength.
  • Contact customer service. Amazon provides fantastic customer service for its entire family of Kindle devices. If the preceding tips haven't solved your problem, call customer service at their direct toll-free number: 1-866-321-8851 (in the United States). U.S. Amazon customers traveling outside the United States should call 1-206-266-0927. You can also e-mail customer service or chat online with a customer service representative. Go to the Kindle support page at www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/kindle-help.html? for the necessary links, including information for non-U.S. customers.

Give Great Gifts

You love your Kindle Paperwhite and so does your best friend. So what do you get your friend for a gift? An Amazon gift card or e-book!

You can send an electronic Amazon gift card in any amount up to $2,000. You can select a design that's specific to the Kindle Paperwhite or a design that reflects the season or occasion. Log in to your Amazon account and click Purchase a Gift Card to get started. To give a Kindle Paperwhite e-book as a gift, search the Kindle Store for one; then select the Give as a Gift option on the purchase page and go from there. You need to know the recipient's e-mail address to complete either transaction.

Another great gift is a 3-, 6-, or 12-month membership at Audible.com. A membership allows your recipient to buy audiobooks and synchronize them between an audio device and the Kindle Paperwhite for a combined reading and listening experience. To find out more, visit the Gift Center at www.audible.com.

Following are some other great gifts for fellow Kindle Paperwhite owners.

  • A plug adapter (the device ships with only a USB cord)
  • An extra USB cord
  • A cover, sleeve, jacket, or skin
  • A capacitive stylus to use on the touchscreen

For more information on all these, see Chapter 10.

Convert a Friend

Most people who experience a Kindle Paperwhite become quite enamored with it and, as a result, want to convert their friends and relatives. Consider the following when trying to help a non-Kindle Paperwhite user see the light:

  • The Kindle app can be used on a computer, an iPad, or a smartphone. The Kindle application is free, and versions are available for a computer as well as BlackBerry, Android, iPad, and iPhone devices. Reading Kindle e-books on a device with the Kindle app is a good first step to understanding the Kindle Paperwhite experience. With the app, a user can buy e-books from Amazon and create an archive of titles. (Realize that with the app, you'll be reading on a device with an LCD screen. You need to have a Kindle Paperwhite or other Kindle e-reader if you want the e-ink experience.) If the user gets a Kindle Paperwhite, the e-books in the archive are available for downloading to the device. In addition, the app synchronizes among devices, so if you read a few pages on, say, your iPhone and then switch to the Kindle Paperwhite, it synchronizes to the last page read.
  • The Kindle Paperwhite is environmentally friendly. Printed books require paper for printing, packaging for shipping, and trucks for hauling, which are all valuable resources that cost money and are potentially harmful to the environment. E-books, which consume a few electrons and are delivered via wireless, are an ecologically wise choice for reading.
  • The Kindle Paperwhite is hypoallergenic. Some people are allergic to the ink used in printed books. Over time, printed books can become dirty or infested with dust mites, which are also potent allergens. E-books have no such irritants, so they're a good choice for readers with allergies.
  • A Kindle Paperwhite can help decrease clutter and save space. Face it, books take up a lot of room in your home. You can store an entire library (1,100 e-books) in a device that you can hold in your hand. Plus, you can store thousands more books in the Cloud.
  • A Kindle Paperwhite library can never be destroyed in a fire or flood. Although a Kindle Paperwhite might break or become damaged, your Kindle Paperwhite library, stored in the Cloud at your Amazon account, will always be available.
  • You can save money on e-book purchases. A Kindle Paperwhite requires an initial investment, but e-books are generally less expensive than their printed counterparts. In addition, you can find many sources of free e-books as well as frequent free e-book promotions.
  • You can change the font size, making reading easier. After you discover the convenience of enlarging or reducing the font to accommodate your eyes or the lighting conditions, you'll realize the inconvenience of reading very small print. Many people with vision problems have been able to regain their joy of reading by using the Kindle Paperwhite with enlarged fonts.
  • You can make annotations without harming the e-book. The Kindle Paperwhite allows you to make notes, highlight passages, and annotate important sections, all without leaving permanent marks in the book. This is good for the e-book and good for other readers, who may be interested in the content but not in your notes.
  • Share your reading accomplishments. Use social media, such as Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter, to share your reviews and ratings of the books you read, right from the book.
  • Improve your vocabulary by using the dictionary to look up unfamiliar words. When you were learning to read, you might have looked up words you didn't know in the dictionary. But as you got older, you might have left that habit behind. The Kindle Paperwhite makes looking up unfamiliar words easy. Instead of trying to puzzle out what unctuous means, look it up! (By the way, unctuous means smooth and greasy in texture or appearance.)
  • Keep your reading list private. You might not want others to know that you're reading The Bald Duke's Secret Mistress. Everyone has guilty pleasures — is it really anyone else's business that you like to read bodice rippers or trashy celebrity biographies?
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