Category Archives: Accessories

Finally! Third-party covers for the New Kindle Paperwhite are starting to appear

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Last week, Amazon began shipping the new version of the Kindle Paperwhite (the 10th Generation). If you are like me and don’t like the proprietary Amazon device covers, I have news. Some third-party covers are beginning to appear on Amazon. Quite a few covers have pooped up recently, Here’s a sampling:

Clamshell Cases:

Fintie Slimshell Case for All-new Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation, 2018 Release) – Premium Lightweight PU Leather Cover – $9.99 to $17.99 – Available in Black, Denim Charcoal, Rose Gold, Galaxy, Jungle Night and Love Tree.

OMOTON Kindle Paperwhite Case (10th Generation-2018), Smart Shell Cover with Auto Sleep Wake Feature for Kindle Paperwhite 10th Gen 2018 – $11.99 to $13.99. Available in Black, Blue,  Purple, Brown,  and Love Tree print.  This case is PU ( artificial) leather.

Infiland Kindle Paperwhite 2018 Case, Lightweight Shell Case Cover Compatible with All-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation 6″ 2018 – $7.95 to $8.95 – Available in Black, Gray, Mint Green, Navy,  Orange, Purple, and Royal Blue. Synthetic leather.

ACcase Kindle Paperwhite Case 2018, ACdream The Thinnest and Lightest Leather Smart Cover Case for 2018 Kindle Paperwhite – $12.99 – Available in Black, Purple, Navy Blue, Red, Purple Glitter, Rose Gold, Rose Gold Glitter and Sky Blue  This case is PU (artificial) leather, and, according to the description only fits 2018 Kindle Paperwhite, 10th Generation.

Coopts Case for Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation, 2018 Releases) – Ultra Slim Lightweight PU Leather Shell Cover with Auto Wake/Sleep Compatible Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2018 Tablet – $14.99 – Available in a variety of colors and patterns. Synthetic leather.

Other cases (folio, cut outs, elastic, etc.):

Fintie Folio Case for All-New Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation, 2018 Release) – Book Style Premium Fabric Shockproof Cover – $15.99 – Available in Denim Charcoal (fabric) and Vintage Antique Bronze (synthetic leather).

ACcase Kindle Paperwhite Case 2018, ACdream Folio Smart Cover Leather Case – $9.99 to $12.99 – Available in Black, Hot Pink, Purple, Purple Glitter, Rose Gold Glitter and Sky Blue. This case is PU (artificial) leather, and, according to the description, fits various models of Paperwhites.

Ropada Case Kindle Paperwhite 2018 Released Kindle 10th Generation E-Reader 6” PU Leather Kindle Paperwhite Covers – $17.99  Available in Black, Blue and several other patterned designs. This case has elastic bands to hold ereader in place, so it will also fit other Kindle versions.

Flip covers:

Infiland Kindle Paperwhite 2018 Case, Multiple Angle Stand Case Cover Compatible with All-new Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation 6″ 2018 Release – $9.95 – Available in Black, Gray, Mint Green, Navy,  Purple, and Royal Blue. Synthetic leather.

MoKo Case Fits Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation, 2018 Releases), Premium Vertical Flip Cover with Auto Wake/Sleep Compatible for Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2018 Tablet – $11.99 to $17.99 – Available in Black, Coffee, Indigo 1, Indigo 2,  Purple, Red, Rose Gold,  and Lucky Tree print.  This case is PU (artificial) leather.

TiMOVO Case for All-new Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation, 2018 Release) – Slim Fit Vertical Multi-Viewing Flip Stand Cover with Auto Sleep / Wake for Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2018 – $16.99 – Various colors, depending on availability. This case is PU (artificial) leather.

A couple of caveats:

Note that Amazon Prime shipping may not be available for all of these covers. Many covers start off shipping from their manufacturer and later become available directly through Amazon.

The reviews for some of these covers are less than stellar. Due to Amazon’s confusing naming convention for their Kindles, it is unclear whether the poor fit reviews are due to buyer error or poor product design as there aren’t enough reviews for a true consensus. I recommend using caution when buying until there are more reviews.

Cases and Covers for the new Fire HD 8

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fire_hd8_coverMy new Fire HD 8 is due to arrive on Wednesday and I haven’t bought a case for it yet. I prefer not to buy the Amazon cases, partly because of the cost (I like to change out cases). I had been checking the measurements of the 2015 devices and covers and comparing them to the new ones. The new Fire HD 8 is ever so slightly narrower and thinner, so I wasn’t sure the old cases would fit the new tablets.

Today, when I was looking at cases, Amazon flashed a warning on the product page that said “We want you to know: This product is not compatible with the All-New Fire HD 8 (2016 release). Explore compatible products.”

Since we now know definitively that these 2015 model covers will NOT fit the new devices, for right now at least, the only covers available are by Amazon. The available Amazon cases are:

The Amazon covers will be available upon the Fire HD 8’s  release on September 21, 2016.

The good news is, there are other third party cases and covers on their way. Covers will soon be available from manufacturers like Fintie and MOKO. I have bought cases from both companies and been satisfied with them. Both offer decent quality budget cases that include Vegan leather options. Amazon currently has these cases available for pre-order, however, NONE OF THESE ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR PRIME SHIPPING. The cases are showing availability dates starting September 22 and prices start at $4.99 plus shipping. In the past, Amazon has add these covers to its inventory (and Prime shipping) fairly quickly. All cases that will fit the new Fire HD 8 are marked “All-New Amazon Fire HD 8 (6th Generation, 2016 release)”.

If you happen to need a case for the older Fire HD 8, you must search for accessories marked “Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet (Fire 8″ HD Display 5th Generation – 2015 release)” to make sure you get the right sized item.

Pictured case is the Fintie Folio Case for All-New Amazon Fire HD 8 (6th Generation, 2016 release), Slim Fit Premium Vegan Leather Standing Cover for Fire HD 8 Tablet (2016 6th Gen Only), Starry Night.

Vegans want an alternative to leather Kindle Oasis cover

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brown-216001_1280With a $290 price tag, Amazon is definitely marketing the new Kindle Oasis as a luxury item. The cover Amazon has chosen is also what most would consider a luxury item: a finely-crafted leather cover. While it comes in a choice of three colors, leather is the only option.

That creates a dilemma for some, however. Many people who are vegan or vegetarian not only do not eat meat, but also refuse to use animal products for ethical reasons. Most vegans would refuse to have the cover in their homes. And in case you think that is just a few people looking for that option, take a look at the product Q & A forum. At the time of this writing, there are 592 comments on the thread post, most with remarks like these:

This was my first question as well. They have every right to offer leather, but they just eliminated millions of people who won’t buy it, what an idiotic decision when all they had to do was offer a fake leather option.

~

One more ethical vegan who will definitely not buy an e-reader only available with a leather cover.

~

I noticed this too and am very disappointed to see that that there isn’t an option to selected cruelty-free “vegan leather”. As an ethical vegan, I do not buy leather products and therefore will not consider this new Kindle. Amazon, please offer more compassionate choices in the future.

Many are saying that they will Keep using their Paperwhite and Voyage e-readers instead because there are leather alternatives available for those e-readers.

One customer suggested that concerned vegans write customer service to express their concerns and ask for this option.

Sara Farr feels so strongly about it, she took it one step farther and  started a petition on Change.org to try to get Amazon to sell a vegan alternative, or better yet, stop selling the leather altogether. She says:

The new kindle oasis is awesome for book worms, but not if they’re vegan (or a cow for that matter).  The only cover options are leather, which is not kind and limits options for people who don’t want an animal to die for a good story.  I want Amazon to offer a vegan cover option (or even better make all covers vegan!) so we can all enjoy this new technology.

If you also want  a vegan and animal cruelty free alternative, you can sign the petition on  change.org here. You can also contact Amazon customer service or write  kindle-feedback@amazon.com to express your opinion  on the topic.

Thanks to Karen for the tip!

Last minute Holiday gifts for the e-book lover

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Wrapped Holiday GiftsWell, we are almost out of shopping days for the holidays. If you are still wracking your brain for a gift for that e-book reader or techie in your life, here are a few ideas for last minute gifts.

How about a device stand? While some cases and covers have a built in stand, many don’t have that feature. This is an example of a adjustable e-reader and tablet stand that fits both e-readers and tablets.

Another great gift is a portable battery charger. These are available as something small and  lipstick-sized or something larger that is capable of charging two smartphones.

If you need to connect a device on the go to charge or share data, a USB cable is one of those modern necessities. And they come in every color imaginable! You can choose small and flat for the traveler  or something made for multiple device connections. There are cables that are retractable or USB drives that come as key chains.

Audiobooks are very popular right now, making a set of ear buds another of those must-have items for everything from the phone to the e-reader or tablet. You can even buy travel cases for them. I have to confess, I carry a set in not only my purse, but in each of my bags for my Chromebook and e-reader.

In fact, they even make USB Travel Charger Kit that has a wall charger, a USB cable and a set of ear buds in a clamshell case.

Because we use our phones, tablets and e-readers so much, touch screen gloves are almost becoming a necessity, too. Because of their popularity, you can now find them available in anything from eco-friendly bamboo to fine Italian leather.

Gift Cards

Generally speaking, gift cards can seem like a very impersonal gift. To the e-book or e-music lover, however, a gift card makes a great gift. People who have e-readers tend to be avid readers and gift cards are a great way to say to someone, “Buy some books that make you happy!” They are also a fantastic accessory to give with a new e-reader or tablet. That way, the recipient can download something that they will enjoy, right out of the box.

You can find gift cards to go with all the major e-reader brands:

Remember, you can also send a gift directly from any Amazon, Barnes and Noble or iBook page. [I cannot figure out how to gift a book from the Kobo site directly without buying an e-gift card. If someone knows how, please let me know in the comments. :)]

Kindle covers for under $20

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One of my Oberon Design Kindle covers

One of my Oberon Design Kindle covers

When I bought my first generation Kindle in May of 2008, I paid $400 for it. I bought myself a beautiful hand-made leather cover by Oberon Design that was one of the higher end covers available at the time. I bought a similar Oberon cover for my Kindle Keyboard. Over the years, I have found some fascinating one of a kind boutique covers for the Kindles I’ve owned.

But now, as Kindle prices have dropped (the basic Kindle is only $79), I am opting for less expensive covers. My criteria has become is price, ease of use and protection of my Kindle. (Okay, I am also guilty of just switching the covers out for variety.)

While there are a lot of expensive covers out there, there is also a nice selection of covers available for under $20. There are such a variety to choose from in style, design and color. These also make great gifts to go with that new Kindle.

Note: Prices can fluctuate, but all of these prices were below $20.00 except where noted when this was written. 

Covers and Cases:

MarBlue Vassen for Kindle Case, Black (Fits Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle and Kindle Touch) Low-profile and durable, this one reinforced the feeling of “book.”

Nupro Kindle Cover Simple and lightweight.

Fintie Kindle Paperwhite SmartShell Case Clamshell with sleep/wake feature. Also comes in slip-in and folio styles and color choices.

OMOTON Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Case Cover Lightweight with a sleep/wake feature. Great color choices.

Moko Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Case  I have this case myself. It is the one currently pictured in the header here on the blog. It is very slim, snug fitting cover. Plastic clamshell with vinyl design and sleep/wake feature.

MoKo Cover Case for Kindle Paperwhite My husband and I both have this case for our Paperwhites. There’s a nice flap for paper storage that I use a lot when at the doctor’s office and it has the sleep/wake feature .

Sleeves:

Sleeves are a great multi-purpose solution. Most can be used for various brands of e-readers and tablets. Durability ranges from soft material to heavy padding, so you can choose a custom design and still find just the right level of protection for your needs. There are also large selections of new sleeves on sites like etsy.com and eBay.com.

Bear Motion for Kindle – Premium Felt Sleeve Case for Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Voyage This one is super lightweight.

PUNCHCASE By Leslie Hsu Ace Zip Around Cover This is a fun cover and has several more expensive design choices as well.

The Macbeth Collection Reversible Medium Sleeve for e-Books (MB-MD2OP) These are reversible and only $8.99!

BUILT Neoprene Sleeve for 8-inch e-reader or Tablet, Black These are very substantial. I have a variety of them: some have zippers, some have Velcro closures. They also fit so many devices that they are a must have item Built also makes a nicely styled Neoprene Envelope. 

And, if you are a DIYer, there are even books and patterns to sew or crochet ereader covers.

Skins:

For some people, skins are an acquired taste or depend on the device itself. I have a rugged case for my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 tablet that I love, especially because you can’t use magnetic covers on the Note devices. However, I put a skin on one of my basic Kindles and hated it. But, I ‘ve noticed that the people who like skins, REALLY like them.

Marware SportGrip Silicone Skin for Kindle Paperwhite This is pre-made silicon skin that adds protection and color to your device.

Decal Girl Skin Kits This kit has a thin silicon skin in pieces that you place on the Kindle. There is a wide variety of designs available. You can also get skins for everything from your Wii controler to your Nook.  This is great for the DIYer.

And finally, here is a final cover for only $1 more: Just $21.00.

BUILT Kindle Slim Folio Cover for Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, Urban Camo There have been articles written about having a survival Kindle with all your prepper references pre-loaded onto it. If this one isn’t perfect for that, I don’t know what is. I may give in and buy this one before the end of the day myself, LOL!

Note to Readers: I plan on doing posts on budget covers for the Fires, Nooks, iPads and Galaxy tablets. 🙂

Will a Nook Glowlight case fit the new Kindle Fire 6 inch?

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javoedge6vintageI am still sorting through all the info on the new Kindle offerings to evaluate the specs and decide which one(s) I want. Amazon has given us lots of choices and I even got an email first thing this morning reminding me of certified refurbished Kindle Fire offerings.

So far, I  am most interested in  ordered the new Fire HD 6″ tablet. It looks like a great size to fit in a purse for use on the go. My problem is that I don’t like to use devices without covers and I also don’t want to spend nearly $30-$40 for an official Amazon case. I am fussy about cases and didn’t like the Amazon case  I bought for the Fire HD 8.9. I have usually used third-party cases on my Kindles, beginning with my first Oberon case for the Kindle 1. However, this is a non-standard size tablet and it seems there is nothing available to fit, at least, not yet.

Checking the measurements for the new device and looking for a workaround, I took a look at my current case for my NooK Glowlight. Made by Javoedge, the case looks like it might fit, given its size and the way that it is made.

The JAVOedge 6″ Universal eReader Book Case is described as a universal case, designed to fit the Nook Glowlight, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo glo, Kobo Aura, Kobo Touch, and the Kindle. It comes in a variety of patterns, including one with a metallic finish.

Pros of the case are lightweight, flexibility in sizing due to the loops holding the device in place and the way it is constructed.The price is a distinct advantage as it is $14.99 versus $30-$40 for the Amazon brand case.

There are a couple of downsides to the case. One is the fact that there is no sleepcover function with this case (or not one that works on my Kindle Paperwhite). Another is the quality of the case. It seems like it is essentially covered cardboard, slightly lighter than that of a hardcover book.  And, because it is designed for an e-reader, it does not have the ability to be used as a stand for normal tablet use.

I have not had any problems at all with the one I use for my Nook Glowlight. I have a one with a cute owl pattern. Yes, I am a cover junkie! 🙂

I have no doubt that one the new Kindle Fires start shipping, we will quickly see new covers for the six inch Fire available on the market. While I don’t think that this is a cover I would want to use long-term (it is not, after all, really designed for tablet use), I intend to try it as a short term solution until new covers are available. Note that I do have other devices (Kindles and Nooks) that will fit this cover, so it is not much of a risk for me to try.

This isn’t the first time I have done this. When the original Kindle Fire came out in 2010, I used the faux lether cover that came with my Kindle 1 for the Fire  until I could find something I liked.

Updated: The answer to will the case fit an HD 6 is no. The case is too wide to safely hold the device. I talk about this in my review of the Fire HD 6.

New York Times Kindle Covers

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One of the things that is great about the new popularity of eBook readers is the ever-increasing number of accessories that are available.  The plethora of choices really allows an eReader owner to personalize their reader and express their own individual personality.

Today, I saw these new covers for the Kindle and absolutely fell in love! Made by Verso, each of the three covers features an image of New York City from the The New York Times Photo Archive.  The pictures included in the series are View from River House, The Flatiron Building and The Statue of Liberty (pictured). The Amazon page for each cover includes information about the photo.

This blog post composed while listening to The Best of Sam Cooke.