Amazon Text Fail

So, I order a new TV on Amazon.  There is an option to have them text me updates as the set makes it way to my house.  This would be great, as I would like to know when it is coming so I can be home and ready to sign for it.

Yesterday, I go to the Amazon site and figure out that the set has shipped from the Amazon warehouse in Indianapolis.  Wow, the set is coming sooner than I thought.  However... no text.

Today, on Amazon, the set is indicated out for delivery, and still no text.  I am figuring that the text service is not quite working.

And after the set is in my house, I finally get my one and only text from Amazon that the TV has been successfully delivered.  Well, I could have texted myself that one!  All in all, this was a bit of a fail...

Jonas

Amazon Kindle Thoughts

Today was the big day that Amazon announced the latest crop of their Kindle line.  A recurring theme of Bezos is that Amazon is building premium products at non-premium prices.

This is a fine strategy, and unlike some others, I believe that they are following the economy where folks want cheap and value above all else.  They have been slowly cutting the prices of their readers for years, and much attention got focused on the Kindle Fire, a $199 iPad competitor that features a 7" color display and a new browser.

However, I think that equal attention should be paid to the other eInk offerings, that sans bells & whistles offer an even better deal.  Specifically, the new Amazon Touch, and Amazon Kindle.  The new Kindle will go for a mere $79, which makes this accessible to most consumers.  In addition, the Amazon Touch has a new touchscreen interface, and still comes in at $99.

At the end of the day, I am not sure if I will be parting with cash to purchase any of this, but I am glad to see that Amazon is driving the price down of eReaders.

[Engadget]

Amazon Basics Flash Cards

While I have a drawer full of flash cards, it seems like I can always use one more.  Especially as memory becomes less expensive, they do seem like a bargain.

I spotted today that Amazon has a line of their own branded flash cards, and like most things Amazon they are quite cheap.  They are SD cards, available in the 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB sizes.  Their are Class 4, which are standard speed, and Class 10, which are suited for more rigorous devices such as digital cameras.  They also have microSD cards in the same capacities as well.

The current "sweet spot"  would be the Class 4, 16 GB card that can be had for $18.99, with free shipping.  This type of item is also useful to fill the order up to the $25 threshold to get the free shipping on another item, and will likely get more use that the eraser I bought once to complete the box.

AmazonBasics 16 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card