Tablets, eReaders, Media Players

[ApK]

My son had been enjoying his ZTE Citrene tracfone as an unactivated media player.
He didn't mind reading on the screen, but he has young eyes and often sits reading books in darkened rooms, so who knows. It meets the rest of your criteria and is less than $30 most places.

[GA Russell]

I bought a Black Friday Amazon Kindle Stick a couple of years ago, and have never used it (or even looked at it). Is there something I can use it for which will not cost me more money?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I bought a Black Friday Amazon Kindle Stick a couple of years ago, and have never used it (or even looked at it). Is there something I can use it for which will not cost me more money?

Do you mean a Fire TV stick? (Kindle's are the eInk readers and reading apps [and older tablets])

It's nice if you have Primes, Netflix, Hulu, but stuff like that which all cost $$$. If you have a TV subscription (Cable, Satellite) some of your subscribed channels may have apps you log in to with your provider account and can use to watch stuff (some of these apps also allow limited free content too). There are also free apps like Tubi TV, Pluto TV, Popcorn Flix, Crackle, CW Seed etc. which have free content.

[GA Russell]

Thanks AO. Yes, that's what I meant. I'll see if I can watch ESPN3 on my TV, and let you know how that works out.

[booklover6]

I have received written confirmation of the offer deals for the Echo from QVC, so hopefully I'll get what I expect!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I have received written confirmation of the offer deals for the Echo from QVC, so hopefully I'll get what I expect!

Is it 3 Audible vouchers or a 2-month Audible trial?

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Is it 3 Audible vouchers or a 2-month Audible trial?

3 Audible vouchers, and 2 music UL voucher.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

3 Audible vouchers, and 2 music UL voucher.

Good, that was their original offer several days ago when this promo first hit.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Good, that was their original offer several days ago when this promo first hit.

I'm tempted, but I wish I knew what the next generation is going to be like and what it will cost ...

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm tempted, but I wish I knew what the next generation is going to be like and what it will cost ...

I bet it will cost about $129 - the same as Google Home.

Not knowing what the next gen will have is always a problem when trying to decide whether or not to get the previous gen at a huge discount.

[ApK]

Could't resist. I ordered the QVC Echo just now. Hope it's the same deal and not a just a new member trial offer.

If I know me, and sometimes I'm not so sure, I'll probably get the Echo 2 when it comes out anyway.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I bet it will cost about $129 - the same as Google Home.

Not knowing what the next gen will have is always a problem when trying to decide whether or not to get the previous gen at a huge discount.

If it is $129, I'll be OK with waiting to see the new bells and whistles. If it comes in at $180 like the original Echo, I'll probably be annoyed about passing up the QVC deal.

[sufue]

That looks really good, a bit bigger than my prized Galaxy Player 3.6, but still pretty small, and hopefully the (non)activation screens aren't too annoying. Does he just leave it on all the time, or ???

My not-young-at-all eyes are very near-sighted, so I tend to read with my glasses off and my device pretty close, so the small screen doesn't bother me at all.

I had found my own way to the Tracfone Galaxy Centura, with an even smaller 3.5" screen, but it seems pretty underpowered/old version of Android/not-great screen, so I may try this one now, or may wait for Black Friday as @tubemonkey mentions...hmmm....decisions decisions...

Thanks!

Originally Posted by ApK

My son had been enjoying his ZTE Citrene tracfone as an unactivated media player.
He didn't mind reading on the screen, but he has young eyes and often sits reading books in darkened rooms, so who knows. It meets the rest of your criteria and is less than $30 most places.

[sufue]

Yes, I am patient, and have my eye on BF. I have picked up a couple of your recommended no-contract phones in the past (), but they are bigger than I've been looking for (closer to 5" than 4"), and I'm using them for "semi-stationary" music and occasional audible book players. They are awesome for that, and I thank you again!

But really looking for a super small, 4"-ish model, or even 3.5". Doesn't have to be top-of-the-line, but a lot of the smaller ones I've found have either been pretty expensive (some of the Sony Xperia) or reviews say they are really slow/buggy (really old Android/old processors). Will keep my fingers crossed for something like I want for BF, but also may buy now (see @ApK's recommendation of ZTE Citrine) if I find something reasonable.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

How long are you willing to wait? Black Friday is 2-1/2 months off and has the best deals for no contract Android phones. I've been very pleased with the $10-$20 phones I've picked up the last several years. None of them are activated and they're primarily being used as media players.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by sufue

That looks really good, a bit bigger than my prized Galaxy Player 3.6, but still pretty small, and hopefully the (non)activation screens aren't too annoying. Does he just leave it on all the time, or ???

There was no activation nagging at all, except for an occasional notification, that I can recall. We did activate it a few months ago, so I'm going by memory.

He left it on all the time for the most part.