Last October I posted about an Automator workflow for KindleGen. (Warning: Mac geek speak forthcoming.) I was pretty proud of it, but it had a bug, which is that it couldn’t handle spaces in the file’s path. For example, if your epub file is located in a folder named “Sparkly Vampire Novel,” which we both [...]
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Feedbooks discontinues Kindle download guide
Feedbooks used to offer a free Kindle Download Guide, essentially a catalog you could load directly onto your Kindle and browse to download public domain titles. It was a great supplement to the Amazon Kindle store when you wanted to look for something new (but free) to read. Sadly, the Download Guide has been retired. [...]
The text version of the State of the Union
Watching the State of the Union Address is like sitting through a very dull, very partisan pep rally, where people are forced to clap and cheer at regular intervals so that the nation doesn’t implode with too much contemplation or free thought. It’s gross. But reading the President’s speech is much easier.
Looking for Kindle help? Don't get taken advantage of by opportunists
A convenience fee: something you pay when your time is too valuable to waste looking up Kindle info. A stupidity fee: when you pay a stranger cash for information that is not only free, but easier to access in its free version. My point: before you pay anyone for any Kindle guide or manual or [...]
Kinstant update adds customizable shortcuts
Kinstant, the online shortcuts page designed for the Kindle that I first covered back in October, has been upgraded. The calculator is still there (click the “show menu” link at the top of the screen), but now there’s local weather and room to add your own custom URLs. Kinstant saves the new URLs on your [...]
How to replace the battery on your Kindle 3
It’s likely that your Kindle’s battery will last as long as you own the Kindle, unless you happen to be one of those frugal types who hangs on to a device for a lot longer than the average consumer. But if your battery does go kaput (edit: and you don’t have any warranty protection), you [...]
Google Books launches in the U.S., works on Kindle's web browser
This morning, Google launched its heavily anticipated ebook store at books.google.com. Like its competitors, Google’s approach is to store your purchases online so that you can “buy once, read anywhere” (to steal a Kindle marketing phrase), but you can also download EPUB versions that are locked with Adobe Digital Editions DRM. However, if you own [...]
Where to find elegant and quirky Kindle cases
One of the best sources for one-of-a-kind cases for your Kindle (or Nook, Kobo, etc.) is Etsy, the handmade items retailer. Etsy’s particularly great for padded sleeves, because you can choose from a hundred different fabric patterns instead of four manufacturer colors, or even request fabrics. However, you can also find some pretty sophisticated leather [...]
Kirkus picks best teen and children's books for 2010
If that latest Kindle TV commercial is right, kids will read almost anything, but in reality they tend to be just as picky as grownups. If you’re shopping for books for teens or children this season, you might appreciate the new “Best of 2010″ lists just released by Kirkus Reviews. Their children’s book list has [...]
Use free Bluefire app to read library ebooks on your iPad or iPhone
If you own an Apple device and want to access library ebooks on it, try the free Bluefire app now available on the App Store. It has the ability to authorize and open OverDrive files, so you can read your library books on your iPhone or iPad. The original instructions at mobiputing.com explain the app [...]
Huge list of free classics on the Amazon Kindle store
Want to read Austen or Dostoyevsky on your Kindle without paying a cent? Morris Rosenthal of Foner Books has put together a mega list of free classics available on the Amazon Kindle store: http://www.fonerbooks.com/free.htm It’s a great starting point if you want to avoid get-rich-quick publishers who post the same classics for a price, especially [...]
A beginner’s guide to making custom screensaver images
There’s no reason, other than lack of time or interest, that you can’t put your own custom images on your Kindle. The “hard” part is hacking your Kindle in the first place (although that’s a fairly easy task too). After that, all you have to do is make a few modifications to your favorite images [...]