latest
How to manage your e-book library with Calibre
Take control of your e-book collection by using Calibre
There’s no question that Amazon rules the e-book market, but they’re far from the only player in the game when it comes to e-reading apps or hardware. In fact, if you’re not shopping around for your e-books to find the lowest price, you’re basically throwing money away. Even though this competition is good for consumers, it can make managing your e-book library a bit of a nightmare across services. Thankfully, there’s Calibre, an application that can help you manage all of your e-books (no matter where you bought them or their file type) and help you get your documents onto your top-of-the-line e-reading device no matter which one you own.
The best entertainment apps on Android in 2024
Explore the various ways to keep yourself occupied with these entertainment apps on Android
At this point, Android smartphones have made it nearly impossible to be bored. Spending time navigating the Google Play Store, there are thousands of entertainment apps available for use. There's something for just about anyone, from various video and audio streaming platforms to editorial and games. You don't even have to worry if you're using a budget device, either, as many of these entertainment apps don't require high-end Android phones or tablets to operate.
The holidays are fast approaching and Amazon seems to be announcing one new product or service every day, so it's hard to keep up. The latest, however, is a waterproof Kindle with a larger 7" display that has us really jealous and itching for something like it but also compatible with Play Books.Unlike its predecessors, the Oasis doesn't sport a 6" display, but takes it up a notch to 7". And it does that while reducing most bezels and thus still being roughly the same height and weight as the Paperwhite or Voyage. Only the width is larger, mainly thanks to that big black bezel on one side. It doesn't look pretty, but it should provide a nice place for your hand to rest in while you hold it.
Those of us with a library card now have another means of easily accessing the local library’s free eBook and audiobook collection. OverDrive, a long-time manager of eBook collections for libraries, recently released their new Android app Libby.
[Deal Alert] Packt is offering all of its eBooks, including Android development-related ones, for $5
If you're looking to learn how to develop for a certain platform, chances are that Packt will have what you're looking for in either eBook or video form. As it does a few times per year, the publishing company is currently offering all of its material for just $5 a pop.
Have you felt the draw to get into app development, but didn't really know how to get started? Google wants to make things a little easier with a brand new guidebook that's meant to get developers on the right path. The Secrets to App Success on Google Play is an 81-page eBook that outlines the process and best practices for developing and submitting your software to the Play Store, and hopefully make some money on it. You won't get anything in-depth about writing code or managing a software business, but there are some good tips and tricks.
In addition to the exhilaratingly named "Android Application Development for the Intel Platform" book that we pointed our eyes toward yesterday, the equally catchy "GUI Design for Android Apps" is also available on Amazon right this moment for the low, low price of free. The book generally goes for $29.99, but now it's being offered for less than a cent to anyone who's willing to consume it on some sort of device. The paperback version is still going for $26.99.
When it comes to publishers, few names stand out in the technical world like O'Reilly. With literally thousands of books and videos, there are topics ranging from Programming to Business, and Fitness to Photography. Not only does O'Reilly print under its own name, but it also owns several other brands including: Wiley, Packt Publishing, No Starch Press, and more. Almost every developer probably has a small stack of books with the trademark line-drawn animals on the covers.
[New App] Inkling eBook Beta App Brings A Catalog Of Interactive Instructional Literature To Android
Physical books just aren't what they used to be. They're big, clunky, and far too heavy. Okay, they're precisely what they always were, but times have changed. Publishers have upped their game, shrinking complex books down into portable digital formats and adding in interactive elements to make them more engaging. One such publisher, Inkling, has now ported its catalog of books to Android. These are usable exclusively through its dedicated app, which is now available through the Play Store in beta form.
Most people rely on Amazon, Google, Barnes and Noble, or some other all-in-one ebook service for their digital literary fix, but there is a thriving community of users who prefer the flexibility and lack of DRM that comes with independent reading apps. This has led to more than a few excellent choices in the space, including Readmill, an ebook app dedicated to simplicity and readability. Apparently Readmill users aren't the only ones who were impressed: Dropbox has acquired the app (or at least hired the employees who made it) and the service is shutting down.
The last time we saw an expansion of Google Play Books was nearly a month ago when the service opened up shop in South Africa, Switzerland, and Turkey. Since then, it would appear Google has been making headway in its continued effort to bring more of its services to as many countries as possible. This time around, the list of countries in which Play Books is available has been updated to include Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.
Ten years have passed since Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinci Code' took the world by storm, with the book selling over 70 million copies worldwide. If you're one of the few people not to have read the novel since its release, now's your chance to get it for free from the Play Store.
[Updated: Here Are The Winners!] InformIT Holiday Book Giveaway #1: Win One Of Ten Copies Of "Learning Android Game Programming"
InformIT Holiday Book Giveaway #1
Our second, and last, giveaway for today is a little more literary than the offerings we've had so far, and really, is pointed more towards those who are looking to get into Android programming and development. So, we do ask that you only enter this contest if you actually want the book, because there aren't many Android giveaways out there aimed at the developer crowd. And don't worry devs, this isn't the only InformIT title we'll be offering as part of our Mega-Holiday Giveaway - it's just the first.
It sure seems that way, according to Android Guys. They claim competing eBook apps such as Kobo and Aldiko don't appear in search results when using the Amazon Appstore on a Kindle Fire tablet. Additionally, eBook reader developer BlueFire claims that while his app is listed as Kindle Fire-compatible on the Amazon Appstore, it too fails to show up in search results on the device.
Google unveiled its long-awaited eBook store this morning. What makes it different from, say, the Amazon eBook store? Well, sheer selection of titles for one: Google's eBooks has debuted with over 3 million pieces of literature to choose from - including a vast library of free and public domain materials, many of which you won't find anywhere else (trust me). It would appear Google's massive digitalization efforts have paid off.