Posts tagged as:

Kindle

Manage Your E-Book Collection, E-News and Magazines with Calibre

by Robin on March 26, 2009

Calibre is a free application that manages your electronic stash of e-books, magazines and news.  It’s cross platform so it works on Windows, OS X and Linux.  It has the ability to convert over a dozen document formats (HTML, TFT, RTF, PDF) into EPUB, LRF and MOBI, then synchronizes with popular e-book readers like Sony, Amazon Kindle and even the new Stanza reader for iPhone.
 

User feedback seems to suggest that most folks are very happy with the application.  The user interface offers a Cover-Flow for browsing book jackets, and appears to be well thought out.

Spin it for writers…

For a writer the Calibre could be a fantastic research organizer.  Let’s say for example you’re writing a book on the latest economic crisis, and you’re sourcing from at least ten books.  Calibre allows you to leave comments and tags for each book in your library.  After you read the book on your e-reader, access Calibre on your computer and input your notes regarding the info you are sourcing, the page numbers, etc.  When you later compile your bibliography, refer to the data you entered on each book.  If you’re sourcing from e-newspaper articles and RSS feeds - no problem - Calibre allows you to store information on these formats as well. 

Be sure to pay homage to the karma gods and donate a few bucks if you decide to make Calibre your application of choice for managing your electronic reading content.  Remember, the more money donated, the more development occurs and the more development, the better the product. So eventually your donation will come back around to benefit you - as "good" karma often does.

 

Source:  jkontherun

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A Dozen Gadget Gifts for Writers

by Robin on November 24, 2008

$ = under $50
$$ = $50 - $100
$$$ = $100 - $500
$$$$ = Pfff it’s only money
 
 

1. $ Gift Certificates - Not exactly techy, but easy.

    * Levenger
    * Staples
    * Local Art Supply Store
    * Favorite Coffee House
    * iTunes
    * Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc. 

 

2. $$ Portable Backup Storage - Encourage writers to backup their masterpieces with portable storage.

    * USB Memory Stick (at least 2GB)
 
3. $$ Digital Camera - Encourage writers to get out amongst the living - taking pictures for proof.

 

4. $$ Ergonomic Keyboard - Try it, they may like it and improve their health at the same time. (Keep the receipt just in case)

 

5. $$+ Digital Voice Recorder - Often times writers dream the stories they are writing and or their imaginations become alive just before they lie down to sleep.  Having a voice recorder handy helps ensure they capture the thought-on-the-spot.

   * Local Radio Shack or Best Buy

 

6. $$+ Update Writing Software - Find out if your writer gift recipient is using the latest version of their writing software or if they’ve been wanting to try something new.

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A Look at eReaders

by Robin on June 9, 2008

 

Here’s an eco-friendly tidbit about eReaders.  If the eReader had been developed 10 years earlier it could have saved 6 million trees just for Harry Potter Books alone. SID had eReaders galore on display at their 2008 conference and the founders of LitCentral were privy to an unusual hands-on experience with the top sellers.  No matter the brand, eReaders have a few things in common.

  • Paperlike readability, a good resolution in sunlight.
  • Ultra low power consumption
  • Books, newspapers and magazines can be downloaded
    • Screenplays? Manuscripts?
  • Eco-friendly

Current and Future Applications for Advanced Technology Displays

  • e-Reader
  • Laptop Sideviews
  • Display SmartCards
  • e-Signage
  • Mobile Phones
  • MP3 Players
  • PC Accessories
  • Electronic Dictionaries
  • eReaders

Reading comes with the territory if you are a writer, and for avid readers eReaders can be a dream comes true.  How great is it to not have to choose which books you “might” want to read on vacation or at the coffee shop?  Load them all in one device and off you go!

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