quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
<snip>
Here's a link to get a Kindle User Guide (it's free): https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws...le_User_Guide_EN.pdf
<snip>

Thank you, sir!

I read books now almost exclusively on my Kindle app; and use the iPhone or iPad because it's always at hand.
BUT for politically sensitive books I also order a paper copy. An alternative would be to have a Kindle reader exclusively for potentially banned books, then not connect it to the internet except when adding books. To be certain, one could have three or four Kindles, one in your safe deposit box, etc. just like storing hard drive backups.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Here's a link to get a Kindle User Guide (it's free): https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws...le_User_Guide_EN.pdf

Thanks! Downloaded and emailed to my Kindle email address. Now I have it in my Kindle library. (You'd think they'd do that by default, wouldn't you?)

Re: Your Kindle email address: For the app on my iPad it's under "More -> Settings".

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I used the wrong nomenclature when I said that books, manuals, etc. can be organized in "folders." Kindle's term for this is "Collections," also explained in the User Guide.

Found it! Thanks again The instructions weren't quite right for the Kindle app on iPadOS, but, were close enough. (Once you know it can be done, it merely becomes a question if figuring out how.)

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
I'll take my Kindle over anything. And the ease of taking books out of the library is fantastic. It's truly all-in-one.

Me, too, 6guns. My San Diego B&M library recommended a free iPhone app named “CloudLibrary”. The app’s icon shows “CL”. Probably available for Android too. I can link the app to my library system. It makes finding and checking out ebooks even easier. If a book I want to borrow is checked out by someone else I can put it on hold. The app then reports the number of days remaining until it’s available. It also will send me an email when the book is available for download. Other facilities too.

I’m curious to know if CloudLibrary is universally used by all American libraries. Perhaps other libraries use similar, but different apps.

quote:

I’m curious to know if CloudLibrary is universally used by all American libraries. Perhaps other libraries use similar, but different apps.

When I tried hooking up my mom's Ipad to the local library it was a PIA, but that was 5-6 years ago and it was some odd ball app that you had to use not CloudLibrary.

Volusia county library uses an app called Pressreader, it allows access to magazines and newspapers.

Pressreader

For Borrowing Books:

Hoopla, Overdrive (Says best for Kindle), Freading and Odilo which is geared for Spanish publishers. All of these were found under the eBooks section of the county library, and they even have video tutorials on how to install and use the apps to borrow books.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

I’m curious to know if CloudLibrary is universally used by all American libraries. Perhaps other libraries use similar, but different apps.

Seminole County (Florida) library system uses Overdrive, which sounds pretty similar to your description of CloudLibrary.

Our local branch in Kent County, MI switched from Overdrive to the Libby app.
I think Overdrive still works as my mother's older kindle fire can't use the Libby app. But I get all her books for her and they "share" to hers.

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
There is also Pirate Bay, the morality of downloading e-books that you have already paid for in paper (and don't plan to ever sell), would be something to think about.

WRT all digital purchases…

That’s really the problem, isn’t it? I’m generally a law and order kinda guy, but it pisses me off that these companies want to have their cake and eat it too. They want you to “buy” a product, but then say that you’ve only bought the rights to it, and those rights can be revoked at their sole discretion without compensation. Since they have no financial incentives to further maintain the bandwidth to support your purchase after the initial charge, they can, and will, eventually drop your purchase. It’s a failed business model, a Ponzi scheme.

I own over $5000 worth of Audible books. Audible is very good, a true class act. They have never done me wrong. However, I still download the files, strip off the DRM, and store them on my Plex server for access. I still use the Audible app and listen off Audible, but I have the books locally just in case the service ever goes tits up or they pull any rights to a purchase.

Call me old fashioned, but if you’re not able to possess it, then you don’t own it. I don’t want to be a pirate, but I will own and possess what I’ve paid for. Otherwise, you simply have a paid library subscription.

This video sums it up.
https://youtu.be/V3P3EqNLijE?si=E9RJlpR5wroWwPWg

 
When I read my Kindle paperwhite in the dark, I toggle the display to "dark mode" (dark background, white text).

After using V-Tail’s method to send the Kindle manual to my Kindle (“convert” in the subject line), I received an email from Amazon:

“ Dear Customer,
Thank you for using the Send to Kindle service. Send to Kindle is a free service that allows you to send documents to your Kindle library on your Kindle devices and the Kindle app. Files imported via Send to Kindle are encrypted in transit, and while stored, are secure in Amazon’s data centers, which are designed to meet the most stringent security requirements in the world. …”

Like many others here, I tend to use the Kindle app in the iPhone or iPad.

I discovered that a second library system here in San Diego uses the Libby app (mentioned by others above), rather than the CloudLibrary app. It’s said to work well for borrowing Kindle-format books, so I got a library card for that system too. Some info about Libby:

“Libby is a new app released by OverDrive. It has the same collection of titles as the OverDrive app - it’s just a different way to access the same digital library collection. Libby is a fast and attractive digital browsing experience.
……
Q: I like to read on a Kindle e-reader. Should I use the Libby app to discover books?

A: Give it a try! The Libby app is a different browsing experience than the OverDrive app, and you may prefer it. You can let Libby know that you read e-books on your Kindle by tapping on the menu, and choose  "I Read on Another Device" in Download Settings. When you check out a Kindle format e-book, it will prompt you to send it to your Kindle or Kindle eReader app, rather than downloading the book to Libby. …”

ATLANTIC COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
https://www.atlanticlibrary.or...owsing%20experience.

An FYI: I used the iPhone “Libby” app today to borrow my first book from my country library to read on my new Kindle. That process required me to provide my Amazon password. And, in fact, I was subsequently logged in to my Amazon account.

Then the book was indeed downloaded to my Kindle. And, to my surprise, my Kindle also received a software update.

A good thing, I guess, but I didn’t request it. Apparently, if you have Wi-Fi enabled on your Kindle you automatically receive needed software updates when you login to Amazon. Or maybe just the e-books section of Amazon.

Wife received her Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas, yesterday. She's delighted with it

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
An FYI: I used the iPhone “Libby” app today to borrow my first book from my country library to read on my new Kindle. That process required me to provide my Amazon password. And, in fact, I was subsequently logged in to my Amazon account.

To clarify: If you tell Libby you want to read with Kindle: When you borrow a book, Libby opens your web browser to an Amazon login to complete the borrowing.

After reading about Libby, here, my wife and I today went and got new library cards from our local library. I installed Libby, logged-in with the credentials from my shiny new library card, told Libby I wanted to read with Kindle, and just borrowed my first library e-book.

Pretty painless and just saved me buying a Kindle book

Maybe I'll get a Kindle e-reader for my birthday, after all

I read a lot! I have the kindle app on my iPad, and a kindle paper white as well. I usually read off the kindle, but on occasion used the kindle app to read, when I was having internet issues and the kindle wouldn’t connect to our wifi.
(It wasn’t the kindles fault, it was a faulty unit for internet, has since been replaced).
The paperwhite is great, don’t need a light, and can read anywhere easily. And it’s small, easy to take with you anywhere too.
I also use kindle unlimited, they have lots of free ebooks you can borrow to read. Like a library, you just return them when done, and you can look for another one. I use that mostly, unless I’m adding to my collection of authors.
If I ever replace the kindle, I’ll probably go with another kindle product, maybe something a bit bigger but with the ability to read at night still.

quote:

Originally posted by m1009:

I also use kindle unlimited, they have lots of free ebooks you can borrow to read.

I used to use Kindle Unlimited, but it's not free, it's ten bucks / month.

Then I found that the county library has a much better selection of books that can be borrowed for Kindle reading, and that is totally free.

Yeah, I tend to forget that kindle unlimited is now something you do pay for, I’ve had that for a few years though, as I wanted a bigger available list. I thought though, that with Amazon prime, you did get two free library books a month for the kindle unlimited. But that might have changed, don’t know anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by m1009:

I also use kindle unlimited, they have lots of free ebooks you can borrow to read.

Originally posted by V-Tail:I used to use Kindle Unlimited, but it's not free, it's ten bucks / month.

Then I found that the county library has a much better selection of books that can be borrowed for Kindle reading, and that is totally free.

quote:

Originally posted by m1009:
Yeah, I tend to forget that kindle unlimited is now something you do pay for, ...

I think I was offered a month or three of free Kindle Unlimited when I briefly re-signed up for Amazon Prime? (I declined, having no wish to get sucked in to another subscription service.)

quote:

Originally posted by m1009:

Yeah, I tend to forget that kindle unlimited is now something you do pay for, I’ve had that for a few years though, as I wanted a bigger available list. I thought though, that with Amazon prime, you did get two free library books a month for the kindle unlimited. But that might have changed, don’t know anymore.

To the best of my knowledge, Kindle Unlimited has always been a paid service, other than some free trial periods.

You do get some free books, offered monthly with Amazon Prime, but these have nothing to do with Kindle Unlimited. "Prime Reading" and "Kindle Unlimited" are two different offerings from Amazon.

The best deal that I have for reading on the Kindle is my local public library. MUCH bigger selection than Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited, and totally free (unless you consider the tax base that supports the library, but I pay that whether or not I use the library).