Amazon started rolling out a new typesetting and layout engine for Kindle books last May to improve text layout and to add new features like hyphens, kerning, and drop caps. Amazon also introduced a new font called Bookerly that was designed specifically for reading ebooks on digital screens (there’s an E Ink version and an […]
eBooks
Kobo Adds Book Stats to Website, With Estimated Reading Time
Kobo has started rolling out a new book stats and keywords section to the product pages of ebooks on the Kobo website. The stats don’t appear for all books but a good share of them now display stats. Book statistics include the number of pages, the total number of words, and there’s a reading time […]
Texture Offers Unlimited Digital Magazines for $9.99 per Month
Have you heard of Texture, the magazine subscription app? Until last week I’d never heard of it before, at least that’s what I thought at first. Texture isn’t new exactly. A few months ago Next Issue, which started out on the iPad, changed its name to Texture, and added some new social and sharing features […]
Kindle Cards, New Book-Specific Kindle Gift Cards
I came across an interesting help page at Amazon the other day that describes a product that I never heard of before: Kindle Cards. Apparently Kindle Cards are as rare as unicorns because I can’t find a shred of information about them anywhere outside of the help article. Using Google search pulls up one single […]
Amazon Closing Shelfari, Merging it with Goodreads
Last week Amazon revealed plans to close Shelfari, a social network for book lovers with various recommendation and sharing features. Ever since Amazon purchased Goodreads back in 2013, a similar but more popular service, the writing was on the wall (pardon the pun). Amazon has been neglecting Shelfari for years, and now it’s officially getting […]
Kobo Offers Price Match Guarantee for eBooks, Plus an Extra 10% Credit
Kobo recently introduced a price-matching program for ebook purchases that includes a 10% bonus credit. It works a bit differently than Amazon’s price-matching system where ebook prices get discounted directly to reflect prices and sales by other merchants. The way it works with Kobo is you have to buy the ebook then submit a request […]
Public Library eBooks and Audiobooks More Popular Than Ever
One great thing about ebooks is that fact that many public libraries around the world support ebook lending for free. All you need is an internet connection, a library card, a device to read on, and some time to read. Downloads through OverDrive’s library lending service increased by 24% in 2015. They set a new […]
Amazon Echo Can Now Read Kindle eBooks Using Text to Speech
Amazon recently added some new reader-friendly features to their Amazon Echo device. You can now have Alexa read aloud Kindle ebooks using text-to-speech. They also improved Audible audiobook playback control by adding voice commands for skipping chapters. The new text-to-speech feature works with your purchased Kindle ebooks and ebooks borrowed from the Kindle Owners’ Lending […]