Best eBook readers of 2016

It’s only May but PCMag is already separating the wheat from the chaff… eBook reader chaff that is. We all know about Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPad, and their list includes those and all their versions, but the list also includes many other eReaders that you should consider. The article lists out all the specs and has price lists too. When you’re ready to zero in on a couple eReaders, they have full PCMag product reviews to give you all the details you need to make your decision.

Read the whole article now.

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (James Tarbotton), licensed under CC0 1.0

Upload more than just books to your Kindle

Did you know you can easily send Microsoft Word and PDF documents to your Kindle? Nate Hoffelder of Ink, Bits, and Pixels recently posted a great how-to.

The gist from Amazon:

How to send a document to your Kindle:

• To find your Send-to-Kindle e-mail address, visit the Manage your Devices page at Manage Your Kindle.
• Documents can only be sent to your Kindle devices or apps from e-mail accounts that you added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List. To add an e-mail account, visit the Personal Document Settings page at Manage Your Kindle.
• To send a document to your Kindle device or app, simply attach it to an e-mail addressed to your Send-to-Kindle e-mail.
• It is not necessary to include a subject in the email.

Supported File Types:

• Microsoft Word (.DOC, .DOCX)
• HTML (.HTML, .HTM)
• RTF (.RTF)
• JPEG (.JPEG, .JPG)
• Kindle Format (.MOBI, .AZW)
• GIF (.GIF)
• PNG (.PNG)
• BMP (.BMP)
• PDF (.PDF)

Did you also know you can transfer files from a computer to your Kindle via a USB cable? Its as simple as working with a jump drive. Check out Amazon’s how-to to learn more!

Amazon Launches Kindle Management Service for Schools

According to SmartBrief on Ed Tech, Amazon unveiled Whispercast, a service that lets schools manage a fleet of Kindle tablets and e-readers from one website. The service is part of the company’s push to get the Kindle into more classrooms. It allows educators set up and monitor students’ user accounts and limit what students can do with the device, the company said. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)/Reuters (free registration) (10/17)

Hmmmmm….am wondering how public and academic libraries will fit into this scheme. Let us know in comments if you know or have thoughts….