Six Email (and Snail Mail) Web Scams to Avoid - Nate Hoffelder Blog

My work is finished for today.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere before he started home, when he decided to stop at Nate Hoffelder's blog. With no digging at all in the posts he found one about scams you need to be aware of.

In his post Nate Hoffelder lists six scams with samples. He explains the scams and how they work.

Panzer says, "This little kitty knew about most of these, but there were a couple he hadn't seen before."

Note: This is a longish post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on while you read.

To read the post tootle over to Six Scams to Avoid

Audible's Virtual Voice is Flooding the Market - Brian's Book Blog *

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Brian's Book Blog site. There our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about the Beta Audible/Amazon Virtual Voice feature.

It's free to do; so, of course, writers are doing it.

The post covers the huge number of AI narrated books being uploaded to Audible in the different genres. The post doesn't address the quality of the narration but, instead, the sheer number of books uploaded. It also points out that there is no way to filter the AI narrated books from a reader's book searches. For example, if you're looking for a cozy mystery audiobook, you'll get AI narrated books included with human narrated books and may find your search inundated with the AI books. The post also includes a Comment Section at the end worth reading as well. (In that section a poster says you must be in KDP Select to use the Virtual Voice feature.)

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty learned about the feature a few days ago on YouTube. Some videos are posted there explaining how to do the AI narration and upload your book to Audible."

 

 Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to munch on while you read the post.

 

To read the post tootle over to Audible's Virtual Voice

 

 

 

* A tip of the kitty fedora to Nate Hoffelder's blog Monday Morning Coffee for the original link to the post.

Amazon's ebook charts are full of AI-generated spam - Daily Dot*

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he made a quick stop at the Daily Dot site. There our inquisitive little kitty boy found a post about AI-generated spam.

 

Throw them out with the garbage.

In Gavia Baker-Whitelaw's post, she shows through examples how Amazon is getting flooded with AI-generated fake ebooks.

 

Panzer says, "Well, everybody knew this was coming."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea to drink while you read this selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to AI ebook spam

 

 

 

 

*A tip of the kitty fedora to Nate Hoffelder's Morning Coffee site where this link first appeared 

Amazon raises price on Kindle Unlimited subscription - The eBook Evangelist

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The eBook Evangelist* site.

 

The cost of everything is going up.

According to Glinda Harrison's post, Amazon is raising the Kindle Unlimited monthly subscription fee unless you buy a six months or twelve months subscription. The post includes links to the KU site.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... How many ebooks would you need to read each month to justify paying the increase?"

 

Note:This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Kindle Unlimited subscription

 

*The eBook Evangelist link appeared first at Nate Hoffelder's Monday Morning Coffee 15 May 2023

Amazon is About to Shut Down Their Excuse for Charging Kindle eBook Delivery Fees - Nate Hoffelder

Today, Panzer made a trip to Nate Hoffelder's site. There with a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon's 3G Kindle's demise in December. Panzer told you in a post earlier this month about the shutting down of 3G in December.

 

According to the post by Nate Hoffelder, the fee Amazon has been charging authors and publishers for ebook delivery was instituted in 2010 so Amazon could recoup the costs of using 3G. With 3G disappearing in December Nate Hoffelder makes the argument there should be no reason for Amazon to continue to charge the delivery fee. Amazon, however, has made no mention of removing the fee. There's a link included in the post which will take you to a Verge post about Amazon's announcement.

 

What can we do about it?

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know the delivery fee was connected to 3G."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a small glass of lemonade for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post and follow the link in that post, bring another glass of lemonade and a muffin.

 

To read the post tootle over to delivery fees

To read Panzer post about the 3G Kindles tootle over to Amazons Kindles

Google is Sunsetting FeedBurner Email Subscriptions in July 2021 - The Digital Reader

Today Panzer decided to make a quick stop at The Digital Reader site. There he discovered a post about the demise of FeedBurner.

 

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Google has decided to kill FeedBurner. Included in the post is a copy of Google's release about the company's plans. If you look at the top of the column on the right here, you will see the option to subscribe to posts from my site. That is the kind of subscription service FeedBurner offers. In addition to FeedBurner there are several email subscription services which will still be available.

 

I know some humans who use it.

Panzer says, "If you use FeedBurner, you better start looking for a replacement."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Feedburner

Booksellers File Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon, Publishers - The Digital Reader

Today when Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader. With just a little digging in the posts our favorite kitty boy found one about a new lawsuit against Amazon.

 

How many lawsuits can one firm file against Amazon?

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, a lawsuit has been been filed against Amazon and the Big Five publishers by booksellers. Last month Panzer told you about the lawsuit against the company for ebook price fixing. The new lawsuit is for print book price-fixing.

 

Panzer says, "I don't understand any of this."

 

Note: This is a short post. Bring a small cup of tea for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to antitrust lawsuit

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Amazon e-book case 

Amazon Will Stop Accepting Mobi Files in June - The Digital Reader

 Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts he found one about Amazon's new ebook file rule.

We only upload doc files anyway.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Amazon sent an email to authors about changes to ebook file upload requirements. As of June 28 Amazon will no longer accept Mobi files. The company will only accept EPUB, KPF or DOC/DOCX files. The post includes part of the email Amazon sent to authors explaining the change and it also has a link to the Amazon site with file formats information.

 

Panzer says, "Umm ... We didn't get an email from Amazon."

 

Note: This is a short post. Bring half a cup of cocoa for today's reading selection. If you want to go down the rabbit hole and follow the link to Amazon, bring a thermos of tea and two muffins for your reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

16 Gmail Hacks Every Writer Can Use - The Digital Reader

 Today when Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader. With a little digging in the posts our speedy kitty boy found one about Gmail.

 

Site owner Nate Hoffelder has put together sixteen ways to improve your Gmail use. According to the beginning of his post the hacks work with Gmail in the Chrome browser. Each of the sixteen hacks has instructions to use the feature, enable the feature, disable the feature, or add a Chrome extension. The features describe are scheduling an email, pause your email, stop senders from tracking if you open their email, tracking if a recipient opens your email, and twelve more hacks.

 

Do as I say, not as I do.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Stopping people from tracking you opening their email and you tracking people opening your email."

 

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Gmail hacks

Who Wants to Help Me Design a Website for an Online Book Fair? - The Digital Reader

Cat Napping section?

The weather person says we're going to get snow starting tomorrow, so Panzer has been busy cleaning up the Panzermobile and the garage where he stores it. Vacuuming the carpet in the Panzermobile, he found a post shoved under the floormat. Straightening it out, he discovered it was a post from The Digital Reader site.

 
Nate Hoffelder, The Digital Reader site owner, is asking for a little help designing a template for a website for online book fairs. He asking for readers to post suggestions for content in the Comments section of the post.

Panzer says, "It's going to be a free template."

 

To read the post and give your suggestions tootle over to online book fair website

The Six Online Bios Every Author Needs - Anne R. Allen's Blog

 Today Panzer decided to make a stop at Anne R. Allen's Blog. With a little digging in the posts our traveling kitty boy found one about the online bios authors need.

 

According to the post by Nate Hoffelder, an author needs six online bios. In the post he describes each of the six as Twitter, Facebook, Podcast/Speaker, Amazon/Goodreads, and Memberships. He dissects and rewrites his own bios as examples of what to do with your author bios.

 

I'm on Amazon/Goodreads & Twitter.

Panzer says, "How does he find the time for all those places?"

Note: This is a long, long post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, two muffins, two brownies and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit).

 

To read the post tootle over to online bios

Amazon Sued Over Its Dominance of the eBook Market (Finally) - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts he found one about Amazon being sued.

 

It will be interesting.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon is being sued for causing the inflation of ebook prices. The lawsuit says Amazon did this by signing contracts with the five large book publishers. The post includes links to the press release about the lawsuit, a copy of the lawsuit and an article explaining the lawsuit at The Guardian site.

 

Panzer says, "You'll want to follow the link to The Guardian site to get the most understandable information."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links, bring three more cups of tea and three muffins.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon sued

Overdrive Retires Libby Windows app - The Digital Reader

3 days left

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts there he found one about Overdrive.

 

According to site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, Overdrive is retiring the Libby Windows  app. Overdrive gives users access to library books. The Libby app in its various incantations allows users to use/read Overdrive on various devices. With the discontinuation of the Libby Windows app, Windows device users won't have access to read library books through Overdrive.

 

Panzer says, "Is there a Windows ereader device?"

 

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of cocoa for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Overdrive

Amazon Launches New Author Portal - The Digital Reader

 Panzer hasn't been to The Digital Reader for a while so, today, he decided to stop in there. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about Amazon's new author portal.

 

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon has introduced a new Author Portal called Amazon Author Central. Amazon Author Central replaces the older Author Central. The new portal contains most, but not all, of the functions Author Central did. You can no longer create your own author-specific URL to the site and you can't list your speaking engagements. The post contains links to the new portal.

 

Do you like it?

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't like it as much as the old Author Central. No author-specific URL? No listing your speaking engagement? Not author-friendly deletions, this little kitty thinks."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post and setup or explore your Amazon Author Central, bring a thermos of cocoa, twelve chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and two brownies.

 

To read the post tootle over to  Amazon Author Portal

Amazon is Killing Kindle Owner's Lending Library on 4 January - The Digital Reader

 Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With just a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon's Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

 

Will anybody miss it?

According to the post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon is doing away with the Kindle Owner's Lending Library (KOLL). KOLL was Amazon's subscription service available for Kindle users. It proved so successful Amazon launched Kindle Unlimited. An email sent out to KOLL participants says their ebooks will still be available to read even after the service is discontinued. The post includes links to previous posts about the service.

 

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the Comments section. There is some interesting information there."

 

Note: This is a long-short length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Kindle Owner's Lending Library

Kindle Create Now Outputs POD Book Files - The Digital Reader

 It's been a while since Panzer has gone to The Digital Reader site, so he decided to make a stop there today. With a little digging in the posts, our traveling kitty pilot found one with news about the Kindle Create app/program/plugin.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon has added the ability to do POD book files to Kindlw Create. This means you can create the files for your ebook and your paperback book using Create. As the post points out, the paperback book files created can't be used on any other platform. If you plan to use Amazon as your only paperback seller, then Create will work fine for you. The post contains a link to download Create from the Amazon site.

I wonder. Do you?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... We have Kindle Create as a plugin for Word. Inquiring kitties want to know, if we have to download the update ourselves or if it will update itself the next time we open it."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to download and install Kindle Create, bring a muffin too.

To read the post tootle over to Kindle Create

How to Limit Data Tracking on Your Kindle ereader and Fire Tablet - The Digital Reader

Panzer was digging around in the Panzermobile's tool box when he found something wadded up in the bottom. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post about data tracking on your Amazon Kindle and Fire Tablet.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, there are two ways you can limit Amazon's ability to track you. The first option presented includes instructions on how to go to the Amazon site and limit the tracking there. This option is followed by how to limit tracking on each of your ereader devices.

Let's do this.

Panzer says, "It looks easy to do to this little kitty."

Note: This looks like a humongous post, but it's not really. It includes screen shots of Amazon's site and Amazon devices. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. .

To read the post tootle over to Kindle ereader and Fire Tablet

Authors & Zoom - Anne R. Allen's Blog ... with Ruth Harris

It's been a while since Panzer has been at Anne R. Allen's Blog, so he decided to stop there today. Boy is he glad he did. At the blog he found a post about doing livestream author presentations.

It's not easy being on camera.

According to the post by Nate Hoffelder from The Digital Reader, authors need to be prepared to do online author events. With the continuation of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in-person events are no longer advisable. To fill the void authors are doing livestream events using Zoom (Tm). In the post Hoffelder covers how to be a guest or the host of the event. Also included are tips on using slides, on preparation for the author, the moderator and/or the assistant. There are also links to other posts by Hoffelder about doing podcasts which are similar to author livestream events.

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the Comments after the post. There's some interesting information there."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a large glass of lemonade and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring a thermos of iced tea and six muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Zoom

Ask The Expert: What is the Best eReader for PDFs? - The Digital Reader

PDFs?

When Panzer was washing the Panzermobile this morning, he found something stuck in the wheelwell. Pulling it out, our busy kitty discovered a post from The Digital Reader site about PDFs and ereaders.

The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder gives advise on ereaders and tablets for reading PDFs. The post is in answer to a question he received in an email about ereaders and PDFs. It's a short post.

Panzer says, "Mom doesn't get many PDFs, but when she does she reads them on her laptop."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea if you want something to drink while you read.

To read the post tootle over to best ereader for PDFs

Kobo Nia Replaces the Aura 2 as Kobo's Entry-Level eReader - The Digital Reader

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty pilot found one about Kobo's Nia ereader.

Looks like an old-style Kindle to me.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, the new Kobo Nia ereader is replacing the older Aura 2 ereader. The post includes a list of the specifications for the new Nia, including the fact it has 8 GB of storage. The post also has images of the Nia to illustrate the specs. The Nia is available for sale today (July 21) in stores and online. The post includes links to earlier posts on the site about the Nia and the Aura 2.

Panzer says, "8 GB of storage is just about right for my TBR (To Be Read) ebooks."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Kobo Nia