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

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

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

FastPencil Rebrands as Opyrus - The Digital Reader

Today Panzer's trip into the Catosphere took him to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about the FastPencil company.

Looks like they have a membership?

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, he received an email from FastPencil stating they are rebranding/renaming the company Opyrus. The company is a paperback and ebook publisher. The company's email is directly quoted in the post. The post includes a link to the site so you can check out the services offered and the prices. There's also a link to a raffle the company is having.

Panzer says, "We've never used their services so we don't know anything about them except what we read at their site."

Note: This is a short length post. Bring a half a cup of tea for your reading today.

To read the post tootle over to Fastpencil is Opyrus/

Nook gets a reprieve under Daunt - The Digital Reader

It's been a while since Panzer has been to The Digital Reader site so he decided to make a stop there today. Digging in the posts, our traveling kitty pilot found one about the Barnes and Noble Nook ereader.

The post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, contains a quote from an interview in The Bookseller by Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt. According to the quote, CEO Daunt intends to make improvements to the Barnes and Noble Nook ereader. He also want to increase sales at the B&N online ebook store. The Covid-19 pandemic has already increased ebook sales in the U.S. and he intends to continue this upturn. The post has several links, including one to The Bookseller interview and other Barnes and Noble information posts.

How could you say no to this kitty?

Panzer says, "Of course sales increased.  My ebooks are there ... and ... who could turn down my cute, humble, little kitty face on the front of my ebooks?"

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 included in the post, bring a thermos of tea and more six muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble Nook ereader

B&N is Having Money Problems - The Digital Reader

It's not easy being a bookstore right now.

It's been a long time since Panzer has been to The Digital Reader site, so he decided to make a stop there today. With a little digging in the posts at the site he discovered a post about money problems at Barnes and Noble.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Barnes and Noble earlier this month notified ebook distributors (Draft2Digital, Smashwords, etc.) the company would be late making payments for ebook sales and some distributors would be receiving only partial payments for their sales as well. Speculation is that because all of the Barnes and Noble bookstores are closed for face to face sales due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the company only has ebook sales as revenue to cover its expenses. The post includes links to previous posts and the Smashwords site about Barnes and Noble's late and slow payments.

Panzer says, "Inquiring kitties want to know, if you can still order a paperback (or hardcover) book online and then get it at the nearest Barnes and Noble bookstore (outside now) or did they quit doing that when they closed the stores?"

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for your reading selection. If you plan to follow the other links in the post, bring a second cup of tea and another muffin.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

eBook Piracy - How to Respond If Someone Steals Your eBook Online - The Digital Reader

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts our kitty boy found one about what to do when you find someone has pirated your ebook.

Why do humans steal?

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, he recently discovered someone had pirated one of his ebooks. Since this necessitated the filing of a DMCA take down notice, he decided to describe the process. The three possible types of locations of the pirated material are described. It's then explained how to determine where to send the take down notice. The last section of the post contains links to companies or people who will do the work for you, if you don't want to.

Panzer says, "This is the kind of information all authors need to know."

Note: This is a long post. Bring two cups of tea and three muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to eBook Piracy Online:

Eight Default Amazon Security Settings You Can Change for More Privacy - The Digital Reader

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. There with a little digging in the posts our illustrious kitty found one about making some changes to your Amazon account to gain more privacy.

It's scary what Amazon knows.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, there are some Amazon default settings that users and shoppers should consider changing in order to better manage their privacy. The post covers several default settings to change ranging from your Public Profile to your Wish List and Shopping List to Goodreads to Alexa and more. There are screenshots included with some of the instructions for changing the settings as well as links to specific location sites in some of the other instructions.

Panzer says, "This is an update to a July 2018 post, so don't be confused by the dates in the Comments section."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a half a thermos of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to make the changes to your Amazon account security settings and follow the links, bring another thermos of tea and six more muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon privacy

Kindle on Sale for Valentine's Day - The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering coming from outside the Panzermobile. Following all the jocularity took our inquisitive kitty boy to The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about a Kindle sale at Amazon.

Short and to the point.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon is having a Valentine's Day sale on the Kindle ereader and the Kindle Paperwhite. The post includes links to the individual sale items and one to sale site.

Panzer says, "You need to hurry before the sale ends."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a muffin with your cup of tea.

To read the post, tootle over to Valentine's Day Kindle Sale

Library Extension Turns Amazon.com Into a Branch of Your Local Library- The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site.There with a little digging in the posts he found one about a browser add-on that works with Amazon and libraries.

You can just check it out right at home.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, there's a browser add-on that allows you to use Amazon as a search engine for your local library. The post includes a screen shot to help you use the add-on. It's as easy as going to Amazon and looking at an ebook, then seeing if your library has the book and check the book out from the library.

Panzer says, "Be sure to read the Comments section."

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 library extension