Internet Archive Text area - almost 2 million free books and documents - Kindle formats included, via ".mobi" or ".prc" files or specifically labeled "Kindle." Remember that the Kindle also directly reads .txt and PDF files although .prc or .mobi ones may be more readable in font size.
There are also areas of files with somewhat questionable value, but the main sub-collections include American Libraries, Canadian Libraries, Universal Libraries (Carnegie Mellon, governments of India, China, Egypt), Project Gutenberg (another access point) -- and there are recent contributions from The Library of Congress, UCLA Scanning Center's special collections, etc.). Thanks to Courtney who reminded me of this in a Comments area here. I'll add this to the ongoing free and low-cost books posting next time. Note that there is also free live music and audio linked on the home page.
The Get a Human page
This is one of my all-time favorite resources, the Get a human on the phone page. It includes almost 1,600 companies, with each link expandable to show several phone numbers found (for each company) which can eventually get you a human, and with instructions on how to do that. This is a webpage rather than a book, and there's no charge for the information there.
When you're away from a computer, a Kindle book with similar focus could be useful (although you can use the Kindle web browser to reach the Get a Human page even if you're away from a computer).Here's a Kindle book of phone numbers gathered by Mobile Reference, titled Secret Toll-Free Customer Service Phone Numbers and Shortcuts to an Operator for Nearly 600 Businesses and US Government Agencies
2 customer reviews, 5 stars - $3.99
Also useful, maybe, Country Calling Codes, Dialing Instructions, and Worldwide Emergency Phone Numbers.1 customer review, 5 stars (not a useful review but an example from the book helps) - $0.99
UNUSUAL ITEM - Microsoft WordTalk - Free
Microsoft WordTalk has been developed for use with, you guessed it, Microsoft Word, versions '97 and above. Its functions are:
"It will speak the text of the document and will highlight it as it goes...
It contains a talking dictionary to help decide which word spelling is most appropriate." You can:
. adjust the highlight colors
. change the voice and the speed of the speech
. convert text to speech and save as a .wav or .mp3 file so that it can be played back on an iPod or mp3 player."
UPDATE 1/25/10
I'll add that an mp3 can be played back on the Kindle by placing the file in the "music" folder of the Kindle. These are played in the order they were placed on the Kindle though. And mp3s take much more space than books.
If interested, download Wordtalk at www.wordtalk.org.uk. It's a free plug-in. If you don't have .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 you'll need to download .Net Framework first, which you can get here.
Almost free - A Kindle shortcuts book
FIRST, be sure to check out Kindle books I've read and enjoyed, shown on the right-hand side of the webpage.Am adding here another Kindle book (I haven't read it and can't rate it):
Kindle Shortcuts + guides and hidden features, by Aaron Steinhardt. Publisher: MobileReference
31 customer reviews, 3.5 stars out of 5, $0.25
Free and low-cost books, Jan. 14, 2010 - Update3: Still current
Miscellaneous items
MP3's from the Hope for Haiti Now Telethon, with proceeds to groups working in Haiti
Amazon is offering an album of mp3s of songs from the telethon Friday night. Here's the Los Angeles Times report of the event.
From the report and some video clips I've seen, buying the album (mp3's) or some individual tracks from that night will benefit any of us as well as help the relief work in Haiti. Amazon explains:
' All proceeds from album sales of Hope for Haiti Now will go to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, and Yele Haiti Foundation. In addition, all proceeds from the special studio version of "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" by Jay-Z, Bono, the Edge, and Rihanna will go to Partners in Health. '
LINKS FOR SEARCHING FOR FREE OR LOW-COST E-BOOKS
As ever, here is the ongoing set of links for various Searches for free or low-cost Kindle-compatible books.
Note that mp3 files, such as the converted DOC files you mention, can be put into the Audible folder on the Kindle. This allows them to be played on demand.
ReplyDeleteI just left you a thank-you about Internet Archive post - & now have a problem - the book I downloaded from there went right onto my Kindle for PC but doesn't synch to my Kindle 2. also doesn't show in list on Manage my Kindle page - probably because I didn't buy from Amazon. I've been reading it on Kindle for PC but really want to transfer...
ReplyDeletenewwine,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, you're right. Those features work only for Amazon-purchased books. That's why I sometimes choose public domain books from Amazon if they're formatted well enough. That means annotations would be backed up also.
You should be able to move a copy of the book from your computer (if you know where the file is -- Kindle for PC will read ANY *.mobi file on your pc --.
I don't think sync'g would happen because the Amazon servers pay no attention, keep no logs on books you got on your own (which is a good feature) but at least you'd be able to read it on your Kindle 2. Since you mentioned wanting to 'transfer' it, I think you didn't move/copy the file to your Kindle 2.
Let me know if that works.