How to read ePub books on a Kindle Fire

A friend of mine got a Kindle fire for Christmas (as I’m sure millions of others did to). One of the things she discovered is that the Kindle Fire does NOT recognize or open eBooks that are in the .ePub format. Personally I think its strange that Amazon would not include ePub format in the kindle reader as ePub books seem to be one of the most common eBook formats (at least based on what I see when surfing the web). My friend was disappointed as she already had a large collection of ePub formatted books that she was hoping to load on her Kindle Fire.

So that’s where todays post starts, “How to do get the Kindle Fire to recognize an ePub book”? Lets start with the following, “What eBook formats can you read on the Fire”? The answer is ……….(Insert Drum Roll here)………List from Amazons (LINK) Kindle Fire Page (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/Kindle-Fire-Amazon-Tablet/dp/B0051VVOB2)

Content Formats Supported
Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, non-DRM AAC, MP3, MIDI, OGG, WAV, MP4, VP8.

Of the formats listed – Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively, DOC, DOCX, are the eBook formats. So what do you do if you want your ePub file on the Kindle. You need to get conversion software for eBooks that will allow you to convert your ePub file.

The one that we found is called (LINK) Calibre (http://calibre-ebook NULL.com/). (From the Calibre site)

E-book conversion

calibre can convert from a huge number of formats to a huge number of formats. It supports all the major e-book formats. The full list of formats can be found here (http://manual NULL.calibre-ebook NULL.com/faq NULL.html#what-formats-does-app-support-conversion-to-from)

The conversion engine has lots of powerful features. It can rescale all font sizes, ensuring the output e-book is readable no matter what font sizes the input document uses. It can automatically detect/create book structure, like chapters and Table of Contents. It can insert the book metadata into a “Book Jacket” at the start of the book.

The best part about the Calibre software is that its FREE! You can download the Calibre software on their (LINK) download page (http://calibre-ebook NULL.com/download) . Calibre is available for Windows, Mac, Linux and also in a portable version, which means you can put the files on a USB drive and run the program on any pc without actually installing the program.

How to convert ePub to Mobi (preferred by Kindle)

Continue reading →

Some of the Latest Facebook Scams (As of 1/13/12)

In a continuing effort of keeping everyone informed, here are some of the more interesting Scams happening on Facebook. The information comes courtesy of the Tech Geek and More friends over at (LINK) Facecrooks.com (http://facecrooks NULL.com/).

(LINK) GUY TOUCHES 1000 BOOBS!!! – Facebook Scam (http://facecrooks NULL.com/Scam-Watch/guy-touches-1000-boobs-facebook-scam NULL.html)

With the headline of “Yo! hahaha can happen to anyone! GUY TOUCHES 1000 BOOBS!!! This scam is part of a growing trend of scammers using Flickr to peddle their malicious links. This is probably done to bypass Facebook’s filters.

Continue reading →

Another Facebook Scam – $100 Texas Roadhouse Gift Card

Scams seem to be a daily event on Facebook. Just ran into another scam on Facebook today, this one posted (like usual) on the wall of someone in my friends list. The person in question didn’t even realize the post was there. The post which showed a message of “I love chipotle” was for a $100 Texas Roadhouse Card.

When trying to figure out if something is a scam, always look for the small mistakes. Scammers don’t usually go to any of the places they talk about or they would know better, in this case Chipotle and Texas Roadhouse are not the same place, they don’t even serve the same type of food. Continue reading →

Android: Tech Geek and More Preferred Apps List. (Updated 1/8/12)

I’ve been enjoying my Sprint EVO phone since it’s release. Coming from years of using Windows Mobile, learning Android has been “interesting” to say the least. Since I converted to droid, I have found some apps that were nothing more than garbage, while at the same time finding many others that I now find myself not being able to live without.

The Tech Geek and More Android Phone list has now been updated (1/8/12). You can visit the Preferred Apps page to see the complete list (LINK) http://www.techgeekandmore.com/android-tech-geek-and-more-preferred-apps-list-updated-1111/

The list are apps that are currently in my “Cant live without” category.

Securing Your Wireless Network (Via OnGuardOnline.gov)

Securing Your Wireless Network

If you don’t secure your wireless network, strangers could use it and gain access to your computer – including the personal and financial information you’ve stored on it. Protect your computer by using WPA encryption.

Continue reading →

Thank you for a GREAT! 2011 – Final count on Tech Geek and More

Happy 2012. Tech Geek and More would like to say thank you to the 116,787 visitors (According to Google Analytics) who visited TGM during 2011

Overall 2011 was best year for Tech Geek and More. The goal for Tech Geek and More will continue in 2012, to make “Technology Easy”. Thank you once again and we hope to see you back again (many times) in 2012.

Sincerely

Alex Novelo

Head of Tech Geek and More

2011/2012: New Years Eve from Time Square

With New Years Eve 2011 just a couple of days away, I figured it was as good a time as any to post the livestream information for New Years Eve in Time Square – New York. Tech Geek and More will have the livestream showing (courtesy of the Time Square Alliance (http://www NULL.timessquarenyc NULL.org/events/new-years-eve/webcast/index NULL.aspx)) on our site. So for anyone who would like to see what is happening live in Time Square plus special performances and events that wont be shown on Network TV come back on Saturday 12/31 between 5:50p (EST) and 1a (EST) to watch the festivities LIVE!

Watch live streaming video (http://www NULL.livestream NULL.com/?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=footerlinks) from 2012 (http://www NULL.livestream NULL.com/2012?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=footerlinks) at livestream.com

If you are watching before 5:50p on 12/31, you are seeing last years (2010) New Years Eve.

Facebook: Tech Geek and More is having an interesting FB day

Update: After 11 Hours, everything came back. I can’t answer what happened but I’m still wearing my Oliver Stone hat.

——————————————————————————————–

Its been a strange day. Maybe its all the holiday food, or the fact that it’s the day after the day after Christmas, or maybe 2012 has something to do with it. Not really sure, but for some reason I just can’t help put my Oliver Stone hat on right now and Facebook is at the center of it.

Yesterday, Tech Geek and More added a story (via Facecrooks.com (http://facecrooks NULL.com/)) about being aware of common Facebook scams. Even though the story (LINK) Alert: Beware of Facebook Freebies! (Post via Facecrooks.com) was posted yesterday, I didn’t get around to adding the link to the (LINK) Tech Geek and More Facebook page (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/pages/Tech-Geek-and-More/123599817706693), due to the holiday schedule until today. About 12p, I added the links to that story and links to 2 other stories that were just posted on Tech Geek and More today

- Scam: Woo Hoo–I’ve just been offered a MILLION DOLLAR ATM Card (No seriously it must be true

- Shopping: After Christmas Gift Returns (Via Good Morning America) (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/l NULL.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fshar NULL.es%2FW251c&h=1AQEDQP21AQFAkcEx6ZOyunpNhQkIiufmyTgYcMludF4nwQ)

The stories were posted not more within 2 minutes of each other.

Immediately after the 3rd story was posted, Facebook stopped responding to me and when I refreshed the page, was taken to the log in page. I’m now met with the message “Facebook will be back soon” when I try to log back in.

If you look at the (LINK) “Read More (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/help/?faq=168410309885639)” that you get with the message, you see its says “It usually means that we’re making an improvement to the database your (my) account is stored on”.

So I have no facts that say anything more than this is just “Routine Maintenance”, but I find it funny that my routine maintenance started immediately after a link about Facebook scams. I knew my Oliver Stone hat would come in handy someday……

Scam: Woo Hoo–I’ve just been offered a MILLION DOLLAR ATM Card (No seriously it must be true, I just got an email telling me so)

File this under the category of “REALLY!” . The following email which was received by Tech Geek and More friends over at (LINK) zombiepancake.com (http://www NULL.zombiepancake NULL.com/) claims to be from a “Funds Clearing” and looks fairly official (At least these guys had spell checker). The email below is exactly as sent except for 2 changes, specifically to omit links, as I’m not trying to help them in their ways. Here is the MILLION DOLLAR ATM email –

********************************************************************************************

From: Funds Clearing [mailto:fundsdp@(Omitted).org]

Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 12:43 PM

Subject: Your ATM MASTER CARD

Season Greetings,

We are very sorry for the delay. Your ATM MASTER CARD, Valued US$1.216Million has been activated and is ready for delivery, delivery fee of $125 is needed urgently for delivery of the MASTER CARD to your home address . Note that $5000-$10,000 is permitted daily only for each cash withdraw from any ATM MACHINE within your state.

Therefore do not delay to respond immediately and quickly send us your Receiving Address, Full Names and Telephone number. Get back to us for your Payment so that we can registration the CARD for delivery to your destination including the Parcel Tracking Number which will be provided to you after the registrations is done for easy tracking of your parcel on the arrival

God Bless

Mr. Tony Roland

ATM DEPARTMENT

SKY BANK PLC

Email: mytonyroland@yahoo(Remain removed to not give them that much credit)

********************************************************************************************

Of course, the majority of people have enough common sense to know this is actually a scam. Unfortunately these scams continue to happen simply because there is always someone out there who thinks “It came in an email, it must be true”. If someone didn’t fall for it, the scammers would stop doing it, and move to something else.

The moral (and common sense tip) of this mornings post is simple, “If it sounds to good to be true, then its probably a scam”. This goes for Emails, Tweets, Facebook, or anything else in life.

Oh and lastly to Mr. Tony, from the Sky Bank, using a yahoo email address – REALLY!. Come on, if you go through all this trouble to create a scam, couldn’t you do something better than yahoo!

Shopping: After Christmas Gift Returns (Via Good Morning America)

Now that Christmas is over comes the challenge of the return. Returning gifts that were “just not right”. The following story and video comes from (LINK) Good Morning America (http://gma NULL.yahoo NULL.com/blogs/abc-blogs/holiday-gift-return-policies-nations-biggest-retailers-120637635 NULL.html) (12/26). Becky Worley reporting.

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Holiday Gift Return Policies at Nation’s Biggest Retailers

Return Policies:

Barnes and Noble (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=12akj0mko/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.barnesandnoble NULL.com/help/cds2 NULL.asp%3FPID=8121)

Bass Pro Shops (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=12cei0iuf/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//basspro NULL.custhelp NULL.com/app/answers/list/kw/returns)

Bed Bath and Beyond (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=125ergtrj/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.bedbathandbeyond NULL.com/PolicyReturns NULL.asp)

Belk (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=12vf6pr5h/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//www NULL.belk NULL.com/AST/Misc/Belk_Stores/Customer_Service/Easy_Returns NULL.jsp)

Best Buy (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=11bcg2u92/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.bestbuy NULL.com/) – Holiday return policy (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=1362lohqr/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.bestbuy NULL.com/site/Misc/null/pcmcat257800050001 NULL.c%3Fid=pcmcat257800050001); Regular return policy (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=13vehjanr/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.bestbuy NULL.com/site/Help-Topics/In-Store-Return-Policy/pcmcat204400050028 NULL.c%3Fid=pcmcat204400050028)

Dillard’s (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=14of6mpl6/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.dillards NULL.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/noticesView%3FstoreId=301%26langId=-1%26catalogId=301%26splashlink=footer_policies)

JCPenney (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=14hfk3h4t/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.jcpenney NULL.com/jcp/CustomerService NULL.aspx%3FDeptID=12476%26CatID=12476%26cmResetCat=True%26=%26CmCatId=12476%257C16108)

Kohl’s (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/_ylt=Aqh_jBNCwsXIlM9GvqDrOJHMn NULL.R_;_ylu=X3oDMTFqMWRwcHJqBG1pdANBcnRpY2xlQm9keQRwb3MDMTAEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNqcWxwcWd1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDOWFjYzY3MTktZjVjYi0zNzQ1LWIwNTgtNjgwMmY1ZGQ2MTFkBHBzdGNhdANtb25leXxzYXZpbmdzYW5kaW52ZXN0bWVudARwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=0/SIG=13n6kj5c6/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//cs NULL.kohls NULL.com/app/answers/help_topic/session/L3RpbWUvMTMyNDU4NTQ0My9zaWQvWGZSVmlmTWs=/c/22,4)

Macy’s (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=12h0jt36d/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//customerservice NULL.macys NULL.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/140)

Sears (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=13doriujs/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.sears NULL.com/shc/s/nb_10153_12605_NB_CSreturns%3FadCell=BH%26i_cntr=1324585506758)

Target (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=147s8i6c1/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.target NULL.com/HelpContent%3Fhelp=/sites/html/TargetOnline/help/returns_and_refunds/returns_and_refunds NULL.html)

Toys”R”Us (https://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=135gt8m4g/EXP=1326198292/**https%3A//www NULL.toysrus NULL.com/helpdesk/index NULL.jsp%3Fdisplay=returns%26subdisplay=returns)

Walmart (http://us NULL.lrd NULL.yahoo NULL.com/SIG=123tprgul/EXP=1326198292/**http%3A//www NULL.walmart NULL.com/cp/Returns-Policy/538459)

Check (link) Good Morning America (http://gma NULL.yahoo NULL.com/blogs/abc-blogs/holiday-gift-return-policies-nations-biggest-retailers-120637635 NULL.html) to see Price Matching Policy information.