Tag: e-reader

Free Books for Samsung Users

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By C.K. MacLeod

Samsung tablet and phone users — did you know that you can download one free ebook per month from Amazon? I learned about this offer from Jim Kukral and Brian Cohen in Episode 3 of the Sell More Books podcast.

Samsung users can choose from one of four selected books each month. The books are selected from different genres, so there is a bit of variety. This month’s picks are all fiction, and I’m hoping Samsung will consider nonfiction options in future, as well.

Before You Begin

Note: I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. If you have a Samsung smartphone, your instructions may be slightly different.

The first version of this app didn’t work properly and I needed to contact Amazon for support. If you can’t download your free book, uninstall the app and reinstall it. That will get you the new version.

When you first open the app, you may be required to sign in with your Samsung account. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create an account at the Samsung site.

The Kindle for Samsung app and Kindle for Android app communicate with each other. You may need to open your Kindle for Android app and sign in to that app with your Amazon account to ensure that the apps are communicating with each other. If you run into trouble, contact Amazon, as Samsung isn’t responsible for issues with the app.

Quick Steps for a Free Book

  1. From your tablet or phone, download the Kindle for Samsung app from the Samsung store. This is important. You need the Kindle for Samsung app to access your free book, even if you have the Kindle for Android app on your tablet or phone.
  2. Open the Kindle for Samsung app. Tap on the Navigation Drawer—the menu icon with the three lines—in the top left.
  3. Tap on Samsung Book Deals.
  4. Choose a book from this month’s selection and tap on its cover.
  5. The book you’ve chosen will be priced at $0.00. Tap on Buy Now with 1-Click.

The Samsung for Kindle app syncs with the Kindle for Android app, so if you want to, you can read your new free book on your Kindle for Android app. Both apps can coexist on your tablet. You can, however, only download your monthly free book through the Samsung for Kindle app.

Happy reading!

Image by John Karakatsanis

How to Read an Ebook

by C.K. MacLeod

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If you want to publish an ebook, you should probably read ebooks. This post will get you started.

  1. Set up an account with an ebook distributor or retailer if you don’t already have one. Accounts are free.  Some options are
  • Amazon
  • Apple iBooks
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Kobo
  • Lulu
  • Smashwords

2.  Choose how you will read your ebook. You can read your ebook on a

  • computer
  • designated e-reading device (Kindle, Nook, Kobo)
  • hand-held device (iPod/iPhone, Android phone)
  • tablet (iPad, Android)
  1. Choose a book to read.  Each of the distribution sites listed above will have free ebooks. Authors will often offer the first book in a series for free as a way of building a readership.

  2. Download your book. You have a few options here. If you’re reading on a designated e-reading device, you can download the book to your computer and transfer it to your e-reading device with the USB cable that came with it. Or, you can simply download the ebook directly to your device if you have wifi and your device is wifi enabled. If you’re reading on anything other than a designated e-reading device, go to Step 5 and download an e-reading app.

  3. Download an e-reading app. Use the table below to help you decide if your e-reader needs an app. Search your ebook distributor site to find the app you need.

E-reader Need an app?
Computer Yes
iPod Yes
Kindle No
Kobo No
Nook No
Smartphone Yes
Tablet Yes
  1. Open your ebook with the recommended app.

Image by Maria Elena