The Question Mark - blog by Mark Volkmann

Kindle

Managing

To manage your Kindle, visit http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle/. This web site is used to:

  • register your Kindle (typically done automatically when purchased)
  • add email address from which documents to be converted can be emailed
  • specify the credit card to be billed when books are purchased from the Kindle
  • view subscriptions to newspapers and magazines
  • view open orders
  • view all orders and charges

Adding an EPUB File

To add a .epub file to your Kindle:

  1. Compress the .epub file to a .zip file. In macOS, locate the .epub file in the Finder, right-click it, and select “Compress”.

  2. Determine your Kindle email address.

    Browse amazon.com, sign in, hover over “Accounts & Lists” in the upper-right, click “Devices” under “Your Account”, click the large “Kindle” button, click your Kindle device, and see the email address after “Email”.

  3. Email the .zip file to your Kindle email address.

  4. Wait a few minutes for the file to appear as a new “book” on the Kindle.

  5. Tap the new book to open it.

Library Downloads

To checkout an ebook from the library and upload to Kindle:

  1. Browse your library website such as St. Charles City-County Library. The following instructions are specific to this website.
  2. Enter a book title or author and click the “Search” button.
  3. Select a book.
  4. Click the “eBook” tab if available. It may display “eBook Available from Libby”.
  5. Click the “GET IT” button.
  6. If prompted, log in.
  7. If there is a “Read now with kindle” button …
    1. Click that button.
    2. Wait for the book to appear on your Kindle.
  8. If there is a “download EPUBs or PDFs using Libby” link:
    1. Click that link.
    2. Browse libbyapp.com.
    3. Find the book under “Recent Loans”.
    4. Click “Manage Loan”.
    5. Click “Read With…”.
    6. Click “ePUB” to download the book as an ePUB file.
    7. Send an email to your special Kindle email address with the ePUB file as an attachment.
    8. Wait for an email with the subject “Verify your Send to Kindle document request” to arrive.
    9. Open the email.
    10. Click the “Verify Request” button.
    11. Wait for the book to appear on your Kindle.

Document Conversion

To have documents converted to a Kindle-compatible format (such as .azw), email them to Amazon. Before doing this, use the URL above to “manage your kindle”. Only documents emailed from email addresses on the approved list will be processed. This is a safety measure to prevent spam.

Email documents to be converted as attachments. These email messages do not require a subject or any other content. There are two email addresses that can be used. Documents sent to mvolkmann@kindle.com will be converted and sent wirelessly to your Kindle for a small fee (currently 15 cents per megabyte). Documents sent to mvolkmann@free.kindle.com will be converted and stored temporarily on an Amazon server. Amazon will send a reply email that includes a link to the converted document. Click the link in the reply email to download it to your computer and then copy it to the Kindle using the USB cable. The Kindle will appear as an external hard drive. Copy documents to the documents folder.

Supported File Formats

The Kindle 2 supports the following file formats natively:

  • Text: Kindle (.azw), .txt, unprotected .epub, .prc
  • Audio: Audible (.aax), .mp3

The Kindle 2 conversion service can convert the following file formats to native formats:

  • Text: .pdf, .html, .doc
  • Graphics: .jpeg, .gif, .png, .bmp

Free Books

The following websites provide free books:

Web Browsing

To start the web browser, press HOME, press MENU, select “Experimental” and select “Basic Web”. Once in the web browser, to improve the experience, switch to Advanced Mode and enable JavaScript.

To switch to Advanced Mode, press MENU, select Settings, select “Switch to Advanced Mode”.

To enable JavaScript, press MENU, select Settings, select “Enable Javascript”.

Clippings

To copy highlights from Kindle to a computer, connect the Kindle to the computer using the USB cable and copy documents/My Clippings.txt to the computer. It will contain may oddly encoded characters for things such as smart quotes.

Removing Books

When you are finished reading a book on the Kindle, there are three options to consider that will allow you to reread the book in the future.

  1. Leave the book on the Kindle.

    It holds so many books that it will take a long time to fill it up. The Home screen can sort the books so the newest ones appear first. That way you don’t have to look through the old ones when you’re trying to find a book to read.

  2. Copy the book to your computer and then delete it from the Kindle.

    You’ll be able to copy them back to the Kindle if you every want to read them again. When you plug the Kindle into your computer you’ll see that it contains a folder named “Documents”. That’s where the book files are located. They have names that end with .azw or .epub. There are also .mbp files with the same beginning name. Those store the location within the book you were reading last, bookmarks and notes you’ve taken.

  3. If you purchased a book from Amazon, just delete it from the Kindle.

    Amazon keeps a record of all your purchases and will allow you to download them from Amazon to your Kindle as many times as you want for free.

Miscellaneous Tips

To delete a document, move the cursor to underline it, push 5-way left and then in to confirm.

To play MineSweeper, press Home and alt-shift-M.

To force a page refresh, press alt-G.

To go to the Kindle Store quickly, press alt-Home.

Support

For support, browse http://www.amazon.com/kindlesupport” or call 866-321-8851.

Email feedback to kindle2-feedback@amazon.com.