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Tech Talk: Exploring E-Readers and Alternatives to Amazon’s Kindle (1 of 3)
Mark McNease
2 more in this seriesI recently decided to break away from using a Kindle and ordering all my books and eBooks from Amazon. I won’t be taking my own books off the platform, but I’ve grown more resistant to being chained to all things Amazonian. As an author, too, it has its disadvantages, especially when it comes to their Kindle Unlimited subscription offering: subscribers pay Amazon $9.99 a month for the ability to download as many eBooks as they want to. Individual authors are then paid depending on the number of pages read. This translates to pennies, literally, and while many authors rely on this income as part of their royalties, for others of us it’s a Devil’s bargain. Our eBooks cannot be available anywhere else for 90 days, a recurring cycle that automatically renews unless we opt out after the exclusivity period.
That’s a very long way of saying I’ve left KU, as we call it, and made my eBooks available everywhere, including Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, directly from me, and on Amazon. Kindle is not the only game in town. You can get other e-readers, some of them described below. You can also just download the apps (Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and several apps that allow you to read any ePub or PDF book file). I’ve downloaded the Kobo app for books purchased on Kobo, and the Bluefire app, which is currently only available on Apple devices.
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Tech Talk: Switching to Low Cost Visible For Phone and Mobile Service
Tech Talk, previously An App for That, is a feature highlighting all things technology for the LGBTSr reader.
When my latest Verizon wireless bill showed up and it was now at $90, I decided I needed to look at alternatives. I use my phone a lot, like most people, but I rarely use it as a phone! My husband Frank told me about a subsidiary of Verizon called Visible that offers no-frills plans at $25 a month, and a plus-option for $45. With a promo code (SAVE24) it drops to $35 for me. I wanted whatever extras I could get, and at that price it’s irresistible.
My iPhone 7 Plus has lasted me at least eight years and could be good for another five, unless it suddenly craps out on me. I was nervous about it, because I’ve been with Verizon for a couple decades. So I checked out the comments on Reddit’s Visible group, and was reassured enough to do it. And I have! Now I’m just waiting for a new SIM card, which is required and easy to switch out on the iPhone, and that’s pretty much all there is to it. They will cancel my Verizon account for me, since they’re a Verizon subsidiary. Wish me luck! That’s $60 a month I won’t be throwing away anymore. Stay tuned for any updates on this.
About Switching
In the ever-changing landscape of mobile phone service, we’re continually seeking ways to save money while maintaining reliable service we’re used to (unless we have crappy service!) But the cost has gotten worse than a dozen eggs in hard times. One popular option that has emerged is Visible, a subsidiary of Verizon offering a unique approach to mobile service. If you’re considering switching from Verizon to Visible, here’s what you need to know.