(See yesterday's blog article for details on how the free-books and discount-alert forum threads work, to save space and prevent eye fatigue here.
Jan. 8, Sunday -- approximately 297 newly announced, temporarily-free books, plus discounted-book alerts as of 1/8 and recommendation-lists by forum members
TODAY's Free Books from Joyce's multi-daily threads:Sunday, Jan. 8 - 297 books
A few are free for only one day.
Why so many free books these days? Here are the reasons described in the blog article dated December 12. It seems this will continue.
NOOK News inserted here
Apropos the massive influx of free Kindle books due to Amazon's allowing these promos for authors who participate in the PRIME free-borrowing program, a new Kindle forum thread today is "Anyone know of a FREE NOOK BOOK List?"
The replies and the recent news about what is speculated about B&N currently considering spinning off its Nook business, can give pause when making buying decisions. But it can mean either it leaves that expensive but fast-growing business and no longer has to explain the costs of development that had led to lowered profitability despite a growing market share, or B&N might want to create an independent company through sale or distribution of new shares of the existing business, boosting the company's valuation, with incentives to those who work in the Nook area while B&N can focus on its core operations.
Some have thought that if they sell it, the quick income will please the stockholders in uncertain times or soften any blows. I don't think anyone knows what they're planning. Here are a lot of articles speculating on the possible spin off. Meaty speculation by WSJ (thanks to Edward Boyhan for the alert 2 days ago though I wanted to read more about it and there's certainly that now). Key, from WSJ:
' One possibility is that Barnes & Noble could sell a minority stake in the Nook business in a public offering. The two businesses would likely have different managements and different boards. Under such a scenario, Barnes & Noble would continue to have close ties to its Nook devices. Another possibility is selling the Nook business outright.
. . .
Barnes & Noble investors may not have the patience to fund Nook growth here and abroad, said Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps. "It's going to require sustained investment." '
LATEST DISCOUNTED Kindle books (some temporarily) -
Ongoing Forum Discount-Alerts thread, starting from yesterday's exit point:
Jan. 7-8
TODAY's KINDLE DAILY DEAL
Today's Kindle Daily Deal is The Other Guys Bride
Priced at $4.99 Saturday, with a $4.00 discount Sunday, it's $0.99 today (80% off)
Reminders
. Amazon's specific mostly 99c Kindle books page
. Amazon's monthly 100 Kindle book deals, from $1.99 to $3.99
R A N D O M K I N D L E NEWS
VALUING ONE'S KINDLE A FEW MEGABITS TOO MUCH
How much is your Kindle worth to you?
TDN's Daily News reports:
' ... a female acquaintance claimed she was owed money and attempted to steal the victim's Amazon Kindle tablet device as payment, according to police.
When the victim resisted, the other woman allegedly stabbed her in the abdomen with a kitchen knife and fled the apartment with the Kindle, Longview Sgt. Ed Jones said Saturday. '
While I thought this story read like an idea for a SNL skit or a new Amazon ad for a Kindle, it was a relief to read that the victim was treated for a 'minor wound.'
*NOT* RECOMMENDED - REPARTITIONING YOUR KINDLE FIRE STORAGE SPACE
I'm including this news as some mainstream news sites are writing about a utility to expand your app space on the Kindle Fire. I have to stress that 99% of people shouldn't even try this. Note that the maker of the utility, FireParted, say says
' There is some inherent risk associated with repartitioning your device. If something goes wrong, you can always attempt to re-partition again, but there is a risk data loss will occur. However, since the essential system partitions are never touched, I would consider it highly unlikely that you will brick your device. Please understand that there is potentially some risk involved, and that you choose to take this risk when using FireParted (so don't hold me liable, mmkay?).
Edit: Some problems have been reported with the partitioning failing. If this occurs, please try to provide an output if your partition layout (if possible). Also, I strongly recommend that you do not install a stock update zip since you will blow away FIREFIREFIRE and your custom recovery. Partition issues are fixable, but you need a custom recovery to do it... '
Here's one App Space solution
IF you really are running out of app space (we get 1 gig and only 1/3 of mine is used up although I have mapping apps on it and a ton of productivity tools), here's a tip:
It's like removing or deleting a Kindle book from your Kindle-reader when you don't need it. It remains in your Amazon library and can be re-downloaded at ANY time that you do need or want it; there's no need to keep everything on a device with the multiple Cloud areas we have at Amazon these days. The less crowded your storage area, the faster a device will run.
You bought it, it's still yours, whether it's currently on your device or not.
So, you can UNinstall apps that didn't come pre-installed, if that helps. I've uninstalled ones I know I will almost never use or have no need for currently, but the apps I get from Amazon remain 'mine' on Amazon server records and I can re-download them as needed, at no charge.
NOT likely anyway that I'd want to decrease my data storage area to allow me to hoard more apps, most of which I wouldn't use in a year.
SOLAR POWERED KINDLE COVER to Debut at CES 2012
SolarKindle - "the world's first solar powered e-reader cover" will be introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) starting this Monday, reports Larry Magid of Forbes.
Well, to get to the nitty gritty, this is a nice idea, for many reasons, but the cost of it is expected to be $80 or the cost of the least-expensive Kindle, or $20 less expensive than the WiFi-Only Kindle touch. Knowing how fast the Kindle models change as they improve certain hardware and software features, and how the SIZE changes also, it'll be interesting to see how well this sells.
Kindle Touch 3G Kindle Touch WiFi Kindle Basic (UK: KBasic) Kindle Fire
Kindle Keybd 3G (UK: Kindle Keybd 3G) K3 Special Offers K3-3G Special Offers DX
Check often: Temporarily-free recently published ones
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers. Liked-books under $1
UK-Only: recently published free books, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.
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Slammed
The House of the Whispering Pines
JANUARY 2012's 100 Kindle Deals, $1.99-$3.99