Daily Links and Deals: Tape recording was introduced 70 years ago today

daily_links_1Today marks the 70th anniversary of tape recording, the antecedent of the state of media today. Also, a look at IVR systems and why we hate “pressing 1 for customer service”, a how-to for erasing hard drives,  the demise of flash on Chrome (mostly) and more. In deals, a rechargeable battery charger kit and a Roku streaming stick for $40.

Daily Links for Monday, May 16, 2016:

How to really erase any drive — even SSDs — in 2016 (ZDNet) How to wipe a computer before disposal has always been an issue. In today’s world where we do everything from shopping to banking online, correctly erasing your data from your hard drive is even more important than ever.

Tape recording was introduced 70 years ago today (Recode) Do you think Bing Crosby when you think about tape recording? You should. This fascinating article about the invention of tape recording  explains the the history of the medium that really kicked off the revolution in home entertainment.

6 ways to put an end to the ‘press 1 for…’ customer experience (The Next Web) If, like me, you consider IVR (Interactive Voice Response) systems part of the bane of modern existence, you may find this interesting.

Google to block Flash by default on most sites for Chrome users (ComputerWorld) Google means it this time: Goodbye Flash! Well…, mostly anyway.

Over-the-Air Antennas Are Making a Comeback (Motherboard) While these are not your grandmother’s rabbit ears, a surprising number of people are opting for cord cutting via over-the-air broadcasts.

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s selection of Kindle Daily Deals includes Supersurvivors: The Surprising Link Between Suffering and Success by David B. Feldman and Lee Daniel Kravetz for

In Today’s DealsPanasonic Eneloop Power Pack for 10AA, 4AAA Colored Cells Advanced Battery Charger and $10 off the Roku Streaming Stick (3600R).

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find is Love, Honor, and Betray (Reverend Curtis Black Series #8) by Kimberla Lawson Roby for $2.99. The Romance Daily Find is Hush by Karen Robards for $1.99.

Kobo’s Daily Deal is Evidence Series Box Set Volume 1: Books 1-3 by Rachel Grant for 99 cents.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore for $$1.99.

Google Books has a Limited-Time Deals promotion.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)


Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.

Daily Links and Deals: How Are Digital Devices Changing the Way We Think?

daily_links_1Today, a new look at the digital versus print reading comprehension debate which suggest what we are reading may be as important a factors as what what we read on. Also, increased WiFi hotspots may be on the horizon for Germany, locking in your Windows 10 upgrade and sharing a free audiobook via Audible. In ebook deals, a Paris Getaway sale and a great price on Desert Rising by Kelley Grant.

Daily Links for Sunday, May 15, 2016:

A Rule Change In Germany May Allow For Widespread Free WiFi (Gizmodo) A loosening of restrictions may make it easier to find an internet cafe in Germany.

How Are Digital Devices Changing the Way We Think? (Psychology Today) A study suggests that reading comprehension differences between digital and print may not be as black and white as previously thought.

Audible to let audiobook owners share one book free of charge as introduction to share mechanism (Talking New Media) I missed this story a few days ago. Give a copy of any Audible book in your library to a friend (or your book club). Great way to get others hooked on audiobooks.

How to lock in your free Windows 10 upgrade and keep using your old Windows version (ZDNet) You can reserve your free copy, even if you are not ready to upgrade yet.

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s selection of Kindle Daily Deals includes Desert Rising by Kelley Grant for 99 cents. (I ♥ this series! If you like fantasy and cats, I think you will enjoy this!)

In Today’s Deals, you can find an AmazonBasics Fade-Resistant Cotton 6-Piece Towel Set or save up to 40% on Sawyer Outdoor Products.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find is a City of Lights sale! Choose from 15 tiles at up to 80% off during the Paris Getaway Sale! The Romance Daily Find is Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick for $1.99.

Kobo’s Daily Deal is The Liar by Nora Roberts for $1.99. The Extra Daily Deal is Adam by James Bushill for 99 cents.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes The Beach House by Jane Green for $1.99.

Google Books is having a Historical Fiction Sale.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)


Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.

Daily Links and Deals: GPS devices reveal what the U.S. is really doing with its toxic e-waste

daily_links_1Today, a worrisome  look at what is happening with all that old tech gear. Also, Apple admits its deleting your music, another piece on the smell of old books and a a look at the rise of digitally board games. In Deals,  bluthooth headphones, cable and up to 80% off 16 must-read best selling ebooks.

Daily Links for Saturday, May 14, 2016:

GPS devices reveal what the U.S. is really doing with its toxic e-waste (Mashable) How good of a job is the US doing with all that e-wast from tablets and e-readers. Not so well, according to this report.

High-tech cardboard: The rise of digitally augmented board games (Ars Technica) In a world where everything seems to be going high tech, what about old fashioned board games?

Apple confirms iTunes music deletion issue, has no idea what’s causing it (The Next Web) Apple admits that theres a big bug in its music software that’s deleting customers music.

The sweet, sexy smell of old books is a perfume fad (Quartz) Another look at one of the most common complaints about e-readers: They don’t smell like books.

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s selection of Kindle Daily Deals includes up to 80% off 16 must-read best sellers including books by Veronica Roth, C.S. Lewis and more.

In Today’s Deals, there are Omaker 3 Pack Optimum Combination 3.5mm Male to Male Stereo Audio Cable Cords and a set of Bluedio R Plus Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Micro SD Card Slot.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find is The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner for $1.99. The Romance Daily Find is Betting on Hope  for $1.99.by Debra Clopton

Kobo’s Daily Deal is Desert Heat by J. A. Jance Joanna Brady Mysteries (Book 1) for $1.99. The Extra Daily Deal is The Rookery Rogues (Volume 1) by Erica Monroe for $4.99.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes An Eye for an Eye: A Dewey Andreas novel by Ben Coes for $2.99.

Google is featuring a Bad Boys of Romance promotion.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)


Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.

Daily Links and Deals: A Better Way to Read

daily_links_1Today, A look at how digital reading can offer advantages that print can’t, offering a better way to read. There’s also a look at literary translation, online security and future broadcast television standards. In deals, there ‘s savings on PNY Attache Flash drives.

Daily Links for Friday, May 13, 2016:

Google to bring ‘Gboard’ features to Android (PC World) You can search and add GIFs from the keyboard, right where you need it.

Spurn the Translator at Your Own Peril (The Millions) If you read many books in translation, you know that a translator can make or break a book. This is an article about translators, written by a translator.

Online security is so lousy that most “hacking” doesn’t require actual hacking (Quartz) So, where else did you use that password?

ATSC 3.0: What you need to know about the future of broadcast television (CNET) What’s ATSC 3.0? Just the next generation of over-the-air TV. Even if you don’t get your TV with an antenna, it’s going to affect you.

A Better Way to Read (The Atlantic) Critics of e-reading argue that print is better than digital. This article makes the case that digital can be better than print, especially in terms of groups that struggle with reading comprehension.

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s selection of Kindle Daily Deals includes Dead Spots (Scarlett Bernard Book 1) from Mellissa F. Olson’s Old World Series of urban fantasies.  All three of the Scarlett Bernard books are just $1.99 each. (I ♥ these!)

Today’s Deals feature savings on PNY Attache Flash Drives.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find is Armageddon’s Children (Genesis of Shannara Series #1) by Terry Brooks for $1.99. The Romance Daily Find is Wicked as They Come by Delilah S. Dawson for $1.99.

Kobo’s Daily Deal is The Murder Room by P. D. James for $1.99. The Extra Daily Deal is Duke of Thorns – Heiress Games (Book 1) by Sara Ramsey for 99 cents.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes All This Belongs to Me by Ad Hudler for $1.99.

Google has a selection of Limited-Time Deals.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)


Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.

The Friday Echo: Alexa Can Now Track Your Amazon Packages!

echoI recently bought both the Amazon Echo and the Amazon Tap. We’ve actually been having a lot of fun with them around here. 🙂 I will be writing reviews on the products over the next few weeks (I’ve had the Tap longer and wanted to be able to fairly compare it with the Echo before I reviewed.)

One of the things I have discovered is that there is a bit of a learning curve to using Alexa. Not for her, but for the humans trying to learn to use her. Alexa is all about phraseology and keywords, I have found. (It is a bit different than Siri or OK, Google (Google Now) because Alexa does different things.) So, I am currently working on learning how to work with both the Echo and the Tap. As I learn what the two can do, I will be sharing news articles, tips and so on in a new column, The Friday Echo. Bet you can’t guess what day it will be posted on! 🙂

Alexa Can Now Track Your Amazon Packages! (Love My Echo) This is an incredibly nifty new feature for Alexa. She can now tell you when your next Amazon package will arrive. She only seems to be able to handle one package at a time, so I wouldn’t be giving here order numbers just yet, but this is a promising integration with Amazon’s system that personally, I would like to see more of.

This battery makes the Amazon Echo portable (The Verge) Okay. So a company made a battery stand for the Echo so that you can then move it around the house. That’s like basically turning it into an Amazon Tap without the button right? Well, not exactly. The Echo can only connect your home network. The Tap is designed to connect to other networks and hotspots.  While I can see the allure of moving Alexa around the house (sometimes I want her in the kitchen), this is a unusual solution, especially as Amazon already solved the problem with the Tap. Note that the Verge’s article employs humor and a hint of sarcasm.

Report: Google has an Amazon Echo competitor coming named ‘Chirp’ (The Next Web) The Echo has proved to be pretty popular and Amazon has sold out of them several times. Now Google wants one, too. It’s not clear if that desire to create a home device comes from is the number of Echo and Tap units sold or the data that is being collected from the device’s use. But seriously, “Chirp”? It needs a better name than that to compete with the likes of Alexa, Siri and Cortana. Okay, Google?

One year after Alexa: Amazon’s Echo has found a small but smart niche (Ars Technica) This article is an interesting case study in what it is like to like to use the Amazon Echo and Alexa. I found the pros and cons pretty much consistent with my experience of using the Echo and the Tap. And check out the video! It gives you a nice real world run through of the Echo’s features, although it doesn’t give you Alexa’s “I wasn’t able to understand the question I heard” response.

Echo Guides: There are quite a few guides written for the Amazon Echo. Not surprisingly, many of the guides written for the devices are available in Kindle Unlimited. I have started reading through them so I can make some recommendations for good basic beginner’s guides. Stay tuned.

Just for Fun: Ask Alexa what zodiac sign she is.

Daily Links and Deals: The looming threat to our book industry is bad for authors, publishers … but mostly for you

daily_links_1Today, a look at proposed book industry changes in Australia. Also, the US House blocks Google and Yahoo services, consumers want Netflix to stop blocking VPNs and asking if the $300 for the Oasis is worth it. In deals, Amazon has a sale on the Fire HD tablet for Kids.

Daily Links for day, May 12, 2016:

The looming threat to our book industry is bad for authors, publishers … but mostly for you (The Guardian) Like Canada, Australia has mechanisms in place to put locals talent first. Is this really good for Australians? Here’s one point of view.

Report: U.S. House blocks access to Google services amid fears of ransomware attacks (9 to 5 Google) Congress is grounded off Google? And Yahoo too?

45,00 People Ask Netflix to stop VPN Crackdown (Torrent Freak) Group wants a meet with Netflix CEO to discuss privacy alternatives.

Should you spend nearly $300 on a new Kindle? (The Verge) Is your Kindle Paperwhite good enough or do you need the new Oasis?

1.8 Million Free Works of Art from World-Class Museums: A Meta List of Great Art Available Online (Open Culture) This is amazing and you can view it all without leaving home. 🙂

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s selection of Kindle Daily Deals includes The Very Best of Kate Elliott by Kate Elliott for $1.99.

In Today’s Deals, you can save $50 on the Fire HD 6 Kids Edition Tablet.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find is The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama, and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital by Alexandra Robbins for $1.99. The Romance Daily Find is In the Fast Lane by Audra North for $1.99.

Kobo’s Daily Deal is Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart for $2.99. The Extra Daily Deal is Love, Diamonds, and Spades
Cactus Creek (Book 2) by Violet Duke for $99 cents.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes The Last Clinic: A Darla Cavannah Mystery by Gary Gusick for $2.99.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)


Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.

Amazon Sells Kindle Audio Adapter separately

kindle_audio_adapterYesterday,  Amazon  announced the Kindle Audio Adapter  and VoiceView for the Paperwhite. The dongle, which would help the visually impaired navigate menus and read via text-to-speech was only included in a special accessible Kindle Paperwhite bundle. As soon as the news came out about the new Kindle Audio Adapter yesterday, a flurry of posts started on Kboards, Mobileread and the Amazon forums with people saying they wanted one.  Well, it turns out Amazon didn’t keep us waiting too long! Today, the adapter is available for purchase separately for $19.99.

The adapter is compatible with VoiceView for Kindle on the Kindle Paperwhite – this is the 7th generation device.  It plugs into the micro-USB charging port on the Paperwhite. The device requires headphones which are not included with the dongle. It looks like you could also use a speaker with a 3.5mm jack for listening as well.

As I noted in my post yesterday, the battery life while using the adapter is only about 6 hours of continuous use and you will not be able to charge the Paperwhite while using the dongle.

Amazon notes that the adapter “Works with millions of Kindle books that are compatible with VoiceView.” It is not yet clear what that means – I have been spot checking and, while I find books with text-to-speech enabled, I haven’t yet seen any titles listed as VoiceView compatible. Amazon also note that the adapter “does not support music or audiobook playback.”

I ordered mine today to try it. Are you interested in trying the adapter? And have you seen any titles listed as VoiceView compatible?

Found via The Digital Reader

Daily Links and Deals: How Electronic Ink Was Invented

daily_links_1Today, an interesting article on how Electronic Ink was invented. Also, Another Adobe Flash exploit, a stunning video of famous film scenes being remixed with classical art,  news on Google Translate and more. In deals, we have savings on TaoTronics desk lamps and a volume in Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series.

Daily Links for Wednesday, May 11, 2016:

Google Translate adds Tap to Translate chathead on Android, iOS gains offline mode (9 to 5 Google) Instant translate sounds like a fantastic idea!

Cable lobby group: Broadband competition is bad for customers (Ars Technica)

Computer remixes famous film scenes with classical art (Engadget) I want to be able to do this! Computer vision researchers in Germany can transform video clips into the style of famous paintings.

Hackers are exploiting an unpatched Flash Player vulnerability, Adobe warns (PC World) Why aren’t we done with Adobe Flash yet? Are we not tired of exploits?

How Electronic Ink Was Invented (Science Friday) Your e-reader couldn’t exist without it! This month, the inventors of e-ink were inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

83 years after public burning of Jewish books, WJC releases Spanish ebooks (JTA) These free ebooks are from the Jewish People’s Library’s series of paperbacks published by the South American Executive of the World Jewish Congress. (These seem to be online scans only.)

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s selection of Kindle Daily Deals includes The Joey Song: A Mother’s Story of Her Son’s Addiction by Sandra Swenson for $2.99.

In Today’s Deals, you can save up to 65% on TaoTronics desk lamps.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find features over 60% off on the three books in the Chicago World’s Fair Mystery Series by bestselling author Shelley Gray. The Romance Daily Find is A Passion Most Pure (Daughters of Boston Series #1) by Julie Lessman for $2.99.

Kobo’s Daily Deal is The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama, and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital by Alexandra Robbins for $1.99. The extra Daily Deals is Romancing the Sass (A Romantic Comedy Bundle) by Nana Malone for $4.99.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams (Book 2 in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series) for $1.99.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)


Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.

Amazon introduces a hardware solution for accessibility

access_pwIf you’ve still been hoping for Amazon to bring back the text-to-speech for the e-ink Kindles, you may be out of luck. The death knell for that sounded today when Amazon announced it’s new VoiceView For Kindle feature today.  The feature uses Amazon’s text-to-speech language system (Ivona) to help visually impaired customers navigate the Kindle Paperwhite.

Previous generations of e-ink Kindles offered by Amazon used speakers are or a 3.5mm jack to provide the sound for text-to-speech. This solution uses a separate USB dongle that requires the use of headphones. According to Amazon’s blog:

Visually impaired customers will be able to use VoiceView for Kindle with the new Kindle Audio Adapter—an Amazon-designed USB audio dongle—to connect headphones or speakers, which then allows the ability to listen to and navigate the user interface, in addition to listening to books. The Kindle Audio Adapter was designed specifically to be used with VoiceView for Kindle.

The new Kindle Audio Adapter is available now as part of the Kindle Paperwhite Blind and Visually Impaired Readers Bundle.  The bundle includes the Kindle Paperwhite with Wi-Fi and Special Offers and the Kindle Audio Adapter. According to Amazon, purchasers receive a $19.99 Account Credit back for the purchase of the adapter, “so they won’t have to pay extra for accessibility.”  The dongle is promised to be available at a future date for other Kindle e-readers.  Update: the adapter is now available separately for $19.99. New story here.

My reaction to this? I am seriously underwhelmed. IMHO, the hardware dongle is the wrong approach and one much too late in coming.

As a bit of background, I should note that I myself am vision impaired. In the past, I worked managing federal grants (which included monitoring ADA compliance issues) and had also represented my community at an Easter Seals Project Action Seminar. So this is an area that really interest me, personally and professionally.

Text-to-speech has been a thorny issue for Amazon since the feature was first introduced on the Kindle 2. The Authors Guild strenuously objected to the feature and claimed it was, in fact, illegal. Amazon finally backed off and let the publishers decide whether text-to-speech should be enabled on a title. While the Kindle Keyboard, the Kindle DX and the 2012 Kindle Touch were text-to-speech enabled, subsequent models have not included the feature.

The hardware USB dongle approach is problematic for several reasons. First, the dongle solutions limits independence. It means that, at least for right now, I have to buy a special Kindle bundle in order to have accessibility instead of all Kindles providing that accessibility. In order to use the dongle, I would also have to purchase or provide headphones or a speaker in order to make the device in order to use the disability features. (This is a barrier a sighted person would not have if using a Kindle Paperwhite.)

What about people who already own Paperwhites? The Kindle Audio Adapter is not available separately so that I could make one of the Paperwhites I already own accessible. From the product page: 

Kindle Audio Adapter [is] only compatible with VoiceView enabled Kindle e-readers (does not support music or audiobook playback)

Will there be a software update for current Paperwhites? It will be interesting to see how Amazon handles that issue (if at all). According to ADA regulations, Amazon can’t legally charge for the adapter,  so I really doubt that we will see the item available separately.

This hardware solution also seems to dramatically affect battery life on the Kindle Paperwhite. According to the product page:

A single battery charge provides up to 6 hours of continuous reading while using Kindle Audio Adaptor [sic]

Notice the difference in battery power. Current Paperwhites are supposed to get 30 days use at a half an hour of use per day or the equivalent of approximately 15 hours. That’s two and a half times the battery life you will get when using the dongle.

That battery life becomes a real concern as the dongle is using the same port that the Kindle uses for recharging. That means that you cannot use accessibility features and charge the Kindle itself at the same time. I see that as an issue that is going to severely limit the usefulness of the connected Kindle.

I intend to be watching this feature very closely to see how this story develops. We will see how this new feature actually performs in practice. It will be interesting to see if Amazon opens this up to existing Kindles and just how quickly it rolls out to other Kindle models.

Found via KindleChronicles / Teleread

Daily Links and Deals: E-books, why so old-fashioned? Here’s a Web wakeup call

daily_links_1Today, another look at the idea that ebooks should be more interactive. Also, OverDrive looks at making it easier to download library books on a Kobo and more on the role adblockers. In Deals, you can get an unlocked dual sim smartphone and savings of up to 50% off PC accessories.

Daily Links for Tuesday, May 10, 2016:

FTC, FCC want to know more about how carriers and manufacturers issue security updates (Android Central) Right now, it’s just a request for more information, but it is on their radar.

Easier downloads of OverDrive library books coming ‘relatively soon’ for Kobo e-readers and apps (Teleread) This is great news! Now, how soon is soon, LOL?

Why publishers are teaming up to explore time-based selling (Digiday) Will this approach change the way we view online ads?

Reddit’s Technology Subreddit Ponders Banning Wired & Forbes For Blocking Adblock Users (Techdirt) Can you have it both ways? Why should I share your content if you won’t let people see it?

E-books, why so old-fashioned? Here’s a Web wakeup call (CNET) Here we go again. Do you need your ebooks to be more dynamic and interactive? All I want to do is read….

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s selection of Kindle Daily Deals includes Unsaid: A Novel by Neil Abramson for $2.99.

In Today’s Deals, there is a BLU Advance 5.0 – Unlocked Dual Sim Smartphone – US GSM and up to 50% off select Logitech PC accessories.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find is The Sweet By and By: A Novel by Todd Johnson for $1.99. The Romance Daily Find is This Heart of Mine by Brenda Novak for $1.99.

Kobo’s Daily Deal is Indebted Series 1-3 Boxed Set by Pepper Winters for  99 cents. The extra Daily Deals is Greenwash: A Katerina Carter Color of Money Mystery (Book 3) by Colleen Cross for $3.99.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr for $1.99. This is a fascinating sounding tale of the quest for a painting by Italian Baroque master Caravaggio.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)


Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.