Converting PDF's into iPad iBooks format

I found this great article on Lifehacker and i wanted to share it with everyone. The article is about how to convert PDFs and other formats into the ePub format (Apple iBook).


I know a lot of people are like me and own copies of various books in pdf format. They wonder what to do now since I just bought an Apple iPad and it doesn't accept pdf format books. Well folks there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Its a FREE app called Calibre. This program is available for the Mac, PC and Linux. It allows you to convert your pdf to ePub format.

See the link below to walk you through the process and show you how easy it works.

LifeHacker - How Can I Convert PDF's and other eBooks to the ePub Format?

Link to Calibre website

Amazon Launches Kindle app for iPhone and iPod Touch devices

(image found on boston.com)
Great news for iPhone and iPod touch device owners, now you can download and view Amazon Kindle books on your handheld device just like on the Kindle, but without the added cost of buying one.

Amazon has just released a new app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for free. This e-book reader will allow you to view and purchase Amazon Kindle books. There are currently over 240,000 Kindle books available in the company library. The other plus side to this is if the books have color in them you will be able to see it on your i-device as oppossed to seeing it in select shades of grey on the Kindle unit. Also, the app comes with a sync application that will keep track of where you were reading and book mark it so you can come back to the same place at a future time.

It even gets better, say you have a Kindle and an i-device, well this app also features something called whispersync, which goes and syncs with the amazon server and then lets you book mark the place on the i-device then use your Kindle to finish off from where you stopped previously or vica versa, giving you a digital bookmark for your reading pleasure. There is one thing you should be aware of this free app does not include the Text-to-Speech option that is available on the Kindle.

Stock shares at Amazon were up 2% early this morning giving Amazon stock a price of $62.91.

Not to bad of a free app. With all the assorted different kinds of books available, even 104 out of the 112 New York Times Bestsellers, everyone can find something to read on their i-device. I currently don't have a Kindle myself, but i am still considering getting one because i think its the right time now with the Kindle 2 unit.

What Does Kindle Really Do for iPhone? (PCworld)
UPDATE: Amazon Launches Kindle App For iPhone (money CNN)
Free iPhone Kindle App Lets You Read All About It (Channel Web)

Microsoft unveils Elevate America

(image found on nydailynews)

Link to Microsoft's Elevate America

Microsoft this past weekend unveilded a new program to help millions world wide for free. In a program called Elevate America, Microsoft is aiming to give 2 milion people over the next two years technology training at regional telecenters and online too.

The online resource is focused on helping users figure out what types of technical skills are required for IT jobs, and provides resources to help acquire these skills. The Web site offers access to several Microsoft online training programs, from very basic (e.g., "How to use the Internet") to much more advanced (e.g., "Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional").

To provide a variety of training, Microsoft will partner with state and local governments. Florida, New York and Washington will be the first states to offer Elevate America courses.

Some 3.6 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007 with about half of the decline occurring in the past three months, according to recent Labor Department data.

"Millions of Americans don't have the technology skills needed in today's economy. Through Elevate America, we want to help workers get the skills they need to succeed," Pamela Passman, corporate vice president of Microsoft Global Corporate Affairs, said. "We are also providing a full range of workforce development resources for state and local governments so they can offer specialized training for their workers."

This is a great program to help bring in and educate a new workforce previously untapped. Computers and technology help us in so many ways and by educating the millions lacking we will prosper in so many new exciting ways that we never thought possible.

Microsoft Offers Free Tech Training To Millions (Channel Web)
Microsoft seeks to Elevate the nation's tech skills (beta news)
Need an edge in the job market? Microsoft wants to help - for free (nydaily news)
Microsoft Aims to Provide Tech Training to Americans (DailyTech)