- Digital Lifestyles Reference Guide
- Home Audio
- Audio Standards
- Dolby Surround Sound
- DTS Surround Sound
- THX
- MP3
- Windows Media Audio (WMA)
- Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)
- Digital Rights Management (DRM)
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Audio Analog/Digital Components
- Receivers
- DVD-Audio Players
- CD/SACD Players
- Making Your Decision
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Audio Component Integration
- Standalone Components
- Internet Radio Receivers
- Connecting a PC to Your Home Stereo
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Home Video
- Video Standards
- DVD versus VCD
- MPEG-1 and MPEG-2
- DTV
- HDTV
- HDTV Buying Tips
- Video Out: Composite, Component, and S-Video
- CSS Explained
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Video Components
- Playback Components
- DVD Players
- Personal Video Recorders (PVRs)
- VHS
- Laser Discs
- Media Center PCs
- What's New in Media Center 2005
- Video-on-Demand (VoD)
- Screens
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- A/V Integration
- Home Theater
- Component Integration
- Universal Remotes
- Combining Home Theater with Home Computing
- Making Your Decision
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Home Theater PCs
- Uses for an HTPC
- Components of an HTPC
- Windows Media Center PCs
- Build Your Own HTPC
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Rear Projection Televisions
- CRT Projectors
- DLP Projectors
- LCD Projectors
- LCoS Projectors
- Choosing the Right RPTV Technology
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Multimedia Networks
- Connecting Your PC Network to Your Home Theater System
- Investing in Media Center Software
- What if Your PC and Home Theater are in Different Rooms?
- Media Center Extenders
- Multimedia Appliances
- Making the Connection
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- PVRs, Consoles, and Media Extenders
- Finding the Right PVR
- Types of PVR Solutions
- Set Top Box PVR
- Portable PVRs
- DVD-Recorders
- Making Your Decision
- Getting the Most from Your TiVo
- Networking Your TiVo
- Transfer Video from TiVo to PC at Home
- Transfer Video from Your PC to TiVo
- Transferring Video from TiVo to a PC Anywhere
- Burning DVDs of TiVo Recording
- Watch TiVo Shows on a iPod Video Or Sony PSP
- Software PVR Solutions
- Required Features
- Optional Features with Advantages
- Software PVR Options
- Conclusion
- 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Xbox 360
- Xbox 360 Networking Tips
- Mobile Computing
- Notebook Computer Audio
- USB Audio
- FireWire Audio
- PCMCIA Audio
- Making Your Decision
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Broadband
- High-Speed Internet Options
- Cable
- DSL
- Cellular Data Services
- Satellite
- Wireless ISPs
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Video Subscription Services
- Today's Options
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Voice over IP
- Softphone VoIP
- InformIT Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Home Automation
- Home Automation Applications
- Types of Home Automation Systems
- Automation Features
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Home Automation Security
- Making Your decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Digital Photography
- Digital Cameras
- Megapixels
- Camera Bodies
- Batteries
- Zoom Lenses
- Auto Focus vs. Manual Focus
- LCD Screens
- Exposure Settings
- White Balance
- Storage Formats
- Wi-Fi-enabled Digital Cameras
- Purchasing the Right Digital Camera
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Digital Photo Editing Tools
- Photo Organizers
- Photo Editing Suites
- Deciding Which App to Use
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Digital Photography Tips
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Editing Digital Photographs
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Prints From Digital Images
- Making Your Decision
- Digital Video
- Camcorders
- Camcorder Features You Shouldn't Be Without
- Recording Formats
- DV Camera Tools
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Digital Video Editing Tools
- Features to Look For
- Popular Video Editing Software
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Using Video Vault to Port Content to Portable Media Players
- 10 Tips to Improve Digital Video
- Weblogs and Podcasting
- Overview of Weblogs
- Blogs as Text
- Blogs as Pictorials
- Blogs as Audio
- Blogs as Video
- Getting Started
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Blogging Tools
- Hosted Services
- Desktop Tools
- Hosting Your Own Blog
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Photo Blogging
- Photo Blogging Services
- Hosted Services with Photo Support
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Audio Blogging
- Blog By Phone
- Recording Your Own Audio Blog Posts
- Audio Hosting Services
- Podcasting
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Recording and Distributing Podcasts
- Recording Software
- Before Recording
- Recording Your Podcast
- Publishing Your Podcast
- Podcasting Features in Apple's iTunes
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Video Blogging
- Video Blogging By Webcam
- Creating a Video Blog From Scratch
- Video Hosting Services
- Distributing Video Blogs
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Attracting Traffic to Your Blog
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Blogging Rules for Revolutionaries
- How Blogging will Change the World
- Create a Link to This Site Campaign
- Meta Tag Your Revolution
- New Comment Posted
- Coordinate Your Efforts
- Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
- Portable and Handheld Devices
- Motorola ROKR: iTunes on Your Phone
- ROKR iTunes Features
- Cell Phone Standards
- Making Your Decision
- Manufacturer Resources
- Sony PSP
- PSP Navigation
- PSP as a Gaming Platform
- PSP for Movies
- PSP for Music
- Wireless Networking
- Bottom Line
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Online Resources
- Portable Digital Audio Players
- Types of Players
- File Formats
- Popular Models
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Integrating an iPod with a Car Audio System
- Auxiliary Line In Connections
- CD Changer Connection Integration
- Custom Integration
- Making Your Choice
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Online Resources
- Portable Entertainment Centers
- Screen Sizes
- Hard Disk Space
- File Formats
- Video Recording
- Battery Life
- Connection Options
- Additional Accessories
- Making Your Choice
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Online Resources
- PDAs
- Fancy Features
- Palm OS or Pocket PC?
- Palm OS Models
- Pocket PC Models
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Smartphones
- Different Types of Smartphones
- PDA/Phones
- Phone-Based Smartphones
- Cool Ways to Improve Your Windows Mobile Smartphone
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Cellular Network Technologies
- FDMA
- CDMA
- TDMA
- GSM
- iDEN
- PCS
- Dual Band and Dual Mode Phones
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Hi-Speed Wireless Data Plans
- Cingular Plans
- Verizon Wireless Plans
- Making Your Decision
- Low-Tech Alternatives to Cell Phone Feature Overload
- High Tech Watches
- Smart Watch Technology
- MSN Direct
- Popular Smart Watches
- Other Types of High-Tech Watches
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Portable Audio Recording
- Features
- Editing Features
- Effects
- Devices
- Making a Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Handheld GPS Receivers
- GPS Features
- ABCs of GPS
- Making A Choice
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Portable Gadgets for Holiday Giving
- PDA Accessories
- Portable Music Players
- iPod Accessories
- Headphones and Earbuds
- Other Cool Portable Gadgets
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Automobiles
- Satellite Radio
- How Satellite Radio Works
- XM Radio Programming
- SIRIUS Satellite Radio Programming
- XM Radio Receivers
- SIRIUS Receivers
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Satellite Navigation Systems
- How GPS Works
- Doing the Math
- Using the GPS Data
- Popular Automobile GPS Systems
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- In-Car Computers
- Software
- Cases
- Power Interface
- LCD Screen
- Human Interface Options
- Storage Media
- Networking
- Audio
- Video
- Bluetooth
- Making Your Decision
- Online Resources
- E-Commerce
- Find Free Music — Legally
- Record Label Sites
- Blogs
- Podcasts
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Subscription Audio Services
- Making Your Decision
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Digital Wallets
- The History of Digital Wallets
- What is a Digital Wallet—and How Does It Work?
- Who Offers Digital Wallets
- Books and Online Resources
- Identity Theft
- How Your Identity Can Be Stolen
- What an Identity Thief Does With Your Personal Information
- Preventing Identity Theft
- What to Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Online Shopping Fraud
- Why Online Shopping Is (Generally) Safe
- Reporting Online Shopping Fraud
- Top Ten Tips for Safer Online Shopping
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Online and Desktop Mapping
- Web-Based Maps
- Desktop Maps
- Making Your Decision
- eBook Formats and Readers
- Formats
- eBook Hardware
- Sources of eBooks
- Making Your Decision
- 10 Google Maps Hacks
- Robotics
- Robots You Can Buy (or Build) Today
- Toy Robots
- Home Automation Robots
- Do-It-Yourself Robots
- Industrial Robots
- Informit Articles and Sample Chapters
- Books and e-Books
- Online Resources
- Additional Resources
- Predictions for 2006
- Jake's Digital Lifestyles Reading List
- Jake's Top Ten Digital Lifestyles Web Resources
- 10 Things on the Digital Lifestyle Holiday Wish List
- 2006 Consumer Electronics Show Preview
The most important component of eBook reading is the eBooks themselves. eBooks are available from a wide range of vendors, including the creators of several of the mentioned formats.
Amazon.comThe largest online print book seller also offers a wide selection of digital reading. Most recently, Amazon instituted a selection of short-form books for $0.49 each from well-known authors, in addition to long form fiction and non-fiction in digital formats. Depending on the title, eBooks at Amazon are available in either Adobe or Microsoft Reader formats and sometimes both.
Ebooks.comEbooks.com maintains a catalog of over 40,000 titles from the standard list of books in print. Choose between Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket and Adobe Reader formats on most books, although some publishers don't use all three formats.
eReader.comeReader.com is the digital bookstore associated with the eReader format. All titles are available in eReader format, with one of the largest catalogs of digital books online. Assuming you want to read ebooks on a variety of devices, eReader eBooks are among the better choices because of cross-platform compatibility. Purchase the eBook once and use it on your favorite device.
FictionwiseThe site name is slightly misleading because Fictionwise offers books on non-fiction topics as well. In addition to text titles in Adobe, eReader, Microsoft Reader and Mobipocket formats, Fictionwise sells MP3 format audio books of some titles. A small subset of their titles are available in unencrypted multiformat, which makes it easier to read on multiple devices. One advantage of Fictionwise over other sites is a club membership offering lower prices for participation.
MobipocketMobipocket sells ebooks in their custom format. Their library is very similar in scope to other ebook distributors. On some titles, the pricing at Mobipocket is far better than competing sites, which may be a product of offering the publishing format and distribution.
Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a online resource dedicated to putting public domain print works online. Over 16,000 titles, including many literary classics, are available for free download. The one major hassle with downloads from this site is they generally lack formatting optimized for onscreen reading.
SafariNo discussion of eBooks would be complete without the Safari Bookshelf. Comprised of books from many of the world's top technology book publishers, Safari likely has information on the tech topic you want to learn. The big advantage of Safari is the ability to download and read individual chapters in PDF format, rather than lugging around the entire 400-page manual. Navigating the site works extremely well as long as you know which book you are seeking prior to digging into the digital stacks.