Amazon Kindle

The best way to test a Kindle ebook is by viewing it on the actual device:

• Connect the Kindle to your computer with the supplied USB cable.
• The Kindle will then appear on your computer as an external USB drive.
• Copy your ebook file to the Documents directory on the Kindle.
• Eject / unmount the Kindle from your computer.

Your file will now appear in the list of books on the Kindle home screen. You can get more information on transferring, downloading and sending files to a Kindle at the Amazon site.

If you're using a Kindle Fire device with a Mac you won't be able to drag and drop files onto it. Instead you'll need the Android File Transfer utility.

Transferring files via email

It's possible to send files directly to your Kindle device via its corresponding Send-to-Kindle email address. Go to the Amazon website, then to the Manage your Kindle option within your account and choose Manage your Devices. Here you'll find a list of all your Kindle devices and their corresponding email addresses. You'll have to verify each sender address the first time it's used, but it's a useful way to get files onto your Kindle if you're having trouble connecting it to a computer.

Kindle Previewer

You can still test your ebook even if you don't have a Kindle. The Kindle Previewer application for Mac and Windows provides a simulation of the hardware device, and can be downloaded from the Kindle Publishing Programs page on the Amazon site.

Once the Kindle Previewer is installed you can use it to view ebooks:

• Kindle Previewer

Kindle Apps

Kindle ebooks can also be read using dedicated apps for the iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Mac and Windows PC. I test these as part of the production process, and encourage you to do the same, but please note that these apps are not simulations of the Kindle device. Instead they provide alternative ways to read Kindle ebooks, and there may be differences in presentation. For example, the same ebook will look different when viewed on the Kindle and the app for iPad because the latter has a larger screen and may use different typefaces. Also, older Kindle devices use a greyscale display while the iPad supports full colour.

• Kindle Apps