How do you use your Android as an eBook reader?

If you don't use your Android as an e-reader, then what do you do when you're in line, or in a waiting room, or early for an engagement? Texting, Facebook, emails... sure, but when they're all taken care of, leaving only yourself as companion for 10 minutes, read a chapter of your book (unless you're reading Tolstoy, of course, whose chapters are books, and whose books are series). I even like to download a copy of books sitting on my nightstand, so I can continue the book I'm already reading (if they're public domain, that is).

Amazon Kindle and Google Play Books are top options, but I like backups, so I also have Sony Reader. I had Nook, but never found a book there that I couldn't find in Kindle (attempt 1) or Google Books (attempt 2). It's a decent selection, but Nook never really came through for me, as other options have, so I deemed it clutter.

Kindle recently released one of those updates you actually notice. Scrolling through the on-device library is now "carousel," like iTunes' Cover Flow (which was stripped from version 11; no, I didn't use it, but still... it looked cool). Changes to the store appear to be primarily cosmetic, but definitely an improvement. Overall the app looks more like Amazon's own Kindle devices. But the best change I've noticed is that now books I have finished, instead of maddeningly insisting I've read only 99%, agree that 100% has been read. See screenshot: I have closure.

Sony Reader was just added to the Play Store last month, so I haven't used it much yet. The only information I have about the selection here is from someone I know who owns a Sony e-reader, and is very happy with it.

Aldiko is the self-proclaimed "leading eBook application for the Android platform." The number of downloads is on par with Kindle, but Aldiko's statement that the app comes "pre-installed in 20+ different Smartphones and Tablets" makes me think the majority of those might be from overseas, interestingly; I don't know of any phones here on which it's pre-installed.

Which app you like the best really comes down to personal preference, but whichever you choose to use primarily, I recommend downloading a couple other top choices, so when you can't find a book on one, you'll have others to try.
Click for more information and downloads:

Amazon Kindle (I'm happy to inform you that their link to download works.)
Google Play Books (This one is pre-installed on many Androids.)
Barnes & Noble Nook (Their link works too, but took several seconds to find, which is mediocre.)
Sony Reader (I mention links, because their link does not work. On top of the outdated reference to the Android Market instead of the Play Store. Here's a link directly to the download.)
Aldiko Book Reader (This one made the cut because it's stupendously rated... nothing to do with the venerable icon. But beware: there's a run-on sentence right on the Aldiko homepage.)

How do you use an Android to make sure you're shopping smart?

Last summer, I went to a neighborhood-wide yard sale event. When the owners are sitting in their lawn chairs in the garage doorway, and you're the only shopper perusing the tables on the driveway, subtlety is just not an option. A few times my actions escaped notice, but twice I was caught red-handed. Yes, I was investigating resale price. The owners of the remote-controlled monster truck said they'd heard of people researching prices on their phones, and they wanted to know what I found. (I found they were asking twice the truck's value.) The owners of the Lionel model train were pretty sure both the train and its box (which did not match) were valuable; I didn't disillusion them, but an observant onlooker might point out I didn't buy this valuable train. The exciting part of yard sale-ing is when you discover a functioning Samsung Alias for $5, which you sell for $40, and your buyer returns it because the battery won't charge, which wasn't true when you tested it, and now the Alias is sitting in a basket on your desk, forevermore. I'm sure you see, now, that if you're not tapping this bank, you're missing quite an opportunity. Or you could find poorly-listed electronics on eBay that sell for half their value, and make a 100% ROI when you flip them. But I still love yard sales. They're charming.

All that to say, you should always do a price check when you make a decent-sized purchase. It takes seconds, and can be a real money-saver. I don't expect you to research before purchasing a tube of Pringles, and I think you already know to check your options before you buy a camera (you'd better be buying a DSLR... your cell phone suffices for point-and-shoot). I'm talking about the in-between purchases... like a pair of shoes or a hardcover collection of Fitzgerald's works. Here's how the affair might proceed:

You wouldn't usually buy sandals like that, but there's something about them that's calling your name. (Pardon me, if this example is not appealing to every demographic in my target market.) The typical solution to these dilemmas is to try on the shoes and discover that you hate them. Unfortunately, the attempt has failed. They're fun and they're comfortable; now you're in a pickle. You try not to be an impulse buyer, so you ponder your closet. Is this purchase justifiable? You decide that these sandals will keep you comfortable throughout one highly-anticipated, highly-perambulatory event, coming up in mere months. Yes, they should be purchased. You do not, however, approve of such price tags. That means it's time for phase 2 of Operation Footwear.

After you've used SnipSnap to check for coupons to the store where you're shopping, open your Amazon Mobile app, and touch the barcode scanner. If the item is available for sale on Amazon, the price will be a good representation of about the best price you'll find from retailers. For most people this is sufficient research. If the price is the same or is close enough to the brick and mortar price that you're happy, go for it. However, I would continue with an eBay app investigation. Start with the barcode scanner, but you're not going to find every listing that way, because not every listing will include enough product details to show up in your barcode search. If you proceed to search by brand, style name, or other keywords, you can sleep well tonight, knowing your effort was thorough.

This method of checking that you're shopping smart is the best of both worlds: you don't have the risk of not being able to see the physical item, but you still get the best price possible. Just get into the habit of scanning the barcode through Amazon, and see whether you don't end up saving a few dollars... not a bad hourly wage, considering that the investigation should take about 15 seconds. Checking eBay, also, will probably save you more money, but it also takes a few more minutes, so you need to decide whether its worthwhile, probably depending on the size of the purchase.

How do you know Android? (Amazon and Android)

I'm excited; this is from an interview with Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO, by Charlie Rose:

Bezos: "I will have to decline to answer that question."
Rose: "Because it might incriminate you?"
Bezos: "I'll just have to ask you to stay tuned. There are a bunch of rumors. I agree that there are a bunch of rumors that we might do a phone."
Rose: "Of course, that answer leads us to believe that you are going to do it. You're just waiting for the right opportunity."
Bezos: "Well, you'll just have to wait and see."

(I recommend reinserting the laughter that played a roll in this bit of the interview. Read it again, with the laughter, to take away the Woah... obnoxious! feeling. Better?)

Amazon's pattern of excellence is why I'm keeping posted on this all-but-confirmed Amazon phone saga, despite my love for the Samsung Galaxy S3. Like the Kindle Fire tablet, this currently unannounced Amazon phone would run on the Android operating system, with Amazon's little Kindle twist. I actually like it when manufacturers do a little tweaking of the Android OS, like HTC does with its HTC Sense; it gives us some nice choices. Though rumors are flying, there are very few nailed-down facts right now, giving details about this mysterious phone.

So when will it be released, and what are its specs going to be? Yes, exactly. *sigh* 
Keep an eye out for that news, and rest assured that whatever Amazon's secret is, it will be worth investigating once it's here.