Top 10 Websites to Download Free eBooks

Digital Books or eBooks as they are popularly known have become a rage ever since the influx of eBook hand readers like Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad, Sony PRS eBook reader etc. Reading eBooks was never more fun. Here are some useful websites indexing hundreds and thousands of Free eBooks. Some are simple search engines, while others host free eBooks.

Top 10 Websites to Download Free eBooks

1. Google Books – It is a web search engine by Google specially for Books. Google digitizes books from different sources and then make them available on its servers. Copyright oblige, some are only partially published. Google Books allows public-domain works and other out-of-copyright material to be downloaded in PDF format.

2. Mega PDF – Mega PDF indexes more than 379 million free downloadable eBooks in PDF format. From novels to biographies to technology books, you can find everything here.

3. Pdfgeni – It lets you find and download books, novels, manuals, articles, document templates, reports, data sheets, and pretty much any information that is stored in PDF format.

4. Project Gutenberg – Project Gutenberg is the place where you can download over 30,000 free ebooks to read on your PC, iPhone, Kindle, Sony Reader or other portable device. PG has the largest collection of public domain books. Lots of books from the world’s greatest fiction authors such as Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Dickens are present here.

5. NeoTake – Neotake is a new eBook search engine which has indexed several eBooks in various formats like ePUB, PDF, LRF, TXT, Mobipocket etc. It also has a mobile version of the site. More than 200,000 eBooks have been indexed currently.

6. Free-EBooks – Free-eBooks is an online source for free ebook downloads, ebook resources and ebook authors. Besides free ebooks, you also download free magazines or submit your own ebook. A bit of a downside is that you need to register before downloading your favorite eBooks.

7. ManyBooks – ManyBooks provides free ebooks for your PDA, iPod or eBook Reader. You can randomly browse for a ebook through the most popular titles, recommendations or recent reviews for visitors. There are more than 26,658 eBooks available here and they’re all free!

8. Search PDF eBooks – It’s another cool PDF eBooks search engine with millions of books in its database. Ignore the excessive ads and just enjoy the free ebooks!

9. ReadPrint – Free online books library for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast. Thousands of stories, poems and novels listed down here.

10. KnowFree – It is a web portal where users are able to exchange freely e-books, video training and other materials for educational purposes and self-practice. It contains loads of free technology, engineering, web development and Business skills ebooks and in addition, there are lots of video tutorials available.

So which one is your favorite? If you have any recommendation worth mentioning here, mention that in the comments section.

Mangaluru-based activist faces online abuse, rape threats, for complaining against Bajrang Dal

A Mangaluru-based activist is being targeted online with abuse and rape threats after she complained against Bajrang Dal activists who allegedly intimidated cinema halls into stopping the screening of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dilwale.

On Monday, Mangaluru North police station registered an FIR against the state convenor of the Bajrang Dal Sharan Pumpwell and others for causing a ‘climate of fear’ among theatre owners and the public. Various sections of the IPC including causing criminal intimidation and criminal trespassing have been invoked.

In the two days since, numerous people targeted activist Vidya Dinker on Facebook with sexually coloured abuse including rape threats and other insults. Vidya says she will file a complaint against the abuse on Thursday.

Bajrang Dal activists in Mangaluru had protested against the screening of the film following Shah Rukh Khan’s comments on intolerance on November 2. They also asked for a ban on the screening of Aamir Khan’s films for the same reasons. 

“I heard a few people, who had booked tickets for Shah Rukh’s Dilwale, complain that when they went to the theatre on Sunday evening theatre owners offered a refund as the movie would not be screened,” Dinker said.

“I was told by a theatre owner that on Sunday right-wing activists came to the theatre asking that the 4 pm to 7 pm screening that was mid-way be stopped. However, the right-wing activists agreed let the ongoing  show get over and cancel screening thereafter,” Dinker said.

Having waited until Tuesday for screenings to resume, the dismayed activist went to speak to the head of a cinema chain at a mall in the city. She said that owners told her that they had been intimidated into giving up screening the film.

“The complete fear that they have managed to instil in everyone means that there is a parallel criminal justice system at work,” she said, adding that she and some others met the police commissioner urging action against such intimidation.

Dinker told The News Minute that the police were reluctant to take the complaint as they claimed that the theatre owners could have voluntarily not screened the film and the police cannot take action.

Vidya said that one franchisee of a multiplex had told her that Bajrang Dal activists had torn the poster on the ground floor of the mall and that they were worried that damage would follow if they went ahead with the screening.

Sharan Pumpwell, state president of Bajrang Dal told The News Minute that the activists only “requested” theatre owners not to screen Shah Rukh Khan’s film and that Dinker’s claims are baseless.

“We did not cause any physical damage as Vidya Dinker claims. The theatre owners themselves respected our sentiments and agreed to stop the screening,” said Pumpwell.

It is an open secret that some influential leaders of Hindutva groups have security contracts in more than one of the three malls in Mangaluru.

“The police also told me that they would take action if the theatre owners complain.  But owners are reluctant as they have long-term survival in mind,” she said.

“When a business is run with fear of these local goons in the back of their mind and when there is no confidence in the police that itself should be reason for the police to take a Suo motu action,” she added.

Reliance Jio to launch 4G in select areas on December 28: Report

Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Infocomm is likely to launch 4G services by the end of December in some select areas, including Mumbai, according to a note by Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BoFA-ML). The firm however added that a pan-India commercial start could be delayed till April-June 2016, which would be a relief to incumbent telcos such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, and Idea Cellular.

“In a scenario Jio launches by December 28, we remain unsure 1) if it will be a commercial launch with the company disclosing price-points or 2) if it will be an extension of services which are currently being offered to employees to select user group/Jio partners,” the firm said in a note.

Reliance Jio is expected to position itself as an “aspirational brand” offering premium services (high-speed) and is unlikely to target average revenue per users (ARPUs) below Rs 300, the note said.

Jio’s Voice over LTE (VoLTE) calls were working well in Mumbai, even while travelling and inside buildings, BoFA-ML said. Similar findings were revealed by brokerage firm Credit Suisse.

BoFA-ML said that data speeds ranged from 18-30 Mbps while travelling/inside buildings to as high as 60-70 Mbps when outside. “We believe this is largely due to an empty network while Jio currently has. We remain unsure if Jio network is offering similar speeds outside Mumbai particularly in circles where they only have 2300 MHz,” BoFA-ML said.

10 Funny Matrimonial Ads That Will Leave You In Splits

Marriage is an important ‘ritual’ in our society. And a fair bride is even more important. Unlike the west where couples meet, date, fall in love and walk down the aisle. In our culture, the couple first ties the knot and then falls in love (if at all).

So it’s no wonder that we have plenty of funny matrimonial ads that will leave you in splits. We bring to you ten of the best from our lot…Read on!

#1: “Require girl for marriage she should be very pretty very sleem and have one brother one sister.”

Don’t know why he specifically wants one brother and one sister…hmm. We are confused too!

#2: “i am very handsome and pretty I want marry very beautiful girl who will respect my family pets etc’ 

You know he is for keeps when he uses ‘etc’ in the ad.

#3: ‘I am very good cook I want girl also very good cook. Please contact me very early as i am waiting to get married.’

At least he can cook!

#4: ‘in every part of my life only her image exists…see in your self she is with you…if you love her then every one afterter…I love pets’

Does he want a pet or a wife?!

#5: ‘I want very much enjoyment in life so i want to get marry…if you also want to enjoy please contact me’

Somebody tell him that marriage isn’t that enjoyable!

#6: ‘Want very fair girl for immediate marrige’

Yes, sir. No time like the present.

#7: ‘I am Brahmin cast but eat all non-veg items. If you like non-veg items accept my marriage’Please marry him before he publishes more such ads.

#8: ‘I am very much love marry and want great awesome wife thanks’

He is the man.

#9: ‘if my mother like her then i will marry her please send all pictures to mother’

He is a mamma’s boy. Clearly.

#10: ‘I am very honest good looking boy. I want poor rich beautiful girl’
Poor, rich? Wha!

Girls, we hope you are having a good mid-week ROFL moment.

But on a serious note, would you marry somebody like those mentioned above?!

When Rahul Gandhi Didn't Quite Get the Audience Reaction He Wanted

Rahul Gandhi's potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet "Swachh Bharat" and "Make in India" campaigns appeared to misfire today as he addressed students at a college in Bengaluru.

During a Q and A at the prestigious Mount Carmel College for women, Mr Gandhi spoke on a range of subjects with a common idea, that the "suit-boot" government was failing on all fronts.

Warming up to his theme of "all talk and no direction", Mr Gandhi said: "With the Modi government, I don't see a clear direction, I hear a lot of talk. Are we serious? Clean your country is a strategic national government programme? Well it's not working, is it?"


If he hoped for a loud, resounding "no", he did not get one. His surprise was visible when he heard: "It is!"

Stumped, the Congress leader pressed: "You see it working?" Again, he got a louder "Yes" than "No".

He recovered and said: "Ok I don't see Swachh Bharat working very well."

Mr Gandhi then tried another question. "You think Make in India is working?" This time, he got a mix of ayes and nays. "You think youngsters in India are getting jobs?" he asked.

He finally stopped asking. "I don't see a vision that the BJP is projecting. So for the Congress...we have to come up with a potential vision for the people of India," he said.

Targeting PM Modi, the Congress leader said: "Only one man decides everything in this government. I don't believe that only one man has the solution to India's problems."

To a question on the youth opting for the Aam Aadmi Party and BJP rather than the Congress, Mr Gandhi admitted: "In 10 years, there was some fatigue with the Congress. There were some things we did wrong...and we lost the elections. We need to give a new face and image to the Congress."

Xiaomi unveiled the Mi Pad 2 with Android 5.0 and Windows 10 variants

Xiaomi unleashed the Mi Pad 2 tablet alongside the Redmi Note 3 smartphone. In a welcoming move, Xiaomi has also added the Windows 10 OS to its catalogue.

The Mi Pad 2 will be available in 16GB and 64GB internal storage variants for Android. Both of these models priced at CNY 999 (around Rs. 10,300) and CNY 1,299 (around Rs. 13,500) respectively. The variant running Windows 10 OS will be available in single storage option of 64GB, for a price of CNY 1,299 (around Rs. 13,500). The Android 5.0 Lollipop-based MIUI 7 Mi Pad 2 will go on sale in China from November while the Windows 10 powered variant will be up for sale in December.

Coming on to the specifications, the Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 features a 7.9-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels. It is powered by a 64-bit quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8500 chipset coupled with Intel HD GPU and 2GB of RAM. Interestingly, the Mi Pad 2 is Xiaomi’s first device that comes integrated with an Intel chipset. In the imaging department, the device sports an 8-megapixel primary camera with LED flash and f/2.0 aperture, along with a 5-megapixel wide-angle selfie camera.

The tablet supports connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth v4.1, and GPS connectivity. Backing the metal-clad device, is a 6,190mAh of battery, which is touted to deliver up to 648.8 hours of standby time. The Mi Pad 2 weighs 322 grams, measures 200×132.6×6.95mm, and will be available in Dark Grey and Champagne Gold colour options. It is almost 18 percent thinner than the Mi Pad.

Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 specifications

• 7.9-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels
• 64-bit quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8500 chipset coupled with Intel HD GPU and 2GB of RAM
• 2GB LPDDR3 RAM, 16GB / 64GB of internal storage
• Android 5.0 Lollipop-based MIUI 7 variants with 16GB / 64GB storage option
• Windows 10 variant with 64GB internal storage
• 8MP primary camera with LED flash, and 5MP front-facing camera
• Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth v4.1, and GPS
• 6,190mAh battery

Finding Marriage Material Online!

Can online meetings result in happily ever afters? Are people really serious of meeting their life partners? Can you trust? We get into the skin of the growing trend of finding online matches.

Priti is an executive with a MNC, in Gurgaon. She has six days a week office and a seven-figure salary that she would not want to give up for anything in the world. “I have worked hard to reach where I have, why should I give up?” she says. Trouble is that she is reaching 30 and everyone around her wan’ts her to get married. “I haven’t found anyone yet.” She laments. “Some friend has suggested online matrimonial portals but I am not sure if I will find a decent match there. I think it’s just time pass.”

Rajat,29, working in an advertising company in Mumbai says, “I have been looking for a bride on a portal for almost two years. But nothing happened. A lot of girls show interest but there is no response to even a hello.”

Online dating and matrimony has caught up like a wildfire in India. With a growing middle class and rising individuality, more people are finding that the matches are not only made in heaven but also on websites. It’s fast, easy, personal and secure. You can find, browse profiles, see pictures, even match horoscopes and send interests. Then wait for the other person to respond. There is a decline option as well to politely decline someone’s ‘phantasy’ over you, without actually meeting in person. “It’s virtual. It’s so much less embarrassing. And you forget about it next day because everyone comes online with the same mindset,”says Asha.

With such dating sites being easily available, many people tend to take advantage of them as well. With a mindset of finding a quick fix for date and or just ‘pataofying’ the girl, some people can be dubious, so everyone should be careful. Radhika was duped by a guy who posed all the handsome pictures and sweet talked into meeting her. She found out he was just someone totally different.

Websites have come up for people with disabilities, specific communities, divorced and widowed people, who can also find love the second time. Dating websites and applications have started for sexual minorities as well. And their rising popularity only shows that whether you find love or not, you want to try them once, fefore you get hitched for lifetime.

Online portals are also coming up in a big way as the sponsors of prime time youth and television shows. This shows their growing potential. With a leading website claiming to have made two million matches online, this is then just the beginning.

Why Investing In Self Education Is A Good Idea

Investing in self education- sounds like one of those looks-good-only-in-the-book quotes, right? Benjamin Franklin had once said- An investment in knowledge always pays in your best interest.

You have heard and seen people investing in real estate and mutual funds. However, investing in self education is something that many of us are unaware about. Let’s take a look at the benefits it brings you…

– Secured: Once invested, nobody can take it from you. It also opens gate for a secure retirement.

– Earnings: We all know that once learnt, knowledge brings you dividend for the rest of your life. Infact, this is one of those, which brings you high return on not-so-big investment.

– Raises your esteem: As you don’t have to depend on anybody else for financing your education, it creates confidence and security around money.

The investment is self education requires time, effort and money. I am guessing that is one of the biggest reasons as to why doesn’t everyone master these essential skills for investing and developing financial literacy.

Financing your education is one of the greatest bargains of your life, especially if you start off at an early age. It costs little, risks nothing and gives you huge returns all your life. Is it not the best investment you’ve heard of?

We live in a fast changing, rapidly adaptive world. Things that weren’t possible yesterday, are on a high today. But to be on a look out for such opportunities, requires you to keep learning, especially updating yourself on new way of doing things.

All you need to do is put out the effort and a lifetime of benefits is yours for the taking. Afterall a little extra effort put in now, for a lifetime of financial security sounds better and more reliable than avoidance now and a lifetime of financial stress, does it not?

Incorporating Passion Into Your Career

You’ve probably heard and read a lot about pursuing a career that brings you satisfaction everyday.

And you might also have heard people telling you to do what you love doing whole heartedly. But how many times have to tried to figure out  that, what inspires you in choosing your way? Still thinking if it’s true, aren’t you?

Take a moment to think about the things that inspire you.

Whether it’s your passion for volunteering or your love for music, is it possible to tie these elements from your passion into your career.

Would you still love your job if you make lesser money out of this than what the other job had offered you, which you weren’t really interested in?

The old aphorism suggests that you should follow your passion in your career.

However, I prefer to believe that, that’s a lot easier said than done. Pursuing your passion can mean all sorts of things. It might mean starting a business or following what you love to do.  Consider a situation like this: You complete your schooling, SSC and then go for graduation. While you wanted to become a writer, you graduate in Science and then go for post grads choosing economics as a major. When applying for PG, you knew you wouldn’t end up being a writer.

Still, you go for the degree, get an on campus placement and take up a job of an economist.

Nowhere close to your passion, right?

Does this mean that finance also plays a major role in your career. ‘Course it does. Nevertheless, here are a few things that could help you incorporate more of your passions into career…

– Prioritize your goals so as to have a clear picture of which passion of yours do you want to oursue as a career.

– Listing things that inspire you the most. For example, let’s say you are passionate about helping others and you work in the tech industry. Maybe you could find a job where you can use technology to improve the lives of others. Something as simple as this can help you find satisfaction and contentment out of the work you do.

– Lastly, think about the obstacles you’re willing to overcome. The process of finding a career you love doesn’t come easy. It involves a lot of planning, dedication, innovation and positive attitude. Sometimes, when you’re searching for a job you’re passionate about, you’re going to have to overcome obstacles. But you need to keep yourself focused. Achieving what you dreamt of, doesn’t happen overnight. You need to be patient about it.

Remember, you get a job, so you can afford to have a life.

But then you spend all your time at work and end up with no time to live the life you’re working for.

Is that even worth it? Think. Reflect. Act Wisely.

Free Online Course For People Belonging To Arts And Culture Background

One of the toughest career challenges for someone with great interest in arts and culture is getting a concrete platform.

The celebration of culture has played an important role in the establishment of various civilizations.

Imagine the consequence when a cultural idea gets technological wings.

Vanderbilt University in association with Coursera offers an online course on innovation in Arts and Culture, for free.

Innovation is buzzed.

Everyone is talking about it, and they’re doing it in grand terms. But the effect will only be seen when there comes a radical change. The free online course developed by David Owens at Vanderbilt University is customized for the cultural sector by the National Arts Strategies (Virginia, U.S.A). The course aims at helping people from arts and culture background to create an environment where new ideas are constantly created, shared, evaluated and the deserving ones and successfully put to work.

Those involved in arts and culture, have generally, lesser time and money for experimentation and risks, as compared to others. As a result of which, powerful ideas in the industry get stuck with no real action taken. The online study will help those in performing arts, museums and other cultural organizations build environments where new management and program ideas are created and worked upon.

Eligibility and Qualifications to enrol

The course is an initiative for people who are involved in arts and culture around the globe. You can enrol for the course online, as an individual, someone representing an organization, or as a whole team. Also, the course is available for organizations that deliver arts and cultural content activities around the globe.

Duration and syllabus

The duration of the course is eight weeks, which requires spending an average of 6-8 hours per week on the videos, assessments and quizzes.

The course syllabus consists of introduction, individual constraints, group constraints, organizational constraints, industry constraints, societal constraints, technological constraints, and lastly a session on what-if. The what-if session is about the adversities you might face while pursuing this career, how to deal with difficult situations and the time when failure is not an option for you.

Format

The course format consists of weekly video lectures with imbibed quizzes, short exercises, reading, case studies, several diagnostic surveys and a brief weekly evaluation paper. Because not all the registered users have the same learning objectives or available time, the course is offered at two levels of engagement: Standard Level and Studio Mastery Level.

Standard level is for candidates who engage in assignments, exercises and discussion projects, but do not have the time for an innovation project. They receive a Statement of Accomplishment at the end of their course.

Studio Mastery level is for candidates  who wish to master the course material and take part in the real-world projects, for the application of teachings of the course. They receive a Statement of Accomplishment- with Distinction at the end of their course.

To enrol in the course log onto the official website:  www.coursera.org

Google Hindi Keyboard gets support for ten Indic languages, now renamed to Google Indic Keyboard

Google has as many as eight keyboard apps for Android devices in the Play Store. One of them is Google Hindi Keyboard, which was released a few months ago along with Android 5.0 Lollipop with support for Hindi and Hinglish typing. Now, the search giant has renamed the keyboard to Google Indic Keyboard after adding support for ten additional Indic languages.

With this latest update, the keyboard app now supports typing in ten indic languages – Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu – apart from English and Hindi. The app also supports transliteration to your native language if you pronounce the words in English.

Also Read: Best keyboard apps for Android

The Google Indic Keyboard app also has handwriting mode where a user can draw using fingers and the words get automatically recognised by the system. The latest update not only adds improved suggestions but also some design improvements that allows easy switch between English and native scripts. The keyboard also supports a long list of smileys and voice recognition.