free ebook manager

At last we are ready to introduce the new version of AlfaEbooks Manager. It's really the new generation of our software, so we decided to increase the version number by one level: from 0.7.5 to 1.8. We have implemented a lot of new features and dramatically improved the software performance. Here are some tips:

- The new Table View with multiple sort and filter options - ideal for searching and organizing books
- The new scalable List and Thumbnail views that are perfect for e-library browsing and demonstrating
- Improved 3D and Wall views - your friends will be really impressed :)
- Customizable thumbnail size - make them as large, as you want
- The new straightforward Scan tool, that works faster and can parse ebook metadata
- File Manager that allows to copy, move and rename ebook files
- The new Retrieve ISBN tool that supports PDF, LRF, FB2, CHM
- The new Web Update tool that can be used to add books from the book sites
- Google Images integration that allows you quickly update book covers, author pics and other images in the e-Library
- and more...

And now about the free licenses. Those users, who find 10 bugs in the new version until the official release - will get the software license for free. Please, send your bug lists to support@alfaebooks.com. Your not-very-difficult feature requests are also welcomed.

So here is the download link. There is no setup, so just unzip the software archive to any folder. The preview version is limited to 100 books. You need to have .NET framework 3.5 SP1 installed.

Amazon - is the most popular online book store among Alfa Ebooks Manager users. With the help of Amazon search plugin we are able to retrieve book data (title, ISBN, description, covers, etc.) and save it to the ebook database software. That is why most of us should pay attention to the upcoming changes in Amazon API.

Since August 15, 2009 all calls to Amazon API will require authentication. But the Amazon plugin that was distributed in our free Alfa Ebooks Manager (0.1-0.6) and paid version Alfa Ebooks Manager 0.7 is sending requests with our AWS Access Key ID without being signed. These calls to Amazon API will not be processed after August 15, 2009.

That's why we have released a new version of Amazon plugin, that is available for free in the Plugins section of our website. Please, download it and copy Amazon.dll file to Search_dll folder (that is located in the software directory) and Microsoft.Web.Services3.dll file to the software root folder.

Our latest version, Alfa Ebooks Manager 0.7.5 that will be available in few days, will already contain the new plugin.

Dear friends!

For almost three years we provided our ebook catalog software for free. The software has become very popular among book-lovers, schools, clubs and business libraries all over the world and every day we receive a dozen of new feature and support requests. So, now we need to invest additional resources in its support and futher development. That's why the next software version Alfa Ebooks Manager 0.7.1 (that is scheduled for June 10, 2009) will become commercial and will cost $19.95 for the life-time license.

Nevertheless, the current software version Alfa Ebooks Manager 0.6.4 will remain free for all with limited support. It will be available for download on our website and will support all the plugins that enable retrieving book data from the Web.

We hope, that thanks to this move we will be able to provide you with the new level of customer service and will develop the best ebook catalog software on the market. We highly appreciate your support and understanding.