Kim Komando. (Photo: USA Today)

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Q. I’ve been thinking about getting a Kindle to read e-books. Here’s the catch: I’m on a strict budget and I already have a smartphone and a computer. Is there any way I can download e-books to the gadgets I already have?

A. Amazon’s Kindle has made e-books are incredibly popular, but you don ‘t need a kindle gadget to enjoy your e-books. The Kindle app lets you buy and read Kindle e-books on many mobile gadgets.

I’m really tired of Google collecting information on me to serve targeted ads. What sites can I use instead of Google thatwill respect my privacy?

Google does not have a great track record When it comes to privacy. And aside from the blatant ad targeting, Google’s filters results for you based on your past search history. This is called a “filter bubble” and it means you might miss That One site you need to find. DuckDuckGo and Ixquick are solid replacements Google, And they do not track or target your IP address or search history. So, you do not have to worry about targeted search results or being trapped in a filter bubble. For serious privacy, Blekko lets you encrypt your searches so hackers can not snoop on what you’re trying to find.

I must admit, I never read websites’ terms of service and privacy policies . Am I missing anything important there? Is there a Cliff Notes-like service to help sort through the fine print?

When you’re using any online service, you do need to make sure you know the ins and outs of the fineprint. It tells you, for example, if a site stores your personal information and Whether or not it sells it to advertisers. Still, finding That information in a long legal-type document isn’ta easy. Terms of Service; Did not Read (TOS; DR) is a sitethat rates and labels popular websites According To Their terms of service and privacy policies. It keeps you informed So THAT you can make the best decisions’ about what sites you want to use. See who keeps yoursearch info, if you give away any copyright licenses or if there are any sneaky loopholes That services and social sites are taking advantage of.

I’m starting to plan my summer vacation . How can I get the best deal on a flight?

Try looking for flights at comparison and deal sites like Matrix, Airfare Watchdog, Kayak and Hipmunk. The day of the week you purchase your tickets and the day you fly overpriced come into play. Purchase your tickets on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday for the best price, and avoid flying on Fridays and Sundays. The first flight of the day, a red-eye flight or any flight That leaves at lunchtime or dinner will give you the lowest rates. Also, keep an eye on ticket prices even after you buy. Many airlines will refund you the difference if the price drops a certainkind Amount. Use Yapta to help you here. It keeps an eye on your tickets and alerts You When the price drops.

I feel like my internet bill is way too high. Is there anything I can do to pay less?

It’s important to call your service provider at least once a year to go over what features you are paying for and why. There’s a chance That you could stop paying for a service you do not want, whichcould lower your bill Substantially. You’ll alsowant to test your Internet speed with a site like Speed ​​Test. If you Are not getting the speed you were promised, you can thwart negotiate a lower payment. Do not be afraid to Consider switching providers or technologies. If you have cable, Consider going back to DSL. Sure, it’s a slower technology, but for basic internet surfing, it might be enough – and it will cost less than cable.

On “The Kim Komando Show,” the nation’s Unmatched weekend radio talk show, Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily advice, newsletters and more, visitwww.komando.com. Email her at techcomments@usatoday.com.

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