Saturday, October 31, 2009
Exhaustive Kindle/Nook smackdown - James Fallows
Exhaustive Kindle/Nook smackdown - James Fallows: "Amazon should work on making the Kindle the preferred long-form reading device for all the stuff that's long enough that it gets tedious on computer screens and is awkward on small iPhone-type displays -- texts you otherwise want in physical print (either book or printed-out document) but that aren't so dependent on a visual experience (loaded with graphics, photos etc) that only physical print or a large, high-quality computer display will do."
Exhaustive Kindle/Nook smackdown - James Fallows
Exhaustive Kindle/Nook smackdown - James Fallows: "The various basic features that I think Kindle is missing (or has poorly implemented) suggest to me that Amazon is too wedded to the synchronized cloud feature, which is nifty for Amazon-purchased books but useless for all the other ways the Kindle can be used. Prioritizing the cloud seems to have set limits on other functionalities that should have been designed into the Kindle's system for basic usability from the outset."
Exhaustive Kindle/Nook smackdown - James Fallows
Exhaustive Kindle/Nook smackdown - James Fallows: "'With Google Books now providing the epub format as an option, however, it's a piece of cake to download the epub file for a Full book to your computer and convert it to a mobi file (the free/shareware Calibre does the conversion work for you). Then transfer the mobi file to your Kindle. Voila."
Monday, October 26, 2009
Kindle is number one - Times LIVE
Kindle is number one - Times LIVE:
"'Kindle has become the number one bestselling item by both unit sales and dollars -- not just in our electronics store but across all product categories on Amazon.com,' said Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos. In keeping with previous practice, Bezos declined to reveal sales figures for the Kindle, but Forrester Research estimates the device has a nearly 60 percent share of the US market followed by the Sony Reader with 35 percent."
"'Kindle has become the number one bestselling item by both unit sales and dollars -- not just in our electronics store but across all product categories on Amazon.com,' said Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos. In keeping with previous practice, Bezos declined to reveal sales figures for the Kindle, but Forrester Research estimates the device has a nearly 60 percent share of the US market followed by the Sony Reader with 35 percent."
Sunday, October 18, 2009
New Digital Book Readers Spark Competition for Kindle - TIME
New Digital Book Readers Spark Competition for Kindle - TIME:
"Around the world, at least 17 e-readers are in development or already on the market. Among the better-known entrants is Asustek — the Taiwanese company practically invented the netbook category with its ASUS Eee-PC, and it is working on a product called the Eee-reader that it hopes to have on the market in time for Christmas. South Korea's two powerhouse consumer-electronics companies, Samsung and LG Electronics, are wading in too. Samsung earlier this year introduced a reader called the Papyrus in South Korea; reports circulating in the technology blogosphere say LG is developing a prototype with a large, 11.5-in.(diagonal) flexible screen. Meanwhile, Japan's Fujitsu has released the world's first dedicated e-reader with a color screen, although so far the device is only available in Japan."
"Around the world, at least 17 e-readers are in development or already on the market. Among the better-known entrants is Asustek — the Taiwanese company practically invented the netbook category with its ASUS Eee-PC, and it is working on a product called the Eee-reader that it hopes to have on the market in time for Christmas. South Korea's two powerhouse consumer-electronics companies, Samsung and LG Electronics, are wading in too. Samsung earlier this year introduced a reader called the Papyrus in South Korea; reports circulating in the technology blogosphere say LG is developing a prototype with a large, 11.5-in.(diagonal) flexible screen. Meanwhile, Japan's Fujitsu has released the world's first dedicated e-reader with a color screen, although so far the device is only available in Japan."
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com:
"The child’s imagination and children’s nascent sense of probity and introspection are no match for a medium that creates a sense of urgency to get to the next piece of stimulating information."
"The child’s imagination and children’s nascent sense of probity and introspection are no match for a medium that creates a sense of urgency to get to the next piece of stimulating information."
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com:
"Each young reader has to fashion an entirely new “reading circuit” afresh every time. There is no one neat circuit just waiting to unfold. This means that the circuit can become more or less developed depending on the particulars of the learner: e.g., instruction, culture, motivation, educational opportunity. Equally interesting, this tabula rasa circuit is shaped by the particular requirements of the writing system: for example, Chinese reading circuits require more visual memory than alphabets. This “open architecture” of the reading circuit makes the young reader’s developing circuit malleable to what the medium (e.g., digital online reading, book, etc) emphasizes."
"Each young reader has to fashion an entirely new “reading circuit” afresh every time. There is no one neat circuit just waiting to unfold. This means that the circuit can become more or less developed depending on the particulars of the learner: e.g., instruction, culture, motivation, educational opportunity. Equally interesting, this tabula rasa circuit is shaped by the particular requirements of the writing system: for example, Chinese reading circuits require more visual memory than alphabets. This “open architecture” of the reading circuit makes the young reader’s developing circuit malleable to what the medium (e.g., digital online reading, book, etc) emphasizes."
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com:
"To a great extent, the computer’s usefulness for serious reading depends on the user’s strength of character. Distractions abound on most people’s computer screens. The reading speed reported in academic studies does not include delays induced by clicking away from the text to see the new email that just arrived or check out what’s new on your favorite blog. In one study, workers switched tasks about every three minutes and took over 23 minutes on average to return to a task. Frequent task switching costs time and interferes with the concentration needed to think deeply about what you read."
"To a great extent, the computer’s usefulness for serious reading depends on the user’s strength of character. Distractions abound on most people’s computer screens. The reading speed reported in academic studies does not include delays induced by clicking away from the text to see the new email that just arrived or check out what’s new on your favorite blog. In one study, workers switched tasks about every three minutes and took over 23 minutes on average to return to a task. Frequent task switching costs time and interferes with the concentration needed to think deeply about what you read."
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com:
"My group thinks that Web 2.0 offers a different kind of metaphor: not a containing structure but a social experience. Reading environments should not be books or libraries. They should be like the historical coffeehouses, taverns and pubs where one shifts flexibly between focused and collective reading — much like opening a newspaper and debating it in a more socially networked version of the current New York Times Room for Debate. The future of peripheral attention is social networking, and the trick is to harness such attention — some call it distraction — well."
"My group thinks that Web 2.0 offers a different kind of metaphor: not a containing structure but a social experience. Reading environments should not be books or libraries. They should be like the historical coffeehouses, taverns and pubs where one shifts flexibly between focused and collective reading — much like opening a newspaper and debating it in a more socially networked version of the current New York Times Room for Debate. The future of peripheral attention is social networking, and the trick is to harness such attention — some call it distraction — well."
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
Does the Brain Like E-Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com:
"Right now, networked digital media do a poor job of balancing focal and peripheral attention. We swing between two kinds of bad reading. We suffer tunnel vision, as when reading a single page, paragraph, or even “keyword in context” without an organized sense of the whole. Or we suffer marginal distraction, as when feeds or blogrolls in the margin (”sidebar”) of a blog let the whole blogosphere in."
"Right now, networked digital media do a poor job of balancing focal and peripheral attention. We swing between two kinds of bad reading. We suffer tunnel vision, as when reading a single page, paragraph, or even “keyword in context” without an organized sense of the whole. Or we suffer marginal distraction, as when feeds or blogrolls in the margin (”sidebar”) of a blog let the whole blogosphere in."
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Mark Coker: Why E-Books are Hot and Getting Hotter
Mark Coker: Why E-Books are Hot and Getting Hotter:
"Portable library in the cloud - Imagine holding a portable, limitless catalog of books in the palm of your hand, accessible any time, anywhere. This is possible today with a wireless or Internet-enabled e-reading device. Books are moving from physical repositories (personal libraries, public libraries, book stores) to virtual repositories (personal online libraries, online public libraries, free online repositories, and online bookstores)."
"Portable library in the cloud - Imagine holding a portable, limitless catalog of books in the palm of your hand, accessible any time, anywhere. This is possible today with a wireless or Internet-enabled e-reading device. Books are moving from physical repositories (personal libraries, public libraries, book stores) to virtual repositories (personal online libraries, online public libraries, free online repositories, and online bookstores)."
Monday, October 12, 2009
ePub - Changing Font size doesn't change page numbers - MobileRead Forums
ePub - Changing Font size doesn't change page numbers - MobileRead Forums:
"...pages are an outmoded concept that really doesn't have any place in ebooks. A progress indicator (as a % is all that's really needed). Unfortunately, people are going to jump through hoops to try to simulate page numbers to encourage ebook adoption..."
"...pages are an outmoded concept that really doesn't have any place in ebooks. A progress indicator (as a % is all that's really needed). Unfortunately, people are going to jump through hoops to try to simulate page numbers to encourage ebook adoption..."
Hybrid Books From Publishers Like Simon and Schuster Add Video and Web Features to Reading - NYTimes.com
Hybrid Books From Publishers Like Simon and Schuster Add Video and Web Features to Reading - NYTimes.com:
"Some authors scoff at the idea of mixing the two mediums. “As a novelist I would never ever” allow videos to substitute for prose, said Walter Mosley, the author of “Devil in a Blue Dress” and other novels. “Reading is one of the few experiences we have outside of relationships in which our cognitive abilities grow,” Mr. Mosley said. “And our cognitive abilities actually go backwards when we’re watching television or doing stuff on computers.”"
"Some authors scoff at the idea of mixing the two mediums. “As a novelist I would never ever” allow videos to substitute for prose, said Walter Mosley, the author of “Devil in a Blue Dress” and other novels. “Reading is one of the few experiences we have outside of relationships in which our cognitive abilities grow,” Mr. Mosley said. “And our cognitive abilities actually go backwards when we’re watching television or doing stuff on computers.”"
Hybrid Books From Publishers Like Simon and Schuster Add Video and Web Features to Reading - NYTimes.com
Hybrid Books From Publishers Like Simon and Schuster Add Video and Web Features to Reading - NYTimes.com:
"The children’s division of HarperCollins recently released the first in a young-adult mystery series called “The Amanda Project,” and has invited readers to discuss clues and characters on a Web site. As the series continues, some of the reader comments may be incorporated into minor characters or subplots. Susan Katz, publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, predicted that “there is going to be a popular kind of literature where the author is seen as the leader of a large group and will pick and choose from these suggestions” by readers."
"The children’s division of HarperCollins recently released the first in a young-adult mystery series called “The Amanda Project,” and has invited readers to discuss clues and characters on a Web site. As the series continues, some of the reader comments may be incorporated into minor characters or subplots. Susan Katz, publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, predicted that “there is going to be a popular kind of literature where the author is seen as the leader of a large group and will pick and choose from these suggestions” by readers."
Hybrid Books From Publishers Like Simon and Schuster Add Video and Web Features to Reading - NYTimes.com
Hybrid Books From Publishers Like Simon and Schuster Add Video and Web Features to Reading - NYTimes.com:
"“Everybody is trying to think about how books and information will best be put together in the 21st century,” said Judith Curr, publisher of Atria Books, the Simon & Schuster imprint that is releasing the electronic editions in partnership with Vook, a multimedia company. She added, “You can’t just be linear anymore with your text.”"
"“Everybody is trying to think about how books and information will best be put together in the 21st century,” said Judith Curr, publisher of Atria Books, the Simon & Schuster imprint that is releasing the electronic editions in partnership with Vook, a multimedia company. She added, “You can’t just be linear anymore with your text.”"
Hybrid Books From Publishers Like Simon and Schuster Add Video and Web Features to Reading - NYTimes.com
Hybrid Books From Publishers Like Simon and Schuster Add Video and Web Features to Reading - NYTimes.com:
"“There is no question that these new media are going to be superb at engaging and interesting the reader,” said Maryanne Wolf, a professor of child development at Tufts University and author of “Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain.” But, she added, “Can you any longer read Henry James or George Eliot? Do you have the patience?”"
"“There is no question that these new media are going to be superb at engaging and interesting the reader,” said Maryanne Wolf, a professor of child development at Tufts University and author of “Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain.” But, she added, “Can you any longer read Henry James or George Eliot? Do you have the patience?”"
Saturday, October 3, 2009
New York Public Library and Kirtas Technologies Partner to Make 500,000 Public-Domain Books Available to the World | LISWire
New York Public Library and Kirtas Technologies Partner to Make 500,000 Public-Domain Books Available to the World | LISWire: "Readers and researchers looking for hard-to-find books now have the opportunity to dip into the collections of one of the world’s most comprehensive libraries to purchase digitized copies of public domain titles. Through their Digitize-on-Demand program, Kirtas Technologies has partnered with The New York Public Library to make 500,000 public domain works from the Library’s collections available (to anyone in the world). “New technology has allowed the Library to greatly expand access to its collections,” said Paul LeClerc, President of The New York Public Library. “Now, for the first time, library users are able to order copies of specific items from our vast public domain collections that are useful to them. Additionally the program creates a digital legacy for future users of the same item and a revenue stream to support our operations. We are very pleased to participate in a program that is so beneficial to everyone involved.'"
The Digitizers: An interview with Peter Collingridge of Enhanced Editions | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home
The Digitizers: An interview with Peter Collingridge of Enhanced Editions | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home:
"Enhanced Editions does a fabulous job of creating multi-media apps for books. They incorporate opt-in audio, video, and other features to lend a whole new dimension to the reading experience."
"Enhanced Editions does a fabulous job of creating multi-media apps for books. They incorporate opt-in audio, video, and other features to lend a whole new dimension to the reading experience."
L'Ombre de l'Olivier
L'Ombre de l'Olivier:
"The point - dear publishers - is that you are selling your wares to literate (and numerate) folks who are able to do things like price comparisons. If we discover that a heap of (DRM crippled) electrons costs us more than a pile of cellulose we begin to smell a large rodent and to feel like someone is ripping us off. Humans have a fairly well developed sense of fairness - and, as the Music industry can tell anyone who asks, thanks to the Internet it is very easy for people to decide not to pay for content if they think they are being ripped off. Various publishers have claimed (at various times) that it costs a lot to make a book into an ebook and that it takes time - and hence the ebook comes after the printed one. The problems with these claims is that we don't believe you."
"The point - dear publishers - is that you are selling your wares to literate (and numerate) folks who are able to do things like price comparisons. If we discover that a heap of (DRM crippled) electrons costs us more than a pile of cellulose we begin to smell a large rodent and to feel like someone is ripping us off. Humans have a fairly well developed sense of fairness - and, as the Music industry can tell anyone who asks, thanks to the Internet it is very easy for people to decide not to pay for content if they think they are being ripped off. Various publishers have claimed (at various times) that it costs a lot to make a book into an ebook and that it takes time - and hence the ebook comes after the printed one. The problems with these claims is that we don't believe you."
E-book biz too fixated on regular readers? If so, what to do about it? | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home
E-book biz too fixated on regular readers? If so, what to do about it? | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home:
"“I’m not the audience e-readers should be aimed at,” writes Jason Pinter, a best-selling author and Huffington Post contributor. “Yet for some strange reason I am. By marketing the Kindle to me—i.e. ‘adults’ who already read regularly—publishing is merely doubling down on the biggest problem facing the industry: not imageenough people read books. Right now, e-readers are being promoted as an alternative to paper. Big mistake. E-readers should be promoted as a cool option for non readers or hesitant readers. Instead, they’re stunningly being ignored.”"
"“I’m not the audience e-readers should be aimed at,” writes Jason Pinter, a best-selling author and Huffington Post contributor. “Yet for some strange reason I am. By marketing the Kindle to me—i.e. ‘adults’ who already read regularly—publishing is merely doubling down on the biggest problem facing the industry: not imageenough people read books. Right now, e-readers are being promoted as an alternative to paper. Big mistake. E-readers should be promoted as a cool option for non readers or hesitant readers. Instead, they’re stunningly being ignored.”"
Thursday, October 1, 2009
New initiative offers Florida college students free digital versions of pricey textbooks. - St. Petersburg Times
New initiative offers Florida college students free digital versions of pricey textbooks. - St. Petersburg Times:
"'The model has always been to throw a chunk of money at a professor to write a book that can be used nationally,' Babb said. 'What we are trying to do is turn the paradigm on its ear and say, it's not about a professor getting rich. It's about affordability for students.' For example, students through Orange Grove Texts Plus can now read online, download and print out Elementary Calculus by H. Jerome Keisler for free. Or they can order a copy of the 992-page book to be printed, bound, and shipped directly to their homes for $47.50 (plus shipping)."
"'The model has always been to throw a chunk of money at a professor to write a book that can be used nationally,' Babb said. 'What we are trying to do is turn the paradigm on its ear and say, it's not about a professor getting rich. It's about affordability for students.' For example, students through Orange Grove Texts Plus can now read online, download and print out Elementary Calculus by H. Jerome Keisler for free. Or they can order a copy of the 992-page book to be printed, bound, and shipped directly to their homes for $47.50 (plus shipping)."
New initiative offers Florida college students free digital versions of pricey textbooks. - St. Petersburg Times
New initiative offers Florida college students free digital versions of pricey textbooks. - St. Petersburg Times:
"But through a new initiative state university system officials plan to announce today, Florida college students can get digital versions of some of those pricey textbooks for free. Students who really want a print version can order one custom-bound for between $30 and $50 — far cheaper than even many used textbooks. The project, dubbed Orange Grove Texts Plus, is a partnership involving the University Press of Florida, the state university system's nonprofit publishing arm; the Virginia publisher Integrated Book Technology; and Orange Grove, the state's digital database of K-20 teaching material."
"But through a new initiative state university system officials plan to announce today, Florida college students can get digital versions of some of those pricey textbooks for free. Students who really want a print version can order one custom-bound for between $30 and $50 — far cheaper than even many used textbooks. The project, dubbed Orange Grove Texts Plus, is a partnership involving the University Press of Florida, the state university system's nonprofit publishing arm; the Virginia publisher Integrated Book Technology; and Orange Grove, the state's digital database of K-20 teaching material."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)