Tuesday, November 30, 2010

271 Works of Picasso Revealed | Geekosystem

271 Works of Picasso Revealed | Geekosystem:
"Retired French electrician Pierre Le Guennec revealed 271 previously unknown works of Picasso that he had sitting around in his garage, worth about $80 million. Though Le Guennec claims he legitimately received the pieces as gifts, the Picasso family is suing Le Guennec, claiming he stole the works."

Wow. I don't care who sues who, I just want to see this hi-res digital stuff online as soon as possible.

Missing page numbers on Kindle (or any e-reader) shouldn't be a deal breaker

Why the Kindle Is Losing Me -- Sarah Lacy:
"So how the hell is it possible that the Kindle doesn’t have a feature as obvious as page numbers? You know what happens when you don’t have page numbers? You can’t do a basic footnote for anything you’ve read. Yeah, that’s going to be a slight problem for the college market."
Page numbers as a reference have always been dicey. If everyone is using the same printing of a book it works fine. Hardcover vs. paperback or printings of the same book from different years or publishers, the page numbers have always been different.

Act one, Scene one... Its gonna be a Chapter/Paragraph Number here on out. We need to wrap out heads around this and make sure all e-reading software can handle it. HTML/XML can handle tagged paragraphs, otherwise its just a matter of counting--I hear computers are good at that.

Of course, there are always hyperlinks.

Check out Chris Meadows's take on the subject:
How do you cite an e-book’s ‘page number’? | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics: "There are MLA and APA guidelines to citing e-books, too, though neither of them expressly mentions (that I can find) what to do about a book that has no page numbering. But I imagine “location number” would suffice in those cases too, especially with some explanation to the professor of the nature of the source.

It really does seem a bit odd that neither of these citation guides addresses the page-numbering matter. Lacy does have a point, though perhaps not the one she meant to make: the academic world does need to come to terms with how to do citation of e-books without page numbering, because e-books are only going to get more popular from here."

Nook Color - eBook Reader Reviews by MobileTechReview - 41/2 stars

Nook colorNook Color - eBook Reader Reviews by MobileTechReview
"Conclusion

The Nook Color is a wonderful surprise. As a long time E-Ink bookworm, I didn't expect much from Barnes & Noble's LCD reader. But B&N has turned out one of the hottest consumer electronics items of 2010 and perhaps 2011. The Nook Color offers an excellent reading experience thanks to its retina-friendly IPS display with high pixel density and wide viewing angles. Reading on an LCD has never been this pleasant and my eyes are feeling good when reading in my usual 1 to 2 hour sessions. That said, the Nook Color excels if you read indoors and particularly if you read in poor lighting conditions. If you read outdoors or in very sunny rooms with large windows, an E-Ink reader is your best bet since it looks wonderful under very bright conditions where LCDs fade and glare."


Great in-depth review with lots of pictures and video. They give it 4 1/2 stars and I pretty much agree except it should be $150 instead of $250. Of course, it will be $150 in 6 months.

Project Gutenberg responds to Greg and Astrid Bear’s takedown request; revises procedures | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Project Gutenberg responds to Greg and Astrid Bear’s takedown request; revises procedures | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics
All right then.

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Men Who Stole the World -TimeFrames- Printout - TIME

The Men Who Stole the World -TimeFrames- Printout - TIME:
"A decade ago, four young men changed the way the world works. They did this not with laws or guns or money but with software: they had radical, disruptive ideas, which they turned into code, which they released on the Internet for free. These four men, not one of whom finished college, laid the foundations for much of the digital-media environment we currently inhabit. Then, for all intents and purposes, they vanished."

Must read about four men and the software they wrote that changed the world.

bookofjoe: Page 99 Test

bookofjoe: Page 99 Test:
"'The Page 99 Test is simple: after reading page 99, would you want to turn the page?'

The site takes its name from Ford Madox Ford's observation: 'Open the book to page ninety-nine, and the quality of the whole will be revealed to you.'"

Project Gutenberg – Pirate? Greg Bear squares off - PG: be not Google

Project Gutenberg – Pirate?:
"After conducting legal research on the LEXIS database of legal cases, decisions, and precedents, we have demonstrated conclusively that PG was making incorrect determinations regarding public domain status in many, many works that originally appeared in magazine form."

So a day after joining PG it turns out that they're (we're!) copyright infringing monsters. I feel so unclean.

Project Gutenberg should make absolutely sure that they deal with this issue as quickly and lawyer-free as possible. PG has a great future as long as they stay squeaky-clean and non-Google-like (i.e. too big to care) as possible.

How popular are e-readers? Popular enough to make SEO linkbait | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

How popular are e-readers? Popular enough to make SEO linkbait | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

A sign of the times, I suppose.

A Bitter November - John Scalzi chats with November

A Bitter November - Whatever
A funny dialog between John Scalzi and November. Remember: 30 days hath November YOU LOUSY JERKS.

I would have loved to seen this done up as an animation like the one below (also very funny)

So You Want to be a Writer? | Tor.com | Science fiction and fantasy | Blog posts

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Distributed Proofreaders just celebrated its 10th anniversary by Marie Lebert | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Distributed Proofreaders just celebrated its 10th anniversary by Marie Lebert | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"Volunteers choose a book currently processed through the site to proofread a given page. People can proofread one page or several pages, as they wish. One page per day is a great goal. It doesn’t seem much, but with hundreds of volunteers it really adds up."

I registered at DP Canada. I poked around a bit and it looks pretty good. Organized without being too complicated to jump in quickly.

The Sony Reader is doomed -- because it SONY!

The Sony Reader is doomed:
"Do you want to know an even bigger FacePalm moment? The recent Sony Readers could have been released with the ability to buy ebooks from B&N. (Trust me, I am quite certain that I have my facts correct.) Sony deliberately crippled the new gadgets. WTH, Sony?"


Sony's reputation isn't what it used to be.

NYTimes - Business Day > Bad News is Good for Business

Business Day

Be careful who you give your CC number to online.

The Escapist : News : Copyright Lawyers Sue Lawyer Who Helped Copyright Defendants

The Escapist : News : Copyright Lawyers Sue Lawyer Who Helped Copyright Defendants

It's interesting to note, as the site points out, that the USCG is "upset for a reason." While all motions to quash and motions for protective order have so far been denied regardless of how they were filed, the motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction have not. In other words, Syfert's package is allowing people to mount an effective defense against the claim and the USCG is faced with the very expensive possibility of having to re-file thousands of individual cases in order to get around it.

Syfert's package of forms, which includes a motion to quash, motion to dismiss, an affidavit in support of the motions and a motion for protective order, now sells for $19.95, which is still a great deal. Believe me, you can't get most lawyers to pick up their phone for twenty bucks.

Pat's Fantasy Hotlist: Shadowrise

Shadowmarch: Shadowmarch: Volume IPat's Fantasy Hotlist: Shadowrise:
"Williams is a notorious slow starter, no question about it. Both Shadowmarch and Shadowplay suffered from bouts of sluggish rhythm, and I was wondering when the tale would kick into high gear. Not so with Shadowrise, which moves at a fluid pace throughout. Indeed, this could be the Tad Williams work featuring the best rhythm to date. Which bodes well for the forthcoming Shadowheart. The end game promises no dull moments from start to finish!"


There is nothing better than coming across complete series. I've read (and thoroughly enjoyed) Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and Otherland and in both cases waited impatiently for each new novel to hit the shelves. I don't know why I passed on the Shadowmarch series when it started six years ago, but I'm glad that I can now pick up the entire series and go through it in one go.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Calibre 0.7.31 releases | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Calibre 0.7.31 releases | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics: "Fix various regressions in the calibre windows build caused by the switch to python 2.7."

Word Log Feature for e-Readers - becoming a smarter reader

I came across a post about a feature in a Sony e-Readers that struck a particular resonance with me:

A Reader’s Review of the New Sony Word Log Feature | The eBook Reader Blog

I think that long-form reading tends to be immersive. Its what I like about the experience: one goes away to a different place for a little vacation. At the same time I have been frustrated when I come across a term or reference that I do not understand and have to put down the book and do a little research.
I appreciate the ability to do a little digging (online or using an internal dictionary) while reading is a great bonus when using e-reader. The thing is that the "drive-by" style of research can be of greater benefit when accompanied by the ability to log and revisit this research. Learning comes from repetition and I;ve often found myself looking up a dictionary definition several times before I've "mastered" a word's meaning.

The Skill List Project: Vocabulary at SF Novelists: "How do you learn as many words as possible? By reading anything you can get your hands on…especially stuff that goes beyond your same-old-same-old, whatever that is. When you come across a new word, write it down. Write down the context too, so you’ll remember how it was used. Look up the meaning in a dictionary, but also check Google for other appearances of the word so you can see it in action in a number of contexts. Keep finding occurrences of the word until it’s no longer a stranger to you. That’s when you’re ready to use it yourself."

Even if you are not an aspiring writer you can wring a little bit more enjoyment out of that novel you are reading if your e-Reader can help you manage the bits where you need a dictionary, atlas, or Google to learn something new.

The eBook Haters Meme - Big Dumb Object - appropriately named

The eBook Haters Meme - Big Dumb Object

The guy reads a book on a tiny cellphone screen and comes to the conclusion that reading e-books is crappy. Duh.

Plus the form of a paperback book is far superior to current eBook readers, they’re small, portable, zero-boot time, you can drop them on the floor, put mugs of tea on top, generally not care about their safety, flick back and forwards etc. etc.


My e-reader boots practically instantaneously and I can jump to the paragraph I left off at immediately. I've found picking up where I left off much faster than with a paperback.
Being able to destroy a book by putting hot or cold drinks on top of them seems like a silly thing to find pleasure in.

At least the argument that an e-book should be cheaper than a paperback makes sense. Can't say the same for the rest of the post.

Slow News Day: New SF Blogs to follow

It appears that the post-Black Friday news day is very slow so I went looking for more blogs to follow. I came across two interesting SF blogs:

Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys is an award winner so I'll give it a try.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Novelists is an interesting blog for writers. Since I write blog posts I thought it would be worth following. The Skill List Project of blog posts are well-written, easily digestible, posts on the mechanics of writing.

Friday, November 26, 2010

“Which ereader device should I buy?” Well, whaddya want

“Which ereader device should I buy?”:

A good overview of e-readers based on whats most important: cheap books, public library, color, etc. I see nothing wrong with the "not recommended" section, but I'm a risk taker and I'm confident that the open source world will clean up the poor software problem.

"Not recommended, and why:
* Kobo (Borders) – It’s more expensive than the Kindle with fewer features. It’s the same price as the Nook but doesn’t have access to B&N’s larger ebook store or accessory line. There’s no 3G model.
* All Sony Reader models other than the $250 model listed above – They lack wireless connectivity and cost more than a Kindle or Nook.
* Anything else – When it comes to electronics that rely on software to function, you want a company big enough and dedicated enough to provide decent support. As Teleread notes, cheaper models look and function okay on the surface, “but you will find that their software is abysmal. Stick to a name brand.”"

bookofjoe: Book Deodorizer - why i prefer ebooks over stinky pbooks

bookofjoe: Book Deodorizer

Another reason why I prefer ebooks to pbooks.

Calibre 0.7.30 released | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

calibre.pngCalibre 0.7.30 released | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics
More features. More bug fixes. Is this thing awesome or what? Its got more features than any single user needs or uses. Of note to me I was interested in:

  • Improve startup times for large libraries by caching the has_cover check
  • Update windows binary build to use python 2.7
  • Metadata and cover download plugins from Nicebooks (disabled by default)

If you haven't got it yet then you are not reading ebooks.

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: E-readers -- I hope Santa brings me a Nook Color

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: E-readers -- Engadget:
"Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year."

Of the bunch selected by Engadget I like the Nook Color. I'm not sold on E-Ink yet and the Nook is likely going to be very well supported (and jailbroken and enhanced) for many years to come.

Black Friday 2010 deals roundup: ultimate mega edition (updated regularly) -- Engadget

Black Friday 2010 deals roundup: ultimate mega edition (updated regularly) -- Engadget

Great list. Scroll to the end and get the spreadsheet.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

which ereader should you buy – an attempt to help you in the jungle | eBookAnoid

which ereader should you buy – an attempt to help you in the jungle | eBookAnoid
I'm going for none of the above. Go Shanzai!

NCIX.com - Buy iView 700EB-T Color eBook 7IN 800X480 TFT W/ Audio Video Playback Audio Recording USB2.0 White - iview 700EB-T In Canada.$109

iView 700EB-T Color eBook 7IN 800X480 TFT W/ Audio Video Playback Audio Recording USB2.0 WhiteNCIX.com - Buy iView 700EB-T Color eBook 7IN 800X480 TFT W/ Audio Video Playback Audio Recording USB2.0 White - iview 700EB-T In Canada.

The Canadian price out there. I'd jump on it except that it is not a touchscreen, does not support highlighting passages and will keep only 8 bookmarks per document. Good battery life for reading and reasonably well supported.

iPulp Fiction launches new HTML 5-based reader | lightweight and featureless but its shiny and new

iPulp Fiction launches new HTML 5-based reader | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"Like HTML 5 and CSS 3, the iPulp eReader is a work-in-progress. We feel the HTML 5 and CSS 3 give iPulp stories a superior presentation than the current e-book formats. iPulp’s intent is to create a web-based e-reader that has similar functionality to standalone e-book applications. The release of iOS 4 makes the iPad the perfect platform for the iPulp eReader. While iPulp is optimized for the iPad, readers will eventually be able to read iPulp stories in any browser on any platform, be it a desktop computer or a smart phone."

FBReader, Calibre, and their ilk still leave much to be desired when it comes to fully-featured e-reader software. Gowerpoint's µBook software is probably one of the most mature and full featured reading software out there. I hope all the wannabe e-reader authors out there look to the old-school software as a basic feature set before coming out with their own packages.
The same can be said for the craptastic reading software that comes with e-reader hardware.

PocketBook's ProBook 602 is now shipping for $199 - Linux e-readers more open sourcier than Android

PocketBook ProBook 602 photoPocketBook's ProBook 602 is now shipping for $199
Pocketbook has a lot of new upcoming e-readers, and the first one is now shipping: the pocketbook 602, for $199. the 602 has an E Ink display (6"), 2GB memory, Wi-Fi, bluetooth and is based on Linux.


Wifi, bluetooth, linux: interesting.
e-Ink: not so much

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Article | New to Science Fiction? Start Here. | A Dribble of Ink

Article | New to Science Fiction? Start Here. | A Dribble of Ink:
favorite response:
"@FredKiesche — City (Simak). Doorways in the Sand (Zelazny). 2001 (Clarke). The Naked Sun (Asimov). Gateway (Pohl). Nova (Delany)."


and the author's choice Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)

Wopad Android Tablet costs just $150 | Good E-Reader Blog - Electronic Reader and Tablet PC News

Wopad Android Tablet costs just $150 | Good E-Reader Blog - Electronic Reader and Tablet PC News:
"All in all, not a bad buy for those who are on the look out for a cheaper alternative to the iPads or the Galaxy Tabs. The Wopad too, with its compact dimensions and a light weight of just 380 gms makes a strong case for itself."


At 600MHZ it is unlikely to perform well with Android 3 (Gingerbread) when it comes out. Good starter tablet, tho.

The Ematic 7″ Color eReader – $79 at Walmart

Ematic eReaderThe Ematic 7″ Color eReader – $79 at Walmart | The eBook Reader Blog:
"For features the Ematic EB101B 7″ eBook Reader has some good things going for it with its 7″ 800 x 480 pixel color display, 4GB of internal memory and microSD card slot, video and audio players, and support for EPUB, PDF, TXT, and DOC ebook formats."
We can only hope that firmware updates will follow soon.

Is Publishing Doomed? JOHN B. THOMPSON with Williams Cole - The Brooklyn Rail

Is Publishing Doomed? JOHN B. THOMPSON with Williams Cole - The Brooklyn Rail: "Over the last decade there has been much talk about the fracturing, transformation, implosion, and even the annihilation of the dominant paradigms in music, journalism, movie-making, and, most recently, publishing. What might have been a slow burn in a once-stable media landscape is on the verge of ashing out, as book publishing is now seen by many as the last victim of such a “crisis.” In preparing his new book Merchants of Culture (Polity Press 2010), Cambridge University professor John Thompson spent five years talking with book editors, publishers, writers, and agents on both sides of the Atlantic. Thompson’s book (which is delivered traditionally, meaning bound in cloth covers) is comprehensive and surprisingly exhaustive. Armed with research this detailed, it’s not surprising that his conclusions are significantly more complex than the prevailing idea that “e–books are killing publishing.” I sat down with him in a Gramercy Park coffee shop to discuss."

What ereader would I recommend for the holidays? The Editor’s picks | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

What ereader would I recommend for the holidays? The Editor’s picks | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics: "For kids

If you want an ereader for your kids, then there is only one real choice right now and that is the Nook Color. I’ve seen it and it really is lovely. It’s sharp, bright colors will entrance any of your younger children.

For adults

To cut to the chase, the Kindle 3, followed by the Sony Daily Edition."

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Acer reveals Iconia dual-screen laptop-- Tablet sandwich to replace laptops

Acer reveals Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, Clear.fi cloud-based media sharing system -- Engadget:
"Here in New York at Acer's Global press event, the company's talking touch. Lots and lots of touch. It'll be introducing a veritable smorgasbord of equipment as the minutes roll on, but it's kicking things off with its Windows 7-based Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet. For all intents and purposes, this is Acer's version of the Toshiba Libretto W105 (or that far-flung ASUS concept we saw at CeBIT 2009), boasting a pair of glossy touchscreens and no hard specifications to speak of. Naturally, you won't find a keyboard here -- rather, a virtual one will emerge from the secondary panel. There's also a fairly slick media management system that's obviously gesture based -- some real potential there. We'll be digging for details surrounding a price point and release date, but for now, have a gander at the image above and just imagine how it could revolutionize your life."

The future of all laptops and the death of the keyboard?
Reportedly the "keyboard" screen is not haptic (no tactile feedback) so while all the multi-touch manipulation is wonderful, using the virtual keyboard is a pain.
Still... I want.

The Best E-Reader May Be No E-Reader at All - Best or Convenient?

The Best E-Reader May Be No E-Reader at All - Techland - TIME.com:
"The upshot: Even though I have both a Kindle and a Nook here at Technologizer World Headquarters, I do most of my e-reading on other devices. And my single most-used e-reading device is my iPhone, simply because I take it with me nearly everywhere and can dip into any e-book I own in seconds, often while I'm doing something else at the same time. (I get a lot of reading done while waiting in line at Trader Joe's--basked of groceries in one hand, iPhone in the other.)"


A bit of twisted logic in this article. It sounds like the author does most of his reading standing in line at the grocery store. The mistake is equating "best" with most convenient.

I agree with the general premise though. When I am on the bus/subway and standing, gripping a pole for stability, I cannot use my e-reader. It is too large to quickly retrieve or stow away (although reading one-handed is fine).

When I'm sitting on the subway, or at home, I would never choose the tiny smartphone screen over a larger e-reader. Its a no-brainer: the more legible text you have in front of you the faster you can read. Your eye dances all over a page when you are reading; it is not a straight linear process. Small screens makes reading less enjoyable.

For me 'best' is having both a sit-down reader and a stand-up reader, auto-syncing libraries, bookmarks, and notes.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Android Reading Apps Review and APK Installation Pack | The eBook Reader Blog

AndroidAndroid Reading Apps Review and APK Installation Pack | The eBook Reader Blog:
"I’ve tested all these apps on the PocketBook IQ. Some of the other reading apps such as Nook for Android I haven’t able to get to work so aren’t included in this review. If I find a version that works on the IQ so I can test it I will add it to the list, along with other reading apps I find along the way. This list is far from complete so feel free to add more in the comments section."
I really really want FBReader, Aldiko, and Moon+ Readers to take a significant market share from Kindle and Nook readers. I just don't trust them to keep their hands off my books.
Hopefully the free readers will be full-featured and lightweight enough to work on the cheap $100 tablets like the Maylong M-150.

Worst gadget ever? Ars sets the Maylong M-150 on fire

Worst gadget ever? Ars reviews a $99 Android tablet:
"Unfortunately, the Maylong M-150 is the very epitome of 'race to the bottom,' and anyone looking to buy one would get more bang for the buck by setting it on fire for warmth."

I would have ignored the review and waited to get a hacked firmware upgrade but the report on battery life makes this thing the POS that it is described as. I am not a big fan of Apple fanboi Troll-style reviews as they all sound the same after a while, but this one managed to get the point across.
Its like listening to an hour of Joan Rivers and laughing at a one-liner at the end of the show.

Peter Chung Takes ‘the Big Risk’ With CGI-Animated Firebreather | CGI more familiar than cel

fb_pr_gallery12Peter Chung Takes ‘the Big Risk’ With CGI-Animated Firebreather | Underwire | Wired.com:
"Infamously risky but rewarding animator Peter Chung has finally made a film for everyone in Firebreather. If his new all-CGI movie is a hit on Cartoon Network, the Aeon Flux creator hopes it will reassure Hollywood that the time is right to pull the trigger on other adult-oriented animated movies."
Chung: For me, it was remarkably easier than it would have been in 2-D. It was very liberating. I've been wanting to do CG for a long time, but the fact is that it would have been impossible to make this film on this budget even two years ago.

Looking forward to seeing this. Check out the trailer at Wired. The CGI looks like the typical quality you see in video games these days. I think that as an alternative to cel-drawn cartoons this may become a popular format for all genres.

Publishing in the social world | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Publishing in the social world | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"The social publishing/content options suggested in this post are things that can’t effectively be executed in the print world. Up to now, ebooks have mostly been nothing more than quick-and-dirty conversions of the print product. I look forward to a future where social options and other features more fully leverage the ebook medium."

Lets clean up the "dirty" before we move on to the social publishing experiments. Of course, the social interaction may lead to higher quality quicker.

Libraries Urge CCC to Reconsider its Funding of E-Reserve Copyright Case - Copyright Clearance Center in Publishers Back pocket?

Libraries Urge CCC to Reconsider its Funding of E-Reserve Copyright Case:
"Kevin Smith, scholarly communications officer at Duke University, who has followed the case closely from the start, was unable to say what is keeping the case from being settled. “The only answer to why [there hasn’t been a settlement],” he told PW, “is that one party or the other is not motivated enough to do so.”"

Reading between the lines and applying a healthy dose of cynicism, its seems to me that the CCC is selling its street cred as a "good faith intermediary" to the publishing industry to use at it wishes.

Skytex Primer shows up at Walmart as the Ematics EB101P – $80

Skytex Primer shows up at Walmart as the Ematics EB101P – $80:
"It’s based on a 7″ LCD screen, and it has 4GB Flash, a microSD card slot, and in general the same file support as the Primer. For $80, it’s a decent e-reader. What you give up in ability you make back in the low price."

The low end for hardware is getting lower and lower. My eBookwise is still working fine and I've noticed that many of the low end readers don't have the bookmark/dictionary/highlight features as robust as the 1150.

EpubCheck 1.1 now available

EpubCheck 1.1 now available:
"FYI: EpubCheck is the officially recognized tool for verifying that an Epub file meets the standard. This is what Apple and others use to accept or deny Epubs to their ebookstores. (Actually, Apple are the only one I can recall that are strict about it.)"

Between this Sigil, and Calibre, you should be set for all of your self-publishing needs. It then becomes a matter of settling on a publisher/retailer.

Pros and cons of e-reading: best of both worlds not where I live

ReadWriteWeb's take on the pros and cons of ebooks assumes the best of both worlds.
5 Ways That eBooks Are Better Than Paper Books

1. Social Highlighting
2. Notes
3. Look-up of words
4. Ability to Tweet & Facebook quotes
5. Search

5 Ways That Paper Books Are Better Than eBooks

1. Feel
2. Packaging
3. Sharing
4. Keeping
5. Second-hand books


I usually read paperbacks: Feel and Packaging is not something I'd describe as a positive. On the other hand I have no great interest in tweeting or facebooking what I am reading.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

FIVE THINGS EVERY ASPIRING AUTHOR SHOULD KNOW – Grasping for the Wind

FIVE THINGS EVERY ASPIRING AUTHOR SHOULD KNOW – Grasping for the Wind

The Book Bench: Remembering Updike: The Gospel According to John : The New Yorker

The Book Bench: Remembering Updike: The Gospel According to John : The New Yorker: "My rules, shaped intaglio-fashion by youthful traumas at the receiving end of critical opinion, were and are:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give enough direct quotation—at least one extended passage—of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy précis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.…

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it’s his and not yours?"John Updike published his first book review

Ahem… Two farts does not a flatulence problem make. � Three Pound Brain

Friday, November 19, 2010

Let the tablet wars begin - Dan Gillmor, Salon.com - The first counter-offensive

Let the tablet wars begin - Dan Gillmor - Salon.com:
"In fact, the Tab's size strikes me as nearly ideal. I'm using it, among other purposes, as an e-book reader and video player, ideal for travel and for around-town activities. It's definitely not ideal for everything, as I'll explain when I do a more thorough review in the next few days, but no device can do everything you want; tradeoffs are always part of this game.

I suspect that Samsung will sell a lot of these, especially if it cuts the too-high price its resellers -- mobile phone operators -- are currently charging ($600 for a tablet without a data plan; typically around $400 with a two-year data plan). And some early anecdotal evidence supports my hunch. At a conference in Phoenix yesterday, two people told me they owned iPads but wished they'd waited."

The war really started when Apple came out with the iPad while everyone else was fiddling around with MIDs (mobile internet device) mostly based on Android (1.5 and 1.6). There have already been many fatalities (The JooJoo being the latest)
There has been skirmishing with several Android 2 tablets being released (mostly from China). The Dell Streak was the first salvo in the "big boys" war and now the Galaxy Tab is the first significant counter-offensive.
Pass the popcorn, its just starting to get good.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Copyright troll Righthaven starts to backpedal | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Copyright troll Righthaven starts to backpedal | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics: "I suspect I’m not alone in hoping that Democratic Underground flatly turns down this settlement offer. It’s ridiculous that Righthaven should get to run up costly legal bills for its victims with these frivolous copyright lawsuits and then back down and stick them with the charges. Righthaven made its bed—let the company lie in it."

London World Record Panoramic Photo: See Big Ben, London Eye, Tower Bridge, and more than you can imagine.

London World Record Panoramic Photo: See Big Ben, London Eye, Tower Bridge, and more than you can imagine.: "This is an 80-gigapixel panoramic photo, made from 7886 individual images. This panorama was shot from the top of the Centre Point building in central London, in the summer of 2010. We hope that the varied sights and energy of London have been captured here in a way never done before, so that you can experience one of the world's great cities - wherever you may be right now."

Dedicated ereaders the choice of heavy readers, Retailers more important than Publishers

Dedicated ereaders the choice of heavy readers, says BSIG study | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"More than 40% of e-book readers have reduced the number and dollars spent on hardcovers and paperbacks.
Retailers are becoming more important than publishers as a source of information about e-books.
General fiction and mysteries are the fastest-growing e-book genres.
More respondents received e-readers as gifts than bought them for themselves.
Respondents who bought devices for themselves most often were motivated by suggestions from friends.
The iPad has only a marginal impact on the popularity of the Kindle and Nook.
Heavy to moderate book buyers want e-devices that don’t have a lot of other options."

(my bold)

Gilded Latten Bones – Glen Cook - Garrett PI is back in lucky thirteenth episode

Gilded Latten Bones: A Garrett, P.I., NovelGraeme's Fantasy Book Review: ‘Gilded Latten Bones’ – Glen Cook (Roc):
"‘Gilded Latten Bones’ is one of those rare books where both established fans and newcomers will get a lot out of the story. The book hearkens back to events in prior books but this is done in such a way that it doesn’t detract from the story itself and is accessible for newer readers such as myself. If this wasn’t enough, the nature of the case lends a real ‘stand alone’ feel to the book. If you’ve read earlier books in the series then you will get more out of ‘Gilded Latten Bones’; don’t let that put you off though if you haven’t."


I've read the first twelve books of the series and look forward to picking up this latest installment of the Garrett PI series. The series has delivered unevenly but has always been entertaining. The books set a noir-style detective drama in a broad fantasy setting that is similar to Terry Pratchett's Discworld in that it tends to put a humorous spin on the 'monsters' that populate these worlds.

I passed on the first few books when they first came out (oh so many years ago) because I thought the series would peter out quickly. When I finally picked up book one I had 4 or 5 books to look forward to if I enjoyed the first. While it wasn't as good as Pratchett or Robert Asprin's Myth series, it was definitely good enough to pick up the next book in the series.

Some series have a story arc that has a beginning and an ending and some series are open-ended and provide a platform for entertaining stories. The Garrett PI series is the latter. Picking up the latest installment is like visiting an old friend.

Glen Cook is and accomplished and prolific novelist. Quality is never an issue and each story stands on its own. I especially appreciate the restraint Cook uses when it comes to the cliffhanger.

I'd start with Sweet Silver Blues (1987) and work up through the series.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Hey Canada, Rogers lands the Samsung Galaxy Tab Today - Overpriced and No Voice Service

samsung galaxy tab rogersGoogle Reader (109):
"You can get your hands on a non-contract unit for around $674.00 or go with a 3 year plan and get a discount, bringing the cost to $539.99.
...
Although the UK and European versions of the Tab allows voice calling,the Canadian version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab sadly does not."

Why is Canada falling behind other countries when it comes to digital services?
Yes, I am sad.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Mimo Monitors - USB 7 & 10" monitors - A thousand uses

Mimo Monitors - what can you do with it?:
"what can you do with it?
Mimo has thousands of useful and fun applications: keep your main display clutter free, park your Instant Messaging windows, keep your application palettes on it, use it as a digital picture frame, as a dedicated stock ticker display, put your gaming maps on it. Mimo is great for use with a small laptop or netbook because of its light weight and single USB connection, it can travel with your laptop, no power brick needed!"

I've never encountered this type of device. A USB small monitor is a great idea for either the desktop, laptop, or netbook. The more advanced versions have the options of multitouch and an attached webcam.

I wonder how hard it would be to set up an existing device already on the market (tablet, LCD reader, or MID device) to optionally act as an attached monitor when attached to the computer via USB. Instead of paying $139 for the non-touchscreen 7" Mimo I'd like to use a $140 Sylvania tablet with touchscreen capability (with maybe additional options like x-fer to tablet, screen snapshots, etc.)

This would really take off if it was available with a wireless option - Bluetooth most likely, but there may be a tenable wi-fi solution.

Can you read the world’s smallest legible fonts ? | Tech Hammers

Professor Ken Perlin design of world's smallest legible fontsCan you read the world’s smallest legible fonts ? | Tech Hammers:
"Well “technically” they aren’t the smallest fonts in the world as if they were you wouldn’t be able to read even a single letter , BUT , you should be able to read the entire paragraph in the picture given above…we did. A Computer science professor called Ken Perlin designed these tiny fonts and you can fix 500 reasonable words in a resolution of 320 x 240 space. They are at the moment the smallest legible fonts in the world."

20 Obsolete English Words that Should Make a Comeback

20 Obsolete English Words that Should Make a Comeback:
"If we all start using them, these words can be resurrected.

During my undergraduate studies as a Linguistics major, one of the things that struck me most is the amazing fluidity of language. New words are created; older words go out of style. Words can change meaning over time, vowel sounds shift, consonants are lost or added and one word becomes another. Living languages refuse to be static.

The following words have sadly disappeared from modern English, but it’s easy to see how they could be incorporated into everyday conversation."

Android 2.1 Tablet from Sylvania Offers Customer Cheap Tablet Alternatives | ThirdAge

Android 2.1 Tablet from Sylvania Offers Customer Cheap Tablet Alternatives | ThirdAge:
"Android 2.1 tablet from Sylvania is giving consumers an alternative to the Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab this holiday season. For those who don't want to spend hundreds on a tablet, Sylvania has unveiled a budget tablet, according to PCMag.com.

Toys R Us will offer the Sylvania's Android 2.1 tablet for $140"

E-readers expected to be popular gift this Christmas; iPads, not so much | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

E-readers expected to be popular gift this Christmas; iPads, not so much | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"The New York Times suggests that this is going to be the “tipping point” holiday season for e-book readers. Though Kindles have been hot Christmas gifts over the last couple of years, this is the first season that e-readers are going to be widely available for under $150 (and indeed, under $100 in some cases). This means, in turn, that a lot more e-books are going to be sold to read on those e-readers."

Fingers crossed for a great boxing day sell-off. All the hardware with slow e-ink screens, or tablets that can't be upgraded past Android 1.6, should drop in price again. Keeping an eye out for sub-$75 sell-offs.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Is there a Future for Books? by Iain Dale | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Is there a Future for Books? by Iain Dale | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics: "In particular, she points out that publishers no longer pay the kind of advances on royalties that they used to. Indeed, and a good thing too. The level of advances had got ridiculous, with publishers seemingly only too willing to throw good money after bad in their desire to get one over on their competitors. In the end the house of cards had to come crashing down, and it certainly did."

Digital Readers: A Guide

Digital Readers: A Guide
The state of readers today.

Black Friday e-reader sales roundup

Black Friday e-reader sales roundup: "Augen’s The Book (another 7″ LCD Kindle Clone) has shown up in a Menards’s add for $69 on Black Friday. This might actually be the best value of the day. I thought it was a decent e-reader, and at $69 it’s not a big risk."

We're getting awfully close to the $50 e-reader.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

The Wertzone: The Japanese Devil Fish Girl by Robert Rankin

The Japanese Devil Fish Girl and Other Unnatural AttractionsThe Wertzone: The Japanese Devil Fish Girl by Robert Rankin:
"The Japanese Devil Fish Girl (***1/2) is pretty much Another Robert Rankin novel, although shorn of connections to his other books it's a little bit more accessible to newcomers. But there is definitely the feeling that here he had a chance to break free of his comfort zone and write a more interesting story using steampunk trappings, but didn't do it. Instead he does his normal thing and does it well."

It's been a while since I've read a Rankin. This looks like a good book to get back into it. Its hard to find decent fantasy humor and Rankin can be relied on to deliver the goods.

Fantasy Book Critic: “Kill the Dead” by Richard Kadrey (Reviewed by Robert Thompson)

Kill the Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel (Sandman Slim Novels)Fantasy Book Critic: “Kill the Dead” by Richard Kadrey (Reviewed by Robert Thompson):
"ANALYSIS: There was a time when I used to like reading urban fantasy novels, but thanks to publishers flooding the market with second/third-rate carbon copies and authors recycling the same ideas over and over, I’ve grown weary of the whole subgenre. Even so, every once in a while an urban fantasy title comes along that really catches my eye, like last year’s Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey..."

Until the next episode of the Dresden Files comes out this will do nicely.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

11.11.10: A Follow-Up to “Free” : Sacramento Book Review

11.11.10: A Follow-Up to “Free” : Sacramento Book Review: "It is quite difficult for a writer to figuratively let go of a piece of hard work, offering it with an uncertain expression to a plethora of unknown faces for no other reimbursement than a thin hope of strengthened publicity. Hopefully, more data–on whether such a risky move is profitable–will emerge as more eBook writers and indie publishers take the plunge into the roaring, untamed river of Free."

Calibre updated to 0.7.28 | Book Viewer faster, but still needs work

calibre.pngCalibre updated to 0.7.28 | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"Update the version of the grahical toolkit (Qt 4.7.1) used in the calibre binary builds on windows and linux. This should result in a significant speed up for the calibre ebook viewer"

Bunch of minor new features updated drivers and bug fixes. The new graphical toolkit does make an appreciable difference with the viewer.
I've been using the book viewer a bit more lately as both the viewer grown more solid and the typical ePub I get my hands on has become more standards compliant.
FYI, here is the custom stylesheet I've grown so far to make reading a little more comfortable. Its a work in progress.
body {
color: white;
background-color:rgb(0,0,125);
text-align:left;
line-spacing:1.4;
margin-top:0px;
margin-bottom:4px;
margin-right:50px;
margin-left:50px;
text-indent:2em;
}
h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {
color:white;
text-align:center;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:bold;
}
blockquote {text-indent:0em;}
p.tx {text-align:left !important; margin-bottom:.1em !important;margin-top:.1em !important}

The view from here literary magazine: E-books and the Agency Argument

The view from here literary magazine: E-books and the Agency Argument:
"Sometimes it seems to me that the thing publishing does best of all is to get itself into a terrible mess. New technologies always bring with them significant challenges to accepted custom and practice. For years the music industry has spectacularly failed to control the development of the digital media, which, at different times, it tried to ignore, to outlaw, to appropriate and to exploit. Many commentators believe the record companies have come to embrace it too late and will never now catch up with its onward march."

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Kobo on top of the Canadian Giller Prize; the immediacy of ebooks | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Kobo on top of the Canadian Giller Prize; the immediacy of ebooks | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"One area ebooks really do have the advantage (as the Kobo people correctly point out) is availability. Tomorrow, a prize will be announced and physical bookstores will be scrambling to supply copies of the paper book to every customer who might want them. But there will be no ebook shortage! Anyone who wants the book can have one."

The JooJoo is Dead - Gearlog

The JooJoo is Dead - Gearlog: "Now, Fusion Garage, who is still locked in legal battle with TechCrunch over their original partnership to build the device - the one that ended in a messy public breakup with Fusion Garage making off with the tablet and attempting to bring it to market themselves - has announced that the JooJoo never met the sales expectations they set for it, and as such has been discontinued."

Ten Tips to Feed Your Alien Blog Baby - Culture Sandwich

Ten Tips to Feed Your Alien Blog Baby - Culture Sandwich: "So here’s what I’ve learned about feeding this alien blog child that has taken over my life in the most exhilarating way."

I've got so much to do...

Wordnik online dictionary adds new search features | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Wordnik online dictionary adds new search features | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"Wordnik continues to be one of our favorite (useful, educational, fun) online databases. It provides access to definitions from a number of dictionaries and other word resources, thesaurus, word/phrase translation option, pronunciations (audio), tools to create and share word lists, and much more."

They also have a RESTful API to access all the cool features along with the definitions. web2.0 FTW

The Wertzone: WHEEL OF TIME gets its sixth consecutive #1 NYT bestseller

The Wertzone: WHEEL OF TIME gets its sixth consecutive #1 NYT bestseller: "Back in 1998 the eighth Wheel of Time novel, The Path of Daggers, became the first book in the series to hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller lists. Remarkably, every book released so far in the series has managed the same feat and Towers of Midnight has made it six in a row."

UK Pirate Party leader: Shortening copyright could help creators | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

UK Pirate Party leader: Shortening copyright could help creators | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics:
"Later in the interview, Kaye discusses how authors would make money from their books under a regime of decreased copyright protections. Kaye suggests that the current long copyright terms focus the industry on finding mega-hits that will keep earning money for decades, at the expense of a considerably larger number of people who just want to make a living from their writing.

He also notes that there are new business models that offer new opportunities, such as the “pay-what-you-want” model of sites such as Bandcamp and leveraging the way social networking allows making better connections with writers’ fanbase. And he points out that it’s not competition from other paid products that creators need to worry about."

Mobile Opportunity: Will E-Readers Eat the Tablet Computer? - Free the Nook Color

Mobile Opportunity: Will E-Readers Eat the Tablet Computer?:
"Second, B&N is missing a huge opportunity. It's not like they're losing money on Nook Color sales (the hardware cost is probably in the $150 range, or lower). As long as you're making some money per unit, I think it makes sense to grab as many customers as you can now, while you have a structural advantage in the market.
The ultimate payoff for an ebook distributor like B&N is to displace the publishers and start selling ebooks (and other content) directly to the public. To get to that goal, B&N should be trying to grow the e-reader installed base as quickly as possible. Instead of restricting Nook Color to people who already want ebooks, B&N should sell it to everyone and then entice them into becoming e-reading users."


A thoughtful piece on the e-readers vs. tablets debate using the Nook Color as a test case. Essentially E-ink devices are a beast unto itself and LCD readers can compete if they are sold cheap and bound to sales of e-books. This will succeed if the middleman (publishers) are cut out so that book prices can be set to attract and keep more e-book readers.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Coby Kyros Internet Touchscreen Tablet - SlipperyBrick.com

Coby Kyros Internet Touchscreen Tablet - SlipperyBrick.com

Looks good and solid - of you need something that works as an e-reader, MID, and HDMI-out video player then this can do the job (at $299). Android 2.1, but only 800MHz so may not upgrade cleanly to 3.0.

The view from here literary magazine: E-books and the Agency Argument

The view from here literary magazine: E-books and the Agency Argument:
"But the Net Book Agreement worked because it applied universally. You couldn’t go somewhere else to get a book cheaper. Under the agency model we have the absurdity of Stephen Fry’s new book selling on Amazon at £10.04 in paperback while the Kindle version is £12.99. If you visit other retailers you find even bigger discrepancies. Howard Jacobson’s Man Booker winner is £10.03 in hardback on Amazon, but £13.28 as an ebook at waterstones. Ken Follett’s new novel sees the same split: £10.00 hardback, £14.00 download. Just have a browse – you’ll find loads of examples."

Some info from the Consumer Electronics Association on ereaders and tablets | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Some info from the Consumer Electronics Association on ereaders and tablets | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

70% of tablet users use the tablet for ereading.

40% of consumers anticipate that a tablet will replace their computer.

96% of tablet users connect through wifi and 43% connect through the mobile web.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

iView 7" LCD Color eBook Reader & Media Player $89USD Shipped.

iView 7" LCD Color eBook Reader & Media Player w/ 2 GB Memory, Adobe Digital & EPUB DRM, TXT, AVI and RMVB Video, Expandable Memory Up To 32GB, Black Carrying Case, Free eBooks Download - Meritline.com: "Sale: $104.99"

With coupon code on the site it is $89US Shipped.
http://www.meritline.com/dailydeals.aspx

If need a reader than can highlight passages and this reader doesn't have a touchscreen so I'm gonna pass for now. For just reading I'd be all over this.

Amazon.com: Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon: Jonathan Stroud Guilds the Lily?

The Ring of Solomon: A Bartimaeus NovelAmazon.com: Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon (9781423123729): Jonathan Stroud: Books
The trilogy was tight. I don't know if the series needed extending but I'm willing to give it a try.
I do recommend reading the trilogy:
1. The Amulet of Samarkand (2003)
2. The Golem's Eye (2004)
3. Ptolemy's Gate (2005)
A steampunk-ish series of a boy growing into his power and joining the aristocracy. Class warfare using djinns and ifriit. Great POV from both sides of the class war as well as the demons bound into service.

The Wertzone: E-books, piracy and what to do about it

The Wertzone: E-books, piracy and what to do about it:
"In short, with Steam they created a place for gamers to go to as naturally as others go to Facebook, except with the ability to buy games cheaply and play them quickly and relate their findings to friends.
The book industry could learn from this, particularly as we already have sites which already do similar things."

PocketBook 602, 902, 701(IQ Tablet) Pre-Orders | The eBook Reader Blog

Pocketbook 902PocketBook 602, 902, 701(IQ Tablet) Pre-Orders | The eBook Reader Blog:
"Pricing for the new models is a little confusing because the PocketBook website has slightly higher prices for the 602 and 701 than Dulin’s Books, an authorized PocketBook retailer. So I went with the lower prices."


I like the IQ701 - the battery (1600mA) seems a little weak, but it runs Android 2.0.

Michael Stackpole's Digital Original novel: In Hero Years… I’m Dead

In Hero Years... I'm Dead. A Digital Original novel.Digital Original novel: In Hero Years… I’m Dead|Stormwolf.com:
"So, there I was, stuck with a perfectly good novel that didn't have a home. I certainly wasn't the first novelist to face that problem. I know I won’t be the last. But it’s a bit galling when a story you know readers will enjoy doesn't see print simply because it doesn't fit in any convenient marketing niche."

Since I'm reading Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible this caught my eye. I think the Superhero Noir genre may be making a comeback.

Cheers to Stackpole for putting out the ePub version on his own. We will be seeing more big ticket authors looking for venues to publish the books that the publishers do not want. Somehow I think we'll end up with access to more innovative writing.
In Hero Years… I’m Dead is New York Times bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole’s first Digital-Original novel.
Twenty years ago someone stole him away from Capital City. Having been released from captivity he returns to find everything changed. The great heroes of his day, men who could move planets or tear apart criminal syndicates, have all retired. A new breed of hero has sprung up to deal with a perplexingly new brand of villain. It’s a world that makes no sense, and a world which, if he persists in playing the hero, will surely see him dead.
In Hero Years… I’m Dead mixes action, dark humor, satire and strong characters into a thrilling page-turner. It’s superheroes facing challenges both in costume and out, battling a cunning enemy bent on destroying all they have worked so hard to preserve.
I enjoyed this book very much. It's an interesting take on superheroes and how the world would work if there really were such people. This premise has been explored before, but Stackpole has carved out a unique take on the subject. He is a very competent writer who has a lot of experience writing in a pre-defined universe (Star Wars in particular) and knows how to step outside the usual boundaries. He crafts a fast paced adventure married with superb character development and biting social commentary.

The cast of characters are well thought out; heroes and villains are ripped out of the comic books we all know and love and re-worked into his own unique characters. All of the major characters have well-fleshed personalities, and motivations that drive the story forward. In particular, he takes an interesting look at 'superhero fatigue'. What happens when heroes (and villains) have been at it for too long.

The noir-style detective backdrop adds both drama and humor to the story. Our hero reacquaints himself with Capitol City via a series of violent episodes where the motives are unclear. Is foiling a bank robbery a simple good guys vs. bad guys scenario or is it a cynical game where points in a fantasy league are accrued based on villains defeated (non-lethally) and treasure re-captured, vs. damage to property and regular citizens.

Its refreshing to have a mature superhero protagonist dealing with mature issues. He has no innate powers, but trained to have unique characteristics, who 'lost' his middle years, comes back to retire from the business yet is forced to settle old scores. There were some genuine surprises in the plot line and an interesting commentary on the whole superhero genre. At a time when the genre is at the forefront in books, film and TV Stackpole manages to find a fresh angle.
----
Other books I've read with a quirky take on superheroes:
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman: an interesting take on superheroes taken from a (misunderstood?) supervillian's viewpoint.
Gladiator by Philip Wylie: Written in 1930, it is widely believed to be the inspiration for Superman comics (Wikipedia). Copyright has expired so you can get a free copy of the book from archive.org.

eReader market dividing into high end and cheap and cheerful

eReader market dividing into high end and cheap and cheerful:
"As many commentators have been saying for some time, as the idea of eReaders becomes more established, we are now seeing that both ends of the market are growing. At the top end we have sophisticated devices such as the Entourage and Kindle 3, and at the other end there are now an increasing number of cheap, almost throw-away eReaders coming onto the market. Prices for some of these low end models have gone down to less that 80 USD a piece, and will get even cheaper in time."

I'd rather have three $80 readers than one $240 reader. Especially if you could link the three together: open link on second reader; dictionary lookup appears on third reader; ersatz 2-page view; etc.

How to go Amazon free on your Kindle

How to go Amazon free on your Kindle:
"A few days ago I came across Duokan, an open source firmware for the Amazon Kindle (2/3/DX). It’s being developed by a group of Chinese developers and while it’s still in beta, unfortunately, it’s gotten good enough that you might want to try it."

Open Source firmware for all devices and an open standard for inter-device communication. The future is bright.

Extending an eReader with a Smartphone--ubiquitous computing around the corner

Extending an eReader with a Smartphone

by Joe Wilkert

Many ebooks can be read just fine on the surface area of your typical Kindle, iPad or other eReader. The reading process flows sequentially from one page to the next. No need to jump back and forth within the book or look things up in an index. Your typical novel is consumed this way, but a how-to book or a reference guide is not; with these latter examples you’re often dipping in and out, jumping to and from the index and sometimes wanting to look at pages that aren’t adjacent to one another.

What Joe is striving for is ubiquitous computing. I'd like to see my e-reader throw definition requests to my desktop, or throw a map of a fantasy world to my TV screen. I'd likely read more non-fiction if I can drive through footnotes to web pages on another screen while still having my current "place" in the book open. Whether its a smartphone or a laptop, desktop, or set-top box, being able to distribute a task among all the smart devices in a room is an essential step in the development of hardware and software that fits into our lives rather than the other way around.
Ubiquitous (or pervasive) computing can move out of the MIT Labs theoretical development into the real world quite easily with some software and hardware tweaks. We all have smartphones, desktop, laptops, and now tablets and e-readers. We just need a mix of Bluetooth and Wifi and some smart software to get everyone to talk nice.
Unfortunately, corporate interests will continue to try to Balkanize the environment to maximize their own profits.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Entourage Pocket Edge Now Available, Plus Specs and Videos | The eBook Reader Blog

Pocket EdgeEntourage Pocket Edge Now Available, Plus Specs and Videos | The eBook Reader Blog:
"The Pocket Edge has two screens. On the left side it has a 6-inch E Ink screen with a Wacom touchscreen. On the right side it has a 7-inch LCD touchscreen. The hinged design makes it so you can fold the screens together or 180 degrees back."

The more I see of the Edge the more I like it. Unfortunately the $399 price tag is a bit too steep for me. If I ever came into some money I'd get this and some other ebook reader that would fit into a jacket pocket.

Where to Find the Best Free E-Books for Your Kindle or iPad - Techland - TIME.com

Where to Find the Best Free E-Books for Your Kindle or iPad - Techland - TIME.com:
"The perk of the e-reader aside from easily concealing your embarrassing Dan Brown fandom? Free books. The Web is full of classic works inside the public domain, and it's easy to take advantage of the thousands of free titles with most devices. Here's a Techland 'how-to' in updating that reading queue for free."

A decent overview of where to find free e-books. Is the slide show format really necessary?

Farewell eBookvine The eBookMag

eBookvine The eBookMag

To put together my sad little blog I typically scan through a few dozen or so each of e-book, book, and technology RSS feeds. The eBookvine site has gone dormant since Oct 27 but the feed still spits up "Kindle Community" comments ad nauseum.

Its a nicely designed site with good original content. Its gotta go until the comments are filtered out of the feed. Some sites have a comments section worth keeping an eye on. This isn;t one of them.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sigil 0.3.1 now available

Sigil 0.3.1 now available: "I decided some time back that I wasn’t going to announce every little software update (mainly becuase a new version of calibre is released weekly). But the Sigil Project just released an update to their Epub editor that adds a pretty important feature."

McMaster researchers beat world in blood race - Healthzone.ca

McMaster researchers beat world in blood race - Healthzone.ca: "In a world-beating medical breakthrough, Hamilton researchers have created human blood directly from adult skin cells.

Efficient enough to produce usable amounts of blood for transfusions, the technique also opens the possibility of creating other transplant tissues without the arduous and time-consuming step of making embryonic stem cells first."

An Example Of Bad eBook Formatting

An Example Of Bad eBook Formatting: "Thanks to Moriah Jovan, I’m able to compare screensnaps of the bad Kindle formatting with iPad screensnaps I took from an ePub version sample available at the iBookstore."

REVIEW | The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman (Tor) ~ Mad Hatter's Bookshelf & Book Review

REVIEW | The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman (Tor) ~ Mad Hatter's Bookshelf & Book Review: "There are some books you enter knowing exactly what to expect, which can be good. Sort of like sitting in your favorite chair. Nice and cozy. Than there are those books that immediately jar you into realizing how different they are, which are few and far between. The Half-Made World is decidedly in the second camp evoking a sense of isolation while exploring a world so big that its western regions are still forming into existence yet has a history of thousands of years."

The Fantasy Novelist's Exam

The Fantasy Novelist's Exam: "Ever since J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis created the worlds of Middle Earth and Narnia, it seems like every windbag off the street thinks he can write great, original fantasy, too. The problem is that most of this 'great, original fantasy' is actually poor, derivative fantasy. Frankly, we're sick of it, so we've compiled a list of rip-off tip-offs in the form of an exam. We think anybody considering writing a fantasy novel should be required to take this exam first. Answering 'yes' to any one question results in failure and means that the prospective novel should be abandoned at once."

Innovative solar technology thinks outside the panel.

Shooting for the Sun - Magazine - The Atlantic:
"The device, he explained, would split hydrogen atoms into protons and electrons, and in so doing would convert heat into electricity. Most radically, it would do so without the help of any moving parts. Johnson planned to tell his audience that the JTEC could produce electricity so efficiently that it might make solar power competitive with coal, and perhaps at last fulfill the promise of renewable solar energy."


Solar Fridge Inventor Honored By Nobel Prize Winners | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World:
"To use the fridge, you simply place perishables in the solar refrigerator’s interior metal chamber and seal it. [ed. In}Organic material, such as sand or soil, is then placed in-between the inner and outer chamber and then saturated with water. As the sun warms the organic material, the water evaporates, reducing the temperature of the inner chamber to a chilled 6 C [43 F] – an effect similar to how your skin gets cooler as sweat evaporates."


The two most innovative solar devices in recent memory do not involve solar panels and were invented by people who work outside the mainstream scientific community.
Just saying.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Steal this book: The loan arranger | The Economist

Steal this book: The loan arranger | The Economist: "AMAZON.COM says soon you will be allowed to lend out electronic books purchased from the Kindle Store. For a whole 14 days. Just once, ever, per title. If the publisher allows it. Not mentioned is the necessity to hop on one foot whilst reciting the Gettysburg Address in a falsetto. An oversight, I'm sure. Barnes & Noble's Nook has offered the same capability with identical limits since last year. Both lending schemes are bullet points in a marketing presentation, so Amazon is adding its feature to keep parity.

Allowing such ersatz lending is a pretence by booksellers. They wish you to engage in two separate hallucinations. First, that their limited licence to read a work on a device or within software of their choosing is equivalent to the purchase of a physical item. Second, that the vast majority of e-books are persistent objects rather than disposable culture."

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Dell Streak from Rogers to cost $149 | Good E-Reader Blog - Electronic Reader and Tablet PC News

Dell Streak from Rogers to cost $149 | Good E-Reader Blog - Electronic Reader and Tablet PC News

As far as Canadian cellular deals go this is pretty good.

BeBook ereader invoice scam – Beware! | eBookAnoid

BeBook ereader invoice scam – Beware! | eBookAnoid

Teleread hits the big time: Why We Can't Afford Not to Create a Well-Stocked National Digital Library System - The Atlantic

Why We Can't Afford Not to Create a Well-Stocked National Digital Library System - David Rothman - Technology - The Atlantic:
"Just as importantly, libraries and schools need to prepare for the inevitable tipping point, when major publishers will often decide that the market is not large enough for paper editions. Some paper books will survive, just like the horse-drawn carriages that tourists ride in New York's Central Park."

Jeff VanderMeer Looks at the top ten Books of 2010

Omnivoracious: Best Books of 2010: Top 10 Science Fiction and Fantasy Selections:
"As the list above suggests, in 2010 several debut or relative new writers published strong sui generis novels, alongside outstanding work by a few established authors, and helped spark a mini-SF/fantasy renaissance."

I like the term sui generis (Oxford: Of one's or its own kind; peculiar. Also used attrib. †Also illiterately as n., a thing apart, an isolated specimen.) As much as I enjoy grabbing the latest in my favorite series I enjoy the challenge in reading something coming from a completely different perspective.
If you're looking for a book to read then this is a good list for suggestions.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

10 dirt cheap Kindle 3 knock-offs by Ben Adams | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

10 dirt cheap Kindle 3 knock-offs by Ben Adams | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

I wish I had written this today. Of course the list changes practically every day so its not like I can;t do it tomorrow.

Stellar science fiction that shouldn't be eclipsed

Stellar science fiction that shouldn't be eclipsed

Decent article from an indecent paper. I remember reading Earth Abides 30-odd years ago and did not consider it sci-fi because of its realistic depiction of a post-apocalyptic world.

I ought to dig up a copy and re-read it, but I'm more likely to pick up one of the other books (not Last and First Men--I tried once) the Post discusses. Probably Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack.

N-Trig: the most useful Android slates 'will be pen-enabled' -- Engadget

N-Trig: the most useful Android slates 'will be pen-enabled' -- Engadget

I think they're on to something here. I was pretty good using the palmpilot graffiti. Using some add-on tools I was able to get pretty fast at taking notes. I can't help but think that a decent pen-enabled tablet with decent software will supplant the virtual keyboard in terms of speed and accuracy.

Daniel Abraham 100 Aspects of Genre: Learning from the Dead and the Dying

Lizard Brain � Blog Archive � 100 Aspects of Genre: Learning from the Dead and the Dying

Good article on the artificial taxonomy of books into genres. I don't really get the fascination he has with the idea that urban fantasy is mostly about gender and power. Although, to be fair, of the urban fantasy I have read lately (Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey, Wen Spencer) the hero is male. Rachel Caine's Weather Warden (female protagonist) series was easy to put down half-way through the second book. I think I put it down for some of the same reasons that Abraham has identified as genre-defining.
I think — as I’ve said elsewhere — that urban fantasy is a genre sitting on top of a great big huge cultural discomfort about women and power.

Galaxy Tab will have Gingerbread and Honeycomb updates | Good E-Reader Blog - Electronic Reader and Tablet PC News

Galaxy Tab will have Gingerbread and Honeycomb updates | Good E-Reader Blog - Electronic Reader and Tablet PC News
This type of news will become more important as more Android tablets flood the market. How far can a tablet I purchase be upgraded so I can installed the latest cool toys.

For me the ultimate test would be the quality of the e-reader and compatibility with Calibre.

Locus Online Perspectives � Cory Doctorow: A Cosmopolitan Literature for the Cosmopolitan Web

Locus Online Perspectives � Cory Doctorow: A Cosmopolitan Literature for the Cosmopolitan Web

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

ABC Cancels The Cleveland Steamers | Tor.com | Science fiction and fantasy | Blog posts

ABC Cancels The Cleveland Steamers | Tor.com | Science fiction and fantasy | Blog posts:
"ABC finally pulled the plug on the limping Drew Carey vehicle The Cleveland Steamers after a six-season run. Initially a mid-season replacement, it was Carey’s follow-up after the long-expected cancellation of The Drew Carey Show earlier in the year. The Cleveland Steamers reunited Carey with long-time collaborator Ryan Stiles and a multi-ethnic cast that won them an NAACP Image Award and the first cast album a Latin Grammy."

Rainn Wilson: The 5 Questions You Hate Not Knowing the Answer to

Rainn Wilson: The 5 Questions You Hate Not Knowing the Answer to:

"4. Why the hell did I buy an iPad?

It looked so damn snazzy, and I'm an Apple geek as well, but I never use it! Did I ($800 later) fall victim to crass commercialism? I like to think I'm above that, but am I any different than my son, who wants whatever sugar-laden cereal happens to be showing in the ad before whatever cartoon he's watching?"