| Kobo is running a few different Black Friday sales from now through Sunday on Kobo.com. They are offering up to 75% off bestselling ebooks from every genre (don’t forget that Google is running a 75% off Cyber Monday weekend sale as well, and Amazon is price-matching many of the titles from both promotions). Kobo is […] |
Friday, November 28, 2014
Kobo Black Friday Sale: $99 Kobo Aura; up to 75% off Bestsellers
O’Reilly Cyber Monday Sale: 50% off eBooks and Videos
| O’Reilly Media is running a big Cyber Monday sale that’s in effect from now until December 2nd at 5:00 am Pacific Time. O’Reilly specializes in technical books, and all 10,000+ ebooks and videos at shop.oreilly.com are 50% off during this Cyber Monday weekend sale. Orders over $100 save 60%. All of O’Reilly’s products are DRM-free, […] |
Thursday, November 27, 2014
French Publisher Opens up New Digital Bookstore in US
| Ebookezvous is a French distributor who has been involved in the eBook space since 1999. The company has just opened up a digital store in the US with over 170,000 titles from 400 different publishers. The new store is available online and has a English and French UI, to allow prospective patrons to browse their selection of books. You can read them by using Adobe Digital Editions to load them in your Kobo or Nook e-reder, but is currently incompatible with the Kindle. The company has also issued a new Android App, which can be used to buy and read. Word has it, a iPad variant is under construction and will likely be available in the new year. According to Denis Zwirn, President of Numilog “Ebookezvous is designed to be a digital ambassador of French literature. I hope this site and associated reading applications allow many Americans, French or Francophone cultures lovers, to finally have immediate access to a supply of very large selection of French books.” There is a large selection of eBooks in eBookezvous catalog. It has thousands of classics, all the way to the latest bestsellers. The companby is betting that they can find a place in the French Immersion programs at private and public schools all over the US. The bookseller also intends on rolling out English translations of French authors within the next year. French Publisher Opens up New Digital Bookstore in US is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Chapters Offers Kobo Aura for $99 and Autographed Books
| Chapters Indigo, the largest bookstore in Canada has just unveiled their Black Friday campaign. It is being spearheaded by the Kobo Aura, with a massive $40 savings, bringing the total cost to $99. There is also a free sleep cover being thrown into the deal to make this offer even more compelling. The Kobo Aura is likely the best e-reader the company has ever produced. The screen is flush with the bezel, so it has the same design as your smartphone or tablet. The big sell, is that it has bleeding edge e-Ink tech, giving you over a months worth of battery life and one of the largest online bookstores in the world. Chapters is also unveiling a “Signed by the Author” program that has thousands of books available in stores all over Canada by the authors themselves. You can buy a brand new copy of notable books such as Mr Hockey: My Story by Gordie Howe, Yes Please by Amy Poehler or even Uganda Be Kidding Me by Chelsea Handler. If you are book shopping for someone this holiday season, an autographed title by their favorite author is a must buy. Chapters Offers Kobo Aura for $99 and Autographed Books is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Lend Your Assistance to Good e-Reader with Patreon
| Good e-Reader has been going strong since 2007, when the original Kindle came out. We have made it our mission to chronicle the e-Reader, eBook and digital publishing sectors. We have been completely bootstrapped, using our own funds to travel to bookfairs and tech events to bring you all the latest trends in the industry. Additionally, whenever a new e-reader or tablet comes out, we certainly aren’t getting them for free. Some devices like the Sony Digital Paper e-reader ended up costing us $1400. To help balance things out and to keep us operational we need your support with our new Patreon Campaign. Patreon is a crowd funding platform that allows you to pay a monthly subscription to us, in exchange for some tremendous benefits. Not only do you guys keep us writing 2-6 articles a day, generating YouTube videos or reviewing the latest and greatest gadgets, but you get some subscriber benefits. We have some tiers that have us doing a video streaming session once a month, ask anything you want. Want to know if you should hold off buying that new Kindle now, because something is even better on the horizon? We can answer it live. We also get a ton of custom content ideas, does the Sony Digital Paper handle sheet music or is the Kobo H20 good for PDFS? Before you spend the money, we can answer your question with a custom video made just for you. For the last eight years Peter and Michael have basically just been basically just using their own funds to pay hosting fees, travel all over and buy everything they review. Google Ads help pay for the core fees, but doesn’t leave much left over to buy every new Kindle, Nook, or Onyx e-reader that comes out. Certainly when it comes to giving you the latest trends and forecasts travelling is essential, and all of these fees add up. Good e-Reader would love your support for our first ever Patreon campaign! This sort of thing is completely safe to use and they handle all of the financials on their end, we don’t have access to your private information. Apparently they are processing millions of dollars a month for blogs, web-comic artists and designers. Help keep Good e-Reader as the #1 independent news sites out there. Lend Your Assistance to Good e-Reader with Patreon is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Weekly eHighlights: Video edition
| This month you'll find that a great selection of classic films have been added to Marketplace. These movies feature some of the best stars from Hollywood's Golden Era: Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, Vivien Leigh, Barbara Stanwyck, Marlon Brando and more! In addition to the classics, you'll also find some new holiday titles have been added. Get ready to be merry! Click here to view the full list in Marketplace.
Feature Films 1984 | Echelon Studios – Drama The 1956 adaptation of George Orwell's novel about a totalitarian future society and one man's struggle to rebel against it. Starring Michael Redgrave and Edmond O'Brien. eBook & audiobook also available. Anna Karenina | Echelon Studios – Drama Vivien Leigh (best-known for her role as Scarlett O'Hara) stars as the tragic title character in this adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel. *eBook & audiobook also available. * At First Sight | Echelon Studios – Drama, Romance A blind man has an operation to regain his sight at the urging of his girlfriend and must deal with the changes to his life. Starring Val Kilmer & Mira Sorvino. The Christmas Candle | Cinedigm – Drama, Holidays Based on the book by best-selling author, Max Lucado. Legend has it every twenty-five years an angel visits the village candlemaker and touches a single candle. Whoever lights the Christmas Candle will receive a miracle.** Features Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle. eBook & audiobook also available.** The Little Princess | Film Chest Media Group – Drama, Children's video A girl becomes a servant when they hear her father died. Starring Shirley Temple. eBook & audiobook also available. Night of the Living Dead | Film Chest Media Group – Horror George A. Romero's time-honored film of undead terror. A must-watch for all zombie fans. OverDrive staff favorite. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians | Film Chest Media Group – Sci-Fi, Holidays Santa Claus is kidnapped by Martians because they have no one to give presents to their children on Mars. This film will appeal to kitsch-lovers. Featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. OverDrive staff favorite.
Television Casper & Wendy's Ghostly Adventures | Echelon Studios – Animated video, Children's video Everyone's favorite ghost is back! Join Casper & Wendy in 10 ghoulishly fun animated adventures. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | MPI Media Group – Drama, Mystery Relive Holmes' most famous cases with this highly-detailed television series.
Documentary & Instructional 20,000 Days on Earth | Cinedigm – Documentary, Music An inventive, lyrical ode to creativity featuring musician and cultural icon Nick Cave. 2014 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award & Editing Award winner. 2014 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee. Bellydance Fitness for Beginners | Cerebellum Corporation – Instructional, Fitness & health Join Veena & Neena Bidasha for a wonderful introduction to the extraordinary benefits of bellydance! The Dog | Cinedigm – Documentary A documentary portrait of the late John Wojtowicz, whose attempted robbery of a Brooklyn bank to finance his male lover's sex-reassignment surgery was the real-life inspiration for the Oscar Nominated film Dog Day Afternoon. Machine Gun Preacher Documentary | Vision Films – Documentary, Drama Follows the raw story of a man who overcame a life of drugs and violence to become a rebel of hope, waging a 13 year war to free enslaved children. Marina Abramovic:The Artist is Present | Music Box Films – Documentary, Art A documentary that follows the Serbian performance artist as she prepares for a retrospective of her work at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. 2013 Peabody Award winner. 2012 Sundance Film Grand Jury Prize nominee. Click here to view the full list in Marketplace.
*Please note that title availability may vary by geographic location and platform. Michelle Ross is a Collection Development Analyst at OverDrive.  |
Training at Barnardo’s Hub Construction Skills Centre
| A few weeks ago Dave and I ran a workshop at the Hub Construction Skills Centre in Stepney Green. It was great: the young people were engaged, learned some basic computing skills and saw why it’s important to know how computers work. And that might normally have been a tweet or two from us but this workshop was a bit special… Firstly, the project was one of the first recipients of a grant from our education fund and is a partnership with Barnardo’s and UK2. The project will provide space, equipment and expertise for young people to learn and develop skills in computing and IT. It ticked all the boxes for us in terms of outreach and learning and introducing young people to the world of computing and tech. Secondly, the Hub provides training to young people for whom school is not necessarily an option. It runs after-school sessions aimed at improving attendance and encourages involvement in education and community life. It also supports those at risk of social exclusion and young mothers completing their education. This is important stuff. There’s a revolution going on in English classrooms at the moment due to the new curriculum as well as a continuing campaign in the UK to teach computing and at the Raspberry Pi foundation we’re proud to be a key part of that change. But education doesn’t just happen in schools and the school system doesn’t suit everybody. Places like the Hub have a huge part to play in vocational education and training, as well as informal education, by providing a supportive environment with access to equipment and expertise. We’re currently working with the Hub on a few projects and also on how we can provide support and training. We’ll blog about it here as the project progresses — we think that it has huge potential and could also serve as a useful model for similar organisations. As for how the workshop went — UK2 blogged about it and saved me a job. Thanks! |
Black Friday Deals List for Kindle eReaders & Fire Tablets
| As expected, there are a number of good deals to be had on Kindle ebook readers and Fire tablets this Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. The good news is the sale prices can be had online so there’s no need to wait in line at retail stores. Feel free to post more deals in […] |
75% off Popular eBooks at Google, Amazon Price-Matching on Kindle
| Google has a list of popular bestselling ebooks marked down by 75% for Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. Like usual, Amazon is price-matching most if not all of them over on the Kindle Store as well. The books are all highly-rated bestselling titles, and the prices are considerably lower than usual, so there’s no […] |
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Overdrive for Chomebooks Now Available
| Overdrive has just released their first app for Chrome OS, which also works as a standalone app for the Chrome internet browser. It was designed as a tool to primarily read eBooks that you borrow from the library. Over 35,000 libraries all over the world use Overdrive as their content distribution system of choice. When you borrow eBooks, audiobooks, music or videos from your local branch, chances are it stems from the Overdrive service. The functionality of the Chrome app is totally different, depending on if you are using the browser extension for Windows, Chrome OS, Chrome for Android and a myriad of other platforms. Thanks to a diligent young scholar over at MobileRead, here is the full list of supported features for each platform. Windows OS — Chrome Browser
Android OS — Android App
Chrome OS — Chrome Browser
Chrome OS — Chrome App
Some content is better than no content at all I guess. At least owners of the Chrome Pixel or any number of sub $200 Chromebooks can finally be able to read eBooks borrowed from the library. Overdrive for Chomebooks Now Available is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Amazon Giving Free Access to Kindle Unlimited
| Amazon has announced that it is giving away six months worth of free access to their eBook subscription platform, Kindle Unlimited. In order to qualify for this promotion you need to live in the US and purchase a new e-reader or tablet. Kindle Unlimited is billed as a Netflix for eBooks subscription system. It normally costs $10 a month and gives readers access to over 750,000 titles. Major publishers have not committed themselves to the platform yet, so its mainly populated by second rate companies and indie authors. Amazon is bundling access to Kindle Unlimited on the new Fire HD6, Fire HD7, Kindle Basic Touch and the Kindle Paperwhite. Likely, Amazon is including this range of products because they aren’t selling that well. Which is why they aren’t bundling it on the new Kindle Voyage, which continues to experience a long wait list for new orders. Amazon Giving Free Access to Kindle Unlimited is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Amazon and Barnes and Noble Reveal Black Friday Deals
| Amazon and Barnes and Noble are gearing up for one of the biggest shopping days in the US with some mighty deals. If you are looking for a new e-reader or tablet, you might want to check these out.
Barnes & Noble Announces Special, "In-Store Only" Black Friday Doorbuster on the 7-Inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK. Only $129.99 while supplies last. Customers Can Also Get 50% off Select New York Times Bestselling NOOK Books. The NOOK GlowLight is available at a permanent low price of only $99, down from $119, at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide and online at NOOK.com and BN.com. Customers will also receive a $5 starter credit towards any NOOK purchase. Barnes & Noble Members can get an even greater value with an additional 10% off NOOK GlowLight. Amazon and Barnes and Noble Reveal Black Friday Deals is a post from: Good e-Reader |
GraphicAudio Unveils New Guardians of the Galaxy Audiobook
| GraphicAudio is celebrating their ten year anniversary producing their own audiobooks in-house. The company has been pumping out a ton of content over the years and recently has gotten involved in licensing major comic book properties from major publishers such as DC. This has caught the attention of Disney owned Marvel, and a new audiobook is now available based on the Guardians of the Galaxy property, which indecently was the highest grossing Marvel movie of 2014. ROCKET RACCOON AND GROOT STEAL THE GALAXY features over 40 talented voice actors, original music, sound effects and a very special vocal performance by Groot. Filled with action and humor this audio production will captivate the whole family while driving cross country during this Holiday Season. This is not the first audiobook that Graphic has done with Marvel, but is likely the highest profile one to date. In the past they have done a few titles, including IRON MAN: EXTREMIS which was recently featured by AudioFile Magazine as a Best Audio Drama of 2014. Regular followers of the audiobook space might not have heard of Graphicaudio before, they certainly are not a household name, such as Audible. Michele Cobb mentioned “The Cutting Corporation is a small American business and was founded in 1971. Since 2004, GraphicAudio, an imprint of The Cutting Corporation has published approximately 1000 titles and 65 different series in their GraphicAudio A Movie in Your Mind audiobook entertainment format. We have in-house studios and directors, voice talent and sound designers that efficiently process the high number of hours we produce in this production value heavy format that includes sound effects and original music. In order to buy content you have to do it directly from their website and then download one of their apps for iOS or Android in order to listen to the titles on your mobile device. Graphic is actually one of the few audio producers that still sells all of their content on CD as well, and one of their big selling points is being able to listen to the books on your PC via MP3 or FLAC. GraphicAudio Unveils New Guardians of the Galaxy Audiobook is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Best E Ink eReaders 2014 Edition
| This is a quick note to mention that I’ve recently updated the Best eBook Readers page for 2014. It lists my top picks for E Ink ebook readers this year. The top choice may be a bit of a surprise to some seeing as how it wasn’t even released this calendar year. But price has […] |
Sony Developing an e Ink Smartwatch
| Sony has secretly been building their own skunk works department in Japan. 200 researchers are trying to flesh out ideas that have nothing to do with the core markets or products that Sony currently is marketing. One of them, to be released next year is a smartwatch, made entirely of e Ink Mobius. Mobius uses a TFT technology that will enable the watch to be much lighter and rugged . One of the main selling points behind this watch is that it will weigh less than 50% of an equivalent glass based TFT. One of the only consumer products on the market to use this technology was the Sony 13 inch writing Slate, that despite its 13.3 inch display weighs less than a six inch Kindle. The premise behind the new e Ink watch from Sony is that the screen and band are made entirely of e-paper. This will allow people to not only customize their watch face, which is standard fare int he world of watches, but also the wristband too. Unlike the Pebble, which actually does not use e Ink, the battery life should garner about a month of constant use. Sony Developing an e Ink Smartwatch is a post from: Good e-Reader |
PiPiano: a musical, educational add-on board
| Last week we received a surprise parcel from Mike Horne, containing a new add-on board for us to look at. Mike introduced it to us:
We wholeheartedly agree! The PiPiano uses an I2C port expander to give you thirteen buttons laid out like an octave of a piano keyboard, along with three LEDs and a piezo speaker; and as you’ll see if you watch the video, if the piezo speaker isn’t enough for you, there’s more than one way to use the PiPiano to create other sounds through speakers or headphones. Of course, all the buttons, LEDs and buzzer can be used as input or output for your other projects, and thanks to the I2C expander, the board uses only three of the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO pins – there’s an option to receive one with a stacking header so that you still have access to the rest of the pins if you have other plans for those. Back to Mike:
You’ll have noticed by now that Zach doesn’t do things by half, and we see from his campaign updates that, since launching, he’s been expanding the PiPiano website and teaching a nine-year-old how to use the board, with great success! We’ve spotted that he’ll be playing and demo-ing PiPiano at the Covent Garden Raspberry Jam this Saturday, too. This version of the board is only available via the PiPiano Indiegogo campaign. If you’d like your own, act now! |
Pinterest App Receives Makeover for Android Devices
| Those of you with a Pinterest addiction that rivals mine will be delighted to hear that the Android version of the app has received an overhaul that includes a move vibrant and intuitive user interface (iPhone users have been enjoying this major update for a few weeks now, so it’s about time). In addition to the new look and feel, loading the app is also opening faster than ever (down to about 2 seconds from the old clock time of 5.3 seconds). This is great news for anybody who opens web links inside the app as they will load nearly as quickly as in a browser tab. What this boils down to: you can learn every craft and helpful hint faster and easier than ever before. Because Google Play’s rollout feature is being used, it may be a few days before everybody is able to see the updates. If you have free time you no longer want control of, download Pinterest for Android now.
Pinterest App Receives Makeover for Android Devices is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Skype Update Lets You Multitask During Calls
| In a major update to Skype, you can continue your video call without interruption if you leave the app with picture-in-picture support. This means the person you are calling won’t know if you’ve left the app to check your email (or browse Facebook), with Skype now maintaining a clear video picture all the while (in a re-positionable window that runs on top of whatever you are doing so it remains visible on your end). Other additions in this latest package allow you to receive photos from Skype for iPhone users (and other clients), adds support for formatted text (like bold, italic, and Microsoft has been paying a lot of attention to Skype lately –adding the messaging software to their Office Online apps, giving users the chance to chat and collaborate on Word and PowerPoint documents within each native app. If you haven’t made your first call with Skype for Android, download it now for free and give it a try.
Skype Update Lets You Multitask During Calls is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Sony Cuts Back Smartphone Lineup
| It wasn’t very long ago that Samsung announced their plans to cut back their smartphone line-up –this time, it’s Sony doing the same thing. Where once it seemed like Sony was on top of the tech world and could do no wrong, now they are struggling to carve out a competitive piece of the mobile market. Reducing their smartphone lineup by as much as 30% should help return Sony to profitability, while also giving a smaller portfolio of devices to support. Unfortunately, reducing the number of devices being offered does little to compete with smartphone leaders like Apple and Samsung. On the plus side, Sony’s latest Android-powered handsets are receiving great reviews even though sales figures don’t support them. The reality is that there are plenty of devices to choose from, and a large number of users already have smartphones (and are upgrading with less frequency than in the past). Sony isn’t just scaling back smartphones –their TV business is also taking a similar hit. The only divisions left untouched are related to console gaming and their image sensor equipment (currently found in devices made by companies like Apple).
Sony Cuts Back Smartphone Lineup is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Moscow Metro Riders Get Free eBooks
| The Moscow Metro has unveiled an ambitious new plan to give free eBooks away to riders. This pilot project is only starting at a handful of subway stations and once all of the kinks have been worked out will expand to over 195. Riders will be able to get free access to Nikolai Gogol's Nose, Alexander Pushkin's Egyptian Nights, Anton Chekhov's About Love, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Mr. Prokharchin by scanning QR codes. The codes will be read on a smartphone or tablet and instantly download the book to your device. The first few stations to get this service will be Dinamo, Belorussky, and Krasnye Vorota. It will eventually spread to all of the system's 195 metro stations, and is already available on about 700 of the city's trams, trolleys, and buses. The metro system is always going to be unveiling a new WIFI system by the end of the year. This will allow users to not only download the books but also the reading apps necessary to view them. Moscow Metro Riders Get Free eBooks is a post from: Good e-Reader |
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