| Waterstones is the largest bookstore chain in the United Kingdom. The bookseller prides themselves positioning titles in the stores and online in order to assist people in discovering a brand new title. The company has gone beyond algorithms that monitor your website browsing behavior and is making active recommendations within their source code. Many young web developers often look at a websites source code by using any popular internet browser and checking out what makes it tick. The Waterstones website actually has programming recommendations built right into the <head> element. Here is what you will see if you right click on the website and click on view source. As you can see, there are names of books that have to do with programming and links where they can buy them. This obviously is meant to appeal to teenagers who want to learn more about programming for the web. Waterstones Makes e-book Recommendations via Source Code is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Friday, February 20, 2015
Waterstones Makes e-book Recommendations via Source Code
Pros and Cons of Mobile Payment Services for Indie Authors
| Indie authors need to be able to have their own point of sale systems in order to sell their books. Major conventions like the Romance Writers of America and other tradeshows don't provide any avenues for authors to sell their print or digital books. Instead, authors are now employing mobile payment systems in order to gain a higher share of the revenue and have more versatility than simply using Paypal. Self-published authors are a savvy bunch and the most successful ones are not sitting at home, hoping to sell their books online on Amazon or Kobo. Instead they are pounding the pavement, participating in book tours and doing autograph sessions. Some, are bypassing the traditional retail channel altogether and starting their own online storefront on Shopify. There are a ton of different point of sale terminals out there, everyone is promoting their own systems. When it comes to selling print and digital books, which are the best? Today, we take a look at the top platforms out there that make selling books directly to your readers simple and easy. Square Since its initial launch, Square has become one of the most widely used mobile credit card services worldwide. You will be able to recognize it instantly from its small construct in the shape of a white square that can be easily attached to a smartphone or tablet for credit card payment processing. PRO: Square is very easy to use. This is perfect for the small business owner because you won't need to invest time into training staff like you would when it comes to a POS system. The iPad and tablet version of Square even allows users to include photos of their products at the checkout screen for customers. Furthermore, users will be able to track inventory on a daily, weekly or monthly basis through an online dashboard at any time they please. All of this is working towards reducing the hassle of cash registers that are connected to large computers with POS systems. CON: Because Square aims to be efficient, there lacks a human element when it comes to user support. Besides the virtual help center, there is little way of communicating to square directly. This can prove to be rather frustrating when real-time support is needed to run your business. PayAnywhere PayAnywhere has been in business for longer than any of the other mobile credit card payment service providers. For those that find trust in companies that have proved their long-term track record, PayAnywhere may be the choice for you. PRO: Unlike Square, PayAnywhere offers users one-on-one telephone support with separate customer service and technical support departments. If you rather chat online, there is also a online help centre option on their website you can easily access. Furthermore, PayAnywhere supplies users with comprehensive tutorials on their website to demonstrate the proper usage of their service. Interestingly enough, PayAnywhere is also one of the only remaining mobile payment services that actually support the use of Blackberry devices. CON: While PayAnywhere can be connected to receipt printers or cash registers, it will only allow this for Apple devices. This means for your business to use PayAnywhere, you will have no choice but to connect it to an iPhone or iPad for use. PayPal Here PayPal Here is an extension of the current PayPal services that allows users to connect transactions to their PayPal accounts. It allows users to track sales and records both online and off and is most fit for those that already use PayPal services. PRO: Compared to the rest of the mobile credit card payment services, PayPal Here is able to accept the widest range of payment options including online invoices and payment through the PayPal app. This means your business will never pass up on a customer because you lack the payment options to facilitate the purchasing transaction. What is more is that PayPal Here does not require any detachable credit card reader in order to process transactions. All you will need is your smartphone or tablet camera to be able to accept credit and debit cards. CON: Unfortunately the PRO can sound too good to be true. As of now PayPal Here is not yet available on tablets and iPads so if you were planning on processing information on those devices, you will not be able to use PayPal Here. In time, this transition will occur and businesses will be able to facilitate face to face as well as online transactions through PayPal here. But until that occurs, PayPal service users might also have to opt for another alternative when it comes to mobile credit card payment services. Pros and Cons of Mobile Payment Services for Indie Authors is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Marvel Promotes Two for One Digital Comic Weekend
| The new Avengers movie is dropping in a couple of months and to get everyone prepared Marvel is doing a two for one digital comic weekend. It starts today and ends Monday at midnight. Everything in the Marvel online store, Marvel app and Comixology is eligible for the deal. With all of the deals to be had, what should you read? Star Wars #1-2 have been pretty good, but Darth Vader #1 has been getting rave reviews. Marvel Promotes Two for One Digital Comic Weekend is a post from: Good e-Reader |
RemoteInk Turns PocketBook eReaders Into Computer Monitors
| I came across an interesting post at MobileRead yesterday about someone who developed a program called RemoteInk that allows you to use a Pocketbook Pro or Pocketbook Touch as a computer monitor. Right now the program only works with Linux and X-Windows systems (too bad or I’d give it a try). But there are a […] |
New Editions of eHighlights are Here!
| The Collection Development team has been hard at work on the newest editions of our eHighlights catalog.
For the best of streaming video content including options from MGM, Warner Bros., Starz and more, check out movies such as "Diggers" with Paul Rudd and Sarah Paulson, "The Lookalike" starring Justin Long and Gillian Jacobs, and "The Carbon Rush" documentary featuring Daryl Hannah. The Streaming Video catalog will be updated every other month. The eHighlights Adult edition features hot titles like The Damned by Andrew Pyper, Get in Trouble by Kelly Link, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis and so much more. Each edition of eHighlights Adult catalog will include guaranteed hot titles, fiction and nonfiction eBooks and will be published monthly. For a complete list of all our catalogs, check it out here. http://partners.overdrive.com/collection-development/catalogs/ Emma Kanagaki is a Collection Development Analyst with OverDrive. |
A history of Raspberry Pi in LEGO
| There is a significant chance that this is the very best thing on the internet. Richard Hayler and his two boys have built a massive LEGO diorama tracking the history of the Raspberry Pi, from concept to Astro Pi’s visit to the ISS. The level of detail’s amazing. Here’s a group of mad scientists inventing the Pi: And here’s a primary school with its own Raspberry Pi setup, some deliveries going on in the background. Here, for some reason, are a PIrate, MOnkey, RObot and NInja hiding in some bushes. And here’s a lady in a pith helmet. There are loads more pictures and much more explanation over at Richard’s website: click here, or on any of the pictures to marvel at the enormous detail Richard and the boys have gone into. Bonus points if you can work out what the hotdog guy is all about. (I couldn’t, and I work here.) |
A look back at a record breaking year in digital reading (Infographic)
| 2014 was another record year for libraries and digital reading! Around the world users borrowed more than 136 million digital titles from OverDrive powered library and school websites. This included more than 15 million browser-based titles borrowed using OverDrive read and over 32 million audiobooks! To take a deeper look into the year that was we’ve created this great infographic to offer a visual representation of the amount of titles borrowed and what some of the most popular titles were that people checked out. Thank you to all of the users who continue to support thier public libraries 24/7 by embracing OverDrive and digital reading! Simply click the image below to see the full infographic. 
Adam Sockel is a Social Media Specialist II with OverDrive. |
Wattpad Adds Tools for Greater Engagement
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“Probably our biggest story is how quickly we continue to grow,” explained Ashleigh Gardner, Head of Content at Wattpad, in an interview with Good e-Reader. “More than 100,000 people are joining Wattpad each day now, which is more than one user per second. Our average session length is thirty minutes, which is almost unheard of on the internet, that people are spending this time engaging in reading.” This user engagement is two-fold, as a the site is the go-to location for writers who wish to post their content for others to enjoy, and as Wattpad continues to be a source of constant reading engagement for readers interested in following existing stories, discovering new content and new writers, and generally contributing to the climate of writer-reader relationships. While Wattpad has been likened in the past to becoming the new “slush pile” due to the high number of stories and authors that have been picked up by traditional publishers and have even reached the top of the bestseller lists in several countries, one of the lesser known innovations is the amount of Wattpad content that has been adapted for film, including serialized television shows and feature-length films, particularly in foreign markets. “Wattpad has been adapted to many languages,” continued Gardner, speaking of the users who have posted content in more than fifty different languages. “All we do is adapt the buttons and the language of the platform itself, and it’s our users who begin to share stories in that language.” One of the most exciting new features that Wattpad recently introduced is its Writer Analytics Dashboard that provides an in-depth look at who is engaging with writers’ stories. The information includes:
This type of data on writers’ work helps the authors in terms of knowing and connecting with their audiences, as well as providing them with an avenue to determine the course of further writing efforts.
Wattpad Adds Tools for Greater Engagement is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Contest: Win Two e-Readers by Energy Sistem
| Over the course of the last few weeks Good e-Reader has reviewed two new e-readers by the Spanish company Energy Sistem. The PRO and SLIM reflect the latest entrants into their electronics portfolio and the devices read EPUB, MOBI and PDF. Today, we are not only giving both e-readers away, but also their official cases too! All of the contests we run on Good e-Reader last about two weeks, and entering is simple. All you need to do is click on the video below, LIKE the video, subscribe to our YouTube channel and drop a comment on the video, letting us know that you did it. Every month we giveaway new e-readers, tablets, cases and cool e-paper accessories, so stay tuned for more of the worldwide phenomenon that is Good e-Reader!
Contest: Win Two e-Readers by Energy Sistem is a post from: Good e-Reader |
eBook DRM: Providing Protection or Preventing Profits?
| Have you ever purchased an e-book, but could only use it on a single device or app? That's because digital rights management (DRM) is preventing you from moving it to other devices. By definition, DRM is any technology that sellers build into an electronic product or service to limit the range of the file's uses after purchase. DRM is designed to prevent customers from using digital technology beyond what a bookseller or mobile device manufacturer intended. Why is DRM used? Considering the amount of time and money authors and publishers invest in a new book, it's no surprise that they would want to protect their work from piracy. DRM systems can place a wide range of restrictions on content purchased legally, such as blocking the conversion of e-books into different formats and imposing limitations on e-book sharing with multiple users and different devices. How does DRM affect customer experience? Since the arrival of e-books, almost all publishers require e-book sellers to apply DRM to every e-book sold. This means that each e-book you download has some sort of limitation on how you read it. DRM prevents copying, printing and sharing by tying each e-book file sold to a specific user's account and limiting the devices that support it. While DRM offers protection for the publisher, it has its drawbacks for the customer. DRM can keep consumers from moving books from device to device. DRM may also keep a customer from buying an e-book at one store and downloading it on another store's proprietary reader or app. A great example of this situation is how e-books bought from Amazon cannot be downloaded on Barnes and Noble's Nook reader and confirms why DRM is an imperfect solution to protecting e-books and other files. What happens when publishers remove DRM? Remember when people downloaded mp3s illegally on Napster? In the early days of digital music, downloading mp3s illegally was often the only viable solution to accessing music across various devices because of strict DRM restrictions and regulations. When Apple, one of the first major players in the market, used DRM with its iTunes files, a frenzy of negative feedback from its customers resulted. In response, Apple removed DRM in 2009 and reverted to an open file approach, which meant legitimate users could not only purchase music from Apple, but also play that music on multiple devices. Since then, iTunes has become the largest and most profitable music store in the world. In a recent study within the music industry via ARS Technica, researchers found that removing the DRM restrictions on downloads not only enabled search and sharing among consumers, it also led to increased sales of more obscure music customers might have otherwise bypassed. With the prominence of DRM-free music, incentives for "pirates" to steal music are becoming a thing of the past. Today, the publishing industry is facing the same issues with e-books as the music industry did with music downloads. With increasing demand for mobile and e-book content, major publishers have come to depend on e-books as an important stream of revenue, contributing significantly to their bottom line. To calm the fear of potential rampant piracy, publishers of e-books are opting for the more conservative DRM approach to protect their investments and the work of writers, but that comes with some risk to customer satisfaction. Striking a balance between keeping customers happy and protecting e-books Booksellers currently face the challenge of keeping the content protected, while also keeping customers happy. While some willingly adhere to a strict DRM approach, other booksellers reject the notion that limiting titles is the best solution to e-book piracy. The restrictive environment that DRM creates not only limits cross-compatibility, it also tends to alienate end-users who, out of frustration, search for alternatives, such as illegal "stripping." Stripping is an often crude way to remove DRM limitations on a protected file. This practice is illegal, although fairly easy to accomplish. The simplicity of stripping reduces DRM as a minor deterrent. Trying to lock customers into a single device or punishing them for the actions of others deprives customers of the flexibility they desire. Treating customers with respect and catering to their needs means working to create compatibility between platforms and expanding options to all e-readers. Are there other options to DRM? Luckily, DRM is not the only solution to e-book theft. For example, distributors can add a digital watermark containing the customer's name, email address and other information to identify the purchaser. This would embed personal and IP location information into the e-book at the time of purchase, tying that copy back to its owner. Because there isn't a traditional DRM security layer on the file, customers would be able to read these watermarked e-books across multiple platforms, removing the limitations of reading e-books on different devices. Customers would also have the ability to download e-books from the bookseller of their choice, minimizing Amazon's stronghold over the market. Customers could buy e-books from Barnes and Noble, or smaller bookstores, and easily add them to their Kindle's library. New trends in streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora are changing the way users access music and how musicians are compensated. These services are removing the risk of illegal downloads for music. Eventually, similar approaches will make their way to e-publishing. Once that happens, the need for illegal downloads will virtually disappear. In order to satisfy the needs of the publishers and the consumers, today's e-book industry leaders should be searching for new alternatives like watermarking. In addition, publishers need to consider the possibility that the proprietary nature of DRM may be the problem rather than the solution, causing more harm than good. One of the best ways to avoid boxing customers into a maze of restrictions is to provide several alternatives that recognize the reality of digital life. Once booksellers and publishers decide to stop policing infringement, they'll have more time, energy and creativity to build better, more innovative service to customers and develop a positively memorable experience for paying customers. eBook DRM: Providing Protection or Preventing Profits? is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Anime Adaption for Akagami no Shirayuki-hime
| There are certain times of year that tend to gather multiple anime releases, and July is one of them. This year, news of July 2015’s anime lineup has been given a start by shojo manga Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. Known in English as Red-Haired Princes Snow White, the manga began in 2006. It’s a fantasy romance, telling the story of Shirayuki (Snow White), a medicine woman whose red hair is her standout feature. Because of her hair, she is ordered to become the Prince’s concubine. Not wanting that life for herself, Shirayuki cuts her hair and runs away to the neighbouring kingdom of Clarines. On her way, she meets Zen, the Prince of Clarines, and saves his life after he eats a poisoned apple. After this encounter, Shirayuki decides to join Zen’s court as the royal pharmacist. The series is being helmed by Studio Bones, the company behind Noragami and Fullmetal Alchemist. Although the manga has been around for some time, and has received moderate popularity, Bones is most likely choosing to animate the series now due to the boost of positivity for the fantasy genre. With shows like Sword Art Online, fantasy anime is gaining a comeback after not having much on the radar in past years. If the adaption of Shirayuki is well-received, it could further boost demand for fantasy anime. Moreover, it may lead to the manga, and subsequently the anime, being licensed for an English release. There are a lot of positives on the horizon for Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. Anime Adaption for Akagami no Shirayuki-hime is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Thursday, February 19, 2015
YouTube Launching Kid-Friendly Video App February 23
| I’ve been begging for this app since my kids picked up their first tablets –people of all ages seem to love YouTube, but until now it really wasn’t safe for little ones to watch without strict supervision. It’s true that you could mark a video as having adult content, but that is based on user judgement (my 6 year old daughter loves watching videos about makeup and hairstyles, which quickly led to ‘related videos’ that included extreme body piercing and modifications… not something she should be watching just yet). Thankfully, it appears that Google heard our cries and is launching a child-friendly version of their video service next Monday. As you would expect, the content in the kids app will be carefully moderated and curated using dedicated playlists and channels (with initial videos provided by partners like Jim Henson TV, DreamWorks, National Geographic, and a selection of popular YouTubers). Other features of the app will get parents equally excited, including a timer that can limit the amount of time spent during each viewing session and a toggle for muting/un-muting video sounds. The good news is that the initial release will be for Android users. To balance that, the bad news is that it will only be available in the U.S. for now.
YouTube Launching Kid-Friendly Video App February 23 is a post from: Good e-Reader |
HTC Tries to Hype Upcoming March 1 Product Launch
| Try as they might, nobody hypes a product launch like Apple… which is amazing because they pretty much let the tech community do it for them. The problem with this formula is that is it very difficult to duplicate, even for tech giants like HTC –though credit where it is due, a fairly clever Tweet this week has people talking at least a little bit. Apparently something huge is coming to us on March 1 (which is kind of a silly teaser when they have already confirmed that the HTC One M9 is the product of the day). Those in the know figure the reference to ‘huge’ in the tweet isn’t so much referring to the gravity of their upcoming launch, but rather hints that there will be a larger-sized version of the HTC One M9; a device that would give consumers two size options while providing a (potentially) competitive entry into the phablet-device market. The sequel to the popular HTC One M8 has big shoes to fill, but if the rumours can be believed, that shouldn’t be much of a problem (which is especially important when it is likely to come with an off-contract price between $750-$920USD, placing it directly in competition with the best from Apple and Samsung). While nothing is certain, the new devices should sport 3GB of RAM, start at 32GB of internal storage, and boast a 20MP rear camera paired with a 13MP front camera capable of taking 4K video –the only unknown seems to be exact processor details, though the one consistent report says we can look forward to a 1.9GHz octa-core.
HTC Tries to Hype Upcoming March 1 Product Launch is a post from: Good e-Reader |
There is a Lack of Meaningful Writing Grants
| People with aspirations to pen their first novel often have to juggle their family life, job and even live off of their savings to follow their dream. Writing an e-book or feature length novel is an arduous task and there isn’t many avenues to solicit funding. The average publishing advance from major company for a first time author is $10,000. Government grants, although plentiful are highly competitive and don’t provide a livable income. The video game industry relies on indie developers to move game design forward. Over the years we have had amazing titles such as Day Z, Minecraft, Flower and Journey win tons of awards and reap in millions of dollars. Epic, the company behind the Unreal Engine has just launched a new grant program. They know development can be fueled by creativity and determination alone, finishing and releasing a commercial project often requires money. The company has made a fund that totals $5,000,000 to provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to select projects being built with and around Unreal Engine 4. Any project that has reached the "working prototype" stage of development is eligible for nomination, and all nominations will be considered based on merit. The Unreal grant requires no revenue sharing or splitting the profits, unlike the traditional publishing industry. The Intellectual property and international rights belong to the developers. Epic sees the more developers using their engine, the more people that will gravitate to their platform, its win win. Indie authors often use specialized tools to convert their e-book from one format to another or utilize their favorite writing program to pen their novel. None of these companies provide grants, ditto with companies that piggyback an authors sales, such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Self-published authors have few options if they have practical writing experience and want to get a grant. There are a number of organizations in the US that have programs for men, women and Native Americans. The problem, is that most of the time you have to be a paid member, with no guarantee that you will actually get a cash disbursement. The Arts Council of Canada is one of few choices to get a grant, but the application process is daunting and only a few people once a year are approved. The average cash disbursement is only $5,000, which certainly does not pay the bills for any length of time. I guess the big program with grants is that they don’t provide a livable income for the duration of your research, writing, cover art design, marketing and editing. There is a Lack of Meaningful Writing Grants is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Kobo Unveils Digital Writing Contest
| Kobo has just unveiled a new literary prize to celebrate the digital works by Canadian authors. The annual award is created for debut authors in three categories: Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, Mystery and Non-Fiction. Each winning author will be awarded a $10,000 CAD cash prize as well as promotional, marketing, and communications support; winners will be announced in June. The reason for focusing on debut authors? "In the world of digital sales, 'new' is a hard road to travel," said Michael Tamblyn, President and Chief Content Officer, Kobo. "In the online world, sales history, bestseller ranking and click-through rates equal visibility and discoverability, and breaking through with a first book can be the most difficult step. This award was created to support debut Canadian authors by helping kick-start their careers not only with a monetary prize, but also through marketing and sales support." Starting today and until March 31, debut books published in 2014 by Canadian residents can be submitted in one of three categories: Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Genre Fiction. Submissions can be made by publishers or directly by authors. A winning book from each category will be chosen through a multi-pronged judging process led by top Canadian authors – Charlotte Gray for Non-Fiction; Miriam Toews for Literary Fiction; and Ian Hamilton for Genre Fiction (Mystery), advisors who can help shape new writers' careers by imparting knowledge gained through their varied experiences within the industry. Winners will also have access to key Kobo team members as part of the Meet the Experts element of the award program. This initiative will focus on providing advice and guidance on best practices for success in the world of publishing. "We wanted to try something a bit different in a literary award. Our idea was to create something that would help build a career and not just be a cheque and a sticker on the cover, hence the combination of prize and promotional support. We also wanted to create a linkage between new and established, allowing a respected and beloved author a chance to bring a debut writer to the reading public. And in doing so, it gives us the opportunity to celebrate both the new author and the established one together, hopefully finding new audiences for both," said Tamblyn. "And finally, we wanted to make sure that genre fiction, literary fiction and non-fiction all got equal treatment. Each category has its own audience of passionate Canadian readers looking for something new." "It has never been more important to promote the role that the written word plays in our daily lives, and it has never been more important to celebrate and support Canadian writers and writing. While we sell books all over the world, we love that we can shine a light on the amazing talent right here in Canada." What are the Details? Eligibility: The award is eligible to Canadian residents who have published debut books during the 2014 calendar year in the categories of Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction (Mystery this year; a different genre will be highlighted each year), or Non-Fiction. All submitted books must be available at Kobo.com. Nomination process: Publishers and authors (traditionally published and self-published) can submit debut books published in 2014 at www.kobo.com/emergingwriter. Selection: The author judges will select winners from a shortlist created by Kobo booksellers based on a combination of literary merit and reader engagement – completion rates, reviews, and ratings will factor into the final decision. Find out more about the official rules HERE. Who are the Judges? Charlotte Gray – Author Judge – Kobo Emerging Writer Prize – Non-Fiction Charlotte Gray is author of nine acclaimed books of literary non-fiction. Born in Sheffield, England, she came to Canada in 1979 and worked as a political commentator, book reviewer and magazine columnist before she turned to biography and popular history. Charlotte’s most recent book is The Massey Murder: A Maid, Her Master and The Trial that Shocked a Country. It won the Toronto Book Award and the Toronto Heritage Book Award, and was long-listed for the B.C. Non-fiction Award, and shortlisted for the Charles Taylor Award, the Ottawa Award for Non-Fiction and the Evergreen Award. An adaptation of her 2010 bestseller Gold Diggers, Striking It Rich in the Klondike was broadcast as a television miniseries on the US Discovery Channel, under the title Klondike. Her previous seven books, which include Reluctant Genius, Sisters in the Wilderness, Flint & Feather, and A Museum Called Canada, were all bestsellers. Charlotte appears regularly on radio and television as a political and cultural commentator. She was a celebrity panelist, championing Jane Urquhart's novel Away, in CBC Radio's annual battle of the books, Canada Reads. In 2004 she was the advocate for Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, for the CBC series: The Greatest Canadian. She has been a judge for several of Canada's most prestigious literary prizes, including the Giller Prize for Fiction, the Charles Taylor Prize for Non-fiction and the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing. In 2014, she was short-listed as “Author of the Year” by the Canadian Booksellers Association. An Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of History at Carleton University, Charlotte is the 2003 Recipient of the Pierre Berton Award for distinguished achievement in popularizing Canadian history. She is former chair of the board of Canada's National History Society, and sits on the boards of the Ottawa International Authors Festival, the Art Canada Institute/Institut de l'Art Canadien, and the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Ottawa. Charlotte is a member of the Order of Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Miriam Toews – Author Judge – Kobo Emerging Writer Prize – Literary Fiction Miriam Toews is the author of five previous bestselling novels: Summer of My Amazing Luck, A Boy of Good Breeding, A Complicated Kindness (Canada Reads 2006, Canada Reads Canadian Bestseller of the Decade 2010), The Flying Troutmans, and Irma Voth, and one work of non-fiction, Swing Low: A Life. She is a winner of the Governor General's Award for Fiction, the Libris Award for Fiction Book of the Year, the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, and the Writers Trust Marian Engel/Timothy Findley Award. Her most recent novel, All My Puny Sorrows, won the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize, was a Scotiabank Giller Prize finalist. She lives in Toronto. Ian Hamilton – Author Judge – Kobo Emerging Writer Prize – Fiction (Mystery) Ian Hamilton is the author of the wildly popular and bestselling Ava Lee novels, which will be adapted for television by CBC. The first book in the series, The Water Rat of Wanchai, was the winner of multiple awards including the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel, a Toronto Star Top 5 Fiction Book of the Year, and a Quill & Quire Top 5 Fiction Book of the Year. The Disciple of Las Vegas was a finalist for the Barry Award for Best Original Trade Paperback, and The Wild Beasts of Wuhan was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Mystery. Most recently, The Two Sisters of Borneo was an instant Canadian bestseller and, in July 2014, BBC included Ian Hamilton on their list of "crime writer[s] to read now." Kobo Unveils Digital Writing Contest is a post from: Good e-Reader |
New “Aquarion” series to be Unveiled
| Satelight, a Tokyo-based anime production company has published a press release about The Anime Japan 2015 event to be held at Tokyo Big Sight on March 20-22. They will be joining the even with it’s parent company, Sankyo to announce the 10th anniversary project for the Aquarion anime franchise which includes a new anime series. Their booth will display Sankyo’s Pachinko machines, introduce anime titles, sell related merchandice and hold events with staff The first anime series Sousei no Aquarion was aired for 26 episodes in Japan from April to September 2005, followed by a two episode OVA in 2007. The sequel anime Aquarion Evol was also aired for 26 episodes from January to June 2012. As no other news has been released as of yet, we will just have to wait patiently for the Anime Japan 2015 for more information! New “Aquarion” series to be Unveiled is a post from: Good e-Reader |
How to Enable Text-to-Speech on iPad & iPhone for Kindle, iBooks, etc
| Last week I posted a text-to-speech review for Kindle devices and a reader left a tip about how to enable text-to-speech for Kindle ebooks using an iPad or iPhone. The iOS Kindle app doesn’t support TTS normally but you can use a screen reading accessibility feature on iOS devices running iOS 8 and newer to […] |
New Industry Takes to Digital Magazine Apps
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A new segment has emerged in digital magazine apps, and that’s the transportation industry, notably with the launch of a new in-house digital magazine from Miami International Airport (MIA). Aptly named MIA Connections and launched in conjunction with the Miami Herald‘s digital publishing division, this free magazine app will provide travelers with news, updates, historical information, cultural happenings, and more. It can be accessed for free from the airport’s wifi connection, which offers access to limited websites (most of which are travel-related) without a connection charge or provides an extended internet connection for a fee. The first edition of the magazine-which is available in both English and Spanish, contains an in-depth look at the art that is on display in the airport, along with information on the retailers and restaurants located inside the airport. Airports and other transportation hubs are quickly realizing that the travel experience extends beyond the airport, but that the overall impression of the city starts the moment passengers arrive in the airport, whether its for arrivals or departures. While travelers were once viewed as a captive audience–after all, how else are you going to fly to Miami if you don’t pass through that airport–there’s been a significant shift in the way travelers are catered to. This is largely due to influences from not only the hospitality industry, but also the convention planning sector and the startup environment. As cities look for ways to lure both major conferences and new businesses to their regions, the airports, train stations, and bus stations have become part of the enticing equation.
New Industry Takes to Digital Magazine Apps is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Reviewing the latest Zuckerbook: Gang Leader for a Day
| We are now in the third installment in the Mark Zuckerberg list of Zuckerbooks, and the overall theme of getting the world to read books that will open their eyes to new ideas and ways that the world works persists. The book Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh fits into this theme perfectly, and while it shares some themes with the last book, as a reader, it was nice to have something a bit (ok, a lot) shorter with a narrative feel. I read the first 100 pages of this book in one, quick sitting, completely engrossed. This book proves old adage of the truth being stranger than fiction. Venkatesh tells his own story as a brand new Sociology grad student at the University of Chicago in the mid to late 1990s. His field is one that requires in-depth studies of human existence, and he chooses to study the African American populations in the housing projects just outside the realm of the university, though they might as well be on a different planet for how similar they are to each other. He begins his study by awkwardly stumbling into the Robert Taylor Homes with an ill-conceived survey for the residents, and is held there by local Black Kings (BKs) gang members as they try to figure out which rival gang he might be from and what his motives are in visiting them (mostly because they cannot conceive that he would be so naïve as to wander into unfamiliar gang territories). It is during this time that he is introduced to JT, the leader of the local branch of the BKs, and the man who would be his guide into how not only how gang members live, but also those in the Robert Taylor Homes whose lives are intertwined with the BKs. By getting to know the leader of a gang, Venkatesh hopes that he will be able to learn more about the economic structure which gangs use to operate, viewing them as a business model. It is this desire to know the structure and inner workings of the BKs that leads him to eventually be "gang leader" for a day (hence the title), and spend the day with JT and his associates as they go about a normal workday. It is this research that made Venkatesh stand out among his peers, and get him a featured spot in the book Freakonomics later in his career. It is a hidden side of gang life, and fans of shows like The Wire will appreciate the many different layers of the BKs that we are shown. We are presented a world of drugs, violence, and desperation, as Venkatesh writes that all are "hustlers", himself included. I appreciated Venkatesh's battle with himself to remain an impartial observer of their actions. The language is rough and uncensored, and anyone who is sensitive to such things would be advised to avoid reading. Regardless, we are given a glimpse into the end of the Robert Taylor Homes and into the lives of the residents in a way that few have been before, all because Venkatesh won the trust of those around him by genuinely caring about them and being interested in their lives. This is an important, empathetic read for all.
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The Raspberry Pi Guy interviews Eben and Gordon
| On Monday, Matt Timmons-Brown, The Raspberry Pi Guy, took a day out from revising for his GCSEs to come and do some video interviews with Eben and Gordon. We really enjoy working with Matt; he asks difficult questions, and I think that many of you will find this interview particularly interesting, as Eben talks about plans for open-sourcing the Pi’s graphics stack, what’s going on with the display board, what’s up with Windows 10, and much more. Thanks Matt – come back to Pi Towers when your exams are over! (Next time, we want more Gordon!) |