| The Kobo Aura and Kobo Glo HD both have an illuminated screen. This allows you to read in the dark or other low-light conditions. The source of “comfortlight” as Kobo likes to call it is 5 LED lights on the bottom of the bezel that project light upwards. Today, we give you a sense on how these two e-readers perform. Both of these e-readers have innovative ways to control the brightness of the screen. The Kobo Aura allows you to drag two fingers down on the center of the screen to adjust the minimum and maximum brightness levels. The Glo HD on the other hand recognizes a single finger dragging down on the left-hand side to adjust the brightness. These two things are certainly easier than constantly having to access the light icon on the settings menu.
Kobo Aura VS Kobo Glo HD Comfortlight Test is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Friday, April 24, 2015
Kobo Aura VS Kobo Glo HD Comfortlight Test
Kobo Glo HD Reviews Roundup (Videos)
| Since Kobo has little interest in the US market, I won’t be able to post a hands-on review of the new Kobo Glo HD, I wanted to up together a roundup of reviews from some of the European ebook reader websites that have already posted them. These reviews aren’t in English but you can use […] |
The-eBook-Reader Won’t Be Reviewing the Kobo Glo HD
| This is just a quick note to mention that I won’t be posting a dedicated hands-on review of the Kobo Aura HD on The-eBook-Reader.com. I’ve posted reviews, video walkthroughs, tutorials, and comparisons of all the different Kobo ebook readers released up until now, but the Kobo Glo HD is where that ends. Kobo apparently has […] |
OpenBooks Lets You Download eBooks Then Pay What You Want After Reading
| If you are tired of paying high prices for ebooks that you later find out aren’t worth the time to read, then OpenBooks.com might be an alternative worth looking into. OpenBooks is an independent ebook store that lets readers download ebooks for free without commitments, and then you decide how much you want to pay […] |
New Kindle Direct Publishing Dashboard to Help Indie Authors
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Hopefully the newly launched KDP dashboard–albeit possibly temporary, per a statement on the dashboard itself–won’t be quite so surprising to authors, although it will certainly take a little getting used to. Amazon’s dashboard now features a more streamlined, white space look, with a lot of the info that authors need tucked away behind clickable buttons. The status of each book (ie, Live, Draft, or unpublished) is prominently stated next to the title, along with the book’s publication date. Right off the bat, the first complaint about the new look is that this is information that authors don’t need, at least not in the way that it’s displayed. A book that was once live but has now been taken down, for example, won’t come as a surprise to the author who removed it from Amazon’s shelves, so why dedicate so much of the screen to informing an author that his book is available for purchase? Isn’t that why he’s checking his sales dashboard in the first place? And why does an indie author need the publication date of his own book, especially since it can be called up right from the Amazon sales page for that title? Another key change that can be confusing is the right-hand buttons that offer different options, depending on the KDP Select status of the book. If a title is enrolled in Amazon’s exclusive program, the button to the right says “Promote and advertise,” but if the book is not enrolled, the button says, “Edit book details.” Authors who are used to seeing a very prominent indicator of where to take advantage of KDP Select opportunities may be confused about “promoting and advertising,” and may also wonder if they no longer have the option to edit anything about their title if it’s enrolled in Select. Finally, there is a comparatively tiny box at the end of the book’s details box that simply contains three dots. It’s now a recognizable icon for the “More” option, but knowing that a lot of authors have come at self-publishing rather late in the game means that many of them won’t think to look for some really crucial options hidden away in that box. Overall, the look of the dashboard is “cleaner,” but it may not achieve the goal that Amazon is looking for. Even more confusing is the box at the top of the dashboard that informs authors this is only a test model for the new dashboard. It states, “Welcome to your new Bookshelf!We’re testing an improved Bookshelf and hope you enjoy the new look. As we test, you may see this Bookshelf or the earlier version.” That type of phrasing usually indicates you can click a button to see the older version of the dashboard or website, but that’s not the case here. Even more ambiguously, authors might see the new version or they might see the old version, depending on what Amazon is doing that day. Once the bugs are worked out and authors become used to this new format, this will all surely become a non-issue. In the meantime, authors would do well to work through the new format and get used to it so that when need arises for a sudden or immediate change, they’re well versed in how their own dashboards work.
New Kindle Direct Publishing Dashboard to Help Indie Authors is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Plotter made from scrap computer parts
| Our old friend HomoFaciens (who has the best voice of any Raspberry Pi user we’ve met) has another fantastic piece of work to share. He’s recycled old optical drives for their stepper motors, and made a tiny plotter, controlled over WiFi, from those motors, a servo, four H-bridges and a Raspberry Pi. HF has made a full writeup, including all the source code you’ll need, available at his website. As always, he’s also made the whole video and writeup available in German. HomoFaciens’ website is one of those bits of the internet you’ll find yourself wandering around for ages if you’re even slightly interested in this sort of thing. He’s got some fascinating stuff on there; I heartily recommend giving one of his camera-equipped robots a spin via the web interface they’re hooked up to. (No prizes for guessing which is my favourite.) If you decide to make your own plotter, be aware that not all old optical drives have stepper motors – HomoFaciens’ hit rate was about 50% when he started pulling them apart. |
Books for dog lovers
| We all know librarians love them some cats, but I have a confession: I'm a total dog person! The first book I ever checked out from the library was The Poky Little Puppy. Growing up, we always had dogs and they were treated as family (actually, they Dog Shaming by Pascale Lemire – Based on the popular blog, this book lets us laugh at the embarrassing, shameful, and gross things our beloved fuzz butts sometimes put us through (like eating the tv remote and two replacement remotes). I Could Chew on This by Francesco Mariculiano – If your dog had opposable thumbs and could write poetry, this book would be the result. Shiloh – A young boy rescues a beagle from an abusive owner in this touching tale. Bonus: this book is set in my home state! Montani Semper Liberi! Underwater Puppies by Seth Casteel – This collection of photos featuring submerged puppies will kill you by overload of cuteness. Title availability may vary across platforms and regions. Michelle Ross is a Collection Development Analyst at OverDrive and is the proud owner of the most adorable dog in the world.
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Thursday, April 23, 2015
Kindle Voyage and Kobo Glo HD Nighttime Reading Test
| The Kobo Glo HD and Amazon Kindle Voyage both of front-lit display screens. Five LED lights are on the bottom of the bezel and project light upwards. Today, we compare these two e-readers side by side to definitely answer the question, which one is better. The Amazon Kindle Voyage has an ambient light sensor that will automatically adjust the brightness of the screen, depending on your environment. Under the shade of a tree, or a dimly lit space, this works very well. In complete darkness though, such as a bedroom with all of the lights turned off, the screen becomes too dark to read effectively. Of course you can manually adjust it to your preference using the slider bar. The Kobo Glo HD does not have a light sensor but they do have a very novel feature. You can drag your finger down on the left side of the screen to turn the light on or off, and adjust the different levels of brightness. Alternatively you can access the main slider bar from the settings menu. When both e-readers are at 100% brightness it is very clear from our tests that the Kindle has a background that is pure white. This makes the black font really standout. The Glo HD on the other hand has a cloudy gray background. In the video below, we demonstrate all of the light ranges so you can get a sense on how they compare against each other. Whether you are in the Amazon or Kobo camp, or just buying an e-reader for the best time, reading in the dark is inevitable.
Kindle Voyage and Kobo Glo HD Nighttime Reading Test is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Reese Witherspoon to Narrate Go Set a Watchman Audiobook
 NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 10: Actress Reese Witherspoon attends the Great American Songbook event honoring Bryan Lourd at Alice Tully Hall on February 10, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Lincoln Center) Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon has committed herself to narrating the upcoming Harper Lee audiobook, Go Set a Watchman. "As a Southerner, it is an honor and a privilege to give voice to the Southern characters who inspired by childhood love of reading, Scout and Atticus Finch," said Witherspoon, who won the best actress Oscar for the role of June Carter in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. "I am eager for readers to be transported to a pivotal time in American history in the manner that only Harper Lee's gorgeous prose can deliver," she told USA Today. Over the course of the last five years, audiobooks have become big business for publishers. World War Z hired 21 different voice actors, such as Simon Pegg, Common and Martin Scorsese. The title rode star power in order to be one of the bestselling audiobooks of all time. Matthew Thornton explained a bit on how Audible embraces celebrities in order to sell more audiobooks."One of the ways we've worked to improve the overall customer experience of listening to audiobooks is in elevating the quality of audiobook performance—embracing A-List celebrities (among those who've recorded for Audible are Colin Firth, Dustin Hoffman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kate Winslet and Susan Sarandon) as well as up-and-coming young actors at Juilliard, Yale, Stella Adler and other acting schools where Audible offers narration workshops. We've had great success with celebrity-narrated projects like the Gyllenhaal-narrated The Great Gatsby, Ben Stiller performing The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. As importantly, high-profile narrators raise the visibility of these terrific listening experiences—something we liken to "theater in your ear"—and raise the visibility of this burgeoning art form." Reese Witherspoon to Narrate Go Set a Watchman Audiobook is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Publishers Target e-book Pirates
| The International Publishers Association is taking e-book piracy seriously and has started to target websites offering free downloads. A series of websites have been targeted that have a massive collection of pirated content from 16,000 different publishers. The IPA has successfully won a judgement for $37 million dollars against Avaxhome and Avaxsearch which illegally provided access to digital copies of millions of books, as well films, music, games and other copyrighted content. The defendants acknowledged the suit but did not contest the case against them. Jens Bammel, secretary of the International Publishers Association (IPA), said: “Online piracy is a massive, global problem, posing a significant threat to authors, artists, musicians, producers and publishers. Sites like these deprive creative artists of their livelihoods, destroying jobs and culture. The IPA and its members supported this lawsuit to highlight the scale of international online piracy and the dangers it represents." The entire publishing industry brought in close to 12 billion dollars in 2012. Sales of eBooks reached $3 billion at the end of 2012, up from $68 million in 2008. Industry experts expect that by 2017, digital will be worth $8.2 billion. This is big money and pirates are starting to capitalize on the demand for free books by leverage advertising networks to rake in millions of dollars a year. Publishers Target e-book Pirates is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Lettuce Turnip the Beet on Gardening Books!
 SPRINGTIME HAS ARRIVED! That means planting season is nearly here for gardeners. Soon gardens will be bursting with basil, overrun by hidden zucchini, and smelling like summer. But before you begin, take a look at these helpful books to help you plan, decorate, and grow your garden. The Edible Balcony: Growing fresh produce in small spaces by Alex Mitchell – A companion to the urban gardener or those with little outdoor space for planting. This book discusses the right plants to use according to your space and how to maximize the impact of your plants. Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte – This is a classic gardening book and it is super cool! It's all about what plants do well together. For example, having problems with bugs in your tomatoes? Basil is a natural bug repellent so plant it beside your tomatoes for mosquito and fly free fruit. Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart – Stewart's popular book about sinister plants and their dirty deeds is a delightful read for anyone wanting to learn what plants to avoid, some famous lore, or histories of dangerous dealings with poisonous plants. Gardening Lab for Kids by Renata Fossen Brown – Don't forget about your kids! Get them outside and playing in the dirt while also learning about how to make, maintain, and harvest their own garden. This book has many more fun activities revolving around nature as well. Fairy Gardening 101 by Fiona McDonald – The ever popular miniature gardens made for fairies are a delightful craft for adults and children alike! The Flower Gardener's Bible by Joseph De Sciose, Lewis Hill, Nancy Hill – Want to add color and beauty to your garden? Use this book as a reference point for all your flower needs. Take a look at other great garden reads here! Titles may have limited regional or platform availability. Check OverDrive Marketplace to find what is available for you.
Kristin Milks is a Collection Development Analyst with OverDrive  |
Stream PC games to your TV
| Why spend hundreds of quid on a Steam Machine when you can do exactly the same thing with a humble Raspberry Pi? (The B+ is available for $25, which is about £16, at RS Components at the moment, if you’re really on a budget.) Here are the Possibly Unsafe guys to walk you through setup. I’ve swiped the instructions below from their YouTube channel:
Possibly Unsafe’s a rather brilliant channel; I’m making their homemade Sriracha chilli sauce just as soon as I can get my hands on enough habaneros. You can support them via their Patreon if you like the things they do. |
OHDELA students become eBook explorers & boost digital circulation
| Recently, I attended an open house event for OHDELA (Ohio Distance and Electronic Learning Academy), along with a few colleagues. At the event, parents and students met their teachers, learned about a variety of academic resources offered by the school, and also participated in a "scavenger hunt" for OHDELA's OverDrive digital library. Students that completed the interactive worksheet, along with other activities at the open house, were entered to win a Kindle eReader.
Circulation jumped over 500% from the previous month after their event and usage of the digital library has continued to show steady growth. Some other event highlights include: • Teachers showing students how to search for content by his or her Lexile level. OHDELA used OverDrive's Simple Login to allow a group of students to log in to their School Digital Library and access OverDrive Read eBooks using one easy to remember User ID. Titles borrowed with a Simple Login are returned after 2 hours, thus making it the perfect resource for open house events, training, or short-term usage of digital content in the classroom. You can host an event like this, too! eBook Exploration handouts are now available to download in the Marketing & Outreach section of the Partner Portal. Look for this new activity idea in the Best of K-12 Marketing Materials folder and under Programming & Events. Are you interested in learning more about OverDrive Simple Login for your school? Check out the OverDrive Simple Login PDF in the "Best of K-12 Marketing Materials" folder and contact your Account Specialist today for more information. Melissa Higey is an Account Specialist on the School Partner Services team at OverDrive.  |
Amazon Destinations Takes on the Travel Industry
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In the past, Amazon’s travel offers relied on “flash” deals, meaning it was more like a warehouse for hotels to dump unused hotel rooms and try to spin a buck out of it. These deals enticed the last-minute traveler, but didn’t really have any focus. It was more like a one-time discount would pop across the customer’s screen, and if he happened to have time to go out of town that weekend, everybody would benefit. Amazon Destinations is trying to make that effort a little more focused and mindful of consumers’ planning ability. One of the chief differences between this type of travel search and some of the more well-known names in the industry is the “near you” aspect to it. Amazon Destinations isn’t the site for you if you’re trying to book a trip to Europe next fall; it’s more like a site that wants to stay on your mobile phone so you can book a last minute fun trip in your state or region. It would be great if Amazon could go back to its roots and somehow connect its new travel focus with the lagging travel book industry, focusing on some of the more out of the way destinations that this site lends itself to. Of course, the major difference between Amazon Destinations and sites like Orbitz, Expedia, or Travelocity is that lack of airline and other transportation options. That long-distance aspect isn’t Amazon’s focus, as they’re more interested in the “close to home” spur-of-the-moment getaways and how they can help consumer spend money closer to their regions. That’s why hotels and resorts are participating in this venture, along with the new reviews that Amazon is famous for offering on all of its products. But who knows…with the recent FAA approval of Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery tests, maybe drone travel is in the works? It’s crazy enough to be an Amazon idea, that’s for sure.
Amazon Destinations Takes on the Travel Industry is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
How Good is the Kobo Glo HD Comfortlight?
| The Kobo Glo HD has technology that allows you to read in the dark via an illuminated display. Traditional LCD displays have blue light that emits from behind the screen, causing eye strain for long reading sessions. Frontlight has 5 small LED lights at the bottom of the bezel that project light upwards, not into your eyes. How solid is Kobo’s new screen tech? The brand new Kobo Glo HD features a six inch e-ink Carta screen with a resolution of 1448×1072 and 300 PPI. It has the same front-lit display as the Kobo Aura H2O, so you will be able to read in low-light conditions or complete darkness. I think the lightning system on the Glo HD far surpasses most e-readers that are commercially available. It has pure white light that is distributed evenly across the screen. Unless you turn down the light to lower than 35% you will likely not notice any irregularities.
How Good is the Kobo Glo HD Comfortlight? is a post from: Good e-Reader |
When Will Publishers Learn? Direct to Consumer Doesn’t Work
 Graphic courtesy of HollywoodReporter.com We’re going to go out on a limb here and make a sweeping prediction, one that hopefully will be ridiculed in fifty years: consumers do not buy books directly from the publisher. Why not? Because in most cases, they don’t know who the publisher is. In even more dire news for publishers, consumers also don’t care who the publisher is. That truth hasn’t stopped Penguin Random House from being the latest publisher to invest heavily in a newly revamped website that hopes to entice readers with blog posts, upcoming releases, contests and challenges, and more. But when is the last time a reader opened a browser and Googled, “Horse books for tween girls, published by Random House?” Seriously. When has that ever happened? Instead, readers find books where they are, namely, in bookstores, whether those stores are real or virtual. A study presented at a publishing event by Goodreads’ Otis Chandler actually demonstrated that readers largely discover books based on word of mouth or by finding them on display on retailers’ shelves (even non-book retailers). So why are publishers so intent on developing websites that will engage readers, when readers don’t even pay attention to who published the book? One theory is that they’re working feverishly to oust Amazon and its bookselling clout by engaging directly with their customers. That might even be enticing if consumers had any brand loyalty towards a publisher. But as other publishing news outlets have pointed out, that simply isn’t the case. Readers may have a favorite author whose works they enjoy, but at the same time, many readers choose their books based on genre or content matter, not author and certainly not the logo at the bottom of the spine. Interestingly, Penguin Random House’s new website doesn’t sell books. It actually requires several different clicks to even come across a Buy button, and then the button offers consumers several different retailers to choose from, including both Amazon and Indiebound. Whether the publisher will begin its own direct-to-consumer button in the near future remains to be seen.
When Will Publishers Learn? Direct to Consumer Doesn’t Work is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Sony Starts to Focus on Security for the Digital Paper DPT-S1
| It is almost a daily occurrence that we read about cyber attacks in the news. Law firms are not immune to this and they handle the most important aspects of our business and personal lives. 80% of the United States country's top 100 law firms have had a security breach and for the most part people are rather accepting that nothing can be done. I think there will soon be a tipping point when peoples acceptance turns to apathy and our decision to go with one company over another will have our security in mind. Quentin Tarantino developed a first draft script for an upcoming project called The Hateful eight. Suddenly it was leaked online and he made the decision to shelf the project. At the time, he said "I'm very, very depressed. I finished a script, a first draft, and I didn’t mean to shoot it until next winter, a year from now. I gave it to six people, and apparently it's gotten out today." The entertainment industry is very interesting in its reliance on tangible scripts. If a prospective actor is being courted for an upcoming project the script is sent via an armed guard and once its read it has to be hand delivered back to the studio. If the script is being read at the studio, there is often two people in the same room as the actor. One verifies that there is no copies made, or pictures taken. The second guy is normally there to make sure the 1st does his job properly. One of the big questions that law firms face when a prospective client is interviewing them is what security measures do they employ to safeguard their information. Most law firms do not have a proper digital infrastructure and rely on paper. I know many lawyers that have a 150 page document that they end up bringing home with them to read. It sits in their car as they stop by the supermarket and along the way opens up loss and theft. Some law firms have even brought in consultants to help them upgrade security policies and systems and then certify that their infrastructure are safe. At Shook, Hardy & Bacon, CIO John Anderson says his IT team recently spent 18 months and $60,000 to obtain ISO/IEC 27001 certification, a sort of Good Housekeeping seal for compliance with globally recognized security standards. The firm now promotes the certification in marketing materials and client pitches, he says. One of the ways that the legal and entertainment industries are trying to focus on security is through the use of the Sony Digital Paper. This is a new product category that focuses creating, editing and sharing PDF files. It does all of this with a high degree of encryption and replaces physical paper in a safe and secure manner. With the recent price reduction from $999 to $799, likely will will start to see a broader adoption rate as companies start to realize that leaks and data theft will never go away and something has to be done to mitigate a potential disaster. The Sony Digital Paper received a major firmware update in December 2014 that added the ability to password lock the device and encrypt stored PDF files. The device also has the capability for unified shared cloud storage via Box. This has really opened up the eyes of the legal market and the Digital Paper has been the star of the show at events such as the ABA Tech Show, which brings lawyers and technology offers together. One of Sony’s largest partners in the legal field is Worldox. They were the 1st company that was an authorized re-seller of the DPT-S1. Over 5,000 law firms and legal departments of every size and specialty use Worldox, making it one of the world's top legal document management solutions. A key innovation is quietly in development that leverages the internet browser on the Digital Paper to tie into the Worldox Gx4 solution, that will allow submitted PDF documents to be safely stored on a central web server. This will allow many people on a legal team to share and read edited documents, but also assists in tracking billable hours. The legal and entertainment industries have security in mind when it comes to tangible paper. There are many websites that would pay millions of dollars for a leaked Star Wars Episode 7 script and with a billion dollar franchise, its no small wonder why a leak of this magnitude has not occurred. Sadly, most law firms and small studios don’t have the financial resources that Disney has. We can only do the best we can to secure ourselves from a world that wants to know every secret we have. The Digital Paper is a practical and proven device that can replace paper, in a safe and secure manner. Sony Starts to Focus on Security for the Digital Paper DPT-S1 is a post from: Good e-Reader |
New Samsung Galaxy Tab A Tablets Released 4 Years Too Late
| Samsung has another new set up Galaxy Tab tablets that are set to arrive next week. There’s an 8-inch model and a 9.7-inch model. They are called Galaxy Tab A tablets. They are available for pre-order from Amazon.com and other retailers, with an official release date of May 1st. The 8-inch model sells for $229 […] |
Girl on the Train Read-Alikes
| If you've heard anything about the latest in marriage thriller novels this year, you know that the one to read is The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. But, if you've been trying to get your hands on it through your library (as you should), you may have noticed that you're not alone. While you wait for your hold on this thrilling title, we've got some other books you can check out to tide you over. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica—This thrilling novel uses a shifting viewpoints writing style that is similar to The Girl on the Train and tells the story of a girl who is kidnapped. Mia, the daughter of a Chicago judge is abducted, but her kidnapper decides to go against the plan…you won't believe the twists and turns ahead. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison—What do you do when your husband, a committed cheater, decides to actually leave you? Jodi finds out when her husband Todd decides to dissolve their marriage and start a new life with another woman. But Jodi won't let him go that easily… Unbecoming by Rebecca Scherm—A woman who calls herself Julie from California is living in Paris with a big secret. Her real name is Grace and she's from Tennessee, a place where two men have just been released from jail for a crime that she planned in great detail. When things went sour, Grace got out on a flight to Europe while the two men took the fall. What will happen if they find her? A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison—Annie is a happily married wife and mother with a relatively good life. But when a photograph arrives in her mailbox from days long gone, trouble begins to brew. Annie must quickly try to put together the pieces of her life when her past threatens to ruin it all. Click here to view these titles and more in marketplace. Titles may have limited regional or platform availability. Check OverDrive Marketplace to find what is available for you.
Emma Kanagaki is a Collection Development Analyst with OverDrive  |
Benton Park Live Coding Orchestra – The Planets
| The kids from Benton Park have gone on to media superstardom in this short from the BBC. You’ve met the Benton Park Live Coding Orchestra before – they live-code music in Sonic Pi for school performances. This time, they’re making music about the planets, using Holst’s Planets Suite as a jumping-off point. The Live Coding Orchestra kids are in years 5 and 6 (so they’re all between nine and eleven years old); the dancers in this performance are all from the Reception class and the Nursery group (aged five and under). As well as providing music for the little kids to dance to, the Live Coding Orchestra spent some time teaching them how to create music in Sonic Pi – you can see them doing some training at the start of the video. The music sets the mood for dancing on three different planets, with a rocket trip between each planet orchestrated by Holst. Best thing we’ve seen in ages – thanks Live Coders, and thanks dancers! |