Friday, June 27, 2014

Baker & Taylor to Unveil Next Generation Axis 360 App

unnamed

Baker & Taylor Axis 360 is the definitive app that library patrons use to read books, listen to audio or watch streaming video. One of the downsides is that B&T relies on many 3rd party companies such as Blio, Acoustic to deliver audiobooks and music. Instead of listening to music within the Baker and Taylor app, customers are instead redirected to download and install many different apps to take advantage of multimedia content. This process is similar to Barnes and Noble suspending their relationship with Overdrive because customers were mandated to download the Media Console and use Adobe Digital Editions, a convoluted process.  Baker & Taylor realizes that redirecting patrons to download alternative apps breaks immersion and is working on a next generation content delivery system.

The new Axis 360 app is poised to launch near the end of the year. They are utilizing new API systems that will allow patrons to listen to music or audiobooks, watch movies or engage complex EPUB3 textbooks. This will basically incorporate content from all of the companies they lean on to provide content within their own app and be more intuitive to use.

Michael Bills of Baker and Taylor said that the new app will be huge and reduce the complexity for libraries. Everything will be done behind the scenes, making the end-user experience a thing of beauty.

Baker & Taylor to Unveil Next Generation Axis 360 App is a post from: Good e-Reader

Soon to be Famous Assists the Editorial Aspect of Indie eBooks

soontobefamousatila

Smashwords and Bookbaby have established relationships with Baker and Taylor for digital distribution to libraries. Both of these companies provide a small list of curated authors that assist the people in charge of acquisitions lives a bit easier. One of the downsides that these lists are small and do not have any pertinent sales data or metrics to find out how many copies actually sold and who is buying them. In order to assist libraries better in eBook discovery is the Reaching across Illinois Library System has pioneered an innovative concept known as “Soon to be Famous.”

600 libraries in Illinois share a group catalogue who belong to the RAILS consortium. The system serves more than 1300 private, public, school, and university library members, representing more than 4200 library facilities in a 27,000 square mile area.

The circulation managers who do the group buying recognized the worth of self-published and indie titles, since 23% of all Amazon best-sellers fall into this category. Indie titles often come with a fairly paltry price tag, but they loaning policed are often less convoluted than the big six.

In order to facilitate a better eBook discovery process, over one hundred three self-published fiction titles were nominated and more than 20 librarians across the state served as judges. After a series of eliminations, the top 3 authors were selected and most of their titles were purchased and sent to all of the libraries in the system.

Why did Soon to Be Famous work? Basically it put the power in every librarians hand to read indie titles they actually liked on a personal level and then their specific library would than nominate one title and the process was repeated. The editorial process worked because staff members actually read the eBooks and separated the wheat from the chafe.

I really like what RAILS is doing because they were not content in being spoon-fed small lists from the self-publishing companies and instead coordinated a massive effort. This program should be commended and emulated by others

Soon to be Famous Assists the Editorial Aspect of Indie eBooks is a post from: Good e-Reader

Indie Authors Have the Power to Give Back

Kiss me-There_edited-1 II
Self-published authors who’ve experienced a measure of success in their writing careers often cite the usual reasons for their decisions to publish independently. These authors have grown tired of the query game and the contract negotiations involved in turning over their book rights to a publisher, and often highlight the new-found freedom write what they wish and the control over their final products as key reasons for going it alone.

One of the frustrating results of traditional publishing for some authors is the inability to use their own material to give back to their communities or causes. Many readers and consumers are not aware that a published author, even a bestseller, doesn’t have unlimited access to copies of his own book or to promotional materials to stage giveaways. Even authors of the status of James Patterson, who has recently given more than one million dollars to US and UK bookshops in order to fund charitable grants, have to dig into their own pockets for this kind of financial backing, but cannot simply distribute unlimited copies of their books to libraries or bookstores, for example.

But self-published authors do have that freedom, and many are taking advantage of the fact that they own the rights to a sought-after product that can be used to support causes that are important to them. One author, erotic romance writer Abbie St. Claire, not only has access to her content for this kind of purpose, but also uses the story lines in her titles to create charitable giving events that let her fans support the important work of non-profits.

St. Claire’s upcoming “Kiss Me” series (August, 2014) now has a line of jewelry to accompany the planned multiple books in the series. The jewelry and titles are available through the author’s platforms, with 100% of the profit from the jewelry going to a Dallas, Texas-area breast cancer non-profit, Laidley’s Ladies and Gentlemen, started by local breast surgeon Dr. Alison Laidley.

“I hope that the stories inspire the readers and eventually fall in love with the series,” explained St. Claire of the initiative. “The jewelry started as a giveaway concept only, then the ladies started asking how to buy the items. That's when the charity idea came in to play. I hope it grows and builds throughout the series, because the titles I have planned will take me well into 2016 which could raise serious funds for the charity.”

While St. Claire’s series is meant to contain thematic-yet-stand-alone titles that can therefore be read in any order, one future title is already in the works and is intended to offer funding to another cause that is personally important to the author, the Wounded Warriors Project.

More information on Laidley’s Ladies and Gentlemen, the Kiss Me jewelry fundraiser, and St. Claire’s “Kiss Me” series can be found at AbbieStClaire.com.

Indie Authors Have the Power to Give Back is a post from: Good e-Reader

Simon & Schuster eBooks: Coming soon for all U.S. public libraries

simonschuster

 

Simon & Schuster has announced that they are expanding their eBook lending program, and OverDrive can prepare to supply their eBook catalog to all U.S. public libraries.

A requirement to add Simon & Schuster eBook titles for library lending is that each title must have a "Buy-it-Now" option on the page alongside Borrow or Place a Hold. To satisfy this requirement, OverDrive operates LibraryBIN.com, which has been live at dozens of U.S. public library sites.

With Library BIN, your library will earn a content credit equal to 50 percent of the retail markup for titles purchased from the OverDrive-hosted referral page. The content credit will be applied to your OverDrive Marketplace account for future orders. To opt into BIN, please contact your Collection Development Specialist.

The Simon & Schuster catalog includes authors such as Stephen King, Janet Evanovich, Mary Higgins Clarke, David McCullough, Jodi Picoult, and titles like Mr. Mercedes, Hard Choices, The Light Between Oceans, Steve Jobs, Under the Dome, and many more!

The Simon & Schuster eBook catalog is available for purchase under a one-year term. More information on the S&S catalog will be available next week.

Fan Fiction Romance Comes to Kindle Worlds

kindle-worlds
Amazon launched its Kindle Worlds fan fiction platform just over a year ago, and the concept has been a great success for both the rights holders who license content to the site and the fans who adore the concepts and story lines of their favorite authors. These reader fans have often taken to writing their own continuation of the stories once the book ends, largely due to the profound way that the story spoke to the readers.

While fan fiction has its critics, the concept has been around for some time. Thanks to Kindle Worlds, fanfic writers can legally publish and monetize their creativity to a growing audience of readers who are interested in more content based on their favorite books. Through existing licensing agreements with specific “worlds,” fanfic writers can sell their creations with the rights holders’ support and encouragement.

Kindle Worlds has now announced the launch of four new “worlds,” this time in the romance genre. Bella Andre, Lucy Kevin, Barbara Freethy, and HM Ward have signed on to allow their popular titles to be included in the platform, meaning the fans of those authors’ works can now publish and sell their own adaptations of the characters and story lines that spoke to them.

"Romance is one of the most popular genres on Kindle, so we're particularly thrilled to welcome these Worlds from four of the most successful authors in the genre," said Nick Loeffler, General Manager of Kindle Worlds, in a press release. "It's a great opportunity for writers everywhere to work with beloved characters and storylines that have millions of fans."

Writers who are interested in submitting their content on the story lines that these authors have offered for license should visit KindleWorlds.com for more information and to see which specific series from these authors are available for fan fiction writers to use.

Fan Fiction Romance Comes to Kindle Worlds is a post from: Good e-Reader

Adafruit’s Raspberry Pi Photography Award

Our good friends across the pond at Adafruit are running their first ever Raspberry Pi Photography Award – and I’ve been roped into helping judge this year’s entries.

Robot photographer

Lady Ada and PT say:

Anyone, worldwide, with a Raspberry Pi and camera can enter. All photos must be taken with Raspberry Pi + Raspberry Pi camera and/or webcam/camera connected to the Pi. The photos cannot be altered “post” in an image editing program (GIMP, Photoshop, etc) but you can use the built-in filters that the Pi Camera has such as “Sketch”, “Oil Painting”, etc! Be creative and take a photo using a Raspberry Pi of something interesting, like this cat (Carmen) and clock, taken with a Raspberry Pi.

carmen and clock

It’s a charming sample picture, but, cute as Carmen is, you’ll need to do something more exciting if you want to win.

We do not want photos taken of Raspberry Pi units, please take photos using the Raspberry Pi. Grand prize is $314 in the Adafruit store, and we have 14 $30 winners too!

You can find full instructions on how to enter at Adafruit’s site. I am looking forward to finding out what you end up sending us, and I am instructed to inform you I am incorruptible in these matters: bribery will not work if you’re looking to affect the judging process. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out the posts here tagged “photography“. Good luck!

YouTube Adds Tools For Content Creators

youtube-creator

Even someone who has never stepped foot on the Internet (so to speak) knows what YouTube is. Considered to be the largest platform for video streaming and viewership in the world, YouTube is little more than the sum of its parts: each of which is uploaded by a content creator. Today at Vidcon, the company launched YouTube Creator Studio as a means to deliver a wide range of tools to the people that share their videos with the site.

Thanks to the creator tools now available, video contributors can: view analytics, manage their videos, access royalty-free sound effects, fund creative endeavours using Kickstarter or Indiegogo, name and link to their fellow collaborators, accept fan-submitted subtitles, respond to comments, receive customized notifications, and create playlists that make videos more accessible.

YouTube also teased users with a few more updates to be expected soon, including 60 frames-per-second video clips (which will work nicely for those vlogging about video games especially) and the addition of a virtual tip jar that will allow viewers to toss in $1-$500 after viewing something they enjoy.

While the release of YouTube Creator Studio may not persuade more people to create content, it may serve to attract a more professional calibre of videographer.

Download YouTube Creator Studio for free to get started managing your channel.

YouTube Adds Tools For Content Creators is a post from: Good e-Reader

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Razer Teams With Google To Create A Gaming Console

razer-console

It didn’t take long to start hearing about the hardware options headed our way that will take advantage of Android TV –with one of the first big announcements coming from Razer (a company best known for high-end gaming PCs, laptops and tablets). Together with Google, Razer intends to introduce a micro-console later this year, running the new platform but with a core-focus on gaming instead of media streaming (though it will also accommodate casual gaming, music, movies, and other social media applications).

It is expected that the graphics will be good and the UI should be easy to navigate, but it is unlikely it will truly compete with the high-end consoles already in the marketplace (like the PlayStation 4)… but truth mbe told, most gamers are probably just as happy to play big-screen adaptations of their favourite mobile gaming titles as they are anything else.

Because the device is still in the early stages of development, a release date and price are not yet known –though Razer is advising that it is coming our way later sooner than later and that the price-tag will be “affordable.”

What will be interesting to see is whether more users tend toward these set-top box-style Android TV devices or if they opt for using it on televisions where it can be built-in.

Razer Teams With Google To Create A Gaming Console is a post from: Good e-Reader

Android For Work Courts Business Users

Android-For-Work-1

The corporate world is a little bit lost right now when it comes to mobile devices. Once upon a time, BlackBerry was the logical (and only) choice –Research in Motion (RIM) was highly security conscious and their smartphones were seemingly very single-purpose. Flash forward and the marketplace isn’t quite so cut and dried: Apple is a crowd favourite in many ways because their locked-down approach to hardware means it is less prone to attack, Microsoft has dropped the mobile technology ball so many times they aren’t much of a contender anymore… and then there is Android, beloved but not necessarily trusted. This reality may soon be changing thanks to a program called Android for Work announced at this year’s Google I/O conference.

With the upcoming Android “L” release (to start, Ice Cream sandwich builds and later will eventually be supported), Google is introducing APIs that promise to provide data separation and increased security (taking advantage of Samsung’s Knox). This approach is especially meaningful now that personal devices are used for work (and work devices are used for personal content).

In addition to enhanced security, Android for Work will provide a method for enterprise-level app distribution using Google Play, allowing for centralized deployment and configuration.

Also included in these enhancements is an update to Google Drive that should compete with services like Dropbox. Labeled as Drive for Work, this update will offer unlimited cloud storage with encrypted file transfers for $10 per month. To provide even more peace of mind to the corporate world, Drive for Work will give greater administrative controls to IT administrators (including APIs that will allow for close monitoring of the files being stored and accessed).

Are these offerings from Google enough to gain the interest and trust from business users? Time will tell –but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

Android For Work Courts Business Users is a post from: Good e-Reader

Android Adds Personal Unlocking In Trusted Environments

personalunlocking

How many times a day do you unlock your smartphone? I’d be willing to wager that for a great number of you, the answer is in the hundreds. Having your phone locked is responsible and pretty much required, while unlocking it is annoying and frustrating. Fortunately, Google gave the answer during their I/O 2014 keynote: Personal Unlocking.

Under the new Android “L” release, Personal Unlocking will allow users to designate a Bluetooth device or geographical location that indicate the trusted owner is near –and then doesn’t require the login sequence to gain access. Demonstrations of the feature were done with a watch (which comes as no surprise), but just about anything should work.

Until users have a chance to test-drive this feature, it won’t be known how accurate and securely it behaves. One should assume that for devices carrying highly sensitive material, Personal Unlocking shouldn’t be used… but for the average person who just wants to make it more difficult for somebody to level you in Angry Birds or read your email and text messages, it should work a treat.

Caution should be exercised for other reasons of course, consider just how many Facebook posts will be spoofed by your spouse from your smartphone or tablet if you specify your home as a ‘safe zone’?

Android Adds Personal Unlocking In Trusted Environments is a post from: Good e-Reader

Top 10 Blackberry Apps of the Week

pulse_ios

Blackberry has all but abandoned the Playbook  and  very few apps are being released through official channels. The Waterloo based company recently signed a deal with Amazon to have the Amazon App Store be the sole distribution system with the new Blackberry 10.3 firmware update. Today, we present our weekly top 10 Blackberry Playbook and Blackberry 10 apps of the week. It is important to note that all of these apps are only available on the Good e-Reader App Store.

LinkedIn Pulse - Pulse News is a beautiful app that takes your favourite websites and transforms them into a colorful and interactive mosaic. Tap on an article to see a clean and elegant view of the news story. Save stories for reading later across all platforms or sync them with Instapaper, Read it Later and Evernote. Sharing a story via Facebook, Twitter and email is as easy as two taps.

The Verge - The definitive source for technology news, reviews, and up-to-the-minute scoops. Get all the breaking news coverage and in-depth reporting in the world of consumer technology from the industry's leading voices and foremost experts. The Verge brings you unrivaled breadth and depth of coverage, delivering everything you need to know about what's happening in the world of technology culture — including the latest reviews, breaking news, and in-depth feature stories. Tech news begins and ends on The Verge; and now you can get that experience on the go, right on your Android device.

Brainpop: Featured Movie - Watch a different animated movie every day, then test your new knowledge with an interactive quiz.

Facebook Covers - Free Timeline covers for your Facebook Profile. We have the finest selection of Facebook Covers with thousands to choose from. Give your Facebook Profile a unique look and feel with a brand new, awesome photo (unbranded) cover now! As the number one source for high quality Facebook Covers in internet, TimelineCovers.pro gives you thousands FB covers to choose from. New Cover photos are added everyday.

Ubersocial - UberSocial (formerly Twidroyd) is the leading full-featured Twitter client for Android, with a customizable UberBar for easy navigation.

Youversion Bible - Get the #1 rated and ranked Bible App for FREE. We want to make it easy for you to read and share God's Word. 150+ free translations and almost 200 Bible reading plans to help you read the Bible and track your progress.

AVG Anti Virus - AVG Antivirus for Smartphones & Tablets automatically detects harmful Apps & SMS

Pinterest - This insanely simple app will have you up and sharing pins across networks within seconds. There is NO login required and you don't even have to be a member of Pinterest to get going.

Yahoo Weather - The highly-acclaimed Yahoo! Weather app is now available on Android, featuring stunning photos that match current weather conditions and an ALL new design with a ton of new features. See the weather like never before. Easily swipe for the most accurate weather forecasts or add a home screen widget for the latest weather information. Wherever you go, the forecast is beautiful.

Mint Personal Finance - Mint pulls in all your personal finance accounts into one place, so you can manage your money from anywhere. Track your spending, create a budget, and save more.

Top 10 Blackberry Apps of the Week is a post from: Good e-Reader

  Click to view the Marketplace cart of the…

weeklyehighlights062614

 

Click to view the Marketplace cart of the titles in this newsletter plus more great picks.

 

Feature Films and TV

Alone for Christmas
Uncork'd Entertainment

Okay, who could resist a Home Alone rip-off starring a cute dog? It's checking out like mad across libraries.

 

Breathless
After learning that her husband (Val Kilmer) robbed a bank for $100,000, a housewife (Gina Gershon) accidentally kills him. She asks her best friend (Kelli Giddish) to help her dispose of the body and find the loot, but the local sheriff is hot on their trail.

 

A Christmas Love Story/Love at the Christmas Table
Uncork'd Entertainment

For 30 years Sam and Katherine have spent every Christmas Eve relegated to the children's table. But this year Sam learns that Kat is moving away and he has one night to tell her he loves her.

 

Falling Up
Starz Digital Media

When Henry's dad dies suddenly, he has to drop out of school and take a job as a Manhattan doorman…and then he breaks Rule Number One: never fall for the beautiful daughter of a tenant.

 

Legendary Amazons
Cinedigm Entertainment

Produced by Jackie Chan, this action-packed war epic is based on the real life story of the Yang family women, who during the Song dynasty, took up swords and led their army to victory after all the men of the clan were massacred.

 

Little Big Soldier
Cinedigm Entertainment

Jackie Chan stars in this comic martial arts extravaganza set in ancient China.

 

Little Red Devil
R Squared Films

A horror action thriller about a loser in a dead-end life who is made an offer he can't refuse. But maybe he should have.

 

Muay Thai Warrior
Cinedigm Entertainment

Based on actual events from the 17th century’s Ayutthaya period, young samurai Yamada Nagamasa works tirelessly to master the art of Muay Boran, Thai boxing.

 

Purple Heart
Starz Digital Media

Colonel Allen, former head of a covert military unit, is faced with his worst nightmare—a young sniper returns to America, seeking revenge on the men in power who trained him.

 

The Saddle Club: Saving Pine Hollow
The Saddle Club scrambles to make money after the stables face financial trouble. When their hopes that a promising young racehorse might turn things around are dashed, the club and friends have one last hope.

 

Sharknado
Uncork'd Entertainment

When a freak hurricane swamps LA, thousands of sharks terrorize the waterlogged populace on sea, land, and air!

 

Stuck in the Middle
R Squared Films

In this comedy, a mail room slacker accidentally kills himself in a bizarre experiment and finds himself sentenced to Purgatory…working in the mail room.

 

Documentary and Instructional

 

America beyond the Color Line with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
PBS

A two part set. Viewed through the lens of four intrinsic elements of the African American experience – Black Hollywood, The Black Elite, The Ghetto, and The New South – gates examines the legacy of the Civil Rights movement since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Link to Part 2.

 

American History in 101 Objects
FORA TV Inc.

The Smithsonian Undersecretary for Art, History, and Culture, decodes the gold cap on Benjamin Franklin’s walking stick and its symbolic representation of the founding of the United States. Part of a series on long term thinking sponsored by the Long Now Foundation.

 

Baby Sign Language: Beginner Signs
Selectmedia

Talk to your babies before they are able to speak by using sign language. This video covers over 400 signs including Potty Training, Animals, Body, Clothes, Colors, Descriptors, Feelings, Food, People, Letters, Numbers, Actions, Vehicles and more.

 

A Beautiful Dream: Yoga/Movement Adventure for Remembering and Relationship
Move with Me Action Adventures

Just one of a series of instructional videos on yoga for kids. Award-winning follow-along yoga/movement story in which a boy remembers his adventures and notices how much stronger, smarter, and confident he’s grown.

 

Chatsworth: The Grandest Country House in All of England
Total Content Digital

Set on more than 1,000 acres in Derbyshire, Chatsworth House is one of the most famous stately homes in England. Journey through its 300 rooms full of fine antiques, art, and furniture.

 

Classic Cars: The Definitive Collection
Total Content Digital

A tribute to cars made between the 30s and 70s, and a look at which modern cars will become classics.

 

His Name Was Jason: Thirty Years of Friday the Thirteenth
Starz Digital Media

This documentary offers classic clips from the original film and its 12 sequels, over 80 interviews, and a complete history of the phenomenon.

 

The Makers Revolution
FORA TV Inc.

Chris Anderson, the former editor of Wired Magazine, and coiner of the term "the long tail," discusses how 3D printers and design software work.

 

Marlin Darrah: The Silk Road
TravelVideoStore.com

Journey with the world’s most traveled filmmaker, Marlin Darrah, as he explores the famous 4000 mile trade route that winds through deserts, mountains and plains linking Europe to China.

 

Playground Earth: Climbing Encounters
TravelVideoStore.com

This action adventure travel video focuses on mountain and rock climbing, including the world's most difficult sports climb.

 

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation
Dreamscape Media

Almost 10 years before Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end desegregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and wrote perfect English, Mendez was denied enrollment to a Whites only school. This video about a little known event in history is aimed at children.

 

The Winning of World War II: The Road to Victory Episode 1 The Battle of the Bulge
Total Content Digital

Part of a several episode series on the winning of World War II—and only $2.00 each!

 

Click to view the Marketplace cart of the titles in this newsletter plus more great picks.

 

*Geographical rights may vary by title.

Google Now Offers System-Wide Hotword Detection

google-now-630

Everybody would like a personal assistant, and for many of us, Google Now is the closest thing we are going to get. Recently, with the app up, you could summon this digital Jeeves with the phrase: “OK Google.” Now that hotword works throughout the entire phone instead of just when the app is running (even if you are on the lock screen)!

Once you have the update, in order to turn on hotword detection you need to head into Google now, scroll to the bottom and tap Menu>Settings>Voice>"Ok Google" Detection. From there you can also toggle any other options according to your preferences.

Don’t be alarmed if you haven’t yet seen this change as it may take a little while to roll out to you –Google is releasing it in waves, so just keep checking for updates. Once you grab it, be sure to check out Audio History so you can help the app learn the sound of your voice.

Google Now Offers System-Wide Hotword Detection is a post from: Good e-Reader

Google Search Goes Live With App Indexing

AppIndexing

Among the announcements at this year’s Google I/O conference was the news that App Indexing would be expanded to all developers and their apps. This update brings the concept of contextual and meaningful search to a whole new level by blurring the lines between web-based content and native apps.

Consider the possibilities: search for a restaurant in Google and open up the corresponding reservation page within OpenTable, search Google for the movie you are watching and open the correct details page within the IMDB app on your device. Of course, the logical next question may be why you don’t just do your searching via the native apps to begin with, but the answers are very clear.

Google wants you to search using their engine. Partially because they make a lot of their money through ad revenue, but also because they have spent a lot of time and effort to make sure their search is superior to any other out there. Besides, often times you are wandering around the web and you don’t even realize what you are looking for until you find it… then low and behold, there’s an app for that, and with one click (or tap, technically) you’ve made the move to using it!

Making use of this feature will require a little work done by the developers of each app, but I expect it will become commonplace very soon.

Google Search Goes Live With App Indexing is a post from: Good e-Reader

Google Maps Updates Search, Transit Results and Terrain View

Google-Maps-Nav-1

We are expecting to see more Google Maps announcements very soon with enhancements that include an entirely redesigned interface and clearer images, but the flagship navigation app wasn’t left out of the Google I/O conference excitement. Updates to the app were pushed out yesterday that included updates to search, transit results and terrain view.

When searching in the app, the first change you will notice is that the results appear directly on the map (including descriptions that will help you to make route and destination decisions more quickly). Transit results have been enhanced to include the total walking time for your trip in addition to showing the next scheduled bus or train. Accessing Terrain View from the side menu shows the 3D view of the landscape and elevation –details that may seem insignificant until you are geocaching and end up walking up and down significant inclines!

Constant feature enhancements like these serve to further solidify Google Maps as the premier navigation app for all mobile platforms.

If you haven’t yet downloaded Google Maps, grab it now for free!

Google Maps Updates Search, Transit Results and Terrain View is a post from: Good e-Reader

Netflix Updates UI In Time for First Original Anime Series

Netflix

Fellow Netflix addicts will have already noticed that the icon has changed colour (from red to white), but a few other things have changed as well. The UI has been updated on Android to be a little darker (showing more shadowy tones), but it also appears that performance has been improved with even smoother video playback.

These updates may seem less significant for anime fans who are eagerly awaiting the July 4 release of Knights of Sidonia. Based on the popular Manga series, this title will join the ranks of other Netflix original series alongside shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.

Despite competitors popping up all the time, Neflix remains the leading subscription service for watching television and movies on nearly any device you can imagine (from those powered by Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS and even console gaming systems). If you haven’t yet given it a try, download Netflix for free now!

Netflix Updates UI In Time for First Original Anime Series is a post from: Good e-Reader

Google Play Games Unifies Gaming on All Devices

Google-Play-Games-Users

Mobile gamers rejoice: Google Play Games was not left out of the spotlight yesterday at Google’s annual I/O conference. With several enhancements and additions, Google plans to take gaming to a whole new level (as well as rivaling all of the good things that Apple had to announce with their upcoming iOS update).

First on the list was the new Games Profile: behaving as a unique and adapting identity for all Android gamers, this update will see changes based on in-game achievements (while also emulating xBox Live Achievements and PlayStation trophies). The result will allow users to earn points and titles but also compare their progress against that of their friends.

In addition, Quests (a new set of APIs available for use by developers) will allow for online time-based events to run inside games without updates needing to be pushed out. Complimenting this is Google’s introduction of a game save feature which will let developers easily record a users’s progress.

Finally, it appears that $5 billion has been paid out on top of Google play to developers –a sizable 2.5x increase over this period last year.

Evolving Google Play Games into a true hub for Android gaming makes perfect sense, especially when you consider the launch of Android TV and the inevitable migration of games to that platform as well.

Google Play Games Unifies Gaming on All Devices is a post from: Good e-Reader

Hotel Tonight App Adds Mobile Check-In and Keyless Entry

HotelTonight-Keyless

One of the best things about the annual Google I/O conference is that many of the biggest and most active development houses save their coolest updates to share with that group. To that end, Hotel Tonight announced yesterday that they feel they are the first online travel agency to offer mobile check-in as well as keyless entry to guests of hotels using their service.

The express check-in functionality makes the process of getting your room entirely painless: just two taps on your touchscreen and then wait to be notified that your room is ready.

Even more exciting than checking in quickly is the ability to unlock your hotel room with your Android device (anybody who has locked themselves out of their room because they forgot that silly credit card style key will be cheering along with me… besides, who ever leaves a room these days without taking their phone?). Using NFC capabilities and a Brivo Labs API, users hold their device up to the lock and moments later they are passing through the door.

Both features are expected to be implemented soon, though it may take some time for hotel chains to get on board.

Hotel Tonight is a fantastic way to save money on hotel rooms anytime you are willing to wait until the last minute. Before you start to plan your next trip, be sure to download Hotel Tonight.

Hotel Tonight App Adds Mobile Check-In and Keyless Entry is a post from: Good e-Reader

OverDrive to Present 2014/2015 eBook Lending Roadmap at National Library Conference

As the nation's library professionals convene at the 2014 American Library Association Annual (ALA) Conference in Las Vegas, June 27-30, leading digital platform provider OverDrive will introduce and demonstrate its 2014/2015 eBook lending roadmap. OverDrive team members will brief librarians on plans to launch a series of content, end-user and platform enhancements over the coming weeks and months. These include new access models, expanded discovery for library holdings, and additional tools for libraries to achieve measurable success with their eBook and digital lending collections. Notable enhancements include:

More content, more flexible access models

  • Always Available title plans that enable libraries and schools to select one or a set of titles for simultaneous availability. This is ideal for book clubs, summer reading and "city read" programs.
  • Cost-per-checkout (CPC) model that allows libraries to make available a supplier's entire catalog of titles, but only incur a charge when a user borrows a title. OverDrive will launch major Hollywood feature films for streaming video that require this lending model.
  • Engage new readers with new eBook lending catalogs: Graphic novels, manga (English and Japanese) and popular children's eBook series and picture books using EPUB3 with fixed layout.
  • Classroom set eBook collections for schools with discounts for multiple units. Options include one year, one semester, or 90 day periods.
  • Consortia-friendly programs to enable Advantage titles to be migrated from individual libraries to shared collections, as permitted by publishers and suppliers.

Easiest and most proven platform with new apps and services

  • OverDrive App updates later this summer will eliminate the Adobe activation step.
  • Automatic title renewals, automatic hold checkout, and other library-managed policies that maximize circulation of library titles by responding to the most requested features of readers and librarians.
  • Synchronized audio narration with text, dictionary support, and other features beneficial to students and researchers.
  • A series of new APIs that enable deeper integration with ILS and discovery layers, and provide analytics, based on the proven success of OverDrive's Developer Portal (#1 rated library APIs by ReadersFirst).

"We are constantly innovating in response to requests from libraries and users. This includes libraries that are disappointed with competitor eBook collections due to low checkouts and fewer features," said Shannon Lichty, OverDrive's director of partner services. "As a result, we are supporting library requests to migrate their eBook and audiobook titles currently on other platforms to OverDrive in order to instantly benefit from higher circulation and compatibility with more devices."

OverDrive to reach millions of readers and bring new users to the library

As reported by Pew Research, only about half of Americans ages 16 and older used a public library in some form in the past year (see report by Pew Research). At ALA, OverDrive will demonstrate programs to connect new users with their public library:

  • "Read Excerpt" and "Borrow eBook" links to local libraries at top search engines and online catalogs. Search for "Goldfinch book" on bing.com to see an example.
  • OverDrive Readbox (embedded eBook samples) at high-traffic book and news sites and search engines. See examples of Readbox embedded samples at Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, and OverDrive Blog.
  • Reader-centric OverDrive.com with enhanced locate-your-library services. Libraries and online book communities can share library eBook samples on any website with a simple cut-and-paste of the embed code.

 

To see these upcoming enhancements and more, visit OverDrive's booth #1317 at ALA.

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