Jul 06
A very exciting story over at Technology Review where we’re told that the South Korean government plans to have all elementary-level educational materials digitized by 2014, ready for the delivery of computers, smart phones and tablets the following year.
It sounds like Samsung may have a foot in the door in terms of supplying the devices, but you can expect the competition will heat up when an entire country embraces the eBook Revolution.
Jul 05
Technorati posted on the eBook Revolution, and wonders whether this is truly the end for the paper-based book.
I believe there will always be room for both. All publishers need to do is get behind the whole print-while-you-wait technology. They’re really dragging their feet on that.
Jul 04
PDFDevices.com posted on a great incentive from Barnes and Noble to upgrade your old NOOK device to their new NOOK Touch or NOOKColor eBook Readers.
Starting July 1st B&N will throw in 30 eBooks valued at $315 FREE to readers who do the upgrade.
Jul 01
Time Online reports on the HP TouchPad tablet pitched by its designer as the answer to Apple’s iPad. Time will have to decide.
Oh, and Happy Canada Day, to my fellow Canucks!
Jun 30
GoodeReader offers up a comprehensive review on the Aluratek Libre Color eReader. Specifications and photos at the link.
Jun 29
GoodeReader posted on the restrictions that face libraries that are joining the eBook Revolution.
Some months ago, HarperCollins fired the first shot by arbitrarily deciding that 26 was the magic number of loans (downloads) allowed on a title before libraries had to renew the eBook license.
It looked like a crock then, and it looks like a crock now.
Jun 27
One News Now’s Culture section updates us on the explosive growth of the eBook Revolution with eBooks gaining market share at an incredible pace–showing a 25% adoption rate in the US.
Jun 26
Many thanks to Jorgen for a link to a thought-provoking piece at The Independent on surviving (and reading) in the age of distraction.
Jun 24
eBookNewser offers a list of reading and eBook related social media networks. They vary from place to place but think book club, fan club and chat forum all rolled into one.
Some of these networks have been in place for years awaiting the eBook Revolution and you can tell which sites have set the high bar. They’re worth checking out if you like talking eBooks!
Jun 23
Techradar offers an explanation for the recent mysterious appearance of J.K. Rowling’s new website Pottermore. The site started rumors flying about whether Rowling was going to release a new book in the Harry Potter series. According to Techradar the site will provide interactive information and allow fans of the series to explore Harry Potter’s world.
Now, important to the eBook Revolution is the news that Rowling intends to sell eBook versions of the Harry Potter books via Pottermore–directly. If you remember, Rowling has resisted the conversion of her titles to eBooks, and now we read that she intends to sell them directly (sans Amazon, etc.) to readers, free of DRM so they’ll be accessible on any device.
This is exciting news indeed. A democratized digital publishing industry is changing the landscape yet again.
Author to reader sales may not work for new scribes, but publishing heavyweights like Rowling will be able to serve their fan base directly. Stephen King’s name immediately comes to mind.
