Tag: Corning

High Tech Glasses For The Visually Impaired, Update On The DOJ v. Apple E-Book Case, Amazon Brings Back Kindle DX, Cornell’s New Technology School & Librarian & Blogger David Lee King’s Tale On A Recent E-Book Conference

Linda Reimer

Wow talk about your tech news for the day! The cool tech articles I came across today were many! And the ones I selected to highlight on this blog discuss new high tech Google Glass-like eye glasses that will allow the visually impaired to read, an update on the Department of Justice v. Apple e-book anti-trust case, the fact that Amazon has at least for now brought back their 9.7” e-ink Kindle DX, Cornell’s got a new high tech technology school and Librarian and Blogger David Lee King offers his input on a recent e-book conference he attended that had publishers’ representatives, OverDrive staff (OverDrive is a library e-book vendor) and librarian professionals on hand.

High Tech Glasses For The Visually Impaired: A new Israeli company called OrCam has developed a pair of high tech eye glasses that will scan and read aloud text that the wearer passes in front of the glasses — allowing people that have macular degeneration or other vision impaired conditions to be able to essential have a narrator read things for them where every they go!

The New York Times offers an article on OrCam and the new high tech glasses titled “Device From Israeli Start-Up Gives the Visually Impaired a Way to Read:”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/science/israeli-start-up-gives-visually-impaired-a-way-to-read.html?ref=technology&_r=0

Update On The DOJ v. Apple E-Book Case: Reuters reports that the alleged alliance between Apple and five of the largest publishers in the U.S. was not a harmonious one and that there is evidence that Apple and the publishers were trying to force the media giant and e-book seller Amazon to accept publisher’s prices for e-books. Here is a link to a that Reuter’s article which offers a more in-depth report on the case so far:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/06/us-apple-ebooks-trial-idUSBRE95500U20130606

Amazon Brings Back Kindle DX: The tech site The Verge reports that Amazon’s Kindle DX which hasn’t been seen listed on the Amazon site for sale since last fall – is back! The Kindle DX is the 9.7” e-ink e-reader – so it is the same size as an iPad but features the e-ink technology so you can read an e-book on the DX outside – at the lake, at the beach or just in your back yard and there won’t be any glare from the screen as there is with a e-reading devices that has a color screen. The Kindle DX sells for $299.

And here’s a link to The Verge article itself titled “Amazon brings back long dormant Kindle DX, says it’s ‘excited’ to do so;”

http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/5/4399144/amazon-brings-back-long-dormant-kindle-dx

Cornell’s New Technology School: Cornell which won New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s contest to create a great new science & technology school has done so! The new school which is located on New York City’s Roosevelt Island is a huge space donated by Google for the project that is filled with cutting edge technology. The school which offers a one year master’s degree in computer science opened earlier this year and had eight students enrolled in its beta program this term. The school gives us a glance at what computer science schools of the future may be like.

Here’s a link to a New York Times article on the school titled “Building a Better Tech School” which offers more information on the subject:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/education/edlife/cornell-nyc-tech-planned-for-roosevelt-island-starts-up-in-chelsea.html?ref=technology

Librarian & Blogger David Lee King’s Take On A Recent E-Book Conference: Librarian and blogger David Lee King recently attended and e-book conference that featured representatives from major publishers in the U.S., from the library e-book vendors in the U.S. (namely OverDrive which is the vendor used by the Southern Tier Library System) and library professionals. David Lee paints a picture of publisher representatives that don’t seem to have been in a public library since they went to school and are under the mistaken impression that it is easy for patrons to download their e-books and keep them forever – which is not the case! Here’s the link to the David Lee King posting (from his blog) which is titled “Ebooks in Libraries – #BEA2013:”

http://www.davidleeking.com/2013/06/06/ebooks-in-libraries-bea2013/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+davidleeking+%28David+Lee+King%29#.UbD1Fec4vTo

And a link to an article he recommended titled “BEA Panel Suggests Publishers Still Clueless about Library E-Books and Piracy:”

http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/bea-panel-suggests-publishers-still-clueless-about-library-e-books-and-piracy/

And on a completely un-tech related note if by any chance there are any veterans who fought on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, who read this article today – hats off to you for helping free Europe from Nazi control and thus keeping our world a free one. Thank you!

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Markoff, John. (2013, June 3). Device From Israeli Start-Up Gives the Visually Impaired a Way to Read. New York Times. Online. Accessed June 6, 2013.

Meadows, Chris. (2013, June 4). BEA Panel Suggests Publishers Still Clueless about Library E-Books and Piracy. Teleread. Online. Accessed June 6, 2013.

Perez-Pena, Richard. (2013, April 13). Building a Better Tech School. The New York Times. Online. Accessed June 6, 2013.

Raymond, Nate. (2013, June 5). Publishers gave Amazon “ultimatum” over e-book pricing: executive. Reuters. Online. Accessed June 6, 2013.

Robertson, Adi. (2013, June 5). Amazon brings back long dormant Kindle DX, says it’s ‘excited’ to do so. The Verge. Online. Accessed June 6, 2013.

 

 

Apple News: iRadio, DOJ E-Book Case Begins & Upcoming World Wide Developer’s Conference

Linda Reimer

Most the hot tech news today is really all about Apple! Apple’s rumored to shortly be announced streaming music subscription service iRadio, the U.S. Department of Justice anti-trust lawsuit against Apple for allegedly conspiring with publishers to set higher e-book prices and Apple’s upcoming World Wide Developer’s Conference which will be held next week and during which Apple is known for announcing some new service and/or product.

So basically here’s the Apple news for today!

iRadio: Apple has been long rumored to be working on a streaming music subscription service like Spotify and Pandora. And CNET reports that Apple has reached a deal with the Warner Music group to stream their music titles which leads to speculation that Apple will announce a launch date for their iRadio service at their World Wide Developer’s Conference next week.

Here’s a link to a CNET article on the subject titled “Apple reaches iRadio deal with Warner Music Suggesting WWDC launch:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57587243-93/apple-reaches-iradio-deal-with-warner-music-suggesting-wwdc-launch/

DOJ E-Book Case Begins: Apple was one of the companies, along with five of the Big Six Publishers (the largest six publishers in the U.S.) to be investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice for e-book price fixing via an anti-trust lawsuit. The five publishers Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and Macmillan all settled the suite with the DOJ out of court but Apple spokesman insist Apple did not conspire with the previously mentioned publishers to set e-book prices and eliminate competition – particularly competition from the super e-book seller Amazon.

Here’s a link to an article on the subject that offers more in-depth information titled “Trial on E-Book Price-Fixing Puts Apple in Spotlight:”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/technology/e-book-antitrust-case-against-apple-to-begin.html?ref=technology

Upcoming World Wide Developer’s Conference: Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference, which is popular with app makers for obvious reasons, kicks off next Monday, June 10. Apple CEO Tim Cook will give the keynote address at the WWDC and the tech rumor mill is buzzing with ideas as to what new products and/or services Apple will announce during the keynote address. One of the hotly rumored items is some new version of the Apple TV streaming player but other items may include new features of iOS 7 (the next generation of Apple’s mobile operating software for iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch), new SIRI (Apple’s voice activated assistant on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) and more. We’ll have to wait until next week to know for sure of course but in the meantime we can speculate!

Here’s a link to an App Advice article titled “WWDC 2013 Countdown One More Thing Apple Should Announce June 10,” that talks about WWDC and the possibility of some type of new Apple TV device:

http://appadvice.com/appnn/2013/06/wwdc-2013-countdown-one-more-thing-apple-should-announce-june-10

And a link to a TechCrunch artilce titled “What To Watch For At WWDC 2013: More Freedom For Developers” that speculates perhaps Apple will allow app developers a bit more freedom in what types of apps and app options Apple will allow in its app store:

http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/02/what-to-watch-for-at-wwdc-2013-more-freedom-for-developers/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

References

Chen, Brian. & Bosman, Julie. (2013, June 2). Trial on E-Book Price-Fixing Puts Apple in Spotlight. New York Times. Online.

Etherington, Darrell. (2013, June 2). What To Watch For At WWDC 2013: More Freedom For Developers. TechCrunch. Online.

Gamet, Jeff. (2013, June 3). DOJ Ebook Price Fixing Trial Against Apple Starts Today. The Mac Observer. Online.  http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/doj-ebook-price-fixing-trial-against-apple-starts-today

Miller, Matthew. (2013, June 3). Apple works out deal with Warner Music; iRadio at WWDC likely. ZDNet. Online. http://www.zdnet.com/apple-works-out-deal-with-warner-music-iradio-at-wwdc-likely-7000016241/

Sloan, Paul. (2013, June 2). Apple reaches iRadio deal with Warner Music, Suggesting WWDC launch. CNET. Online.

Strange, Adario. (2013, June 3). Report: Warner Signs On for Apple iRadio Service. PC Mag. Online. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2419821,00.asp

Wolfe, Brian. (2013, June 3). WWDC 2013 Countdown: One More Thing Apple Should Announce June 10. App Advice. Online.

Suggested Digital Catalog Weekend Reading, Viewing & Listening Items:

Linda Reimer

E-Books:

Fiction:

Acceptable Loss, William Monk Mystery Series, Book 17 by Anne Perry: On a London riverbank, when the body of small-time crook Mickey Parfitt washes up with the tide, no one grieves. But William Monk, commander of the River Police, is puzzled by the murder weapon: an elegant scarf whose original owner was obviously a man of substance. Dockside informers lead Monk to a floating palace of corruption on the Thames managed by Parfitt, where a band of half-starved boys is held captive for men willing to pay a high price for midnight pleasures. Though Monk and his fearless wife, Hester, would gladly reward Parfitt’s killer, duty leads them in another direction–to an unresolved crime, to a deadly confrontation with some of the empire’s most respected men, and ultimately to a courtroom showdown with Monk’s old friend, Oliver Rathbone, in a trial of nearly unbearable tension and suspense.

Hearts of Shadow Deadglass Trilogy Series, Book 2 by Kira Brady: In this brilliant new novel in the Deadglass series, a fierce young woman’s quest entangles her in an apocalyptic endgame—and unexpected desire. . .

Grace Mercer’s unmatched wraith-killing ability made her the unofficial defender of a city shattered by supernatural catastrophe. So there’s no way she’ll allow the new regent of Seattle’s most powerful dragon shifter clan to “protect” her from a vicious evil stalking the ruined streets—and keep her from the freedom she’s risked everything to earn. Leif’s science-honed instincts tell him Grace is the key to keeping shifters and humans safe. But helping this wary fighter channel her untapped power is burning away the dragon’s sensual self-control and putting a crucial alliance at risk. Soon the only chance Leif and Grace will have to save their world will be a dangerously fragile link that could forever unite their souls. . .or consume all in a storm of destruction.

The Lost Continent by Edgar Rice Burroughs: The world has been divided into the western hemisphere and the forbidden lands of the eastern hemisphere. Europe has been isolated from the rest of the world for over two centuries and has spiralled down into primitive barbarism. Read The Lost Continent for a fantastic retake on history, as told by Turck’s adventures in the land that was all but lost to the world.

The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler: The seventh Oregon Files adventure thriller begins on December 7, 1941, when five boys encounter tragedy while looking for buried pirate treasure on a small island off the coast of Washington State. Flash-forward to today: Juan Cabrillo, captain of the Oregon (a high-tech vessel posing as a tramp freighter), is in Argentina, trying to recover a downed NASA satellite. Well, don’t you know, Juan stumbles on something he totally didn’t expect to find, and soon he’s chasing after the secrets of an ancient curse that might still be causing trouble. Fast-paced and a lot of fun, the latest Cabrillo novel delivers the wallop Cussler’s fans have come to expect. Cabrillo himself—he shares his name with a sixteenth-century Portuguese explorer, by the way—makes a fine protagonist, sharp-witted and two-fisted. Considering the Oregon Files novels involve action, exploration, and high-tech gadgetry, it’s surprising no one has turned them into movies yet. The prolific Cussler, who, like James Patterson, now employs coauthors (Du Brul in this case), is often accused of writing by the numbers, but this time those numbers add up to entertaining fare for high-adventure fans. –David Pitt, Booklist

Three Brides, No Groom by Debbie Macomber: Three women meet at their fifteen-year class reunion…and discover that their lives have taken unexpected directions.

Back in their college days, Gretchen Wise had been engaged to a top law student. Carol Furness, head cheerleader, had said yes to the school’s football hero. And Maddie Cobain was the girl who’d fallen for a professor.

Now the three of them gather around a popular fountain on the college grounds. This fountain was where lovers met, where promises were made…and broken. So it’s fitting that Gretchen, Carol and Maddie sit here to share their stories of betrayal and, yes, revenge. Stories of finding new love…

Non-Fiction:

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis: The definitive political biography of Rosa Parks examines her six decades of activism, challenging perceptions of her as an accidental actor in the civil rights movement

Presenting a corrective to the popular notion of Rosa Parks as the quiet seamstress who, with a single act, birthed the modern civil rights movement, Theoharis provides a revealing window into Parks’s politics and years of activism. She shows readers how this civil rights movement radical sought–for more than a half a century–to expose and eradicate the American racial-caste system in jobs, schools, public services, and criminal justice.

Presenting a corrective to the popular notion of Rosa Parks as the quiet seamstress who, with a single act, birthed the modern civil rights movement, Theoharis provides a revealing window into Parks’s politics and years of activism. She shows readers how this civil rights movement radical sought–for more than a half a century–to expose and eradicate the American racial-caste system in jobs, schools, public services, and criminal justice.

United Breaks Guitars: The Power of One Voice in the Age of Social Media by Dave Carroll: Songwriter Dave Carroll wasn’t the first person abused by an airline’s customer service, but he was the first to show how one person, armed with creativity, some friends, $150, and the internet, could turn an entire industry upside down. United Airlines had broken Dave’s guitar in checked luggage. After eight months of pestering the company for compensation, he turned to his best tool—songwriting—and vowed to create a YouTube video about the incident that he hoped would garner a million views in one year. Four days after its launching, the first million people had watched “United Breaks Guitars.” United stock went down 10 percent, shedding $180 million in value; Dave appeared on outlets as diverse as CNN and The View. United relented. Throughout the business world, people began to realize that “efficient” but inhuman customer-service policies had an unseen cost—brand destruction by frustrated, creative, and socially connected customers.

“United Breaks Guitars” has become a textbook example of the new relationship between companies and their customers, and has demonstrated the power of one voice in the age of social media. It has become a benchmark in the customer-service and music industries, as well as branding and social-media circles. Today, more than 150 million people are familiar with this story.

In this book, you’ll hear about how Dave developed the “just do it” philosophy that made him the ideal man to take on a big corporation, what it felt like to be in the center of the media frenzy, and how he’s taken his talents to become a sought-after songwriter and public speaker. Businesspeople will learn how companies should change their policies and address social-media uprisings. Since “United Breaks Guitars” emerged, nothing is the same—for consumers, for musicians, or for businesses. Whether you are a guitarist, a baggage handler, or a boardroom executive, this book will entertain you and remind you that we are all connected, that each of us matters, and that we all have a voice worth hearing.

Albums:

50 Best Patriotic American Classical Music Pieces by Various Artists:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1. Fanfare for the Common Man (1999 Digital Remaster) (Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México/Enrique Bátiz)

2. Rhapsody in Blue (jazzband version): Opening (Wayne Marshall/City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle)

3. The Stars and Stripes Forever (Band of HM Royal Marines/Lt-Col. G. A. C. Hoskins)

4. Candide: Overture (London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn)

5. Adagio for Strings, Op.11 (Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy)

6. Shaker Loops (1983): A Final Shaking (London Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Warren-Green)

7. Schindler’s List – Theme (Tasmin Little/New World Philharmonic/Iain Sutherland)

8. Nagoya Marimbas (for two marimbas) (Colin Currie/Sam Walton)

9. Any Other Name (American Beauty) (Nikolaj Bloch/Sally Herbert)

10. Three Occasions for Orchestra: A Celebration of some 100 x 150 notes (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle)

11. A Set Of Pieces For Theater Or Chamber Orchestra: Nr.3: In The Night (Ensemble Modern)

12. Cello Concerto, Op.22: II. Andante sostenuto (Ralph Kirshbaum/Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Jukka-Pekka Saraste)

13. Façades (London Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Warren-Green/John Harle/Simon Haram)

14. Rodeo (1999 Digital Remaster): Buckaroo Holiday (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

15. Rodeo (1999 Digital Remaster): Hoe-Down (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

16. Three Dances (2002 Digital Remaster): Dance No. 1 (Michael Tilson-Thomas)

17. My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from the movie Titanic) (Orchestra/David Abel)

18. Short Ride in a Fast Machine – Fanfare for orchestra (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle)

19. Ashokan Farewell (Nashville Chamber Orchestra/Paul Gambill)

20. On the Town – Three Dance Episodes: III. Times Square: 1944 (Leonard Slatkin/St Louis Symphony Orchestra)

21. Appalachian Spring (1999 Digital Remaster): Doppio Movimento: Variations On A Shaker Hymn (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

22. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: II. Somewhere (Paavo Järvi/City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra)

23. The way you look tonight (Swing Time, 1936) (1996 Digital Remaster) (Barry Tuckwell/Sir Richard Rodney Bennett/Ensemble/Neil Richardson)

24. Billy The Kid (1999 Digital Remaster): Celebration (After Billy’s Capture) (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

25. Porgy and Bess: Summertime (DuBose Hayward) (Dame Kiri Te Kanawa/New Princess Theater Orchestra/John McGlinn)

26. Someone to watch over me (Oh, Kay!, 1926) (2006 Digital Remaster) (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett)

27. The School for Scandal Overture Op. 5 (Leonard Slatkin/Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra)

28. An American in Paris (Leonard Slatkin/St Louis Symphony Orchestra)

29. Manhattan Beach (Timothy Foley – The Great American Main Street Band)

30. Three Preludes (2006 Digital Remaster): No. 1 in B flat (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett)

31. Three Preludes (2006 Digital Remaster): No. 2 in C sharp minor (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett)

32. Three Preludes (2006 Digital Remaster): No. 3 in E flat minor (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett)

33. Concerto for Orchestra: Introduction (Misterioso) (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

34. Concerto for Orchestra: I. Allegro non troppo (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

35. Concerto for Orchestra: II. Presto volando (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

36. Concerto for Orchestra: III. Maestoso (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

37. Concerto for Orchestra: IV. Coda (London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen)

38. Concerto for Orchestra: Coda (Allegro molto)…

(P) This compilation (P) 2011 EMI Records Ltd.

American Patriotic Music by Various Artists:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1 The Star Spangled Banner (arr. B. Holcombe): The Star Spangled Banner

10 Lincoln Portrait (Aaron Copland)

2 The Stars and Stripes Forever : The Stars and Stripes Forever (John Philip Sousa)

3 God Bless America (arr. R. Ringwald): God Bless America (Irving Berlin)

4 Semper Fidelis (John Philip Sousa)

5 My country ’tis of thee, “America” (arr. D. Pearson): My country ’tis of thee, “America” (Samuel Francis Smith)

6 The Glory of the Yankee Navy (John Philip Sousa)

7 America the Beautiful (arr. M. Hayes): America, the Beautiful (Katharine Lee Bates)

8 The New York Hippodrome (John Philip Sousa)

9 Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. J. Rutter): Battle Hymn of the Republic (Julia Ward Howe)

Videos:

America in World War II: The Home Front: While the Storm Clouds Gather (Volume 1 of 10) (PBS): Journalist Eric Sevareid narrates this engrossing continuation of the series BETWEEN THE WARS. Shocked into action by the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Americans respond with an exhilarating sense of common purpose and help build the world’s most powerful war production machine. Wartime newsreels, documentaries, movies, music, and humor chronicle changes in American ideals, lifestyles, and morals in the 1940s and 1950s.

Note: This is part 1 of a series of 10 parts.

Zora’s Roots (PBS): This program examines the life of author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God.

This program examines the life of author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. The film follows Hurston, best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, to the subtropical paradise that shaped her childhood and her life’s work – the place to which she returned again and again over the seven decades of her life for research, inspiration and solace. Filmed in high definition, the documentary tells her story through the people who knew her and the places and events that she brought to the world through her research and writing

You may access the STLS Digital Catalog by clicking the link on library’s homepage found at: SSCLIBRARY.ORG

Or via the following link:

http://stls.lib.overdrive.com/FE5904CF-8A91-4688-A592-7A046C7988D3/10/536/en/Default.htm

And if you have an app device look for the OverDrive Media Console app in your app store – it is the app that will allow you to check out free library e-books and audio books.

Digital Catalog music and video titles must currently be downloaded to a Windows computer to enjoy.

Have a great  holiday weekend!

Linda R.

 

Accessing The Online Library of Congress Collections, New iPad Shazam App, New Mailbox iPad App, What’s Next Digital Content Trend-Wise & Corning Inc. On Gorilla Glass

Linda Reimer

Wow, all I can say is so many interesting personal technology related stories and so little time!

Here are links to five interesting articles relating to personal technology!

1. Accessing The Online Library of Congress Collections: The New York Times has a short piece in their Gadgetwise column today titled “Tip of the Week: Touring the Library of Congress Digital Collections” which offers tips about what items/collections you can access for free on the Library of Congress website. If you haven’t taken a look at the LOC website recently – I urge you to check it out they have some really cool collections as does the Digital Public Library of American – their site too is free to access.

Here’s a link to the New York Times column:

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/tip-of-the-week-touring-the-library-of-congress-digital-collections/

A link to the Library of Congress site:

http://www.loc.gov/index.html

And a link to the Digital Public Library of America site:

http://dp.la/

2. New Shazam App For iPad: If you’re not familiar with it Shazam has had an iPad app out for quite a while – and it is one of the neat ones that will “listen” to a song playing in the background and tell you what it is so you can buy it and listen to that great song any time you want to. And they have just updated their app and made it even better! The new and improved app has a bunch of new features and my favorite of them is the ability to allow Shazam to listen to television programs and tell you which program your are watching – for all those times when you catch the last five minutes of a show and/or hear a clip from a TV show while you’re out and about and would like to watch the entire show later – now Shazam can help you with that! The app is free from the app store.

And here’s a link to a Mashable article titled “Shazam Launches New App For iPad” that will tell you more about the new Shazam app bells and whistles:

http://mashable.com/2013/05/23/shazam-ipad-app/

3. New Mailbox iPad App: The Mailbox app for the iPhone has been available for a while and now there is an iPad app too. And if you’re not familiar with it the Mailbox app offers you a few more organizational features if you use it to read your mail on the iPad than does the native iPad email client (the built in one that comes with the iPad right  out of the box).

Here’s a link to a Mashable article on the subject that will tell you more titled simply “Mailbox Comes to iPad:”

http://mashable.com/2013/05/23/mailbox-ipad/

4. What’s Next Digital Content Trend-Wise:  The American Library Association has just put out a report titled “Digital Content: What’s Next” which speculates on what public libraries can and should do to continue to offer patrons the access to digital content that they want and expect in our quickly-changing-rapidly-advancing technological world! This is the perfect article for library and tech fans!

The Digital Book Word article “Digital Content: What’s Next” can be accessed via this link:

http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/digital-content-whats-next/

And the 30 page American Library Association article itself on digital content can be accessed via the following link:

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/7d9e3366#/7d9e3366/2

5. Corning Inc. On Gorilla Glass: There have been a number of tech articles circulating recently speculating that just perhaps sapphire glass might be used to manufacture tablet and smartphone screens in the near future. And Corning Inc. has a word or two to say on the subject – and basically what they say is that their Gorilla Glass is superior by far to sapphire glass which is, among other things, quite a bit heavier than Gorilla Glass.

There are several articles out now that note what Corning spokesmen have said about Gorilla Glass but I went right to the horse’s mouth and found an article on the Corning Inc. website that says – well, the article offers facts and video clips that illustrate why Gorilla Glass is the superior glass for use in manufacturing displays for tablets, smartphones and other devices.

The Corning article is titled: n” Corning® Gorilla® Glass Now Found On More Than 1.5 Billion Devices Continuing innovation to fuel future versions Sapphire not seen as major threat” and here’s the link:

http://www.corning.com/news_center/features/gorillaglasssuccess.aspx

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Biersdorfer, J. D. (2013, May 23). Tip of the Week: Touring the Library of Congress Digital Collections. New York Times. Onlne.

Corning® Gorilla® Glass Now Found On More Than 1.5 Billion Devices: Continuing innovation to fuel future versions: Sapphire not seen as major threat. (2013, May). Online.

Fiegerman, Seth. (2013, May 23). Mailbox Comes to iPad. Mashable. Online.

Inouye, Alan. (2013, May 23). Digital Content: What’s Next. DBW. Online.

Price, Emily, (2013, May 23). Shazam Launches New App For iPad. Mashable. Online. 

And as usual — I have to say — don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

The New Battle For Your TV, Voice Commands & Internet Connecting Glasses (Like Google Glass) May Be Mainstream Within Three Years

Linda Reimer

It has been super swamped today in library land thus a shorter than usual Tech Talk posting!

However, I have come across three cool articles I wanted to share!

  1. The New Battle For Your TV: New online/streaming consoles are coming Microsoft and Sony (Xbox One & PlayStation 4) later this year that will have more bells and whistles and do their best to merge the best of streaming boxes like the Roku player and Apple TV with gaming consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation. The tech site The Verge has a neat article on this very subject titled “With Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Microsoft and Sony rekindle the war for your TV” – here’s the link:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4351892/xbox-one-playstation-4-comparison-sony-microsoft-next-generation

  1. Voice Commands: Both Apple and Android tablets and smartphones now have the capability for you to enter voice commands (i.e. Apple’s Siri) and according to CNET this year may just be the year this technology becomes mainstream and integrated into our daily lives.

Here’s a link to the CNET article titled “2013 Is The Year Of The Voice Command:”

http://news.cnet.com/8301-33617_3-57585521-276/2013-is-the-year-of-the-voice-command/

  1. Internet Connecting Glasses (Like Google Glass) May Be Mainstream Within Three Years: And the tech site Slash Gear offers an article on Internet connecting glasses like Google Glass – the article speculates that within three years this technology, like the voice command technology, will become mainstream and be integrated into our daily lives.

The Slash Gear article is called “Wearables like Glass and Flex could be a $50bn industry in 3 years” – here’s the link:

http://www.slashgear.com/wearables-like-glass-and-flex-could-be-a-50bn-industry-in-3-years-21282924/

 

Have a great day!

Linda

References

Davis, Chris. (2013, May 21). Wearables like Glass and Flex could be a $50bn industry in 3 years. Slash Gear. Online.

Parr, Ben. (2013, May 21). 2013 is the year of the voice command: Thanks to Google, Apple, Microsoft, Nuance and a few other tech giants, voice recognition has reached a place where it’s consumer ready. CNET. Online.

Welch, Chris. (2013, May 21). With Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Microsoft and Sony rekindle the war for your TV. The Verge. Online.

 

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

 

In The Future Will Robots Take Care Of The Elderly?

Linda Reimer

The New York Times featured an interesting article yesterday titled “Helper Robots Are Steered, Tentatively, To Care for the Aging” and it discusses technology that is almost here that will allow us to have robots in our homes to do certain tasks – and those robots will even be able to assist the disabled or elderly in doing certain tasks. The is subject of having robots assist elderly people in their homes brings up the debate of how much technology in our lives can be considered too much because the argument can be made that people should take care of people and that robots shouldn’t. However, this subject is likely to be in the news frequently in the near future because the number of people over the age of 65 is growing and the number of human workers that are available to assist people with special needs, including the elderly, is shrinking.

And on another note the article makes another interesting point – that the seniors that were asked about having a robot in their home to assist them wanted the robots to look as human as possible if they were doing anything other than mundane tasks like vacuuming the floor.

It is an interesting article and you can access it via the following link:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/disruptions-helper-robots-are-steered-tentatively-to-elder-care/?ref=technology

Have a great day!

Linda R.

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

References

Bilton, Nick. (2013, May 20). Disruptions: Helper Robots Are Steered, Tentatively, To Care for the Aging: 

Weekend Digital Catalog Suggested Reading, Viewing & Listening

Linda Reimer

Here is the list of suggested digital reading, viewing and listening titles for this weekend!

The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone: (An e-book that is now available for everyone!); No holds for this title because it is the OverDrive Big Library Read title!): In small towns between the North Carolina Piedmont and the coast the best scenery is often in the sky. On flat sweeps of red clay and scrub pine the days move monotonously, safely, but above, in the blink of an eye, dangerous clouds can boil out of all four corners of the sky…The flat slow land starts to shiver and anything can happen.

In such a storm, on Annie Peregrine’s seventh birthday, her father gave her the airplane and minutes later drove out of her life. Thus begins an enchanting novel that bursts with energy from the first pages, and sweeps you off on a journey of unforgettable characters, hilarious encounters, and haunting secrets.

The Four Corners of the Sky is master storyteller Michael Malone’s new novel of love, secrets, and the mysterious bonds of families. Malone brings characters to life as only he can, exploring the questions that defy easy answers: Is love a choice or a calling? Why do the ties of family bind so tightly? And is forgiveness a gift to others…or a gift we give ourselves?

Flora by Gale Godwin: The family members Helen depended on are gone. She lost her mother some years before, and her beloved grandmother has just passed away. And now her father has left town to work on a top secret military project at Oak Ridge during the final months of World War II. Helen is wise beyond her years, but a ten-year-old cannot be left on her own to fend for herself. Her father arranges a summer guardian, Flora, her late mother’s twenty-two year old first cousin who cries at the drop of a hat. A fiercely imaginative child, Helen is desperate to keep her house intact, with all its ghosts and stories. Flora is the good-hearted, modest cousin who wants to do her best for Helen. Their relationship and its fallout, played out against a backdrop of a lost America, will haunt Helen for the rest of her life.

Inferno by Dan Brown: In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

Nicholas by Grace Burrowes: Nicholas Haddonfield has something to hide…After a wild youth, Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston, has promised his ailing father he’ll finally take a bride, though doing so will force Nick to make impossible choices and face old, painful wounds.

Leah Lindsey is glad to find refuge from her own desperate situation in a marriage of convenience with the gallant viscount. But soon convenience is not enough, and Leah can’t understand why Nick remains so distant. What is he hiding, and will he never allow her into his heart?

An extraordinary and passionate tale of courage tested and fears overcome. Once you enter the lush Regency world of award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes, you’ll never want to leave.

E-Books For Kids:

The Elephant Mountains by Scott Ely: An unprecedented series of hurricanes has swollen the Mississippi River to unheard-of levels and is threatening to put New Orleans and most of the low-lying areas of the South under water. Fifteen-year-old Stephen is spending the summer with his father near a small town north of Lake Pontchartrain when another powerful hurricane arrives and the levees on the Mississippi River completely fail. In the anarchy and chaos that results, Stephen’s father is killed, and the boy is left to fend for himself. Stephen soon encounters Angela, a college student whose parents have also been killed. Navigating the labyrinth of flooded fields and towns in an airboat, the two set out in search of Stephen’s mother and higher ground. Armed with both guns and the skills his survivalist father has taught him, and repeatedly confronted by those who will kill for food, water and weapons, Stephen struggles to maintain hope and his humanity in the face of violence and desperation.

The Enchanting World of Garden Irene McGeeny by Concetta Kennedy: Garden Irene McGeeny has a secret. One that she’s not supposed to tell anybody. It is that her family lives in an underground castle! She tries to keep her secret, but she mistakenly blurts it out during class—the rest of the students don’t believe her. Peter, who becomes an unlikely friend, tries to prove her wrong, which leads Garden to do the unthinkable: take him to her home! Realizing the trouble Garden would be in if her parents find out or if the rest of the kids at school know the truth, Garden and Peter try to keep the secret a secret. Will the rest of the kids find out? Will the truth of Garden’s home become known by all?

The Ark of Dun Ruah, Book 1 by Maria Burke: Reached #1 on the Irish Children’s Fiction Bestseller list!’Where are you going in such a hurry?’ Kerry asked Pod, the blue Owl. He flitted nervously around her shoulders. ‘the eagles are after me,’ he panted. ‘they’re coming around the corner. this time they’ll get me. I’m done for…’The quiet life of Kilbeggin is shattered when a horde of Giant Eagles descend on it. They are bent on an evil mission. Brother and sister Simon and Kerry Macken are hurled into an adventure almost beyond their control. No one believes their friend Pod, the blue Owl, when he claims that the eagles are trying to abduct him. Simon witnesses a vicious eagle attack on a mysterious stranger in a grey cloak. And it’s clear that this man has some kind of supernatural power over the eagles.On board the legendary ship, the Ark of Dun Ruah, Pod comes face to face with the deadly force of evil, this threat comes form a remote monastic island. Does the man in the grey cloak really have power over the eagles? How can he hold back a tyrannical eagle King and his army of brainwashed hit men?Giant Eagles are far from being extinct, they have the power to carry grown men to their deaths. What chance does a grumpy old owl and his friends have against them?…Author:Maria Burke lives in Cork with her husband and eleven year old son. She is a writer, radio presenter and artist. She worked as a primary school teacher for some years and her love of story telling started there. This is Maria’s first novel and the first in the “Ark of Dun Ruah series”. The next book is “Protectors of the Flame”.

Suggested Album:

All The Best by Tina Turner:

Digital Audio Download Includes:

1. Open Arms (Tina Turner)

2. Nutbush City Limits (Ike And Tina Turner)

3. What You Get Is What You See (Tina Turner)

4. Missing You (Tina Turner)

5. The Best (Tina Turner)

6. River Deep Mountain High (Ike And Tina Turner)

7. When The Heartache Is Over (Tina Turner)

8. Let’s Stay Together (Album Version) (Tina Turner)

9. I Don’t Wanna Fight (Single Edit) (Tina Turner)

10. Whatever You Need (Tina Turner)

11. I Can’t Stand The Rain (Tina Turner)

12. Goldeneye (Tina Turner)

13. I Don’t Wanna Lose You (Tina Turner)

14. Great Spirits (Tina Turner)

15. Proud Mary (Tina Turner)

16. Addicted To Love (Live at Camden Palace, London) (1994 Digital Remaster) (Tina Turner)

17. In Your Wildest Dreams (Tina Turner)

18. Private Dancer (Single Edit) (Tina Turner)

19. Why Must We Wait Until Tonight (7” Edit) (Tina Turner)

20. Typical Male (Tina Turner)

21. Tonight (1999 Digital Remaster) (David Bowie With Tina Turner)

22. Complicated Disaster (Tina Turner)

23. On Silent Wings (Single Edit) (Tina Turner)

24. Something Special (Tina Turner)

25. We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (Tina Turner)

26. It’s Only Love (Bryan Adams with Tina Turner)

27. Cose Della Vita (Eros Ramazzotti With Tina Turner)

28. Steamy Windows (Tina Turner)

29. Paradise Is Here (Tina Turner)

30. What’s Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner)

31. Better Be Good To Me (Tina Turner)

32. Two People (Tina Turner)

33. Something Beautiful Remains (Tina Turner)

Suggested Audio Books:

Cherished by Maya Banks: Two all-new novellas that cross the boundaries of desire. Exiled by Maya Banks—Enticed to the island paradise where an enigmatic prince is living in exile, beautiful, virginal Talia is introduced to a world of forbidden pleasure where the prince’s every whim is fulfilled and her fantasies are rendered in exquisite detail. But when the prince is summoned back to fulfill his duty to his struggling country, reality is thrust upon Talia all too soon. She returns home, heartbroken, convinced she was a passing fancy for an idle ruler and his most trusted men. Until the day they arrive on her doorstep, determined to have her back where she belongs. Sway by Lauren Dane—Levi Warner is an established, older man—wealthy, powerful, and above all, respectable. Then Levi meets Daisy, an uninhibited 24-year-old dance instructor and artist, not exactly the kind of woman Levi is accustomed to. But the young, free spirit, brings out something in him he only experienced in fantasies. When their scorching affair turns into something unexpectedly deeper, Levi finds himself torn between preserving his reputation, and exploring a wilder and much more satisfying kind of life.

Misled, Carnal Thirst Series, Book1 by Sylvia Day: Special Task Force agent Derek Atkinson has a craving for luscious vampire Sable Taylor. But Sable is a bounty hunter, which makes him direct competition in the capture of wanted criminals. Despite the obvious attraction between them, she won’t give him a chance and after two years, he’s tired of waiting for her to come around. So he’s got a plan to give them both what they want… each other.

Sable’s on a dangerous mission. She’s not who Derek thinks she is, so a relationship just isn’t possible. But like most master vampires, Derek’s wily and used to having his way. When he traps her on his ship, she decides to indulge. Two straight days of mind-blowing sex should be enough, but it isn’t, not for either of them. Her heart is involved now, but Sable can’t let Derek get too close. If he finds out what she’s doing, he’ll never forgive her.

Derek, however, refuses to let go. Now he’s getting shot at and asking questions she shouldn’t answer. Sable has to reveal the truth… Derek’s love has been misled.

Suggested Videos:

Easy Piano:  Covers all the basics a beginner needs to know! Have you ever wished you could play the piano, but didn’t know where to start? Easy Piano is the answer. Just follow along with the step-by-step personal lessons, and you’ll be playing tunes for your friends in no time. Easy-to-use lesson menus. Expert demonstrations. Demonstration of correct technique by an expert. Lessons & tunes at basic & advanced levels. Learn by ear or use guide to reading music. Pieces & chords to practice. Step-by-step video lessons. Easy-to-follow, close-up views of both hands. Interactive menu selection.

Easy Yoga: Discover a timeless path to physical and spiritual health, fitness and wellness! For centuries, people all over the world have practiced a system of mind and body exercise called Yoga. This interactive video presents the ancient practice of Yoga as a modern way of thinking and living that brings order and balance to busy lives. Our trained yoga expert will take you through a series of positions that can build your body’s strength and flexibility, while bringing you toward inner peace and harmony. Just relax and follow along! Learn international styles. Learn exercises for body & soul. Video demonstrations of many popular yogic postures. Shows full sequences for individual postures. Learn breathing & meditation techniques, standing & seated postures, back bends, stretches …and more!

The STLS Digital Catalog may be found on the library’s homepage of SSCLIBRARY.ORG

Or via the following link:

http://stls.lib.overdrive.com/FE5904CF-8A91-4688-A592-7A046C7988D3/10/536/en/Default.htm

And if you have an app device look for the OverDrive Media Console app in your app store – it is the app that will allow you to check out free library e-books and audio books.

Digital Catalog music and video titles must currently be downloaded to a Windows computer to enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Linda R.

As usual —

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is!

 

News From Google’s Developer’s Conference & iTunes Gets An Update

Linda Reimer

News From Google’s Developer’s Conference: Google is hosting its annual developer’s conference this week and PC Magazine has a slide show of what it describes as “The 10 most exciting things Google announced at I/O.” Those new and exciting things include hands free Google search, a new subscription music service (like Pandora) called “All Access,” the ability to send people money by Gmail and an updated Google Hangout app (it has more of the proverbial bells and whistles).

Here’s a link to the PC Magazine article and slideshow:

http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/311550/the-10-most-exciting-things-google-announced-at-i-o

And the New York Times offers an article today that relays the fact that more apps are now available for the Internet connecting Google Glass glasses. The new apps are: CNN, Elle, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and Evernote. Here’s a link to the Times’ article which is titled “New Apps Arrive on Google Glass:”

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/new-apps-arrive-on-google-glass/?ref=technology

iTunes Gets An Update: Apple rolled out an iTunes update today – not a major revamp of the software like the one we saw last fall but instead an update with incremental improvements including a new and jazzy mini player and a fix for the multi-disc album issue – and by that I simply mean that if, for example, you import your two disc version of Billy Joel’s Great Hits into iTunes by putting the disc themselves into your computer – iTunes will no longer treat each disc as a separate disc but instead will put all the songs together where they belong – under the album title. Here’s a link to a Digital Trends article on the iTunes upgraded titled “iTunes 11.3 Arrives With New Miniplayer And Improved Multi-Disc Support:”

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/itunes-11-03-arrives-with-new-miniplayer-and-improved-multi-disc-support/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

P.S. And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is! 

References

Albanesius, Chloe. (2013, May 16). The 10 Most Exciting Things Google Announced at I/O. PC Magazine. Online.

Miller, Claire Cain. (2013, May 16). New Apps Arrive on Google Glass. New York Times. Online. 

E-Book News Parts 1 & 2 & Print A 3D Star Wars Stormtrooper Action Figure That Looks Like You!

Linda Reimer

E-Book News Part 1: E-Book Sales Up 44% In 2012 Over 2011: According to the Association of American Publishers & the Book Industry Study Group’s annual report ebook sales rose to comprise 20% of all books sold in 2012. And to give you an idea of why this is a big deal consider that e-book sales rose 44% in 2012 over the 2011 figures and made publishers $3.042 billion dollars in 2012. So we are quickly moving towards the tipping point where more U.S. consumers will read ebooks instead of print books and thus U.S. Publishing companies will make more money on ebook sales than on print book sales.

Here’s a link to a short paidContent article on the subject titled “Ebooks made 20% of the U.S. consumer book industry in 2012, up from 15% in 2011;”

http://paidcontent.org/2013/05/15/ebooks-made-up-20-of-the-u-s-consumer-book-industry-in-2012-up-from-15-in-2011/

And a link to a New York Times article on the same subject titled “E-Book Sales a Boon to Publishers in 2012:”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/business/media/e-book-sales-a-boon-to-publishers-in-2012.html

E-Book News Part 2: Department of Justice Deems Apple “Ringmaster” In E-Book Anti-Trust Suit: The U.S. Department of Justice has deemed Apple the “Ringmaster” in lawsuit it brought against Apple and five of the six largest publishers in the United States that are collectively known as “The Big Six.” The five publishers Simon & Schuster, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan and Penguin all settled the DOJ suit last year leaving Apple as the lone company fighting against the Department of Justice suit. Apple is now asserting, in response to the DOJ judgment that Apple was the ringleader that came up with the plain to collude with the previously mentioned Big Five, that it fact it was the Big Five publishers that came up with the collusion plan to fix e-book prices via an Agency Model. The anti-trust suit will go to trial in June and the outcome may have a great impact on how much publisher charge for e-books – we’ll have to wait and see how the DOJ rules to find out.

Here’s a link to a New York Times article on the suit titled “U.S. Now Paints Apple as ‘Ringmaster’ in Its Lawsuit on E-Book Price-Fixing;”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/technology/us-now-paints-apple-as-ringmaster-in-its-lawsuit-on-e-book-price-fixing.html?_r=0

Print A 3D Star Wars Stormtrooper Action Figure That Looks Like You! Disney, which recently purchased the rights to the Star Wars franchise is hosting a series of events titled “Star Wars Weekends” in May & June and as part of the Star Wars celebration is giving fans a chance to put their faces on a 3-D printed Star Wars action figure. The Stormtrooper figures are called “Star Wars D-Tech Me” and cost $99.95 plus shipping and sales tax per figure. So for $100 you can turn yourself into a Star Wars action figure!

And if you think $99.95 is rather a high price to pay for a cool personalized 3-D Star Wars action figure – not to worry! The cost of 3-D Printers is coming down and Staples will even begin to sell a 3D Printer in June so within just a few years you’ll no doubt be able to “print” a personalized Star Wars action figure at a home, office or public library near you for a much cheaper price.

Here’s a link to the short Mashable article, titled Turn Yourself Into a 3D-Printed Star Wars Stormtrooper,  on the personalized Star Wars Stormtrooper:

http://mashable.com/2013/05/15/3d-printed-star-wars-stormtrooper/

And don’t forget if you just bought, or received as a gift a new tablet, e-reader, PC or other tech item and would like to know more about how to use it — you can make an appointment at the library for a free On-On-One tech session and a member of our tech team will show you the digital ropes! Call the Reference Desk at: 607-936-3713 to make an appointment! Did I mention it is a free service the library offers? It is!

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Bosman, Julie. (2013, May 15). E-Book Sales a Boon to Publishers in 2012. New York Times. Online.

Hutchings, Emma. (2013, May 15). Turn Yourself Into a 3D-Printed Star Wars Stormtrooper. Mashable. Onlne.

Owen, Laura Hazard. (2013, May 15). Ebooks made up 20% of the US consumer book industry in 2012 up from 15% in 2011. paidContent. Online.

Wyatt, Edward. & Wingfield, Nick. (2013, May 14). U.S. Now Paints Apple as ‘Ringmaster’ in Its Lawsuite on E-Book Price-Fixing. New York Times. Online.

Kindle Romance Podcasts & PBS MediaShift Begins Publishing E-Books

Linda Reimer

Kindle Romance Podcasts: Amazon is launching a weekly romance podcast series this week titled “Kindle Love Stories.” The Kindle podcast will feature reviews, interviews with authors and news on new and exciting trends in the romance book field.

Here’s a link to a USA Today article, Breaking news! Amazon launches Kindle Love Stories podcast, focused on romance books, that offers a link to the podcast and more information on the subject:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2013/05/13/kindle-love-stories-podcast-amazon-laura-roppe-tracy-brogan/2154253/

And here’s a direct link to the Amazon Romance webpage which notes all the new and popular romance books you might like to read!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=lp_283155_nr_n_23?rh=n%3A283155%2Cn%3A%211000%2Cn%3A23&bbn=1000&ie=UTF8&qid=1368475623&rnid=1000

PBS MediaShift Begins Publishing E-Books: If you’re not familiar with it MediaShift is a site established by PBS in 2006, with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, that studies how citizen journalism, podcasts, social media, weblogs, online video, news aggregators and other digitally created and accessed media items are changing our lives and what we want and expect from online media.

And MediaShift, as an offshoot of PBS, has just launched a new e-book publishing service which will publish e-books and on demand print books based upon the subjects discussed and information found on the MediaShift website.

The first two titles in this new PBS/MediaShift publishing company are 1. “Your Guide to Cutting the Cord to Cable TV (Updated 2013 Edition)” By Mark Glaser, with essays by Dan Reimold and Seth Shapiro and 2. “How to Self-Publish Your Book” by Carla King; both titles obviously delve into tech related subjects. And as anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis knows – I am all for streaming video and cord cutting! Give me that Netflix subscription, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video and I am all set!

Here’s a link to a PBS/Media Shift page on the new publishing company:

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/e-books

A link to a related article from the paidContent website which offers more information on this new publishing service:

http://paidcontent.org/2013/05/13/pbs-mediashift-starts-publishing-ebooks-first-topics-cord-cutting-and-self-publishing/

And a link to the About page on the MediaShift website just in case you’d like to know more about MediaShift:

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/about

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

About. MediaShift. Online. Accessed May 13, 2013.

E-Books. MediaShift. Online. Accessed May 13, 2013.

Lamb, Joyce. (2013, May 13). Breaking news! Amazon launches Kindle Love Stories podcast. USA Today. Onlien.

Owen, Laura Hazard. (2013, May 13). Amazon Publishing launches Kindle Love Stories podcast, focused on romance books. paidContent. Online. http://paidcontent.org/2013/05/13/amazon-publishing-launches-kindle-love-stories-podcast-focused-on-romance-books/

Owen, Laura Hazard. (2013, May 13). PBS MediaShift starts publishing ebooks; first topics: cord-cutting and self-publishing. paidContent. Online.