Posted by admin on Feb 9, 2010 in
books,
geekery,
news 
Forget thumbing through novels filled with indescribable stains, the library of the future will provide you with germ free digital copies that can be easily read on your e-reader. The library of the future does away with fines and books that smell of toilets and trauma, instead you’ll have pristine digital versions that time out after 30 days. Whether you’re reading these novels on your iPad or your Nook, it doesn’t matter, as the future of eBooks is all about the software and less about the hardware. Sure, you need a screen of suitable size to peruse your novel on, but once you’ve made your initial purchase you’re sorted.
Once books are fully digitized and able to be rented online from public libraries we’ll know the era of the eBook has truly landed. We’re pretty close already, as so far there are three libraries in the UK that run a virtual lending scheme- Luton, Essex and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead with more scheduled to follow suit.
These schemes are by no means perfect as they have a limited selection of books on offer and the search functions could be majorly improved, but compared to sites which only offer free eBooks (those that are out of copyright) these sites are hugely progressive, as are the counties that have funded them.
Lending libraries mainly work by using a system called Overdrive, which has already been very popular in the USA. Perhaps it’s no surprise that eBook libraries are well established there as they have had eReaders for a significantly longer timer than us, with the major player in their market being the Kindle. The Overdrive system allows you to virtually check out books which you can then read on various devices till they ‘time out’, and then you can renew them. The limited selection of authors may have something to do with royalties, but a quick browse was reasonably impressive, with the latest releases from James Patterson, Meg Cabot, and um, Fern Britton on offer. Read more…
Tags: ebook, ebook library, eReader, essex library, library, overdrive, virtual library
Posted by admin on Jan 18, 2010 in
books,
technology 
It’s no secret that I’m a hardcore eBook fan, which probably has something to do with the fact that I speed read almost as fast as I talk. The variety of platforms to read eBooks on is expanding faster than ever as many companies are embracing the trend and we’re seeing a wide range of devices enter the market. The recent Consumer Electronic Show 2010 in Las Vegas had a large section dedicated primarily to eBooks and eReaders and I’ve rounded up the best of the bunch. They’re due out later this year, and will hopefully be (relatively) affordable.
The EnTourage eDGe
This device breaks new ground for the eBook market as it features a dual screen. The idea is that you use eInk on the left hand side to browse through books comfortably (eInk doesn’t cause the eyestrain that LCD does) and the other side to choose books and browse the web. The eReader part features a 9.7 inch screen and the LCD screen is 10.1 inches. I guess you don’t notice the difference when you close it, otherwise that would be quite ungainly. The eInk screen also lets you annotate books and write comments, and this will then be saved as a separate word document which lets you email it to peruse at your leisure.
The eDGe is compatible with ePub and PDF files, but they don’t currently mention any others which is a shame as it suggest JPEGs, DOCs and LIT files are all excluded. Though the eInk screen doesn’t show JPEG’s , they are displayed on the colour screen which might be a little confusing.
The colour touchscreen side is essentially a tablet style netbook, as you can browse the web, type emails and order more eBooks. You do this by opening a virtual keyboard and either using the stylus or your hand to type. MP3 files can be played so it can double up as a music player (nice for audio books perhaps) and there’s a video recorder included which is a little bizarre (hey- here’s a snap of me reading.. again) but a nice extra touch. The colour screen works by using my beloved Android OS (operating system) so you’ll be able to access a wealth of apps for the device. Is this really necessary for an eBook.? No, it’s taking eReaders away from their main purpose and making them a hybrid tablet mashup. Still, it’s innovative- if only the price wasn’t so high!
Currently $490 from Entourage (£300!)
Read more…
Tags: Amazon Kindle, Bookeen Orizon, ebook, enTourage eDGe, eReader, iriver story, Plastic Logic Que, Platic logic Que, Skiff ereader, Spring Design Alex
Posted by admin on Jan 17, 2010 in
books,
lists 
The last two months have seen a heightened level of reading time, due to holidaying, and thus a great many more books were consumed than normal. Due to a particularly helpful bittorrent, I managed to make my way through some of my favourite authors back catalogue, and can happily now add a wide selection of Philip. K.Dick novels to my mental library.
The Gathering storm, Wheel of Time , By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
I was completely devastated when Robert Jordan died, in part because it’s always a shame when one loses a great man due to the ravages of illness, and partly because I’d immersed myself in the WOT series for ten years now, and NEEDED to know what would happen to Rand et al. Jordan created a world of such density and scale that Sanderson, the new ghostwriter couldn’t manage to end the age in one book, needing three in fact to do so. This is the first book in the final trilogy and Sanderson has an acute wry style which picks up perfectly where Jordan left off. His turn of phrase is remarkably accurate, and the characters conundrums continue to be compelling and perplexing. Read more…
Tags: Ben Elton Meltdown, books, Kiran Desai, Marian Keyes, Philip.K.Dick, reading list, Robert Aspirin, Wheel of Time
Posted by admin on Nov 28, 2009 in
books 
Another month, another multitude of books that have been devoured. A stranger selection than usual.
Unseen Academicals, Terry Pratchett
Pratchett bravely tackles the eccentricities of football in his latest book, referencing the varying views on the popular sport. You see the wizards of the Unseen University learning to master it, and the street urchins displaying unfathomable skill which seems magical to the wizards. An interesting dissection of how sport crosses all cultural divides, and how it’s perceived by those not directly involved in it.
Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett
Deeply delicious, this book follows the unlikely tale of a hostage situation, where a house full of wealthy people are captured and then held for over 3 months. The relationships and entanglements that form out of this situation are strangely dark, yet sweet; and though the end is inevitably tragic the journey is unforgettable. Read more…
Tags: books, reading, Terry Pratchett
Posted by admin on Nov 5, 2009 in
books,
news 
I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a play since I heard the orchestral intro to the Terry Pratchett adaptation of Only You can Save mankind, the first book in his Johnny Maxwell trilogy. OK, that became an album rather than the stage show I anticipated, but the same heart fluttering excitement was to be had. When the above image popped into my inbox I was excited all over again, though I’d rather they’d chosen one of his Discworld novels to adapt, rather than his reworking of the Lord of the Flies.
Mark Ravenhill, creator of The Cut has adapted the book for the stage, with the first showing on November 11th 2009. There’s also a competition running in conjunction with this which gives young auteur’s the chance to get involved. The categories are for 10-14 and 15-17 year olds, and they need to film a 3 minute YouTube clip featuring an extract from the novel, with the winning entries reshot and screened in January.
Get your tickets here before they sell out!! They’re currently starting at £22 for adults, and seats are going fast.
Tags: Nation, National Theatre, Terry Pratchett
Posted by admin on Oct 3, 2009 in
books 
The last two months have seen me whittle down the Booker list even more, as well as indulge in some heavy chick-lit, for no other reason than it’s easy to find in charity shops. My attempt to be frugal has resulted in a lower calibre of books being read, but has also introduced me to some new authors. Typically, when I did splash out on a new hardback (Nick Hornby, Juliet naked) I was disappointed.
The Life and Times of Michael K by J.M Coteze
A moving tale featuring a Forrest Gump a like protagonist. Expertly woven characters flesh out the book and the miniature descriptions of activities such as sleeping and eating add poignancy.
Daemons are Forever by Simon R. Green
Green is famous for his rollicking fight scenes, boundless enthusiasm and characters that don’t just jump off the page, they come swords drawn and teeth bared. For this he can be excused plot repetition and a disregard for syntax. We follow the antics of Shaman Bond, one of the Drood family, in his quest to save the world from evil spirits, followed by his sidekick Mad Molly of the woods. Fast-paced and full of life, this is popular sci-fi at its best.
White Tiger by Aravinda Adiga
An entertaining breeze through the strange occurrences that make up Indian life, with brutality and segregation cloaked in a veil of humor and an oddly compelling narrative. The protagonist displays a strange mixture of casual racism and sensitivity and you’re torn between condemning and commiserating with him. Read more…
Tags: booker novels, chick lit books, Ian McEwan, kathy lette, nick hornby
Posted by admin on Aug 16, 2009 in
books,
geekery,
technology 
pop up book lamp
Isn’t this stunning? When I first spotted it I did a double take when I saw a price next to it- as something this funky, unusual and beautiful normally falls into the realms of the prototype design. But no, investigation revealed this intriguing pop-up book lamp is actually for sale- and isn’t it gorgeous!
Details on quite how it works ate a little vague, but I can tell you that you can choose between a red or gray linen book that pops out a pretty lamp when it opens. There are two styles of lamp to choose from- Parisian style or Streetlamp, but whether it runs off batteries or electrical impulses isn’t clear.
Due to the fact the dimensions are 41×30 inches I’m guessing they could fit some sort of battery, but who knows? It’s gorgeous, its affordable and it’s seriously quirky!
Get it for $95 from Charles & Marie.
Tags: books, design, gadgets, geek, pop up book
