Why I'm a library traitor and love the Kindle, Sarah Houghton-Jan

Bless me, O Biblioblogosphere, for I have sinned.

I have betrayed the trust of my librarian people by gasp * loving my Kindle like I am told I would love a child if I had any interest in being a parent, which I don't.  But I do have digital content of interest in reading on a sleek, affordable and easy-to-use device.  Thus the Kindle.

In true geek fashion I recorded my Kindle unboxing (complete with space invader wall clings in the background).

Let me tell you why I so love my Kindle.  But before I cast like a schoolgirl in love with Edward Cullen, let me tell you that I feel guilty for loving it.  I boycott the Kindle as a librarian but love it as a consumer.

Stellar user interface design: The Kindle has a gorgeous form factor.  It's easy to hold in your hands – light, smooth and perfectly sized for my hands anyway.  The user interface is easy and intuitive, end of story.Smooth content delivery:The simplicity and speed of getting content is amazing.  I've been using the Kindle app on my Android phone for months now, and it literally takes you 5 seconds to buy and start reading a book from the Kindle Store. How long does it take to start reading a library eBook from the point you decide to download it? On the Kindle itself it's just as easy.Cross-device content delivery:Amazon what brilliant being the distributor for the device, the content itself, and the interface software used to access the content. But they were doubly brilliant in offering the content & interface on other devices through Kindle reading apps, so you can use your desktop, laptop, iPhone, iPad Android phone, etc. to access the Kindle universe of eBooks.  The Kindle device itself is secondary…they really covered their bases.Seamless syncing:Amazon's Whispersync technology syncs up your library and where you left off in your books without you having to do anything. Not having to think is good, yeah?  Steve Krug would be proud.Public domain title access:You can get free public domain titles onto your Kindle through free eBook sites like Project Gutenberg, all linked to with instructions from the Kindle website.

Now that we've covered the pros, here's why I detest the Kindle as a librarian:

No. access to library-owned eBooks (for shame): As you probably know, the Kindle is the onlyeReader devices that doesn't allow library digital content onto it.  The nook, Sony Reader, the sad little kobo, and even the iPad all allow library digital content.  Amazon would rather only sell you their stuff.  In the case of eBooks, Amazon does support not the standard EPUB format.  It only allows for content that is in one of its approved formats: their proprietary DRM format (.azw), plain text files (.txt), unprotected (read: no DRM) unprotected Mobipocket files (.mobi or .prc) (read: no DRM) PDF files (.pdf), and this odd and not-often-used Topaz format (.tpz). There are programs (like calibre) that can convert non-DRMed EPUB files into unprotected Mobipocket files so they can go on your Kindle.  And since there are scripts you can run to convert DRM-ed EPUB files into non-DRMed EPUB files, you can indeed get these books on your Kindle…but illegally unfortunately.  The fact that Amazon doesn't of allow library-owned eBooks onto its devices is a travesty.  It's wrong on every level.  But Amazon has no real motivation to open it up.  They make money from selling people books.  If people could get those same books on their kindles for free and without paying Amazon, just by logging in with a library card number, Amazon is going to lose some business.  And losing business for the sake of looking like you love libraries is sadly not a winning proposition in our society.  Here are some straight-forward instructions to help you get around the idiotic DRM rules and get library eBooks onto your Kindle.  This does clearly violate Kindle's terms of service, the library eBook vendor's terms of service, and even copyright law.  But you know what?  All you're doing is accessing on your eBook library owns and wants to check out to you on a device of your choosing.  Goddess forbid we can actually provide content that isn't device exclusionary!  So you know what?  Go for it. No. sharing or selling (err, legally): as with almost all consumer purchased eBooks, Amazon's Kindle eBooks forbid the transfer of the book to any other user or to a different device (non-Amazon).  This is a violation of the First Sale Doctrine which guarantees someone like to individual or a library to share the book once it's purchased, loan it out, or sell it.  None of us can do this with eBooks or other digital media like movies and music.  It's wrong and many people find ways around it because, frankly, the Kindle was not that hard to crack.

Perhaps someday I will make peace with the fact that the Kindle universe makes me happy.  Perhaps someday Amazon will allow digital content from libraries onto its devices, will accept industry standards and stop being an inbred walled garden of capitalist greed.  But I'm not holding my breath.

Reprinted, with permission, from librarian in black

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New eReader app hits of the iPad: iFlow

eBook magazine is reporting on this eReader app. It has been for the iPhone for a while, but the iPad version is new:

A new eBook app, combining a bookstore for new purchases with the ability to item purchased from any retailer protected Adobe DRM earlier this month for Apple's iPad started to import EPUB files supports touch iPhone and iPod.

By imitating the ' buy everywhere, hear here ' approach of standalone ebook readers like the Sony, free iFlow reader follows app, Txtr Bluefire segregation of books for vendor-specific apps to terminate.

iFlow offers readers to look up words and phrases on Google, Wikipedia, or dictionary.com, and integration with Facebook allows sharing excerpts and comments about the social networking site

The iFlow website is here.

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Information Overload: Bringing order to chaos

Love this video, despite the fact I don't think the digital natives myth.

The summer 2010 class of interns at the Berkman Center for Internet and society took a huge task: choose a chapter from URS Gasser and John Palfrey's book, born digital, and make a short video that inspired chapter.

This video, inspired by "Overloading" chapter, Gregory Asmolov and Eliane Bucher, with production of Berkman Center for Internet and society/youth media project created. It is released under a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution non-commercial license.

Learn more about the project here: http://youthandmedia.org/

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Status of the eBook reader in 2010

Status of the eBook reader in 2010

There is no doubt that eBook readers continue to drag surge in popularity, although it by many is believed, sales to a background level rules, as most potential users wait for technology to verbessern.Obwohl many of the convenience of an eBook reader and the ability to a library with books in a machine to load for improvements both in the e-ink e-paper technology, and also in the quality of the Ereaders wait.

Many believe that if the Kindle is the best rather wait it. However, perhaps too long wait since many companies who believed that a niche clientele would at best have portable eBook Reader now your own versions of a technology that is developing as an unexpectedly high demand have.

It looks how sales of ELesegeräte rocket go in 2010; this is planned to judge the bubbling activity in the sales and development for the year is out. It seems that many of the problems that consumers with e-books and your readers are treated and that limited the development not only is only for the production of bigger and better machines, but also new innovative technology. What is in store for you, if you currently, which and consider disadvantages of Ereaders against the real thing?

The devices are increasingly more sophisticated with companies such as plastic logic and Barnes and noble, entering the arena.The latter has just unveiled its 'nook' that hot looks enough with its multitouch display, knock your podium to the Kindle.Plastic logic is the market with a business-oriented eReader with 3 g connectivity type.

The plastic logic proReader eReader public is on the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas 7th, 2009 angezeigt.Mit of its 8.5 x 11 inch touchscreen QUE of the first real business that allows users to read PDF, Excel, Word and PowerPoint files."As described in the article" the QUE e-reader: the new kid on the block ", the screen is not only unbreakable but also capacitive without loss of quality in sensitivity, such layered screens show often (digital book readers)." "QUE proReader improves business performance and gives you a competitive advantage," according to plastic logic's CEO, Richard Archuleta.

In a market that currently are dominated by Amazon Kindle said two computer giant, Apple and Microsoft, separately work a multifunctional tablet device, offer wird.Sony computers and multimedia features for your customers, improving their eReader range are also fast and the new IREX DR800SD eBook reader goes some way towards problem with its 8.1-inch screen help with file size.

Many potential users have the screen size of the previous products been delayed and this new 8 inch + products are very attractive to look at the beginning for you. However, should otherwise we need in 2010 an increase in wireless connectivity and larger screen sizes?

Screen size was not the only problem with newspapers, although some of these 3 g provides technology, you can quickly update, without the need for a hard link is resolved. In fact, the concept of digital newspapers is appealing to many people and it is certainly environmentally friendly.Add saving in printing and distribution costs, and it is no wonder that many of the larger newspapers studies based on a 3 g and digital subscription model considering.

Thin, rollable displays could include future hardware that would convert a large number of people who currently formatting magazine and tabloid.Because the news online is freely available, would have the e-news experience however, offer something special just what on any laptop or Palm computer can be found.

Maybe the new product from ASUS could meet the needs of each developed.These eReader to twin who color touch screen to take like a hardcover book, one of the complaints which read eBook reader with a page open at a time from the reading experience draws open the eReader. have a speaker, microphone and webcam, so Skype video calls.

Amazon had indeed improve up because Word has it, the Asus is less than the Kindle, and with all the additional features costs is liable before the sales to jump.2010 could see a massive sea shift in popularity, especially if Amazon and Seiko kinda have rested on its laurels.There is a massive rise in both R & D no time for more than 12 months and see developments on existing products.

Another gripes which is real book lovers, representing the Druck.E Ink has gone a long way to solve this problem, and the continued development of ink as well as the e-paper technology by companies other than only Prime View international leads text improves the appearance of eBook reader and also in prices for 2010 Ausrüstung.Anfang more competition in this technology that will benefit customers pockets and your reading experience.

How to grow the popularity of such devices be computer and cell phone manufacturers their own equivalents, promotes the best e-ink and e-paper technology and based on 3 g technology offer. devices will grow although still portable, which is appropriately except in screen size of mobile devices rollable displays growing einbeziehen.Eine number of devices will touch screen throughout 2010, offer, although Farbbildschirme probably generally only a year after available are.

Are also shops that apart from room only for eBook readers and associated technology today has been hidden such devices under other various electronic applications sehen.Bis, but it is now a mainstream technology deserves its own actions recognized.

Finally, forget not Asia! 2010 cheap eBook readers from China will probably also a significant increase in, sehen.Allerdings will be Taiwan and other Asian countries the screen and ink technology, and also a number of books, magazines and finally newspapers for who ultimately differentiate between these Ereaders that sell and those who cannot.

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How far, go to reduce drama and protect your privacy on Facebook?

Earlier this week I came across this post Risk reduction strategies on Facebook in which Danah Boyd talks about practices teens commit themselves, to reduce privacy issues and drama to Facebook.  I found it fascinating, not only because of the efforts you put into its not easy, but because I do a few of these things and I don't know someone who does. My efforts seem a little pathetic next to you.

One of the girls your account at any time is disabled you on Facebook, this keeps people from posting on your wall and browse their contents if not um.Ein other deletes everything short after his booked.

I delete all "current activity" contributions to a PC immediately or as soon as I return.It annoyed me to no end when Facebook removed setting allows me to disable it.

I delete old photos, not all of you only those that I don't want to more for a reason or an anderen.Obwohl I probably everything 2009 soon. * erases

I delete old status updates again not all of you only those who's time has past.

To protect what efforts make to reduce potential drama or privacy?

* Yes, I know the reports that are photos still on the server.

PS If you want you can friend me on Facebook or if my friend want to be (and this is very cool) can become a fan of librarian by day on Facebook

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Kindle vs. iPhone: which one to read?

 CNet has transferred a article from the Asian edition of his "crave" gadget blog blogger Damian Koh compares the reading experience from the Kindle 3 and iPhone 4. Koh says that he it "finds stressful" to read on an iPhone-sized display, and the Kindle screen draws more easier to read.

Of course, to demonstrate how the comments on CNET and original blog post reading comfort is often (literally) in the eyes of the beholder. As someone pointed out "the best e-reader that you with you to have."And an iPhone or iPod touch is much easier than to take a Kindle.(I wish I had one.)

This is hardly a new argument, but maybe the fact that it is popping up another sign as accepted e-book reading in the mainstream document.before the arrival of the e-ink reader were e-books generally those things, you on handheld PDAs read, and the only people who ever read those who got the PDAs for other things and then found e-books were a pleasant enough experience that size are the convenience for screen disadvantages.

But now it seems like it the other way to could go: people buy Kindle reading e-books may find that reading on smaller devices is comfortable enough with the availability of Kindle apps, the ability to enjoy anywhere makes for screen size disadvantages to books.

And, of course, thanks to the Kindle, the question does not necessarily either oder.Wenn is both a Kindle and an iPhone, then he may either on the same book you read in different situations.

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