This week has been dominated by Flappy Bird, the seminal new app that has been resulting in broken phones and tablets. Vine has been exploding with rage quits and Youtube has had lots of videos of people doing really well. Today, we look at the best new apps of the week. Flappy Bird - The basic premise of the game is simple: keep your bird aloft and guide it between a series … [Read more...] about Top 10 New Android Apps of the Week – Jan 31 2014
Archives for January 2014
Humble Bundle Hires Publishing Mercenary Kelley L. Allen
Humble Bundle has had a number of highly successful eBook campaigns and has recently experimented with audiobooks. The company wants a continued focus on literary content and has just hired Kelley L. Allen as its Director of eBooks. Kelley was formerly the Director of New Media at Random House and Director of eBook Acquisition at Sony. She was also Manager of ePublishing at … [Read more...] about Humble Bundle Hires Publishing Mercenary Kelley L. Allen
New Flipboard Feature Lets Readers Target Content
Opinions may vary on the topic, but--for better or worse--digital publishing has meant a never-before-seen amount of content. Whether it's ebook overload, the nearly impossible search features in many app stores, or the piles upon piles of digital magazines, readers can often feel so overwhelmed that they simply stop engaging with the content. Flipboard, which first came on … [Read more...] about New Flipboard Feature Lets Readers Target Content
Microsoft Slashes Price of Several Windows 8.1 Tablet at its Stores
Microsoft has slashed prices of several Windows tablet devices that are being offered via its stores, both online and physical. Among the tablets that can now be picked up for cheap include the Dell Venue 8 Pro which has seen a $70 drop in price from the original $299. This does make the offering quite lucrative for a tablet that offers 32 GB of storage. Also at $229, the Dell … [Read more...] about Microsoft Slashes Price of Several Windows 8.1 Tablet at its Stores
New Marvel Comics API Program Released
Marvel Comics has done the unthinkable and released a new set of tools that will allow app and web developers to integrate their site with comic data. The new Marvel Comics API taps into Marvel's vast library of comics—from what's coming up, to 70 years ago. This represents the first API program by any major comic book publisher and provides an innovative way for fans to … [Read more...] about New Marvel Comics API Program Released
Amazon Lets Customers Give Back for Books with Amazon Smile
As if memberships for free shipping, low thresholds for delivery options, and discount incentives weren't already enough to sway consumers, Amazon is making it possible for its customers to feel good about their purchases through charitable contributions. The company's program, Amazon Smile (named in reference to the iconic swooping shape on its boxes), lets consumers … [Read more...] about Amazon Lets Customers Give Back for Books with Amazon Smile
Dutch eBook Pirate Gets Away with Uploading 5,000 Titles to Pirate Bay
European Anti-Piracy organization BREIN, as not had a very good week. They just lost a major case in Dutch court which saw Internet Providers lift restrictions to the Pirate Bay. The court basically saw the ISP safeguards as being obsolete due to proxy servers and DNS workarounds. The court woes continue for BREIN as the same Dutch court dismissed a case against a 23 year old … [Read more...] about Dutch eBook Pirate Gets Away with Uploading 5,000 Titles to Pirate Bay
National Virtual Library of India Planned
The Indian government has taken up an ambitious project of digitizing public libraries to ensure ease of access of books to the people. The National Mission on Libraries – as the scheme has been termed – also entails the creation of the National Virtual Library of India which will act as a comprehensive collection of information generated within the country. The rich repository … [Read more...] about National Virtual Library of India Planned
Amazon Prime Membership to Increase by $40
Amazon Prime membership gives a plethora of benefits to people heavily invested in shopping and has a tablet or e-reader. Since the program launched it cost $79 to get free two day shipping, one free eBook a month, access to Amazon Instant Video and a ton more. The Seattle based company stated during a recent investors call that it was considering increasing the cost of the … [Read more...] about Amazon Prime Membership to Increase by $40
Amazon Slashes the Price of the Kindle in the UK
Amazon has just initiated a price drop on their entry level Kindle e-Reader in the UK today. In order to better compete with the Kobo Touch, that is available at WH Smith for £29, Amazon has slashed their price from £69 to £59. This Kindle does not have a touchscreen, front light or any of the hardware enhancements that the Paperwhite models have. Instead, this is a fairly … [Read more...] about Amazon Slashes the Price of the Kindle in the UK
“Wattpad Is for Writers and Readers”
As indie authors have struggled for discovery in a sea of openly published titles, more and more tools have cropped up to help authors put their content in front of relevant readers. At the same time, various platforms are offering something for readers as well, helping them uncover content with which to engage. Wattpad has made a name for itself through its mobile reading … [Read more...] about “Wattpad Is for Writers and Readers”
New App Paper Renders Facebook Obsolete
Listen up, food porn posters and cat video fanatics...Facebook has a new app, and it just might be the one you replace the old social media app with on your iPhone. Nine months in the making, the team at Facebook has finally released the long-rumored Paper app. First, it's only available for your iPhone (sorry Galaxy fans), but it looks and behaves a lot like the Facebook … [Read more...] about New App Paper Renders Facebook Obsolete
eBook Fans Demand Print
In a turn of events that even the publisher didn't see coming, fans of author Colleen Hoover's work--calling themselves the CoHorts--launched a Twitter campaign, petition, and general ruckus to have one of the author's works made available in print. The free ebook short story "Finding Cinderella" was intended as a bonus for loyal readers, but instead has taken on a life of its … [Read more...] about eBook Fans Demand Print
Sainsbury’s to Give Away a Copious Amount of Free eBooks
Sainsbury’s is likely the only big grocery store that also has a very healthy eBook ecosystem. They are one of the most prominent companies in the UK and they have just ironed out a new agreement with Penguin Random House UK to give away a copious amount of eBooks for free. The offer is mainly applicable to children and they can download a  free copy of Jacqueline … [Read more...] about Sainsbury’s to Give Away a Copious Amount of Free eBooks