A shiny new app is always exciting to discover, even more exciting is learning that an old favourite has received an update or enhancement that makes it even more valuable. Today we take a closer look at 10 of the best Android app updates to be released this week.Google+ - Updates to the popular social networking app include a new navigation menu that makes it much easier … [Read more...] about Top 10 Updated Android Apps of the Week – May 28 2014
Archives for May 2014
Reading Rainbow Kickstarter Project To Deliver Gift of Reading to Every Child
A love of reading is one of the greatest gifts that you can give to a child. Not only will it stick with them for the rest of their lives, it will open their imaginations and open their world to countless possibilities. Many of us remember Reading Rainbow from our childhoods, watching "by picking up a book, [you] could go anywhere and be anything." An iOS app released earlier … [Read more...] about Reading Rainbow Kickstarter Project To Deliver Gift of Reading to Every Child
Copyright Clearance Center Launches RightsLink for Open Access
One of the chief issues that creates underlying buzz in the book industry involves copyright, specifically open access. It's the issue that no one wants to talk about until there's an intellectual property theft, or until research paid for with public tax dollars isn't available to teams of researchers elsewhere.The Copyright Clearance Center, one of the leading … [Read more...] about Copyright Clearance Center Launches RightsLink for Open Access
Goodreads’ Otis Chandler on Book Discovery
Goodreads has had an interesting journey, but according to Otis Chandler, that journey was driven by the innate ability of social media. Likening the service to that bookshelf we all have that contains our favorite books, he addressed how readers discover new titles through their connections.Goodreads has done a tremendous amount of innovation in the last few years. From … [Read more...] about Goodreads’ Otis Chandler on Book Discovery
IDPF: Publishing Outside the Big Five
In a panel moderated by Porter Anderson of Publishing Perspectives, the IDPF stage hosted a cluster of professionals who are making tremendous advancements and innovations in the industry, but are in the world between major traditional publishing houses and self-publishing. Some of these so-called independent publishers, not to be confused with the current concept of indie … [Read more...] about IDPF: Publishing Outside the Big Five
IDPF: What the Future Holds for Libraries
The first two keynotes at this year's IDPF Digital Book conference were focused on looking to the future for books. Peter Brantley, of the non-profit startup Hypothes.is Project whose goal is to develop a deeper dialogue between libraries and publishers, spoke from the library and ebook lending perspective, specifically what digital implications there will be for these … [Read more...] about IDPF: What the Future Holds for Libraries
Digital vs Print: What Is The Future of Reading?
Bestselling and Pulitzer-nominated author Nichoals Carr kicked off this year's IDPF Digital Book conference with a keynote presentation on the future of reading. This is a topic that has headlined presentations since the digital revolution began, but interestingly, we still don't have the full picture of what reading will look like in even one year, let alone ten, fifty, or one … [Read more...] about Digital vs Print: What Is The Future of Reading?
Blurb Adds Graphicly Team to Accelerate Growth
Blurb, a company that begin by producing limited print runs of graphics-heavy paper books before expanding into a digital publishing platform for self-published authors with a suite of user friendly tools, has been on a mission lately to acquire key products and support personnel to make their platform even more engaging, easy to use, and far-reaching. A release from the … [Read more...] about Blurb Adds Graphicly Team to Accelerate Growth
Zola Can Now Give Digital Autographs
Authors who sell their books via  Zola will now be able to give digital autographs with technology provided by Autography. The deal gives authors a proven method for delivering individualized autographs, and it grants readers a new way to collect authenticated autographs and inscriptions inside favorite ebooks.To launch the partnership, Zola Books and Autography are … [Read more...] about Zola Can Now Give Digital Autographs
Amazon Publically States their Position on Hachette eBook Dispute – and Hachette Responds
Amazon has posted a public message on their own forums about their official position on the Hachette eBook dispute. Currently, the two sides are locked in a pitched battle over the future of agency pricing. This is the first statement Amazon has released over the whole affair.Amazon posted the following message on their forums a few minutes ago "We are currently buying … [Read more...] about Amazon Publically States their Position on Hachette eBook Dispute – and Hachette Responds
MadeFire Signs a Deal with Seraphim, Archie Comics, Lion Forge and Arcana
MadeFire is the pioneer with Motion Comics and the company has signed some big partnerships with DC Comics, IDW, Dark Horse and Top Cow and their biggest titles Batman, Injustice, Transformers, My Little Pony, Hellboy and The Darkness. MadeFire is making it a priority to bring on big name publishers to its ecosystem and has announced a big new deal with Seraphim, Archie Comics, … [Read more...] about MadeFire Signs a Deal with Seraphim, Archie Comics, Lion Forge and Arcana
Cliq: A Case With SuperPowers
There are millions of case options out there, though arguably so many more for iPhone than for any single Android device... but a case like Cliq is actually more than an accessory, it's quite possibly a -reason- to get one of the phones they support. Currently a Kickstarter project waiting for full funding (approaching 50% of their $40,000 goal required by their June 18, 2014 … [Read more...] about Cliq: A Case With SuperPowers
Canadian Airports Will Soon Allow Unrestricted Access to Your Electronics
Following the US FAA decision to let customers user electronic devices during "all phases of flight" last year, Canada's Transport Minister has also ruled that Canadian airlines will soon allow the same unrestricted access for their clientele.Calling the access unrestricted isn't quite accurate, because all smartphones and cellular-enabled tablets will still need to be set … [Read more...] about Canadian Airports Will Soon Allow Unrestricted Access to Your Electronics
Coker: Publishers Are Disposable to Amazon
Smashwords' CEO and founder Mark Coker has written an in-depth look at the battle raging between Amazon and one of the Big Five publishers, Hachette Book Group. The battle over contract terms has seen Amazon raise the price of Hachette titles while directly offering consumers a cheaper alternative title, the out-of-stock notices that inform readers they'll have to wait an … [Read more...] about Coker: Publishers Are Disposable to Amazon