Kobo Writing Life is a self-publishing platform and it was first unveiled in 2012. It was originally launched to compete with Kindle Direct Publishing and provide a viable avenue to sell books internationally. Kobo has faced many challenges in the marketplace and they are always looking for new things to try out to see what pops. The latest, is Kobo Next, an extension of their … [Read more...] about Kobo Next Puts the Spotlight on Indie Authors
Archives for April 2015
The Kobo Glo HD e-Reader is Now Available
Kobo has just released their latest e-reader, the Glo HD. This device is now available to purchase at Chapters Bookstores in Canada and is already shipping out in the post to people who pre-ordered it online. The brand new Kobo Glo HD features a six inch e-ink Carta screen with a resolution of 1448×1072 and 300 PPI. It has the same front-lit display as the Kobo Aura H2O, so … [Read more...] about The Kobo Glo HD e-Reader is Now Available
Amazon’s Whispercast Update Meets the Needs of K12 Classrooms
FULL DISCLOSURE: I was a classroom teacher for almost twenty years, the last seven of which were spent using a classroom set of Kindle e-readers. My classroom had more than 200 ebooks for the students to choose from, and it was a nightmare trying to make that innovation work. But nightmares no more! Amazon has released an update for its Whispercast feature that will make … [Read more...] about Amazon’s Whispercast Update Meets the Needs of K12 Classrooms
Google Leaves Us With Few Choices Following Nexus 7 Retirement
Google retired the Nexus 7 earlier this week, leaving many of us wondering what could be in store at the upcoming I/O conference in late May. Generally considered to be among the higher-end mobile device hardware options (don't be fooled by the number of sales, which will appear small by comparison to the likes of Samsung or Huawei), the Nexus lineup is overdue for a refresh … [Read more...] about Google Leaves Us With Few Choices Following Nexus 7 Retirement
What Happens when a Book Publisher Doesn’t Pay Royalties?
There is a growing cadre of publishers that have been not paying authors their royalties. There are many lawsuits currently in the works that seek to get compensation, but its a long and dark road. Hesperus Press has been ordered by a British High Court to stop selling digital and print copies of Jonas Jonasson’s smash-hit novel The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the … [Read more...] about What Happens when a Book Publisher Doesn’t Pay Royalties?
Racy Cover Lands Author in Court over Theft of Image
It's always a good thing when Gronkerotica makes national headlines since it serves to remind the rest of us that yes, there are steamy books available that offer fun word play on terms and phrases like "tight end" and "the receiver was wide open." The fact that the title character (spoiler alert) doesn't get to have sex in the erotica title he stars in is unimportant to this … [Read more...] about Racy Cover Lands Author in Court over Theft of Image
Kobo Glo HD vs Kobo Aura H2O – Reading in the Dark
The Kobo Glo HD and Kobo Aura H2O are two e-readers that are very modern. They are the latest devices issued by Kobo and have some fairly compelling features. The H2O is waterproof and features a 6.8 inch screen, whereas the Glo HD is out at the end of the month and has the highest resolution and PPI out of any Kobo e-reader to date. Today, we compare these two models and show … [Read more...] about Kobo Glo HD vs Kobo Aura H2O – Reading in the Dark
Sony Smartwatch 3 Unboxing Video
The Sony Smartwatch 3 came out late 2014 and this model features Android Wear. This is the unified operating system that was designed exclusively for smartwatches. Today, we show you the retail packaging and take it out of the box for the first time. The first and second generation Sony Smartwatches did not use Android Wear, and instead used the very lackluster Sony OS. The … [Read more...] about Sony Smartwatch 3 Unboxing Video
Kobo H2O e-Reader Gets Pinch and Zoom Functionality
The Kobo Aura H2O came out in October 2014 and it was the first waterproof e-reader to hit the market. Many people were attracted to this device because it featured a 6.8 inch screen and can be used to read anywhere. One of the drawbacks of the H2O was the inability to pinch and zoom when reading PDF files, comics and or when using the internet browser. I am proud to report … [Read more...] about Kobo H2O e-Reader Gets Pinch and Zoom Functionality
Want to Win an Election? Write an eBook
When President Obama defeated Mitt Romney to win the 2012 election, ebook innovator Vook had two books standing at the ready. One was entitled Why Obama Lost, and the other was Why Romney Lost. Not very imaginative titles, to be sure, but that wasn't the point. The purpose of the books was to have a product to distribute to readers the moment the election results were in. It … [Read more...] about Want to Win an Election? Write an eBook