Where Have All The BookShops Gone?
In an era where the Australian book industry has felt the pinch from the economy downturn, and most of Australia’s largest book and publishing retailers have gone in to voluntary administration, you may find yourself wondering around your local shopping complex asking yourself… Where Have All Of The Bookshops Gone? More recently I walked from one end of the city to the other looking for a Father’s Day present, only to come across one bookstore that was still open, which unfortunately did not even have the book that I wanted in store, let alone stacked high amongst the mountain of other best sellers, and novelty items alike.
With the increase in popularity of online sales from leading Australian and overseas book retailers, and the introduction to market of Electronic Book Readers (Commonly known as E-Book’s), the average consumer is now seeking alternative methods of purchasing and reading books, magazines and educational materials, over traditional hard and paper back books. According to booksellers, by 2012, one in every three books will be delivered electronically, and since 2010, e-book reader sales in Australia have tripled to date. If e-book sales continue at this increasing rate, they alone will represent 20 to 30 per cent of the total retail book market.
If you are looking for an e-book reader for yourself, or are looking for some present ideas for that loved one, we have put together a list of everything you need to prepare yourself for your next shopping trip.
Purchasing your first ebook Reader
Purchasing an e-book reader in not a simple exercise as there are many factors that you will have to take into consideration. Yes, budget aside; firstly check out what is it that you are looking for in a device?
Do you only want to read books, or are you looking for other features including reading magazines and newspapers? Surfing the Internet? Playing Music and Video’s? Other factors to take into consideration are Screen Size, Document Formats, storage, connectivity Options and more importantly how much you are planning on using the device.
If you are a book lover, and enjoy reading many books, then maybe you should consider an eBook reader which uses eInk screen technology. eInk technology is best suited for the regular reader, and is great for travelling, as it has great battery life, and has very low power usage when in use.
eInk technology is also great for the outdoors, as you can read in even the brightest of sun lights.
1. AMAZON Kindle 3G – From $159
The Amazon Kindle is a leader in the eBook reader market, and has been since it’s release. The Amazon Kindle features a 6-inch screen and features E-ink technology. on the kindle provides a high contrast and 16 shades of grey to accommodate different light environments.
The AMAZON Kindle has 4GB internal memory on board which equates to around 3500 eBooks, newspapers, magazines and blogs. The Kindle is available in Wi-Fi or 3G, providing you with the flexibility to download content whilst you are on the go, travelling on holidays, or commuting to work or school on public transport. Out of the box you are setup, no wires or cables required, and ready to shop online via Amazon’s extensive online bookstore. With free built-in 3G connectivity, the Kindle uses the same wireless signals that cell phones use, but there are no monthly fees or commitments.
The KOBO Touch is one of the newest products on the market, and has some great features that set it apart from other reviewed items such as the touch screen, dictionary integration, microSD expansion, Pearl eInk screen and more importantly, battery life of up to one month. The KOBO also (thanks to recent upgrades), has the fastest page turner alongside the AMAZON Kindle and the new Sony Reader Touch.
3. Sony Reader Touch – From $179
If buttons and menu’s are not for you, then try Sony’s flagship eReader Touch. This is a premium product amongst many other eBook readers, and has a 6 inch glare free, eInk touch screen which works effortlessly, turn the page with a swipe of your finger, zoom in and out by pinching fingers together or apart, or find the meaning of a word by using the built-in dictionaries. Purchase books through the online Sony store or download up to 1200 eBooks to via USB or Wi-Fi to the internal 2GB memory. External memory slots allow extra storage space for eBooks and media. With a built-in dictionary, you can double-tap on a word anywhere in the eReader, and it opens the dictionary definition.
Thanks to the Apple App Store, the Apple iPad will not only let you read books from the various online book stores, but immerse you in many other features that are on offer. The iPad unlike most eReaders has a rich LCD colour screen and is priced at the higher end of the market, due to its added functionality and inbuilt technology. The difference between Apple’s iPad and the Amazon Kindle is that both models have an inbuilt 3G mobile data transfer.
For those who can afford it, and have a need for the additional features will have a great user experience with the ability to read eBooks by flicking between pages, watching videos and taking advantage of the million + applications on offer. Unlike eInk technology, the tradeoffs for the iPad’s LCD colour screen are that it’s more difficult to view the LCD screen in sunlight, and due to the extensive in build technology, has only around 8-10 hours of battery life.
As featured in the Bayside Life Magazine – Oct/Nov 2011
Read More60 Minutes Interview Walter Isaacson – Steve Jobs Biography
On the day of the release of the Steve Jobs biography, author Walter Isaacson is interviewed by 60 Minutes in the US. The interview is available now online, and can be viewed here via YouTube.
Part 1 via YouTube
Part 2 via YouTube
Grab your copy of Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs. Available through your local bookstore or online at both Amazon’s Kindle Store and Apple’s iBookstore.
Read MoreTwitter Rolls out IOS Update to include Photo Sharing
Just hours before Apple launches the IOS5 Update for their IOS devices, which will now include native Twitter integration, Twitter has pushed out update version 3.5.0 for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch apps, which will now include Photo Sharing
New Features include;
· Enhanced sign up experience
· Upload photos to Twitter (pic.twitter.com)
· Updated Direct Messages design on iPad
· Tap a location on iPad to show Tweets nearby
Users will be asked to confirm their new Photo Sharing Service options, otherwise, the default will be set to Twitter.
Read More“Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send “updates” (text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) via SMS, instant messaging, email, to the Twitter website. Twitter was founded in March 2006 by San Francisco start-up company Obvious Corp. In April 2007, Obvious, LLC spun off the service as a separate entity under the name Twitter, Inc. with Jack Dorsey as CEO”. Twitter
Facebook for iPad
Today Facebook have launched their native IOS app for iPad. For many months, there has been several articles and screen captures posted from various technology blogs, speculating features, screen captures and release dates.
Rumors surrounding the release date were posted via Mashable on their blog on the off chance that the Facebook App for IOS might be released at Apple HQ in Cupertino on October 14th, where is was speculated that Mark Zuckerburg was to join CEO Tim Cook on stage.
However, today the native IOS is welcomed with opened arms, and available to download today from the Apple App Store.
According to an article published in the NY Times, “Facebook iPad Developer, Leon Dubinsky, wrote in a blog post on the company’s Web site that the app had been designed to create an immersive and “fun” experience on the tablet. Mr. Dubinsky highlighted the use of multitouch gestures within the app, a feature that is not available on the Facebook Web site. “Use your fingertips to scroll through your News Feed. Give the screen a swipe to page through albums. Pinch a picture to zoom in,” he wrote.” NY Times
Features Include
Enjoy bigger, better photos
Your photos take on new life on the iPad. They’re big, high-res and easy to flip through—like a real photo album.
Clean and Minimal Interface
With less on the screen, it’s easier to zoom in on your friends’ photos, updates and stories.
Improved Navigation
Just tap, slide or pinch to get from one screen to another and back again in no time.
Never lose your place
Use simplified navigation to send a message, see your notifications or browse your bookmarks without switching screens.
Full Screen Gaming
Play your favorite Facebook games wherever you are, and on a bigger screen.
Tap to send messages
A simple dropdown menu makes it easy to scan and send messages without visiting your inbox.
Everything You Need To Know About The Facebook Update
The Guys at Gizmodo have shared “Everything You Need To Know About The Facebook Update” Head over to @Gizmodo to check out their review, and post your comments about your thoughts?
Read MoreDaddy DayCare at IKEA Mänland
I don’t think there is a 30′s somthing Gen-Y, walking around Melbourne that does not have many happy memories spending their weekends at the old IKEA Moorabbin hiding from their parents in the colourful ball pit at Småland.
These amazing childhood moments I’m sure have been relived at IKEA stores globally, however some smart-cookie from IKEA marketing team must have been recently swiped from Google’s A-Team and has developed their latest must visit concept; Mänland.
I personally like IKEA, and cannot walk out of their without clearing out my wallet, however if your not the retail type, or are running a little empty after your thrid lap of teh 2.4 kms circuit that is IKEA, pop in and check out Mänland where you have been promised unlimited XBOX, Watch Sports, Fooseball (AirHockey), Pinabll Machines, Read a magazine on their Couches or just eat yourself silly with Free HotDog’s.
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