via booksinaudio.com

Until March 16th Blackstone Audio is giving away a free audio book of Michael York reading Alice in Wonderland. Available in MP3 and M4B. For Kindle use MP3 and put in /audible folder on the Kindle.

We're going to see new forms of storytelling emerge from this canvas. This is an opportunity to redefine modes of conversation between reader and content. And that's one hell of an opportunity if making content is your thing.

via craigmod.com

(photo courtesy of Craig Mod)

This is a very well thought out essay (with gorgeous pictures) about the future of book design in the age of the iPad.

Book designer and author Craig Mod brings up some fascinating concepts such as the differences between Formless and Definite Content and how the one page at a time tablet screen will allow a different type of interface feeling that the 2 page spread of a physical book.

He also gives examples of finely constructed books, made to last, that can form a new model for books in a more high brow mode after we no longer need to publish disposable paperbacks meant for one reading and not made to last. Personally I think textbooks that get new editions every two years are a perfect type of book to phase out into eBooks.  Who wants to buy a a $85 Mesothelioma textbook that weighs 10 pounds and you will never look at again after the class is over.

It's a good article - check it out. 

Those two blocks can power the average high-consumption American home -- one block can power the average European home. At least that's the claim being made by K.R. Sridhar, founder of Bloom Energy

via www.engadget.com

So if two small Bloom Boxes can power an average American home with clean energy, what's the catch?

I personally have some concerns about the safety of having a small power generator (probably using flammable gas) in your house but what do I know? I would probably be skeptical of the idea of electricity if it were new to me as well.

The other problem the Bloom Box has to overcome is the availability of whatever fuel is used to power the fuel cells. Apparently they can use a number of different types of fuel such as wind and solar, or traditional fossil fuels. So there's still no magic - the energy comes from somewhere and that somewhere probably has some carbon footprint as well.

I think what is most exciting about the Bloom product is that they have some proprietary technology to make the fuel cell cheaper. Right nw they are $700,000 and up, but the company's business plan revolves around having a $3,000 home model at some point. Wow.

Now, if someone can figure out how I can power my home with the leftover calories from a bag of Doritos, that would be pretty cool.  I wonder if Bloom would start working on a fat burner supplement that runs your TV

Its a decent Sci Fi movie, good for a young adult audience as well as adults.  There were a few things I could pick apart, like the almost cartoonish handling of some of the characters such as the Mayor (played by Bill Murray) and Mrs. Murdo.  I think Mrs. Murdo, whose vacant smile and assertions that if they just keep practicing for the Day of Singing everything will be alright, is supposed to represent the complacency and head in the sand attitude that the kids have to fight against.

Basically the plot has to do with humanity living in a vast underground city, which was build by "The Builders" after Earth becomes inhabitable.  They give a box to the Mayo rof the City that will open in 200 years.  It contains instructions for leaving the city and venturing forth above ground.

But the box is misplaced in the back of a closet and when it finally opens no-one is there to know except teenaged Lina.  A great adventure ensues, complete with corrupt officials, steampunk inspired technology, and intrepid teenagers who save the day.  Tip off:  you can tell who the baddies are because ina city with food carefully rationed they are the only ones who look like they need some best fat burner.  This is because they are stealing and hoarding food.

The movie is based off a YA novel by the same name by Jeanne DuPrau.

I don't use a book light - I just turn on my bedside light.  But my hubster can sleep through my nighttime reading forays.  If you have a significant other that doesn't like you to keep them up with your late night reading habit or need to work on your bpi training in the dark, this could be very handy.  Also if you go camping and want to read at night.  It will work with a regular book too, or any model of e-reader.

It is selling on Amazon for $25.00 right now.

This time we have a Paranormal Fantasy/Romance by Kim Harrison that is free at the Barnes and Noble store and 99 cents at the Kindle Amazon store.  Kim Harrison is a solid paranormal author and this is the first in her series "The Hollows."  These are stories about demons, supernaturals, and starring a Witch bounty hunter named Rachel Morgan.  I have not read this book yet, but I went ahead and bought it for a buck and I will let you know what I think.   

via io9.com

io9 has an interesting article about the current ebook price shakeups. Macmillan published author Douglas Preston made rather unfortunate comment in the New York Times saying that ebook customers had a sense of entitlement and a "WalMart" mentality.

Considering that people reading eBooks are probably a subset of people who actually spend more on books that the average consumer, it seems a bit shortsighted to alienate them.

I think the price structure for eBooks will eventually shake out into something that people and companies can live with. DRM restrictions and lack of physical manufacturing costs will come into account. Tiered price and availability (such as the electronic version "waiting for the paperback to come out) will also come into play.

As a matter of fact, the eBook market is extremely unsettled. You have four major struggles going on ePub vs Mobipocket format, battle to be the bookstore of choice, DRM restrictions and lack of ability to own or lend eBooks to others, and pressures between the publishers and eBook stores over who takes the profits previously earned by the distribution channel.

When the big corporations battle, the consumer is usually the loser. I think we would all be better off if they would agree on a common format, ability to lend for a certain amount of time and borrow from the library, and don't use excessive DRM to turn the corporation into big brother.  And just a tip from me to you - it's never a good idea to disparage your customers.  I think Douglas Preston has just figured that out.  He probably could use some hemorrhoids relief right about now.