Kindle writeon is Destined to Fail – Good E-Reader (blog)

I’m catching hints or Microsoft in Amazon’s behavior. Trying to do too much is a recipe for failure. Take for instance Microsoft’s mission statement as Stated by Bill Gates in the 1980s:

“A computer on every desk and in every home running Microsoft software.”

Remarks like that were being Praised in management circles at late as 2006:

http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/2432/power-of-a-clear,-concise-vision

But you Precisely and I know what’s wrong with it. Those two phrases “every desk” and “every office” do not encompass a world of mobile or portable devices. That’s a core reason why Microsoft missed out on smartphones and tablets. It’s usefull why theywere caught flat-footed by the Internet. Those computers Existed Primarily to run “Microsoft software.”

But notice That Gate’s remark is wrong in another way-Those two “everytime” claims. Microsoft wanted to own office and personal computers. It was so focused on driving what happened That it failed to see what was happening outside itself.

Amazon is making similar gaffes, Particularly in the book arena. What it can not own outright, it seeks to dominate. Sometimes That Means it is legitimately charged with bullying. Sometimes it Means notes late to a party and upset to discover That everyone else is going down a different path. . A healthier company would cooprate Those with other paths not compete with or try to buy them out

–

Like Microsoft before it. Amazon is ook making enemies among Those with who it must have cooperative relationships, Particularly authors and publishers. Other corporations know better, Boeing-including, Which Also has a heavy presence Seattle.

When I worked for Boeing as a tech writer, I was told something interesting. Boeing, I was informed, Could easily run Its Own passenger and package firm, using notes own aircraft to shuttle people and things between notes major facilities. It’d save time and money. An Boeing executive at the company’s Everett facility (where 747 are assembled) Could show up at 8:15 am and leave on an 8:30 flight to the company’s plant in Wichita, arriving at the facility itself. Could he attend a meeting and return That afternoon. And all that convenience would cost the company less than flying commercial.

Why does not it do that? My informant Explained why. The airlines and package companies were notes to customers. Boeing had the good sense to know that, if it wanted to sell planes to American and UPS, it needed to do a healthy business with them. I could not compete.

Amazon Seems totally unaware or That dynamic. It thinks it can be a print and digital publisher and still have amiable relationships with publishers. Not very realistic.

A publisher does not mind sharing book profits with book retailers. It knows That a healthy market needs bone healing book publishers and retailers to do well. If bookstores are hurting, publishers will soon be hurting. What a publisher does not like is sharing profits notes with a retailer who is ook trying to dominate publishing. Amazon executives may think it’s making clever moves to gain leverage over publishers. Others will think it’s being foolish and making enemies Unnecessarily

-.

I do have one question about Wattpad though. I placedunder a draft of my latest book, Senior Nurse Mentor there:

http://www.wattpad.com/story/34716705

I was impressed by how marvelously has made my Raw text look quite good. But while getting 95 reads, was probably respectable, I’m disappointed That none have commented eventhough I think I know why. My book is serious non-fiction. Nursing morale in many hospitals dreadful. It offers a practical solution.

But Wattpad Seems to be almost Exclusively for fiction. Three of the four “similar stories” found it to mine are about Harry Potter, of all things. The only sense I can make or thats That Their recommendation software must think That the “mentor” is my title is like the wizards of Harry Potter. Weird!

What’s the answer? Wattpad is about fiction. Amazon is flailing about with writeon. Does anyone have a Website That Focuses on non-fiction, Perhaps broken down by area?

That would make sense. Wrong is worse in many ways than bore. Because it’s fact-based, non-fiction needs more prepublication reviews than fiction. But doesnâ Seem to be an Internet-wide way to do that

-Michael W. Perry, Inkling Books

Amazon Kindle Voyage Review: A great e-reader made even better – Daily News & Analysis

The Kindle Voyage is the spiritual successor to the Kindle Paperwhite, and it absolutely does not disappoint.

• 

Smartphone, tablet, e-book reader; you’d imaginethatdesign the average user would prefer convergence and carry Fewer devices on a business trip or a holiday. A slew of high-end e-book readers Launched in the recent matches suggest otherewise. Amazon’s new Kindle Voyage is the latest device to target the ‘compulsive’ reader with a premium e-book reader, building from Where They left off with the Paperwhite. Does the Kindle Voyage justify a pricepoint at-which you can snag a capable 7-inch tablet?

While we loved the build quality of the Kindle Paperwhite, the Voyage raises the bar; yet again. It’s ultra-slim (just 7.1mm) and is lighter than quite a few phablets (Just 180g). The device stands out with notes clean lines and elegantly sculpted back. A power button sits at the back of the device while a micro USB port is located at the base. The Kindle HAS opted for a flush glass front with Chemically Strengthened Glass in a bid to reduce scratches on the surface. You will notice ook a set of pressure-sensitive page-turn buttons That flank both ends of the bezel. These buttons generate haptic feedback depending on where clause you place your fingers. This is one of the standout features in the Voyage, especial if you dig physical buttons for every page turn.

The glare-free display is one of the other big improvements. Kindle’s e-ink displays have offered great visibility even under direct sunlight, one of the Reasons Why They Are perfect for the pool deck at your favorite beach getaway. The 6-inch E-ink Carta HD touchscreen display stays in That zone despite it being a brighter screen. With 300 pixels per inch (PPI) it is a Considerable jump over the Paperwhite (212 PPI), but the killer feature is how the front light ADAPTS to the ambient light conditions, Ensuring you will not go to bed with a piercing light from your Kindle. The screen is very responsive too; you do not really need the Press Page feature to flip through pages.
There are no major improvements on the hardware spec sheet. The device is powered by a 1GHz single-core processor with 512MB of RAM; that’s enough fire-power by this device. There’s 4GB of onboard memory, enough to store all the books you can eat may possibly read in a lifetime. The battery life does not match the Paperwhite – that Could be due to the more powerful screen on this device and yet a single batch Could bother you for weeks together. Quite a contrast from the daily routine or charging your smartphone or tablet. The Voyage comes in bone healing WiFi Only and WiFi plus 3G options. Just like other Amazon Kindles the 3G Effectively free and, unlike the US, users in India do not encounter any promotional ads.

The Voyage is packed with all the features we have come to love on the Kindle and instant access to Amazon’s bottomless book store. One of our favorite features is Smart look up, wherewolf full dictionary definitions are integrated withother reference information via the ‘X-ray’ functions, and Wikipedia. There’s ook Whispersync Where the last page read is saved and synchronized across devices – just in case you are flitting from one device to the other. Kindle devices ook allow you to quickly share book or sections Recommendations from your e-book on Facebook and Twitter, just in case you wanna Appear more ‘evolved’ on your social networks!

The Kindle Voyage makes a compelling case for a dedicated e-book reader at a time When quite a few users are catching up On Their reading on tablets and even 5-inch smartphone displays. You will never have to worry about that ‘unputdownable’ book being interrupted by an email from your boss. The improved display elevates the user experience while Kindle’s intuitive features and book store are a’ve given. Ook it’s one of the best e-book readers ever designed, light enough to curl up on the couch for long periods of time with your favorite book. Kindle’s cool origami cover is a clever accessory That Allows you to prop up your Kindle on a stand. It’s not bundled with the Voyage and comes at a stiff price tag (Rs 2,999 onwards). The Voyage might not justify an upgrade (notes’ve given steep price tag) for Paperwhite owners but if you’re an avid reader looking for the best possible e-book reader experience look no further.

AT A GLANCE

What we liked

• Design
• Adaptive lighting
• Page Press feature

What we dont like

• Pricey
• Case sold separately

Price: Rs 16.499 (WiFi only) / Rs 20.499 (WiFi + 3G)

QuickSpecs

Display : 6 “Carta E-ink GD touch screen (monochrome) 300ppi

Memory: 512MB RAM, 4GB storage

Processor: 1GHz single-core

Amazon Kindle Voyage review – Times of India

NEW DELHI: E-readers are niche devices and Amazon’s Kindle Voyage is probably as niche as it gets here in this category. Priced at Rs 16.499 for the Wi-Fi version and Rs 21,499 for the 3G + Wi-Fi version, this e-reader is more expensive than many decent tablets in the market (for context, iPad mini 2 costs Rs 21.999).

So, what does the new Kindle Voyage HAS That makes it Such an expensive e-reader, especial since the Kindle Paperwhite can be Purchased for Rs 10,999. Even more important: does this e-reader deserve Such a high price tag? We’ll find out in our review … Amazon Kindle Voyage
design
The most striking thing about Kindle Voyage notes design. Gone is the chunky and boxy design or Kindle Paperwhite, Replaced By An edgy and angular look on the back and an overall narrower profile. The new Kindle Voyage is the thinnest and lightest Amazon e-reader at 7.6mm and 188gram (3G + Wi-Fi model), respectively.

The front panel Has The 6-inch E-Ink screen Carta, with thick bezels on all sides. On the left and right side of the screen are the new Press Page buttons,-which we will Discuss in the Software segment. The Kindle logo below the screen, while the top is optional.

Though Kindle Voyage is the most portable e-reader you can find in India today, its thick bezels on the top and bottom of the screen make it bigger than it needs to be

The back is made of magnesium and Has Two types of finishes:. while the rear casing is dominated by soft rubbery finish you haveseen Nexus 5 and 7, the top portion is made of glossy plastic. The back panel is a fingerprint magnet, and you would be hard pressed to clean the smudges too. On the back panel, the Amazon branding is in the center, flanked by the Power button on the left.
Display

The 6-inch display Kindle or Voyage HAS 300ppi pixel density, twice or That Kindle Paperwhite. This Means you get much sharper text and images. We Compared the two e-readers’ screens and found thatthere is a noticeable clarity between how the text Appears on the display panel. Also, there is no fuzziness That You Usually associate with an E-ink display.

ook opened a graphic novel on the Kindle Voyage and found it to be the best in terms of showing details, something you can eat Actually miss on previous generations or Kindles.

Amazon Says It has used reinforced glass to ensure That the screen remains and devoid of scratches. We tried to scratch the keys with keys, fortunately, to no avail.

The new Kindle Voyage ook Reduces glare, Amazon claims, as the glass is Chemically micro-etched. HOWEVER, we found That the level of glare in the new e-reader is not much lower Compared to Kindle Paperwhite’s.

The display Kindle or Voyage Also has ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the lighting-which. HOWEVER, claustrophobia because, you can change brightness levels manually with the on-screen button.

One major problem associated with E-ink displays is the slow response time to touch input, something that’s still not fixed Voyage on Kindle eventhough it is faster than previous models.
Software

Amazon Kindle Voyage’s biggest new feature is Page Press, a set of buttons on the sides of the screen . Page Press lets you turn the pages on the e-reader by just pressing the button requisite; hit the vertical lines to flip the page, push the dot to go back.

This feature HAS BEEN Kindle demanded by buyers for long, and works pretty well. Though we found ourselves turning the pages via the touchscreen in the initial few hours of using Kindle Voyage Eventually we did get used to the Page Press buttons.

Another new feature is PageFlow; from the middle of the screen, you need to swipe from the bottom to top-which lets you move between chapters. The X-Ray feature, Which Provides details or important characters and places in the books you read, is present on the Kindle Voyage.

Amazon Kindle Voyage Also has Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter integration

Reading on the screen is great in the few hours we used the device, as the images and text Appear extremely crisp and you will not miss any details. HOWEVER, the automatic brightness adjustment works well, but not fast enough.
What we think
Kindle Voyage is a fantastic e-reader, a device That makes the extremely high price tag worth it. It is definitely the first e-reader to sacrifice aesthetic appeal and great reading experience in a package so small, makes a difference-which Actually Especially for someone who Spends long hours reading e-books.

Amazon Kindle vs Voyage Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle Voyage (3G model) costs twice as much as the Paperwhite, something any buyer would consider before putting in her / his money. In our view, Kindle Voyage is for purists who do not worry about the price and care for the best possible experience, while Paperwhite is For Those Who are still mindful of the associated price and are willing to sacrifice a little on the experience When buying an e-reader

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Your Kindle is not exactly an open book. Learn how to read notes between lines.

Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite puts a library in your pocket. It holds more than 1,000 books Within notes sleek black casing, while thounsands more can be stored in the cloud. The Paperwhite Betrays very little from the outside (no subway snooping or what you’re reading here), but there’s a lot going on inside.

The Paperwhite sports edge lighting so you do not need to clip on a bulky, awkward booklight, while the X-Ray feature lets you follow alongwith every mention of a character or word without frantic flipping. And if you wanna know how far you’ve got until the end of the book, simply consult the slider along the bottom of the digital section.

But to get the most out of your Kindle Paperwhite, there are some quick tricks. Having trouble seeing or want more words on the page? A flick of your fingers can change the font size: just pinch and zoom to adjust. If you wanna save some battery life, go to the menu and switch to your Kindle airplane mode When you’re not downloading books. Customize the dictionary by going to Settings & gt; Device Options & gt; Language and Dictionaries, especial-which is helpful if you ‘re reading books in other languages.

But thesis are just the basics. We have a few more advanced tips thatwill maximize the use and enjoyment you get out of your Kindle.

You Should Take Kindle’s Last Rival Seriously – Wired

We’re almost at a point where clause the Kindle particular, like Kleenex tissues to, interchangeable with e-reader . That’s fair; it was among the first in the US, and with the quiet retreats or Sony and Barnes & amp; Noble’s Nook line, it’s among the last. But the introduction this week of an e-reader bone healing That matches the top-end Kindle’s marquee feature and Severely undercuts its price is a reminder That Amazon hasnt monopolized the market yet. In fact, it’s got competition that’s more serious than you’d think.

The Kobo Glo HD will not be available in the US until May 1, but When it arrives it’ll bring with it a display every bit as pixel-packed as Amazon’s Kindle stunning Voyage-at a $ 70 discount. The Glo HD ook doesnâ Appear to be many hardware cutting corners elsewhere to make up the cost; it’s just as light as the Voyage, and only very slightly thicker. The two use the same Carta E-Ink technology. Both are front-lit, though the Voyage finds a small advantage by automatically adjusting the brightness to best suit your surrounding conditions.

“With this Particular Device, we went to people who self-declare as being attached to paper, “says Michael Tamblyn, Kobo’s president and chief content officer. “We asked ourselves what characteristics would theywant in a device to make the jump to e-reading.” Not surprisingly, They wanted a device That feels like a book. Based on notes specs, the Glo HD comes about as close as you can get.

Despite the similarities to the Voyage, the Glo HD costs $ 130, Compared to the $ 200 you’ll pay for Amazon’s base -level offering. In fact, you’ll pay less for the Glo HD than you would for the noticeably less crisp Kindle Paperwhite without the special offers, an apt comparison since Kobo doesnâ plaster any notes or devices’ lock screens with ads.

You can not judge any gadget on hardware alone, and the Kindle has plenty of advantages That do not show up on a spec sheet. But for the right child or consumer-the child That still reads books enough to warrant a dedicated e-reading device Instead of the occasional session-smartphone scrolling Kobo HAS Importance beyond any individual product. It’s the last bastion of competition in a field That sorely needs it

Turning the Page

The argument for Kobo is simply this:. Without it, Amazon would be your only choice. Sony slinked off the e-reader field a year ago. Barnes & amp; Noble hasnt updated notes Nook Glow Light since 2013, and Seems to have zero interest in producing notes own hardware. Kobo and Kindle are at this point the only mass-market e-readers, full stop. In otherwords, Kobo is the only company capable of pushing forward Kindle, and vice versa.

If you think That sort of competition does not matter-that it’s just an e-reader, how much innovation do you really need-you just need to look at the Kobo Aura H20. Released last fall, it’s the only e-reader That gets delivered to your door waterproof. That’s a feature no Kindle can boast, Unless you go the pricey aftermarket route.

Tamblyn is quick to cite other e-reader Kobo HAS pioneered improvements. In 2010, the Kobo e-reader’s $ 149 price tag Significantly notes undercut competition. Three years later, the 6.8-inch HD Aura was an affordable large-format e-reader (the 9.7-inch Kindle DX Preceded it, but at a much higher price and for a more specialized audience) That resolution set a new standard for the time or release notes. These are the types of efforts thathave a gravity beyond Their sales figures. A cheap Kobo makes cheaper Kindles. That Kindles Kobo features are likely to wind up in future Kindles. That’s just how competition works. And without Kobo, there is not any.

The need for a Kindle alternative goes deeper than just hardware. Kobo works with a broader range of file formats than Kindle does (though bone healing use DRM on titles you purchase directly), and frankly Has A less contentious relationship with major publishing houses. A public splash between Amazon and Hachette last spring led to delayed shipments, higher prices, and titles being pulled from the Kindle Store’s digital shelves. Many axis shaft 5,000 titles were affectedness

Kobo’s Hardly the only digital book retailer around.; Barnes & amp; Noble still moves plenty of merchandise through notes Nook app, and upstart subscription service Oyster recently embraced retail shaft well. But by having an integrated hardware and software experience, Kobo notes gives customers more directly, frictionless access to content than anyone but Amazon. And so far, unlike Amazon, it hasnt used notes to customers as leverage in publisher spats

That’s not to say Kobo’s perfect.; there’s a selection trade-off here. Though Tamblyn Describes his company and Amazon as “Effectively peers” in quantity and quality of offerings (aside from content That comes from Amazon’s own publishing arm), the Kobo bookstore can feel jumbled and anemic in practice, versus the slickly produced and fully stocked Kindle Store. Tamblyn insists That boils down to the difference approaches to discovery. Kobo is “less automated” than Amazon’s algorithmic rigor, curated with more of a human touch. That’s likely true, but in my experience doesnâ always resulted in a better user experience.

Staying Power

How good is a digital product does not mean much, though, if it’s not going to be supported in a year or two. And it’s tempting to think of Kobo as the doomed underdog; the name’s still not very familiar to the US audience. But Tamblyn stresses That the Kobo’s focus HAS so far leg on international markets, and That it has “significant global share,” Despite or at being an afterthought stateside.

More important than Kobo’s actual numbers, though, Are those whether it’s parent company, Rakuten, one of the world’s largest ecommerce companies that’s hört in expansion mode. You’re most likely familiar with Buy.com, Rakuten-which acquired in 2010, but The Easiest Way to think of it is as the Amazon or Japan. Last year alone it tallied Nearly $ 5 billion in revenue. It has a market cap of $ 25 billion. It’s no Amazon, but it’s not exactly Pets.com either.

That’s important not just for the confidence That You’re not buying off-brand junk-as someone who’s tested several at Kobo products, I can assurement you it’s not-but for the reassurance thatthere’s less risk than you thought to investing in the Kobo ecosystem. Rakuten is capable of thinking about, and surviving on, the long-term. Stashing your books on notes devices is as safe a bet as any.

Fighting for Scraps?

There’s a looming hesitation around this entire discussion, All which is how long e-readers will equally continued to exist as a product at all. Forrester Research last year category sales projected to fall to 7 million per year by 2017, versus 25 million in 2012. The rise of big smartphones and small tablets Appears to have made a powerful argument against a dedicated reading device.

While Tamblyn acknowledges That Kobo’s target demographic in the US is experiencing an older generation e-reading for the first time, he’s Perhaps Predictably bullish on the industry’s prospects. There’s still a place for devices like Kindle and Kobo.

“People who love reading, who read a book or two a week, are much more likely to be drawn to a dedicated device,” he Explains to WIRED . Many Of Those people are already too deeply invested in Amazon’s ecosystem to findtheir way out. But for newcomers to the e-reading experience, people who are tired or smartphone screen glare ruining Their view, or black screen or battery life woes, or whether all the distractions That come with reading on the same device you tweet with, e- readers are a welcome respite

In fact, one of the biggest contributors to e-reader sales decline is likely the same as tablets or That:. You Rarely need to replace them. A White Paper from two years ago is much the same as a White Paper today. Refresh rates get a little faster, E-Ink gets a little more crisp, but there’s not much about a new Kindle That would make you feel the need to replace your old one.

That’s the real reason Kobo matters . Without any rivalry at all, the pace of e-reader innovation would be even slower than it is already. Upgrades would remainning upkeep too expensive or too minor to bother with. Waterproofing would still be a distant dream. Kobo helps make e-readers worth buying again, Wherever You end up Actually buying one from.

Amazon Kindle Voyage Review: The Rolls-Royce or Ebook Readers – NDTV

Amazon HAS Relatively dominated the niche world of ebook readers thanks to solid hardware and by offering a bigger, better library than everyone else. The word Kindle HAS BEEN synonymous with affordable hardware that’s Unlikely to score high on design. Given this background, the launch of the ‘premium’ Kindle Voyage was a bit of a surprise. The Voyage is really the best Kindle till date? Let’s find out.

Build and design
The first thing you notice about the Kindle Voyage is how thin and light it is. Compared to the White Paper, it’s Easier to hold the Voyage with one hand, and people with medium-to-large-sized hands will be bootable Their fingers to get all the way across the Kindle and still have a secure grip. Of course, you are more likely to hold it from one of the bottom edges – left or right – and the new Kindle is light enough That doing so even for long durations is Unlikely to cause any discomfort

<. img src="http://cdn.ndtv.com/tech/images/kindle_lineup.jpg" alt="Kindle lineup" title="" /> From left-to-right: The basic Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite (2013), and Kindle Voyage; all at full brightness.

The Kindle Voyage comes with the power button at the back, while Paperwhite has it at the bottom. If you use a cover with your Kindle, this change is Unlikely to make much difference to your life since the ebook reader turns itself on or off as you open or close the cover. Others, However, will welcome this change, as the new positioning is Certainly Easier to access.

The Voyage is built out of premium plastic, and Has A very nice overall feel. HOWEVER, the back – which is sloped close to the left and right edges, ostensibly to make it Easier to grip with one hand – is more prone to smudges than the predecessor

Display and Performance
Let’s get this out of the way – we did not really have any complaints about our Kindle Paperwhite – until the Kindle Voyage Showed up. Not only is the device lighter and Easier to hold, there are big improvements in the display as well. The Kindle Voyage comes with a brighter 300ppi display-which Means the text is sharper and the difference between the Voyage and Paperwhite is especial clear When You Hold the two e-book readers side-by-side.

Up Close With The Kindle Voyage (top) and Paperwhite (below the black line)

The Voyage comes with an ambient light sensor – the first in a Kindle ebook reader – which Means the device can automatically adjust the brightness of your display as the ambient lighting conditions change. It Also has a Night Light feature – turned off by default – that Gradually Reduces the screen brightness over time as your eyes adjust to the dark

Kindle Voyage ook comes with Page Press, Which Seems like a gimmick at first,. but is surprisingly useful. The bottom part of the bezel to the left and right of the display Has A small line, and the top part Has A dot. When you are reading a book, you can tap near the line on upkeep side to go to the next page or tap near the dot to go to previous page.

You can of course still flip pages by tapping on the left or right edge of the screen but Page Press is useful When You’re holding the Kindle in one hand and want to go to the previous or next page without having to reach all the way to the other side of the screen.

Page Press ook biedt feedback by gently vibrating part of the Kindle. You can you can set the level of feedback you get to low, medium, or high; With The Latter recommended for When You Are using the Kindle inside a cover. You can ook Customise the amount of pressure required to trigger Page Press.

In terms of software, the Kindle Voyage is pretty similar to the Paperwhite, though Amazon is touting some new features. Chief amongst thesis is Family Library, payback from-which family members to share ebooks with eachother. Unfortunately, this is not available yet and will be rolled out through a software update. It’s not clear if the feature will be available in India, since services like Kindle Unlimited are restricted to specific regions.

Rest of the features remainning pretty similar to the Paperwhite, and if you are buying your first Kindle, You Should Also Read our review of the Kindle Paperwhite (2013).

Kindle Voyage in bright sunlight

Verdict
The Voyage Kindle is priced at Rs. 16.499 for the Wi-Fi version and Rs. 20.499 for the 3G variant-which is a lot of money to pay for an ebook reader. While it’s a significant improvement over the Paperwhite, Amazon’s previous flagship ebook reader is still a great device That we would not mind hanging on to for some more time. Since the physical dimensions of the device are different, you’ll alsohave to invest in new accessories like covers.

Having Said that, there’s no doubt That the Voyage Kindle is the best ebook reader till date, and if you have the money to spare, this is definitely the Kindle you get shouldering For everyone else, the Paperwhite will do just fine

Voyage Kindle (Wi-Fi only) -.. Rs. 16.499
Voyage Kindle 3G – Rs. 20.499
Protective Cover for Amazon Kindle Voyage – Rs. 2,999
Amazon Protective Leather Cover for Kindle Voyage – Rs. 3,999

17 hilarious e-book covers peoplehave Actually Submitted on Amazon – Business Insider

Amazon Some people shouldering be very grateful That everyone knows the old saying, “Never judge a book by cover notes.”

 

The genius behind the Tumblr blog Kindle Cover Disasters HAS Collected and curated a bunch of the most hilariously awful cover art Kindle on Amazon.com.

 

Though he asked to Remain anonymous, huh Told Business Insider That What started as shock and disbelief at the range or bath artwork turned into a deep appreciation.

Kobo Glo launches the HD to take on Amazon’s Kindle Voyage – Gizmag

Amazon’s Kindle line is Usually the first range or products people think or When It Comes to e-readers, but Kobo is not giving up yet – and notes latest high-resolution model is proof of that. The newly Announced Glo HD offers a 6-inch, 300ppi, 1,448 x 1,072 screen-which matches the resolution of Amazon’s top-end Kindle Voyage model, and comes with a nippy 1GHz processor inside.

Kobo Claiming two months between battery charges (the Voyage’s official spec is six weeks) and weighs in at 180 grams (6.3 ounces). Measuring 9.2 mm in thickness, It provides 4GB of internal storage and supports all the usual e-book file types (pretty much anything except Amazon’s own format). As the name suggests, there’s a built-in front light for reading in the dark, making use of Kobo’s Existing Comfort Light technology.

One of the more notable extras you get with your purchase is a new concierge phone assistance service that helps new users get set up and can even sacrifice reading Recommendations from Kobo’s 4.7-million-strong library. The device ook Offers support for notes, highlighting, bookmarks and reading statistics.

If you’re weighing up the new Kobo against Amazon’s Kindle flagship, the extra price you pay for the Voyage gets you ambient lighting detection, page-turning pressure points on the bezel and the option to add cellular connectivity. Otherwise the two devices are very similar in terms of hardware specifications, if not in software and content ecosystem. There’s no water proofing as there was with last year’s Kobo Aura H2O.

The Kobo Glo HD is set to go on sale from May 1 in the US (US $ 129.99), Canada (CAD $ 129.99), Australia (AU $ 179.99) and New Zealand (NZ $ 219.99), from May 22 in France (€ 129.99), and from June 1 in the UK (£ 109.99), Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain (€ 129.99). The first promotional video for the device is embedded below

Source:. Kobo via TechCrunch

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52 sausage Kindle eBook covers ever: You have to see thesis shockers – Pocket-lint.com

There is no doubt That technology has improved people’s lives no end. And while booklovers have got cause to complain about the advent of eBook readers and eBooks, in terms of diminishing the sales of hardbacks and paperbacks, there’s little doubt thatthere HAS never been a richer time for a wannabe author.

No longer are writers gagged by major and minor publishers. If They Want to publish a book They can go ahead and do so digitally, through schemes like the Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. These Forgo the traditional routes and enable authors to Release Their wares On Their own terms.

HOWEVER, with great power comes great responsibility. Axis evidenced by the hilarious Tumblr site Kindle Cover Disasters, while the words might come easy To Those wishing to keep creativity into their Own Hands, They probably need a little more help in presenting Their books.

They Say That you can not judge a book by it’s cover, but if You could, you would not hold out much hope for the writing talents of a Large Proportion of the authors Of the following titles.

All of These can be found on Amazon or equivalent eBook retailers. And had us all laughing until our kidneys hurt.

New fund looks to kindle a growing local tech sector – TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Newly Returned to the Twin Cities in 2012 with an MBA from the University of Colorado, Ryan Broshar was ready to put his entrepreneurial instincts to use.

But it wasn ‘t about starting a business.

“It Became very apparent, very quickly, thatthere’s some amazing entrepreneurs in this area thathave real companies making real money doing real things,” Broshar said. “It ook Became apparent thatthere was no clear funding source for thesis companies at an Earlier internship. So I saw a real need in the marketplace.”

By 2013 Broshar had started Confluence Capital, a venture fund that’s still active. And last month, he and his partners started Matchstick Ventures, a second fund ook That’s a rebranding or Confluence. Emplacements 14 funded startups notes on site, most from the Twin Cities.

Since starting Confluence, “we’ve got a lot of excitement, a lot of interest from other investors,” Broshar said. “So Heaven! Raise our second fund, to Further establishement us in this market, and on the national scene as well.”

One of those new investors Scott Burns, co-founder and CEO of GovDelivery , a St. Paul-based company found notes That niche in the Past Decade by contracting with government entities to deliver documents Electronically, from tax notices to snow emergencies.

Broshar and Burns are enthusiastic about Matchstick Ventures and notes larger Implications: that the Twin Cities Could Become the next important national tech hub

They be discussed this recently in separate interviews and emails.. Their answers have been edited for clarity and context.

Why make the change after you established the first fund? What’s the difference between the two

Burns: “Matchstick is just a new name for Confluence As with any VC fund, Matchstick willhave different iterations The.. first iteration (when known as Confluence) was narrower. I was not involved ‘in the first iteration but I had an investment in a company where clause Matchstick / Confluence was involved’. I was impressed with Ryan’s experience and approach. “

Broshar: “It Identifies a lot better than our old name did with the style of investing That we do, and internship or investing So when you think or matchsticks, you think, ‘I’m going. to light the match, starting the fire, really started something. ” So there’s definitely a surf side to it, but it very much Identifies With The startup That we’re investing in. Structurally the funds are similar, we just have a better name so most folks can Realize what we’re doing. “

And you brought` in new people

Broshar: “Yes, we’ve got a bunch of new tech partners That Are ‘involved and new investors in the fund “

What role are the partners providing, other than taking equity

Broshar.? “It’s not a formal role with any of the companies, it’s more informal. More sort of an adviser or mentor to our companies, as Desired. We want to mentor That next generation with the child or ‘been there done that’ mentality so They do not make the same mistakes That we’ve all made previously “

Are board seats involved ‘

Broshar.? “Not Necessarily, no. It’s more like a support network for our portfolio companies.”

How much money are we talking about?

Broshar: “We can not lose the disc new fund size yet Because We Are still fund raising for it, but it’s obviously a larger fund. Typically investing 50 to 100K per investment “

And all in the tech sector

Broshar: .” Yes, all in the tech sector, Primarily in the online SAAS (software as a service) companies, and we do have a slight’re on B2B companies, business services and so softwarethat supports that.

“We also like mobile devices, mobile is going to infiltrate so many areas of our lives, and I think Internet of things is going to do the same thing, it’s going to continuing to infiltrate “

What is your. criteria for a target company

Broshar: “Our very bare-bones criteria we look for companies thathave a overdeveloped product and have a customer That customer. Could be a paying customer, obviously that’s our preference, but we’ve invested ook before revenue, whenthey’ve had thounsands or beta customers or the like. Basically, getting a customer to use a product and give feedback, so thatthey can -improvesleep That product a few times, before They really go to market with the formal funding. There’s got to be some sort of market validation on the product before we invest. “

What about your criteria for taking on new investors?

Broshar: “I’ll Say That most of our investors and people associated with the fund have previous experience in sectors thesis that’s very valuable, not only for our fund but for thesis portfolio companies. We prefer that “

Do you ook seek an exit strategy for the target companies

Broshar: .” We obviously look toward that, but we invested at an early stage Such That We’re thinking more about milestones: How do we get a company from X number of sales to this number of sales, how do we get from five to 10 employees? So we’re looking child or incrementally.

“We do not invest in lifestyle businesses, or anything where people are saying, ‘I’m going to pass this on to my next generation.” With venture capital, there comes the expectation thatthere’s going to be a high-growth period followed by an exit. And it makes a lot of sense, especial in the tech sector for venture capital.

“Obviously on our end, as investors, we’d like to Realize a return, so we’re trying to find some sort of exit, upkeep a merger / acquisition, IPO, etc. Usually, it will be a merger / acquisition. “

Burns: “From what I understand, Matchstick HAS an up to 10-year involvement with companies, though most companies shouldering see exit events in 3 to 7 years. Axis with any fund, Matchstick Expects companies to have an exit strategy but the details will Vary a lot by company. “

Much HAS BEEN made of the postwar Twin Cities’ tech cluster” of companies Such . Axis Control Data, Medtronic and others How is today’s startup tech culture the same and how is it different

Burns: “There is no question thatthere is a technology boom going on in the Twin Cities. It certainly feels like a clustering effect like we’ve seen in the past. Today, the barriers to starting companies are lower, so we must embrace this larger number of startups and be more accustomed to a range of outcomes, from Great Successes to early exits to some That end up not making it. Our tech community is already feeding off itself, with talented folks supporting one another and being drawn to participate in our community as startup founders and employees. “

Is there a difference in the style of investors thesis ? days

Burns: “The new generation of investors is very focused on helping companies ash partners versus just providing funding. … People all around the state ask me what we can do to support entrepreneurs and job growth. I expect investing in this fund to help create jobs and awesome new companies. Ook I expect a great return on my investment. It’s a great fit for investors who believe in Minnesota’s future and want to be a part of it. “