There are now only two days left.
Archive for October 2, 2008
Chronicles Of Depression 2.0: #298: Countdown
October 2, 2008New Sony Reader: PRS-700
October 2, 2008I’m at the Apple mothership store on 57th Street freeloading on a MacBook (white).
Just got here from the Sony Reader announcement tonight.
I don’t have any tech details, so these are just brief notes until tomorrow when I recall all I heard and do a brain dump.
New Sony Reader. The PRS-700.
Let’s get one rumor out of the way: No wireless. No, not even WiFi.
Also — and dammit, I forgot to ask about this, despite making a note — no Mac OS X eLibrary software.
So what do we have?
1) A $100 price increase, from $299 to $399
2) Fewer buttons (!)
3) Touchscreen! Yes, touchscreen! Can use your finger or — get this — a built-in stylus (the best stylus Sony has ever made!)
4) Sidelighting for the eInk screen (four stagelights on both right and left)
5) Seriously-revised Reader software that adds many features, among which are Search(!) and — here it is for you addicts — the ability to make Notes!
6) Like the Model T — one color: Black (break my heart for no red!)
7) An ounce heavier
8) Requires its own covers (that is, existing color covers will not work)
9) The leather-like cover now has SONY embossed on it (finally!)
That’s all I’ve got off the top of my head, risking backstrain bent over a MacBook.
But this is perhaps the most important thing: A serious commitment from Sony to the Sony Reader. I mean, they are really, really serious. The two years of me screaming for them to Do Something seems to be coming to an end.
For those who have been waiting to buy an eBook reader: wait another month. That’s when the PRS-700 will be out. Leaving aside wireless, the new PRS-700 kicks the abominable Kindle’s ass.
Me, I’m crying inside because I had my heart set on Red — but now it looks like it will be Model T black. Well, maybe they’ll release a custom cover in red at some point!
I don’t even have a press kit! They’re doing this all e and I’ll get mine tomorrow in email.
I might have crapcam pictures. The crapcam really acted up, so I might not have anything. I’ll know tomorrow. I don’t want to risk sleep by checking the crapcam and then staying up all night cursing at it! One Sony rep took a few pics for me Just In case.
OK, more tomorrow!
Sony Does FREE For REAL!
October 2, 2008I recently hammered Sony for not understanding what the word FREE means.
So I was very skeptical when I came across a post a TeleRead post about Sony offering for free the movie script of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
I went to the link.
And I clicked the link there.
And OMFGZZZZZZ!!!!!1111
The movie script came down to my PC as a PDF for entirely absolutely no-strings-attached FREE!
Way to go, Sony!
Also at that link is a discount code for 15% off any eBook purchased at Sony’s eBook Store.
Blog Notes: Short Day
October 2, 2008No more posting to be done today — until probably late.
I have some research to do and will also be leaving the PC around 3PM EDST.
On the other hand, there might be a late-night post tonight.
Um, let me give all of you a hint of why you might want to pop in here about 11PM EDST tonight:
Sony Forgets It Has The Sony Reader!
October 2, 2008Following a bread crumb trail from Engadget to Marketwatch, I come upon a special promotional site Sony has set up as a tie-in to the latest 007 movie.
At this site, there is a Cover Flow carousel of Sony products.
I go through it.
No Sony Reader!
WTF?!!?
This despite the fact the Sony Reader will be taking part in this 007 promotion!
The Special Edition Bond bundle for the Reader Digital Book features an embossed cover with a 007 logo and coupon codes for free downloads from the Sony eBook Store of Ian Fleming’s novels Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.
Emphasis added by me.
I can understand if they don’t want to unveil this super-secret embossed cover until the movie debuts in November but damn, why not just show the Sony Reader anyway to generate interest? — and to show that Sony even knows it exists!
Really, Sony, don’t you understand that if (when!) Amazon does some sort of promo like this that the abominable Kindle will be waved in everyone’s face more than McCain waves Palin?
eBooks In Germany: Price-Fixing And Sony Reader
October 2, 2008Really, I expected better from the Germans. But it looks like they’ve gone to court to enforce some years-old law that would force eBooks to have the same price as printed books.
Börsenverein: Buchpreisbindung gilt auch für E-Books
Exchange Club: Book pricing also applies to E-Books [Google machine English]
Wer Bücher in elektronischer Form herunterladen will, wird auch in Zukunft nicht viel Geld sparen können. In einer heute veröffentlichten Stellungnahme betont der Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, dass die in Deutschland gesetzlich festgelegte Buchpreisbindung auch für E-Books gelte. Die Interessenvertretung will diese Auffassung notfalls gerichtlich durchsetzen.
Machine English:
Who books in electronic form to download, will also not much you can save money. In an opinion published today underlines the Association of German Publishers and Booksellers that in Germany the statutory book prices for e-books is true. The lobby wants the court considers necessary, to enforce.
Emphasis added by me.
If there is any doubt about this, here’s a prior article about Amazon being sued for offering discounts on books prices:
Court bans books and discounts from Amazon.de Buch.de [Google machine English]
The two transit bookseller Amazon.de and Buch.de have in the opinion of the Appeal (OLG) Frankfurt am Main book prices against the law by illegally to their customers discounts when buying books acknowledged. In the case of Amazon.de, the “Five-euro voucher start” negotiating for new customers, while the court has Buch.de offering bonus miles banned.
Apparently there are no restraint of trade laws in Germany. At least none that seem to apply to books!
Here’s a month-old article I just came across about the Sony Reader coming to Germany in 2009:
Sony e-book reader comes to Germany [Google machine English]
The Sony Reader is expected in the first half of 2009, after Germany. The Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2008 Sony will announce partners, which are then suitable content for the device will offer. It requires the group to cooperate with various publishers and wants this enthusiasm for the device.
The legal requirement for eBooks to have the same price as printed books will stunt the acceptance and growth of eBooks. I wonder if some publishers will wake up and issue eBook-only books? Perhaps even bring the backlist to life only as eBooks. Those moves would give the German court a nice — and deserved! — headache!
Blog Notes: 250K Views
October 2, 2008
I had to wait until this point to claim 250,000 views. I had to deduct the thousands of political freaks who came here about that eejit Hockey Mom.
Eh, doesn’t matter much.
There are less than three months left until this blog is euthanized.
R.I.P. John “The Mole” Fancy
October 2, 2008‘The Mole’, Second World War POW tunnel digger, dies aged 95
Warrant Officer John Fancy, who acquired the reputation of being one of the most determined escapers the Germans had encountered, dug eight tunnels under camps in Poland, Lithuania and Germany.
He helped several comrades to escape, and dug himself to freedom on three occasions, only to be recaptured.
Despite harsh punishments, he never gave up and one of his prized possessions in later life was a 10 inch butter knife, issued to him by his German captors to eat meals, which he used to dig the tunnels. His efforts involved drawing elaborate plans and maps.
Mr Fancy spent nearly five years in prison camps after he was shot down over France on May 14, 1940. He and his crew had successfully bombed bridges over the Meuse, near Sedan, which were important to the advancing German army.
Summing up his war, he once said: “After four years, 10 months and four days I landed back in England after taking off on what should have been a four-hour trip.”
Emphasis added by me.
Can you imagine that? Not just the deprivation of the camps, but having escaped only to be recaptured?
Yet his spirit didn’t break! He went right back at it!
An example for all time.
Previously here:
New Promos For TNT’s Leverage!
October 2, 2008TNT has put up a new trailer for the excellent upcoming series, Leverage.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
more about "New Trailer For TNT’s Leverage!", posted with vodpod
There are now also character profiles. She is my favorite, Parker:
Vodpod videos no longer available.
more about "TNT – DramaVision", posted with vodpod
This is a series that everyone should watch. So far, it’s the only thing worth watching this new TV season.
Previously here:
Leverage: TNT December 2008
TV Networks Are Using A Leaking Service?
Leverage: The (Leaked) TNT Pilot
Leverage: Coming Soon To TNT
The Lever That Is The Internet
Mike Cane 2008 
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