My decision to choose the Kindle and the subject of books grew from my existing stance against the e-reader, so it seemed a logical choice to keep to this theme in the project. From this, I discovered a surprising amount of people that also shared this opinion, despite a lack of these views on the Internet. By creating a website that voiced mine and many people’s opinions of the future for the book, I feel as though my site adds to the small handful of other websites and forums intent on preventing the book from becoming a thing of the past.
I have found this brief to be a challenging introduction to the use of video and web design, but nevertheless a rewarding one. Although I personally enjoyed this project, the most frustrating elements were involving areas of web-design, and at this point I received assistance from fellow students in producing the website I had imagined and planned. In the end, I applied the skills I had learnt to complete the site to the standard I wanted.
In comparison to the focus on web design, I much preferred creating the video content of the site and in doing so I feel as though I’ve gained an interest in using Final Cut Pro. In the future, I’d like to expand on using video and editing within my work, as it’s something I’ve always gained interest in, but never quite had the opportunity to work with.
Given the chance to improve on my website, I’d take more time to expand on my content and gather a better idea of the book production history. This could then help inform a firmer understanding of just why the book is a sacred tradition. On top of this, I regret not experimenting on the design of my website more, and producing something I saw myself as being more aesthetically pleasing.
Alongside my website, I would’ve liked to have taken more time in filming more footage such as interviews, and experimenting more with collaging and editing existing videos together.
One particular issue I encountered through the process of producing my videos was the lack of existing footage that was available, either through YouTube or the Archive website. Because of this, I regret not pursuing a more visually exciting and generally more exciting theme where a wider range of videos are available.
Regardless of certain elements I believe I could’ve improved on, I’ am pleased with the outcome of this project and hope to continue gaining confidence with both video and web design in the future.
This brief has definitely made me question not only the technological developments that threaten the book, but also the rapid pace in which we are pushing technology, which in a sense has made me fear the future. I believe this should now inform my practice beyond this brief.
Monday, 7 March 2011
Monday, 28 February 2011
Monday, 14 February 2011
Arguments against the Kindle
"Argument one: The Kindle destroys the trace of the author. After the death of the individual author, books continue to live. They carry the trace of the authors life and thoughts on the page and show this trace through the physical existence of the book. If you hunt for books in bookstores instead of libraries, you may not realize that every age has bound its books differently, used different papers and inks and decorated the page in various ways. The materiality of the book gives us a taste of the author and the time when the book was made. Each book is different and an avid reader can often remember the color of their favorite book or the feel of its pages. The Kindle destroys this because it divorces the text from the book. It displays every book the same. While the text on the screen may changes the physical object in one’s hands stays the same. This has some troubling consequences for our relationship to the author’s words because what the Kindle really displays is one long book — simply a long stream of endless, digitized words.
Argument two: the Kindle destroys the community of readers which books engender. The Kindle has been devised by a society that wants to make profit each time a text is read rather than each time a book is purchased. In the old system, once I bought a book I owned it as an object. I could read it as many times as I liked and give it to friends who may give it to their friends. That is the basis behind public libraries, we all share books because we understand that there are more books we’d like to read than we’d ever be able to afford to read. This creates a community of readers who circulate books amongst themselves for the benefit of all. The Kindle is the end of that, no more sharing books, no more public libraries, no more sitting in a bookstore and reading a book without buying it. The Kindle is a prison for words.
Argument three: the Kindle denies the call to deep, meditative reflection. Books have a magic power in that they can draw us into the world of the author and make time pass quickly while we are immersed in the text. The book is the ideal format for presenting complicated, philosophical arguments that require the reader to pause between paragraphs and reflect. The Kindle is the opposite — it is merely a television for reading text, a computer that will distract us. Furthermore, the adoption of the Kindle will destroy the culture of reading that sets aside sacred places for study: libraries. The Kindle makes these special places unnecessary because it argues that the library will be carried in our pocket. But with the loss of quiet study places for the public will come the loss of the public’s capacity for quiet study. This is why some commentators have already reflected that the Kindle is best for trashy novels. But if the Kindle becomes widespread, all we will have is trashy novels."
Blog post taken from:http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/23/three-arguments-against-the-kindle/
I found this to be a very valid argument against the Kindle, it says everything I want to say, and more.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Video and Question Responses.
These are all the responses I've recieved from people after watching my 1 minute "Introduction" video.
The questions attached in the description were:
What does...
The future of books looks like for you?
If you think the Kindle could affect the book industry?
How it might affect you?
If you think the Kindle could affect the book industry?
How it might affect you?
-
Tom Woodland I love proper books. Theres an argument that the kindle is less wasteful in terms of paper usage. and that might be right, but then again built in faults in electronic equipment that makes them redundant within 24 months might mean that books are actually more durable... thats my only issue anyway. As a craft I love bookmaking but i'm not opposed to reading stuff on screen ive got a sherlock holmes library on my phone that i'm making my way through.
Vicky Kortekaas
I love reading books and have my own little library at home but I also think there is a future in kindle I was very dubious at first about them but after having seen one I have changed my opinion, the fact that the text can be in any size w...ould and does make them useful for anyone who can't read normal size text and would make them good learning implements. I don't however think they will replace the book. People just love the book too much and there are certain books that would not translate very well to a kindle, such as art books and children books. There is something warm about a paper book and as far as the environmental factor ,, trees can be regrown the e waste that would come from a kindle probably will be around for years to come. The video is really good, love the sound track, the text is a bit unreadable at times. hope this helps :)
Nik Lahey-James
I don't tend to read a lot of books, or any, but the ones i do tend to look at or take interest in are arty/picture books. so I'm not sure how much impact the kindle would have on me personally. I tend to use books for a more visual influen...ce than anything. Overall i think the kindle could effect the book industry quite badly but I'm not too sure how long it would take for that to be obvious. Even if its not just the kindle but it could be another (or many together) devices of technology that bring the book industry down, apple will probably bring out a better version of the ipad that will be 'better' then the kindle.
Jen Hill
I'm really sad that the kindle has come about because I absolutely love reading actual books. Especially ones you get from charity shops that are really old. That is definitely something the kindle will never be able to compare to. The futu...re of books for myself though will avoid the kindle for as long as possible, but I hate to say that inevitably the kindle will replace paper books completely, and to buy new books will only be possible in a digital form.
That in turn will affect the industry massively and its quite a shame as people have spend a great deal of time mastering the art of book binding and that faces the danger of becoming obsolete!
Like I said, I'm not going to let it affect me for as long as possible. I would house all the book in the world in one huge Beauty and the Beast style library if I would, complete with a ladder on wheels to reach the high ones. But I think the kindle will make that dream much less of a reality :(
That in turn will affect the industry massively and its quite a shame as people have spend a great deal of time mastering the art of book binding and that faces the danger of becoming obsolete!
Like I said, I'm not going to let it affect me for as long as possible. I would house all the book in the world in one huge Beauty and the Beast style library if I would, complete with a ladder on wheels to reach the high ones. But I think the kindle will make that dream much less of a reality :(
Katie Payne
i think the future of book for me will be what it is now to be honest. Im not going to waste my money on a 'kindle' when if im really bothered about reading from a screen I can just go on the internet on my computer that I already have. Plu...s I like to have a book...like physically there to hold and read, to get woren down through use. Personally I dont think the kindle will affect the book industry....i dont no one person with one...and well i think you can see for yourself that nobody wants them. I think its one of those things that people are wanting to rave or criticise but I think its just people worrying too much and people who like to argue and moan about modern technology. Therefore I feel that the kindle will have no affect on me at all...and the only way it will is if people carry on talking as if it is going to take over the world and books are going to be lost. Lets be honest...nobody wants them. Lets stop looking for an argument and just continue as we are. People keep buying books (which i can assure you everyone ino does) = the downfall of the kindle.
Silvio Fiormetti I feel more comfortable reading paperback books because I can pass them through my family, and i enjoy looking through waterstones for books. I dont think the kindle will affect publishers too much because the kindle is something like £300 pounds plus the books you buy on top of that, where as 1 paperback book averages around £10.
Kate Newman
Ello, I know you sorta know my opinion already :P but I reackon that there will hopefully still be a future for books, otherwise so much of our history is going to be lost. Electronics can only last so long before they break, and thats not ...including the fact that some are built to break so you have to buy new ones! But books are proven to last.
Only one other thing which is about the video itself, I found it quite hard to read the white over the beinging scenes. Hope this helps!
Only one other thing which is about the video itself, I found it quite hard to read the white over the beinging scenes. Hope this helps!
Kirsty Alderson
i think eventually technology will take over and there won't really be a need for books. I do however, prefer to have an actual book because you can make a collection and i just the whole experience of turning a page is in fact great! i thi...nk the kindle definitely will affect the book industry because i know a number of people who have kindles, my dad has said he would like to purchase a kindle because books take up far too much space in his cupboards, so it just seems more practical. I don't read novels etc enough so it won't affect me in that sense but i'd hate to think i'd no longer be able to go to the library to research if books no longer exsisted.
Laura Avril Dove
I personally would prefer to have a full bookshelf opposed to one kindle sitting on it. I can definately see the advantages in the Kindle - especially in our ever-growing economic state. There is something about having a book which seems so... much more special than one electronic item with hundreds of books on. I guess it's similar to when you get a CD, it feels so much nicer to be able to hold the object, read the lyrics and look at the pictures than simply downloading it onto itunes. As most music has gone digital - sadly, I reckon the same will happen with books, and it works out to be a lot more convenient for people that way. What about the library though! Will books be lent out on memory sticks or something? I don't like the idea of an overly digital world but seeing as how the western culture is totally relable on progressing and inventing new gadgets I can't see books staying extremely popular - wether the kindle takes over, or the web.
I'm not a massive reader, but when i do read a book I often get one from the library because I won't have to pay! ha cheapskate. When i do read it's normally read before bed, and although the kindle doesn't look too much like a computer screen i'd still rather turn the pages and not be scared to spill a bit of my hot choc on it etc.
fuck the kindle maaaaaaaaaannnnnnn! hahah hope that helps!!!
I'm not a massive reader, but when i do read a book I often get one from the library because I won't have to pay! ha cheapskate. When i do read it's normally read before bed, and although the kindle doesn't look too much like a computer screen i'd still rather turn the pages and not be scared to spill a bit of my hot choc on it etc.
fuck the kindle maaaaaaaaaannnnnnn! hahah hope that helps!!!
Thomas Hughes
Books will never be replaced by screens, because you can't look at a screen for as long as you can a piece of paper. The future of books depends on how many people read, it all depends on if reading omes back into the mainstream, but with T...V i doubt it will..
the kindle will affect the book indsustry in a negative way, ie people would rather download an E-book, but i dont think it will be the death of books, im sure they're very handy but will never replace books entirely.
the kindle will affect the book indsustry in a negative way, ie people would rather download an E-book, but i dont think it will be the death of books, im sure they're very handy but will never replace books entirely.
I don't think the kindle will affect my life at all.. I'm not really interested in getting one.
Emma Saynor I don't think they're a threat tbh. I use the screen for things that don't involve lots of long-time reading. It hurts my eyes and it's not comfortable. I don't read that often but when I do I read fiction in bed before I sleep. I thnk a screen would be too stimulating and prevent the relaxation part of reading and personally I thin thats what most people read for.
Alex Newall
for me nothing can beat an actual book, how they feel and smell and I personally wouldn't be very happy if the Kindle took over the book industy on a big scale. I think it is possible in the near future that more and more people will start ...using them opposed to actual books, and I can see the benefits say if you were traveling and wanted alot of books for example. But I don't think that's it's going to affect me that much really. I mean i still listen to cassettes and watch VHS tapes ;) that and I am the most clumbsy person I know and spending like £6 on a book doesn't matter too much if I rip it abit or drop it in a puddle but If I spent £100 (or however much they cost) on a Kindle and broke it (which would be inevitable knowing what I'm like) you can't read ANY more until you replace it not just the one book you're reading.
Emily Reid
I think that using the kindle takes away the real experience of reading, reading a physical book is much better than using a kindle, the pages and words actually there in front of you. People will always collect editions of books and create... their own libraries, re reading books throughout their lives. The kindle won't affect me, I will always read real books as I think this is the only way to read a book. And I think this view is shared by a lot of people, so hopefully the kindle won't affect the industry too much, or as much as you might think, because of these more traditional views.
Mikel Iriarte
Fuck the Kindle I like books!
I won't stop reading books and I won't start using a kindle.
A) I don't yet understand them and
B) You will never get the selection of books you ultimately want on a Kindle (no matter how clever they think they ...are, people rediscover old books everyday)
Unfortunately the Kindle could have an adverse affect on the book industry - I saw an old lady on the tube using one the other day. For some reason I felt she was ungrateful for all the things books have done for her over the years.
Unless someone gives me a Kindle and I end up hurting their feelings by breaking it over their face then the Kindle won't have any personal effect on me other than my annoyance.
I won't stop reading books and I won't start using a kindle.
A) I don't yet understand them and
B) You will never get the selection of books you ultimately want on a Kindle (no matter how clever they think they ...are, people rediscover old books everyday)
Unfortunately the Kindle could have an adverse affect on the book industry - I saw an old lady on the tube using one the other day. For some reason I felt she was ungrateful for all the things books have done for her over the years.
Unless someone gives me a Kindle and I end up hurting their feelings by breaking it over their face then the Kindle won't have any personal effect on me other than my annoyance.
I really do enjoy books and reading and having been bought the sony equivalent to a 'Kindle' for my 18th I am now able to take as many books as I like with me on the go.
Needless to say this has NOT stopped me buying books from shops and never will, especially charity shops. I do find that I prefer to have certain types of books as hard copies and only hard copies, such as graphic novels but it is nice to be able to have a wide range of books with me wherever I go with no extra weight.
For me I don't feel that the Kindle is going to take over books and publishing as books have been around for so long and won;t die out, no matter what brilliant technology comes along.
Needless to say this has NOT stopped me buying books from shops and never will, especially charity shops. I do find that I prefer to have certain types of books as hard copies and only hard copies, such as graphic novels but it is nice to be able to have a wide range of books with me wherever I go with no extra weight.
For me I don't feel that the Kindle is going to take over books and publishing as books have been around for so long and won;t die out, no matter what brilliant technology comes along.
I am a currently helping authors publish their books on the iBook store, for use with the iPad, at present the authors are still having books printed but the digital bookstore offers another area of sales,.
I think it's a pleasure reading books on these new devices, it efficient, instant and saves lots of paper, the book just gets stored, deletedmrather than ending up at the car boot, however I love to have a book to hold too.,
I also think that digital bookstores will make it more available for unsigned authors to be able to publish and pro ore their work with the power of social networking etc,. . It's power like we have never seen, it relatively free, efficient, very nice for the consumer, it works...
I think it's a pleasure reading books on these new devices, it efficient, instant and saves lots of paper, the book just gets stored, deletedmrather than ending up at the car boot, however I love to have a book to hold too.,
I also think that digital bookstores will make it more available for unsigned authors to be able to publish and pro ore their work with the power of social networking etc,. . It's power like we have never seen, it relatively free, efficient, very nice for the consumer, it works...
Connor Ogden the kindle has features of a everyday book, but theres still the tradition of looking at a book and turning the pages, in which case some people its religion turning the pages. but if the kindle is the future then i think the next generation of people will have something new to look to :)
Jon Gardner I'm pro-kindle (Well, pro-eBook... Kindle is only one brand).
- It makes literature more accessible, a caveat of which is more people reading...
- It's much more environmentally friendly in the long run.
- It's cheaper to make and distribute.
...and it's going to happen anyway so it's best to just embrace the eBook.
That said, there will always be a place for print, there's no comparison between flicking through the pages of a book and holding a chuck of plastic.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Kindle Video 2
This is my 2nd video, as an introduction to the project. It'll also act as something to debate around, with some attached questions I've posted on to the VLE and on to Facebook, as forum discussions.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
Research 4
"Amazon Kindle preview".
"Amazon Kindle 2 review"
These videos don't exactly provide any form of discussion with views, but hopefully the application of the research I've already gathered can boost this up for my content. I also intend to set up various debates online and in person, and my record of people's opinions.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Research 3
This video is going out on a slight tangent from my main theme of the e-book and it's consequence, but the libraries would definitely feel these consequences, although the causes are different, people would have to suffer because of some sort of change (economical factors or technological developments).
The video features Scroobius Pip too!
The video features Scroobius Pip too!
Research 2
Past:
http://www.creativepapercrafts.net/papertrends/200410.php
http://timerime.com/en/timeline/21769/The+History+of+Publishing/
http://communication.ucsd.edu/bjones/Books/booktext.html
Present:
http://mashable.com/2010/10/15/e-book-sales-august-2010/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/20/amazon-ebook-digital-sales-hardbacks-us
http://gigaom.com/2010/08/08/e-books-from-an-authors-point-of-view/
Future:
http://ebooktest.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/stop-the-nook-madness/
http://publishingcentral.com/articles/20050718-105-7948.html?si=1
http://www.creativepapercrafts.net/papertrends/200410.php
http://timerime.com/en/timeline/21769/The+History+of+Publishing/
http://communication.ucsd.edu/bjones/Books/booktext.html
Present:
http://mashable.com/2010/10/15/e-book-sales-august-2010/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/20/amazon-ebook-digital-sales-hardbacks-us
http://gigaom.com/2010/08/08/e-books-from-an-authors-point-of-view/
Future:
http://ebooktest.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/stop-the-nook-madness/
http://publishingcentral.com/articles/20050718-105-7948.html?si=1
Research 1
Is the Kindle really a good idea? Or is it just a new addition to the mod-con surface of our society?
Is it technological development for good, or for bad?
Or could it ultimately change our lifestyles forever?
The Kindle - released by internet giants Amazon - is the latest must have for the street-wise kind, for those that are constantly on the go and lacking room for a stack of books.
By utilizing new technologies such as "e-ink electronic paper", the Kindle operates as a potential library's worth of reading material, providing a diverse landscape of books straight from one screen. But could all this technological "improvement" force the demise of paper based literature? The eventual consequences might lead to the saddening scene of empty libraries and even more self-induced escapism and anti-socialism. It's not only a knock on effect to us, but to those who really on book production as an industry, and sourcing all the materials that go in to producing any book. We are the people that'll be losing our history, only to see it glossed over in a digital remake.
The rise of the Kindle could also amount in the rise of production in the poorest of factories in the east, where all our gadgets are pieced together.
On the other hand, maybe the Kindle could offer up some benefits? How about the ecologically friendly side? The Kindle could prevent the rising amount of deforestation on a global scale and improve the lives of those that desire the Kindle the most.
Technologically, we're flying very close to the sun as far as our basic resources are concerned. Maybe planet earth isn't capable of providing support for all these obscene priviledges.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/kindle:
salarat
Heasgarnich
ramshackled
proost
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/18/amazon_removes_1984_from_kindle/
Follow in the wake of Kindle's success is the Apple iPad.
"i was horrified when the guardian Hay festival, shrine of literature, hosted a demo of electronic books, storing umpteen volumes to access at the touch of a button. I joined the harrumphing curmudgeons. "It'll never catch on," we muttered. why squint at a screen when you can fondle the pages?"
Yours magazine, july 2010
Who's going to lose out if the Kindle takes over?
Illustrators and Designers
Publishers
Book Shops
Libraries
Children
the Elderly
What will book readers lose?
The tradition and art of book production - the physical form of the book.
The excitement of picking up a book and physically purchasing it.
The simplest things, like flicking over the pages.
A lack of connection with the author.
Sentimental value?
Braile copies
But many people are justifing the world of the Kindle, with comments such as:
"It’s quite possible to still love “real” books and benefit from the portability and interactivity offered by an eBook reader like Kindle. They’re not mutually exclusive. Books I plan to share with others or that do not adapt well to the eBook medium (like coffee table books and those with complex illustrations and graphics) I will still buy in “dead tree” format. Books I intend to read and reference and that I’d like to always have with me in a highly readable and accessible format I’ll buy on the Kindle. Best of both worlds."
http://www.slate.com/id/2212320/ :
"If the Kindle succeeds on its current terms, and all signs suggest it'll be a blockbuster, Amazon will make a bundle. But everyone else with a stake in a vibrant book industry—authors, publishers, libraries, chain bookstores, indie bookstores, and, not least, readers—stands to lose out."
" To understand why, consider how simple it is to buy books on your Kindle. You press a button to take you to Amazon's store, type in a title or author, and press Buy. In 10 seconds, the book's yours. Everything is automated: When you buy the Kindle, Amazon pre-syncs your reader with your account info, so there's no need to type in a credit card number or billing address."
"Everyone is worried that Amazon will end up becoming to books what Apple is to music," Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, told me. (Aiken's group has criticized the Kindle's text-to-speech feature, which automatically creates a kind of audio book from an e-book; the guild says that Amazon should compensate authors for reading their books aloud. But that's another argument for another time.)"
"And even if the publishing industry isn't devastated when a single bookstore takes over the e-book world, the marketplace for books will be diminished. Amazon stands as proof of how innovative retail practices can transform an industry; over the last decade and a half, the company revolutionized the book market with innovations like customer reviews, collaborative filtering, one-click shopping, and unbeatable customer service. It launched all these services to stay ahead of its rivals. But what will happen when it has no rivals?"
Videos:
This video demonstrates the various functions of the Kindle, also displaying the improvements since it's predecessors.
I'am beginning to question whether as humans, technology is draining our sense of HUMANITY.
This is another "Stuff Magazine" review - this time for the older e-book, the Kindle 2. I've found from both reports that the main emphasis is on form, as opposed to function. The presenters seem to prefer walking us through how "well designed" the Kindle is, in the start of the video. This may hint at how everyone is presumed to be image concious, and almost scared not to have the latest "must have". Is that proof of how we're controlled or is it just me being paranoid?
Statistics (taken from http://thoughtsofawannabelibrarian.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/those-christmas-kindle-statistics/)
"On Christmas Day, for the first time ever, customers purchased more Kindle books than physical books. The Kindle Store now includes over 390,000 books and the largest selection of the most popular books people want to read, including New York Times Bestsellers and New Releases."
The idea of digital books outselling REAL books scares me.
It seems impossible to pinpoint how many ebooks have been sold in the last two to three years, with this qoute from the blog: "Anyway, in truth, the only way we will really get to the bottom of the strength of the current ebook market would be for all ebook reader manufacturers to come clean about how many readers they have sold as well as for retailers to detail the sales of ebooks. It is only through transparent statistics such as this that we will really know where the ebook market is."
I stumbled upon this online article from The Guardian on how Kindle sales, for the first time, have overtaken the traditional hardback book.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/28/amazon-ebook-kindle-sales-surge
"Spare a thought for the humble hardback this Christmas. It seems the traditional giftwrapped tome is being trumped by downloads, after Amazon customers bought more e-books than printed books for the first time on Christmas Day.
Amazon's shares rose sharply today after it updated investors on a strong Christmas performance. On its peak day, 14 December, the retailer said customers ordered more than 9.5m items worldwide, the equivalent of a record-breaking 110 items a second."
"Although Amazon has repeatedly trumpeted "record-breaking" Kindle sales, it has refused to say exactly how many have been sold since the 2007 launch.
Sandeep Aggarwal, an analyst with Collins Stewart in New York who has tracked the Kindle's performance, believes that across both models – the paperback-sized Kindle 2 and larger DX – Amazon may be on target to have sold a little over 500,000 units by the end of the year."
When purchasing a book from Amazon, you are essentially only renting the book. This is down to the fact you cannot resell a book, and it is stored on your personal library of digital books, as opposed to permanently existing on the machine itself.
Is it technological development for good, or for bad?
Or could it ultimately change our lifestyles forever?
The Kindle - released by internet giants Amazon - is the latest must have for the street-wise kind, for those that are constantly on the go and lacking room for a stack of books.
By utilizing new technologies such as "e-ink electronic paper", the Kindle operates as a potential library's worth of reading material, providing a diverse landscape of books straight from one screen. But could all this technological "improvement" force the demise of paper based literature? The eventual consequences might lead to the saddening scene of empty libraries and even more self-induced escapism and anti-socialism. It's not only a knock on effect to us, but to those who really on book production as an industry, and sourcing all the materials that go in to producing any book. We are the people that'll be losing our history, only to see it glossed over in a digital remake.
The rise of the Kindle could also amount in the rise of production in the poorest of factories in the east, where all our gadgets are pieced together.
On the other hand, maybe the Kindle could offer up some benefits? How about the ecologically friendly side? The Kindle could prevent the rising amount of deforestation on a global scale and improve the lives of those that desire the Kindle the most.
Technologically, we're flying very close to the sun as far as our basic resources are concerned. Maybe planet earth isn't capable of providing support for all these obscene priviledges.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/kindle:
salarat
19 December 2010 3:11AM
Yep. Totally. The Kindle is disappointing and doesn't allow for controlled art direction: you get the text, but not the design, and not the mood. There are some brilliant magazines and books out there but their Kindle versions miss the point, because the look and feel aren't included. The iPad allows the creator to control the experience, keep the creative vision, and the reader's experience is enhanced as a result. I don't know why anyone would buy the Kindle as a device: it's a good app on the iPad (and I use it as such for buying text-only books), but it's not worth buying as a piece of hardware.
Heasgarnich
20 December 2010 12:37AM
The thing that always makes me laugh when people enthuse about "reading" a book on an iPad/Kindle is that they claim that it's better than the real thing. No, I'm afraid it's not. Reading a book is more than just scanning words that assemble themselves into a sentence that conveys the thoughts and ideas of the writer. When you read a book, you're physically engaging with a medium that has been around a hell of a lot longer than computers. You can't compare the printed word with the electronic. It's impossible. Oooh, it's backlit. So? When I think it's not bright enough to read I turn on a light. There is nothing comparable in either the Apple store, etc, to going into a bookshop - say, Shakespeare and Co in Paris - and having the smell of old books hit you, or that chemical whiff that comes out of a new textbook, or the texture of paper under your fingertips. There ain't an app for that. iPad and Kindle devotees might claim that they're seeing the way of the future. I doubt that. Yes, you could probably revolutionise the newspaper and magazine markets, but not much else. Ultimately, why waste your time and energy downloading books when you don't even own a physical copy? And besides, who's to say that the format these books come in right now won't change in the next three, five years and you have to potentially replace them or convert them all to the new format? Exactly. With a book, you don't have that worry.
Keep the iPads and Kindles for yourselves. I'd rather actually read a book, rather than scan a facsimile. And besides, when I want to throw a book across the room, at least I'm not running the risk of destroying hundreds of pounds of penis replacement from Mr Jobs, am I?
Keep the iPads and Kindles for yourselves. I'd rather actually read a book, rather than scan a facsimile. And besides, when I want to throw a book across the room, at least I'm not running the risk of destroying hundreds of pounds of penis replacement from Mr Jobs, am I?
ramshackled
20 December 2010 9:21AM
So this is the first time publishers have had to worry about keeping up with technology is it? Not like, say, 10 years ago when every magazine in the world started publishing online. This is hardly a new concept, just another example of ipad fever apparently overriding many people's sense of perspective.
proost
20 December 2010 3:07PM
anyone using ipad and kindle for reading are not book readers...
they are fashion/gadget freaks....
they are fashion/gadget freaks....
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/18/amazon_removes_1984_from_kindle/
Follow in the wake of Kindle's success is the Apple iPad.
"i was horrified when the guardian Hay festival, shrine of literature, hosted a demo of electronic books, storing umpteen volumes to access at the touch of a button. I joined the harrumphing curmudgeons. "It'll never catch on," we muttered. why squint at a screen when you can fondle the pages?"
Yours magazine, july 2010
Who's going to lose out if the Kindle takes over?
Illustrators and Designers
Publishers
Book Shops
Libraries
Children
the Elderly
What will book readers lose?
The tradition and art of book production - the physical form of the book.
The excitement of picking up a book and physically purchasing it.
The simplest things, like flicking over the pages.
A lack of connection with the author.
Sentimental value?
Braile copies
But many people are justifing the world of the Kindle, with comments such as:
"It’s quite possible to still love “real” books and benefit from the portability and interactivity offered by an eBook reader like Kindle. They’re not mutually exclusive. Books I plan to share with others or that do not adapt well to the eBook medium (like coffee table books and those with complex illustrations and graphics) I will still buy in “dead tree” format. Books I intend to read and reference and that I’d like to always have with me in a highly readable and accessible format I’ll buy on the Kindle. Best of both worlds."
http://www.slate.com/id/2212320/ :
"If the Kindle succeeds on its current terms, and all signs suggest it'll be a blockbuster, Amazon will make a bundle. But everyone else with a stake in a vibrant book industry—authors, publishers, libraries, chain bookstores, indie bookstores, and, not least, readers—stands to lose out."
" To understand why, consider how simple it is to buy books on your Kindle. You press a button to take you to Amazon's store, type in a title or author, and press Buy. In 10 seconds, the book's yours. Everything is automated: When you buy the Kindle, Amazon pre-syncs your reader with your account info, so there's no need to type in a credit card number or billing address."
"Everyone is worried that Amazon will end up becoming to books what Apple is to music," Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, told me. (Aiken's group has criticized the Kindle's text-to-speech feature, which automatically creates a kind of audio book from an e-book; the guild says that Amazon should compensate authors for reading their books aloud. But that's another argument for another time.)"
"And even if the publishing industry isn't devastated when a single bookstore takes over the e-book world, the marketplace for books will be diminished. Amazon stands as proof of how innovative retail practices can transform an industry; over the last decade and a half, the company revolutionized the book market with innovations like customer reviews, collaborative filtering, one-click shopping, and unbeatable customer service. It launched all these services to stay ahead of its rivals. But what will happen when it has no rivals?"
Videos:
This video demonstrates the various functions of the Kindle, also displaying the improvements since it's predecessors.
I'am beginning to question whether as humans, technology is draining our sense of HUMANITY.
This is another "Stuff Magazine" review - this time for the older e-book, the Kindle 2. I've found from both reports that the main emphasis is on form, as opposed to function. The presenters seem to prefer walking us through how "well designed" the Kindle is, in the start of the video. This may hint at how everyone is presumed to be image concious, and almost scared not to have the latest "must have". Is that proof of how we're controlled or is it just me being paranoid?
Statistics (taken from http://thoughtsofawannabelibrarian.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/those-christmas-kindle-statistics/)
"On Christmas Day, for the first time ever, customers purchased more Kindle books than physical books. The Kindle Store now includes over 390,000 books and the largest selection of the most popular books people want to read, including New York Times Bestsellers and New Releases."
The idea of digital books outselling REAL books scares me.
It seems impossible to pinpoint how many ebooks have been sold in the last two to three years, with this qoute from the blog: "Anyway, in truth, the only way we will really get to the bottom of the strength of the current ebook market would be for all ebook reader manufacturers to come clean about how many readers they have sold as well as for retailers to detail the sales of ebooks. It is only through transparent statistics such as this that we will really know where the ebook market is."
I stumbled upon this online article from The Guardian on how Kindle sales, for the first time, have overtaken the traditional hardback book.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/28/amazon-ebook-kindle-sales-surge
"Spare a thought for the humble hardback this Christmas. It seems the traditional giftwrapped tome is being trumped by downloads, after Amazon customers bought more e-books than printed books for the first time on Christmas Day.
As people rushed to fill their freshly unwrapped e-readers – one of the top-selling gadgets this festive season – the online retailer said sales at its electronic book store quickly overtook orders for physical books. Its own e-reader, the Kindle, is now the most popular gift in Amazon's history.
Amazon's shares rose sharply today after it updated investors on a strong Christmas performance. On its peak day, 14 December, the retailer said customers ordered more than 9.5m items worldwide, the equivalent of a record-breaking 110 items a second."
"Although Amazon has repeatedly trumpeted "record-breaking" Kindle sales, it has refused to say exactly how many have been sold since the 2007 launch.
Sandeep Aggarwal, an analyst with Collins Stewart in New York who has tracked the Kindle's performance, believes that across both models – the paperback-sized Kindle 2 and larger DX – Amazon may be on target to have sold a little over 500,000 units by the end of the year."
When purchasing a book from Amazon, you are essentially only renting the book. This is down to the fact you cannot resell a book, and it is stored on your personal library of digital books, as opposed to permanently existing on the machine itself.
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