September 2010 - gutvol-d - lists.pglaf.org

[Fwd: Mobile App has Problem W/Inputting]
by Marcello Perathoner 28 Sep '10

28 Sep '10

Can anybody with a Kindle 3 confirm this? -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Mobile App has Problem W/Inputting Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:37:14 -0700 From: Carl Johnson <johnson_carl(a)comcast.net> To: <webmaster(a)gutenberg.org> I'm using the new Kindle 3 and when I go to the mobile Gutenberg site I'm unable to input any text in the search box for author, title, etc. I get the pointing hand with the cursor blinking within the box but entering letters produces nothing. I think it has to do with your site since the inputting function works everywhere else using the Kindle. Thanks if you can fix this. You've got a giant site I'd like to use. Carl -- Marcello Perathoner webmaster(a)gutenberg.org

2 3

let's prevent hijacking of public-domain books
by Bowerbird＠aol.com 24 Sep '10

24 Sep '10

techdirt has an interesting blog entry up: > http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100922/03303211105/google-asking-for-hel… ml they point to a google forum where a google employee (sofiaf) has asked for instances where public-domain books are not in full-view, because some entity has claimed some kind of "copyright" on them... the google thread is here: > http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/books/thread?tid=7e2cfafbad4c9065 in both places, i posted this comment: > sofia- > > i'm so glad google is finally addressing this issue! thank you! > > but let us not be disingenuous, ok? the vast majority of books > that are being hijacked from the public-domain are being lifted > by a small number of companies. google knows who they are. > you don't need us to identify the books one by one, individually. > > -bowerbird another commenter there -- michael ward -- asked for actual examples, and i told him that i would come here and get some specifics from y'all... let's give google lots of good reasons to take out these scumbags, ok? i mean, providing a service by offering hard-copy of public-domain books is _one_ thing, but locking out full-view of those same books is _wrong_... techdirt has enough clout to prod action, and they will be tenacious too, so let's take advantage of this opportunity and strike while the iron is hot... -bowerbird

1 0

Re: e-reader for Mac [OT]
by Bowerbird＠aol.com 23 Sep '10

23 Sep '10

keith said: > I had loaded Kindle for MacOSX, > but they want to have an account > and since I do not have a Kindle > or will be getting one > that is a no-brainer. you can get an account without owning a kindle. i'm not sure, but i don't think you even need to give them a credit-card. but of course their viewer won't display .epub... you could also try the kobo, or the nook viewers, depending on how masochistic you are feeling... -bowerbird

3 3

Re: kindle appeals to brunettes and blondes
by Bowerbird＠aol.com 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

keith said: > What do these commericial have to do with PG! they're helping us break down the bars of ignorance and illiteracy! -bowerbird

1 0

e-reader for Mac [OT]
by Keith J. Schultz 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

Hi All, Anyone know of a good e-reader for the Mac? I have Stanza, but it does not seem to display very thing and seems to display things that should not show up. I have calibre, but it has problems with word spacing and you can change the font. Adobe Digital Editions displays the best and correctly, but I can not change the font and I do like their interface. I had loaded Kindle for MacOSX, but they want to have an account and since I do not have a Kindle or will be getting one that is a no-brainer. I am interested in reader on a Laptop. I do not have a dedicated e-reader or iPad. I may have to live with the quirks or continue to format the text in a word processor or use PDF. Yet, I somebody could suggest something else that would be nice. regards Keith

1 0

kindle appeals to brunettes and blondes
by Bowerbird＠aol.com 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

here's the newest kindle commercial: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmo9xmLGKlI this one features a blond, in the park, with no dialog. (only 306 views as of now, but already 24 comments.) the last one had a brunette, at a hotel pool, with the classic line "i actually paid more for these sunglasses." > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3m_FQcI-2w of course, this might not be statistically representative of the number of blondes and brunettes with kindles... kindle has tons of money for commercials, thanks to the agency model. boy, were those publishers stupid! -bowerbird p.s. my favoritest kindle commercial of all was #2: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PERiTMZ626M love the song! -- "stole my heart" by little and ashley.

2 1

bus-drivers and kindles
by Bowerbird＠aol.com 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

n.b.c. news reported that a bus-driver in portland just couldn't stop reading an e-book on his kindle: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRbYOUfFMuM& the portland trimet stresses that this was an isolated event, and is not statistically representative of bus-drivers at large. -bowerbird

2 1

Re: kindle numbers and ipad numbers[OT]
by Bowerbird＠aol.com 21 Sep '10

21 Sep '10

keith- we're way past the point of being interesting to the lurkers. -bowerbird

1 0

Re: kindle numbers and ipad numbers[OT]
by Bowerbird＠aol.com 21 Sep '10

21 Sep '10

keith said: > take a class in statistics and you might understand. keith, i've taken classes in statistics. at the ph.d. level. where superficial reactions such as "this _might_ not be representative of the population at large" must be supported with an actual argument. do you have one of those? or are you just trying to _sound_ smart? -bowerbird

3 2

Re: kindle numbers and ipad numbers[OT]
by Bowerbird＠aol.com 17 Sep '10

17 Sep '10

keith said: > statistically irrelevant. ... > we can forget about any statement > which can be made towards reality. ... > point proved. and i repeat: do you have any better numbers? have you done a survey -- at 3 different yearly intervals -- which gives you any evidence to challenge the results there? or is it only other people who have to back up what they say? there are actual numbers which represent the factual reality. a percentage of college freshman have a kindle, and an ipad. i certainly don't claim to know the numbers; but they do exist. and 5.4% certainly sounds like a reasonable estimate -- to me. now, if you wanna dispute that number, that's just fine with me. but where is _your_ evidence? hell, it would be nice if you simply had the balls to _declare_ whether you thought their number was too low or too high, even if you cannot muster any actual evidence of your own... i mean, it's not as if _willfull_blindness_ makes you "superior"... -bowerbird

2 1