t48media http://blog.t48media.net eBooks and ePublishing Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:06:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 en MobileRead Wiki http://blog.t48media.net/2009/11/28/mobileread-wiki/ http://blog.t48media.net/2009/11/28/mobileread-wiki/#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:06:26 +0000 ohowell http://blog.t48media.net/2009/11/28/mobileread-wiki/ This site is still a work in progress, but has lots of useful information.  It is a wiki about eBooks, formats, mobile technology and anything “mobile e-text”: MobileRead Wiki.

For example check the page that contains a good summary of eBook Formats.  Peruse the page about eBook Conversion and the Conversion Matrix, further dive into the eReader Matrix (probably the best out there).  In all a very good idea, with time and effort could become a really important site.

From the intro to eBooks: “Ebook users, and the surrounding culture, are interested with anything electronic and text based. Its acolytes are focused on such pursuits as open intellectual property, well archived accessible data, or things as simple as reading with one hand in the bathtub. The idea to ponder is, what happens when all text is accessible electronically, and is viewable anywhere”.

An article about the future of paper books, first editions and fine editions is missing, would be a good addition.

]]> http://blog.t48media.net/2009/11/28/mobileread-wiki/feed/ Mediactive http://blog.t48media.net/2009/10/06/mediactive/ http://blog.t48media.net/2009/10/06/mediactive/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:24:29 +0000 ohowell http://blog.t48media.net/2009/10/06/mediactive/ Dan Gillmor’s new project is called Mediactive, a blog that will create a “User’s Guide to Democratized Media”.  The blog will result in a book to be published later.  At the same time it is an ongoing conversation about new media, journalism, participation and eBooks, and a public writing project.  It is certainly not the first blog that is designed to become a book, but prehaps one of the most interesting.

The core of the project is to show every user of online media how to become a creator of media with their own means and following their own agenda and interests.  The very essence of civic media and citizen journalism.

The project is based upon previous work by Gillmor at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society: Principles for a New Media Literacy.

]]> http://blog.t48media.net/2009/10/06/mediactive/feed/ POD for Magazines http://blog.t48media.net/2009/09/29/pod-for-magazines/ http://blog.t48media.net/2009/09/29/pod-for-magazines/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:40:26 +0000 admin http://blog.t48media.net/2009/09/29/pod-for-magazines/ While researching for an article about the Australian Dust Storm I stumbled upon MagCloud, a service incubated by HP Labs that allows you to publish and sell issues of magazines, and have them printed and delivered on demand to your customers.

This seems like a good idea.  There is a growing number of print magazines, blogs and online-only magazines that reach a very targeted and small niche of interest.  There are also organizations that create magazine-like content for special events and meetings (i.e. the annual conference, graduation, investors meeting, etc.).  Or the company that publishes a small manual or introductory material in the same format.  All of them could benefit from good printed material and low production costs.

At first MagCloud seems “only” a special case of eBook POD services.  But there is more to it.  The print requirements for glossy magazines are just different.  Design issues are also special.  I will definitely test the service with some content I am developing for an eBook, but that could also be released as a magazine in monthly issues and with ad support.  Will post more about it as I work with the service.

One drawback seems to be that the buyer can’t get the magazine in a digital format also, there is only a very basic online preview mode that is low quality.

On MagCloud example is the Australian Dust Storm number: Strange Light by Derek Powasek.

See also the HP Labs report about CloudMag.

]]> http://blog.t48media.net/2009/09/29/pod-for-magazines/feed/ Asus Netbook could become an eReader http://blog.t48media.net/2009/09/25/asus-netbook-could-become-an-ereader/ http://blog.t48media.net/2009/09/25/asus-netbook-could-become-an-ereader/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:03:27 +0000 admin http://blog.t48media.net/2009/09/25/asus-netbook-could-become-an-ereader/ MIT Technology Review reports that Asus is planning to launch a new eReader that can befolded, and will not use e-Ink technology, but will be in color. The device is aimed to ride the wave of success of the netbook, launched by Asus. Readers of ebooks price the e-Ink devices despite of being B&W because they are easy to read. But the cost of the Asus eReader could be as low as $165, a serious alternative to the normal e-Ink Reader today. The Asus model also is planned to include a series of characteristics of a laptop, like VoIP via Skype, email and a browser.

TR article is here:
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/24097/

An article about the color eReader by Fujitsu:
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22332/

Asus website: www.wepc.com

]]> http://blog.t48media.net/2009/09/25/asus-netbook-could-become-an-ereader/feed/