Google books in Australia?

[CazMar]

I have noted before in this forum that Google books blocks out Australian readers from buying books or even downloading out of copyright books. (But they are still available at Archive Org).
I looked at the Google EBook store today and saw an "Under construction" sign for Australian readers. It's full of cringe-worthy and totally out of date "Aussie" expressions (hello guys - no-one watches Chips Rafferty movies from the 1950's any more). But at least it seems to indicate we may soon be allowed the privilege of buying ebooks from Google in the near future.
I'll watch with interest.

[Nate the great]

Yes, this has been right around the corner for about the last month or so:
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...international/

[viviena]

Originally Posted by CazMar

I looked at the Google EBook store today and saw an "Under construction" sign for Australian readers. It's full of cringe-worthy and totally out of date "Aussie" expressions (hello guys - no-one watches Chips Rafferty movies from the 1950's any more).

Thanks for this. Seems like somebody at Google really had fun putting together those banners.

[CazMar]

Originally Posted by viviena

Thanks for this. Seems like somebody at Google really had fun putting together those banners.

Looking at Nate's post it seems to have been around for a while - pity they didn't spend more time actually getting it working! I don't know about you but the only time I would say "g'day mate" would be as a joke!

[viviena]

Originally Posted by CazMar

I don't know about you but the only time I would say "g'day mate" would be as a joke!

Oh, same here. Other phrases that would also fall in the jokey category for me would be 'tits on a bull', 'she'll be apples', 'trouble and strife', 'fair dinkum', etc. Still, I found the Google banners marginally amusing. (I am probably easily amused.)

For those reading this thread and are at a loss: http://books.google.com.au/ebooks

[Jozawun]

I regularly use most, if not all, of the expressions mentioned.

I don't, however, use grating expressions like "hello guys", or other unwelcome septic tank interlopers.

[montsnmags]

I use "G'day"...well, it's near all that I use as greeting. I use it on posts, PMs, emails as well as spoken. It is no affectation, but automatic, reflexive, just a natural part of my vocabulary and conversation.

As for the banner, well, a constant presence in Australian culture is a broad sense of irony, one that would appreciate the humor in intentionally advertising directly to our cringe factor. My first thought on seeing it was the same as I thought when watching the episode of The Simpsons, Bart Vs. Australia - that it was consciously cliched and heavy-handed, like a nudge and a wink to "true blue Aussies" about international perceptions which we have sometimes ourselves been complicit in generating. It was a little "shrimp on the barby" Google was slyly grinning at while presenting to us.

IOW, I thought it was funny.

Cheers, and g'day,
Marc

[CazMar]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I use "G'day"...well, it's near all that I use as greeting. I use it on posts, PMs, emails as well as spoken. It is no affectation, but automatic, reflexive, just a natural part of my vocabulary and conversation.

As for the banner, well, a constant presence in Australian culture is a broad sense of irony, one that would appreciate the humor in intentionally advertising directly to our cringe factor. My first thought on seeing it was the same as I thought when watching the episode of The Simpsons, Bart Vs. Australia - that it was consciously cliched and heavy-handed, like a nudge and a wink to "true blue Aussies" about international perceptions which we have sometimes ourselves been complicit in generating. It was a little "shrimp on the barby" Google was slyly grinning at while presenting to us.

IOW, I thought it was funny.

Cheers, and g'day,
Marc

Well said Marc!
Having been brought up in the middle of Sydney and being the only family in our street who spoke English as a first language I may have missed some of the vocab. But I never have a problem with people's accents and have very adventurous food tastes so I don't feel I missed out! Being able to read signs in Cyrillic, Greek and a few other language is also a plus. And I wield a mean set of chopsticks!

[Blue Tyson]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Yes, this has been right around the corner for about the last month or so:
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...international/

Been right around the corner since the end of last year.

[CazMar]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Been right around the corner since the end of last year.

I don't think the individual country sites have been online - at least I hope it wasn't me being very unobservant () . I only visited the site about 6 weeks ago. However, I do seem to remember it being talked about some time ago, but I presumed it was just talk. This seems a bit more concrete.