02:19 PM by Barcey in E-Book General | News

Last week the Canadian Government began a nationwide consultation on copyright modernization. There have been a couple attempts in the last couple of years to update the Canadian copyright laws and last year's Bill C-61 was widely criticized because it was perceived to have been written only with backroom consultation from lobby groups. This time the government has started a website where the public can participate and they are also having public meetings across Canada.

The Government of Canada is hosting a nationwide consultation on copyright modernization.

The government believes that all Canadians have a stake in this dialogue. That is why the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, are encouraging Canadians to join the discussion and to express their views throughout the consultation period, from July 20 to September 13, 2009.

This website will help Canadians find important resources about copyright and the modernization process to date. It will record the progress of these consultations so that you can follow the major issues shaping the conversation. You can stay in touch by following our RSS Feed.

Hopefully Canadians will take this opportunity to voice their opinions.

http://copyright.econsultation.ca/

07:00 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Week in Review

Previously at MobileRead:

E-Book General - News and Commentary

• Barnes and Noble announces upcoming eReader
• BeBook mini to hit stores within 4 weeks
• calibre 0.6.0 released!

E-Book General - Reading Recommendations

• August 09 Book Club Nominations

E-Book Formats - ePub

• The Official Motion for Introduction of the Epub Dictionary Format

Miscellaneous - Announcements

• First Toronto (Canada) MobileRead Meetup, 15 August, 2009
• First MobileRead Meet Up in Montréal, August 8th

12:36 AM by kovidgoyal in E-Book General | News

Hi All,

Finally, after a two month long beta process, I've released calibre 0.6.0. It has tons of new features and bug fixes, some of which you can read about here http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/new_in_6

A big thank you to all the calibre code contributors, translators and beta testers, without you, this release would not have been possible.

Now that I have 0.6.0 out of my hair, I should be going back to the one release per week development cycle you've come to know and love

There is also a nice video tour of calibre at http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/downloads/videos/

Enjoy!

12:25 PM by Verencat in Miscellaneous | Announcements

I am extremely happy to announce that a Canadian Meet Up will be held in Montréal on August 8th !

From Thursday, August 6th to Monday, August 10th, the 67th World Science Fiction Convention will be held in Montréal, and what better excuses could we have to gather up, exchange on our wonderful devices, eat out and have the best of times!

After the event, those interested are welcome to join us to enjoy Montréal's Fireworks Internationals on St-Laurent river banks.

Need we say more? This reunion will be one to remember!

Details:

Date: Saturday, August 8th
Time: 6 PM for drinks and dinner, 10 PM for the fireworks
Place: Pub St-Paul, in Montréal's Old Port

Leave a message to say you'll be there and get more information in this thread.

You can also RSVP to the event on Mobile Read Facebook page here.

11:47 AM by Abelturd in E-Book Formats | ePub

Dear MobileReaders,

the EPUB industry standard ebook format is on the verge of becoming the predominant format for electronic publishing. This is a turn for the better, because it could resolve the chaotic situation with the myriad of ebook formats out there and make things easier for the publishers and the liseuse manufacturers, and of course for readers.

It has it's shortcomings, though, one of which is the lack of dictionary support.

Admirable initiative addressing this issue has come from Nate the Great, who started work on the tag specification in this -> thread.

In a different thread I proposed that some official body, it would be best if it was IDPF, should prepare the specification for epub dictionary format and then forward it to the publishers and liseuse manufacturers. We as users can put things in motion. My idea was that we, MR members, roundup our suggestions concerning the epub dictionary format and explicitly state our wish for it to be brought into existence. Kind of a petition, if you like. That's what this thread is for. When we come to a general consensus on the matter, we will forward our ideas to IDPF , who is in a position to act on them.

Please, any ideas, comments, wishes and suggestions on your side are most welcome.

10:54 AM by zelda_pinwheel in Miscellaneous | Announcements

We are very excited to announce that the first Toronto (Canada) Meetup will be held on the 15th of August !

According to MobileRead member nrapallo, "It will be a gathering to see the latest gadgetry (e-ink in all its glory) as well as those tried and true legacy ebook readers (what started it all...) and some in-between attempts...

So, mark it in your day planners, bring your ebook reader and come join us for some lively discussions (Did someone say DRM?...) and general friendliness attributed to Torontonians the world over... "

Sounds like a don't miss occasion to us ! So clear your calendar and charge up your gadgets, and enjoy a bagel for us !

Here are the important details :

DATE: Saturday August 15th, 2009
TIME: Starts from 1:00pm (Hey, it's lunchtime!)
PLACE: What A Bagel (Google Maps) (Parking Info)
2275 Yonge Street,
Toronto, ON M4P 2C6
(416) 489-2166

Leave a message to say you'll be there and get more information in this thread.

update : thanks to Verencat, you can all also RSVP on the new and shiny MobileRead Facebook page here !

02:58 PM by ebookreaders in E-Book General | News

The 5" version of the BeBook, the BeBook mini, will be available for sale within 'the next 4 weeks', according to a tweet from Endless Ideas, the company behind the BeBook.

The BeBook mini will be able to display ePub ebooks. It is not sure yet whether drm'ed Mobipocket is also supported. The ereader does not offer wireless connectivity; this option will be featured by BeBook 2, which is expected fall 2009.

Source: eReaders.nl

03:34 AM by Madam Broshkina in E-Book General | News

Click the link to read about Barnes and Nobles new eReader.

Barnes and Noble Announces "World's Largest eBookstore", Upcoming eReader

I think the announcement could not have come at a better time concerning all whats happened with Amazon and Kindle recently.

BARNES & NOBLE LAUNCHES WORLD'S LARGEST eBOOKSTORE

Introduces "Every Device" Strategy

Upgrades eReader Application

Free Downloads

Announces Strategic Partnership with Plastic Logic

New York, New York – July 20, 2009 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller, announced today the launch of the Barnes & Noble eBookstore (www.bn.com/ebooks), the world's largest eBookstore, on Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com), enabling customers to buy eBooks and read them on a wide range of platforms, including the iPhone and iPod touch, BlackBerry® smartphones, the forthcoming new eReader device by Plastic Logic, as well as most Windows® and Mac® laptops or full-sized desktop computers.