10:06 AM by zelda_pinwheel in Miscellaneous | Announcements

Truly impressive : only 7 months after we reached 5000 books, our amazing MobileRead book creators have sailed past the 7000 mark ! Yes, only a year and half after the first upload, MobileRead now boasts 7000 books for your reading pleasure, completely free to download, lovingly hand-formatted by our own members, in practically every ebook format.

I'm particularly thrilled to see that our perennial stars like Patricia, RWood, Madam Broshkina, nrapallo, vivaldirules, HarryT and Dr. Drib (to name just a few !), whose dedication has not flagged, have been joined by more recent arrivals like mtravellerh, Jellby (specialising in hand-coded, beautiful epub format books !), crutledge, ravenne, and many others, full of enthusiasm for book creation.

We've all enjoyed the wonderful books they've created for us, with such care and attention to detail. The ebook uploads forum is a rich and unique ressource for e-readers everywhere. Let's take a moment to thank them all and celebrate the truly impressive feat !

Thank you, everyone ! I think a celebration is in order !

A few key dates to put things in perspective :

• December 10, 2008: 7,000 uploads
• May 16, 2008: 5,000 uploads
• Feb 19, 2008: 4,000 uploads
• Jan 08, 2008: 3,000 uploads
• Nov 02, 2007: 2,000 uploads
• Sep 04, 2007: 1,000 uploads
• Mar 27, 2007: First upload

10:02 AM by Clemenseken in Sony Reader | Sony Reader Dev Corner

Hi!

Here is one more game for Sony Readers.
Though I developed it for my PRS-500 I first post this version for model PRS-505.
(Version 1.0 for 500s is here...)

Quite some time ago I posted a previous game (Fiveballs).
MahJonG seems to me much better suited to a reading device like ours... Actually I find myself sitting on our couch for hours diddling with it.

If you like it and want to try it, I'd be gratious grateful for your opinion AFTER you tried it!
(It is quite easy to design new layouts but I did not implement that feature into the game. Anyway this should be done "outside" the device...)

There is a zip file that has to be unzipped: afterwards put "Sony Reader" onto the root directory of your SD card.
ATTENTION: applications starting from SD cards drain battery power quite fast! I usually play it with the AC plug connected.

I'll attach a screenshot to this article; this was taken after I "migrated" my PRS game to a "normal" JavaScript browser application. It just gives you an idea how it might look on your PRS (look at it in a 67 percent view !).

Have a nice Christmas time!

Clemens

(Just a forgotten "tool tip": if you move the joystick up/down it will go sideways TWO steps.
PLUS: while developing this app it sometimes SEEMED not to load on the screen; if I then moved the joystick in any direction it appeared immediately - I think this would only happen on MY device, still ...)

I removed the file "..._9.zip" as it only lacked the ability to use PAGE buttons for left/right navigation. Then I did away with version "..._9_1.zip" and "...92.zip" but here is a new one with ONE undo-step and much smoother interface (cursor is set correctly after each delete)

* PLUS * number of tiles and current PAIRS left displayed in the status line!

(Just for records: 1st version "Sony..._09.zip" 75, 2nd "...09_1.zip" 73, 3rd "...92" 140 views/downloads.)

10:12 PM by Seabound in E-Book General | News

I visited the US Penguin site and saw a banner on their front page announcing Penguin 2.0, with the subtitle "What's next in text." (Please excuse me if this has been posted in MR; I searched and didn't find any reference.) Here's a screen shot of the site:

From their about page:

Penguin 2.0 is a new suite of digital and print-based services that offer readers a new way to engage with and discover Penguin content. These collected services will encompass the entire spectrum of a Web 2.0 world by including aspects of customization, personalization, delivery to mobile phones, as well as eBooks and e-only content. In addition, later phases of Penguin 2.0 will offer community functionality and social networking. The Penguin US website will be the focus and hub for the program.

Individual services, such as Penguin Mobile and Penguin Personalized, are launching in December 2008. Additional Penguin 2.0 features and programs will be rolled out in 2009, with the entire suite of services being phased in over the next 12 months.

Go beyond the printed page, and find out what's next in text.

The Penguin Mobile link says:

The iPhone app also includes excerpts that can be read on- or offline.

Overall, I think it portends well for the near future of eBooks. I think Penguin is treating digital books seriously.

04:34 PM by Bob Russell in E-Book General | News

If you happen to be staying at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City, you can borrow a Kindle for your reading fix. The Hotel amenities web page says "Kindle available, loaded with your favorite audio book, in keeping with our literary tradition. However, it might still be a while until you see Kindles at your local Best Western.

According to HotelChatter, "The Algonquin has launched an 'eBooks on Demand' program which offers Kindles pre-loaded with 'a variety of best-sellers, modern classics' and even a few books written by the members of the hotels legendary Round Table (Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber, Love Conquers All by Robert Benchley). And if you request a book that isn't loaded on there, the hotel can add it for you.The devices are loaned on a first come, first serve basis at no charge, and can be used in the lobby or in your guestroom."

Via The Kindle Chronicles.

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

Here are the highlights from the past seven days of MobileRead:

E-Book General - News and Commentary

• Sony Talks Sales Numbers

E-Book General - Deals, Freebies, and Resources

• Refurbished Kindle $329 and (Sometimes) In Stock

12:00 PM by NatCh in E-Book General | News

The Wall Street Journal has an article on PRS Sales numbers. Sales numbers have been a hot topic of discussion around here, but scarce as hen's teeth to actually come by, so with no further ado:

This week, though, Sony for the first time disclosed that it sold 300,000 units of its Reader Digital Book globally since the device launched in October 2006.

Steve Haber, senior vice president of personal mobile and imaging division for Sony, says the unit growth is above Sony’s expectations.

[snip]

In addition, Sony said over three million e-books have been downloaded to the devices in that time.

“[That number is] strictly books, not to be confused with newspapers or blogs,” Haber says, implicitly referring to Sony rival, Amazon.com’s Kindle, which can wirelessly download newspapers and periodicals.

[snip]

The company is also boosting the number of books it sells through its online e-book store to 100,000 by the end of the year from 57,000 currently.

Apparently the time-line for boosting the booklist has slipped a bit from what they were expecting to do last month.

The rest of the article is mostly a re-hash of what is, to us, old news (doubtless for the uninitiated amongst the WSJ's readership) and includes a quick primer on how the PRS is different from the Kindle.

But buried in the second to last paragraph is this tidbit: "... Sony says it plans to launch a wireless e-book device, though it won’t specify when." That's a public repetition of what they told us in a conference call just before the PRS700 released, so I think we can take it as a good sign for those longing for a wireless PRS.

So, what are your thoughts on the sales numbers? Higher than you expected? Lower? About what you thought?

Anyone care to venture an opinion as to what it might mean for the future of the PRS line, and e-reading devices in general?

04:32 PM by koland in E-Book General | Deals and Resources (No...

As those who have tried to order a Kindle (Amazon's Wireless Reading Device) lately are aware, the backorder time is now up to approximately 3 months for a new Kindle. Used Kindles are being sold for roughly two times retail ($700-$850) at Amazon and on Ebay. But, there is still a way to get a "new" Kindle for Christmas and it costs LESS than $359. Amazon is selling their refurbished Kindles for $329. They are currently in stock and you can easily have one in had next week, giving you plenty of time to test it out and load it up with free books before Christmas arrives.

RefurbKindle

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

Just in case you've missed anything, here is the list of our frontpage news this week.

E-Book General - News and Commentary

• Random House to digitize thousands of books
• Kindle 2.0 new rumored release date: Q1 2009
• Why supported formats don't matter to me (very much)

E-Book General - Deals, Freebies, and Resources

• Ectaco JetBook - $199 from Newegg.com
• One day only: Free e-book cover creation software

Portable Devices - Other Devices

• New Garnet (PalmOS 5) VM out for Nokia's Internet Tablets