LibWorm.com provides a librarian RSS filtering service. Over 1500 RSS librarian sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest headlines from journals and sites in the Wifi interest group. http://www.libworm.com/rss/librarianqueries.php Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:52:13 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/72ZxM43bLnk/ Nick Hampshire, Senior Analyst, mediaIDEAS Expect prices to drop to $50 by 2020. Color display technology development will be especially important and will replace black and white displays by 2015 and by 2020 95% of all displays will be color. Flexible displays will replace rigid displays and will allow the reader to be rolled or folded. Will fall into 3 categories: rigid displays; bendable displays, which will be seen this year; rollable and foldable displays, and will take 7% of the market by 2020. 30% ereaders will use multiple wireless communication technologies. Ereaders will begin to communicate among themselves as well as to content systems. Input technology will move to multi-touch display and expect it to be standard interface by 2020. Content formats will change. Currently have 38 different content formats. Main battle will be between PDF, xml based and Flash. By 2020 all the formats will be xml based. Current epaper displays will be phased out. Expect reader sales to reach 25 billion in 2020. By 2012 will diverge into a family of ereader prices with different designs and displays depending on content requirements. Will be 4 categories: rollable and foldable, under 9″ size; conventional ebook ereader with display under 9″; newspaper ereaders with large monochrome displays and will be used for paper replacement of all types and have monochrome displays; magazine reader with an over 9″ color display. These won’t appear until 2013 with bendable displays and after this introduction by 2015 they will overtake other displays and will dominate the market by 2020. So by 2015 the multiple classes of ereaders will start to converge again. Current iPad not designed for ereading and it is an afterthought: poor battery life, poor display in sunlight, heavy and fragile displays. The dedicated ereader will probably disappear and will be replaced by a tablet based portable computer that is also suitable for ereading. ... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:58:18 +0100 825600 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/BCWfmJwL-ww/ This is from Len Edgerly’s website: Yesterday I launched a project to provide free Kindles for U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan. I chose Kandahar because of the letter K, but also because it’s the general region where Army Sgt. Andre B. Corbin will serve when he deploys later this month. He will be toting a new 6-inch Global Wireless Kindle and accessories, all donated by M-Edge Accessories in a sponsorship for which I gained quick and enthusiastic support from Patrick Mish, CEO of M-Edge. You can listen to the interviews I did with Sgt. Corbin and Patrick Mish in Episode 84 of The Kindle Chronicles. It was during those interviews that the idea of Kindles for Kandahar arrived, and I’ll be working with Andre and Patrick to develop the project. Andre this morning left the following message on my Reading Edge Facebook page: “As the Kindles become available, I will provide to you a name and address of one of the Kandahar soldiers who will find great pleasure in receiving a Kindle. I will donate the money required to cover the postage.”I appreciate that donation, Andre! I realized yesterday, when the first contribution arrived, that PayPal is charging a small transaction fee, so I will donate that money back to K4K, so that we can assure donors that every dollar contributed will go toward a Kindle for the troops. I haven’t had a chance to talk with Patrick Mish yet about M-Edge’s involvement in this next phase, but I’m hoping he will consider contributing a protective cover and an E-luminator 2 light for each of the Kindles we ship to Kandahar. Andre has another idea we’ll pursue, which is to figure out a way to donate Amazon gift certificates for purchasing content on the K4K units. I loved his signoff on the Facebook entry today: “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” I hope you’ll consider becoming one of the first contributors to Kindles for Kandahar. To do so, simply click here or on the logo above or the PayPal button. ... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:01:57 +0100 825601 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/X0p4jWHhXVg/ Reuters and ZDNet  report that, at a Digital Inclusion Summit aimed at addressing the 1/3 of American households that lack broadband service, the FCC has announced it may make wireless spectrum available for an “affordable” national broadband network. Details were sparse, so I can only speculate about such things as how the system would work, what areas would be covered, and how much it would cost. But having lived in rural Missouri for some time, including several months relatively recently recovering from a broken leg, I can say it would certainly mean a great deal to have this sort of access in rural areas. At the time, my parents had only a pretty basic level of DSL access—hardly “broadband” at all. Rural areas tend to have a lot fewer choices for high-speed Internet. I’ve heard that some libraries lately have been having a harder time justifying the amount they spend on Internet service, and a lower cost government-provided alternative could help them out considerably as well. Over the last few years, broadband access to the Internet has gone from an expensive luxury to practically a necessity as new forms of electronic media have emerged to take advantage of that broadband access for the people who do have them. By now four out of five people worldwide consider Internet access to be a basic human right. (How we would have laughed at anyone claiming that back in my college days!) Making a wireless broadband network available would give consumers a choice, and help bridge the “digital divide” to let more low-income families take advantage of the educational and other media opportunities the Internet has to offer—including e-books. But expect entrenched broadband interests to show significant opposition. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:15:00 +0100 825316 http://keptup.typepad.com/academic/2010/03/whos-banning-laptops-from-the-classroom-and-why.html A generation ago, academia embraced the laptop as the most welcome classroom innovation since the ballpoint pen. But during the past decade, it has evolved into a powerful distraction. Wireless Internet connections tempt students away from note-typing to e-mail, blogs, YouTube videos, sports scores, even online gaming -- all the diversions of a home computer beamed into the classroom to compete with the professor for the student's attention. "This is like putting on every student's desk, when you walk into class, five different magazines, several television shows, some shopping opportunities and a phone, and saying, 'Look, if your mind wanders, feel free to pick any of these up and go with it,' " Cole said Professors (Source: The Kept-Up Academic Librarian) Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100 825278 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/09/mobile-ibm-will-research-mobile-access-for-the-aged-and-illiterate/ John Ribeiro Writes: IBM is teaming with researchers in academic institutions in Japan and India to explore an open, common user interface for mobile devices that will make them easier for aged or illiterate people around the world to use. [Snip] The findings of the research and any applications or technology developed will be released to the open-source community, said Nitendra Rajput, Open Collaborative Research lead at IBM Research India. IBM’s Open Collaborative Research program aims to promote innovation through research collaboration between universities and industry. [Snip] Most of the technologies to improve access to information through mobile phones are already available, but a lot of ethnographic field research needs to be done to find out which combination of technologies would be found useful by the two target groups — the aged and the illiterate, Rajput said. While voice would appear to be the most relevant technology for access to information on mobile phones for illiterate people, it may not be the best option when it comes to information like statistical tables or pictorial data, Rajput said. Access the Complete Article Source: IDG News Service (Source: ResourceShelf) Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:26:14 +0100 824987 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/lehfczUSCYI/ Are you a news junkie like me?  I find myself constantly checking my iGoogle page or Google Fast Flip (http://fastflip.googlelabs.com) to see the latest stories.  I’ve also got my RSS reader going as well. However, one of my biggest problems is figuring out a way to keep my eReader current.  Since I’m using an older model Sony (PRS-505) that has no wireless connection, it’s been challenging in trying to figure out the best way to do this. Recently I’ve found a great application that might be a way around this, helping me to keep my Sony up to date.  I’m talking about an application from HP called “Tabbloid”.  This small application seems to have flown “under the radar” so to speak, but its premise and execution so far have been flawless.  Basically, it’s a small customized newspaper that’s emailed to you each morning and consists of news and other stories created from your own RSS feeds or topics of your choosing.  The service is free and is really easy to use!  Interested? To get started, head to the main Tabbloid page located at http://www.tabbloid.com/.  From there, add your news sources.  These can be feed urls extracted from your current RSS reader, OPML file, or just single addresses that you might already know.  If you’re not much on the techy side of RSS, Tabbloid also has preformatted lists of subjects such as technology, business, sports, etc. that you can choose from. From here, it’s a simple matter of adding your email address and specifying how often you want the delivery to take place.  This can be daily or weekly and you have the option of choosing your time of delivery as well as the time zone you might be living in.  After this, save your customized delivery options and check your email to get started.  Each morning you will get a freshly made PDF as well as a summary email of the contents. ... Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:37:20 +0100 824962 http://www.docuticker.com/?p=33145 Spectrum Policy in the Age of Broadband: Issues for Congress (PDF; 325 KB) Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS) The convergence of wireless telecommunications technology and Internet protocols is fostering new generations of mobile technologies. This transformation has created new demands for advanced communications infrastructure and radio frequency spectrum capacity that can support high-speed, content-rich uses. Furthermore, a number of services, in addition to consumer and business communications, rely at least in part on wireless links to broadband backbones. Wireless technologies support public safety communications, sensors, smart grids, medicine and public health, intelligent transportation systems, and many other vital communications. Existing policies for allocating and assigning spectrum rights may not be sufficient to meet the future needs of wireless broadband. A challenge for Congress is to provide decisive policies in an environment where there are many choices but little consensus. In formulating spectrum policy, mainstream viewpoints generally diverge on whether to give priority to market economics or social goals. Regarding access to spectrum, economic policy looks to harness market forces to allocate spectrum efficiently, with spectrum license auctions as the driver. Social policy favors ensuring wireless access to support a variety of social objectives where economic return is not easily quantified, such as improving education, health services, and public safety. Both approaches can stimulate economic growth and job creation. Deciding what weight to give to specific goals and setting priorities to meet those goals pose difficult tasks for federal administrators and regulators and for Congress. Meaningful oversight or legislation may require making choices about what goals will best serve the public interest. ... Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:47:37 +0100 824947 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/iRcS/~3/8qfzD23a2xc/universities-protest-against-government.html "Libraries and universities are protesting about plans to make them police users of wireless networks. The government's Digital Economy Bill includes plans to make them responsible for what is done over free wi-fi. The plans imply that libraries, universities and cafes offering free wireless will be responsible if people use it to pirate movies and music. Bodies representing universities want the law clarified so they are not hit with big bills for policing every user" - BBC (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:49:50 +0100 824883 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/08/nc-state-libraries-releases-new-mobile-tool-to-turn-mobile-devices-into-nc-state-time-machines/ From the Announcement: In honor of this year’s Founders Day at North Carolina State University, the NCSU Libraries today released WolfWalk, a tool that makes it easy to explore the NC State campus and its history. WolfWalk capitalizes on the location awareness of today’s mobile devices to allow users to give themselves a self-guided historical walk through NC State’s main campus. As users stroll around campus, their mobile devices detect their current locations and then deliver a tour of nearby buildings and other historically interesting locations. Users with devices that don’t support GPS or other location detection, including older iPods, can manually navigate through the site to enjoy a tour of campus. The initial rollout of the tool provides a brief historical description of over 50 sites on campus and then serves up a range of engaging digitized photographs that shows the site throughout NC State’s history. WolfWalk is available on many current generation smartphone platforms, such as Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android, and does not require users to download an application. An enhanced version of WolfWalk optimized for iPhones is also in development for availability in the summer of 2010. The new tool draws on the resources of the University Archives in the NCSU Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center, a vast array of documents, photos, audio files and other historical materials from the founding of the school up through the present. Access WolfWalk Source: North Carolina State University Libraries Discovered via: Wired Campus (Source: ResourceShelf) Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:26:23 +0100 824767 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SellersLibraryTeens/~3/tprq3gfqZLM/i-have-excellent-idea.html Let's change the subject! Lol reference to Disney's Alice in Wonderland.Seriously though, I noticed that at the Get Your Game On! club, people tend to be waiting for turns (sometimes for a long time) on Brawl, or gravitate towards Melee on the GameCube when Brawl isn't playing. I wonder if this idea would be overdoing it, or just adding to the fun: since the Wii plays GameCube games as well, perhaps I could (occasionally) bring in my Wii to a) Make the current Wii dedicated to non-Brawl, b) Offer multiple stations for Brawl simultaneously, or c) Expand the choices for people not playing on the current Wii (whether it be Brawl, Rock Band, or Guitar Hero).In case this idea is accepted... well, I have all data on Brawl unlocked, and I obviously have the game disk. For other games that my Wii does not have data for, anyone with an SD card can transfer it over (I have over 8GB of free memory across my SD and MicroSD cards). Additionally I can offer 2 Wii Remotes and Nunchucks for use, as well as 3 wireless and 2 wired GameCube controllers.Well, what does everyone think? Post your feedback! (Source: Sellers Library Teens) Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:31:31 +0100 824736 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/08/article-the-use-of-handheld-mobile-devices-their-impact-and-implications-for-library-services/ by: Joel Cummings, Washington State University; Alex Merrill, Washington State University; Steve Borrelli, Washington State University. PREPRINT Version: The Use of Handheld Mobile Devices: Their Impact and Implications for Library Services (32 pages; PDF) FINAL Version: In Library Hi Tech, Vol. 28 No. 1, 2010, pp. 22-40. From the Abstract: Purpose: A survey was undertaken to better understand the nature of handheld mobile computing use by academic library users and whether there is a significant demand and demand for using the library services with these small screen devices. Design/Methodology/Approach: A survey was created to measure whether people want to access an OPAC with a small screen. Additionally through with open ended questions, the survey attempted to gain a broader understanding of handheld mobile computing’s impact on and implications for the services provided by academic libraries. Findings: 58.4% of respondents who owned a web enabled handheld device indicated that they would use small screen devices, such as PDAs or web enabled cellphones to search a library OPAC. Originality/Value: The increasing prevalence of handheld mobile computing devices such as PDAs and web enabled cell phones warrants investigation as to its impact on libraries. This study examines an academic library user population and the potential demand for using the library’s catalog with handheld mobile computing devices Sources: Library Hi-Tech (via Spectrum Blog and Twitter) Hat Tip: Gerry M. (Source: ResourceShelf) Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:50 +0100 824610 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JohnBattellesSearchblog/~3/1WXLxOJomxc/tuesday_signal_the_internet_is_a_human_right_and_spending_is_up_yippee.php Well, it's Monday night, but I'm in NYC, and I am pretty sure Tuesday is going to be a blur. So here are the links I read on the plane out here (love that Wifi). Expect news from me soon on the themes and lineup for FM's annual CM Summit (this week I hope) as well as the annual Web2Summit. Meanwhile: Internet Access Viewed as Fundamental Human Right (AllThingsD) Our culture is coming to a conclusion that makes a lot of sense to me - connection is a human right. Time To Take The Internet Seriously | David Gelernter | Edge | 4 March 2010 (Edge) Hard to follow, but the fundamental argument is one he's made for years: Lifestreams are coming, the old web structure is ... old. CMOs to Ramp Up Hiring, Budgets; Double Social Media Spend (MarketingProfs) Are you kidding me? What's not to like about this story? How Do You Keep Mass Influencers Engaged? An Example from TripAdvisor (Forrester) Ya'll know I love case studies. All Your Apps Are Belong to Apple: The iPhone Developer Program License Agreement (EFF) I am not feeling warm and fuzzy about the business constraints Apple places on its own ecosystem. It's rather like the Patriot Act. Open up, Apple. Open = more profits in the long run. Don't Blame Your Community: Ad Blocking Is Not Killing Any Sites (TechDirt) A counterargument to the Ars post I noted yesterday. TechDirt is an FM author and the programs he notes are FM programs. Statistics for a changing world: Google Public Data Explorer in Labs (Google Blog) Google creates a visualizer for public data. Do more of this, pretty please, Google. MediaForge Ads Charge Only When People Interact And Buy (ClickZ) Interesting model. Good luck with that.... (Source: John Battelle's Searchblog) Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100 824741 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/05/better-business-bureau-now-has-mobile-web-interface/ While reading a news story this afternoon we realized that a mobile interface to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Reliability Report database was never posted on ResourceShelf a few months ago when it launched. So, here it is. The Mobile Version of the Database is Accessible at: http://m.bbb.org. From a News Announcement in the Ridgefield (CT) Press: The BBB mobile web address offers an uncluttered interface that allows consumers to simply enter the name of a company, and retrieve Reliability Reports on both BBB accredited and non-accredited businesses. Source: Better Business Bureau, Ridgefield Press (Source: ResourceShelf) Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:25:16 +0100 823884 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2010/03/05/the-mind-of-the-researcher-daniel-russell-akla10.html Daniel Russell, Google Search Quality & User Happiness 2010 Alaska Library Association Conference, opening keynote speaker Lewis & Clark left without a decent map it’s a complicated world out there and you don’t want to end up like the Donner Party (hey, go that way; it looks good) what does the current information map look like? let’s be adventurers but keep our eyes and minds open did a demo of Google Earth cost to put the flyover together = $0 and four minutes of time Google will crawl it within 48 hours when Lewis & Clark published about their trip, it took 10 years we see the world differently, and the library isn’t what it used to be stacks are no longer a core competence — the information landscape has radically changed 1200 exabytes of new content are generated each year (1.2 yottabytes if that helps or 1.2 billion terrabytes) 3.6 zetabytes per person per year (mostly music and video) libraries don’t have to curate and manage that — it stream to you text words per pseron per year = .1% of that total the good news is that the amount of reading per person per year has gone up by 3X since 1980 (primarily due to internet access); happening online, not print so need to develop new skills and new literacies showed Google Books can click on the places in a book and travel to all of them can actually recapitulate Huck Finn’s journey down the river LoC has 10 terabytes of text data or .01 petabytes he has 2 LoCs at home an exabyte = 50,000 years of DVD or 10 billion copies of The Economist (there aren’t enough trees in Alaska to print them all) we’re supporting this renaissance of access to print culture at the same time we’re expanding online content 1. ... Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:23:16 +0100 823913 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/05/recently-published-7-things-you-should-know-brief-mobile-it/ From the Summary: The evolution of computer and telecom technologies is resulting in smaller and more powerful portable devices, expanded coverage for wireless and cellular networks, and a flourishing pool of applications that take advantage of these technologies. Mobile IT promises to change the way users interact with resources and applications, moving services away from desktop and laptop computers to devices that increasingly embody a convergence of formerly disparate functions. Moreover, mobile IT affords new opportunities for applications to deliver current, location-specific information. The role of mobile IT will continue to take on new dimensions as technologies mature and converge, and higher education will both guide and benefit from those developments. Access the 7 Things You Should Know Brief…Mobile IT (2 pages; PDF) Source: EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative See Also: Other 7 Things You Should Know Briefs (Source: ResourceShelf) Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:23:28 +0100 823895 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/05/mobile-users-want-personalized-services/ From the Article: It’s no secret that mobile phone users have graduated from simple voice and text usage of their devices. eMarketer estimates more than 650 million people worldwide, or 13.4% of mobile subscribers, use the Web via a mobile device at least monthly in 2010. According to a Tellabs survey conducted by The Nielsen Company, two-thirds of mobile users around the globe are interested in “smart” services that would feed them information based on personal preferences, location, time of day and social setting. The remainder of the article includes more data and two charts. Where–if anywhere–do libraries/info centers fit in delivering “smart services” to mobile users? Source: eMarketer (Source: ResourceShelf) Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:16:43 +0100 823896 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechsourceBlog/~3/foHrP7_rv2U/catching-up-with-david-lee-king.html David Lee King certainly doesn't need anyone to give him a voice--whether on his blog, through presentations or in publications, when David talks about libraries and technology, people listen. We received tons of positive feedback on David's August 2009 issue of Library Technology Reports, Building the Digital Branch: Guidelines for Transforming Your Library Website and accompanying webinar. I had a chance to chat briefly with David and see what kind of feedback he received on this work, and what else he's up to. Dan Freeman: So the last time you worked with us at TechSource, you did a Webinar on Building the digital branch. What kind of feedback did you get about the webinar and your corresponding issue of Library Technology Reports? David Lee King: I have gotten some great responses from both. Just last night, someone posted the webinar for their library science students to watch (discovered through the wonders of Google Alerts). Access it here: http://www.webjunction.org/virtual-library/articles/content/80470928. I also receive regular emails from librarians, too, usually stating they just read the LTR and have a question about staffing, timeframe, administration acceptance, etc. DF: Have you provided any guidance to people building new digital branches? Anything people can check out on the web? DLK: Well, I often focus my blog posts (at davidleeking.com) on some aspect of building digital branches, so people could certainly check that out. I also answer the occasional email question, and do do presentations about the topic. What I've seen are lots of librarians who have read the LTR, are interested in doing more on their websites, and have asked me questions about the LTR or have asked for clarification (or even support before they go talk to their administration about the "new ideas'). DF: So what projects are you working on now? DLK: We are at the very beginning stages of upgrading/changing our ILS system. ... Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:15:55 +0100 824683 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/qSb8P6IP-5Y/ According to this press release from Apple, the iPad will hit stored on Saturday, April 3, and beginning on March 12 customers can reserve a WiFi and 3G model. The 3G model will be available in late April and all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April as well. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00:38 +0100 823872 http://bibliotheque20.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/site-web-mobile-besoin/ Vagabondages nous avait déjà révélé de nombreuses expériences outre-atlantique. Une liste exhaustive grace à un commentaire du même.  La question est posée : faut-il développer un site web accessible pour mobile ? Et si oui, qu’est-ce que ca veut dire ? Autant, je pense que les opacs sont insurfables sur mobile, autant je trouve les sites web plus propres (dans leur conception/ergonomie). Pour les happy few qui possèdent un iphone, vous remarquerez qu’il y a très peu de sites (en général) adaptés aux mobiles. Bref, il y a qq années, les grandes marques avaient tous décliné leur site pour le surf WAP sur portable. Mais : Aujourd’hui avec la 3G, pas de problème de temps de téléchargement. Avec les grands écrans iphones zoomables : on s’habitue très vite à surfer sur les sites normaux avec le portable Voilà de quoi éclairer à nouveau la question : Qu’est-ce qu’un site web pr smartphone ? Un simple changement de css Une css + un élagage de certaines pages Une css + un menu spécifique Un autre site (bonjour les pbs de mise à jour) Par chez nous on a répondu (pour l’instant) : un site web pour smartphone : ca n’existe pas. (ie le site standard y pourvoiera) (Source: Des Bibliothèques 2.0) Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:33:47 +0100 824414 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/wVWbrMg8OUw/ Here are some quick notes about the iPad and related matters. Last month I reported on TechCrunch’s article about the highest number of paid apps in the iPhone app store being e-books. (There were still more games than e-books, but a higher percentage of them were free.) Now Matthew Ingram at GigaOm reports that for the first time, the total number of book-related apps (most of them app-books) now outnumbers the total number of games in the App Store. There are over 26,000 books, but only about 24,000 games. Some of this may have to do with last month’s 5,000-app explicit app purge—it is possible a higher number of those explicit apps might have been games, which would have lowered that category more than the e-book category. 9 to 5 Mac reports that a Los Angeles Examiner blogger claims to have confirmed that the iPad will be arriving in Apple stores for employee training on March 10th, March 26 is a likely release date, and the 3G model will not be available until April or May May. TV commercials will start airing on March 15th, emphasizing the iPad’s e-book-reading capabilities. (Examiner is a local/regional freelance news blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I also write some occasional pieces for the local Springfield, Missouri Examiner.) AT&T says it does not expect to see many new wireless contracts from the iPad. According to Reuters: While AT&T has agreed to provide wireless connections to the iPad tablet computer, Randall Stephenson said he does not expect the device to result in many new service subscriptions for AT&T as consumers will instead use Wi-Fi or prepaid services, where they do not have to sign a service contract. But wait, I thought AT&T was providing those prepaid services. Jobs said you could pay for it month by month without any contract lock-in? Why would AT&T get “subscriptions” out of it to begin with? Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. ... Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:29:44 +0100 823122 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/SOSwiD9QCrQ/ As seen in Wired’s “Gadget Lab” blog, Intel is coming out with a very familiar-looking tweak to the design of its Classmate PC educational netbooks. The Classmate already began as a response to the OLPC’s XO-1 project in terms of mission and approximate price level. Now it’s borrowing the XO-1’s twist-around-and-convert-to-tablet form factor, too. The device has a 10.1” touchscreen display, Intel Atom processor, up to 160-gig hard drive, webcam, wireless, and a choice of Windows or Linux operating systems. It has a sturdy rubberized construction designed to resist rough handling, and is meant to be used as part of a kid’s overall school experience. Though Intel didn’t give Wired the price, they guess it will probably be higher than the current, non-convertible version which sells for $200-$400. Intel hopes to launch the new Classmate in the second quarter. And the device will work as an e-book reader, as well: One of the features of the new Classmate PC that Intel’s especially keen to tout is is its e-reading software. The device supports EPUB and PDF formats so you can download books from the library or from Google’s cache of free books. The touchscreen allows you to do the familiar “flick to scroll” gesture, though the experience is not as smooth as it is with a capacitive touchscreen. There are also hardware buttons and software icons for turning pages. There is no mention of whether it supports DRM and in what format—though given that they mention EPUB and PDF, it is probably Adobe Reader, which means ADEPT. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:30:00 +0100 823123 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/03/booklists-review-of-the-day-goes-mobile-with-new-iphoneitouch-app-and-mobile-web-versions/ From the Announcement: Booklist Publications is offering a whole new way to stay on top of Booklist recommended-only book reviews with a free App featuring the popular Review of the Day. The App can be downloaded free from the Apple iStore using any iPhone or iPod Touch. Just search on “Booklist” or “book review” to find the App. [How about making access to download the app even easier. [Here's a direct link to the app in iTunes]. Users with other Web-enabled mobile devices can also enjoy the Review of the Day formatted for their screens; just point the browser to booklistonline.com and add to favorites. “Booklist is pleased to be adding another way for readers to stay connected,” says Editor and Publisher Bill Ott, “and we encourage libraries to let their patrons know about this free opportunity to keep up with new reviews.” The app is free as is the content. Source: American Library Association (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:36:26 +0100 823174 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/FmXt/~3/jruNgremmBs/wireless-network-upgrade-on-friday-5.html On Friday (5 March), Information Services will be introducing two new wireless networks to improve wireless performance, authentication and security. In order to make the change, there will be an unavoidable outage from 6am – 7am.So from Friday, students and staff are requested to connect to the following respective wireless networks:BondStudentsBondStaffTo make use of these new networks, it's necessary to add a new network connection to your laptop (or other mobile device), and there are guides on how to do this on the Bond website:Student Guides: http://www.bond.edu.au/student-resources/student-support/computing-support/for-students/wireless-access/index.htmStaff Guides: http://www.bond.edu.au/student-resources/student-support/computing-support/for-staff/service-desk-support/user-guides/index.htmAnd in case you're wondering, the existing ‘WaveLan’ network will continue to be available during the transition period, and for devices that are unable to be supported on the new networks. And as always, if you need further assistance just ask us at the Library & Computing Service Desk (5595 4444). (Source: The L Files) Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100 823525 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/02/just-released-lists-rankings-of-americas-most-wired-cities-raleigh-is-number-one/ From the Article: Raleigh is the kind of tech-forward city that, innovative as it is, often gets overlooked in favor of San Francisco, San Jose or Seattle. But this year the North Carolina capital passed its flashier rivals to grab the No. 1 spot on Forbes’ Most Wired Cities list. Raleigh’s win means it ranks higher overall than any other U.S. city in three measures: broadband penetration, broadband access and plentiful wi-fi hot spots. Taken together, the factors point to a populace that readily uses high-speed Internet inside and outside the home. As in the past, we compiled the list by computing the percentage of Internet users with high-speed connections in a particular city and the number of companies providing high-speed Internet in that area. Since many urban residents access the Internet by wi-fi, we also measure the number of public wireless Internet hot spots. In previous years, we relied on Nielsen for broadband usage data. This year, we used data from market researcher Scarborough Research. Information about broadband providers came from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. JiWire, a San Francisco-based wi-fi advertising network, calculated the hot spot data. Access the Complete List, a bit of narrative, and a few numbers (in slideshow format). Top 10 List (of 20) 1. Raleigh, NC (Last Year, 15) 2. Atlanta, GA (Last Year, 2) 3. Seattle, WA (Last Year, 1) 4. San Francisco, CA (Last Year, 11) 5. Washington, D.C. (Last Year, 3) 6. Colorado Springs, CO (New This Year) 7. Denver, CO (Last Year, 8. Baltimore, MD (Last Year, 10) 9. Orlando, FL (Last Year, 4) 10. Portland, OR (Last Year, 14) The List Continues to 20. Some of the cities you’ll come across from 11-20 include Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, and Austin. See Also: Most Wired Cities Interactive Map Mouse over any city shown on the map for basic statistics. Source: Forbes (Source: ResourceShelf) Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:35:34 +0100 822937 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/digizen/~3/AzplysXPZw4/ El Nuevo Día  ha rediseñado su portal y ya puedes echarle un vistazo a su versión beta (Vía Luis Herrero). Llama la atención el rol central que tiene ahora la sección de clasificados y que además  han aumentado los espacios para anuncios. Si esta tendencia continúa, en el futuro ENDI será solamente  un portal de clasificados y anuncios. Compartir con del.icio.us ¡Compártelo con Digg! Añadirlo a Diigo Compartir con Reddit ¿Has encontrado algo bueno? Compártelo en StumbleUpon Compartir con Technorati Añadirlo a MySpace Compartir con Facebook ¡Compártelo en Twitter! ¿Enviarlo a un amigo? ¿Quieres suscribirte a los comentarios de este Post? Compartir con Linkedit Seed el Post en Newsvine Añdirlo a Google Bookmarks Añdirlo a Mister Wong Compartir con FriendFeed Enviar a Twittley Compartir con Wikio Store this link on MyLinkVault Add to a lense on Squidoo Clip this to Evernote Enviar a Meneame Enviar a Bitacoras Compartir con Tumblr Blog this on Blogger Compartir con Plurk Etiquetas: Vida en Linea, Vida en Linea Entradas relacionadas El Viejo San Juan con internet wireless (4) La Web 2.0 como bosque tropical (1) En lo que hoy me detuve (0) Truco para eliminar la publicidad del contador webstats4u (0) Añadiendo tags a tus artículos (4) (Source: DigiZen: Un blogfesor aprendiendo) Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:50:03 +0100 822858 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/SI992mmRC7k/ Gadgetell has an article on this new ereader. It will have a 9 inch epaper screen, WiFi, 4GB storage, 3.5mm headphone jack and do Epub, PDF, TXT and MP3. They are quotinga 10,000 page turn battery life and an option for 3G connectivity. According to Gadgetell no price has been announced. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:08:11 +0100 822834 http://lisnews.org/uk_libraries_protest_against_government_wifi_plans Universities protest against government wi-fi plans Libraries and universities are protesting about plans to make them police users of wireless networks. The government's Digital Economy Bill includes plans to make them responsible for what is done over free wi-fi. (Source: LISNews.org) Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:28:47 +0100 822681 http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=6953 State: California This position is located in Mountain View, CA. The area: Corporate Engineering - Support In little more than a decade, Google created one of the world's largest global computing infrastructures for both internal and external use. We built it – and will continue to develop and support it – with the world's most talented administrators. Chances are that we exceed every example of a "large installation" you have encountered in your experience as a network, systems or security professional. Using our unique technologies along with open source tools, we keep Google's customer-facing products running, robust and secure. Our objective is to create solutions that allow people to work and communicate in new and innovative ways – giving back to the world's technical community whenever we can. ​The role: Internal Technology Resident As part of our commitment to hire and develop top talent, Google has created the Internal Technology Residency Program for recent and experienced university graduates. Based in our Corporate Headquarters in Mountain View, California, this 26 month program is an immersion into end to end IT support at Google. Residents learn what it takes to support and scale Google’s internal technology from our infrastructure to the end user. The program is broken into 3 areas: Training and Development, Front-Line Support, and an Internal Rotation Training and Development The IT Residency program will equip residents not only with the skills they need to do their job now, but those they’ll need as a future IT leader. You will choose from tailored learning and development tracks that map to your career interests and goals. Core IT competencies will complement specialized training in the following areas: Networking/Infrastructure, Hardware, Mobile Device Management, Multi-Platform System Administration, Enterprise Deployment, Communication Technology (video and voice) and People/Project Management. ... Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:50:02 +0100 822594 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/03/01/libraries-universities-protest-against-uk-government-wi-fi-plans/ From the Article: Libraries and universities are protesting about plans to make them police users of wireless networks. The government’s Digital Economy Bill includes plans to make them responsible for what is done over free wi-fi. The plans imply that libraries, universities and cafes offering free wireless will be responsible if people use it to pirate movies and music. [Snip] Mr Bainton said Sconul, which represents university and national libraries, wanted clarification on the responsibilities that the Digital Economy Bill introduces for its members. The Digital Economy Bill contains many changes to existing laws governing use of the net and is currently being debated in Parliament. One of the most divisive elements is the so-called “three strikes rule” that would give regulator Ofcom new powers to disconnect or slow down the connections of persistent net pirates. [Snip] Mr [Toby] Bainton, [secretary of the Society of College, National and University Libraries (Sconul] said university and national library networks could be “spared” the burden of oversight in the code of practice covering wi-fi that will be drawn up once the Digital Economy Bill has been passed. Source: BBC (Source: ResourceShelf) Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:44:32 +0100 822601 http://lisnews.org/apple_admits_using_child_labor So much for being green and all that. At least eleven 15-year-old children were discovered to be working last year in three factories which supply Apple. The company did not name the offending factories, or say where they were based, but the majority of its goods are assembled in China. Apple also has factories working for it in Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, the Czech Republic and the United States. Apple said the child workers are now no longer being used, or are no longer underage (i.e., they've grown up on the job). "In each of the three facilities, we required a review of all employment records for the year as well as a complete analysis of the hiring process to clarify how underage people had been able to gain employment," Apple said, in an annual report on its suppliers. Telegraph UK. (Source: LISNews.org) Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:42:19 +0100 822437 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/4TmAjK-1Qz4/ Appletell has a good article today about whether to get3G with your iPad. We are just past halfway through the 60 day waiting period that Apple announced for the release of the WiFi iPad. While we don’t know everything about the device, we do know there are six different models split in half by a single feature: a GSM 3G cellular radio for data only. In the last 30 days, the first question many people have asked is “Are you going to get an iPad?” But if the answer is yes, the second question is almost always “Are you going to get the 3G?” Personally, I have some doubt about getting one at all. I have two laptops – so what does the iPad get me? One of them is an Air – and it couldn’t be more portable. Also, the iPad inherits some of the worst stuff from the iPhone. The prime iPhone downside, to me,  is its lack of multi-tasking. Streaming radio is great on the iPhone, for example, but when you go to check a note, or do anything else, the program closes. After you’re finished you have to start it up again. It’s a pain. It seems that this is going to be the same on the iPad and I can’t see spending more money on something that only can do one thing at a time. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:31:07 +0100 822463 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/5K4qK6_nkCU/update-from-google-health-team.html As we exhibit at the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) trade show this year in Atlanta, we want to share with you some of our latest thinking. Google Health has been on the market for a little over two years, and in that time we have seen a growing understanding of the value of consumers being able to own, use, manage and share their medical data online with whomever they choose. While companies like ours work to build technologies like Google Health to make this a reality, we've also seen growing support from the U.S. Government. President Obama has included incentives for doctors to adopt electronic health records (EHRs) in the the American Recovery and Re-Investment Act of 2009 (AARA), and in recent months there have also been a series of Health IT provisions around "Meaningful Use" and EHR Certification all of which should help empower consumers with access to their own information. (Read our recent op-ed for more info about this topic.)At Google, we understand that changes in the health care industry take time and persistence, including health IT. We have been steadily analyzing feedback from our user surveys and field studies to help make Google Health more useful and relevant to a broad set of consumers on a daily basis. People have been telling us they want more tools to personalize, customize and track their own medical information. These are directions we're certainly exploring, and if you stop by our booth this week at HIMSS you can see a demo of what we're working on.While we work to refine the Google Health product, we also continue to pursue integration agreements with providers to make it even easier for people to access their own medical information. We've learned over these past two years that getting a current and past medication history assembled and ready in case of emergencies is one of the strongest value propositions for using an online Personal Health Record (PHR). ... Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100 823223 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/web2learning/YOVk/~3/zkMSP7wad3Y/3595 So, I spent today at the NFAIS conference – with no wifi! Now, this is not the conference committee’s fault – this is the fault of the hotels where we hold our conferences. I don’t know what this particular hotel was going to charge for wifi, but I’m sure it was an insane amount!! I’ve been on the exhibit floor for several library conferences and the amount they charge us just for Internet in our booths is astronomical. I think that all conference planning committees should get a couple of wifi cards from cell vendors (or whoever) and a couple of routers and provide their own wifi at these conferences – that might make hotels lower their prices – or maybe it won’t. Either way I wouldn’t have to post these news items in the short intervals I get access to the wifi from the food court… Technorati Tags: nfais (Source: What I Learned Today...) Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:13:35 +0100 823158 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/B9w35mEEmxI/ Gizmodo reports on a temporary art installation in New York City that blocked off Water Street for a few hours with…a street-covering expanse of books with LED flashlights on top. Spanish art design team Luzinterruptus explained we want literature to seize the streets and become the conqueror of public spaces, freely offering to those who walk by a space free of traffic which for a few hours of the night will succumb to the modest power of the written word. So to promote reading and literacy, you…put books where they can be walked on or driven over? What next, promoting patriotism by burning a flag? In an update to yesterday’s Quick Note about the Joo Joo shipping delay, Gizmodo reports that the device’s shipping has been delayed until March 25th by a manufacturing problem. This means, among other things, that  the Joo Joo is going to be launching at the same time as the iPad. Not really the best time to introduce a competing tablet, but then Fusion Garage hasn’t exactly had the best of luck so far anyway. Mediaweek reports that another Condé Nast magazine (besides Wired, which we already covered) is preparing for an iPad launch. This one is the popular women’s magazine Glamour—and The New Yorker is said not to be far behind. Whether they will be using the same Adobe AIR platform as Wired’s tablet app is not clear. Engadget reports that Qisda (nee BenQ) has submitted a Linux-based, wifi-equipped, e-ink-screened e-book device for FCC approval. Not sure what else there is to say about that. Yet another e-ink reader, with support for the usual formats, plus wi-fi? Nice, but it just means one more brand that might be shaken out of the market in months to come. TheBookseller.com has a story about artist Jonathan Howard planning to release a multimedia appbook children’s e-book, because he feels “publishers are failing to exploit the strengths of digital platforms. ... Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:15:00 +0100 822160 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/iRcS/~3/zEWODwUkAC0/overdrive-releases-blackberry-audiobook.html OverDrive has announced the public beta release of an audiobook app for BlackBerry smartphones. OverDrive's BlackBerry audiobook app enables the wireless download of MP3 audiobooks from more than 10,000 libraries and major online retailers, including BarnesAndNoble.com, BooksOnBoard.com, and Borders.com (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:45:43 +0100 822136 http://chicagolibrarian.com/node/533 Just got an interesting question over the phone today. A woman called the reference desk wanting to know if we were open to the public. She said she wasn't a student from DePaul. "Yes," I replied, explaining that she had access to the books and print journals. "Do we have access to the wireless as well?" I had to explain that, like most schools, you need a student ID and password to access the wireless here. I was impressed though by her assumption that wireless was now part of what it means for a library to be "open". "It's only available for students here," I continued, "but just across the street is the public library and you can use it there no problem." read more (Source: Chicago Librarian - Design, Techology & Culture from a Librarian living in Chicago) Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:45:49 +0100 822034 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kraftylibrarian/OLay/~3/tM0XN1T9j6A/ Molly Knapp will be at the helm of this year’s conference blog and she has put out the official call for medical librarian bloggers.  (reprinted from the MLA’10 blog) Do you like to write? Do you like technology? Do you yearn for a public outlet from which you can espouse the glories of the MLA conference 2010 in Washington DC? Then why not apply to be an official blogger for MLA ‘10? Official conference bloggers earn 3 AHIP points and may have access to free wireless services for the duration of the conference. More information Application The application will be open until April 20th, 2010. Official bloggers will be announced April 30th, 2010. Because how else are you going to share your Obama photo with the world’s premier league of  health sciences information professionals? Last year we had a wonderful group of bloggers and as the BIC (Blogger in Charge) of the 2009 conference blog I can say that it was great experience.  It was a great opportunity to meet other MLA members and stay in touch with what was going on at the conference.  I also did a survey of the official bloggers, and they all had such positive responses about blogging the conference.  So, I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the experience, the bloggers did too. Not a blog author?  Don’t worry! You don’t need to be current author of a blog to be an official blogger, you just to have some experience with blogging software such as WordPress.  Have laptop but don’t have wifi?  Don’t worry, apply to be an official “wireless” blogger and MLA will provide you with a wireless card.  You don’t have a laptop or you aren’t bringing a laptop?  Don’t worry, you can still be an official blogger. If you are going to the meeting in D.C. and you are interested in blogging apply and submit it by Tuesday, April 20, 2010. ... Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:58:31 +0100 821849 http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/02/26/princetons-kindle-trials-with-students/ Good quote from the TOC conference: “Skip Prichard, President and CEO of Ingram Content Group. Today’s ebooks are warmed over print books and will be changed into something very different in the next five years.” Taking that quote into the context of eBooks in academia this research is interesting. Colleges test Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader as study tool USA Today Feb. 24, 2010 Additionally, The Daily Princetonian covers the just released data from Princeton’s Kindle DX study. Princeton U. releases Kindle pilot data: After one term of use, the devices failed to impress some students in pilot classes. The Kindle Review blog has some nice summaries: “The article has a bunch of positives scattered throughout and they include – 1. It reduced paper usage by approximately 50%. 2. Students liked Kindle’s long battery life, wireless capability, portability, search capability, and ability to have all course documents in one place. 3. Ability to download notes and highlights to PC. 4. Lots of availability of books without having to carry a lot physically. 5. 35% of students said they would buy a replacement eReader if their free eReader (free in return for participating in the study) broke. 6. Professors of all 3 classes testing the Kindle said that with improvements they’d be willing to do another trial.” “The complete list of negatives - 1. Ill-suited for class readings. 2. Lack of page numbers. 3. Difficult to highlight and annotate. 4. Tiny keyboard. 5. Difficult to use folder structure (think they mean lack of proper Folders feature). 6. 65% of participants said they wouldn’t buy a replacement eReader if their free eReader broke. 7. May be more suited for leisure reading.” Stephen (Source: Stephen) Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:50:31 +0100 821837 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/lM9sDioJhao/ Here’s an interesting one. A new ereader, the KeyReader, was introduced into Singapore. It’s got wireless connectivity and is locally made in Singapore. The reader will be able to access the over 900,000 books in the collection of Singapore’s National Library board for free. The manufacturer, iCell, is also in contact with other Singaporean content producers. More info at The Straits Times. Thanks to Resource Shelf for the heads up. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:07:09 +0100 821797 http://ksulib.typepad.com/talking/2010/02/take-a-closer-look-and-win.html You may have noticed we switched out half of the Hale Library 2nd floor exhibit recently.  This time, we're going with a bit of a contest: Take a Closer Look @ K-State Libraries.  Between now and the end of the semester, we're giving you five opportunities to take a closer look at K-State Libraries. With each opportunity comes a chance to enter to win a $100 gift card to the K-State Student Union! Use it for next semester's books, graduation announcements, art supplies, K-State gear, or whatever else you need. All you need to do is identify the mixed up items we've magnified in the exhibit cases, then head to the contest webpage to enter for each round. One entry per person per round, please. Winner drawn and announced on May 3rd.  Round schedules and themes are: Round 1: Leisure Reading Collection bestsellers, on display Feb 16-28 Round 2: Databases, on display March 1-12 Round 3: K-State Libraries branch locations, on display March 22-April 2 Round 4: Current Periodicals, on display April 5-16 Round 5: Hale Library hotspots, on display April 19-30 So, you have through Sunday to check out the Round 1 exhibit.  You don't have to enter every round to win, but it certainly would improve your chances! We'll leave all the rounds open until April 30th, so you can submit your entries at any time. Good luck! (Source: K-State Libraries: Talking in the Library) Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 821918 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JohnBattellesSearchblog/~3/Z4yAat_KOrc/005134.php I'm spending the balance of today working on a longer piece, so here's some short links from yesterday, which I spent mainly on a plane without wifi (how odd is it to be bummed that my plane did not have wifi?). Congress Adds Location-Based Mobile to List of Privacy Concerns (ClickZ) We're not even close to the end of the conversation our culture needs to have about the impact that MOLRS (MObile Local Realtime Social) technologies will have on our social contract. Google real-time search adds status updates from Facebook Pages (VentureBeat) A big deal in that Google was not playing nice with Facebook on a number of fronts. This is a start, I'm still waiting for Facebook Connect integration with Buzz. Foursquare's First Television Commercial Airs Tonight On Bravo [Video] (TC) US Ad Spend Falls Nine Percent in 2009 (Neilsen) Not that we didn't know last year blew. Social media study: 91% of mobile users go online to socialize (SMBC) Jean-Philippe Maheu Named Worldwide CEO at Publicis Modem (ClickZ) Congrats to JP! Meredith Builds Up a Sideline in Marketing (WSJ) This is not news, but Meredith got a lot of attention for their agency biz at the IAB earlier this week. Another sign that the lines between agency and media company are blurred. Teaching Your Business to Market Itself (OpenForum) I Prefer a Multiplex Relationship (MarketingProfs) As marketers become publishers, expect them to form relationships with each other to co-promote. Happens a lot already, but will happen a lot more online. Search and Display Advertising Synergies (eMarketer) Always happy to pass along a link that reminds us the two are very linked disciplines. (Source: John Battelle's Searchblog) Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 821732 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/25/overdrive-releases-audiobook-app-for-blackberry/ From the Announcement: OverDrive’s BlackBerry audiobook app enables the wireless download of MP3 audiobooks from more than 10,000 libraries and major online retailers, including BarnesAndNoble.com, BooksOnBoard.com, and Borders.com. To download the audiobook app for BlackBerry devices, including the BlackBerry StormTM and BlackBerry Curve. Access and Download the App via This Page The announcement also points out (again) that, “digital book apps for iPhone are planned in the near future.” We sure hope it’s soon. We also wonder if OverDrive is going to do anything special for the iPad (We bet they are)? Perhaps the ability to run iPhone apps on the iPad will make users of both of these products happy. Source: OverDrive (Source: ResourceShelf) Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:57:14 +0100 821438 http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2010/02/25/does-sprints-phone-buyback-program-satisfy-need-for-greed/ Read the full post at ITWorld. Sprint Nextel today announced plans to expand its “Buyback” program for wireless devices. Company CEO Dan Hesse, testifying at a green telecom hearing on Capitol Hill, announced the revised plan, which now offers account credit to Sprint customers who turn in up to three “eligible” wireless handsets, regardless of manufacturer or carrier. What’s interesting about Sprint’s offer is that it takes into account consumers’ somewhat less-than-altruistic instincts. The company’s news release cites a recent ABI Research Report that surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers about cell phone recycling. Only 38 percent of those surveyed said they had recycled outdated mobile handsets. And here’s the shocker: 98 percent of those who hadn’t recycled a cell phone would do so only so for some sort of compensation, be it cash, store credit, or maybe even a tax deduction. (Source: Environmental News Bits) Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:28:39 +0100 821492 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/VHysIWPy1C0/ I’m a big magazine reader. In addition to the many books I buy each year (I have more books in my to-read pile than I can read within the next few years), I subscribe to a lot of magazines. My subscriptions include Smithsonian, The Atlantic, The Week, The Economist, American Heritage, New York Review of Books, Business Week, PC World, U.S. News & World Report, The Scientist, Discover, and several more. I begin my day, every day, with a pot of tea and the day’s New York Times and my local newspaper. Between the books I buy and the magazines and newspapers to which I subscribe, I spend a lot of time reading! I admit to being curious. I like to keep up with what is happening around me and I really dislike the 10-second news blurbs that TV and radio offer (although National Public Radio deserves kudos for All Things Considered). I think being broadly read helps me as an editor. But times are changing. Magazines and newspapers are struggling. Several that I had subscribed to have folded print editions and are now available online only, such as PC Magazine and a book collecting magazine to which I once subscribed; once they became online-only magazines, I stopped reading them. Unlike the magazines that have made the transition to online-only status, I haven’t followed – I really hate sitting at my computer to read an online magazine: Isn’t spending my work life on my computer sufficient? Do I have to be chained to a computer — be it laptop or desktop — for my pleasures as well as my work? This feeling of being chained to work is one reason why multifunction devices don’t appeal to me for pleasure pursuits. As illogical as it seems, I actually distinguish between reading on my computer and reading on my Sony Reader, a dedicated reading device. I enjoy reading on my Sony Reader, equally as much as I enjoy holding a print copy of a book. ... Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:10:15 +0100 821424 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/fc_h_7dRntQ/ Mobile Marketer covers a report (PDF file link) by “mobile audience media company” JiWire that says consumers are more often using wifi-enabled devices for Internet access on the go. The article claims 56% of consumers who use mobile Internet connect to the Internet via a handset. The report adds that 21% of mobile Internet consumers primarily use “non-laptop” mobile devices (handsets or netbooks) for mobile Internet. “People are utilizing a tremendous range of devices from laptops to netbooks to e-books when choosing to remain connected while on the go,” said David Staas, senior vice president of marketing at JiWire. It is interesting to me that Staas said “e-books” given that the only e-book I know of that offers any kind of useful Internet connectivity is the Kindle (I’m not counting the Nook here, since its net access can only be used for downloading e-books), and that device does not currently use wifi at all. On the other hand, the report itself pictures a Nook on the chart that breaks wifi use down by device (e-book readers come in at 4%, just ahead of cameras at 3%) so perhaps they are not quite so picky as I am. I will say that I’ve used my iPod Touch a great deal in public wifi locations myself. It’s a great little device for surfing the web, checking and writing short e-mails, and social networking. But I’ve also used my Motorola RAZR2 cell phone for that purpose, and it does not use wifi at all. The second half of the article talks about the use of mobile devices for on-the-go shopping, with 49% of consumers making mobile on-line purchases and 47% using mobile Internet as their primary purchasing source. Amazon and eBay were mentioned as being among the top destinations (certainly not surprising for those people making on-line purchases through their Kindles). I was skeptical of those numbers until I clicked through and read the actual report. ... Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:15:00 +0100 821431 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/25/new-report-from-opera-software-google-dominates-mobile-web-search-in-the-united-states/ From the Announcement: Google enjoys a commanding lead in mobile Web search in the United States, according to Opera’s State of the Mobile Web Report. (January, 2010) Accounting for more than 9% of all page views on the mobile Web in the United States, Google’s search portal easily outpaces rivals Yahoo! and Bing, with 4.3% and 0.03% of all page views, respectively. + Among mobile Web users in the Middle East, Google is at the top of the rankings in 9 out of the top 10 countries. In Israel, Google is number 2 (behind Facebook). + Facebook is also very popular, taking the #2 spot in six of the top 10 countries, the #3 spot in three of the top 10 countries, and the #1 spot in one of the top 10 countries. Stats about Opera Mini, Opera’s Mobile Browser + In January 2010, 50 million people used Opera Mini, a 7.4% increase from December 2009 and up 149% compared to January 2009. + Opera Mini users viewed more than 23.3 billion pages in January 2010. Since December, page views have gone up 12.7%. Since January 2009, page views have increased 208%. + In January 2010, Opera Mini users generated over 337 million MB of data for operators worldwide. Since December, the data consumed went up by 7.0%. Data in Opera Mini is compressed by up to 90%. If this data were uncompressed, Opera Mini users would have viewed over 3.1 PB of data in January. Since January 2009, data traffic is up 176%. + The top 10 countries for Opera Mini usage in January 2010 were: Russia, Indonesia, India, Ukraine, China, South Africa, the United States, Nigeria, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. + Looking at the top 10 countries according to Opera Mini usage (in Part 2 of the report), Nigeria — in only its second month back on the list after a 3-month absence — overtook Vietnam in January. Access the Complete Report (January, 2010) Source: Opera Software (Source: ResourceShelf) Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:42:26 +0100 821445 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/23/an-international-look-at-high-speed-broadband/ An International Look at High-Speed Broadband In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the U.S. Congress charged the Federal Communications Commission with developing a national broadband policy by March 17, 2010. Legislators asked the commission to outline policies that would be efficient, effective, and affordable, and that would advance the public interest in “consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation and economic growth, and other national purposes.” Central to this request was the idea that digital infrastructure is vital to long-term economic, social, and civic development. Similar to highways, bridges, and dams, broadband and wireless represent infrastructures that make it possible for businesses to stay connected, innovate, and create jobs. Just as we need a strong interstate highway system and viable mass transit, we require accessible and affordable broadband so that businesses and consumers can reap the benefits of broadband and wireless technology. In this report, I look at what other countries are doing in terms of broadband applications. Specifically, I examine four policy questions: 1) what broadband speeds are countries aiming for in their national plans? 2) how are various nations paying for necessary broadband investments? 3) what new applications become available at various broadband speeds? and 4) how valuable do other locales see broadband for the economy, social connections, civic engagement, and public sector service delivery? + Full Report (PDF; 366 KB) Source: The Brookings Institution (Source: ResourceShelf) Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:33:53 +0100 820964 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/9A_XrME2pE8/ A lot of new stuff from them here. From the press release: OverDrive … announced today new services that will significantly expand its digital distribution network for copyrighted digital media. New digital book formats, streaming content services, and title discovery and fulfillment enhancements will be available in 2010, which will help OverDrive’s publishing partners, retailers, and libraries capitalize on accelerating market demand. During 2009, OverDrive achieved its fifth consecutive year of double digit growth and profitability by adding hundreds of retail, library, corporate, and school outlets for more than 1,000 publishers’ copyrighted eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video in more than a dozen countries. Building on this momentum, OverDrive will introduce new services for 2010, including: Content Reserve® Plus: OverDrive’s global distribution platform will integrate third party digital catalogs to add their eBooks, databases, music, video, and enhanced multimedia content to OverDrive’s network of retail and institutional accounts. In March, OverDrive will demonstrate interactive educational eBook products including “read aloud” features and DRM-free eBooks in “Open EPUB” and “Open PDF” formats at the Public Library Association National Conference in Portland, Oregon. OverDrive is now in negotiation with rights holders of databases, periodicals, newspapers, music by the track, HD and mobile streaming video, and reader apps to add their content to OverDrive’s current catalog of over 450,000 copyrighted digital titles. OverDrive Catalog Apps: OverDrive catalog apps, REST APIs, web services, RSS and other tools utilizing XML and open standards will enable mobile app developers and wireless devices to directly manage eBookselling, catalog access, discovery, and eCommerce support for customers of digital books directly from OverDrive-powered retail eBookstores, library catalogs, and other digital collections. ... Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:25:06 +0100 820805 http://www.abanet.org/abastore/books/podcast/audio/2010-Solo-Small-Firm-Guide-to-Tech.mp3 Hat tip to my friends Sharon Nelson and John Simek of Sensei who today published the 2010 edition of their annual legal technology guide. It is discussed in the latest ABA podcast. The blurb says This annual guide is the only one of its kind written to help solo and small firm lawyers find the best technology for their dollar. You’ll find the most current information and recommendations on computers, servers, networking equipment, legal software, printers, security products, smart phones, and anything else a law office might need. It’s written in clear, easily understandable language to make implementation easier if you choose to do it yourself, or you can use it in conjunction with your IT consultant. Either way, you’ll learn how to make technology work for you. Topics include: * An unbiased overview of current legal technology products * Updated hardware and software recommendations for Windows and Mac-based systems * Step-by-step instructions for making sound technology decisions * How to choose the right operating system and software for your office, including case management applications, billing systems, and document management solutions * Determining what you need to go wireless * How to protect your firm from security threats, including viruses, spyware, and spam This new and updated edition also includes an Introduction and a new chapter, “Paperless or Paper LESS: The Quest to Sanely Manage Paper in Practice,” by Ross L. Kodner. (Source: Slaw) Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:47:02 +0100 822329 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/22/2010-plans-to-be-a-busy-year-for-overdrive-with-new-ebook-and-distribution-services/ From the OverDrive Announcement: + OverDrive Digital Kiosk & Library eBook Devices: OverDrive will release the next version of its OverDrive Download Station software, which provides direct access to eBooks and other popular media inside hundreds of schools and libraries. OverDrive is also working with several PC, Tablet, Netbook, and eReader device manufacturers who will introduce products specifically designed for use in schools, libraries, and institutions to access OverDrive catalogs of eBooks, audiobooks, music, video and enhanced content. + Content Reserve Plus OverDrive’s global distribution platform will integrate third party digital catalogs to add their eBooks, databases, music, video, and enhanced multimedia content to OverDrive’s network of retail and institutional accounts. In March, OverDrive will demonstrate interactive educational eBook products including “read aloud” features and DRM-free eBooks in “Open EPUB” and “Open PDF” formats at the Public Library Association National Conference in Portland, Oregon. + OverDrive First Gear: Enhanced DRM-free eBook and audiobook excerpts for streaming or offline reading with direct “buy-it-now” options and coupons dynamically customized into each title. First Gear will also be able to connect readers with retailers, publisher and author websites, and fan communities. + OverDrive Catalog Apps OverDrive catalog apps, REST APIs, web services, RSS and other tools utilizing XML and open standards will enable mobile app developers and wireless devices to directly manage eBookselling, catalog access, discovery, and eCommerce support for customers of digital books directly from OverDrive-powered retail eBookstores, library catalogs, and other digital collections. + OverDrive MIDAS 2. ... Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:02:31 +0100 820631 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/7lCnkVGYuqc/ Copia is a new social reading platform and I had it explained to me by Anthony Antolino, their senior vice president. At the outset I must say that I was skeptical, after all another social platform? But I ended up being very impressed. Copia is first and foremost a software experience that is designed to be interoperable and platform independent. It will run on your PC or Mac and on your smartphone or tablet. To the extent possible the UI will be the same across all platforms. Copia is a mixture of three things – content, community and a bookstore. Copia will be selling ebooks, in Epub with or without Adobe DRM, and PDF. The platform will also work with movies, music or any digital content. The community portion of the platform will also interact directly with Twitter and Facebook. This isn’t the easiest thing to explain if a few words, but here is the website and it will be going into beta soon. Along with the social website, which will not require any book purchases to use, Copia will be releasing a series of e-ink readers which will have WiFi and 3G and will interact directly with the site. The user will be able to purchase books directly from the site with the readers and the readers will interact with the site in a number of ways.For example, using the site you can organize your collection of ebooks any way you want (whether the books were purchased from Copia or not) and then the reader will connect with the site and organize its books exactly the same way. Or you can do a note on the reader and then automatically have the site syndicate the note to members of your group, or just store the note for your own use. The ereader now becomes a collaborative real-time tool. A color TFT ereader will be available by Christmas. Although not open to the public yet, Copia gave me a demo of the site’s capabilities and GUI. I have to say that I was absolutely blown away. ... Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:54:52 +0100 820613 http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/news/2010/02/22/evansdale-library-holds-grand-reopening-feb-25/ By Liz Dickinson WVU Today It’s a library, but you don’t have to whisper. In fact, talking and laughter mean students are actively using the newly renovated first floor of the West Virginia University Evansdale Library. And that is music to Mary Strife’s ear. Back in 2006, Strife, director of the Evansdale Library, just wanted to replace some old, worn out carpet. But things have a way of evolving, and after talking with students, she realized they wanted a space that was as social as it was serious. Students were asking for a place where they could study, of course, but they also wanted a place that was flexible with areas to display work, conduct group meetings, catch up with friends and relax between classes. So Strife reached out to Dr. Cindy Beacham, program chair of interior design at WVU, to help gather data and formalize the students’ needs. After surveying students across campus and hosting three focus groups in the fall of 2008, WVU student ideas were incorporated into a formal plan to revamp the Evansdale Library. Crews spent the summer of 2009 equipping the first floor with almost all of the student requests, transforming it into a warm and inviting space stocked with user-friendly technology and staffed by a desk that centralizes circulation, reference and tech help. “It’s amazing what a little paint and texture can do to brighten up the space and make the students feel welcomed and engaged,” Strife said of the updates. According to Strife, students began using the space before the paint had time to dry, gathering at the seating area just inside the entrance and socializing in the café seating at the rear. They have also been studying in the new privacy carrels and decompressing in the reading lounge. Groups have been meeting in the new study rooms, pushing together tables and vigorously plotting out assignments on fresh whiteboards. But the most popular improvements seem to be the new computers and the student display area. ... Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:46:37 +0100 821978 http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2010/02/22/administrator-jackson-unveils-great-lakes-restoration-initiative-action-plan/ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has released an action plan to guide the Obama Administration’s historic efforts to restore the Great Lakes. The action plan, which the administrator unveiled at a Sunday meeting with governors from the Great Lakes states, lays out the most urgent threats facing the Great Lakes and sets out goals, objectives and key actions over the next five years to help restore the lakes. “We have an historic opportunity to restore and protect these waters. This action plan outlines our strategy to protect the environmental, human health, and economic interests of the millions of people who rely on the Great Lakes,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re committed to creating a new standard of care that will leave the Great Lakes better for the next generation.” “The Great Lakes are our region’s greatest natural resource, and I want to thank President Obama for his commitment to making the restoration of the Great Lakes a national priority,” said Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, co-chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors.  “Wisconsin is defined by the Great Lakes, and one of our greatest responsibilities is to preserve this important freshwater resource for future generations. This action plan sets a strong course of action as we confront tremendous challenges to not only protect, but also restore the Great Lakes.” “The Great Lakes are one of our country’s greatest natural resources and economic assets,” said Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, co-chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors. “We must protect and preserve our lakes for our families and outdoors enthusiasts, as well as the industries that rely on the waterways to transport their goods around the world. I look forward to working with my fellow governors and the Obama administration to continue tackling the challenges facing the Great Lakes now and in the future. ... Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:25:33 +0100 820523 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/wSGScdZeeFI/ I’m here, but the WiFi connection is barely adequate (and most people aren’t even here yet), the same as it was last year. I don’t know if I’ll be able to post “live” once I get out of the press room and into the conference rooms. We’ll see what happens. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:40:42 +0100 820441 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/ejVz8BR97a0/ Amazon designed the Kindle to be bookish, with the dimensions of a paperback and a tapering of width to emulate a book’s binding. Does this design work for Kindle newspaper and magazine subscriptions? I was given a Kindle for Christmas, and in this fifth post in my shakedown series, I give my take on reading subscriptions. Every Saturday I pick up a print copy of Canada’s The Globe and Mail newspaper. Unfortunately, the Globe does not deliver its print edition to my rural address nor is it available internationally. When the Kindle came to Canada late last year, I was pleased to see it in the list of twelve Canadian newspaper subscriptions available through the Kindle store. I requested its fourteen day free trial. The text content of the print and digital version is comparable. The absence of photos for international papers is a shortcoming, no doubt related to Amazon’s international wireless contract; Amazon, please sort this out. Personally, I do not miss the crossword, classifieds or advertising. Issues older than seven days are deleted unless you clip an article or tag them to be kept. I am fond of the standard newspaper broadsheet layout so I was curious how I would like reading the Globe in the Kindle’s book format. The Kindle version comes with indexes for sections and headlines. I can quickly browse the headlines using the Next Page button, read an article, then jump back to the headline index. I scan broadsheets visually, but the Kindle compensates with summary functions like the total number of words in an article. The Kindle shows up wirelessly every morning (sweet!) and it is more portable than the print version. I find myself reading the newspaper every day rather than just on Saturdays, and have renewed my subscription twice for $15.99 monthly. I like reading newspapers on the Kindle more than books, and this should be good news for the ailing newspaper industry. ... Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:28:17 +0100 820443 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/9qcjzhlO6fM/ It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m off to Tools of Change. I like to sleep over the night before an early event in New York, otherwise I have to get up at an insane hour to beat the Lincoln Tunnel traffic. Barring last minute changes, I’ll be having dinner with Sue Polanka of No Self Required and discussing ebooks and libraries. I don’t know how the WiFi situation will work out, but I expect news posting to be light for the next three days. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:00:40 +0100 820246 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/Q4f3sKAu3UA/ So, it’s now been a month since I got my Kindle. Was it a worthwhile upgrade for me? Which features am I using and which am I finding lacking? Do I see myself buying another reader anytime soon? MY TWO REASONS FOR UPGRADING First, I must admit, I am really loving my Kindle. I use it daily and am finding that I am especially using the text to speech and dictionary features, which were the two things lacking in my Sony that prompted me to upgrade. I am not a huge music person, so I found that while walking to the subway or running errands or using the track at the gym, I was wasting a lot of time on the same handful of ipod songs. I was very interested in text to speech because I could use this time more productively—and unlike an audio book, where all you can do is listen, I could resume reading in the regular way when I was off my feet again. The TTS feature has definitely lived up to my expectations. On a typical day where I might listen on the way to work, on the way home from work, and perhaps for half an hour at the grocery store or post office on the way home, I can zip through 5% of a story. I have a huge backlog of books I haven’t read yet, so while there is something to be said for a leisurely enjoyment of a meaty story, there is something to be said as well for speeding up ones progress sometimes. I have been a lot more careful with my ebook buying this year, so I want to clear out some of the trashier reads so I can focus on the more quality offerings.The dictionary feature was something that when I first started reading ebooks, wasn’t a priority for me because I don’t need a dictionary when I read in English, and no readers at the time offered multi-lingual support for those who read in other languages. When I learned that the Kindle did, that was one of the ‘deal-breakers’ for me regarding continuing with the Sony. ... Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:00:54 +0100 820108 http://blog.njla.org/archives/2010/02/#000682 Sunday, February 21, 2010 Megan DeMarco SPECIAL TO THE TIMES OF TRENTON PLAINSBORO -- Residents awaiting the opening of the new, three-story library in town center have only a few more months to wait. The library will have its "soft opening" at the end of March or beginning of April, according to director Jinny Baeckler. A more formal dedication will take place in May to thank those who donated nearly $3 million toward the construction of the new 34,000-square-foot building. The process has moved particularly slowly because of weather difficulties, Baeckler said. A shipment of new furniture was just delayed because of the recent snowstorm, and in the spring, the ground was "horrendously wet," slowing the process. "We've had normal problems in the sense of weather primarily," she said. The new facility will be almost entirely wireless, and will have many power outlets for visitors' computers. At the present facility, wires sometimes crisscross as patrons try to plug laptops into the few available outlets, she said. "This building was really built pre the Internet boom," she said, referring to the current location. New computers will be added to the new library, she said. The first floor will be the "Main Street," Baeckler said. It will have a cafe, computers, newspapers and community rooms. The second floor will be quieter, with a section set aside for research, rooms for study, areas for tutoring and a nonfiction section. There will also be a health education room, where visitors can do medical research in private. The third floor will be for children, complete with a reading pit. There will also be a tower room, several patios and outdoor reading areas. "I'm very excited," Baeckler said. "Now we have the space to do what we really have been doing all along and doing it better." The new library has been a long time coming. ... Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 821301 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Grumpator/~3/x08LDhNMzis/first-trip-to-seattle.html I realized that I hadn't built in any time to sight see Seattle when I was scheduling this trip. I get so focused on the task at hand - I booked flights that brought me into town at dinner time on Friday, and will be picked up by the airport shuttle at 6:00 AM on Sunday.  On the one hand, I don't like being away from home for too long, but I could easily have arrived earlier today. However, the flight to Seattle totally made up for it.  As we were starting the descent, I was lucky enough to be on the side of the plane that had a spectacular view of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Rainier.  I gazed in awe at these storied peaks, rising so far above the other ridges, recognizing Mt. St. Helens' ravaged profile. (This is Mt. Hood on the left, Mt. St. Helens on the right) Mt. Rainier The plane continued to descent along Mt. Rainier's northern flank, looming larger by the second. I couldn't tear my eyes away until it was behind us several minutes later. These pictures are poor, but the memory is rich. Now I'm settled at the hotel enjoying free wifi, an IPA, and some green chicken curry delivery.  A pretty decent Friday night. (Source: Grumpator) Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 820002 http://stephenslighthouse.com/?p=3263 I missed linking to this January Pew Internet and American Life report. I was buried in changing jobs but now I am hitting my stride again after having a three week long cold or something. Health Sites: Some Are More Equal Than Others by Susannah Fox Jan 21, 2010 Read the full report (72 page PDF) Executive Summary: “61% of American adults look online for health information. In 2000, 46% of American adults had access to the internet, 5% of U.S. households had broadband connections, and 25% of American adults looked online for health information. Now, 74% of American adults go online, 57% of American households have broadband connections, and 61% of adults look online for health information. We use the term “e-patient” to describe this group. Further, “always present” mobile access draws people into conversations about health as much as online tools enable research. American adults continue to turn to traditional sources of health information, even as many of them deepen their engagement with the online world. When asked, “Now thinking about all the sources you turn to when you need information or assistance in dealing with health or medical issues, please tell me if you use any of the following sources…” • 86% of all adults ask a health professional, such as a doctor. • 68% of all adults ask a friend or family member. • 57% of all adults use the internet. • 54% use books or other printed reference material. • 33% contact their insurance provider. • 5% use another source not mentioned in the list. The social life of health information is robust. Half of all online health inquiries (52%) are on behalf of someone other than the person typing in the search terms. And two-thirds of e-patients talk with someone else about what they find online, most often a friend or spouse. ... Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:30:07 +0100 819823 http://monitorlinks.typepad.com/newbooks/2010/02/dsp_handbook.html The Digital Signal Processing Handbook, 2nd edition - 3 Volume set presents the latest information on WiFi/WiMax, bandwidth compressive motors, low-power/high-performance DSPs, color image processing, chips on video, and more. Now available in a three-volume set, this updated and expanded... (Source: Monitor Links) Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:02:50 +0100 820245 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/7Cw91ZOTQqU/ Best Tablet Review reported this and I checked and it is indeed on the Best Buy site. The price is $400 and it has an 8.1 inch screen with a 1024×768 resolution. The digitizer is a Wacom unit, so you should really accurate stylus tracking. The unit has 3G wireless, but nothing in the specs on the Best Buy site says what it will connect to. Their press release, linked below, says that there will be phased in-store access in the coming months. If you go to the IREX site, however, they say that the 3G, provided by Verizon, will allow you to access to their ebook mall to download books. The content is from the Barnes & Noble bookstore and the unit will read DRMed and non-DRMed Epub. Wireless access is included in the cost of the device. Their press release says that magazines and newspapers will be available from NewspapersDirect and LibreDigital Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:41:55 +0100 819369 http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.education.web4lib/15837 The simplest way to approach this is to have a discrete network, wired and wireless, for the public using the cable connection, and maintain a separate network for staff. Ideally, this would have a fixed IP address -- a single address is fine -- so it can be identified as local for access to resources. Many libraries have found this workable, it is generally inexpensive to implement, and it requires little or no integration with your current (city) system.. Thanks, Cary On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 11:04 AM, Pollock, Chad <cpollock-VchSYhw5WzPdtAWm4Da02A< at >public.gmane.org> wrote: (Source: gmane.education.web4lib) Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 819450 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/17/mobile-sites-from-libraries/ In our post from earlier today we listed three new mobile web sites (2 academic, 1 public). Well, we failed to include one more. Oops. Online today is an iPhone/iTouch app from Cornell University or to be more specific Cornell University Library Labs (great name). CULite – Library’s Mobile Interface (Beta) Now Live According to the web site, this iPhone/ITouch app was designed and built with the help computer science students. It’s not accessible from the App Store yet but the instructions explain how to download a copy. Here’s an image. What Does It Offer + Search the library catalog + Find library hours + Manage your library account + Call, email or text a libraria +Browse featured mobile links Cornell University Library also provides a mobile web site. That should work in most browsers. Using this version you can: + Search the library catalog + Find library hours + Find library events and workshops + Call, email or text a librarian+ + Browse featured mobile links The mobile version is accessible at: http://library.cornell.edu/m Finally, Cornell U. Library Labs provides a tool allowing users to chat with a librarian on their mobile device. + Visit http://ask.library.cornell.edu on your mobile devices and click on the icon to launch the widget. + iPhone users will be able to download a direct link to the IM client onto their home screen, represented by an icon. Nice work by the CUL foilks in Ithaca. I’m looking forward to checking out the iPhone app once it becomes available via the AppStore. Source: Cool Tools from CUL Labs, Twitter (Source: ResourceShelf) Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:26:17 +0100 819231 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/17/three-new-mobile-web-sites-u-of-nebraska-omaha-stark-co-ohio-kingston-university-london/ + Academic: Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library at University of Nebraska-Omaha Includes catalog access, a selection of mobile databases like IEEEXplore, EBSCOhost Mobile, and several others resources. You can check this site out without a mobile browser. + Public: Stark County (Canton), OH: Stark County District Library Utilizes AirPac technology. Search entire catalog or by branch, library info (times and locations) along with a direct link to the non-mobile library site are available. You can take a look at this mobile site without a mobile browser. + Academic: Kingston University, London Accessible without a mobile device. Sections include: Phone numbers, Campus maps, Help I’m lost!, Browse Library Catalogue (AquaBrowser), Campus addresses. (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:17:02 +0100 819239 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/17/upgrade-time-for-ieee-xplore-digital-library/ Paula Hane writes: The latest upgrade announcement comes from IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engine), the largest technical professional association, which, on Sat., Feb. 13, officially launched a “substantial upgrade” to the IEEE Xplore digital library (http://ieeexplore.ieee.org). Xplore first launched online in 1998 and had its last major redesign back in 2005. IEEE Xplore’s more-robust search engine, intuitive user interface, sophisticated facets for refinement, and customizable features are designed to offer researchers a more-powerful tool for searches of IEEE’s more than 2 million full-text technical documents. [Snip] One academic librarian says he appreciates the fresh new look and the nice enhancements-”it’s a very smooth transition to the future,” in fact-but that the upgrade wasn’t that big a deal, in his estimation. But one research librarian at a major corporation thinks the upgrade was an important and necessary move for IEEE. The old site was “more cumbersome to use” and involved “a lot of struggle for users,” she says. The appealing interface and new features are great, but most important for her is the increased ease of obtaining quality results, enabled by the faceted navigation and refinement capabilities. Access the Complete Article Source: Info Today NewsBreaks See Also: iEEEXplore Now Offering Mobile Access to Database & A Review of Other Mobile Sites (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:05:23 +0100 819097 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/VSt_v-gXR1g/ Samsung’s SNE-60K is now available in Korea in the Kyobo Bookstores. It costs 429,000 Won ($375). Interestingly, Samsung says that their older 5″ SNE-50K reader was a failure – they only sold 3000 units. The major complaint was the absence of wireless connection. The new reader has Wi-Fi support, and also a larger 6″ touch E Ink display, bluetooth, MP3 support and hand-writing recognition. Kyobo aims to sell around 15,000 e-readers by the end of 2010. According to E-Reader-Info, there are still problems in Korea’s ebook market as there are only 65,000 Korean titles available and most bestsellers are not sold in a digital format. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:20:35 +0100 819082 http://csbsjulibrary.blogspot.com/2010/02/social-media-and-young-adults.html "Two Pew Internet Project surveys of teens and adults reveal a decline in blogging among teens and young adults and a modest rise among adults 30 and older. Even as blogging declines among those under 30, wireless connectivity continues to rise in this age group, as does social network use. Teens ages 12-17 do not use Twitter in large numbers, though high school-aged girls show the greatest enthusiasm for the application." Read the complete report or summary of the findings. -sg (Source: CSBSJU Library Blog) Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 819001 http://freegovinfo.info/node/2905 The new report from the National Telecommunications And Information Administration (NTIA) on broadband availability in the U.S. is now available. The most dramatic finding is that approximately 40 percent of all persons in the U.S. have no broadband access at home. DIGITAL NATION: 21st Century America’s Progress Towards Universal Broadband Internet Access "An NTIA Research Preview" (February 2010). (PDF, 1.3 MB) The good news is that "broadband Internet connectivity by households has grown dramatically" with 63.5 percent of U.S. households (not persons) having acces to broadband service at home -- a 25 percent increase from two years ago. We have to temper even this good news, however, when we realize that the definition of "broadband" is both vague and slow. The survey only asks respondents to differentiate between "A regular ‘dial-up’ connection" (not broadband) and everything else ("DSL, cable modem, fiber optics, satellite, wireless (such as Wi-Fi), mobile phone or PDA, or some other broadband"). (See: Survey Instrument, October 2009 CPS Internet Use Supplement.) A separate survey by SpeedMatters.org (2009 Report on Internet Speeds in All 50 States) reports that the average download speed for the nation was 5.1 megabits per second (mbps) and the average upload speed was 1.1 mbps and that the United States ranks 28th in the world in average Internet connection speeds. The NTIA report also notes that, while "virtually all demographic groups have increased their adoption of broadband services at home over time," there are still "demographic disparities" of internet broadband access that have persisted over time. Like previous NTIA reports, this one is based on data collected in the Census Bureau's in the Current Population Survey. This time the survey used was conducted in October 2009 an had a sample size of approximately 54,000 households and 129,000 citizens. ... Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:58:50 +0100 818879 http://granite.medlib.iupui.edu/rlmlnews/?p=541 Come join the celebration of the opening of the new IUSM Learning Center in the IUSM Medical Library from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26. Remarks will be presented at 2:30 p.m. in the dean’s tower of the medical library. Light refreshments will be served.  The second and third floors of the medical library have been transformed into a team-based learning classroom, four computer labs for classroom and testing use, and 10 small group study rooms. New study carrels and enhanced wireless access have been added throughout the building and a new 24-hour study area for IUSM students has been added on the second floor. Self-guided tours with information will be available, as well as hands-on demonstrations in some of the rooms. (Source: IU Medical Library News) Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:15:23 +0100 820112 http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2010/02/15/february-15th-stream.html overheard in my house while using the library’s catalog today: “my pin number? I don’t know my pin number. forget that.” [shifted] Posted ericrumsey: RT @maureenogle RT @bookoven Gessner in 1565: Info Overload Unleashed by Tech Confusing, Harmful to Mind http://bit.ly/9DPBFK. Posted JustinLibrarian: WiFi school bus is one quiet and peaceful ride: “It’s made a big difference. Boys aren’t hitting each other, girls… http://bit.ly/9y2wcX. Posted oodja: I’m watching commercials on NBC interspersed with 2-minute clips of the Olympics. You? RT @enjoybeing: Are you watching the #Olympics?. Shared 24 photos. Share: No tags for this post. (Source: The Shifted Librarian) Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:40:18 +0100 819414 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/15/digital-age-provides-new-methods-for-fighting-pandemics/ Several resources are discussed in this Article: From the Article: These digital tools could open the door to mass panic from unreliable or false reports. After all, the public is often unfamiliar with medical terminology and can mistake ordinary colds for more serious illnesses such as the swine flu. And there isn’t ample evidence that people are actually changing their behavior as a result of these tools. Ultimately, these tools may be no more than a fun way for people to connect — not entirely useful, perhaps even misleading. Still, the more than 100 swine flu apps for Apple Inc.’s iPhone, either free or for a fee, may mollify some concerns people have about health outbreaks because people don’t like to be kept in the dark too long. Tools Listed in the Article + HealthMap iPhone (also available for Android) + CDC News Reader iPhone app + SwineAware + Swine Flu 101 Source: AP (via Ventura County Star) (Source: ResourceShelf) Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:46:33 +0100 818565 http://www.blogpocket.com/2010/02/15/como-activar-la-conexion-inalambrica-en-ubuntu-netbook-remix/ Un problema de la distribución Ubuntu Netbook Remix es que no lleva los drivers para conectarse a redes wifi. Afortunadamente, es una cuestión abundantemente documentada en Internet. Así que, enseguida, llegué a la solución. En primer lugar, aprendí cómo saber qué tarjeta wireless concreta lleva el Acer Aspire One. Para ello hay que teclear en el Terminal (icono incluido en el apartado “Accesorios”) el comando: lspci El nombre de la tarjeta viene en la línea donde dice “Network controller” y en este caso es una “Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g”. Una búsqueda de ese literal me llevó a la página de la Guía Ubuntu donde se explica las posibles formas de activar la conexión inalámbrica. Allí se hace referencia a la descarga de los controladores desde las utilidades de adminitración del sistema (icono “Controladores de hardware” de la sección “Administración”, dentro del apartado “Sistema”). Lo único que hay que hacer es, conectado por cable a Internet, activar el controlador inalámbrico Broadcom STA, lo que provoca la descarga de los drivers y la instalación de los mismos. Si votas este post en Bitacoras.com, otros podrán descubrirlo También puedes leer Weblog Magazine, mi blog en ABC.es Y estoy en Twitter, Facebook y Tumblr. (Source: blogpocket 6.0) Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:02:24 +0100 820170 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/15/book-category-of-iphone-apps-contains-largest-share-of-paid-apps/ From the Article: Mobile app analytics firm Distimo emailed us a chart from the Netherlands that breaks down the 150,000-plus apps in Apple’s store by category. If you’re wondering how the total count leaped from 100,000 to 150,000 so fast, I can explain it in one word: books. In advance of the iPad tablet computer’s arrival in six to eight weeks, publishers have placed 27 thousand titles in the iTunes App Store’s Books section already, with more on the way. Distimo founder Vincent Hoogsteder says he spotted two more surprise trends in the store: First, the Books category has the largest share of paid applications with 92% of all apps being paid. Second, because of all the books, 75% of all applications are now paid. Only 25% are free. The post includes a useful chart that allows users compare categories of apps. Source: Venture Beat (Source: ResourceShelf) Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:48:54 +0100 818569 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/XLYVpqWSBW4/ The firmware upgrade released on Sunday raised the question in my mind about what support resources were available outside of Amazon. Here are a couple you might want to consider: A Kindle World blog: This blog will explore the capabilities of this device with its immediate access to the entire global Net, through its 24/7 wireless feature. There will be ongoing tutorials and guides for little-known features and latest information on the Kindle and its competitors. Questions are welcome. Amazon Kindle Community Forum: run by Amazon its a very active forum and a good place to ask questions and get answers. Kindle Boards forum: another active forum community. MobileRead’s Amazon Kindle forum Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:00:51 +0100 818404 http://lisnews.org/do_smart_phones_thwart_public_records_laws State leaders in Florida are in a battle with technology: new forms of communications that make it difficult for public officials to follow the law. The state has one of the best government public record laws in the country. Virtually every public document is accessible to the public. And though the state is embracing the perks of advanced technology — the Legislature just started piloting the use of electronic meeting packets, instead of printing them on paper — the use of cell phones and BlackBerrys is causing concern. It's simply too difficult to archive all communications. E-mails sent from a BlackBerry are easily tracked and archived by government servers. But the wireless devices can also send electronic messages in another way called "PINing," and those communications often are not tracked. The practice stirred controversy last summer when staff members of Florida's Public Service Commission were caught exchanging PIN messages with a lobbyist for a utility it regulates. "People need to understand that they cannot use these kinds of modes of communications to conduct official business if they have no way of capturing the record that it creates," says Anne Weissman of the nonpartisan watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Full story on NPR (Source: LISNews.org) Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:24:06 +0100 818381 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BabyBoomerLibrarian/~3/ryEUbh3HRpA/verizon-and-balckberry-curve-8330.html I went to a Verizon Wireless Store yesterday. The store reps are very helpful and do their best. I asked about OS5 update for my Blackberry Curve. The reps said Verizon Wireless has had it since October but has not released it to customers yet. They are just as frustrated with this issue as I am. All I am asking is a clear answer and commitment from Verizon as to if and when it will be available. No answer is bad for me and bad for Verizon. I am generally satisfied with Verizon service except in this critical area of providing timely updates to software that has been well tested.VZWsupport, Verizon, Blackberry, OS5Powered by ScribeFire. (Source: Baby Boomer Librarian) Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:46:00 +0100 818356 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/W4wvgCArBfo/ There’s a new firmware update to version 2.3.3 out for the Kindle 2 and DX. Nate’s Ebook News is reporting on the changes: * That spinning wheel in the upper left every time it awakes, not letting you even open a book for awhile, has been improved to very little time. * Much less time closing a book and opening one. That wheel was spinning all the time after update 2.3. * When you rotate the DX, you have to tilt it a bit further before it auto-rotates, Hooray! And it is faster changing orientation now back and forth. * All the delays v2.3 put in seem to be gone. To install it all you have to do is turn on your wireless and it will eventually be download and installed automatically. During the install it may appear that you have lost all your books, but don’t panic. They will come back when the install is finished. Since Amazon sends out the updates in batches it may take a while for your machine to update. If you want to do a manual install the instructions are here. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:01:47 +0100 818254 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/13/yahoos-new-mobile-site-for-the-olympics/ Elisabeth Osmeloski at Search Engine Land has compiled a wonderful collection of resources from Bing, Google, and Yahoo will be offering for Vancouver 2010. You can access it here. Here’s a bit more about another resource from Yahoo Mobile at: http://m.yahoo.com/olympics. From the Yahoo Mobile Blog: It’s the place to go when you’re out and about and want up-to-the-minute coverage on this year’s Games. You’ll get access to everything from live results, upcoming events, medal counts, and photos to news, expert commentary, and more—all from your phone. We’ve also integrated Olympics into our mobile search results, so you can easily find what you need fast. [Snip] The new Olympic mobile site is available in English for 13 different countries, including the U.S., Canada, the Philippines, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The blog post also contains a brief video of Yahoo Mobile Olympics site. See Also: NBC/MSNBC Mobile Services (Websites, Apps, Alerts) for Vancouver 2010 See Also: Two Online Databases: Every Medalist in Olympics History & Directory of National Olympics Committees (Source: ResourceShelf) Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:44:45 +0100 817993 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/Dbjx/~5/Q3OpQ55aUx4/r39.pdf As I had decided to focus on discovery and research themes at this conference, the morning session was helpful for getting short quick updates from vendors on discovery products. The vendor presentations were 12 minutes each with a few minutes in between for delegates to scuttle off to other rooms if necessary. For me I hung around in the Plenary Hall for most of it, where the Discovery stream of presentations was held.Shout out to @michellemclean (Connecting Librarian) for her chairing skills. Michelle was on the organising committee, so was involved in chairing various sessions. The most dynamic session was where she managed to get interpretive dance from @paulhagon and gymnastics from @malbooth during the lull while the glitches with technology were smoothed out. As Kathryn Greenhill pointed out "Twitter encourages childish behaviour at conferences And there should be more of it…"The vendor sessions on discovery tools helped to consolidate my ideas in this area, pick out which booths I had to visit in the trade exhibition and will feed into my 3 point strategy I'll report to MPOW. (I want to keep it simple, but maybe it will require more than 3 points. It's still brewing)In the afternoon I was impressed by @paulhagon's experimental work at the National Library of Australia using image analysis to create metadata. Imagine searching your image collection by colour. Paul Hagon's website has more of his work.I also attended Paul Bonnington's presentation on the changing landscape of research. He reported that research data is an increasingly important part of the institution's intellectual property and therefore care is taken for long term storage, preservation, access and legal obligations. This paper also touched on the Australian Code for Responsible Conduct of Research. The chief message I got from this presentation is that academic (and special libraries) have a key role to play in the curation of research data at their institutions. ... Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:19:52 +0100 818186 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/61IYOD-L_ok/ Now this is good use of the Kindle’s wireless capability. From the press release: Amazon.com … today announced that the Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2011, and Economic Report of the President, will both be available beginning [Friday] as free wireless downloads in Amazon’s Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore) … “Our customers have always been heavy readers of books about current events and economic issues,” said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President, Kindle Content. “Now they can download these important public government documents in under 60 seconds and read them in the easy and portable format that Kindle affords.” The only problem is that, at least for the Budget, nobody will be able to understand it. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:30:25 +0100 817726 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/1YB6KB9FZlA/ Chris Meadows recently wrote on the sapping of our attention spans. In between clicks away to gmail, Facebook, and Chris’s own links, I was just able to read through to the end, and the comments after. Now perhaps I am merely mentally lazy and weak, as Steve Jordan suggests, but I don’t think reclaiming your attention span is strictly a matter of willpower, of just clicking things off. The networked world is more insidious than that. Mere willpower isn’t enough for me. I couldn’t just “turn stuff off”. But if I wanted to get some serious writing done, or even spend more time with my daughter, I had to. I don’t even have a smartphone and almost never turn on the wireless function of my Kindle, but when I got a new super-duper fast laptop with wireless on it after arriving back in the States last year, the effect was very much like a sudden crack addiction. Mind you, on account of living in the Third World for some years, I hadn’t been exposed to a gradual build-up of all-the-time media. I just jumped straight into the pool. Before I knew it, I couldn’t even get through a meal without glancing at the laptop for some all-important update, 99.8% of which I couldn’t remember a day later. My attention span suffered. My writing suffered. My daughter learned to ratchet up the squeal volume to compete with the glowing screen. It took me some months of grappling with the supercharged information monster before realizing that simple behavioral changes were required. I do some writing longhand, but most of the heavy-duty editing work occurs on the computer screen. Going analog was not an option. So, I resurrected and rejigged my old laptop, synced with the endlessly useful Dropbox, and now use it exclusively for writing. The reason: it’s painfully, painfully slow. ... Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:34:09 +0100 817326 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/RIClI_Z7lS4/ For many of us ebook readers, we are surrounded by physical libraries, yet very often they don’t even register on our radar screen. Too many of us still equate them storytimes, tax forms and the latest paperback thriller. I would argue however, that this perception is wrong and that libraries are changing to meet the ebook and other technological changes that are transforming how we read. They may not operate as fast as we would like, but they are changing. Let’s look at three ways this is happening—and provide you with some links to these resources! Commercial Partnerships As outlined in our previous post on The Librarian’s Dilemma many libraries today are partnering with OverDrive to provide digital content for their patrons. DRM issues aside, this a great way to get the most popular fiction and non-fiction out to meet demand. OverDrive offers both PDF and ePub formatted reading that can be loaded on many readers successfully. Examples of libraries that have implemented this include my hometown library, Columbus Metropolitan Library, and others. For a complete list, try this link: http://search.overdrive.com/. Library Sharing While it seems Google Books steals most of the news about ebooks these days, there is a consortium of libraries slowly approaching the same idea, but from a different direction. Hathi Trust, has brought together many academic libraries and universities to digitize and make available their collections online. With over 5,000,000 books digitized and more on the way, this resource is a natural for ebook fans. One note that might stop you short, however, is that many of the resources are only available online and cannot be downloaded (yet). If your reader has Wifi access, then this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Original Content Many libraries are going it alone, introducing ebooks and other technologies as their budgets and time permit. ... Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:30:37 +0100 817337 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/11/a-collection-of-new-statistics-about-social-networking-mobile-and-internet-traffic/ Social networking now accounts for 11 percent of all time spent online in the US. December 2009 data from comScore puts Facebook’s unique US visitor count at nearly 112 million. Facebook (February, 2010), 100 Million Mobile Users (Up from 65 Million Less than Six Months Ago) A total of 234 million people age 13 and older in the U.S. used mobile devices in December 2009. Twitter is as of December processing more than one billion tweets per month. January passed 1.2 billion, averaging almost 40 million tweets per day. This is significantly more than Twitter was processing just a few months ago. Facebook users were more engaged than MySpace users, visiting Facebook an average of 27 times in December versus 14 for MySpace. One in four (25%) US Internet page views occurred at one of the top social networking sites in December 2009, up 83% from 13.8% in December 2008. Nearly one in 10 visits went to one of these sites in December 2009, versus 5.8% in December 2008. MySpace and Facebook virtually flipped positions over the course of a year — in December 2009, visits to Facebook accounted for 68% of visits to a custom category of 10 social networks, compared to MySpace’s 28%. In December 2008, Facebook had 29% of visits and MySpace had 64%. Facebook drove category growth, with its overall market share growing 286% from December 2008 to December 2009. ***Many More Social Network Stats in the Report, “Social Networking by the Numbers,” by LeeAnn Prescott (Free)*** Tagged, MyYearbook, and Orkut users were the most active, visiting those sites about every other day or more. MyYearbook and Tagged users spent 2 minutes longer on average on those sites than the average Facebook user. Twitter’s audience growth occurred during the first few months of 2009 – at one point jumping from 4 million visitors to 17 million visitors between February and April. ... Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:48:14 +0100 817383 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JohnBattellesSearchblog/~3/dtq96oDz3b0/005122.php I'm a bit reticent to jump into this, as I'm not sure you all care that much, but I've got a decent reason for writing about Buzz (yesterday's piece) again today.   First, I've seen a piece (Calacanis) proclaiming Buzz the second (third? fifth?) coming of social. Facebook will "lost half its value" due to Buzz's arrival, Jason opines. I think this is silly. Then again, I seem to think a lot of things are silly. Pretty soon, I'll be chasing kids off my front lawn, the way I'm going. And I've not used Buzz, nor will I, as I'm not a Gmail user nor do I plan on becoming one. So don't listen to me if you are a Gmail addict who wants to recreate your entire social experience in that medium. Go nuts. I'm all for more options. Anyway. The larger issue to me has to do with Google's approach to customers. The Google mantra has always been "we design for our customers." Here's the official declaration on Google's corporate philosophy page (the first two points are also in the image above): 1. Focus on the user and all else will follow. Since the beginning, we've focused on providing the best user experience possible. Whether we're designing a new Internet browser or a new tweak to the look of the homepage, we take great care to ensure that they will ultimately serve you, rather than our own internal goal or bottom line. For the most part, Google has hewn closely to this strategy. But it has a major blind spot when it comes to Facebook and Twitter - Facebook in particular. I can understand ignoring Twitter - one could argue it's not ubiquitous and therefore can be left off the feature set of new products. But ignoring Facebook when it comes to social search and status update is akin to ignoring oxygen when it's time to light a fire: it's silly (there's that word again). Furthermore, it's not designing for your customer. Just about every one of Google's customers has invested significant time and energy into their Facebook social graph. ... Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 817268 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/10/new-mobile-version-of-scribd-gets-rolling-at-end-of-february/ From the WSJ Article (Full Text Available, Free): [Scribd] which allows people to post and read both amateur and professional content, plans to launch a “send to mobile” feature later this month that allows users to get most of the 10 million documents stored on the site to reading devices beyond the personal computer, including Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle, Sony Corp.’s Readers, Barnes & Noble Inc.’s Nook, and advanced phones such as Apple Inc.’s iPhone. [Snip] Next month, Scribd plans to unveil a series of mobile applications, which will add direct access to the site’s content to devices including the iPhone and iPad, smart phones based on Google Inc.’s Android software, and eventually the Kindle. Access the Complete Article Source: Wall St. Journal (Source: ResourceShelf) Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:23:48 +0100 817136 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/10/two-new-mobile-web-sites-from-libraries-and-universities/ News of new mobile sites keep arriving at the RS doorstep. Keep them coming. 1) University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries & Schmid Law Library (via Daily Nebraskan) Access the University of Nebraska-Lincoln/Schmid Law Library Mobile Web Site You can access the library catalog as well as mobile versions of other databases. (EBSCOhost Mobile, IEEE XPlore, RefWorks Mobile) 2) Texas A&M Introduces Mobile Web Site For Smart Phone Users A) TAMUmobile Web (New) ||| Access There is a library option but access to the catalog/databases not available at this time B) TAMUmobile Apps Apps available for the iPhone/iPodTouch and Blackberry. More info and links to download apps. Hat Tip: Gerry M. (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:05:32 +0100 817139 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LibrariansMatter/~3/lscc93zPCNM/ Today I gave my Big Paper, the one I’ve known I’ve had to do since November 2008, the one that enabled me to go on the seven weeks’ overseas Trip of a Lifetime. I think I have lived with it for so long that I had gone beyond being nervous – which I made me feel a bit uncomfortable, because I think that nervous feeling makes me strive harder… The title: Taking matters into our own hands: influencing factors and concerning factors for libraries that developed their own Open Source Software . I was planning to Ustream it, but I think the wifi in the conf venue will be flakey. If it is not, try http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kathrynarium around 10:30am Australian Eastern Standard Time. For the paper, I interviewed managers who supported, and developers who coded: Scriblio SOPAC2 Evergreen Koha VuFind Blacklight These were bold, adventurous folk who went out on a limb and created something for the rest of us. They were the type of people that it was exciting to just be in the same room with. I also interviewed six librarians who were involved in specifying the Open Library Project. I wanted to find out three things: 1. Why they developed their Open Source Software? 2. What were the risks? 3. How can what they learned be used by libraries thinking of adopting Open Source Software? To keep it standardised, I took out of the formal literature a bunch of reasons given for libraries to develop/adopt OSS and another bunch of risks. I then asked my participants whether these reasons claimed to be influential actually were – and whether there were other factors. I will put up a link to my paper when it becomes available. After VALA has finished I will write a post explaining the 10 things that are valuable for libraries thinking of adopting software. I will be submitting a more detailed version – with more quotes from the interviewees – as my Masters’ Thesis in June this year. ... Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:00:04 +0100 818264 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/10/usability-guru-jakob-nielsen-on-iphone-apps/ If your designing an iPhone app or will be developing one in the future, Nielsen shares a bit of advice in this edition of Alertbox. From the Article: Summary: Most mobile applications are used only intermittently, so they must be especially easy during initial use. In particular, upfront registration shouldn’t be required before users experience an app’s benefits. [Snip] …my main conclusion from watching iPhone app users is that they suffered much less misery than users in our mobile website tests. In fact, testing people using iPhone apps produced happier outcomes than testing people attempting to use websites on the same phone. On mobile devices, applications are easier to use than websites. (Given the current state of affairs; browser-based sites would be easier to use if designers started following more mobile usability guidelines.) Access the Complete Article Source: Alertbox (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:49:10 +0100 817000 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/10/google-plans-to-buildtest-ultra-high-speed-broadband-network-in-trial-locations/ Greg Sterling at Search Engine Land does a great job not only writing on today’s news but sharing plenty of background info to put some perspective on the announcement. Today Google is announcing that the company is going to “build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States.” The company asserts that these networks will “deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections.” The stated intention is to “offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.” Like Google’s aspirations for the White Spaces spectrum this appears to be geared toward rural or underserved markets in the US. This won’t be free WiFi but “competitively priced” WiFi. Access the Complete Article Source: SEL (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:29:55 +0100 817001 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/A7U34CtPXfE/ The Kindle Nation has done a three-year cost comparison of the two units. I agree with the way the comparison was based, which is stated here: I will grant that it was a pretty good initial PR coup for Apple to announce that the iPad starts at $499, but let’s get real here. Given the fact that the iPad will be all about mobility and will provide a very cool environment for downloading and viewing, reading, or listening to various kinds of high-bandwidth media content (including ebooks), it simply does not make sense to analyze the iPad’s price without unlimited 3G wireless or without at least 32 GB of storage. To equip the iPad with less than the 3G and 32 GB options seems rather like buying a Maserati with a speed governor and using it to delivery the mail in your town, or in this case, the email. And we are talking about a Maserati here. For the results go here. Digg us. Slashdot us. Facebook us. Twitter us. Share the news. (Source: TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home) Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:10:04 +0100 816992 http://mhclibrary.blogspot.com/2010/02/warning-beware-of-fake-wireless.html IMPORTANT: When connecting to the wireless network on campus, only connect to MHC-Public (see Fig. 1).Fig. 1. The one and only official college wireless network you should connect to.DO NOT connect to any other wireless network on campus, because they are not official college networks—this includes one that might say MHC-Library.WHY THE WARNING?Unfortunately there are individuals on campus that (Source: Medicine Hat College Library Services Blog) Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 818497 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/EpxD-iIODxA/think-big-with-gig-our-experimental.html Imagine sitting in a rural health clinic, streaming three-dimensional medical imaging over the web and discussing a unique condition with a specialist in New York. Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes. Or collaborating with classmates around the world while watching live 3-D video of a university lecture. Universal, ultra high-speed Internet access will make all this and more possible. We've urged the FCC to look at new and creative ways to get there in its National Broadband Plan – and today we're announcing an experiment of our own.We're planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. We'll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We plan to offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.Our goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone. Here are some specific things that we have in mind:Next generation apps: We want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it's creating new bandwidth-intensive "killer apps" and services, or other uses we can't yet imagine. New deployment techniques: We'll test new ways to build fiber networks, and to help inform and support deployments elsewhere, we'll share key lessons learned with the world. Openness and choice: We'll operate an "open access" network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with our past advocacy, we'll manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent way.Like our WiFi network in Mountain View, the purpose of this project is to experiment and learn. Network providers are making real progress to expand and improve high-speed Internet access, but there's still more to be done. ... Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 817020 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/kkJF/~3/cjYZoGiGScY/de-getwitterde-bieb-9-februari-2010.html Een nieuwe week, een nieuwe greep: Mocht vandaag gratis printen in de bieb en kreeg een gratis velletje postzegels van de Bruna-jongen. Het zijn de kleine dingen die 't doen. grrrrrrr, boete bij de bieb. Ging ik naar de bieb, was ie dicht. wat een kutdag:( Vanavond moet ik naar de bibliotheek. Nu al zin in. Kan me daar echt u-ren vermaken. Iemand nog suggesties, qua boek? omg.. de jongen naast mij in de mediatheek moet serieus een brein erbij laten groeien Bezoek bieb was erg leuk! Lekker gewiebelbillenboogied! Echt belachelijk die openingstijden voor de bibliotheek hier! Logisch dat geen hond meer gaat als dat ding maar van 14-16 open is! @ B'wijk Moeite met on-topic te blijven voor m'n essay in de bieb. Teveel afleiding met al die fotoboeken om me heen Mocht jouw studievoortgang gedijen bij veel boor- en zaaggeluiden, dan is de bieb weer de place to be vandaag. #uvt Weblogger Femke is bang voor de bibliotheek. Wil je weten waarom? Lees hier haar post: http://bit.ly/dcjV3x Ik heb de 5 zwaarste boeken uit de bieb gehaald. Ideaal ook dat de enige deur die in de school niet vanzelf open gaat daar zit... Geweldig Wifi!!! Met m'n netbook internet in de bieb van de RUG. Mwah. Boekenkast van m'n ouders en div. plaatselijke bibliotheken verslonden maar kan de laatste jaren de rust niet meer vinden. straks volgt een college curieux: "introductie bibliotheek" ... anyway, eerst even slapen Net thuis uit de bieb, voel me net zon kloostermonnik man. Ga nu in bed kijken! Mevrouw van de bieb wilde ons weg hebben op de plek waar we zaten maar bracht dat zo onduidelijk dat we het niet snapten. KUD. Moet voor donderdag een boek lezen. Moet maar langzamerhand langs de bieb gaan.. Poep! Weer een afwijzing voor een sollicitatie binnen. Jammer dat ze (bibliotheek Eindhoven) geen reden opgeeft. ... Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:11:00 +0100 816634 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LibrariansMatter/~3/LETh3CsmeZg/ Today I may be attending just two bootcamps and two keynotes, or I may be attending papers – I am unsure. Keynotes are: Karen Calhoun, OCLC, USA The emergent library: new lands, new eyes and Thomas Tague, Thomson Reuters, USANext up? The linked content economy . The workshops would be these: Video: Negotiating the Online and Mobile Space Facilitators: Simon Goodrich and Al Cossar, Portable Film Festival, Melbourne, Victoria  and Semantic Web APIs Facilitator: Thomas (Tom) Tague, OpenCalais, USA. I don’t fancy trying to do a video workshop if the wifi is as flakey as it was today – or if it sucks up my entire quota of 250MB for $33 … VALA has worked hard this afternoon to get the wifi upgraded, so hopefully it will improve. Here is my CoverItLive session for today, which will go live around 9am Australian Eastern Standard Time. KathrynVALA2010TueFeb9 (Source: Librarians matter) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:34:35 +0100 816493 http://cclstrain.blogspot.com/2010/02/snuggle-up-with-web-conference.html Just in time for the snowstorm! Tomorrow and Wednesday, WebJunction is hosting a free two-day online conference called Technology Essentials 2010. The focus is"on practical and timely strategies for leveraging technology to help you in a wide range of library services and operations, including:Staff training Marketing Outreach, funding, advocacy Services and programming Technology planning Virtual libraries Your library's web presence"Session and speaker information is available on WebJunction and there is still space available for additional registrants.There are short, one-hour talks on a variety of topics. Log in and use WebEx (client download required) to access the training, and you can come and go to sessions as you like. Use VoIP or a toll free phone number for audio access, and complete the post-conference survey for CE credits.CCLS staff are asked to use the wireless connection at their libraries, or a home computer connection, in order to avoid overtaxing the CCLS computer network. That is, assuming our buildings are open!As for me, despite the snow, I'll be participating from some virtual location...either home or office! (Source: Your Personal (Library) Trainer) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 818056 http://www.shore.com/commentary/weblogs/2010/01/rebirth-of-print-time-for-new.html Somewhere in the world today a printing press operation is preparing to go dark. Mind you, it's not a universal phenomenon; in markets such as India, where a burgeoning middle class is hungry for news and not yet equipped with an abundance of electronic media sources, print media is actually growing. Scholarly publishers are still doing well their premium journals and custom print for B2B and consumer markets is thriving. But in many developed media markets print operations are struggling to stay alive, with 2010 expected to be a year in which newsstands begin to display significantly fewer titles. Barnes and Noble, with its Nook ebook reader, offers free wireless in their stores as a bundled part of the service, trying to encourage both browsers and coffee-drinkers to make more use of their "big box" stores real estate. It's a Web-eat-paper world, and the publishing industry is wearing newsprint shorts.Yet the broader picture of print is that print publishing technology has never been more sophisticated, cost-effective and capable. Many of the same technologies that enable the Web also enable printing presses to deliver mass-customized printing runs, allowing wholesale book distributors such as Ingram to deliver profitable print runs for titles with as few as two ordered units. Mass print customization also allows ever more effective tailored marketing materials, allowing highly customized color post cards, brochures and other high-value communications tools at very competitive prices. In short, print rocks, if you do the right things with it.The wrong thing to do with print is to expect to do the same thing again and again and expect different results. That is, as many will tell you, the definition of insanity. Unfortunately, this is the insanity that grips much of the B2B and consumer publishing industry. ... Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 816430 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/06/recently-released-or-updated-mobile-web-sites-from-libraries-universities/ With new mobile sites being released daily, every now and then it’s interesting and take a look at how these sites are designed and what they offer users. In this group, we also have info about how a university is planning their mobile services. 1. Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Pittsburgh, PA 2. Seaton Hall University/SHU mobile (in Planning Stages) Hat Tip: Gerry M. 3. Flatirons Library Consortium (Boulder, CO Louisville, CO Broomfield, CO) Newspaper coverage via Daily Camera 4. Kingston University London, UK. Includes Access to Library Catalogue 5. Trinity College Library Hartford, CT (Source: ResourceShelf) Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:24:46 +0100 815879 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/02/05/new-from-yahoo-its-the-yahoo-mobile-blog/ You can access the new blog at: http://ymobileblog.com/. The first post, an overview of what’s to come, is by Irv Henderson, VP of Global Mobile Products. From the Blogs First Post: We plan to make this site a resource for those of you interested in staying on top of what’s new with our products, consumer experiences, and the mobile business in general. You can expect to learn about new product launches and enhancements, quick tips and tricks, our take on market trends, and predictions for where we see the market is heading. Yahoo! is a leader in the mobile industry. We’ve developed best-in-class services, such as Search, Mail, and Messenger across thousands of mobile devices, and launched apps on multiple platforms for various phones, including iPhone and BlackBerry. We reach millions of people daily, and our Mobile Homepage is available in more than 30 countries. By designing simple, open, and feature-rich services that harness the unique attributes of mobile devices, we focus on providing better mobile experiences that are engaging and personally relevant to users like you, enabling you to connect to your world at anytime, anywhere. So what’s to come in 2010? Three developments will play a key role in shaping the mobile industry: Powerful browsers, the OS as a launching pad, and local content. Source: Yahoo Mobile Blog, Yahoo Anecdotal (Source: ResourceShelf) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:39:35 +0100 815541 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/KHnj/~3/RLy3-6_MT0I/ Especially since 9/11, the FBI has long been interested in being able to check up on the reading habits of ordinary people. In 2002, we covered a librarian’s concern about a provision of the Patriot Act that would allow the FBI to request information from libraries. In 2005, we covered an actual use of that provision. In 2008, David Rothman discussed FBI director Robert Mueller suggesting “that the bureau should have a broad ‘omnibus’ authority to conduct monitoring and surveillance of private-sector networks.” Since the Kindle uses wireless networks, David was concerned that it meant the FBI might take an interest in e-book reading habits as well as paper ones. Now Mueller is at it again. At a federal task force meeting today, an attorney for the FBI said that Mueller would like ISPs to keep records of web users’ “origin and destination information.” In other words, the FBI wants to be able to find out what web sites users visit, just as it can get call information from phone companies. A number of ISP representatives are cited in the story saying that it would currently be very difficult, and perhaps a violation of wiretapping law, to keep track of that information. Whether possible or not, it could certainly have the potential to be a major violation of privacy. Almost everybody visits web sites that might be viewed as subversive or undesirable by authorities, or that they otherwise do not want other people to know about. (Some are unfortunate enough to do so while on national television.) On the e-book side, this might include politically-sensitive reading matter, or even sexual fetish art and fiction sites. It is understandable that the government wants power to track down terrorists. We would like for the government to be able to track down terrorists. The idea is good in theory. In practice, it leads to things like full-body scanners at airports and Canadian author Dr. Peter Watts getting beaten up by the border patrol. ... Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:12:10 +0100 815518