 Tuesday, October 15, 2002
"netLibrary is pleased to announce the availability of a new offline reading solution that makes more eBooks accessible to your patrons anytime, anywhere. Using new technology from Adobe, you can download PDF formatted netLibrary eBooks and view them offline using the Adobe Acrobat® eBook Reader® 2.2 software application.
The delivery and return of checked-out eBooks is automated, saving time and effort, and providing you with the ability to control how many copies of a particular eBook can be checked out at one time, and the duration of the check out period for each title.
Use of the Adobe Acrobat® eBook Reader® requires a content gateway license, which can be purchased through netLibrary. Once you have purchased the content gateway license, eBooks in Adobe PDF will be available to you for both online and offline viewing. To select a title for offline viewing, simply click on the Download and read offline link....
With a unique text-to-speech feature, Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader 2.2 allows users to double-click on any word to hear its pronunciation. Also, when enabled by the publisher, patrons can listen to the entire text of an eBook... (only available for Mac OS 9.0, 9.1 and Windows 2000)." [via The Virtual Acquisition Shelf and News Desk]
That text-to-speech feature sounds interesting, although Ed Felten should probably add it to Fritz's Hit List.
Does this mean that (theoretically) netLibrary titles in this format can now be read (or heard) on a suitably-equipped Palm?
"The veteran singer/songwriter, on the promotional trail for a new album, says she is 'ashamed' to be part of the music business and may stop recording.
'I just think it's a cesspool,' the 58-year-old folk-rock icon said in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine.
'I hope it all goes down the crapper. I would never take another deal in the record business, which means I may not record again, or I have to figure out a way to sell over the Net or do something else. But I'll be damned if I'll line their pockets.'...
Mitchell has also previously savaged her former label boss David Geffen for not paying her any royalties, although he has countered that her albums never sold enough copies to cover the advance payments that she received from him." [MetaFilter]
Wyncs
"Wyncs provides web site owners with the unique ability to "deliver" their site content directly to the visitor's contact management software and/or Palm device.
Very simple to set up, if you created, or maintain your own web site you can easily add Wyncs functionality to your site....
Wyncs Standard can be set up in minutes, allowing the visitors of your web site to sync your valuable content to their Palm device or MS Outlook. WHAT BETTER WAY to get your information into the places they need it most. Choose one or all of the different Wync abilities (Contact, Memo, Tasks, Appointments)... We send you the necessary code to be placed where needed on your site. If you know what your doing, set-up can be done in minutes, if not, contact your web master for help. ($39/year)
Wyncs Standard allows a maximum of 12,000 wyncs per year and charges a low pre-paid annual fee. If estimating greater annual wyncs, it is recommended to upgrade to the Professional Version (no limit) ($99). This annual fee is necessary to keep our servers healthy, backed up, and updated." [via PocketPCHow2 Log]
I've never heard of this service before. I wish I had more time to investigate it as a possible low-cost outsourcing service for libraries. I like the example clients they show - HighSchoolSports.net for synching season sports schedules and TheRarelyHerd.com for synching concert dates, song lyrics, and contact information. It does appear to require a small download, though. Does anyone have experience with Wyncs or know more about it?
I had missed this little tidbit in last week's InfoWorld article titled The End at Hand.
"Now here's a bit of interesting handheld history. I spoke with Jonathan Zakin, currently chairman and CEO of Proxim. Zakin was part of the executive team that engineered the purchase of Palm when he was at U.S. Robotics.
Zakin told me that the company never thought the Palm would take off as a handheld device but that instead it would become the central device for home networking. The concept was that U.S. Robotics would make various cradles, each serving a different function: a cell-phone cradle, a radio cradle, a cradle to control the television and stereo, and even a cradle for the car. Pop your Palm into a cradle, and it becomes that device.
'We thought the value would be in the cradle,' Zakin says. He adds that U. S. Robotics intended to manufacture the cradles, expecting that, although there might be one or two handhelds in the home, consumers would have as many as a dozen or more cradles -- three or four each of radio and cell-phone cradles, for example.
Well, U.S. Robotics never got around to addressing that because the darn thing took off as a handheld. But now, maybe Palms, Pocket PCs, and even big, so-called smart phones are at the end of their consumer run."
Who Should Be on a READ Poster?
"There are lots of celebrity READ posters, but I'm sure there's always room for more. I'd like to see the Dixie Chicks on a poster promoting reading. Who's your favorite candidate for a new READ poster?" [LISNews.com]
I know Cris would agree with the Dixie Chicks suggestion, and I actually think the Eminem one is pretty funny. Steven's a natural. :-P
My picks? Real: Larry Lessig. Cynical: Fritz Hollings. (Runner up: George Bush.)
On a practical note, I've been trying to convince my home library to print up local versions of the READ posters. For example, I think you could run a customized campaign with the mayor, the fire chief, the police chief, the school superintendent, local celebrities, elected officials (wink wink, nudge nudge), etc. I also think the Illinois Library Association should be running its own Illinois-centric versions with celebrity athletes, Abe Lincoln, etc.
Wireless Internet Access Set Up in VA, IN, FL PLs
"Three public libraries are unveiling wireless Internet access in their facilities, serving as the vanguard in this latest technological offering. Staunton Public Library, VA, has completed installation of a new wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi™) system that can connect properly equipped laptops or hand-held units to the Internet. Hancock County Public Library (HCPL), Greenfield, IN, also will establish a wireless computer network, with the help of a $10,000 award from the SBC Excelerator competitive grants program. The newly renovated Ponte Vedra Beach branch of the St. Johns County Public Library System, St. Augustine, FL, installed a wireless network that reaches into the facility's parking lot.
HCPL library will purchase six wireless computers, a storage cart with a wireless access point, and a printer with a wireless print server that will allow the public to use computers anywhere in the building. HCPL intends to offer classes anywhere in the library, expanding its offerings to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications in an effort to help local residents who might not otherwise have access to new technology. The wireless LAN at the Ponte Vedra facility operates on a separate DSL circuit to ensure security and has an average speed of 11 megabits a second. Plans are underway for laptops and wireless interface-network cards to be used for in-house checkout. Users will need a library card and photo identification." [Library Journal - Library News]
These are great examples, especially since they're in the public library arena. However, there appears to still be no wireless access for patrons who have their own wireless laptops or PDAs. Baby steps....
Addendum: Will points out that the Staunton Public Library home page indicates anyone with an 802.11b card can use the SPL's WLAN. Yay, Staunton!
Addendum Redux: Glenn Fleishman points out that libraries need to maintain a solid security infrastructure for public WLANs. No argument there, although obviously I think it's doable. Glenn even points to a specific resource we can follow up on.
"Libraries have to understand, as this article notes in passing, that adding access also adds a security burden. While reports of warspamming (spamming from open access points) were speculative, I can definitely see that the ability to park in the library's parking lot and unmolested use the network could result in abuse. Libraries should consider simple, free software, such as that developed by NYCWireless that uses rules to block certain kinds of traffic. The library noted in the second paragraph of the article cited above added a DSL line to avoid sharing their main connection with patrons."
Wallace and Gromit: Cracking Contraptions
"Wallace and Gromit are back in their first screen outing for six years. BBC News Online exclusively presents Soccamatic, one of 10 short films, revealing Wallace's latest inventions. Soccamatic is free to watch or download from this site." [BBC News]
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