1. I have searched the websites of several of my favorite authors: Beverly Lewis, Mary Higgins Clark and Jeannette Walls. Beverly Lewis has her own website which provides news of her latest book releases, tour schedules and events, authentic Amish recipes, personal insight into her writing life, and a newletter which I subscribed to. Jeannette Walls has a Facebook account that is updated and maintained by Scribner, her publisher. Mary Higgins Clark has her own website that provides information about her lastest releases, tours, interviews with her and her lastest blog. There is an email alert you can sign up for.
2. The idea of a book being published based on popular vote gives me more faith in the material, however, I need to read the book myself and decide whether it is as entertaining as perceived by others.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Publishing Evolution #83: Paper to Pixels
1. I prefer paper over pixels for pleasure reading but do not mind reading the news online. In fact, I like getting the lastest breaking news immediately online instead of waiting for the morning edition of the newspaper. If a need arose, I would definitely choose to obtain the material quicker on the computer.
2. Availability influences how I get my books and I would not pay the same price for a digital book as I would for a paper copy.
3. I visited iFiction and discovered a large selection of sci-fi and fantasy titles but continued searching until I found a good romance, Things Change by Lynn Hubbard and read the preview.
I like the idea of being able to "sample" the book and then paying for it. The price listed was
reasonable.
2. Availability influences how I get my books and I would not pay the same price for a digital book as I would for a paper copy.
3. I visited iFiction and discovered a large selection of sci-fi and fantasy titles but continued searching until I found a good romance, Things Change by Lynn Hubbard and read the preview.
I like the idea of being able to "sample" the book and then paying for it. The price listed was
reasonable.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Publishing Evolution #82: Print on Demand
1. After visiting the six self-publishing websites, I found that their books are priced around the same as books that have been tradionally published. Prices are ranged per format, with the e-book being the least expensive at $4.95-$6.00, paperbacks run between $13.00-$18.95 and hardback copies sell from $18.90-$28.95. I don't think I have read a book that has been self-published, but I found several titles I would be really interested in reading, such as War and Love: a surgeon's memoir of battlefield medicine with letters home by Howard W. Jones, Jr. and Georgeanna Seeger Jones and The Nicholas Effect: a boy's gift to the world by Reg Green.
2. I think self-publishing is an easier, faster and more economical way to get your books in print.
As a reader, it doesn't matter to me how the book got printed. I am just happy it is available to read.
2. I think self-publishing is an easier, faster and more economical way to get your books in print.
As a reader, it doesn't matter to me how the book got printed. I am just happy it is available to read.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Future of Media #81: Get Out Your Crystal Ball
1. I have been following the blu-ray but I do not think this format will have much influence on DVDS. I think the additional cost will be the deterrent for most individuals. Now there is talk about 3D television. I get somewhat excited about this feature but there again too I am not sure exactly how well this will be preceived by others. My opinion is that 3D will be more suited for gaming.
2. I am not an early adopter of every gadget that comes along but I do enjoy the large screen high definition television. This gadget enables me to have a front row seat in comfort at every event. You can't beat that!!
2. I am not an early adopter of every gadget that comes along but I do enjoy the large screen high definition television. This gadget enables me to have a front row seat in comfort at every event. You can't beat that!!
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Future of Media #80: Movies
1. I used Hulu to find a comedy, Just one of the Guys and watched a portion of the film. I have watched an entire film on my computer but I prefer to watch movies on DVD in my HD
television. Being able to watch a movie on a computer is wonderful while you are traveling. It it also a smart way to keep the children entertained on a long road trip.
2. Using the Internet Movie Database, I searched for Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges and found 10 trailers, 8 clips, 4 interviews and 2 promotionals. I was pleased with the information I was able to find and watched one of the trailers. I will definitely continue to use this site to stay informed of upcoming new movies.
3. At this time, I am not interested in using fee-based services to get movies at home. Our library has a good selection of DVDS and if you don't mind the wait, you can see your choice of new movies at no charge.
television. Being able to watch a movie on a computer is wonderful while you are traveling. It it also a smart way to keep the children entertained on a long road trip.
2. Using the Internet Movie Database, I searched for Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges and found 10 trailers, 8 clips, 4 interviews and 2 promotionals. I was pleased with the information I was able to find and watched one of the trailers. I will definitely continue to use this site to stay informed of upcoming new movies.
3. At this time, I am not interested in using fee-based services to get movies at home. Our library has a good selection of DVDS and if you don't mind the wait, you can see your choice of new movies at no charge.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Future of Media #79: Television
1. In searching Hulu for my favorite sitcom, The Office, I was delighted to find 5 entire lastest episodes, 249 clips and 23 webisodes to watch. So now whenever I miss an episode on television, I can catch up on the series right on my computer. Wonderful!
2. I haven't watched a television show on a cell phone as my Nokia doesn't have the capability; and I would not be interested as the screen is too small. This would be a great way to entertain a child.
3. I do not subscribe to any streaming programs or user "channels" and I have never posted a video to a site.
2. I haven't watched a television show on a cell phone as my Nokia doesn't have the capability; and I would not be interested as the screen is too small. This would be a great way to entertain a child.
3. I do not subscribe to any streaming programs or user "channels" and I have never posted a video to a site.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Searching #78: Video
I searched the luge Olympic accident in Truveo and found 244 videos. I was very pleased with the information they had available; it had actual footage of the fatal crash. Truveo has videos from news, sports, TV shows, music, and most twittered. They highlight hot searches and popular videos.
On Blinkx, I found 558 videos on this same accident but to view many of the videos I had to go to YouTube.
I prefer Truveo's format and the ease in searching. I was also able to watch my favorite TV sitcom. They have an excellent selection of TV shows to watch and the search is simple.
I went to HCPL'S youtube channel and looked around. Our branch has a fantastic Mother Goose Infant Storytime. A video of this storytime would make a great marketing tool to new parents showcasing programs available to them and their babies.
On Blinkx, I found 558 videos on this same accident but to view many of the videos I had to go to YouTube.
I prefer Truveo's format and the ease in searching. I was also able to watch my favorite TV sitcom. They have an excellent selection of TV shows to watch and the search is simple.
I went to HCPL'S youtube channel and looked around. Our branch has a fantastic Mother Goose Infant Storytime. A video of this storytime would make a great marketing tool to new parents showcasing programs available to them and their babies.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Searching #77: Images
Using allfreeclipart, it took me five clicks to get to a Santa that didn't look like a troll and had color.
I looked into bigfoto.com and found pictures from around the world. They have categories which enables you to quickly find pictures in a certain theme. Most of their photos are from amateur photographers. Their copyright is very simple. You have free use of all pictures if you provide a link to their website.
Freedigitalphotos.net is another site on the web to download free photos for use in corporate and personal projects. You can browse by category or search for exactly what you need. The photographer and freedigitalphotos.net must be acknowledged; however, if you purchase a photo, there is no requirement to place a hyperlink. Images cannot be offered for sale, claimed as your own work, or included in web templates for mass distribution.
Flicker.com has my vote as the favorite search engine for photos. Their free site is user friendly with an abundance of images and good tags. You can also upload your own photos to share and edit.
I searched schoolsclipart.com and found an image that we could use on a poster promoting a young adult bookclub at the library.
I looked into bigfoto.com and found pictures from around the world. They have categories which enables you to quickly find pictures in a certain theme. Most of their photos are from amateur photographers. Their copyright is very simple. You have free use of all pictures if you provide a link to their website.
Freedigitalphotos.net is another site on the web to download free photos for use in corporate and personal projects. You can browse by category or search for exactly what you need. The photographer and freedigitalphotos.net must be acknowledged; however, if you purchase a photo, there is no requirement to place a hyperlink. Images cannot be offered for sale, claimed as your own work, or included in web templates for mass distribution.
Flicker.com has my vote as the favorite search engine for photos. Their free site is user friendly with an abundance of images and good tags. You can also upload your own photos to share and edit.
I searched schoolsclipart.com and found an image that we could use on a poster promoting a young adult bookclub at the library.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Searching #76: Sound Effects
I used FindSounds to find the following animal sounds:
Frogs croaking.
A bellowing cow.
A rooster at the break of dawn.
An a duck.
On SimplytheBestSounds, I found the following three sounds in the public domain:
A drum roll.
Ocean waves.
The sound effect of a plane crash.
Frogs croaking.
A bellowing cow.
A rooster at the break of dawn.
An a duck.
On SimplytheBestSounds, I found the following three sounds in the public domain:
A drum roll.
Ocean waves.
The sound effect of a plane crash.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Searching #75: Google & Beyond
In Blindsearch, I typed 3 queries and voted on the columns that best provided the information I was searching for. I voted for my personal favorite, Google, once and Yahoo! Search twice. I will continue to use Google because I like their format better but may dabble with Yahoo! Search occasionally.
Google scored 64.14% visits as top search engine for the week ending 01/23/2010. Yahoo! Search had 10.84% hits and Bing trailed at 9.34%. The usage statistics match my own personal favorite: GOOGLE.
With Google, I can find almost everything I need, including weather, stock quotes, time in cities around the world, sport scores, unit conversions, people profiles, trip planning, package tracking, patent numbers, area codes, dictionary definitions, spell check, local search for stores, restaurants & businesses, movie showtimes, and health conditions.
Google scored 64.14% visits as top search engine for the week ending 01/23/2010. Yahoo! Search had 10.84% hits and Bing trailed at 9.34%. The usage statistics match my own personal favorite: GOOGLE.
With Google, I can find almost everything I need, including weather, stock quotes, time in cities around the world, sport scores, unit conversions, people profiles, trip planning, package tracking, patent numbers, area codes, dictionary definitions, spell check, local search for stores, restaurants & businesses, movie showtimes, and health conditions.
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