If you still read dead tree books and need a way to mark your page that’s a little more fun than traditional bookmarkers, you might like the FingerPrint Bookmark Band. It’s a silicone rubber band with a molded finger that will point to a specific sentence. They are available in assorted colors. The only problem is that they are crazy expensive at $6.88 for just one band. If the price doesn’t scare you away, you can grab one at Amazon.

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous, News

Tagged: Books

Bookmarker that points the way originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 12, 2011 at 5:01 pm.

With the advent of computer e Readers, Kindle and Nook, it would seem as though the book in audio form would be obsolete.   I’ve never been a big fan of audio books.  I like the idea a lot because it makes literature in all forms available to the visually impaired, it’s an interesting way to pass time on long trips and it’s something to listen to if you are forced to stay in one place for any period of time.  Many audio books are read by entertaining performers who do all the voices and generally make it an interesting listen. 

The Simply Audio Books enterprise follows the same path as NetFlix; you pay a monthly fee based on how many books a month you wish to rent, go online and browse titles, select the titles for your online “bookshelf”, (much like the NetFlix queue) and from that, Simply Audio mails the titles to your home.   The titles are in CD format but unlike NetFlix, there is more than one CD. Depending on the book, there are as many as four.  Instead of flat red envelopes, small blue boxes containing the audio books on CDs are mailed.  Because of the weight, it takes a little longer for the titles to get to you by mail than a movie DVD  would.

I requested two titles from Simply Audio:  “How to Talk to a Liberal; If You Must” by Ann Coulter (read by the author) and “Rebecca” by Daphne duMaurier  read (in the abridged format) by Emma Fielding.  I do not know if “How to Talk to a Liberal” is abridged since I have never read the physical book.   But the only audio version I could get of “Rebecca” was abridged.  I’m not fond of abridged books. I don’t see the point.   Still, I believe there should be an option between abridged and unabridged versions of the same title which Simply Audio does not appear to offer.

Simply Audio does keep up to date with all the new releases despite the fact that their “Most Requested” fiction title is “Honeymoon” by James Patterson which was published in 2005.  The new tell-all “Oprah” by Kitty Kelly is now listed as available.  The service also boasts an impressive genre list :  even certain cookbooks.  The basic fee for one title at a time is $17.98 a month or for $180.00, which is annual fee and works out to a less expensive $15.00 a month.  The fee goes up the more books at a time that you request.  If this is your only method or means of reading, this fee beats purchasing the audio books in stores certainly.  Simply Audio also offers an Mp3 download as well which is iPod compatible but that is an additional amount per month starting at $13.00.

Simply Audio has a pretty generic website that can be a bit confusing if you’re still new to computer websites and there is a demographic that is still computer shy that would utilize an audio book service. In addition,  The site offers samples of the books but many of the selections do not have samples available and the three familiar books I clicked on had the wrong passages in their samples. Simply Audio can boast a  customer service department that is unbelievably friendly.  The customer service at Simpy Audio is such a stark contrast to most customer service call centers in their friendliness and representative knowledge of the product that it is almost ridiculous. In my opinion, every customer service rep should take a page out of Simply Audio’s book.  (No pun intended)

As for recommending this service, I have reservations at this moment.  I know that there is a niche, a certain demographic that is probably very grateful for this kind of rental service and I admit that it probably fills a great need.  I am a brand new Nook owner and I am enjoying it immensely so this service would not fill a need for me at this time.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Miscellaneous, Reviews

Tagged: Books

Simply AudioBooks Audio Book Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 6, 2010 at 10:42 am.

Do you need a little help with your Palm Pre Smartphone? Palm Pre Made Simple by Gary Mazo might be just the thing for you. This 348 page paperback book has hidden secrets and useful tricks for Windows and Mac owning Palm Pre users. More details after the jump.

ORMOND BEACH, FLORIDA –Friday, October 30, 2009

Made Simple Learning co-authors are proud to announce the release of the printed (soft-cover) version of their newest book: Palm® Pre™ Made Simple.

This book joins more than 10 other best-selling Smartphone books in the “Made Simple” series.  Like all our books, it is written in plain English, loaded with comprehensive explanations, hidden secrets, and useful tips.  With almost 350 pages and more than 1,000 carefully annotated screen shots, this book is a “must-have” for any Palm® Pre™ user.

The Printed Book is available now at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439255245?ie=UTF8&tag=madesimplear-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1439255245 for just $18.99.

The Electronic Book version is available now for $12.95 at http://www.madesimplelearning.com/bbms_palm_pre_webos_training.shtml

Martin Trautschold and co-author Gary Mazo, once again have collaborated to produce the “definitive” guide for the Palm® Pre™ which includes the latest Software Features and update process.

This guide book helps both Windows™ and Apple Mac™ users with all aspects of the Palm® Pre™.

Comprehensive: This book has over 1,000 screen shots that are carefully annotated to show the reader step-by-step instructions.  Everything is written in plain English and includes steps on how to do just about anything with the Palm® Pre™.

Learn about Palm’s Synergy™ syncing service

Save time by using tips and tricks such as Copy & Paste

Some of the highlights include:

• Manage your busy life with your New Palm Pre(tm).
• Merge all your contact information with Synergy(tm).
• Sync to and Wirelessly Update Contacts and Calendar to Google, facebook, LinkedIn.
• Multi-Task Effortlessly with Card View.
• Unleash the Media possibilities of your Pre with YouTube(tm), Pandora(r), and More.
• Save Time with Copy / Paste, Universal Search.
• Both Windows(tm) and Mac(tm) Support.
• Get the most from Music, Videos & Pictures.
• Sync Music Playlists and Videos using iTunes(r) and doubleTwist™.
• Email, Phone, Calendar and Browser Tips and Tricks.
• Create Ringtones & Wallpapers.
• Use Google Maps to Find Just About Anything!
• Learn how to Download Apps via Palm’s App Catalog and Learn about Homebrew Apps.
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Network Setup & Security.
• Learn about Homebrew Apps – Dieter Bohn, Editor-in-Chief, Smartphone Experts

About Made Simple Learning
We are a Smartphone Training Firm with a passion for making Smartphone learning that meets the needs of busy users.  We realize that most Smartphone owners are short on time, highly mobile and learn at their own pace.  This is why we created our training books to be easy to read in ‘short chunks’ and our video library to be short (3-5 minutes long), fully keyword searchable, and above all, engaging so our customers keep coming back for more.  Our Development Team has over 12,000 hours of experience working with Smartphones (BlackBerry, iPhone, Palm Pre and others).    Our clients range across industries and across the globe from Fortune 500 companies, Federal, State and Local Government organizations, Public and Private School Districts, Law Firms, Small and Large Non-Profits, and Small to Mid-Size Businesses of all types.

NOTE:  Made Simple Learning  is an independent source of training for the Apple(r) iPhone, Palm(r) Pre(tm), BlackBerry® Smartphones and is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, Apple Computer, Research In Motion, Ltd. or Palm, Inc. who owns their respective brands, trademarks, and intellectual property.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Books, Palm OS related, Palm pre

Book – Palm Pre Made Simple originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 31, 2009 at 10:11 am.

Tikatok is an online book community where kids write, illustrate and publish their very own books. The site provides easy-to-use Web tools so that any child can become a published author and turn his story ideas into real books and incorporate his very own artwork as illustrations. Children can then take their book and share it online with friends, embed it in a blog, post it to a Book Club, or publish it as a real, professionally-bound hard or soft-cover book to give as a present or keep on their bookshelves. Registering and creating books online is free; ordering printed copies is approximately $20.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Books, Kids, Spotlight Gadgets, Writing

Does your child have an idea for a book? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2009 at 12:02 pm.

This site might be interesting to those of you that still prefer physical books to ebooks. Bookins is a website where you can trade books and DVDs with other readers. Bookins arranges the trades from you to one member and from a third member back to you, and so on. You never have to contact anyone, waste time, or deal with unpleasantness. You don’t even have to visit the post office. The correct postage for your shipment is provided from the website. Bookins also guarantees that you will receive quality items or you will be reimbursed.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Books, Gear Diary

Swap books and DVDs at Bookins.com originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 5, 2009 at 10:55 pm.

Dave Rees and I were chatting the other day about how we would each like to write a book at some point in the future (the very near future for me – I hope). The conversation turned to selling these books and Dave suggested going the electronic distribution path instead of the traditional forest killing print route. Now while I’m definitely a tree hugger, I am not so sure I would want to go that way. At least not anytime soon. Even though I don’t often read printed books anymore (which I realize makes me a hypocrite), the whole eBook movement is still very much in its infancy. That means if a person were to offer their work only in eBook format, that not as many people would see it. This is especially true for me, because I want to write a children’s book. An eBook for adults has the potential to do OK, but one for kids would probably not do as well. With the advent of the Amazon Kindle and now the new larger format DX aimed at the education market, this all might change soon.

I wonder just how many young people out there are currently reading eBooks and to what degree. How old are they and what reader are they using? And for you adults, would you or have you purchased a book that was only available in electronic format?

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Books, ebook, Gear Diary

Do your kids read eBooks? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 25, 2009 at 1:36 pm.