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Kobo's 10.3-inch Elipsa is the company's biggest e-reader to date
It's the largest e-reader Kobo has made to date.
My to-read list exploded thanks to free books through the Libby app
Kris Naudus describes how the Libby library app helped restore her sanity during lockdown.
Sonos can now stream free audiobooks from your local library
Sonos users can now borrow and stream audiobooks from their local libraries thanks to the free Libby app.
Korg's DIY headphone amp and overdrive pedal go on sale in February
Korg officially introduced its line of DIY music gear under the Nu:Tekt name in September. Even before it announced the NTS-1 synth, the company had showed off two other devices: a headphone amp and an overdrive pedal. Now that pair is official, and Korg says you'll be able to buy them next month.
Pokémon manga e-books are available in schools and libraries worldwide
Pokémon manga e-books are now available to public libraries and schools worldwide through OverDrive, Inc. Students and library patrons can visit overdrive.com to find a participating library. From there, you'll be able to download Pokémon magna titles published by Viz Media, either on a web browser or via the Libby or Sora apps. Borrowed titles will expire at the end of the lending period, so as an added perk, there are no late fees.
Virgin Mobile USA and Boost take WiMAX live, ship HTC EVO V 4G and EVO Design 4G on May 31
In sync with Sprint's plans to get its sub-brands on 4G using its legacy WiMAX network, both Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile have trotted out their initial 4G lineups. The early Virgin mix includes retreads of two Sprint data-only devices -- a Broadband2Go-badged version of the Sierra Wireless Overdrive Pro 3G/4G hotspot and a matching version of the Franklin U600 previously seen at Clear. Virgin's real star, however, is the HTC EVO V 4G: though it's ultimately the EVO 3D with a slightly more 2D name, it's shipping with Android 4.0 from the start and has HTC's Frankenstein-like Sense 3.6 rather than the 4.0 of the One series. The network upgrade and all three new devices swing into action on May 31, and while your $35 minimum monthly plan will stay in effect even with unlimited on-device 4G, you'll need to spend $300 (contract-free) to take home an EVO V 4G, $150 on the Overdrive Pro or $100 on the U600 stick. Boost Mobile is also going the Sprint rebadge route through the HTC EVO Design 4G. As with its bigger brother over at Virgin, the single-core EVO Design 4G is identical in hardware to its Sprint equivalent but slaps Android 4.0 and Sense 3.6 on top to keep the software fresh. The update does mark the first time a Boost phone gets Visual Voicemail, so you can feel slightly less guilty when you miss a call. HTC's phone will oddly cost the same $300 off-contract as the more advanced EVO V 4G, although Boost is likely counting on customers sticking around long enough for an all-inclusive unlimited plan to drop to $40 per month and make it worthwhile. %Gallery-154875%
Penguin halts over-the-air Kindle borrowing again, this time it's serious
Penguin already signaled it'd stop providing newer titles to OverDrive's lending service, but apart from a temporary interruption last year, Kindle borrowing of older books has escaped largely unscathed. That's no longer the case: as of this month, Penguin says that "eBooks loaned for reading on Kindle devices will need to be downloaded to a computer then transferred to the device over USB." Why add the extra hassle, compared to direct wireless transfer via Amazon's servers? According to Infodocket, Penguin has simply indicated that this form of distribution breached the terms of its agreement with OverDrive. However, the American Library Association (ALA) has a more developed explanation of what's going on in this nascent industry. It says that publishers are worried about the lack of "friction" involved in eBook lending, compared to the effort required to visit a physical library. This, the ALA thinks, is leading to fears that readers will borrow more and buy less. So, perhaps the wireless delivery of borrowed titles to Kindles was just too easy for Penguin's liking?
Penguin catalog marches back into Kindle Library Lending Service, new releases still out in the cold
Following a temporary suspension from Amazon's Kindle Library Lending Service, it appears that Penguin books are now migrating back to digital consumption. If you'll recall, earlier this week Penguin had to address some security issues (details are still in the dark, though) and consequently pulled its newer releases from OverDrive's catalog, as well as blocking Kindle devices from accessing the catalog's remaining Penguin titles. While Kindle access has since been restored, the newer titles "remain unavailable," though Penguin says it hopes to find a solution by the end of the year.
Penguin pulls new e-books from library distributor, citing concerns over security
OverDrive's e-book universe got a little colder this week, thanks to Penguin. Citing "new concerns about the security of our digital editions," Penguin USA temporarily pulled its new titles from the distributor's stable of library e-books yesterday, pending further discussions with its business partners. The publisher didn't offer a concrete reason for its pullout, but issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to its business partners, and reassuring readers that physical copies of its new books will remain available across "libraries everywhere." OverDrive, which powers Amazon's Kindle Library Lending Service, soon issued its own statement, providing more insight into the conflict: Last week Penguin sent notice to OverDrive that it is reviewing terms for library lending of their eBooks. In the interim, OverDrive was instructed to suspend availability of new Penguin eBook titles from our library catalog and disable "Get for Kindle" functionality for all Penguin eBooks. We apologize for this abrupt change in terms from this supplier. We are actively working with Penguin on this issue and are hopeful Penguin will agree to restore access to their new titles and Kindle availability as soon as possible. This kerfuffle hasn't gone over too well with some libraries. In an e-mail sent to the Digital Shift, Cynthia Laino of the C/W Mars Library Consortium lamented the turn of events -- and the fact that her organization was left in the dark. "Neither Penguin nor OverDrive made any sort of announcement to library staff regarding this issue," wrote Laino, whose consortium represents more than 150 libraries across the US. "We have bought many additional copies of our most popular titles simply to meet the increased demand for them once Kindle users were added to our borrowers. We would not have spent the additional funds (thousands of dollars) had we known this issue would arise." Laino went on to express her hope for a quick resolution, suggesting that the involved parties should at least provide some compensation for the sudden withdrawal. We'll be following this story as it develops, and will be sure to bring you the very latest.
Amazon's Kindle Library Lending service rolls in to Seattle, in full beta regalia
Saddle up, kids, because it looks like Amazon's Kindle Library Lending service is inching its way toward launch. According to the Digital Reader, the retailer's OverDrive-powered feature has begun rolling out to two Seattle-area libraries, where some users have already succeeded in downloading e-books from their local repositories. Early testers are also reporting that they've been able to access a wide collection of digitized works using the beta service, with equipped libraries reportedly boasting "thousands" of e-books. Neither Amazon nor Overdrive have formally announced a rollout, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear more. [Thanks, Nathan]
Kindle Library Lending will let you take books out on your e-reader or Kindle app, launching in US this year
We love books. We just don't love carrying more than one of them around. It's great to hear, then, that Amazon has figured out a new Kindle Library Lending feature, which will allow US customers to check the ethereal form of books into their Kindle (all generations are supported) or Kindle app-equipped smartphone or computer. Annotations will be retained, in case you decide to take the book out a second time or purchase it through Amazon, in which case they'll come flooding back in like fond memories of a good read. The service matches Sony's similar ebook library checkout offering, which is no coincidence as it's powered by the same company, OverDrive. It's set to launch later this year and you can read more about it in the press release after the break.
Sprint announces Overdrive Pro 3G / 4G mobile hotspot router, available on March 20th
Road warriors riding the Sprint WiMAX truck will be pleased to know that there's a new mobile hotspot device in the house. Dubbed the Overdrive Pro 3G / 4G, users can now simultaneously connect up to eight devices -- as opposed to just five previously -- to the mobile web via this little 802.11n router from Sierra Wireless. Better yet, Sprint has halved the price for this new model to $49.99 after a $50 rebate with a two year $50 service agreement, yet you still get the usual goodies like microSD expansion and built-in GPS support to boot. You can pick one up at Sprint stores starting on March 20th, but of course, the previous Overdrive is probably sufficient for most humble uses, anyway. [Thanks, r0fl]
OverDrive Media Console app for iOS now features free e-book downloads
OverDrive, a digital media company that specializes in digital content distribution, has recently announced an update to its Media Console for iOS. As well as giving you access to audiobooks from something like 13,000 libraries and educational institutions the world o'er, the new app offers -- wait for it -- free e-book downloads! Free app, free e-books (as long as you have a library card, of course), and access to the world's great literature: it doesn't get much better than that, does it? Hit the source link to try it for yourself. We suggest that you start with Under The Volcano -- we always thought you looked drank like a young Malcolm Lowry.
Best Buy offering free mobile hotspots with iPad purchase
Planning to pay Verizon an extra $130 for an iPad + MiFi 2200 bundle? Hold on a sec, because Best Buy's planning to give away hotspots free of charge when you purchase Apple's tablet. This advertisement, obtained by 9to5 Mac, does mention that you'll need to shackle yourself to a carrier for two years to qualify -- unlike Verizon's original arrangement -- but in exchange you get a free Verizon FiveSpot, AT&T MiFi, or perhaps most excitingly, a WiMax-capable Sprint Overdrive. Fine print in the lower-right hand corner suggests that the promo will begin immediately and run through January 2nd. What better way to spend your leftover Hanukkah gelt than on gigabytes of wireless data?
TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: Choosing the right iPad for you
Welcome to the TUAW Holiday Gift Guide! We've sorted the treasure from the junk and are serving up suggestions to make your holiday gift-giving a little easier. Are you planning on purchasing an iPad for someone else (or for yourself) this Christmas? First, congratulations on your taste, discernment and generosity. Second, you're probably asking yourself "Which iPad should I buy?" and "How much is my spouse/friend/gift recipient going to love me now?" With only six variants on the basic theme, there aren't a lot of different choices. Still, you'll want to make sure that you answer these two questions: Do you or the recipient of the iPad need 3G wireless? How much storage do you need in the iPad? Follow along as I take you through some simple questions. Answering them will help you make your buying decision. For some of you, this may already seem like a simple choice, but there may be more factors going into the decision than you think.
Sprint CEO thanks iPad for uptick in Overdrive demand
Well, wouldn't you know it? Seems that tongue-in-cheek marketing campaign may actually be working. Way back in April of this year, Sprint decided it would begin offering its own iPad case, despite the fact that even today the iPad isn't sold in Sprint stores. The reason? It's the perfect opportunity to push the Overdrive, a 4G mobile hotspot that's able to take the iPad (and any other WiFi-enabled device) to 4G speeds where available. In a recent interview with GigaOM, the carrier's CEO (Dan Hesse) confirmed that most iPads being sold are of the WiFi variety, and due to that, "the company has seen an uptick in demand for its Overdrive (3G/4G) wireless-hotspot device, as people use it to connect their iPads to the Internet when on the go." He failed to exaggerate on actual numbers, but it's obvious he's in favor of Apple's darling tablet selling like hotcakes -- after all, how else are you going to get an iDevice into 4G territory?
How the iPad is benefiting Sprint's mobile broadband sales
Sprint recently noticed an increase in sales of its Overdrive (3g/4g) MiFi wireless hotspot, and it seems the iPad is behind it all. In an interview with GigaOM, Sprint's chief executive officer, Dan Hesse, noted that most iPads sold are Wi-Fi only. Since their introduction, his company has seen an increase in sales of the Overdrive. When asked about the iPhone, Hess refused comment, stating that Sprint policy is to refrain from commenting on its relationship with vendors. He also noted that Sprint is banking its future on great customer experience, a simple value proposition and finally the actual devices (in that order). Currently, Sprint is carrying BlackBerry and Android phones, while arch-rival Verizon is almost a lock to be selling the iPhone next year. Meanwhile, Verizon is addressing the iPad-plus-hotspot trend directly by offering iPad/MiFi bundles in its retail stores. For those who want to support an iPad in addition to a few other devices, it's not a bad way to go.
TWC rebadges Sprint Overdrive, offers it as IntelliGo mobile 3G / 4G hotspot
And then, there were three. Three ways to snag an Overdrive, that is. Months after Sprint issued the original 3G / 4G mobile hotspot, Clear came along and introduced a rebadged version of the same thing. Now, Time Warner Cable (who is also in cahoots with Sprint and Clear) is following suit by tossing its logo on the all-too-familiar device and christening it the IntelliGo. Functionally, it's the same as ever -- there's a built-in battery that'll provide 3G / 4G mobile internet to a smattering (read: five) of nearby devices via WiFi, a microSD slot and USB connectivity. The difference here, though, is that it'll run you $49.99 on a two-year contract, and the fee will "vary by region." Speaking of regions, it'll be available wherever Road Runner Mobile is offered, which means Texas, North Carolina, Hawaii and Kansas City for now.
Clearwire intros new WiMAX mobile hotspots, Mac-friendly 3G / 4G USB WWAN modem
Lookin' for yet another avenue to hop on the 4G superhighway? Fret not, as Clearwire has just doled out a trio of new products intended to help you do just that. Prior to today, you had only a smattering of options to actually tap into Clear's WiMAX network, but the Clear Spot 4G (WiMAX only), Clear Spot 4G+ (dual-mode with 3G / 4G support) and Clear 4G+ Mobile USB stick have all arrived to give choosy moms more choices. The prior two are simply mobile broadband hotspots (think MiFi, but for 4G), with the 4G+ offering support for Sprint's 3G network if you happen to leave one of those few WiMAX zones already lit. The USB stick is particularly interesting, as it's the first dual-mode device hawked by Clear that's fully compatible with Apple OS X. The Clear Spot 4G will be made by InfoMark and available to purchase for $99.99 next month; those who hate committing can also lease one for $4.99 per month. The Sierra Wireless-built Spot 4G+ (a rebadged Overdrive; shown left) demands a hefty premium for that 3G support, with an MSRP of $224.99 (or least for $5.99 per month) and a similar July ship date. The 4G+ Mobile USB stick (shown right) will support OS X 10.5.x and 10.6.x (along with Windows, of course), and can be snapped up today for $114.99 or leased monthly for $5.99. Head on past the break if you're thirsty for more. %Gallery-95571%
Sprint giving away iPad cases at select Best Buy stores
Sprint does not carry the iPad, but they will give you a way to carry your iPad. Select Best Buy stores (a big box store here in the US) will be giving away those Sprint iPad cases that just happen to have a little pocket that's perfect for holding an Overdrive 3G/4G hotspot. Sprint expects to give away 10,000 cases before the promotion ends, so check to see if your local store has any. Sprint has been indirectly courting iPhone and iPad customers for a while now. Back in March, an Overdrive ad featured an IPhone, along with some talk about its superior 4G speed (where available). Additionally, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse recently compared the iPhone to a certain sports legend: "...you can almost put the iPhone, to be fair, in a separate category," he told Charlie Rose. "The Apple brand and that device have done so well, it's almost not... it's like comparing someone to Michael Jordan." While early adopters are limited to Wi-Fi Internet access with their iPads, they can upgrade when the 3G models come out or, Sprint hopes, add an Overdrive to their lineup and share a single, go-anywhere connection with several devices. If you snag a free case, let us know.