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Reddit published some of its best AMAs in a book
Have you enjoyed Reddit's Ask Me Anything sessions so thoroughly that you want a physical collection to cherish for posterity? Well, like it or not, it's here. Reddit has published the first book anthologizing the site's many celebrity Q&A chats, including those with Bill Gates, Bette Midler and Spike Lee. There's even artwork and introductions from redditors, just to lend it that community-made flair.
Barnes and Noble's Galaxy Tab E Nook is yet another tablet for readers
If you're a fan of Barnes & Noble's Nook line of e-readers and tablets, there's a new option to tempt you this fall. The Galaxy Tab E Nook is a 9.6-inch slate that offers all of the perks of the bookseller's digital library in a Samsung package. While the front features a familiar-looking Galaxy design, the back is covered in "a non-slip fabric-like material" to ensure you're able to keep a good grip during long reads. Inside, there's 16GB of built-in storage that's expandable to 128GB via mircoSD to store your books and other items. Unfortunately, storage is about the only info on the gadget's internals the announcement reveals. Like previous Nook by Samsung releases, this one is more than just an e-reader, allowing you to watch movies, stream TV shows and browse the web with Android apps.
E-book sales dip, but is print really making a comeback?
We've all heard "print is dead" a few (hundred) times before, but it looks like print is still kickin'. In fact, it could be making a bit of a comeback. The Association of American Publishers, using collected data from around 1,200 publishers, found that e-book sales dropped 10 percent during the first five months of 2015. The reason? Signs point to a lot of folks being "hybrid readers" these days, opting for a mix of print and digital over one or the other. E-reader sales have also been on the downswing for quite a while. For example, Forrester Research says 12 million of the dedicated reading devices were sold last year -- that's down from 20 million in 2011. Of course, Amazon just announced a $50 tablet that'll offer easy access to its library, but it also packs in some core slate features. It also looks like those Netflix-like e-book subscription services, like Oyster, didn't catch on like companies had hoped.
ASUS's affordable 2-in-1 with reversible USB 3.1 is now on sale
If you're looking for a cheap laptop that converts into a tablet, now's a good time to buy. Following models from Toshiba and Lenovo, ASUS's convertible Transformer Book T100HA and reversible Transformer Book Flip TP200SA are now on sale. The 10.1-inch, 1,280 x 800 touchscreen T100HA model has one neat trick: Type-C USB 3.1, thanks to the Intel Cherry Trail CPU. It also has 12 hours of battery life, 4GB of RAM, 64GB expandable eMMC storage, 5-megapixel rear/2-megapixel front cameras and 1.28 pounds (pad-only) and 2.32 pounds (combined) weight. That makes it similar to the Toshiba model, but for a bit less cash ($299 instead of $349).
Steven Spielberg will direct the 'Ready Player One' movie
If you read through Ready Player One and thought its virtual gaming world deserved a first-class movie adaptation, you may just get your wish. Deadline has revealed that Steven Spielberg will direct the big screen version of Ernest Cline's novel for Warner Bros., with both the author and The Avengers writer Zak Penn producing the most recent script. That's promising stuff, although there are quite a few challenges if it's going to be faithful to the book -- it may need a lot of visual effects wizardry to make people suspend their disbelief, and the pop culture references could make for some problematic rights issues. Provided everything goes according to plan, though, the book is going to get much, much more than just a quick cash-in. [Image credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images]
'Harry Potter' comes to Oyster's all-you-can-read book service
If you're the sort of Harry Potter fan who can't help but read the series again and again, Oyster has a treat in store. The all-you-can-read subscription service has teamed up with Pottermore to carry all of the Harry Potter books, including the Hogwarts Library collection. There's even a little treat the first time you start reading -- rather than pick from one of the humdrum standard themes, you choose your favorite Hogwarts house (Slytherin, obviously). You probably don't want to sign up for Oyster's $10 a month service just for the sake of reliving Harry's school years, but it's potentially cheaper than purchasing the series on top of a slew of other books.
Self-destructing book gives you 24 hours to finish reading
Think you're pretty good at speed-reading? You now have a chance to prove it. As part of a publicity stunt, author James Patterson is giving away 1,000 self-destructing digital advance copies of his latest novel, Private Vegas. If you score one, you have 24 hours to finish the entire book before the text vanishes forever. And if that's just not risky enough, Patterson is selling a real self-destructing copy (for a whopping $294,038) that includes a dedicated bomb squad, among other creature comforts. There are likely much better ways to spend six digits in record time, but it'll probably be the most exciting reading experience you ever have -- no matter how good the story might be.
Today is the last day to order iPhoto book's before Christmas
If you wanted to order a book of your photos through iPhoto this holiday season, today is the last day to so before the cut off. Customers who purchase a iPhoto book today, December 17, will need to pay express shipping in order to get their book by the 24. Users can create bound books, calendars, and postcards of their photos from within the iPhoto app by clicking the "share" button at the bottom right of their screen. You're on a deadline for the this year, so if you want that last minute collection of photos for grandma you better get busy. Time is running out.
The Daily Grind: Do you read gaming-related novels?
No, not the novels posted in our comments. Actual novels. Literary and pulp fiction! Gamasutra recently ran an article chronicling an author's attempt to publish and market a book aimed squarely at gamers. The writer ran into difficulties, however, because of the publishing industry's insistence that "gamers don't read books." He got his book published, but when marketing fell to him, he couldn't convince gaming outlets to cover it, and even though reviews were positive, sales were poor. Major MMOs like The Elder Scrolls Online, World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2, and Star Wars: The Old Republic all released lore-oriented novels, but my suspicion is that such books are made to sell games, not to sell books. What do you think -- do you actually buy and read gaming-related novels? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Gro Book knows no bounds
Educate children about the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle with Gro Book, a US$3.99 universal book app about making responsible choices. Imaginative stories are told, in 24 different ways, by Sophie the Sweater, in this wonderfully illustrated and voiced app. Readers are treated to a choose-your-own-adventure style of story telling when the story reaches a part where they are asked to make a choice that will ultimately decide the fate of Sophie the Sweater as well as her adventures. How many different uses are there for an ordinary sweater? You'll have to tap and read along to find out! Settings include the ability to toggle text and narration on or off. Read it out loud or listen to a pleasantly narrated voice with a broad range of characters to keep it interesting. Gro Book is rated for children ages four and up. Just like Sophie the Sweater, this app can be "altered" to make it more versatile. Turn narration and text off for younger readers to make it a wordless picture book where they can tell the story. Turn text on, but leave narration off to help build literacy skills for older readers. Younger children may have the tendency to choose the same character over and over and then get bored with the story, so a little guidance may help in the beginning. There are many interesting characters from which to choose in the course of exploring this book. Kids become more engaged in the learning process when they are given choices, so play it up. If the choice is made to put Sophie the Sweater into the garbage, the reader can go back and make a different, more responsible choice. Gro Book's specs even keep up with the theme of reduce, reuse, recycle because as a universal app, it is compatible with iOS 4.3 or later meaning it will run on older, re-purposed devices while still being optimized for iPhone 5. Instead of leaving that old iPod touch to die in a forgotten drawer somewhere, install this book on it for a young reader to enjoy. Gro Book will grow on you and make you think twice about throwing things away. What can you re-purpose around your home? Be sure to check out Gro Play's range of eco-educational apps including Gro Garden.
Tomb Raider novel trots the globe in October
With not one but two new Tomb Raider games announced during E3 this year, Lara Croft is already awfully busy, but not so busy that she can't star in a new novel. Coming from DK Publishing and written by Dan Abnett and Nik Vincent, Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals will arrive in October. The novel takes place immediately following 2013's Tomb Raider, and it sees Lara dealing with the aftermath of her ordeal on Yamatai. More pressingly, Lara is "plunged into a frantic race to save her best friend Sam from a toxic overdose," which she hopes to cure with an ancient artifact instead of, you know, medicine. As a bonus, the artifact could "possibly help explain the supernatural events she witnessed on Yamatai." Naturally, Lara isn't the only one after the artifact – she'll also have to deal with "a nefarious magnate, a shadow society, and lethal henchmen." What's the deal with archaeologists and nefarious magnates, anyway? As for the meaning behind the subtitle, The Ten Thousand Immortals, the announcement offers no hints. Something to do with China's famous Terracotta Army, perhaps?
Amazon steps up pressure on Hachette for better e-book pricing
For months, Amazon has been applying relatively subtle pressure on Hachette an apparent bid to get better pricing on e-books; unnecessary shipping delays and reduced discounts on paper books have been common. Well, it's not subtle any more. The company has started pulling pre-orders for Hachette titles, either listing them as "unavailable" or removing product pages outright. The dispute leaves many caught in the crossfire -- authors lose revenue, while customers have to track down smaller stores that will take advance purchases.
Next 33 1/3 volume to analyze Super Mario Bros' soundtrack
Publisher Bloomsbury announced that the next volume in its 33 1/3 book series will focus on Koji Kondo's iconic soundtrack for Nintendo's landmark 1985 platformer Super Mario Bros. Launched in 2003, the 33 1/3 series provides critical analysis of historically significant music albums, with past volumes featuring The Pixies' Doolittle, My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, and Led Zeppelin's IV. The upcoming Super Mario Bros. book marks the first time the series has studied a video game soundtrack. Written by Maestro Mario: How Nintendo Transformed Videogame Music into an Art author Andrew Schartmann, 33 1/3: Super Mario Bros. will explore how composer Koji Kondo "put to rest an era of bleeps and bloops -- the sterile products of a lab environment -- replacing it with one in which game sounds constituted a legitimate form of artistic expression." 33 1/3: Super Mario Bros. will launch in May 2015. [Image: Nintendo]
Read up on how Sega tried to out-cool Nintendo in the '90s
While many of us could tell the story of Nintendo vs Sega to our grandchildren as though it were an actual battle, sometimes it's best to look at things through another's more impartial eyes. Thankfully, author Blake J. Harris has documented the fight between Sega and Nintendo in his book Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation, available starting today. There's plenty of insider information and interviews with high-level executives detailing Sega's uphill battle against its infamous rival, and Harris himself analyzes the situation as one similar to a children's tale. "A central thesis of the book is the story of the tortoise and the hare," Harris told the BBC. "Sega came on the scene and were very flashy - they certainly put an emphasis on style. Nintendo was more focused on gameplay, game development and less so on marketing." The book has already been greenlit for a film adaptation produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who give the book's foreword. Rogen and Goldberg most recently produced the film Neighbors, as well as last year's This Is The End. [Image: Sega]
This book sharpens knives, seasons steaks and serves dinner
You could pen a grilling cookbook when promoting a line of kitchenware, or you could make one that actually offered the tools needed to prep a meal. Creative studio JWT Brazil did just that for client Tramontina, constructing Biblia Definitiva Do Churrasco -- or for us English speakers, The Bible of Barbecue. During the culinary process, sheets are removed from the book to complete the requisite steps, each piece donning its own unique typographic treatment. There's a sheet of charcoal that's broken up for fuel, a fire starter page, sharpening stone, apron and more. The wood cover doubles at cutting board and a placemat, serving tray and kitchen towel to tidy up are all tucked to get the results to the table. Only a handful of these were released to "master barbecue chefs," but thankfully a simplified version is slated for future release. Our brief description doesn't really do it justice, so jump down after the break to witness the full deconstruction.
Help fund an oral history of EVE Online
Andrew Groen, a games journalist whose work has appeared on such prestigious outlets as Wired and Ars Technica, wants to demystify CCP Games' epic space opera EVE Online, and he needs your help to do it. For the past six months, Groen has been gathering information and conducting interviews with EVE's most prominent community members, with the goal of compiling his research into a lengthy account of the past decade of EVE Online's existence. For most, EVE Online is a game that only registers when word spreads of a massive space battle or a particularly dramatic bit of interstellar intrigue leads to the loss of thousands of real-world dollars, but Groen hopes to crack open the game's thorny exterior and make it more accessible to the average person, while also building the first detailed history of the virtual universe. "I'm writing this because there is simply no way for people to learn the history of EVE, and it's getting more difficult every day," Groen writes. Those worried that Groen's book will be a long-form fluff piece devoted to making the game and developer CCP Games look good should rest easy. Groen claims to have spoken to CCP, and the studio agrees that it should have no oversight over his work. Of course, that also means that CCP will not be funding this book, so Groen has turned to the online masses for the $12,500 he requires to complete the project. Though the fundraiser launched just this morning, Groen has already attracted plenty of support, which bodes well for the success of the tome. For more information and to toss money into the ever-expanding pot, pay a visit to Kickstarter. [Image: CCP Games]
James Frey and Google team up to fuse interactive teen novels with AR games
We knew Google's Niantic Labs was planning to use its Ingress tech to power other augmented reality games, but we didn't expect this. In an announcement today, Niantic announced it has teamed up with publisher HarperCollins to create a location-based game for ENDGAME, a new book trilogy for young adults by bestselling authors James Frey (of A Million Little Pieces fame) and Nils Johnson-Shelton that has already been optioned by Twentieth Century Fox. Niantic will play a significant part in the interactive project, which is lovingly referred to as an "innovative omni-platform endeavor," by developing a virtual-meets-real-world game that allows mobile users to solve virtual puzzles to advance parts of the story. Google's involvement doesn't end there, either. The company has secured the rights to exclusively distribute six of 15 original e-books on the Play Store and will also use YouTube videos, search and image results and maps to build the story, mirroring elements of Niantic's Ingress campaigns. So when can we expect the project to bear fruit? HarperCollins says the first first book in the trilogy, ENDGAME: THE CALLING (yes, it appears someone's Caps Lock got stuck), will be published on October 7th, along with Niantic's official iOS and Android games. To mark the occasion, gamers will be asked to solve a virtual puzzle to claim a quantity of gold secured inside a bulletproof glass case. If that's got you excited, there is a catch -- the case is on public display and Google plans to stream the event live on YouTube.
Sega Genesis art book does what Nintendon't, triples funding goal
Fans of Blast Processing, rejoice: A 300-page retrospective on the sorely-missed Sega Genesis (aka Mega Drive) console has met its Kickstarter funding goal, then blown right past it. Officially given the lengthy title "SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works," the book is officially sanctioned by Sega and serves as a 25th anniversary celebration of the Genesis' release. Inside the thick tome, you'll find pre-release artwork, American and Japanese design concepts for the console itself, and new interviews with some of the key figures responsible for creating the machine that spawned Sonic The Hedgehog. There's even coverage of the Activator, a fighting game peripheral that you younger readers can best imagine as the Kinect's less intelligent, awkward, vaguely functional cousin. As of now, the countdown clock on the SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works Kickstarter campaign shows three hours remaining. Despite this, the book has already raised £94,840 of its £30,000 goal. Expect news on when this book will come available to the public shortly after the clock hits zero.
Capcom 30th Anniversary Encyclopedia now on Amazon
Those who didn't grab Capcom 30th Anniversary Character Encyclopedia at its New York Comic Con debut can breathe a sigh of relief: If you've got $11, you can now grab a copy at Amazon. For that money (less than half of what the book was going for at Comic Con), you'll receive a 208-page, full-color, hardcover tome filled with artwork and character profiles drawn from the last 30 years of Capcom games. Obviously you'll see Ryu, Mega Man and Capcom's other poster children among the 200 characters detailed in the book, but there are also more esoteric entries which exist purely to fill in minor bits of backstory and to give devoted Capcom geeks a wry smile of vague recognition. You can find more information on the Encyclopedia at Capcom Unity, but please ignore the part about an Amazon Prime discount. Whether you're a member of that service or not, the Encyclopedia will set you back $10.39.
World of Warcraft Tribute by UDON now available
World of Warcraft Tribute, a 224-page monster of an art book by Blizzard Entertainment and UDON is now available for purchase. The book showcases Warcraft art by both Blizzard artists and Warcraft fans alike, featuring pieces by Samwise Didier and Arnold Tsang as well as a ton of other notable fan artists -- you may recall Blizzard's call for fan submissions earlier this year. Over 200 illustrations are featured in the deluxe softcover edition, all paying homage to World of Warcraft through gorgeous illustrations depicting some of the most notable characters and places in Azeroth. You can order your copy of this gorgeous book on either Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $32.30 USD -- it would also make a great holiday gift for Warcraft fans as well. In addition, Blizzard has made new desktop wallpapers from several of the illustrations available for free on the website -- don't forget to check those out as well!
