Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized A kit-based 3D printer that is raising funding for production, and $450 gets you a complete tested 3D printer. Granted, you need a PC with a parallel port to use it (got one of those laying around?) and it works with very unfriendly software. But it’s a viable printer, and it doesn’t get any cheaper than this. Post author By Release_Candidate Post date November 15, 2011 No Comments on A kit-based 3D printer that is raising funding for production, and $450 gets you a complete tested 3D printer. Granted, you need a PC with a parallel port to use it (got one of those laying around?) and it works with very unfriendly software. But it’s a viable printer, and it doesn’t get any cheaper than this. SeeMeCNC H-1: 3D Printing for under $500 Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized Personal robots are on the way, gang. Post author By Release_Candidate Post date November 10, 2011 No Comments on Personal robots are on the way, gang. The Droid I’m Looking For: The OLogic AMP Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized B&N isn’t taking the Amazon Kindle Fire sitting down. Not only are they announcing a new Nook Tablet, but they are cutting the price on both the Nook Color and the Touch. They are also adding significant content (Hulu plus, pandora, other music streaming) to the Color. Gonna be an interesting holiday season for these things. Post author By Release_Candidate Post date November 4, 2011 No Comments on B&N isn’t taking the Amazon Kindle Fire sitting down. Not only are they announcing a new Nook Tablet, but they are cutting the price on both the Nook Color and the Touch. They are also adding significant content (Hulu plus, pandora, other music streaming) to the Color. Gonna be an interesting holiday season for these things. B&N launching Nook Tablet for $249 on November 16th Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Kindle is set to launch its own lending library this Thursday, without the support of any of the Big 6 Publishers (Hachette, Harper-Collins, McMillan, Penguin, Random House, and Simon & Schuster). Very, very interesting, but incredibly limited. It’s a foot in the door. Limiting it to just native Kindles is brilliant marketing. The new program, called Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, cannot be accessed via apps on other devices, which means it won’t work on Apple Inc.’s iPad or iPhone, even though people can read Kindle books on both devices. This restriction is intended to drive Kindle device sales, says Amazon. The program, which is effective Thursday, comes a few weeks before Amazon ships the Kindle Fire tablet on Nov. 15, which is a direct competitor with the iPad. Post author By Release_Candidate Post date November 2, 2011 No Comments on The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Kindle is set to launch its own lending library this Thursday, without the support of any of the Big 6 Publishers (Hachette, Harper-Collins, McMillan, Penguin, Random House, and Simon & Schuster). Very, very interesting, but incredibly limited. It’s a foot in the door. Limiting it to just native Kindles is brilliant marketing. The new program, called Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, cannot be accessed via apps on other devices, which means it won’t work on Apple Inc.’s iPad or iPhone, even though people can read Kindle books on both devices. This restriction is intended to drive Kindle device sales, says Amazon. The program, which is effective Thursday, comes a few weeks before Amazon ships the Kindle Fire tablet on Nov. 15, which is a direct competitor with the iPad. Amazon Launching E-Book Lending Library – WSJ.com Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized Good: A really thorough examination of copyright and books. Bad: The _only_ mention of libraries is the DPLA project. Ugly: The author perspective he gets is Ursula Le Guin, not exactly the most balanced of voices on this subject. Would love to have had a counterpoint to her POV in the the form of one of the usual suspects (Doctorow et al). Post author By Release_Candidate Post date November 1, 2011 No Comments on Good: A really thorough examination of copyright and books. Bad: The _only_ mention of libraries is the DPLA project. Ugly: The author perspective he gets is Ursula Le Guin, not exactly the most balanced of voices on this subject. Would love to have had a counterpoint to her POV in the the form of one of the usual suspects (Doctorow et al). One Google Books To Rule Them All? Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized Google is now providing resources to help you mobilize your website. Post author By Release_Candidate Post date November 1, 2011 No Comments on Google is now providing resources to help you mobilize your website. GoMo: An Initiative From Google Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized I’m often accused of being an Apple apologist or fanboy. Truth is, I really like Android for the most part…but here’s why you won’t see me buying an Android phone. understatementblog: The announcement that Nexus One users won’t be getting upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich led some to justifiably question Google’s support of their devices. I look at it a little differently: Nexus One owners are lucky. I’ve been researching the history of OS updates on Android phones… Post author By Release_Candidate Post date October 28, 2011 No Comments on I’m often accused of being an Apple apologist or fanboy. Truth is, I really like Android for the most part…but here’s why you won’t see me buying an Android phone. understatementblog: The announcement that Nexus One users won’t be getting upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich led some to justifiably question Google’s support of their devices. I look at it a little differently: Nexus One owners are lucky. I’ve been researching the history of OS updates on Android phones… Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized Ars Technica on the Kindle/Overdrive experience. Two best quotes: “To see what’s available, visit your library’s website, which will likely display an obvious link to the OverDrive eMediaLibrary. Login to the system, usually by entering details like a library card number and PIN code, and you’ll find a website straight out of 2002.” and they clearly see what the future may bring: “For Amazon, this looks only like a first step. While the arrangement helps Amazon move more Kindle hardware and sell some books (checked-out books can easily be purchased for those who want permanent access), a far more compelling product might come from Amazon itself rather than a local library: pay a yearly fee and get access to millions of Kindle-ready books. Not surprisingly, Amazon is working on exactly this idea (and it already rents textbooks).” Post author By Release_Candidate Post date October 10, 2011 No Comments on Ars Technica on the Kindle/Overdrive experience. Two best quotes: “To see what’s available, visit your library’s website, which will likely display an obvious link to the OverDrive eMediaLibrary. Login to the system, usually by entering details like a library card number and PIN code, and you’ll find a website straight out of 2002.” and they clearly see what the future may bring: “For Amazon, this looks only like a first step. While the arrangement helps Amazon move more Kindle hardware and sell some books (checked-out books can easily be purchased for those who want permanent access), a far more compelling product might come from Amazon itself rather than a local library: pay a yearly fee and get access to millions of Kindle-ready books. Not surprisingly, Amazon is working on exactly this idea (and it already rents textbooks).” Ars Technica on Kindle/Overdrive Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized Developers are really starting to show off their HTML5 chops these days, and Google is clearly a leader in this area. If you are a Google Music Beta user, but prefer iOS to Android, you’ve been suffering with a lack of good integration with the service. This still isn’t the level that Android phones get, but it’s a really nicely done HTML5 app that shows off how much you can do in the browser these days. Post author By Release_Candidate Post date September 30, 2011 No Comments on Developers are really starting to show off their HTML5 chops these days, and Google is clearly a leader in this area. If you are a Google Music Beta user, but prefer iOS to Android, you’ve been suffering with a lack of good integration with the service. This still isn’t the level that Android phones get, but it’s a really nicely done HTML5 app that shows off how much you can do in the browser these days. Google Music Beta releases mobile web app for iOS Tags Release_Candidate
Categories Release_Candidate Uncategorized Origo is a company who’s developing an extruded-plastic 3D printer that’s easy enough for kids to use. As they say on their site: “Right now, I am just an idea. I will be as easy to use as an Xbox or Wii. I’ll be as big as three Xbox 360’s and as expensive as 3 Xbox 360’s. I will sit on your desk and quietly build your ideas, drawings and dreams. There are other 3D printers. But none will be as easy to use as I will. None will be as reliable or work as hard for you. I’m not a kit or an industrial machine. I’m not complicated. I’m an appliance, like a toaster or a microwave. Only I’m purple and make your stuff.” Post author By Release_Candidate Post date September 20, 2011 No Comments on Origo is a company who’s developing an extruded-plastic 3D printer that’s easy enough for kids to use. As they say on their site: “Right now, I am just an idea. I will be as easy to use as an Xbox or Wii. I’ll be as big as three Xbox 360’s and as expensive as 3 Xbox 360’s. I will sit on your desk and quietly build your ideas, drawings and dreams. There are other 3D printers. But none will be as easy to use as I will. None will be as reliable or work as hard for you. I’m not a kit or an industrial machine. I’m not complicated. I’m an appliance, like a toaster or a microwave. Only I’m purple and make your stuff.” Origo: a 3D printer for ten year olds Tags Release_Candidate