So Charlie Stross posted an interesting "PSA" on his blog about why the middle book of his six(!) book series "The Merchants War" isn't available in an e-book edition like the other five. He points to a three year gap between Tor's first and second attempts to enter the digital book market, caused by their parent company.
Quick aside - I own half of this series in the tree pulp version, and am a huge Stross fan. It's so great to read SF books where the science is IT, and I can actually follow it. Most of SF-dom involves theoretical physics and advanced math requirements, which I figured out 20 years ago I could happily live without, and I'll skim pages of that crap to stick with the story.
I have my own theory on how Tor's gap happened, and here's what I posted:
My guess is "internal policy reasons... of Tor's parent corporate multinational" was an objection to e-book prices that properly reflected production costs compared to paperbacks and hardbacks.
Amazon deserves huge credit for getting the delivery model perfected after years of industry failure (including Apple) so that e-books and e-readers finally took off. Tor.com has provided us with the highest quality and most active SF site for readers I've seen. But Baen has the only really customer-friendly business model for e-books from a "big" SF publishing house.
With Webscription, lower production costs = lower retail price = more sales, and everyone wins. Hate DRM? Once you've purchased an e-book from Baen, assuming the digital rights don't expire or aren't withdrawn (looking at you Tor), you can re-download in a new format compatible with your new device. I've moved from Palm to HP to Nokia to my current iPhone and Kindle with no issues.
E-books haven't been popular long enough for everyone to really notice one more benefit - there's no economic reason for e-books to fall out of publication. One of the posters a few weeks back referred to Heinlein's "Take Back Your Government", which is out of print publication. No "photocopy" needed, go get the e-book on Baen. It only sells 10 copies this month? Who cares - the cost to maintain that database entry on the website is negligible.
How do you compete with "free" in a digital world? Content quality with value-adds (such as an instant delivery method) at prices that compare favorably with the labor required to pirate. DRM in e-book publishing is simply a technological effort by a naturally conservative industry to artificially maintain historical retail price levels in a digital system with drastically reduced real production costs. (Say that 3 times fast!) As the cost, ease, and availability of the technological tools to "rip" your own e-books proliferate, the publishing industry had better wake up to the lessons of the music industry. DRM doesn't prevent piracy, business models do.
9.19.2010
Apple design
An interesting article on Core77 made me think about Apple's unique design relationship with aftermarket vendors. http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/aftermarket_designers_seem_to_love_undoing_apples_minimalism_17419.asp
Here's what I wrote:
The design aesthetic for Apple devices intentionally invites customization and this is part of the reason for their salability. Ford was an autocrat who famously said purchasers could have their automobile "in any color as long as it was black", but he made his sales because of his price. Apple products never make their sales on price. They make them through miraculous UI and appealing to the senses of a wide range of users.
Everyone can learn to use the iPhone 4 (including my 60's technophobe mother) and everyone can morph it into the product that makes them comfortable. Minimalism? No problem. Super safe? Add an Otterbox. Pink? Worn on the neck? At the gym? On a plane? Everyone likes green eggs and ham once they try it and they don't go back to other products because they can turn it into the product they would have designed easily. It's brilliant and it makes money.
Now I have some issues with the censoriousness of the App Store but we've shown that we'll live with anything for the illusion of safety (what was your last airport experience like?) so it's not surprising that in the long run it doesn't matter to most of us. Bravo Apple! Love it or hate it, there's no one else like it.
-- Post From My iPhone (no less)
Here's what I wrote:
The design aesthetic for Apple devices intentionally invites customization and this is part of the reason for their salability. Ford was an autocrat who famously said purchasers could have their automobile "in any color as long as it was black", but he made his sales because of his price. Apple products never make their sales on price. They make them through miraculous UI and appealing to the senses of a wide range of users.
Everyone can learn to use the iPhone 4 (including my 60's technophobe mother) and everyone can morph it into the product that makes them comfortable. Minimalism? No problem. Super safe? Add an Otterbox. Pink? Worn on the neck? At the gym? On a plane? Everyone likes green eggs and ham once they try it and they don't go back to other products because they can turn it into the product they would have designed easily. It's brilliant and it makes money.
Now I have some issues with the censoriousness of the App Store but we've shown that we'll live with anything for the illusion of safety (what was your last airport experience like?) so it's not surprising that in the long run it doesn't matter to most of us. Bravo Apple! Love it or hate it, there's no one else like it.
-- Post From My iPhone (no less)
7.18.2010
Perspective
I'm in my office, and my 10-year-old daughter is behind me on her laptop. It's a nice quiet Sunday, and everyone is happily entertaining themselves. So I was quite surprised when she suddenly said "I love my job!" with a pleased little sigh. "Job? What job?" I immediately ask. "Oh, my game", she replies.
You can't argue with that.
You can't argue with that.
7.02.2010
My first iPhone movie!
We were trying for the Three Little Monkeys, but I think we only managed the Three Little Hangovers. . .
6.29.2010
The Problem With Settling - Reviews of some cheap/not-so-cheap iPhone 4 cases
There aren't many iPhone 4 cases on the market yet, but here's my informal review of 3 cases and 1 screen protector.
I snagged the aptly named Speck Black/Grey Candy Shell case on release day. Well padded for possible drops, but just too much lovehandle for My Lean Baby - it blocked the MP3 line-in on my stereo. It took 10 minutes of intense wiggling to squeeze my poor iPhone back out of its girdle, and I immediately vowed, "Never again!" As a stopgap measure, I've stuck on a pair of Zagg Invisible Shields. (My brilliant comment to the AT&T sales clerk: "$29.99? Really?!? That's a ridiculous price! Fine! Mumble, mumble, mumble.") Verdict: improves grip-ability, but I suck at putting these on, and the two microscopic specks of dirt stuck under the plastic annoy me every time I run my finger across them (yes, that's about once every 30 seconds).
I now handle my iPhone 4 like nitroglycerine.
My husband grabbed the Incipio Silicylic Yellow Gel/Shell Combo case. A self-diagnosed klutz, he assumed that acrylic plus gel was the perfect protection scheme. (Even despite the fact that its dayglo shade of yellow - which shall henceforth be known as "Danger Will Robinson! Yellow!" - blinded all around him.) He took it home, put it on, and immediately decided it felt too flimsy. Back it went to the AT&T store. He then stopped in at Best Buy and bought the plain Rocketfish Mobile case in red. Cheap, adequate protection until something better comes along. (Is this an inherent male attitude?)
All was well until we went on our cave tour this weekend, when he finally learned the dangers of "settling". (Hah!) Guess what you need to use when taking photographs in a cave? That's right Class, a camera flash! Despite the cutout not covering the flash in any manner, it still reflected enough color to ruin his photos.
For comparison, here's a photo I took in the cave using flash without the Dread Red Case:
So, now he gets my (not yet returned) Speck, the Rocketfish hits the garbage can, and it's back on the search for decent cases. With 1.7 million iPhones sold, here's hoping the good case manufacturers manage to get their products to market soon!! I miss my Seidio Innocase II
and belt holster immensely.
I snagged the aptly named Speck Black/Grey Candy Shell case on release day. Well padded for possible drops, but just too much lovehandle for My Lean Baby - it blocked the MP3 line-in on my stereo. It took 10 minutes of intense wiggling to squeeze my poor iPhone back out of its girdle, and I immediately vowed, "Never again!" As a stopgap measure, I've stuck on a pair of Zagg Invisible Shields. (My brilliant comment to the AT&T sales clerk: "$29.99? Really?!? That's a ridiculous price! Fine! Mumble, mumble, mumble.") Verdict: improves grip-ability, but I suck at putting these on, and the two microscopic specks of dirt stuck under the plastic annoy me every time I run my finger across them (yes, that's about once every 30 seconds).
I now handle my iPhone 4 like nitroglycerine.
My husband grabbed the Incipio Silicylic Yellow Gel/Shell Combo case. A self-diagnosed klutz, he assumed that acrylic plus gel was the perfect protection scheme. (Even despite the fact that its dayglo shade of yellow - which shall henceforth be known as "Danger Will Robinson! Yellow!" - blinded all around him.) He took it home, put it on, and immediately decided it felt too flimsy. Back it went to the AT&T store. He then stopped in at Best Buy and bought the plain Rocketfish Mobile case in red. Cheap, adequate protection until something better comes along. (Is this an inherent male attitude?)
All was well until we went on our cave tour this weekend, when he finally learned the dangers of "settling". (Hah!) Guess what you need to use when taking photographs in a cave? That's right Class, a camera flash! Despite the cutout not covering the flash in any manner, it still reflected enough color to ruin his photos.
For comparison, here's a photo I took in the cave using flash without the Dread Red Case:
So, now he gets my (not yet returned) Speck, the Rocketfish hits the garbage can, and it's back on the search for decent cases. With 1.7 million iPhones sold, here's hoping the good case manufacturers manage to get their products to market soon!! I miss my Seidio Innocase II
and belt holster immensely.
AT&T Really Needs to Work on Their Order Database
I've had my phone a week. AT&T emailed me today:
We are working hard to fulfill your order as soon as possible. Due to the extraordinary demand for the iPhone your order is not yet available for shipment. Reservations are processed in the order that they are received. Thank you for your patience.
Check the status of your order at any time at our website by clicking here or by calling our automated system at 877-782-8870.
Sincerely,
AT&T
6.27.2010
Sichuan Garden, Round Rock, Texas
Had lunch at Sichuan Garden today. It's always a treat to have real Chinese. We stopped in around 3:00 p.m., so absolutely no one but us was there! Service was (understandably) good, although they had trouble understanding when I asked if they could give us an orange or apple for (our overly picky and not hungry) Number One Son. He avoided scurvy and starvation via apple juice, instead. In his favor, our waiter helped me learn to pronounce the Chinese word on my fortune cookie at the end of our meal. I can now call loudly for wine the next time I decide to get drunk in China - Jui! Jui!
The hubby had promised the kids "meat on a stick", so we had the the Fried Dumplings and Beef Stick appetizers. Not bad, but not great. The mu shu pork filling was good, but we had to fold the pancakes ourselves (not my best talent), and they tore easily as they hadn't been steamed. I'll follow along with the rest of Yelp and give two big thumbs up to the House Special Crispy Spicy Chicken. The hubby avoids bell peppers as they easily irritate his stomach, but he couldn't stop sneaking bites. Number One Daughter highly recommends the non-spicy beef noodle soup - as the name escapes me, and is missing from the online menu, I can only tell you it was item D8. She asked on the way out if we could eat here again on our next trip through. Generous portions, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 entree soup, 1 soda, 1 juice - $40, very reasonable. We'll be back!
The hubby had promised the kids "meat on a stick", so we had the the Fried Dumplings and Beef Stick appetizers. Not bad, but not great. The mu shu pork filling was good, but we had to fold the pancakes ourselves (not my best talent), and they tore easily as they hadn't been steamed. I'll follow along with the rest of Yelp and give two big thumbs up to the House Special Crispy Spicy Chicken. The hubby avoids bell peppers as they easily irritate his stomach, but he couldn't stop sneaking bites. Number One Daughter highly recommends the non-spicy beef noodle soup - as the name escapes me, and is missing from the online menu, I can only tell you it was item D8. She asked on the way out if we could eat here again on our next trip through. Generous portions, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 entree soup, 1 soda, 1 juice - $40, very reasonable. We'll be back!