The trend toward more ereader features seems to undermine the simplicity of reading
(radar.oreilly.com): In a recent post for Gear Diary, Douglas Moran bemoaned the direction technological "advancements" are taking ereader apps and devices. As examples, he compared the original Barnes & Noble eReader (which he liked) to its replacement, the Nook app (which "kinda stinks"). Moran and others noted the simplicity of… Read More
Google should be regulated, says survey
(theage.com): Nearly two-thirds of Australians believe internet search engine Google should be subject to government regulation on issues such as personal privacy. While people overwhelmingly (84 per cent) have a positive view of Google, and most (58 per cent) say it does not have too much power, polling by opinion… Read More
Three Fundamental Misunderstandings About Open Access
(openaccess.eprints.org): What is self-archived in institutional open access repositories is quality-controlled, peer-reviewed final drafts of journal articles, immediately upon acceptance for publication. This is what is meant by "green open access." The reason green open access self-archiving of peer-reviewed journal articles is growing too slowly is very simple - It… Read More
U.S. Census Bureau to Eliminate Strategic Publications Including Statistical Abstracts
(newsbreaks.infotoday.com): Last month, the Census Bureau released its budget estimates to Congress for FY2012 requesting $1 billion for discretionary spending. Responding to the Administration’s request that all Agencies “curb non-essential administrative spending” and “seek ways to improve the efficiency of programs without reducing their effectiveness,” this is 16% below the… Read More
Knowledge, Networks and Nations: Global Scientific Collaboration in the 21st Century
(royalsociety.org): The Royal Society has launched a major new study which will attempt to answer these questions. Knowledge, Networks and Nations, in co-operation with Elsevier, will map and analyse where, why and by whom science is being carried out around the world, and how this is changing. It will examine… Read More
Why iPads Will Beat E-Readers
(pcworld.com): As the market moves from paper to a primarily electronic medium, a new generation of authors will rethink what it means to write a book, and come up with ways to take advantage of the iPad's capabilities. iPads may give e-readers more of a challenge than marketers think. The… Read More
Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing — Authors Now Call the Shots
(scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org): Last week, two potentially watershed events occurred — one best-selling author refused an advance of $500,000 in order to self-publish his next two novels, while a self-published author who has made more than $2 million so far decided to accept her first traditional publishing contract. It’s tempting to view… Read More
Research Practices: Is an Overhaul Overdue?
(mdnews.com): Scientists, journals, the media and public need to reassess how studies are conducted, published and promoted, say University of Michigan physicians in Journal of American Medicine Association (JAMA) commentary. A commentary published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on March 23, 2011, calls for changes throughout the… Read More
Burgeoning eReader and Tablet Sales Hurt PC Manufacturers
(pdfdevices.com): Sales of tablets and eReaders have doubled and tripled in 2010. While this has worked great for Apple, Samsung, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, the spiraling sales have dampened the hopes of PC manufacturers. Asus, that had earlier estimated a 3% increase in PC sales in Q1 has revised… Read More
Only 4 per cent of Canadians willing to pay for news online: study
(theglobeandmail.com): Only four per cent of Canadians said they'd be willing to pay for news online, according to a study by the Canadian Media Research Consortium, which also suggests Canadians have not been keen to pay for much digital content at all. Another 15 per cent of the 1,682 adults… Read More
