Saturday, 04 July, 2009

1. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @08:33am:

   I was still toying with the idea of getting one for my grandmother this coming birthday. Not any more.
2. By Curtis. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @10:18am:

   Having talked on the phone with Amazon over the fake links I found in Michael Connelly's latest book (yep, they are easily reached by Kindle owners on the phone), I found that it was the publisher who has placed the links in Connelly's book with the author's blessing.
   
   I emailed a protest to the publisher and author.
   
   I wonder if this patent would ever be put into development and use by Amazon? I doubt it if only because publishers control their content, but if the adds are for further content from the same publisher, I can see it being possible.
   
   That would insane on Amazon's part. But the fake links in Connelly from the publisher make me freaking mad.
   
   Bis - I would still get your grandma a Kindle - it truly is a great device for old folks who may have trouble still reading paper books. On the other hand, if she doesn't want to purchase books wirelessly, a Sony e-Reader is an excellent alternative.
3. By Curtis. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @10:19am:

   ads, I mean...
4. By kashmarek. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @10:23am:

   One has to question the relevance of words used in out of print books, to any kind of product marketing today. Nothing in those books, except maybe sex, relates to anything marketed today.
   
   This may be an intellectual property roadblock patent, to prevent others from actually doing this. The actual referenced entry on Slashdot pointed out that this patent addresses marketing based on content of old or out-of-print e-books. See the Slashdot entry (you may have to view older Slashdot pages to find it).
5. By . Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @11:17am:

   I thought

   on-demand printed content

   meant the paper books that bookstores are now supposed to be able to print out on well, demand. Are you sure these ads are designed for the Kindle?
6. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @11:38am:

   "on demand" from "the customer", i.e. the advertiser paying for the ads.
7. By . Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @02:34pm:

   Bisbonian, grandmothers don't have forever to wait for better and better technology to come along. If she has trouble reading because of poor eyesight, which you've mentioned before, and she loves to read - for Heaven's sake, get her a Kindle so she can do something she really enjoys again. If it turns out that the Kindle isn't perfect, or a better type of reader comes out next year, or it winds up costing a monthly fee to get good reading material - so what? That's the way everything goes nowadays. It would be a great kindness to give her something that would fill her days with the joy of reading.
8. By . Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @03:23pm:

   Mary.... if she is tech savy the Kindle would help. My granny was intimidated with tech and wouldn't have used it. A bi-weekly visit to the library for Large Print books usually kept her supplied and engaged in the world at large.
9. By . Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @03:41pm:

   Spokane Mary is right. And if you don't want to go for a Kindle, look into audiobooks. I get free, public domain ones from Librivox.org, and more recent ones from my public library. Lots of them come in .mp3 format, so you can load them onto an inexpensive player for her.
10. By Curtis. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @05:42pm:

    Re: Kindle for the aging -- I have a major problem with hand numbness because of my stupid back -- I think this is probably a problem for a lot of people as they get older. That's the main reason I got a Kindle and it has really made it a non-issue for me.
    
    The Kindle is a major part of dealing positively with my chronic nerve pain (and without using medication).
11. By . Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @06:12pm:

    Curtis... How so?
12. By Curtis. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @06:28pm:

    The first Kindle is only eight ounces and easily held in one hand or even set down while reading.
13. By . Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @06:43pm:

    It seems like a ridiculously obvious idea - why is it patentable? Who has the patnet for painting advertising on the side of a bus or building?
14. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @06:45pm:

    My granny was intimidated with tech and wouldn't have used it. A bi-weekly visit to the library for Large Print books usually kept her supplied and engaged in the world at large.

    
    
    That's my fear. My sister got her a laptop a few years ago. Put color coded stickers on the buttons she needed to use to get it going, and get email. It gathers dust.
15. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @06:46pm:

    Oh, and the point is...something else to bring ads to her? Just that much more likely to gather dust.
16. By Volt. Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @06:46pm:

    I'm going to patent greed and sue all of them.
17. By . Comment posted 04-Jul-2009 @08:51pm:

    Curtis.... okay that makes sense. I didn't realize they were so light.
18. By Volt. Comment posted 05-Jul-2009 @08:55am:

    I read the actual patent and I believe it is an e-book variation on the way media content is largely funded anyway.
    
    We have always seen ads on TV, especially broadcast; ads in magazines and newspapers; and ads on the Internet. I don't mind ads if because of them I don't have to pay for content.
    
    Similarly, I don’t mind ads if because of them the Kindle content is free or very cheap, even though I find the Kindle screen doesn’t leave enough room for content to be useful, even without the ads.
    
    What worries me is this patent basically deeds a longstanding, ubiquitous advertising concept to the patent holders. Will they be seeking stifling royalties?

Original content © 2010, John Walkenbach