The Scholarly Kitchen Turns Two!
The Scholarly Kitchen turns two! Thanks for reading and commenting. We have some surprises coming later this year.
Why the iPad Marks the End of Price Controls for eBooks—and Why Publishers Have Lost
Publishers may have won the pricing war, but the real struggle is now on for users’ attention. Because the iPad is not a dedicated e-book reader there are, unfortunately, many things that users can do with the device other than read books. Unlike the Kindle, where publishers have the device all to themselves iPad users will be able to surf the Web, play games, watch movies, view their photo collections, listen to music, watch TV, send e-mail, work on a presentation, or access over one hundred thousand applications that do any number of distracting things.
Distribution Doesn’t Matter? Content Vessels Are Irrelevant? Device Makers and Broadband Providers Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank
Information wants to be free? Then why are expenditures for information skyrocketing? Maybe the pendulum has swung back to “information wants to be expensive.”
Are Google and Microsoft Squaring Off Over Public Domain Works?
Why Google apparently gives government documents more protections than 19th century texts is just one of the puzzles in their usage guidelines.
The “Fear the Boom and Bust” Rap — Who Said Economics Can’t Be Fun?
Keynes and Hayek debate their approaches and theories around boom-and-bust economics, in a rap number that’s making the rounds.
The Steve Jobs Commencement Address
This week’s Friday fun — Steve Jobs’ commencement address at Stanford. An inspiring message from one of our true luminaries of innovation.
The Republic of Letters, Visualized as Social Networks
Predating journals, a social network of scholars known as the Republic of Letters generated many breakthroughs. Now, their social networks, as represented by their letters, are being mapped.
The Age of Systems Is Dawning — How Can Information Providers Respond?
Publishers and librarians are creatures of the Information Age. How can they cope with the coming Systems Age?
Top 5 Trends of 2009 — Harbingers of Things to Come
As 2009 ends, its trends will propel change into 2010 and beyond.
Some Memorable Dishes from the Kitchen in 2009
As 2009 comes to an end, here is a selection of entries that left an especially nice flavor on the palette.
The Expense of Online? We’re Still Coping With the Internet’s Early Compromises
What early design compromises in building the Internet are still with us today? How does it add expense to running sites? Can we upgrade an entire planet?
Abbott & Costello in the Modern Era — An Update on “Who’s On First”
If Abbott & Costello were around today, they’d have a great time talking tech. Here’s how it might go.
How Many Books Dance on the Head of an e-Pin?
Can the model used in the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records be extended to embrace e-works? Or should it be trimmed instead?
A One-Graphic Thermometer for the Economic Slowdown
When money is treated as materials rather than a rate of activity, GDP can quickly freeze, as this graphic shows.
Thriving in the Age of the Informavore
The accelerated, real-time Web has some people worried about its cultural effects. Given the alternatives, I’ll take it.