Will Form Follow Function?
Will e-book readers lead to a new form of expression? Should they even bother trying to mimic the paper and ink format they’re replacing?
The Impact Factor: A Tool from a Bygone Era?
With scientific information propagating in new ways, is the Impact Factor measuring what it was intended to measure?
The Freedom of Not Owning Books
Thinking about the Kindle as an e-book reader rather than a wireless reader makes you miss some of the benefits of not owning books.
More Kindle Limitations Discovered
Two new undocumented DRM limitations make the Kindle a less appealing device.
Two-Up Publishing & the Erosion of Print
The ACS’ new “rotated and condensed” printing model will give readers a new angle on print.
The Kindle DX — First Impressions
The DX, while too expensive, is a very good large-format e-reader with a lot of possibilities for publishers, not the least of which is PDF support.
Book Buying Habits — Evolving and Online
Bowker summarizes book shopping and purchasing habits for 2008 in a nice slideshow. Surprises? Females, seniors, and the Internet’s role.
The Tip of an Iceberg?
The Bentham experiment suggests that a poorly managed payment system may be the root of a larger problem emerging in academic publishing.
Bing and Wave: New Technologies with Different Aims
Two new technologies are introduced, with very different scope and aims. As publishers, we need to think more like Wave and less like Bing.
Publishers and the Future of Reading
The book may only be a part of the future of reading. Will publishers be only a part of it, too?
Two Thoughts After the SSP Annual Meeting
Two long thoughts after the SSP Annual Meeting — about whether science is truly salvation, and reflecting on why non-expert information can be vital to an accurate scholarly record.
E-reading in Academia
E-reading is gaining acceptance, but multi-purpose devices hold a strong advantage.
The Real-Time Web Emerges
The “Now Web” has emerged as a major alternative for users. Google is watching it, and you should be, too.
“Star Trek” Bashed as “Fun, Watchable”
“The Onion” continues to skewer many things scholarly publishers probably like, including President Obama and “Star Trek.” Join us for a few Friday laughs.
Traditional Books Become the Minority
Books made the traditional way accounted for less than 50% of US book production in 2008. Has the sea change come?