Watch the universe grow in this side by side split screen of creation verses evolution. Regardless of which side of the screen you see as “right”, it is a neat little movie.

Does this solve my Library Problem? It is worth a read as a lot of effort went into this.

Since the release of the Amazon Kindle and my initial thoughts, there has been a lot more said about the device, from news sources to tech sites, to geeks on parade.

I think overall, my impressions have not changed one bit. It is still over priced, it is still locked into proprietary formats, and it is still not a book. That last one will never change. But a few items that I like about what Amazon has done.

• The auto-download of periodicals is nice. And yes, it is cheaper and more environmentally sound that the “dead tree” editions. BUT, you can get most , if not all, of the content on the respective periodicals websites for free.
• The download locker idea is great and something Amazon has always done. You download a book, and for some reason you erase it. No problem, Amazon keeps a record and you can redownload it right away, any time.

This could go one of two ways. It could be like the iPod. Prior to the iPod, with its tightly integrated software and store, MP3 players were around (like eBook readers) but they were very fringe and only had a small following. Apple introduces the complete package and the market blows up over time. Can the Kindle do the same thing? I am not sure. One difference that is apparent to me is that I can transfer my existing CDs to my iPod, can’t do that with my books. Plus, Apple has always been design kings and dealing with delivery of content was secondary (though integral) to the iPod success. Amazon has been masters of delivery but design of user interfaces or devices , well, they have never done that. And if their website is any indication of what usability is, we are in trouble.

The other direction is a very cool idea; that it will become a very expensive paper weight.

The one thing I could see happen is that Amazon would become the eBook provider for all of the next generation of eBook readers. They have always been a content deliverer, not the context. It is odd too, their take on music downloads is the complete opposite. MP3 ’s without DRM that will work on any portable or device out there, verses their book approach, which is locked and proprietary.

Of course the cost and tight integration would change and I think that one-click idea is what they are hoping makes this work.

Only time will tell. I still think eBooks are great for Textbooks and manuals. But for my novel of choice, I still like “dead trees”.

BTW - Amazon claims the Kindle sold out its intial run in 5.5 hours. I am not sure if that is demand (OMG I HAVE TO HAVE ONE) or supply ( we have 19 Kindles, - OOPS! SOLD OUT! - LOOK how awesome it is!)

So now Amazon has a gadget that is an eBook reader that is suppossed to fix the eBook “problem”. No PC needed, not connection, etc. It piggybacks on Sprints network and downloads stuff wirelessly and most ebooks are $9.99 or less.

AND it is “bargain priced” at $399.

Check out their pages about it. You might feel so cool looking at a cutting edge device that I think is stupid.

Why stupid? Well lots of reasons. Let’s start with eBooks in general.

• Format: they deliver them in a proprietary format that only works on the Kindle. So unlike my dated BOOK which I can lend or sell or trade, this HAS to be read on my Kindle.
• Reading is HARD on a screen : I know this used eInk (or something dumb like that) to make it more book-like, well I have something that is even MORE book like - it is called a BOOK
• People like books: People LIKE books. They like the feel of a cover and the paper, the cover flaps with info the art of “how much more is left” by feeling the number and thickness of pages left
• ebooks are good for 2 things: textbooks and manuals. and the funny part - most people PRINT them out.

And now onto the PRICE!!

• $399!! - I can get a bargain basement laptop for that can do A LOT more, including reading eBooks
• So after my $400 investment, I need to pay $10 a book. So how many real books do I need to buy before the cost balances out?

The big reasons why “book technology” has worked so well for the last 500 years is cost and portability. The problem I have as a whole with digital media (be it music, video, books, etc) is ownership. With the ancient physical media I owned a licensed copy that I can sell, trade, read, or use in any compliant device (cd player/turntable for music - my eyeballs and brain for reading). Until the formats become unlocked from the devices, they will never gain permanent traction. Ask yourself why MP3 is the default choice for sound files? Quality? File size? No - there are other formats that do that better. It is that it is the format that is most portable. Any device that does not play MP3 is doomed (Sony tried this - and the devices failed miserably)

The Nerdworld blog over at time says pretty much the same thing (using much better phrasing)

Tesla wins

Gonna try one of these multi-item posts out

Coolest Homepage ever?

In my daily web stumbling I came across this very cool, very Web 2.0, very iPhone-esque homepage. It called Symbaloo (I guess it was the 9th or 10th suggested name from the registrar). It has all sorts of cool button things built in that load content into the center area. It is great for searchs - as that is what most of them load. I found it to be relatively quick and the firefox extension is nice so you can browse to any page, click the icon, and add a page to your symbaloo. I am test driving it for a week or so.

Meet the New boss, Same as the Old Boss

Starting December 1 my “office” is having its reporting lines change. What does this mean for me? I move to a new office (which is pretty nice, but not as HUGE as my current one). It also means a new bossman. My current boss is great and I have interacted with my new boss very readily and he is accessible and very human. I am concern about the change as I have my independent nation status now that I am loosing. As a result though I do get to be part of a larger group that will have significantly more pull to get things to happen (aka MONEY).

Book Reviews…..you write them anymore?

So there is a glaring lack of book reviews on Zogworld. Why - because I am trying to move to a new system for entering and tracking them. Ok, that is not the only excuse. It is the one I am using right now to explain my lack of writing them. Soon, and I will have a cool Book Review section as a result. It is awesome in my mind! Let’s see if my hands can produce that awesomeness.

Wordpress Plugin: Homebrew 0.1

I am writing and working on my very first wordpress plugin. It is for my brother and will allow a cataloging and indexing of homebrewed beers he has created. Ultimately I will release it to the masses and see what happens. It would be cool if it actually gets some adaption. I wrote an archive script for Blogger about 3 years ago and it was used (or at least downloaded) about 1000 times. I still keep it up here in case a Blogger person wants to grab it.

AND didn’t you have a birthday and a get together or something…

YES - I did have a birthday and a celebration at Victory Brew pub. A slightly smaller turn out that years past but I think that worked out for the best. I had a really great time and am really glad all those could make it. I received some wonderful gifts, some of which I will tell you about in review form soon (beers, books and music - oh my!)

I meant to post this some time ago. Joel sent me the link to this cool Discworld reading guide. It will help layout how the whole of the series comes together. I have said this before, you can actually read them in nearly any order but references to some other items may not be as funny or obvious. I use the analogy of watching Star Trek. You can watch one episode and really enjoy the story, or watch the series and get the small details and over-arching story references.

I need to get outside.

What CAN’T Beer do?!!

• Build a beer-battery.
• Geeks Test Beer as a CPU Coolant. Surprising Results: Computers Love Beer

Beer is awesomeness.

Rocket-Powered 21-Foot-Long X-Wing Model Actually Flies! With Built-in R2-D2 UPDATE: Video of the X-Wing launching and quickly blowing up.