Boot up: responding to Bitcoin, Dropbox v Box, Nest v estate agents, and more

Plus what Windows 9 needs, Network Solutions and the lost art of opting in, Samsung promises Tizen at MWC, and moreA burst of 8 links for you to chew over, as picked by the Technology teamOn the Matter of Why Bitcoin Matters >> The Magazine on MediumGlenn Fleishman responds to Marc Andreesen, who has been talking up the wonders of Bitcoin; Fleishman is less sure, having researched it closely. Bitcoin doesn't eliminate fraudulent transactions; it only eliminates counterfeit payments. This can, of course, save many tens or hundreds of billions of dollars a year globally and translate to more efficiency in commerce. But removing the intermediary also removes recourse outside of courts, and the cost and nature of that can't be determined.Because Bitcoin is like untraceable cash, the process for solving a dispute would likely follow the same rules as for cash. When a transaction occurs over the Internet, the odds of recovering one's Bitcoins when a seller fails to meet his or her obligations is the same as if you'd sent a wad of bills in an envelope through the mail.Battle of the Box >> stratēcheryen Thompson compares Dropbox (consumer-oriented) with Box (enterprise-oriented): Dropbox's model makes sense theoretically, but it ignores the messy reality of actually making money. After all, notably absent from my piece on Business Models for 2014 was consumer software-as-a-service. I'm increasingly convinced that, outside of in-app game purchases, consumers are... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #pinboardto suggest #@gdntech #microsoftapplegooglecharles arthurtheguardian

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LBC boxed set from Penguin

Penguin is releasing a boxed set of its Little Black Classics set (3rd September, £80). The set will include all 80 of the titles that were released in February to celebrate Penguin’s 80th  anniversary, each priced at 80p and comprising of 64 pages. The list featured less well known titles by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #80th anniversary #jane austen


Agent reactions 'depend on author gender', claims writer

US writer Catherine Nichols has revealed that she received eight times as many responses by sending out her manuscript to agents under a man’s name than when sending it out under her own name. In an essay for Jezebel, Nichols said she sent query letters to 50 agents under her own name,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Boots and Amazon strike partnership

Amazon and Boots have struck up a partnership for the cosmetics chain to sell one of the e-commerce giant's e-reading devices and its Fire tablets. Customers are being offered a £5 Amazon gift card as an incentive to buy a Kindle Paperwhite device or Fire tablet from Boots, as part of an Amazon... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #encourage customers #e-commerce giant #e-reading devices #fire tablets #fire tablet #digital reading


How New Dr. Seuss Book Was Discovered in a Box by His Widow

Twenty-four years after the death of classic children's author Dr. Seuss, his hidden manuscript was published today to the delight of fans of all ages. Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2015-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #seuss book #classic children #published today


Oculus founder responds to flak over 'exclusive' games

Oculus VR came under fire last week after its CEO said the company will fund development of about two dozen “Oculus-exclusive” games for its virtual reality headset. The company has now responded to the complaints, saying some of those games may eventually come to other VR platforms.The spat... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #oculus vr


Authors, Booksellers & Agents Call for DoJ to Investigate Amazon

Days before Amazon celebrates its 20th anniversary, Authors United is asking authors to sign a letter to the DoJ for an investigation of Amazon, and ABA submitted a similar request on Monday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors united #investigate amazon #20th anniversary


New Agents & Business Center Comes to Rio’s Bienal do Livro

As part of a joint initiative with the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Bienal do Livro in Rio de Janeiro will host an Agents and Business Center in 2015. The post New Agents & Business Center Comes to Rio’s Bienal do Livro appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #livro appeared #joint initiative #business center


How do I become ... a literary agent

A keen business mind and real commitment to the publishing industry are vital for a job that is all about selling – shy and retiring types need not apply Gordon Wise has been a literary agent at Curtis Brown for 10 years, and has a wide range of clients, from celebrities like Miranda Hart to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #miranda hart #armistead maupin #winding path #barnes noble #small publishers


Time Keeps Ticking: Norm Pearlstine Responds

Time Inc's Chief Content Officer takes exception to the idea that the flagship magazine is struggling. The post Time Keeps Ticking: Norm Pearlstine Responds appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post time #flagship magazine


Why Are There No Literary Agents in the Middle East?

One of the few literary agents focusing on Arabic, Yasmina Jraissati, discusses the non-existent role of the literary agent in the Middle East. The post Why Are There No Literary Agents in the Middle East? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary agents #middle east #literary agent


McKenzie signing for 4th Estate

Fourth Estate has signed a satirical novel by Elizabeth McKenzie for publication in January 2016. Commissioning editor Anna Kelly signed UK and Commonwealth rights to The Portable Veblen in a deal with Anthony Goff at David Higham Associates, on behalf of Emily Forland at Brandt & Hochman.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fourth estate #elizabeth mckenzie #portable veblen #anthony goff #penguin press #collected works


Garnons-Williams moves to 4th Estate

HarperCollins has appointed Helen Garnons-Williams as publishing director of 4th Estate, moving from her role as publishing director at Bloomsbury. Meanwhile, at Bloomsbury, Alexa von Hirschberg has been promoted from commissioning editor to senior fiction editor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #4th estate


Boots partners with NLT

The National Literacy Trust (NLT) has partnered with Boots Opticians with the aim of improving the literacy of the UK’s most disadvantaged children. The partnership, which is motivated by a potential correlation between a child’s vision and literacy, was launched at the Boots Opticians Annual... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #disadvantaged children


Trade responds to EC Digital Single Market proposals

The Booksellers Association has said it hopes the European Commission’s competition inquiry into the e-commerce sector will look specifically at market dominance in ebooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #booksellers association #european commission #e-commerce sector #market dominance


Blues book for Fourth Estate

Fourth Estate has acquired on proposal a book about American blues music by Natasha Peskin. Described as "part travel, part memoir and part oral history", A Soft Place to Lay: Stories of the Blues is inspired by Peskin's solo drive across the USA exploring the history of the music. Louise... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #natasha peskin #fourth estate #part travel #part memoir #soft place #kirsty mclachlan


Fourth Estate signs blues book by Peskin

Fourth Estate has acquired on proposal a book about American blues music that is “part travel, part memoir and part oral history” by Natasha Peskin. Louise Haines at Fourth Estate signed world English language rights to A Soft Place to Lay: Stories of the Blues from Kirsty McLachlan at DGA Ltd. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #natasha peskin #fourth estate #part travel #part memoir #soft place #kirsty mclachlan


A Publishing Manifesto from Mexico’s Match Box Editions

Andrea Fuentes of illustrated books publisher La Caja de Cerillos — Match Box Editions — outlines how she is trying to revolutionize reading in Mexico The post A Publishing Manifesto from Mexico’s Match Box Editions appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Goebbels estate sues Random House Germany

The estate of Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s minister for propaganda during the Second World War, is suing publisher Random House Germany for using an extract from his diaries. The biography Goebbels, published in Germany in 2010 under the Siedler imprint, is by Peter Longerich, professor of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joseph goebbels #adolf hitler #world war #biography goebbels #siedler imprint #peter longerich #random house #cordula schacht


In London, Lit Agents See Action Around LatAm, China, Harper Lee

In the Rights Center of the LBF, literary agents are reporting deals swirling around Latin America, China, and Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman. The post In London, Lit Agents See Action Around LatAm, China, Harper Lee appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee #rights center #literary agents #latin america


Literary Agent Isobel Dixon’s Passions Span Africa and Beyond

Isobel Dixon of the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency has helped bring a wide array of authors to a global audience, including many from South Africa. The post Literary Agent Isobel Dixon’s Passions Span Africa and Beyond appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #isobel dixon #helped bring #wide array #global audience #south africa