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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WI2023: Booksellers Respond to Book Challenges and Bans

On the closing day of the ABA's Winter Institute 2023, a keynote and idea exchange tackled book banning and other threats to the freedom to read. Stories of outrage were easy to come by, but solutions were in shorter supply. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-27 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #closing day #book challenges #booksellers respond


Do box sets matter in the Spotify era?

Musicians and studios put loads of time and money into special edition commemorative releases, most of which will never be experienced by listeners. From The Velvet Underground to Joni Mitchell, it seems everyone is rolling out a special edition box set these days. Just look at the last few... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-01-28 03:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #hardcover book #early november #joni mitchell


James Baldwin Estate Administrator Eileen Ahearn Dies at 75

A former assistant to Toni Morrison, Ahearn was the steward of Baldwin’s archives and managed the film rights to his books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #film rights #toni morrison


It’s Prince Harry in One Flew Over The Windsors’ Nest. Just pity those he left behind | Marina Hyde

The book is out and as the royal gone awol speaks his truth, you have to ask: if this is Britain’s first family, what are the others like? Day 127 of J.Crew Hamlet and Prince Harry’s memoir has finally dropped. It needed to. I feel like I’ve had babies I’ve been less organised for than this... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-10 12:12:55 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble Opening 30 Stores in 2023, Leading Big Real Estate Wave

Competition from Amazon seems to have ended as Barnes & Noble plans to open more stores in 2023 as part of a real estate expansion wave. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-12-22 16:50:46 UTC ]
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Henry Morrison, Longtime Literary Agent, Dies at 86

The longtime agent of Samuel R. Delany, Dean Koontz, and Robert Ludlum died November 2. He was 86. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-19 05:00:00 UTC ]
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HC Union Update: Authors Co-Host Rally at Harper Headquarters; Agents 'Overwhelmingly' Support Strike

Authors including Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, R. F. Kuang, and Molly McGhee rally with HarperCollins union workers outside the company's headquarters on December 16. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of literary agents responding to a recent poll said they support the ongoing strike. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Addresses Stalled Union Negotiations, Union Responds

In an open letter to agents and authors, CEO Brian Murray wrote that he feels "we owe you a response" and wanted to "share some additional background" about the state of the company's negotiations with its unionized employees. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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More than 150 Literary Agents Sign Letter to Support HarperCollins Workers’ Strike

More than 150 literary agents signed a letter promising to stop submitting new books to HarperCollins to support striking workers. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-30 17:34:23 UTC ]
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PubWest Boot Camp Focuses on Early-Career Networking

Three graduates of the Denver Publishing Institute described their journey in landing jobs in book publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Rights Edition: Bologna Opens Its Agents’ Center to Adult Trade

Bologna Children's Book Fair at 60 makes a major rights-trading change, opening its Agents' Center to adult as well as children's content. The post Rights Edition: Bologna Opens Its Agents’ Center to Adult Trade appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-09 18:33:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #children's book #book fair #rights edition #bologna children #adult trade


Sterling Lord, uniquely enduring literary agent, dies at 102

The uniquely enduring literary agent who worked for years to find a publisher for Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” and over the following decades arranged deals for everyone from true crime writer Joe McGinniss to the creators of the Berenstain Bears has died Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2022-09-04 21:08:59 UTC ]
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This Ohio Librarian Is Seeking to Defeat a Book Banner Where It Counts—at the Ballot Box

With schools and libraries under increasing political pressure, Kathy Zappitello, director of the Conneaut Public Library and the 2022 President of the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, is standing up by standing for public office. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Lit Agents Say S&S Acquisition Would be Bad for Business

A survey released by the Association of American Literary Agents has found that 87% of respondents oppose the acquisition of Simon & Schuster by Penguin Random House, citing, among their chief concerns, that the deal would result in “less competition” for titles and “lower advances.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
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DOJ v PRH: Agents Have Their Say

In a day dominated by testimony from some of publishing's leading agents, the overall theme was that the biggest advance is not the only thing that is important in reaching an agreement with a publisher, and that these agents believe that S&S authors would benefit from becoming part of PRH. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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DOJ v. PRH: Agents, Publishers Move Center Stage

As attorneys for Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster took their turn to defend PRH's purchase of S&S, William Morris Endeavor's Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Gallery publisher Jennifer Bergstrom, and Norton's John Glusman found themselves in the witness chair. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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ALA Responds as Legislation Threatens Librarians for Offering Information on Abortion Services

ALA says it is “developing guidance” for libraries and library workers and working with other organizations to “oppose any efforts to limit access to constitutionally protected information or limit privacy protections” for library users. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Richard Charkin: Dear Literary Agent

Richard Charkin offers 'a heartfelt apology,' writing that he now finds literary agents 'trusted go-betweens and understanding partners.' The post Richard Charkin: Dear Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-10 17:00:17 UTC ]
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Dollars, Cents, and Being Left With the Bill: Jillian Medoff on Breaking Up With Her Literary Agent

In 2008, after 13 years together, my literary agent and I parted ways. (To preserve her anonymity, let’s call her Michael Ovitz.) Between 1995 and 2002, Michael Ovitz sold two of my novels, including my debut, Hunger Point. By any measure, our partnership was a terrific success. Michael Ovitz... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-05 08:53:09 UTC ]
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Stephen King, Andrew Solomon, and a bunch of agents are set to testify in the PRH antitrust trial.

The federal government’s civil suit to block the acquisition of Simon & Schuster by Penguin Random House is chugging along, with the trial set to begin on August 1. Exhibits to the joint pretrial motion, filed July 15, included lists of witnesses for both sides. Witnesses for both sides... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-07-20 16:13:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #penguin random house #simon schuster #federal government #andrew solomon #stephen king