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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Obituary: U.K. Literary Agent Felicity Bryan

Felicity Bryan, founder of Felicity Bryan Associates and one of Britain’s most respected literary agents, died June 21 of cancer. She was 74. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Poetry Foundation Responds to Criticism, Pledges Action

The staff and board of the Poetry Foundation said in an open letter that they are committed to "ongoing action in response to the call to dismantle white supremacy." The pledge came after an open letter highly critical of the Foundation's past treatment of marginalized was released and led to... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Moomins Meet a Real-Estate Developer, and Outrage Ensues

The children’s book characters have become embroiled in a dispute about the redevelopment of a beloved Finnish landmark. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-06-12 12:30:06 UTC ]
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Fourth Estate to publish Mantel's contributions to LRB

Fourth Estate is publishing Mantel Pieces, a collection of writing by Hilary Mantel—spanning essays, book reviews and memoir—from over 30 years of contributions to the London Review of Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-12 08:56:46 UTC ]
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Red Sofa Literary Principal Threatens to Sue Other Agents, Author

An attorney representing Dawn Frederick of Red Sofa Literary agency threatened two agents and an author with legal action unless they retract tweets casting aspersions upon Frederick and desist from further tweets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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All the books in my 300 boxes sparked joy. The lockdown made me rethink why I was keeping them.

I ordered a Zippy Shell storage unit and prepared to say goodbye. It wasn’t easy. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-06-10 05:30:31 UTC ]
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Waterstones responds to staffers' call to support Black Lives Matter

Waterstones has said Covid-19 closures means a charitable donation to Black Lives Matter is not currently possible despite a petition set up by booksellers calling for the chain to financially support the cause. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-08 15:36:16 UTC ]
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Black-Owned Bookstore Offers “Ally Box” Book Subscription: Critical Linking, June 5, 2020

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-06-05 10:30:41 UTC ]
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Fourth Estate falls for Day's Failosophy

Fourth Estate has landed Failosophy: A Handbook For When Things Go Wrong, the “essential” new book by Elizabeth Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-05 02:50:51 UTC ]
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ILP acquires 12 literary estates in eight-figure deal

International Literary Properties has acquired 12 literary estates from Peters, Fraser + Dunlop, including those of Evelyn Waugh and Georges Simenon, in an eight-figure deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-02 04:26:41 UTC ]
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Richard Adams' estate wins back Watership Down rights

The estate and family of author Richard Adams has won back the rights to Watership Down, in a High Court case against American film producer Martin Rosen. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-01 14:49:56 UTC ]
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Three Agents Resign After Red Sofa Literary Owner's Tweet

Three literary agents affiliated with Red Sofa Literary, a boutique agency in St. Paul, Minn., resigned this past weekend after its principal tweeted that she was calling police to report looting on her block. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Lockdown diaries: the agent

Agents are often described as friends and therapists as well as a tough negotiators. The former really came into its own when COVID-19 hit. We work solely for our clients; we are the somewhat invisible middlemen (or women) whose role it is to put our authors’ needs first. But a global pandemic... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-28 12:50:32 UTC ]
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Fourth Estate bags Reed Turrell's Please Yourself

Fourth Estate has bagged Please Yourself, an “inspirational, wise and forgiving” book from psychotherapist Emma Reed Turrell. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-22 00:47:23 UTC ]
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Coronavirus: Italy’s Literary Agents Form ADALI, Their First Association

Offering a '360-degree view of the potential, Italy's agents are organizing during the 'critical situation' imposed by COVID-19. The post Coronavirus: Italy’s Literary Agents Form ADALI, Their First Association appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-05-11 03:29:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #literary agents #critical situation #360-degree view #association appeared #post coronavirus


Coronavirus: Italy’s Literary Agents Form ADALI, Their First Association

Offering what they call their ‘360-degree view of the potential as well as the shortcomings of the publishing industry,’ Italy’s literary agents are organizing during the ‘critical situation’ imposed by COVID-19. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson ‘For a New Start After the... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-05-11 03:29:40 UTC ]
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'Too big to fail': COVID-19 and Canadian real estate

Could the "wealth-conjuring machine" that is Canadian real estate grind to a halt after the COVID-19 crisis exposed its worst weaknesses? That's the concern many who watch a sector that makes up a bigger part of the Canadian economy than oil and... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2020-05-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurter Buchmesse Responds to News of Oktoberfest’s Cancellation

The decision on Oktoberfest in Munich brings into question Frankfurter Buchmesse may proceed. The trade show's organizers hope to have news by mid-June. The post Frankfurter Buchmesse Responds to News of Oktoberfest’s Cancellation appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-21 18:37:59 UTC ]
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Agents warn publishers to 'think carefully' on delaying author payments

“Many” requests have been made by publishers about the possibility of delaying payments to authors to help improve cashflow in the difficult circumstances caused by Covid-19, it has emerged. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-20 15:49:24 UTC ]
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Internet Archive Responds to Senator’s Concern Over National Emergency Library

Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle told U.S. Senator Thom Tillis that the National Emergency Library is meant to provide digital access to students and readers who cannot access print collections during the Covid-19 crisis. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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