Forget Zuckerberg – the tech giants don’t have to own the future | John Harris

Facebook, Google and Apple make the headlines, but there are many inspiring startups to dissipate the sense of techno-dreadA quarter of a century ago, the Canadian author Douglas Coupland published his third novel. Microserfs was the tale of a group of young Microsoft employees who decide to exit the realm of Bill Gates in Washington state and chase a dream of their own in California places that, back then, sounded like the epitome of futuristic magic: Palo Alto, Menlo Park. As well as prescient flashes of the world to come – “Beware of the corporate invasion of private memory,” warned one of its protagonists – what always stuck with me was its air of techno-optimism, perfectly crystallised right at the end, when the central character’s mother has a stroke and is rescued from silence by a set-up attached to an Apple Macintosh. She communicates via such staccato sentences as “I am here”, and “I feel U”; the novel’s closing pages capture her and her family marvelling at the fact that she has become “part woman/part machine, emanating blue Macintosh light”.The book was published in 1995, when computers suddenly offered an ever-expanding window on to the world. Many of us had no doubt that the leap from old to new represented nothing but progress. By the start of this decade social media platforms were being hailed as a means of individual and collective emancipation. But where has this faith in the future gone? Related: The rise of technology in care: how will it affect... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Prince Harry tell-all memoir does not bode well for reconciliation hopes

Netflix series, memoir and ITV interview reveal Harry has ammunition on William and is prepared to use itIf the Duke of Sussex’s hopes are for an early reconciliation with his family, his wishes seem unlikely to be fulfilled any time soon, judging from extracts published from his tell-all... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-05 15:18:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #brother william #netflix series #extracts published #memoir


Prince Harry claims in upcoming memoir that William physically attacked him during argument

Prince Harry alleges in a much-anticipated new memoir that his brother, Prince William, lashed out and physically attacked him during a furious argument over the brothers' deteriorating relationship, The Guardian reported Monday. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-01-05 11:54:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #upcoming memoir #prince william #deteriorating relationship #memoir


Paperback to the Future: Must-Read Paperbacks to Kick Off 2023

Now in paperback! Here are 40 great paperback releases to start your 2023 reading year off right. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-01-05 11:34:00 UTC ]
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Apple's AirPods Pro fall to $200, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

While it's a bit late for most tech gifts to ship in time for Christmas, there are still many deals going on for those looking to buy something nice for themselves. Apple's AirPods Pro, for one, are down to an all-time low of $200, while Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds are still at a low of $178.... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-23 17:30:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook service #curated selection #4k resolution #hbo max #buying advice #audiobook


Elizabeth Hurley denies rumor she took Prince Harry's virginity: 'Absolutely not'

Prince Harry reportedly says in his memoir that his first sexual encounter was with a 'beautiful older woman' many believe to be Elizabeth Hurley. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-12-18 18:56:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prince harry #sexual encounter #memoir


Children’s Book Author Tomie dePaola and Activist Icon John Lewis on 2023 USPS Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service announced new subjects for 2023 stamps: children's book author Tomie dePaola and civil rights activist John Lewis. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-12-14 18:11:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children's book #book author


Apple's iPad Air drops to $500, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

We're in the thick of the holiday season, so we're still seeing good deals on a number of gadgets and tech gear we recommend. Apple's iPad Air, for instance, is down to its second-lowest price to date at $500, while Amazon's Fire HD 8 is down to an all-time low of $55. The Xbox Series S is still... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-09 17:01:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #high contrast #multiple retailers #lower cost #top recommendation #e-book


Ayaneo’s Air Pro is a taste of the portable PC gaming future

It’s been a bumper year for gaming on the go. For a spell, it kinda felt like Nintendo was the only name in town, but it’s since become one of the more exciting corners of gaming. Today, there are handheld options for everything from AAA to Indie to retro and beyond. Whatsmore, the current... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-07 18:00:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #small screen #bit bigger #vague sense #varying degrees #libraries


John Storey, Founder of Storey Publishing, Dies

John Storey, one of the most respected indie publishers of his era, has died at 79. Storey founded Storey Publishing, now an imprint of Workman, with wife Martha in 1983. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-29 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #storey publishing


The best Cyber Monday tech deals for 2022: discounts on earbuds, laptops, smartwatches and more

For the past couple of years, Cyber Monday has been almost an extension of Black Friday. In the tech deals space, lots of the discounts and sales we saw at the end of last week are still available now as Cyber Monday deals. There are some new ones, though, which means that even if you bought... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-28 14:20:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #clean base #kindle paperwhite #signature edition #standard paperwhite #hbo max #dolby atmos #blink miniamazon #outdoor cameras #@engadgetdeals #yahoo life #car experts #kindle


The Morning After: Senator calls for an end to ‘failed Big Tech self-regulation’

Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is calling on Congress to pass new legislation to rein in tech companies after Twitter boss Elon Musk ignored an information request. “Elon Musk could respond to my tweets but failed to respond to my letter by yesterday’s deadline and answer basic questions... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-28 12:15:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #internet archive #fuller picture #prison sentence #pushed back


The best Black Friday tech deals for 2022: discounts on TVs, laptops, smartwatches and more

Black Friday is finally here and if you haven't started your holiday shopping, now's the best time to do so. While we've seen some of our favorite gadgets go on sale since the start of November, today's the day you're almost guaranteed to find the best prices of the year across laptops, TVs,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-25 13:51:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #signature edition #standard paperwhite #single charge #hbo max #dolby atmos #blink miniamazon #outdoor cameras #exercise bike #bootcamp routines #latest gadgets #peloton guide #@engadgetdeals #yahoo life #car experts #kindle


The best early Black Friday tech deals for 2022

Black Friday may still be a few hours away, but we're already seeing a bunch of great deals on our favorite tech. This comes after a slow trickle of deals popping up across the web ever since the start of November. While we don't have the supply chain issues we did last year, it's still a good... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-24 17:30:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #standard paperwhite #8-inch display #single charge #good option #hbo max #dolby atmos #outdoor cameras #exercise bike #bootcamp routines #latest gadgets #peloton guide #@engadgetdeals #yahoo life #car experts #kindle


AnimeNYC 2022: More Manga, Big Plans for the Future

AnimeNYC returned to the Javits Center November 18-20 with a slightly larger crowd than last year, a bigger manga presence, and even bigger plans for the future. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big plans #manga


Tech Innovators See Promise in Palm Springs Bookstore

Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Paul Bradley Carr and Sarah Lacy plan to open The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs in time for Black Friday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #palm springs #black friday #bookstore


Four Ukrainian Writers on Literature, Solidarity, and the Future of Justice

“Words and Bullets” is a project launched by the Ukrainian independent publisher Chytomo and PEN Ukraine with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). It is a series of interviews with authors and journalists who became soldiers or volunteers following the Russian invasion of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-07 09:53:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pen ukraine #project launched #national endowment #russian invasion #independent publisher


How brick-and-mortar retail stores are the digital media channel of the future

Brick-and-mortar stores are being transformed into an interactive digital media and merchandising experience thanks to in-store smart screens. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2022-11-04 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #brick-and-mortar stores #digital media


Independent booksellers unimpressed by Prince Harry memoir being sold at half-price

Spare, which is released in January, has been heavily discounted by larger retailers, leaving smaller bookshops unable to competePrince Harry’s forthcoming memoir, Spare, is unlikely to be championed by independent bookshops because of how heavily it has been discounted by larger retailers,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-03 15:12:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #heavily discounted #forthcoming memoir #independent bookshops #bestsellers list #memoir


People are going spare about Prince Harry’s memoir. Just don’t ask them why | Marina Hyde

The Sussexes draw more ire than genocidal dictators – from people who struggle to articulate exactly what their problem isThe interior designer and social commentator Nicky Haslam has just released the latest annual version of his fabled tea towel, on which he lists some more of the things that... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-28 12:28:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #andre agassi #public eye #memoir


Lyrasis Names U. of Illinois Librarian John Wilkin CEO

Wilkin was appointed after a six-month search and will succeed Erin Tripp, currently Interim Lyrasis CEO, who took the helm after CEO Robert Miller announced his departure in February. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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