The online virtual reality experience that almost every tech giant today wishes to commercially exploit may not catch onIn the 1992 sci-fi dystopia Snow Crash, the author Neal Stephenson imagined a bleak 21st century where the collapse of the global economy had seen governments fall and their power replaced by a few giant businesses. The book is notable for prescience, anticipating the adoption of what was then seen as outlandish technologies like the wireless internet, cryptocurrencies and smartphones, as well as the rise of the gig economy. But it is the book’s prophetic vision of “the metaverse” that has revived interest in the work.That is because Stephenson described the online virtual reality experience that almost every tech giant today wishes to commercially exploit. Last October, Microsoft announced that users of its Teams online meetings app would be able to turn themselves into avatars – the term Stephenson popularised in Snow Crash – to encourage users into virtual interaction. Days later Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder, rebranded his company as Meta, with a focus on the potential for virtual worlds. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2022-02-07 19:11:48 UTC ]
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United Business Media (UBM) shared its first quarter report today, with a 13.7 percent increase in total revenue, rising from 2010 first quarters $338.74 million to first quarter 2011s $385.07 million. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Theres no question that social media is becoming an increasingly important source of traffic for Web publishers, from articles and videos being shared among friends on Facebook to users following individual reporters on Twitter. But it turns out that social media referrals may be worth less to... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2011-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Fri, 15/04/2011 - 08:56 An e-fiction venture aimed at tweens and teenagers is being launched by packager Discovery Books in May. Called Fiction Express, it will invite teenagers to buy books in instalments and to vote to decide the direction of the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 14/04/2011 - 16:08 Independent publisher Oneworld has acquired two titles, one looking at the latest Afghan war and the other going to the borders of scientific discovery. Commissioning editor Mike Harpley bought world English language... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ad network Specific Media has appointed Fox Networks Group's Graeme Lynch as its new UK publisher services director. Continue reading at Media Week
[ Media Week | 2011-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Until recently, reading a book had resisted technological advances, but like everything else, this has started to evolve and now we are embracing technology. Books are now more easily available in electronic format and sharing your opinion about a title print or ebook is more popular. So... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Fri, 08/04/2011 - 08:30 HarperCollins has hired agent Nick Canham to head up its sports list, as it makes a number of promotions in its non-fiction team. Canham joins from Roar Global and will also commission general non-fiction as editorial director.... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Thu, 07/04/2011 - 09:01 Angry Robot has made two fantasy fiction acquisitions, one a swashbuckling adventure and the other set in Elizabethan England. Both deals were signed by publishing director Marc Gascoigne for world English rights for physical,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Advantage Business Media, a b-to-b publisher targeting the communications, manufacturing, design and science markets, has purchased the assets of Continuity Insights from Gardner Publications. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 05/04/2011 - 16:11 Coronet will publish "Strictly Come Dancing" presenter Tess Daly's first sashay into fiction, having acquired The Camera Never Lies by the TV host. Editor Charlotte Haycock acquired British Commonwealth rights to the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Outside the United States, the digital book business is still in its infancy and has problems to resolve before taking off. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2011-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Active Interest Media has acquired BoatQuest.com, adding the online classified page to its portfolio of properties, which includes Yachts Magazine and Show Management. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amanda Hocking, the 26-year-old author who shot to fame by selling more than a million copies of her self-published books, has signed a deal with St. Martin's Press. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2011-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomberg announced today that it will launch the Bloomberg Media Group, a media group that pulls together all of Bloombergs consumer properties. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amanda Hocking, the darling of the self-publishing world who has sold more than 900,000 copies of nine books in the last year, has been shopping a four-book series to major publishers. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2011-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Thu, 17/03/2011 - 15:51 Creative agency Hothouse Fiction is expanding its team to increase output and extend its international sales, especially into the US. Hothouse, which develops commercial series fiction for children aged five years and older,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barry O'Callaghan, the chief executive of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, resigned on Tuesday after less than two years on the job. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2011-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After AOLs layoff of 900 staff last week (the U.S. division losing 300 members), the Huffington Post Media Group has begun hiring. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Tue, 15/03/2011 - 14:47 Adult hardback fiction books have been added to the basket of goods that the government uses to calculate the cost of living in the UK. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Regional publisher Greenspun Media announced it will launch Vegas Inc., a weekly business magazine for the Las Vegas market, on April 4. Vegas Inc. staff includes Greenspun business editor Richard Pereze-Feria as editor-in-chief, Spencer Holladay as art director, Dave Mondt as designer asnd Erin... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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