‘Where does the bot end and human begin?’: what the legendary @Horse_ebooks can teach us about AI

By reusing and repurposing existing writing into viral fragments on Twitter, the account functioned like today’s chatbots. The Guardian spoke to Jacob Bakkila, the human behind the accountMore than a decade before an AI-powered chatbot could do your homework, help you make dinner or pass the bar exam, there was @Horse_ebooks. The primitive predecessor to today’s chatbot renaissance began as a Twitter account in 2010, tweeting automated excerpts from ebooks that, decontextualized, took on unexpected and strangely poetic meanings.Purportedly a spambot, the account surfaced quotes from ebooks that went viral for their absurdist fragments – phrases like “Hello saxophone,” “COULD THIS BE THE”, and “Today we are lucky to be talking”. It amassed more than 200,000 followers at its peak and now, despite being inactive for a decade, the account still holds 131,000 followers. Its most memorable quip – “everything happens so much” – still resonates today. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-01-03 15:00:04 UTC ]

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The best Cyber Monday deals on tablets that we could find

If you're looking to pick up a new tablet for the holidays, a number of slates we recommend are on sale for Cyber Monday. Most of the best discounts are holdovers from Black Friday, but that still means a range of iPads, Amazon Fire tablets and Microsoft Surface PCs are down to their lowest... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-28 14:00:12 UTC ]
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Germany’s Ebook Market January to June: ‘Slight Growth’

In the first half of 2022, consumers bought more ebooks per capita and paid more for them, offsetting a smaller buyers' base. The post Germany’s Ebook Market January to June: ‘Slight Growth’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-21 22:30:20 UTC ]
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Canada’s Literary Press Group: Accessible Ebooks

Close to 600 titles will be part of the new, accessible 'Ebooks for Everyone' initiative from the Literary Press Group of Canada. The post Canada’s Literary Press Group: Accessible Ebooks appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-09 14:58:40 UTC ]
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Are Ebooks on the Decline Again?

As sales continue to take a nosedive in the beginning of 2022, it raises a question on the state of ebooks: are they on the decline again? Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-28 10:31:00 UTC ]
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YA Fantasy eBooks On Sale for $3-4 This Week

Here are some of the most popular YA fantasy novels you can grab now for under $5! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-08 14:20:51 UTC ]
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LGBTQ YA eBooks On Sale for $2-3 for Pride!

More than 20 popular LGBTQ YA ebooks are on sale for under $5 on Amazon right now. Grab these deals while they last! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-07 15:52:23 UTC ]
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Amazon no longer offers in-app Kindle and Music purchases on Android

If you use Amazon’s Kindle app on Android, you may have noticed the software doesn't offer the option to buy and rent ebooks or subscribe to the company’s Kindle Unlimited service anymore. Amazon announced the change last month and more recently began notifying customers of the move via email.If... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-05-31 16:17:08 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle will finally add epub support

It only took about 15 years, but Amazon’s Kindle will finally support the ePub format. First spotted by Good E-Reader, Amazon updated its Kindle section with the news that the Send to Kindle function will convert ePub files to a format that can be opened on the e-reader. The update is scheduled... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-05-03 00:25:01 UTC ]
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Brooklyn Library Offers Access to Banned eBooks to Teens Across the U.S.

The UnBanned Books initiative will give anyone in the U.S. between 13-21 a free eCard, giving them access to frequently challenged ebooks. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-04-13 16:00:00 UTC ]
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Gumroad faces backlash over alleged NFT ambitions

Just as many of the ugliest online fights begin these days, Brian "Box" Brown, an Eisner-winning illustrator and comic artist, sent a seemingly innocuous tweet. It read, in part, "my former regular freelance employer has let me know they'll be...Embracing NFTs 🙃 so...we had to part ways." The... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-02-08 21:00:47 UTC ]
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How to save money on buying books – or get them for free

From using your local library and supporting independent bookshops, to borrowing virtuallyMany websites offer ebooks and audiobooks at no cost. Project Gutenberg lists more than 67,000 out-of-copyright titles which can be read online or downloaded in a wide range of formats. Similarly, Librivox... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-01-31 07:00:45 UTC ]
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The (wonderful, life-saving) Libby app is becoming more accessible.

The Libby app came into my life early in the pandemic, when in-person trips to the library weren’t possible and indie bookstores were up against massive USPS delays. The app—which allows users to instantly borrow ebooks from their local libraries—was an incredible gift. Twenty-two months, one... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-01-03 17:41:14 UTC ]
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All the 'fun' gifts our grown-up staff would like to receive

We at Engadget spend a lot of time thinking about the best tech gifts for anyone and everyone in your life. But during that process, we often can’t help but think about the things we’d like to receive as gifts. We encourage everyone to treat themselves in some way while scrambling to find gifts... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-11 15:30:08 UTC ]
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Toronto’s Annick Press: ‘Global Certified Accessible’ in Canadian Ebooks

Among the first children's publishers to achieve Benetech's accreditation, Annick Press stresses that 'diversity' includes access. The post Toronto’s Annick Press: ‘Global Certified Accessible’ in Canadian Ebooks appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-05 18:44:15 UTC ]
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A Librarian’s Perspective on E-Lending

Library ebooks have become famously important in our pandemic times. A librarian weighs in on why they're not just a COVID thing. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-10-20 10:36:00 UTC ]
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Germany’s Bookwire in Distribution Deal with Spain’s Editorial Planeta

The new agreement with Bookwire will see the distribution of some 30,000 ebooks and 1,200 audiobooks from Planeta's Spanish-language catalogue. The post Germany’s Bookwire in Distribution Deal with Spain’s Editorial Planeta appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-07-01 20:14:07 UTC ]
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AAP StatShot February Report: US Audiobooks and Ebooks Maintain Strength

In January and February, ebooks were up 20.4 percent and downloadable audio was up 23.7 percent over 2020. The post AAP StatShot February Report: US Audiobooks and Ebooks Maintain Strength appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-28 15:55:41 UTC ]
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Finland’s 2020 Audiobook Sales Doubled, Ebooks Up 84 Percent

A new book market report on Finland's book market shows the impact of the pandemic and looks at the bestselling Finnish books of 2020. The post Finland’s 2020 Audiobook Sales Doubled, Ebooks Up 84 Percent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-03-25 16:14:36 UTC ]
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How Reading Ebooks Changes Our Perception (And Reviews)

Take a deep dive into research around reading ebooks and print books, and how these experiences compare to each other and other media. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-02 11:33:00 UTC ]
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Your Ultimate Guide on Where to Buy Ebooks

Confused about where to buy ebooks without breaking the bank? Here's your ultimate guide to finding discounts and sales for your next read. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-01 11:35:00 UTC ]
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