GelaSkins

It isn't like this has been a state secret, but I just found these and the inner geek in me wants some for his devices. GelaSkins is a company that makes skins for various electronic devices. I was rather surprised to find out that many people didn't know what a skin is. To quickly explain a skin, in simplest terms, is a large sticker for your device. They have actually been around for years. Cell phones where the fist I saw them for and then they started appearing for consoles like the X-Box and the PS2.

It seems while I wasn't looking GelaSkins(and possibly other companies) upped the ante and offer them for just about any type of electronic gadget your little heart desires. Phones, consoles, controllers, laptops(not mice though), Ebook Readers, and whole host of other devices.

This almost has me trading in my first generation Kindle(K1) for a K3.


Geekness aside they are a bit on the pricey side at about $15 - $30US. The upside however is that you can also upload your own pictures for a custom skin on your favorite device. You can position, stretch, and rotate the picture(even multiple pictures) to fit any device they have a template for.

Reviews over on Amazon are generally positive. Most people seem to be able to apply the skin with little to no difficultly. Though once they are on they are on or off and not on and off. It seems while the skin does protect from scratches well and is easy to remove it is also easily damaged when removing. So the price is doubly hefty if you are thinking to switch these out to fit your mood.

So if you are interested you can check them out here: http://www.gelaskins.com/
(Don't worry I don't get anything for you clicking.)

Kindle vs. NOOKcolor?

There are probably many of us that are seeing this since Barnes & Noble announced NOOKcolor, which is people clamoring to get it and saying Kindle is behind the times. A huge fact they are missing, and that Barnes & Noble is conveniently hiding under the table, is that the screen is no longer E-Ink. Being back-light it is more than likely simply an LCD screen. There is where the problem comes in and in the rush to have "the best gadget" people need to be aware of. The number one reason some many move to E-Ink in the first place is how much less eye strain it causes.

From simple personal experience I can say that when I have the time I can read for hours on end with needing to "rest my eyes" or getting tension headaches that same amount of reading done on an LCD would cause. To most that have tried eReaders the difference can be felt almost immediately when moving for looking at the LCD screen on their desk to going to their favorite eReader. It truly is like reading a book and while it is inconvenient to not have the back-light at times that back-light it part of the problem. That is the thing while in the title I might say Kindle vs. NOOKcolor this is more about E-Ink vs. LCD. If you really like nook better then buy it, but buy the E-Ink version while it is still available. Your eye will truly thank you for the difference.

Since I know I might not be the most persuasive voice out there here are two very good links that might help you understand all of this a little better. First is Amazon's explanation of E-Ink which can be found half way down on their Kindle product page titled "E-Ink 101: Compare Kindle's Screen to Traditional LCDs". The second is a microscopic comparison of E-Ink and LCD(http://www.bit-101.com/blog/?p=2722).

Kindle books falling to the wayside? (Part 2)

So I finally got a firm responce from both parties so I was able to send some form of what they sent to me to each other.

St. Martin said:
"Amazon has not given us a release date for the Kindle version, so I’m afraid I do not know. Amazon converts and distributes all Kindle books independently, so you may want to be in touch with them? I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful, but Kindle is Amazon’s territory."
***********************

And Amazon said:
"Hello,

"Bound By Sin" by Jenna Maclaine isn't currently available for Kindle. At this time we don't have further information about availability of this book in Kindle compatible format. When publisher provides the book in Kindle format, we'll list Kindle books for pre-order so you get them delivered wirelessly when released.

Your direct feedback to the publisher is helpful.

You may see a link labeled "Please tell the publisher: I'd like to read this book on Kindle" directly below the product image on some book detail pages"
***********************

My only hope is that I can get them to say that to each other so they can figure out who needs to do what.

Kindle books falling to the wayside? (Macmillan vs Amazon)

So now that the whole Macmillan vs Amazon debacle seems to be over it seems there may be a few casualties of war in the whole process. Well besides the fact that customers often have to pay half again more than before. When looking into a book, Bound By Sin by Jenna Maclaine(think Period Urban Fantasy with Vampires), I've wished to read for quite some time it turns out that there actually should be a Kindle version, but there isn't one listed. Macmillan(St. Martin's Press in this instance) says they sent it and Amazon says they don't have it. I would think that would be a problem they might want to fix. That whole selling more books and making more money thing. The only problem is the book continues not to be listed with a Kindle version and neither Amazon nor St. Martin's seem to be doing anything about it.

It would also seem more than likely that several of these other titles people have been waiting for(and talking about) could be having the same problems. So I'm just giving out an FYI and suggesting that we all write both Macmillan (St. Martin's division for this book: trademarketing@stmartins.com) and Amazon (Kindle Customer Service form) telling them which book we want and the fact that we want our Kindle books now. :)

Talion: Revenant

(Added Kindle Link)

So we interrupt our previously scheduled posts (scheduled is all a matter of perspective) in favor of some news near and dear to my book loving heart (promiscuity between many books is socially acceptable right?).  One of my favorite authors Michael A. Stackpole (one as in yes I do have many and favorite as in I don't have favorites for the moment, but favorite from the fact I've enjoyed every book of theirs I've read) is releasing his book Talion: Revenant in eformat both epub and kindle (which I'll link when it is up).  This is great for me in that I take my kindle everywhere and since I have enjoyed reading Talion: Revenant multiple times it makes it easier to do so again.  You can find some good reviews (good as in well done whether for or against the book) here on amazon.  The best news however is that if all goes well with ebook sales (epub and kindle) of this book he will finally write and release the sequel Talion: Nemesis.

(note: does contain vary vague spoilers)
Talion: Revenant at first seems quite simple it is about a man by the name of Nolan who is a Talion Justice.  The Talions are the broken into various groups according to the tasks they can perform.  One such group is the Justice, an elite group of individuals that work as a sort of cross between an elite military group (Rangers/Seals/etc) and the CIA.  It is their job to administer Justice and it is up to each individual what that Justice means.  They are answerable only to their superiors and the head of the Talions.

The book starts off at the end of his current assignment, but then quickly goes back to give us a back story of both Nolan and the Talions.  The transitions between present and past are well done so I never felt lost.  A lot is revealed of Nolan's back story and his motivations for why he does what he does.  There are many likable characters which also sets up for some tragic parts within the story.  That is one thing that did make this approach of present and past much more acceptable in this story because you are given time to know the current situation so that such tragedies are a part of this persons past and make them what they.  It gives more of a meaning to such tragedies rather than the author instead throwing them at the reader for shock value.  It gave me at least the more comfortable position of looking at old wounds so to speak.  The more current of the story his is mission to prevent the death of a king he despises due to his invasion of the country Nolan lived in as a child and the death of his family at the hands of those invaders.
(done)

I have to say over all the book is extremely well done and comes off as a solid history of the character and how he stands now.  There were many little reveals that setup well for future stories both in subtle hints as well as outright prophesies.  Which brings it back to the sequel (or maybe sequels) and how much many of us that enjoyed the book really want this to do well.  Over the long hall Talion: Revenant has done well in sales, but never enough for a publisher to pick up any additional books.  Understandably the author can't just blindly spend his time on it in the hopes it will do well as he is a full time author so all his money comes from his writing.  It is a good way to measure also how many sales such a sequel may generate.  Here is to hoping that it does well and he can write the sequel.  I know that I'll be supporting this as I can.  It isn't from the blind devotion of fandom, but the actual joy of reading more about this setting and its characters.  I hope that those of you reading this might give the first book a try I think it is well worth the while.