How Does Mysteria Work?

Currently, Mysteria only monitors the Amazon.com store. In the future Mysteria’s capabilities may be extended to other sites. So when you signup at the Mysteria website, use the email address you used to create your Amazon.com account. Next create a watch list on Mysteria. You can add, or delete media selections anytime you want. Mysteria does the work for you, checking to see if your selected media is digitized, and once a book, movie, or music is already in digital form, Myseria will alert you.

Mysteria and Your Amazon.com Wishlist

Another nice feature of Mysteria is that it works with your Amazon.com Wishlist. In fact when you sign on to Mysteria, it will automatically add your Wishlist, so you can review it from the Mysteria website. Hopefully, your Wishlist is set for public viewing because you want your friends and family, as well as Mysteria, to be able to find it. If you have your Wishlist set to private, you can change it by clicking the “make the list public” button.

Mysteria is a great tool to save you time. Also, it does all of the work for you so you don’t miss out on the digitized versions of that next great novel you want to read on your Kindle. You can signup for Mysteria at http://oscurapress.com/mysteria/docs/Mysteria.html.

Specifically, Calibre currently supports:

Amazon Kindle 1/2/DX
Sony Reader PRS 300/500/505/600/700/900
Barnes & Noble Nook
Cybook Gen 3/Opus
Longshine ShineBook
Ectaco Jetbook
BeBook/BeBook Mini
Irex Illiad/DR1000
Foxit eSlick
iPhone
Various Android phones

You can also use the “save to disk” function with any other ereader that exports itself as a USB disk.

In addition to helping you keep track and organize your books, it also lets you get news from many websites, convert them into the correct format for your ereader, and then automatically transfers the file. Right now, the beta version of Calibre supports the Kindle DX, but for others ereaders the regular version works fine. You can get the beta version at http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/downloads/betas/. Just beware however, that this version has all of the risks that beta builds usually carry.

Calibre supports the conversion of several input and output formats. It can covert the following list to every output format.

Input Formats: CBZ, CBR, CBC, CHM, EPUB, FB2, HTML, LIT, LRF, MOBI, ODT, PDF, PRC**, PDB, PML, RB, RTF, TCR, TXT
Output Formats: EPUB, FB2, OEB, LIT, LRF, MOBI, PDB, PML, RB, PDF, TCR, TXT

** PRC is a generic format; Calibre supports PRC files with TextRead and MOBIBook headers

The best formats to convert are LIT, MOBI, EPUB, HTML, PRC, RTF, PDB, TXT, PDF

While EPUB is listed under the best formats to convert, you should be aware of this: because most purchased EPUB books have DRM, Calibre won’t open them. You can still use Calibre however, to store and transfer these books to your ereader. In order to do this, you must authorize your device on a Windows machine using Adobe Digital Editions. Once you do this, EPUB books transferred using Calibre will work just fine.

Calibre is under constant development by the author, and you can donate cash to offer a way to say thanks. If you want to have a feature added to calibre, you can either “create a patch by hacking on Calibre and send it to the author for review” or open a ticket on the Calibre website. It is definitely worth checking out and for the cost (free) there is nothing to lose. Instead, you’ll simply be making your Kindle or Nook a more accessible gadget.

This how Amazon introduces the Kindle App in its website:

Experience the Beautiful User Interface
Get the best reading experience available on your tablet computer including the iPad. No Kindle required
Tailored to the size, look, and feel of your tablet computer
Customize background color and font size to ease eye strain
Adjust screen brightness from within the app to make reading easier
Page turn animation replicates the look of turning a page in a book,
Or choose Basic Reading Mode for a simpler and unadorned reading experience

The Kindle app features the ability to slowly turn the ebook pages with your fingers just like Apple’s iBooks software. Kindle owners will also be able to view their ebook library with a creative scene. An example of one of the scenes is images of book covers set against a backdrop of a silhouetted figure reading under a tree, and the sun’s position in that image changes depending on the time of day. Pretty clever, huh?

In addition to the app, Amazon created a website to promote Kindle apps for tablets. It specifically mentions the iPad.

“Tablet computers, including the iPad are coming and with our free app you’ll be able to read more than 450,000 Kindle books,” the Amazon page reads. “Like all Kindle apps, Kindle for tablet computers will include Whispersync technology, which automatically synchronizes your last page read, bookmarks, notes and highlights across your Kindle and Kindle compatible devices, including PC, Mac, iPhone and BlackBerry.”

In addition to the news about a Kindle app for tablet computers, Amazon released free beta of its Kindle desktop app for the Mac last week. It allows Mac owners to purchase and then download from Amazon’s ebook selection without having to purchase a Kindle.

Since the iPad has been under lock and key until recently, Amazon and Barnes & Noble were only able to test their apps in the simulator mode included in the iPhone OS 3.2 software development kit. The two companies weren’t able to have their apps ready for the iPad’s April 3rd release. No big loss there, as all eyes were on the iPad that day!

This is a great example of how corporate giants can compete against each other, but also compliment each other. It also gives the consumer more choices on whether they would want to read from a tablet like the iPad, or from an ereader like the Kindle, and where they can purchase ebooks. From a consumer point of view, these apps will enable the owner to comparison shop while Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple stay in the game by offering their virtual bookstores.

Such as…

When can we get it?

In the big announcement in January it was said that the non3G iPads would be available for purchase in a couple of months. A couple of months from January would mean March. It is noted that a concrete ship date was not given, but there was hope that we would be able to get our hands on one by then. There are hopeful speculations that it will ship soon, but others are saying it may be later. The truth is, nobody knows.

When can we pre-order one?

There were rumors that the pre-order date was going to be February 25th, but that date has come and gone. Obviously the rumor was false. So when can we pre-order the iPad?

What is that mysterious blank key on the iPad keyboard dock do?

It is located right above the number 6 on the keyboard with no identifier or graphic, and no one has revealed its function. We all want to know — what does it do?

Will the Amazon’s Kindle app for iPad offer newspapers and magazines?

Rumor has it that publishing companies such as Hulu are thinking about charging a fee for content delivered to the iPad that is usually accessible for free on the internet. Additionally the Associated Press said that they are developing an iPad app that will enable them to charge for newspaper stories. What’s going to happen? We have to pay for usually free stuff because we own an iPad?

The list of questions continues, and it really has become an iMess. The iPad remains a mystery gadget, and if you sift through all of the hype, you’ll see that there isn’t too much information about the iPad. Why not stick with the Kindle for the time being?

If you’re keeping up with the developments in ereader technology, you’d know that companies are trying to develop a way for ereaders to display color. E-ink has done its job, emerging us into this technology. Its major advantages are:

• It is easier on the eyes in comparison to LCDs, and it truly gives the appearance of an actual book.
• It can last for several days or even weeks on one battery charge.

But then again, the technology also has some cons, mostly pertaining to the absence of colored e-ink :

• It’s not possible to read color publications that include photography books, art books and the ever-popular graphic novels.
• Grayscale e-ink can’t render full-color illustrations, photos or other images that add to the reading experience.
• Textbooks are lacking for students because hyperlinks aren’t accessible.
• Colored highlighted text is visually better to detect.
• It doesn’t translate magazines or cookbooks well.

Never fear, however, as we may see color ereaders pretty soon, perhaps even within the year 2010. Companies introduced their prototypes at the CES in Las Vegas in January. Additionally, in Japan and Taiwan, ereader manufacturers have already introduced color screen ebook readers to their markets. Some that are soon to emerge onto the American market are:

1. Qualcomm Mirasol – This color technology mimics the iridescence we see on butterfly wings, pearls or peacock feathers. Mirasol works well on a small screen, but it hasn’t been viewed on larger screens.

2. Kent Display – It is created out of film that uses cholesteric crystals. It is currently used on an ereader from Japan, the Fujitsu FLEPia. The problem with the Kent Display is that the refresh rate is slow, and the display panel is thick.

3. Pixel Qi – The company uses LCD technology that is similar to OLPC laptop displays. There isn’t a prototype available yet, and experts say that this technology is better suited for netbooks.

Until a solid color technology is discovered, it is no wonder why companies like Amazon may be reluctant to abandon the e-ink technology for its popular ebook reader, the Kindle. So while it’s true that color will add an entirely new dimension to ebook reading, we will have to wait and see if manufacturers can come up with a comparable product.

In addition to cost, this new chip will:

Double the speed at which the current crop of ereaders “turn” the pages of an ebook.

Freescale claims that the new chip will be capable of displaying a new book page in less than a half a second. Nice feature, as it probably takes longer for a human to turn a page in a hardback. Additionally, the chip will offer “headroom” above the page for applications.

Increase the battery life.

The new chip has battery-extending power modes that turn off certain peripherals when they aren’t in use. Because the Kindle is already known for its outstanding battery life, imagine how long it will last now!

Support larger color screens

Bigger screens with high resolutions are the wave of the future, and the chip has evolved to support a colorful reading experience. Freescale claims that whatever E-ink technology launches, this processor will be able to drive it.

Freescale has named the chip the i.MX508. It has an integrated ARM cortex A8 processor and an e-ink display controller. What does this mean? That the chip has increased processing power that will make room for much improvement including the ability to run more apps on the device.

This is the first chip to be designed with an ebook reader in mind. Prior to the development of the ereader chip, general purpose processors were utilized and so they were not created with application optimization. Now Freescale is meeting the demand of the popular ereader realm.

Freescale hopes the new chip will be available for “select customers” later this year, and we can assume they mean customers like Amazon of Kindle fame or Barnes and Noble for the Nook. The company also says that gadgets with the new chip will be available on the market for consumers by the end of the year. Hopefully they will succeed in reducing the system cost and extending the battery life of the ebook reader.

In the video, they mentioned the price of the Nook and the Kindle was $259. Since this review was done, the prices have dropped. The Nook now is available with Wi-Fi only for $149 or 3G+Wi-Fi for $199. The Amazon Kindle is now just $189.

The continued reign of Amazon’s ebook reader as the top ereading device is very much apparent, so people assume that the winner to that Nook vs Kindle bout would still be — the Kindle! (No surprises there). But it’s really not that clear cut as the Nook does offer some distinct features that not too few consumers would be more than interested to try out, giving the Kindle more competition than any other ebook reader. Let’s compare the two feature-for-feature:

• Size and Display

Size-wise, the two don’t differ much. Both come with a 6-inch e-ink display but on the surface, the Nook (7.7 x 4.9 inches) measures a tad smaller than the Kindle (8 x 5.3 inches). And then again, the Nook is almost 2 ounces heavier than the Kindle (12.1 oz vs. 10.2 oz), and is also a bit thicker at 0.5-inch compared to the Kindle’s 0.36-inch depth. What makes the Nook standout in this aspect is of course, its color touchscreen which, while some may see as unnecessary, does take the Nook’s fab factor a notch up.

• Memory and Connectivity

Here the Nook takes the clear upper hand. While both ebook reading devices are equipped with 2GB of internal memory which can store up to 1,500 ebooks, the Barnes & Noble ereader has an expandable memory slot for additional storage space and easier organization of books.

Both devices also use AT&T’s 3G wireless network, but the Nook is also WiFi-capable and has free access to WiFi in all Barnes & Noble stores.

• Battery Life

Nook’s 7 to 10 days of battery life (as claimed by B&N) with WiFi turned off is no match with the Kindle’s up to 14 days battery power without the need to recharge. In actuality though, users claim 4-5 days for the Nook and about 10 days for the Kindle. Regardless, there is still a huge difference between the two and this could prove to be a significant factor especially for those who travel a lot.

• Content

Barnes & Noble is said to have more than one million titles available and about 500,000 free ebooks. This may seem a lot more compared to the more than 420,000 books available for the Kindle, but I’ve also read some user reviews saying that Amazon’s choice of books, despite being more limited in number, is preferable over that of Barnes & Noble books. Amazon puts is as having the books “customers want to read.”

• Price

The Nook is available in two different versions – Wi-Fi only for $149 or 3G+WiFi for $199. The Amazon Kindle is just $189.

• Other Features

The Kindle has some features that the Nook doesn’t have, and vice versa. The Nook may have book lending and in-store browsing features, but the Kindle has a Text-to-Speech option and yes, web browsing is possible even on its greyscale e-ink display. The Nook is also highly regarded being the first Android-powered ebook reader but then again, the apps are slow in coming.

Final Thoughts

When all is said and done, which takes the cake in a Barnes and Noble Nook vs Amazon Kindle matchup? True, the Nook does come across as an exciting alternative to the Kindle, but consumers aren’t exactly coming in hordes, trading their Kindles for the Nook. Whereas reading from the Kindle is a seamless experience for many users, the Nook’s slow page turns and generally buggy operation are still issues that Nook users are still coming to terms with.

Perhaps these can be addressed with more firmware upgrades, or perhaps a Nook II will offer a better experience. But as far as this Nook vs Kindle review is concerned, this ebook reader from Barnes & Noble is worth watching out for.

Here’s why DRM doesn’t work:

• The encryption key for a book is hidden from the user, but it is easily available to the application. DRM schemes have been easily broken by viewing how the reader application works, and figuring out where it hides the key. Let’s be honest, all DRM schemes pertaining to ebooks have been hacked, and Apple’s new iBooks Store for the iPad isn’t going to be any different.

• DRM makes it harder on the user because of the extra layer between the ebook and the actual ereader. For example, if you own a Sony reader, you have to install an Adobe app. In order to do this you have to register at the Adobe home page, do the confirmation email song and dance and register your computer and ereader with Adobe’s servers. If you own a Mac, it’s a whole different hassle.

• The geeks mock DRM with a chuckle or really hate it. Why would a company want to commit business suicide by upsetting its biggest market that purchases the gadget?

• DRM costs the company money because the company has to set up an infrastructure, or partner with another company to take care of the DRM side of the business, thus making ebooks more expensive. Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble have their own DRM department, and companies like Sony partnered with Adobe.

Ethical consumers would benefit from the removal of DRM, so they could easily move their ebooks from one device to another. The truth is thieves will continue to figure out how to steal products or services. So is it really worth companies to spend thousands of dollars each year to keep a hold on DRM? Probably not, and it will be interesting to see how this topic evolves in the ereader realm.

Amazon owns the market because of a few factors. The Kindle is popular, and holds a devout following. The Kindle Store adds to this popularity, although the ebook agency model has caused quite a disruption. Unfortunately it looks as though it is out of Amazon’s hands. Publishers are slowly following suit.

Additionally, Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch apps are other potential market changers. These apps enable users to perform searches, compare prices, read reviews and make purchases on Amazon. We also can’t forget that Amazon acquired Stanza, another app that allows users to browse over 100,000 books from their iPhone.

Granted, the ebook reader competition is getting tough, but new ereader technology is evolving at such a fast pace, that there are options for Amazon to continue the Kindle evolution. The recent Amazon-Touchco collaboration that hit the news is a perfect example of Amazon’s perseverance in the ereader market. Amazon may even consider Qualcomm’s Mirasol technology to eliminate the use of e-ink.

In order for Amazon sales to drop to 35%, a drastic change in the market would have to occur. The truth is Amazon dominates this market in many channels, and Amazon has a tight hold on the current market with loyal consumers. They obtained this by being offering one of first marketable ereaders.

As for the iPad, it is a multi-tasking gadget. Obviously, it is going to make its mark on the ereader market, because Apple too has a devout consumer base, and buyers are looking to the iPad as a device that can do many things. But there will be a market of individuals who simply want to purchase an ereader.

A bit of healthy competition never hurt. Why? Because it is business and these challenges are what push companies to find the latest and greatest technology. For now, Amazon is holding its own with its domination of the ereader market through the Kindle, and hopefully, will continue to do so with Kindle evolutions.

The truth be told from doctors, reading a screen closely won’t hurt your eyes. In fact, what can hurt your eyes is the actual environment you are reading in. For example, improper ergonomics can contribute to eye fatigue. We need to adjust our bodies correctly when reading on our computer monitors.

When it comes to reading an ebook on your Kindle, Sony Reader, or Nook, it all depends on the viewing circumstances. This includes the software and typography of the actual screen. If you own a Kindle that uses e-ink technology, you probably know that it is great in sunlight, but in other circumstances it may cause fatigue. In dim light, an LCD display can be better. E-ink has a low contrast ratio, meaning the lack of contrast with the backlit screen can eventually become uncomfortable for the reader.

On the other hand, an LCD screen does offer good viewing, but the reflective glass could bring eye fatigue in a brightly lit room. It really isn’t about the display, but making sure that you take short breaks from looking at the screen. Stand up, take a stretch, and let your eye muscles relax.

Physically when reading, the ocular muscles are moving around and this rapid movement causes strain and fatigue. Doctors say that the eyes make around 10,000 movements in one hour, so a twenty minute break from reading can help prevent eye fatigue. Additionally, technology is helping us out with improving the display by refreshing the image less frequently. Refreshing is just a flicker now, or perhaps unnoticed by the human eye.

Although, your mom may still shout the warning, know that it is up to you to prevent eye fatigue by taking a break to allow your ocular muscles to rest. But, who knows what next technology Amazon may implement on the Kindle, or any of the latest tablet PCs and ereaders for that matter. We may no longer need to put that book down for a few minutes just to give our eyes a chance to rest. It is still recommended, however, to listen to mom when she shouts “don’t run with scissors!”