Literati

The Kindle Index: e-Literacy in America:

"To identify the most electronically literate places in America, we analyzed the Priceonomics database of eight million electronics for sale by city. We examined how prevalent the Amazon Kindle was by city to rank how popular e-reading was across the nation (we also examined Nook sales, which didn’t change the results). To our surprise, the most populous and culturally-reputed cities in America did not rank among the most digitally literate."

Emphasis is mine. I can explain this. They are counting Kindles as a proxy for literacy. Hipsters have iPads - not Kindles. Hipsters live in big cities.

New ARRL Membership Benefits in June

Pretty cool...

arrl Coming Soon: New ARRL Membership Benefits: The ARRL is excited to announce two new membership benefits that will... bit.ly/GCnwGiTue, Mar 20 10:34:50 from twitterfeed

"In addition to the print copy of QST, all members will have access to an online digital edition of QST -- at no extra cost. You will be able to access QST from anywhere -- on nearly any computer, laptop, mobile device, smartphone and tablet (including Apple iPad, iPhone, iTouch and devices using the Android operating system).

Members will also gain access to archived issues of QST from December 1915 to the present; previously, only issues through 2007 have been available to members. If you are familiar with the current periodicals archive, that platform will be expanded to include all of QST from December 1915 through December 2011. A second, new archive will be introduced for issues beginning January 2012, featuring enhanced functionality including full-text search."

Free Books

I really like the form factor of my Android Nook. I've been enjoying it even more recently for using Google Reader, Kindle/Nook/Aldiko/Google Books apps, and the YouVersion Bible. If surfing/the browser was better, it would get the full Brick Seal of Approval.

My buddy at work brought in his brand new Kindle Fire. I think I would like it, too.

I have been reading enough on the Android Nook that I think I might want a true e-ink reader like the Kindle Touch. A recent evening spent at the local ER (good times!) made me realize the value of a device that works for weeks on a single charge.

Which all brings me to this link to free books from Baen for your tablet or e-reader of choice. Here is their philosophy for offering free books.

Tablet Links

What a tangled web we weave...

Color Kindle? Running Android?

Eric Schmidt: The Next Big Android Launch is Coming in Oct or Nov

Sony Tablet Wonder if they will make some slick device and then wreck it by making it proprietary.

Amazon’s Future Is So Much Bigger Than a Tablet - I like the line saying that the Kindle isn't a book - it is a bookstore.

Amazon.com begins rolling out new homepage design - so it is easier for tablet users?

Amazon Book Service Rent books on demand?

Low Expectations for the Amazon Tablet?

How Tech Affects Reading Habits and Patterns

So mobile devices not only change where we read, but when we read. According to the analysis, we prefer iPads to computer monitors and our Lazy Boys to desk chairs.

And now the bad news... the nice, neat fonts and pretty display of the iPads are negatively impacting our reading comprehension. Messy handwriting makes our brains work harder and that translates into better learning and retention.

Via Slashdot.