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Why real books will always be best

<p>With a world full of computers, iPads and Kindles, for some, real, physical books have been thrown to the wayside. But for the rest of us literature-lovers, nothing beats the feel of turning the paper page. Here’s why real books will always be better than their electronic counterparts.</p> <p><strong>1. You can display them</strong> – Other than reading them, the most fun part of owning books is displaying them on your book cases. They can become décor in and of themselves.</p> <p><strong>2. They won’t break in the bath</strong> – You can bring them with you in the bath and, worst case scenario, you can just dry them out and read them again later. Try that with an e-reader.</p> <p><strong>3. Book covers are art</strong> – When you read on a device, the book cover gets all but lost. When you read a physical book, the beautiful covers are constantly on display to be fully appreciated.</p> <p><strong>4. The feel of the pages beneath your fingers</strong> – There’s nothing like the feeling of anticipation you get during a suspenseful scene, and physically turning the page to get to the next part just amplifies that feeling. And while you read, you can physically see the progress you’ve made as the read pages increase in number.</p> <p><strong>5. They grow with you</strong> – You can tell when a book is well-loved, because it ages with you. From stains to creases to tears, a well-read book tells its own story.</p> <p><strong>6. You can doggy-ear them or book mark them</strong> – You’re either a doggy-eared or a book-marker, and you feel very passionately about your choice. You can’t explain that to a Kindle lover.</p> <p><strong>7. That book smell</strong> – If you love books, you probably love the comforting old page-scent that fills bookstores and libraries.</p> <p><strong>8. They make personal gifts</strong> – Sure, you could buy someone a digital copy of a book for less, but it’s so much more personal to give a loved one a physical book as a gift.</p> <p><strong>9. You can read them in the sun</strong> – While some e-readers, such as Kindle, are adaptable in bright lighting, many, including iPads, are not. You can take your book outside in the sun without worrying about starring at a black screen.</p> <p><strong>10. They’re battery free</strong> – You can take your book anywhere, any time, and you never have to worry about it running out of batteries. What a luxury.</p> <p><strong>11. You can get them signed by the author</strong> – Imagine asking an author to sign your Kindle? Good luck with that.</p> <p><strong>12. That satisfying feeling of closing a finished book</strong> – When you finally get to the last sentence on the last page of a long book, closing it shut can feel satisfying, cleansing, and even heartbreaking. It’s all about the physical, measurable act of finishing something.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Books

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Kindles compared: which one is the best?

<p>I have a problem. It's a problem worth sharing. It's a problem I know others have.</p> <p>If an alert pops up on my screen, I cannot help checking it. Instant message, text message, email or alert, the allure is irresistible. It's enough to distract me from what I am doing at the time to flick into a new app, tab or screen to ensure it's nothing urgent.</p> <p>This is part-occupational necessity, part character flaw. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. For some it's the fear of missing out (Fomo), for me it's Fomsu - the fear of missing something urgent.</p> <p>This is why when I truly need to relax, I turn to a novel. A book can be guaranteed not to send you anything work related. No badges or alerts will pop up mid page; it won't ring; it won't sound a siren to signal an incoming problem.</p> <p>All it will do is take you from where you are to where the author wants you to be. For this reason, I have clung to the printed page as a life raft in the tumultuous sea of work-life balance.</p> <p>But also among my character flaws is the need for instant gratification - the latest <em>New York Times</em> bestseller when I want it - in a form that I can tuck into my handbag for flights.</p> <p>For this reason, I've used the Kindle app on my smartphone and tablet for the past couple of years and here my problem arises. My lit-laxation is constantly interrupted by work.</p> <p>The release of two new Kindle models proved the perfect opportunity to try an alternative. The top-of-the-range Voyage arrived in a few months ago and the latest version of the Paperwhite was released recently. Both provide a really good reading experience - with no interruptions.</p> <p>As a book lover, it's hard not to love both models. Both have an e-paper backlit screen, which means no more lights-on/lights-off fights in bed. But unlike other backlit devices, the light feels gentle on your eyes even at the end of a long day of screen time.</p> <p>Kindle has worked hard over successive models, to promote the Kindle as a screen that's not really a screen, even promoting its devices to parents keen to cut down on kids' screen time.</p> <p>The Voyage has the slight advantage over the Paperwhite after sundown in that it includes a function that automatically adjusts brightness depending in the light in a room.</p> <p>Both models have the same e-paper screen resolution with 300 pixels per inch, about twice as many as older models which means the text appears sharper. Even with text enlarged and reduced to maximum or minimum size, both are pleasantly readable and unpixelated. Both have a six-inch screen, which for this booklover is just the right size.</p> <p>The devices are a similar size and weight, with the Voyage housed in a slicker, slightly slimmer casing, while the Paperwhite feels reassuringly sturdy. I loved the slightly contoured casing, which made one-handed reading easy.</p> <p>Turning pages is achieved through a swipe on the screen, while the Voyage has the added feature of a page turns via an impression of the side of the device. This method produces a slight vibration, or satisfying "thunk", making page turns reassuring tactile.</p> <p>Both models include Kindle's 'X-ray' function which allows users to look up the meaning of words, or find multiple references to characters within the same book - handy for complex works or plot twists and turns. Like previous models, the Voyage and Paperwhite include discreet displays showing the percentage of book read and location. Both include the ability to bookmark a page and the capacity to move easily between books in your library (all sourced from Amazon).</p> <p>Both devices do exactly what they say on the box and little more. They are tools for reading books. The Voyage and Paperwhite feel low-tech when moving from a smartphone, with simple monochrome displays and a singular purpose, but again, this is part of the appeal.</p> <p>They do one thing and they do it well. They will not give you breaking news, light your way, or give you the latest from the NZX, but they will let you read a book, where and when you want it, without a single interruption.</p> <p>The Voyage is a sleek, reading device. The screen is brighter than the Paperwhite and the styling slicker. Whether this, and the additional page-turn functionality, is worth the $120 that separates the two will depend entirely on your budget.</p> <p>For me, the Paperwhite provided everything I needed, and I would spend the price difference on a few more books with which to while away my downtime.</p> <p>Are you a regular kindle user, or do you prefer the tangible feel of regular book?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Joanna Norris. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2015/11/real-books-are-better/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Why real books will always be best</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/technology/2014/07/never-pay-for-an-ebook-again/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>NEVER pay for an ebook again</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/technology/2015/03/reading-tablet-in-bed-harmful/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">You’ll think twice before using your tablet in bed after reading this</span></em></strong></a></p>

Technology

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8 things you can do with your eBook reader

<p>Now that you’ve got your hands on your new eBook reader, you might be wondering how to get the most benefit from it. Here we have some tips that can help you enjoy your new technology.</p> <p><strong>Protect it</strong></p> <p>If you have ever dropped anything in your life, there is a good chance that you might drop your eBook reader. It’s best to get a case for it right away to keep it safe from falls and scratches. This is much more economical than having to replace your screen, or worse, the whole thing.</p> <p><strong>Keep track of your purchases</strong></p> <p>There’s a good chance you could end up accidentally downloading the same book twice, especially if you buy from different online stores. To keep your books in order, download this free tool called <strong><a href="http://calibre-ebook.com/" target="_blank">Calibre</a></strong> which can help you keep track of what you’ve read, what you want to read, what you want to buy soon and what you thought of different books.</p> <p><strong>Remember to back up</strong></p> <p>There are free services that keep your eBooks in the cloud for safekeeping. You can try <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://db.tt/gM07NUU" target="_blank">Dropbox</a></strong></span>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://db.tt/gM07NUU" target="_blank">Mozy</a></strong></span>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.me.com/" target="_blank">Mobileme</a>,</strong></span> and <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.sugarsync.com/" target="_blank">Sugarsync</a></strong></span>. Why backup? Well some retailers don’t let you re-download a book once you’ve bought it or you might accidentally delete the file. It’s best to be backed up so that you don’t have to worry about losing your purchases, and you can even set it up so that it just happens automatically when you buy something.</p> <p><strong>Enjoy FREE books!</strong></p> <p>Many retailers offer free downloads of certain titles. Why not download them and see if any of them take your fancy. You can always delete them if you don’t think you’ll get around to reading them.</p> <p><strong>Try the free samples</strong></p> <p>EBooks aren’t cheap and you don’t want to end up with an e-pile of books that you don’t fancy reading. So why not use the sample feature to try before you by.</p> <p><strong>Visit the library</strong></p> <p>Non-Kindle users can “borrow” eBooks from the local library. Some libraries offer the service, usually through a company called Overdrive. Speak to your librarian to get more instructions on how to get this service on your device.</p> <p><strong>Share with friends and family</strong></p> <p>Many people don’t know that you can share your eBooks with a number of other devices. It might be your partner, close friend or family member – anyone that you are willing to share your credit card details with essentially.</p> <p><strong>Keep a spare charger</strong></p> <p>For a few dollars it’s well worth keeping an extra charger around – perhaps one for your bedroom and one for the home office. This is also handy if you take your charger to a hotel on holidays and accidentally leave it behind.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/07/eight-tips-for-your-kindle/">8 great things you can do with your Kindle</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/04/hidden-facebook-features/">3 hidden Facebook features you’ll want to know about</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/05/facebook-after-death/">What happens to someone’s Facebook if they pass away?</a></strong></span></em></p>

Technology

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8 great things you can do with your Kindle

<p>Let’s face it, as much as we love them, physical copies of books can be heavy and they take up a lot of room. You want to be able to read as many books as your heart desires, wherever you are, so you bought a kindle: a small device that allows you the freedom to carry digital copies of literature around in the palm of your hand and read them on the screen before you. But now you’re not sure how to make the most of it. We’ve all been there, so we’ve got eight tips that will help you maximise your new kindle so you can finally get to those books you’ve been meaning to read.</p> <p><strong>1. Surf the web</strong></p> <p>Your Kindle isn’t just for reading books! You can use your device to browse the Internet. You might find that it’s slower than your phone or computer, but you can still use it to access your Facebook, news and Over60. On your home screen, just click “Menu” then “Experimental” followed by “Launch Browser” and you’re ready to browse.</p> <p><strong>2. Create collections</strong></p> <p>Just like a physical library, Kindle allows the user to create organized collections. This means you can group your books by category, user, or whatever you choose. Maybe you want to keep your recipes guides separate from your Gatsbys. You can do that. Just select “Create a Collection” on your home screen, type in the name you would like to call it and click “Save”.</p> <p><strong>3. Refresh</strong></p> <p>Like any electronic device, your Kindle might give you trouble. If your screen becomes corrupted, you can refresh it by hitting Alt and G at the same time. This will refresh the screen for you. If that doesn’t work, try turning your Kindle off completely by holding the power switch to the right until the screen goes black, and then turn it back on.</p> <p><strong>4. Have your Kindle read to you</strong></p> <p>If your eyes are tired, why not have your Kindle read to you out loud? You can do that. So long as the specific publisher has not disabled the option, you can make your device read aloud by clicking the Text menu button, which looks like, “Aa” followed by selecting, “Text to speech: Turn on”. From there, you can stop and start the speech feature by pressing Shift+Sym or use the device’s spacebar to pause or resume your book.</p> <p><strong>5. Capture a screenshot</strong></p> <p>Want to remember a quote or save a photo for later? Kindle can do that too. If you want to take a screenshot of anything that appears on your screen, just click Alt-Shift-G. This will save a file which you can find later in your documents folder.</p> <p><strong>6. Use the dictionary</strong></p> <p>Maybe you’re reading Foucault again and you’re not sure what a word means. That’s okay, because your Kindle knows. Just place the Kindle’s cursor over the unknown word and a dictionary definition will appear. On newer Kindles, it can also save every word you look up under a Vocabulary Builder, making flash cards for future reference. Do I know what “gregarious” means? <em>I sure do.</em></p> <p><strong>7. Turn off social settings</strong></p> <p>Do you see reading as your private time? As you’ve been using your Kindle you may have noticed comments and highlights from other readers on the books you’re reading. If this is an irritation to you, you can easily turn this setting off. Just go to, “Home” “Menu” “Settings” and finally, “Popular Highlights” where you can switch this setting to off.</p> <p><strong>8. Add bookmarks, highlights and annotations</strong></p> <p>If you see something you want to remember later, you can bookmark, highlight, or add notes to the piece you’re reading.  Just click, “Menu” followed by “Add bookmark/annotation/highlight”. You can access these later by clicking “View Notes and Marks”.</p> <p><strong>Related Links:</strong></p> <p><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2014/07/never-pay-for-an-ebook-again/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NEVER pay for an ebook again</span></a></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/06/find-phone-using-google/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How to use Google to find your phone</span></a></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/04/computer-shortcuts/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 computer shortcuts to save you time</span></a></em></strong></p>

Technology

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NEVER pay for an ebook again

<p>If you’re a bit of bookworm and love nothing more than to curl up on the sofa and read a novel a day on your tablet, you’ll want to read this.</p><p>Gone are the days of lugging heavy books around Kindles and tablets are a great way to read anytime anywhere. But if you’re somewhat of a book fanatic you might find you’re forking out quite a bit on the buying ebooks. Follow these handy hacks on how you can save money and even get some ebooks for free.</p><p><strong>1. Seek bargain and free ebooks</strong></p><ul><li>The <a href="http://www.amazon.com.au/s/ref=sr_kk_2/378-5674884-4829763?rh=i%3Adigital-text%2Ck%3Afree+books&amp;keywords=free+books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1406679752" target="_blank">Amazon Kindle Store</a> displays a list of the top 100 free best sellers.</li><li>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pixelofink.com" target="_blank">Pixel of Ink </a>posts free and discounted ebooks daily.</li><li><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> has free and bargain-priced ebooks from independent authors available in several different e-reader formats.</li></ul><p><strong>2. Read classics for free<br></strong>Works that have no current copyright are under the public domain and are free for distribution. Several websites make these works available for e-readers, including <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/" target="_blank">Project Gutenberg</a>, which has the most comprehensive collection. While sites like <a href="http://www.feedbooks.com/" target="_blank">Feedbooks</a> and <a href="http://manybooks.net/" target="_blank">Manybooks</a> have less of a selection, their ebooks are well formatted and error-checked.</p><p><strong>3. Swap and borrow</strong> <br> Lend and borrow with friends, family and strangers.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.booklending.com/" target="_blank">BookingLending.com</a>&nbsp;allows you to lend or borrow books from other members for free. If you join, follow the etiquette of loaning a book before you borrow one. When looking for a book to borrow, you can search the title, or <a href="http://www.booklending.com/borrow-book.htm" target="_blank">browse recent loans</a>. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime" target="_blank">Amazon Prime</a> members can also borrow books. You can borrow one e-book per month from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000739811"></a>, which has thousands of selections to choose from. If you don’t have an Amazon Prime account, you can trial month for free. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>4. Stay in-the-know</strong><br> Many blogs regularly post news on recently discounted or newly released free e-books. For the Kindle, check out the The <a href="http://ireaderreview.com/category/free-books/" target="_blank">Kindle Review</a> or <a href="http://kindlenationdaily.com/" target="_blank">Kindle Nation Daily</a>, both of which post daily updates on new free e-books from Amazon. NOOK owners should bookmark<a href="http://nooklovers.com" target="_blank"> Nook Lovers</a> for their bargain e-books.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

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