Comments for I Love My Kindle

Comment on Round up #171: XBOOKS, Stephen King’s latest horror by liz

liz — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:56:49 +0000

- I understood Amazon’s initial reticence to releasing sales figures when the Kindle was merely a fledgling (let it get on its feet first), but now it’s mature, I do wonder why sales info isn’t more transparent. I don’t expect anything really exciting or damaging to be in the hidden documents, but this might be what starts Amazon releasing that info openly.
- I usually “watch” TV in the background and like to have CC on … if I don’t catch what someone said, I can quickly glance at the screen and read the dialogue. I’ve also noticed a difference in how certain things are typed up: some ads get the male/female differentiation, and some shows have the music described as happy/moody/slow/sad/etc. I’ve wondered if the difference in information is due to the individual typing it in, or if it’s related to expectations of different firms that handle the CC transcription for the different advertising companies (although the CC you’re reading for CNN live broadcasts is typed in live, the ads are not – they’re controlled by the ad companies … you’ll see the same mistakes every time the ad is shown, and some ads don’t have CC at all). I’ve sometimes noticed slight differences between the scripted show’s (or movie’s) spoken dialogue and the CC – in those cases, I suspect that the scriptwriter intended a character to say one thing, but the actor changed it up at the last minute … the CC was typed in based on the script rather than the spoken dialogue. It’s fun to spot the differences and decide which version is better!
- I’m confused by Stephen King’s decision … apparently, the book is available for pre-order from Amazon, so why bother blocking the e-book version? Unless he’s actually standing up for the guys who actually print the paper books – it is a little sad to think their jobs are fading away.
- I can’t imagine doing TTS on my TV – it uses a lot of electricity when it’s running, and it’s not at all portable. So if I want to “read” a book while folding laundry, I’ll take my Kindle 2 or my Fire with me and listen to that. But then, I do fold the laundry in the garage … if I folded it in the den, I might be tempted by TTS on TV.

Comment on Things keep getting better #1 by Brian Hartman

Brian Hartman — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:44:23 +0000

No problem., if it’s not a word you accept. I understand..

Comment on Round up #171: XBOOKS, Stephen King’s latest horror by Bufo Calvin

Bufo Calvin — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:32:10 +0000

Thanks for writing, loneybaloney!

I think they do an excellent job! I’d prefer it if they didn’t identify gender, since I know that’s likely there in the ads just to influence my buying decisions. They don’t try and put everything into it…it doesn’t say “Old male announcer”, for example. They don’t identify age. They don’t typically identify accent, right?

I actually have seen the music described in movie closed captioning, so you are absolutely right on that.

I appreciate your comments! I don’t particularly want CNN to change it…I just find it interesting.

Comment on Round up #171: XBOOKS, Stephen King’s latest horror by Bufo Calvin

Bufo Calvin — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:29:20 +0000

Thanks for writing, Joe!

Whoops! You sound right…I’ll double-check…thanks!

Comment on Things keep getting better #1 by Bufo Calvin

Bufo Calvin — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:28:50 +0000

Thanks for writing, Brian!

I considered censoring it…and still might. That particular word does get used pretty freely, though.

Comment on Is Amazon readying a new RSK? by Bufo Calvin

Bufo Calvin — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:28:05 +0000

Thanks for writing, Brian!

Great, I’m glad you liked it! After all, you helped inspire it.

Thanks, too, for being a subscriber!

I have asked Amazon about it…I’ll let you know if I hear anything I can share.

Comment on Round up #171: XBOOKS, Stephen King’s latest horror by loneybaloney

loneybaloney — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:13:05 +0000

The captioning identifies gender so that a HOH (hard of hearing) or deaf person will know everything that people without hearing loss know — which includes the likely sex of speaker. Music is frequently identified/described as triumphant, spooky, etc.in captioning, less so in real time captioning when speed is a factor. These are court reporters wearing headsets doing their best to keep up. CC’ing is done by humans and different humans do different things. U should ask CNN why their music descriptions are so generalized. They will probably ask Caption Colorado or whoever does their captioning. Caption Colorado will probably ask the guy who has the CNN assignment.

Comment on Round up #171: XBOOKS, Stephen King’s latest horror by Joe Bowers

Joe Bowers — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:26:36 +0000

Hello, B.C.,
In the second paragraph of the section on “Xbooks,” I believe you put Amazon where you meant Microsoft, regarding having invested in the Nook. I may be wrong.
Cheers!

Comment on Things keep getting better #1 by Brian Hartman

Brian Hartman — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:36:09 +0000

That was funny, thanks for the laugh. And thanks for all you’ve done and do for us Kindleers.

P.S. Sorry about the off-color word I used above. I read several tech blogs daily and they throw around the f-bomb and all its cousins freely. I’m sad to say I may have become inured to it. I know you dislike those words in your blog and will be more mindful in the future.

In my defense, I was quoting Dad, though…!

Comment on Is Amazon readying a new RSK? by Brian Hartman

Brian Hartman — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:33:38 +0000

Great post Bufo! Sorry I didn’t write sooner but I was helping my Dad, who dousn’t have, and doesn’t think he needs (but he does–I do, at least) wifi. Read it on my KK pretty soon after you posted it and yes, that’s like an ad for the “99 cents” RSK subscription. ” I can keep up with my blogs, even at Dad’s house!” You summed up the situation perfectly. I,too, obviously hope a new model with sound is coming. It doesn’t even need speakers if they’re too expensive, although I certainly would prefer them. An audio jack would do.

On an unrelated note, I know you like to do a “what’s coming up” post about books in the near future. In the Kindle store search for “buzz books 2013.” It’s free. I have it and it looks pretty fun. I’m just a private reader, as you know, not shilling. Again, great post. -Brian