The question is, in this amped-up, caffeine-fueled, Twitter/SMS-littered world of constant distractions, is there a place for silence in business? That is, can a more silent environment lead to better writing? In this post I explore OmmWriter, a zen-like tool for writing…
Entries Tagged as 'Tools & Technology'
Cultivating Silence, For Better Writing
January 17th, 2012 · 9 Comments · Back to Basics, Creativity, Tools & Technology
Kindle Touch: Much Improved Readability
November 29th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Tools & Technology
When I shared my first impressions of a new Kindle Touch, my review was positive but not glowing. Now that I’ve used it quite a bit over the past week, my opinion about its readability has improved. Thanks to evolutionary advances in its display technology, this Kindle is much better for reading than last year’s […]
Tags: Kindle Touch
Kindle Touch: First Impressions Positive, Not Glowing
November 21st, 2011 · 4 Comments · Tools & Technology
If the iPad is a BMW, Amazon’s new Kindle Touch is a Chevy or a bare-bones Ford. It will take you where you want to go, but don’t expect frills along the way… A nicely crafted reading device but the hardware may be too underpowered for the UI.
Tags: iPad 2·Kindle·Kindle Touch
Kindle: Now at the Public Library
October 3rd, 2011 · 1 Comment · Bookshelf, Tools & Technology
Despite being an avid reader, I’ve been a latecomer to the Kindle. A year ago I tried a Kindle DX but gave it up for various reasons. Amazon’s recent announcement of a Kindle beta test with public libraries rekindled my interest (so to speak), so I decided to try again — with the Kindle app […]
The Real Problem with Netflix
September 30th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Brand Matters, Tools & Technology
Consumers are enraged at Netflix’ steep price increases with good reason — a 60% increase is hard to take during a prolonged recession. As a result well over 1 million have already cancelled their subscription. From the consumer’s POV, Netflix’ latest plans to split the offering into two unrelated services, Netflix and Qwikster, are utterly […]
Tags: Netflix·Netflix on PS3·streaming media·user experience
Is It Time for Reading to Be Reinvented?
May 15th, 2011 · Comments Off · Bookshelf, Tools & Technology
Why do people read books? Why do people read eBooks?
I’ve been pondering these questions, sparked by an entrepreneur’s pitch. He dreams of reinventing how people read and experience books, at least among young people. He wants to host the conversations that take place around books, via a new “social eBook app” for the iPad and other tablet devices. Is this a good idea, one that’s likely to appeal who love reading for pleasure — and spend money doing so?
Tags: ebooks·ePub·flow·iPad·storytelling
On Photo Booths and Identity
January 29th, 2011 · 2 Comments · Back to Basics, Tools & Technology
When I lived in Paris, it seemed there was a photo booth on every corner. The French, quintessential bureaucrats, required photo documentation on all kinds of permits and applications. Perhaps they still do. The police required a photo on my carte d’identité, a document to be carried at all times (or risk deportation). It was not […]
Taxes: Get Ready to Waste Lots of Time
January 21st, 2011 · 1 Comment · Back to Basics, Tools & Technology
It was ironic that 3 local accounting firms called me today to pitch their services, just as I was wrestling with the 1099 forms to file regarding payments to independent contractors. At this time of year, there are millions of small businesses facing similar time losses due to tax filings. Print PDF
Boys and Their Toys
January 9th, 2011 · 3 Comments · Tools & Technology
So what is it about boys and their toys? Or my mother and her gadgets, for that matter? Yesterday I went for a walk with my husband, his first practice run with 2 new tech gadgets purchased for next summer’s boating season. One is a low power handheld UHF radio designed for use in coastal […]
Kindle for Seniors
December 1st, 2010 · Comments Off · Tools & Technology
Who would have guessed that the gift my father wanted most for his 60th wedding anniversary was a Kindle. It turns out to make a lot of sense for guys like him. He’s a voracious reader, and is now struggling with age-related eyesight challenges. So Kindle’s ability to zoom up to larger type is a […]
Tags: Kindle