BookExpo 2018: B&N Boss Says More Bookstores the Better - Publishers Weekly (PW)

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. There our traveling kitty found a post about the opening speech at the BookExpo 2018.

According to the post by Ed Nawotka, Barnes and Noble Chairman Len Riggio presented the opening speech at this year's BookExpo. The speech was centered on independent bookstores and chain bookstores co-existing. Mr. Riggio said readers are returning to physical books because they like the feel of a book and want to have a physical library. In order to accomplish this readers will need both independent and chain bookstores. He also stressed the importance of following new trends such as audio books.

Actually, real books never went away.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe, Mr. Riggio knows what he's talking about. ... Mom has a Kindle ereader, a PaperWhite and a huge pile of to be read real books."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Amazon Launches Latest Rooftop Solar System on 813,000 Square Foot Fulfillment Center in North Las Vegas - Press Release

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he heard clapping and cheering. Following all the joyful noise took our adventuresome kitty to the Amazon Press Release site. There he found a post about Amazon's newest solar rooftop installation.

According to the press release, Amazon has installed a solar rooftop system at their North Las Vegas fulfillment center. The 1.1 megawatt system installation is the second the company has installed on their company sites in Nevada. This is the 17th rooftop solar installation in the U.S. in the past 14 months. Amazon's plans are to eventually be providing 100 percent of the company's energy consumption from it's own renewable energy company-wide. There's a link to Amazon's renewable energy plans included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Nevada seems to like all the jobs Amazon is bringing for employees there. ... And ... You know, Seattle, Washington, where the Amazon headquarters (HQ1) are located just put a $275 per employee tax on businesses ... And ... Amazon is the biggest employer there. ... And ... Amazon will be paying over $10 million per year because they have so many employees. ... So ... Maybe Nevada would like Amazon's HQ1 and all those jobs for employees, but with no per employee tax, of course. ... This little kitty is just wondering."

Note: This is a short-medium length post (if you take out all the usual information about Amazon at the end). Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Solar

Two Years In and Kobo is Still Missing the Mark on its Color-Changing Frontlight - The Digital Reader

Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere today when he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the post pile our inquisitive kitty found a post about Kobo's Clara HD ereader.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Kobo has a new Clara HD ereader. The Clara HD will have a 6 inch screen with RGB LED frontlight. The Clara HD product description is followed by a short section about Kobo's history with RGB LEDs. This is followed by a larger section about the features Mr. Hoffelder would like to see Kobo add.

Any sleep aid is nice.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... A screen where you can adjust the colors to make going to sleep easier? This little kitty wants one."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Kobo Clara HD

Memorial Day

Memorial Day
The Day We Remember Those Who Gave All

Amazon Has Banned ARC Reviews, and Forgot to Tell Anyone - The Digital Reader

Panzer was taking a leisurely ride around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted by crying and howling. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to The Digital Reader site. With no digging at all he found a post about Amazon's review policies on ARCs (Advanced Reader Copy).

Makes absolutely no sense to me.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, recently there have been a lot of authors posting at online sites about Amazon's new ARC review policy. Authors are posting that some of their ARC reviewers are receiving a message saying they can't post a review of a book. No one is exactly sure what has changed at Amazon since there appears to be no change in the on-site posted reviewer policy. Speculation is that it's another case of 'bots running the business without supervision. Be sure to read the Comments section below the post for some interesting information.

Panzer says, "But ... But ... How can you play by the rules if you don't know what they are?"

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon ARC reviews

Amazon Pushes Facial Recognition to Police. Critics See Surveillance Risk - The New York Times

Today's trip took our frisky kitty to The New York Times site. There he found a post about Amazon's facial recognition system.

I don't like this at all.

According to Nick Wingfield, Amazon has a facial recognition service called Rekognition. The facial recognition tool is available through Amazon Web Services. Amazon is making a concerted effort to interest law enforcement agencies in the service. Apparently, the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Oregon is the first (known) adopter of the service. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union has asked Amazon to stop promoting the facial recognition tool to law enforcement.

Panzer says, "Mom and I usually only post about publishing stuff ... But ... I wanted you to know ... Because ... This is kind of scary stuff to this little kitty."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a thermos of tea, a dozen muffins and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon facial recognition

Witherspoon Brings Hello Sunshine to Audible - Publishers Weekly (PW)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering outside the Panzermobile. Following all the hullabaloo took our fearless kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. With hardly any digging at all he found a post about Audible.

Sooner or later, all good things cost money.

According to the post by Publishers Weekly's (PW) Shannon Maughan, Audible and Hello Sunshine have announced their partnership. Hello Sunshine is Reese Witherspoon's company formed to help bring books with strong female characters to the public's attention. To help with this endeavor Ms. Witherspoon also started Reese's Book Club. Now Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine will be available on Audible in June. This will allow Hello Sunshine to expand its female centered books into the audio realm.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I guess that means only Audible subscribers have access to Reece's Book Club x Hello Sunshine now."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Audible

Juggernaut India's Answer to Wattpad gets its first movie deal as an injunction against another Juggernaut title is restored - The New Publishing Standard

I'll be watching this company.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The New Publishing Standard site. There with a little digging our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about Juggernaut.

According to the post by Mark Williams, India's Juggernaut recently announced 35,000 stories have been uploaded to their Writing Platform site. In a separate press release Juggernaut also announced one of the stories uploaded has been acquired for a movie. This is in addition to the ten publishing contracts given to authors whose work was uploaded to the site. Juggernaut is only available to the Indian subcontinent. There are several links to other posts and sites.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks Juggernaut is aptly named."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Juggernaut

A New Panzerism

Panzer on the first signs of Spring:

Mom! I have to go outside!

Mom! Look out the window!

Mom ... Girl Kitty! Girl Kitty!

Hey ... Girl Kitty ... I'm in here!

Yooh hoo!

Mom! I have to go outside!

Girl Kitty! Look at me!

Mom! I have to go outside!

Girl Kitty! I'm right here!

Hey Girl Kitty! Wait for me!

Mom! I have to go outside right now!

Girl Kitty! It's me hanging from the curtain!

MEYOOW!

Mom! When you let me outside, you can get a screwdriver to put the curtain rod back up.

RIP

It will be okay.

Panzer here.

It's official.

Mom's computer is dead.

It died of congestive CPU fever.

A new computer will be delivered on May 28. Until then, we'll be working as best we can to keep everything on time.

See you tomorrow.

Storytel now live in Turkey. Italy launch imminent and Bulgaria launch soon - The New Publishing Standard

Storytel is everywhere.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The New Publishing Standard site. There our little kitty boy found a post about Storytel.

According Mike Williams, Storytel recently opened their newest audio book store in Turkey. The Turkey store joins Storytel's other 11 stores, located in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, India, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and United Arab Emirates. Speculation is that Storytel's next two stores will open in Italy and Bulgaria.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... It looks like Storytel is taking over the European audio book market."

Note: This is a medium length post. A cup of tea and a muffin should be enough for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Storytel

Amazon Continues Investment and Growth in Ohio with New West Jefferson Fulfillment Center - Press Release

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard laughing, clapping and cheering outside. Following all the jocularity took our inquisitive kitty boy to the Amazon newsroom. There with no digging at all he discovered news about Amazon's newest fulfillment center.

According to the press release, Amazon plans to open another fulfillment center in Ohio. Construction should be finished by the end of 2019. The 1,500 employees at the new center will bring Amazon's total Ohio employees to 7,500. Amazon has spent 2 billion dollars in Ohio since 2011 through infrastructure construction and employee salaries and benefits. There's a link included in the press release to learn about jobs at fulfillment centers and employee benefits.

Amazon thinks Ohio is a nice place to work.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Maybe, Ohio would like Amazon's HQ2."

Note: This is a long press release. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for the press release; but, if you plan to follow the link to learn more about job opportunities, bring another cup of tea.

To read the press release, tootle over to Amazon

A New Panzerism

(In honor of Mother's Day yesterday)

Panzer on having a healthy relationship:

Mom's love for me is sick, sick, sick.

It's a demanding relationship for me.

Maybe, if I could just get her to be a little less dependent on me.

Wait! Mom! Don't stop!

But ...

Her need to touch my soft, silky fur does feel kind of good.

Maybe ...

Being co-dependent isn't so bad.



From: Cat Wisdom for humans

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day
To Moms Everywhere

From Panzer, Mom and What's His Name

Amazon is Beta-Testing New Author Pages - The Digital Reader

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when suddenly he heard the sounds of oohing and aahhing outside. Following all the noise took our intrepid kitty traveler to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about Amazon's Author Pages.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Amazon is beta-testing some changes to the Author Pages. The post shows an example of the changes comparing an old and new author page for Stephen King. Also included in the post is a link to Joanna Penn's new Author Page.

It looks like a good idea to me.

Panzer says, "The only thing this little kitty noticed different was the author photo is bigger. Oh, wait. Mom used my photo on her Author Page. I'll have to check it out."

Note: This is a short post. One cup of tea will do it for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon author pages

Is Google abandoning Android? - TeleRead

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the TeleRead site. There our inquisitive kitty pilot found a post about Google.

Let's watch it together.

According to the post by Chris Meadows, Google hasn't been making any changes to the Android tablets since the Pixel C. The post explores the question of the possibility that Google is switching from Android to Chrome OS for the tablet. It also addresses the lack of business apps for Android. While there's no conclusion or answer to the question in the post's title, it does contain pertinent information about the situation. The post opens with a link to and quotes from a post by Ryan Whitwam.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks it will be interesting to see what Google does with Android."

Note: This is a longish-medium length post. Bring half a thermos of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Google

7 million users in the Philippines as Wattpad's tencent-backed Asia plans step up a gear - The New Publishing Standard

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering. Following all the hullabaloo took our adventuresome kitty pilot to The New Publishing Standard site. With no digging at all he discovered a post about Wattpad.

According to Mark Williams, Wattpad has just finished a new funding round. Wattpad started as a site for writers to post their work for readers to comment on and refer their friends to read. It has over time grown into much more. Wattpad has over 65 million users world-wide of which 7 million are located in the Philippines. With the new funding, Wattpad is making an expansion in the SE Asia market. Their recent funding with Kickstart Ventures added telco to their already existing partnering with TV5 for furthering that expansion in the Philippines. The post includes much more information on the planned SE Asia expansion and information about Tencent, Wattpad's other funding investor. Also included are quotes from other posts and links to post.

I see an interesting future for Wattpad.

Panzer says, "This little kitty sees the SE Asia market opened wider to Wattpad's expansion plans with the addition of Tencent and Kickstart Ventures help."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring two thermos of tea, two dozen muffins, and a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle.

To read the post tootle over to Wattpad

A New Panzerism

Panzer on an important question:

That clumsy two-legged human, What's His Name, is always asking that stupid sing-song question ...

"Who's a good boy?"

Well ...

I'll tell you who isn't.

Me ... Panzer

Being good is vastly overrated.

Girl cats want bad boy cats.

So ...

Listen up, What's His Name ...

For the last time ...

I am not a good boy.

So ...

Litter box. Slippers. Both the same to me.

Don't ask again.

Or ...

I'll demonstrate my answer in your slippers for you.

Computer Problems So No Post Until Monday

There was no post yesterday (Friday) because Mom's computer crashed and everything went all kittywampus. Now her computer is at the computer hospital where the computer doctors are trying to figure out if it will survive their surgery efforts. While we wait for news, Mom is using her old laptop. We'll be back posting on Monday.

Amazon Launches Kids' Subscription Service - Publishers Weekly (PW)

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping. Following the noise took our kitty pilot to the Publishers Weekly (PW) site. There he found a post about Amazon's new children's book subscription service.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Amazon has begun a new book subscription service for children. Called Prime Book Box it's available to Prime Members. The service is for the children's age groups of two years and younger and three years to twelve years. Amazon Books editors will pick the month's books based on the child's age. There is a monthly subscription fee. The post also includes book choice information, subscription frequency and subscription fee cost.

Books are meant to be read.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Start children reading early ... Makes sense to this little kitty."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

Dropbox Quietly Launches an Epub Viewer - The Digital Reader

Panzer made a quick trip into the Catosphere today. Our speedy kitty stopped in at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging he found a post about Dropbox.

Hmm ... Why is it a secret?

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, Dropbox has an unannounced new feature. With no fanfare by Dropbox an epub viewer has been added. Since the feature lacks formatting capabilities, it's not an epub reader but an epub viewer. Dropbox allows users to store their document and graphics zip files and mobi, epub and pdf book files. The post includes instructions for the epub viewer use. Read the Comments section too.

Panzer says, "Mom has a Dropbox account and nobody told her about the epub viewer."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Dropbox

Government announces further tax for Kiwis buying low-value goods online - NZ Herald

Panzer was enjoying a leisurely trip around the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken and buffeted by shouting and crying and teeth gnashing. Following all the noise took our brave kitty pilot to the NZ Herald site. With no digging at all he found a post about New Zealand's Amazon Tax.

The NZ (New Zealand) Herald post by Audrey Young and Barry Soper says the New Zealand government is ready to announce a new 15 percent tax on low-value online purchases from overseas companies. The government designates purchases under $400 as low-value. Online purchases over $400 are already taxed. Although the tax is nicknamed the Amazon Tax it will apply to all online retail sellers such as Alibaba and e-Bay as well as Amazon.

All I need is a credit card and a computer.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I guess the New Zealand government wants to make it so expensive people wont purchase anything online from an overseas company ever. Of course, that tax doesn't mean anything to a New Zealand cat with his Mom's credit card."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and half a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Tax