Audible Will Exclude Publishers Works from Captions Program - For Now - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard clapping and cheering outside. Following all the hoopla took our brave kitty to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all he found a post about Audible's new Captions feature.

Did somebody finally read the contract?

The post by Andrew Albanese states, that because of the recent publishers' lawsuit against Audible the company has agreed to make certain changes to the implementation of the Captions feature. Audible will exclude the audio books of the publishers involved in the lawsuit until the court decides on certain issues in the case. The date of the case has been changed and Audible will offer additional information before the new date. Panzer told you about the lawsuit a few days ago.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks Audible will offer a new contract to publishers for the right for Captions to type out the words. It's like typing the words for a deaf human to read."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea.

To read the post tootle over to Audible Captions

To read Panzer's previous post about the Captions lawsuit, tootle over to Amazon's Audible

How to Erase Your Google History (Yes, All of it) - The Digital Reader

It looks easy.

Panzer was sitting in the pilot's seat of the Panzermobile when he noticed something stuck under the windshield wiper. Checking outside, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from The Digital Reader site about your Google history.

According to The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, there's a way to erase your Google history. You can delete your YouTube viewing history, your Google search history, all of it. And the instructions are relatively simple.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The post says there's a way to keep Google from tracking you too."

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

To read the post tootle over to Google history

Bibliotheca Calls Out Amazon for Meddling in the Library E-Book Market - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There with a little digging in the posts our adventuresome kitty pilot found a post about Amazon's perceived influence on libraries.

Mom and I like libraries.

According to the Publishers Weekly post by Andrew Albanese, Bibliotheca SVP of Digital Products Tom Mercer is blaming Amazon for publisher Macmillan's recent embargo on libraries and other publishers' changes to library terms. Panzer told you about the embargo earlier this month. Tom Mercer says Amazon has access to the company's customers' library usage information and is giving that information to publishers and authors.  He believes Amazon collected the library usage information through vendors such as OverDrive. OverDrive offers online library patrons the ability to read their checked-out ebooks using the OverDrive Libby app or patrons can choose the Kindle app. He wants libraries to pressure OverDrive to stop allowing patrons to use the Kindle app. There are links in the post to a copy of Tom Mercer's letter to librarians and to other information about Amazon.

Panzer says, "This little kitty knows Mom uses the Libby app for library ebooks."

Note: This is a h-u-m-u-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a gallon of lemonade and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring another gallon of lemonade and a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

To read Panzer's earlier post about Macmillan's embargo tootle over to Macmillan

How To Build Your Own Home Sound Booth For Audiobooks And Podcasting - The Creative Penn

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, he made a stop at The Creative Penn site. There our inquisitive kitty boy found a post about how to build an audio sound booth in your home.

According to The Creative Penn site owner Joanna Penn, she has constructed her own in-home sound booth. Panzer has listened to The Creative Penn podcast for a couple of years now. Joanna Penn has already recorded some of her own audiobooks. Since she plans to do more, she decided to do a "proper" sound booth. She used the instructions from an online post to do it. The cost is given in U.S. dollars in a list near the end of the post. The only thing she outsourced was the building of the wooden frame. There are several links in the post including the one with the original instructions.

I can't use a hammer. I don't have thumbs.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... My way of recording is a lot easier. I just get under the quilt on the bed and meow right into Mom's microphone."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring half a thermos of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to audio sound booth

A New Panzerism

Panzer on tools:

Mom, what do you mean cats can't use tools?

Not true.

A little back scratch would be nice. too.

I think of you as my P.T.U.

That's Personal Transportation Unit.

Now ...

Pick me up and carry me to the window while you're petting my head, you silly tool.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans

Amazon-owned Audible sued by major book publishers over controversial text-to-speech feaure - GeekWire

Panzer was fueling up the Panzermobile when the radio started crackling and squealing. Adjusting the channel, our careful kitty pilot discovered the GeekWire site was causing all the noise. Traveling over to the site, he found a post about Audible's new Captions feature. Panzer has posted about the Captions feature several times over the last few days.

Is Captions worth the hype?

According to the post by Nat Levy, Amazon's Audible is being sued by seven major book publishers. The publishers are suing for copyright infringement. The lawsuit claims Audible's new Captions feature is not part of Audible's licensing agreement with the publishers.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty wonders if anybody at Audible did read the license agreement."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Panzer's most recent previous post about Captions (which contains links to four other posts), bring two gallons of tea and three dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Audible sued

To read the previous post tootle over to Audible Captions

Amazon Expands Portland Tech Hub and Announces Plans to Create 400 New High Tech Jobs - Press Release

Today Panzer was rudely shaken awake from his afternoon nap by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, he followed all the noise to the Amazon Press Release Room.  There he found a post about Amazon's expansion in Portland, Oregon.

Amazon has 650,000 workers world-wide.

In the press release Amazon announced the company is adding 400 employees to the Portland, Oregon, Tech Hub. The company already employs 3,500 employees in Oregon. To facilitate the expansion the company will open 84,000 square feet of office space in Portland. The post also includes information about Amazon's financial contributions to Oregon's economy and information about the company in general.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... When Amazon isn't opening new stores, it's hiring new employees."

Note: This is a long-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon Portland, Ore., Tech Hub

George R.R. Martin: the end fo Game of Thrones on TV was a liberation - The Guardian

A little hint would be appreciated.

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at The Guardian site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty found one about George R.R. Martin.

According to the post by Sarah Hughes and Nosheen Iqba, now that the TV series Game of Thrones is finished George R.R. Martin is able to return to work on the fantasy novels the series was based on. Since he's 70 years old, there's been some speculation he may not be able to finish the remaining two novels. Although a lot of fans didn't like the end of the series, Mr. Martin said that will have no impact on how he writes the end of his books. The post is a condensed version of a much longer interview with the author. There's a link included in the post to the full interview.

Panzer says, "This little kitty does wonder if the end of the book series will be the same as the TV series."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the link to the full interview, bring a gallon of tea and one dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to George R.R. Martin

Amazon continues physical retail expansion with plans for new bookstore in Nashville and 4-star store in Boston - GeekWire

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted by clapping and cheering. Following all the hullabaloo took our busy kitty boy to the GeekWire site. There with no digging at all, he found a post about Amazon's new retail plans.

They keep popping up everywhere.

According to the Geekwire post by Nat Levy, Amazon has announced the opening of a new bricks and mortar Amazon Books store in Nashville, Tennessee. The company also plans to open an Amazon 4-star store in Boston, Massachusetts. (In addition to books, a 4-star store sells other products.) The post contains links to other information about Amazon stores.

Panzer says, "Amazon keeps making a bigger footprint in brick and mortar stores."

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

To read today's post tootle over to Amazon

A New Panzerism

Panzer on giving to charity for the greater good:

Mom told me she and What's His Name are going to a charity auction tonight.

She said all the money raised will go to take care of retired greyhounds.

She said it's a good cause ...

And ...

That humans always support good causes.

So ...

After thinking about it a while ...

I want to start a charity for retired cats.

I'll be waiting by the mailbox.

You humans won't even have to leave home.

Just mail me your check, cash or catnip.

On second thought ...

Just send the catnip.



*From Cat Wisdom for humans