The iPad eReader Feature

The new iPad launched this week and it's been all over the news. It's 1.5 pounds, half an inch thick, and boasts a 9.7-inch display. The base model with 16GB is $499.

While some features are lacking (no camera or Flash capability) it does do everything that the iTouch does and more - video, music, games, Internet, a word processing program... and an eReader!

Apple has launched the iBook store and it is similar to iTunes. The iBook program uses the ePub format, which is the most popular in the world. Pages can be changed with the press of a button or by touching the screen and turning pages naturally. One can also adjust the font size. Of the big publishing houses, only Random House has yet to sign a deal, and they are currently in talks with Apple.

For those of us with an iPhone or iTouch, unless we just gotta have one, it presents nothing revolutionary. However, for anyone who is debating whether to buy a Kindle (the eBook store's prime competition), a Sony, or a Nook, this deal is a no-brainer. For only $200 more, you not only get a really awesome eReader - you get to watch movies, play games, listen to music, and surf the web. How cool is that?

 

Writing Rules - A Paradox

There's some writing rules out there that perplex me. Maybe someone can help me understand. Many of these I've seen posted online within the last month. Others are just grammar rules.

Sample rules:

Don't use incomplete sentences.

Don't use adjectives that end in "ly."

Show don't tell.

Don't end a sentence with a preposition. (Although the Chicago Manual of Style says that's a superstition. Odd word choice!)

Eyes that drop or roll.

Don't use a passive voice.

And it's not the rules themselves that perplex me - it's the fact that I can take any book off my shelf and within the first few pages, find that several of those rules have been broken! So what gives? Are these issues important to some editors but not others? Is it that writers and new authors should strive not to break these rules until they are established and then they can write all the bad grammar their heart desires? Or is it something else altogether? Anyone help me here?

Or is this just one of life's great mysteries?

Odds & Ends & an Award

I already had yesterday's post ready, so some of this is a day late!

First, I'm looking forward to a great Super Bowl between the Saints and the Colts. So I won't be online the evening of the Super Bowl, but I will be at a party somewhere!

Just wrapped up final edits requested by my publisher. Now to see what the editor thinks of my efforts!

And Helen Ginger at Straight From Hel was nice enough to give me my first ever blog award.
Ironically, all those I thought of passing it along to had already received it. Guess that's what I get for coming in late.
So I'll just select one person and pass it on to my buddy John Anealio.
I want to do a plug for his blog Sci Fi Songs as he's been posting segments of a video commentary about his song, “Cylon #6” It's interesting how it all came about - catchy tune, too. Maybe John will post a video of him performing it for us.
Thanks again, Helen!

Pages to Movies - Cameron's Next Projects

I've combined my book and movie posts for today's!

Avatar is sitting around $1.67 billion dollars and will soon overtake Titanic as the highest grossing film ever. (And I'm pleased Marvin at The Old Silly FINALLY went to see Avatar!)

So what does James Cameron do for an encore?
He's got several projects in the works, but let me cover the most likely first.

Battle Angel

This graphic novel is a gem among Japanese comics and graphic novels. Written by Yukito Kishiro, Battle Angel's post-apocalyptic storyline remains fresh even to this day. It has already seen the big screen once as an animated 1993 film, Battle Angel Alita.

Right now, this film is "in production" and slated for a 2011 release. Cameron is both directing and writing, although no other names are attached. Considering his track record, we'll want to keep an eye on this film as it develops!

Heavy Metal

Yes, you read that correctly! A 3D CG animated movie based on the magazine is also in the works. With a $50 million dollar budget, this movie will follow the pattern of the 1981 version in that it will feature several different segments. (Rather than the awful 2000 version's one storyline.)

Some of the directors tapped for this project:
Cameron, David Fincher, Gore Verbinski, and tentatively Guillermo del Toro and Rob Zombie. Cameron is also listed as executive producer.

The title's tentative, as are the movie posters - but they were too kick-butt not to include!

Cameron has a lot of other projects in the works. Right now, he can probably do whatever he wants!