My new best friend
Nothing more satisfying than doing something else when more pressing work matters are at hand, particularly when it's the last month of the year and you start wringing your hands and wonder where did all the time go?
Let me see. I've been spending whatever free time reading books though my IPod Touch - truly the best single gadget created (and electronic purchase) for the past 10 years. At least it was for me. Okay, maybe next to my DSLR camera but I've been spending less and less time shooting pics these days. Hell, even the LC-A+ I bought during my last trip to NYC is still in its pristine, shrink wrap condition (Note: today is 1 July 2012 - the damn thing is still in its pristine, shrink wrap condition).
First I tried the ebooks apps for the IPod. I managed to download a couple of books (to last me a month in Boston) until those guys decided that they won't be selling books to Singapore users anymore. I even have a few dollars worth of credits there but sorry, can't buy there anymore. Then I tried the Barnes and Nobles app - same problem.
Then of course came Kindle for the IPod. Again I managed to buy several books until the geographical restrictions thingie kicked in. I eventually found a way of getting around the restriction and am happily Whisphersyncing book after book. I have accumulated quite an eclectic collection of books actually. Lots of Egypt books in preparation for an upcoming trip. A whole slew of trashy (but vainly entertaining) Sookie Stackhouse books. A couple of Dune sequels, the entire LOTR trilogy, 2 of Michael Cunningham's books (including Land's End - that lovely homage to Provincetown), 2 books by the sublimely funny Josh Kilmer-Purcell and my new favorite (though annoyingly verbose at times) Mark Doty. I have just downloaded Wolf Hall and wondering if it will be any better than the Pillar of the Earth books. Fingers crossed.
Of course I still love the feel of paper but it can be such a pain lugging around books especially when you are travelling (with more books than clothes in your luggage). Besides, how can you beat the cool factor of reading a book through your IPod? Even reading a crappy Dan Brown book looks hip.
Let me see. I've been spending whatever free time reading books though my IPod Touch - truly the best single gadget created (and electronic purchase) for the past 10 years. At least it was for me. Okay, maybe next to my DSLR camera but I've been spending less and less time shooting pics these days. Hell, even the LC-A+ I bought during my last trip to NYC is still in its pristine, shrink wrap condition (Note: today is 1 July 2012 - the damn thing is still in its pristine, shrink wrap condition).
First I tried the ebooks apps for the IPod. I managed to download a couple of books (to last me a month in Boston) until those guys decided that they won't be selling books to Singapore users anymore. I even have a few dollars worth of credits there but sorry, can't buy there anymore. Then I tried the Barnes and Nobles app - same problem.
Then of course came Kindle for the IPod. Again I managed to buy several books until the geographical restrictions thingie kicked in. I eventually found a way of getting around the restriction and am happily Whisphersyncing book after book. I have accumulated quite an eclectic collection of books actually. Lots of Egypt books in preparation for an upcoming trip. A whole slew of trashy (but vainly entertaining) Sookie Stackhouse books. A couple of Dune sequels, the entire LOTR trilogy, 2 of Michael Cunningham's books (including Land's End - that lovely homage to Provincetown), 2 books by the sublimely funny Josh Kilmer-Purcell and my new favorite (though annoyingly verbose at times) Mark Doty. I have just downloaded Wolf Hall and wondering if it will be any better than the Pillar of the Earth books. Fingers crossed.
Of course I still love the feel of paper but it can be such a pain lugging around books especially when you are travelling (with more books than clothes in your luggage). Besides, how can you beat the cool factor of reading a book through your IPod? Even reading a crappy Dan Brown book looks hip.