I have finally bid farewell to my much loved old phone. It made telephone calls , took photos and sent messages – but even that was a bit of an effort.
So now I have a smart phone… and am worried that it might just be smarter than me…
My excuse was that I needed it for work – but that’s not really true. It’s all about books
I have a Kindle – which I love. Webmaster John has a Nook reader of which he is equally fond.
We buy books in both formats, which occasionally results in a lending crisis – “But I want to read X and it’s on your Nook!”
Now, my smart phone has both Kindle and Nook apps on it – which means I can read anything. Note that I do not expect this to result in any less borrowing of John’s Nook – it has some really cool games as well.
This swish new phone has it’s drawback – I can’t escape work e-mails. It keeps beeping to draw me back to Twitter and Facebook (aaargghhh)
But – the most important thing is that I am now NEVER without a book.
You know how sometimes you get trapped somewhere – an elevator. The queue at Sainsbury’s. On a train. And you realise with horror that you don’t have anything to read.
Never again!
My phone is always with me (yes – that bit is because of work) and now I have several books loaded onto it. OK – the pages are pretty small, but the important thing is that I will never again find myself on a plane delayed for an hour, with nothing to read – having finished the previous book while waiting (it was not a pretty sight!)
This will never be my primary reading device. But if you have ever been around me when I have nothing to read – you will understand the importance to world peace of this breakthrough.
I love technology.
Comments
16 responses to “It's all about work… honestly!”
I am beginning to see where a kindle could be handy as I sit here holding an open house in an effort to sell my client’s home, here I am without a book. I am starting to see the value. I love holding a book, but in just getting an iPhone, I am starting to make baby steps into using more of these devices. I have a small fear that I will show up to a wedding or baptism, reach for the prayer book or hymnal, only to find them replaced by a kindle. I am not ready for that to happen.
Hi Nancy
It’s exactly that sort of situation that convinced me to get the smart phone and e-reading apps. I use my Kindle when travelling a lot too – it weighs so much less than the multitude of books I used to carry.
I do agree, though , that reading an actual paper book has its own charm. And although there are ways to ‘sign’ a digital book – nothing beats a ‘real’ book with the author’s signature in it. While I mostly buy digital these days – the exception is when I go to a launch or signing… then it’s a paper book every time.
Janet
I felt exactly the same about my smartphone. I LOVE that I can read on it whereever I am. It also meant that I started reading again. (I notice you’ve got a lot of the same books on yours as I have on mine!).
2 minutes to spare while waiting for the kids to finish running around the playground? – I’ll read a book. Train delayed? – I’ll read a book. GPs waiting room? – I’ll read a book. This is how life used to be when I was a kid, but now I have too much else to carry to fit a paperback in as well, so the smartphone has made me a very happy bunny.
Mr B has a Kindle. He was very anti ebooks until I got him his kindle now he doesn’t go anywhere without it. The funny thing is, the kids have noticed and they ‘read’ more too. My favourite thing is when my daughter picks up the calculator and pretends she’s reading on a Kindle. 🙂
I’m glad I’m not the only one with an attachment to the reading apps on my phone.
I know a lot of authors and publishers saw the coming of e-books as a bad thing. I didn’t agree. I am impressed by how often people say they are reading more now – its easier and more convenient.. and that has to be a good thing.
I’ve just got the same phone and although I have a Kindle fire, it can be a bit heavy to carry around all the time. The great thing about the Kindle app on your phone is that is syncs, so you can always pick up where you left off. My biggest fear in life is being stuck somewhere without a book … so this solves that problem (providing of course I remember to charge the battery).
I also got this phone so I could keep up with fellow author blogs and digests while out and about away from desk. 🙂
The sync thing is great isn’t it… I am usually reading two books at the same time, it’s become easy for me to read one book on the phone and a different one on the kindle… but then again, I’m a bit strange like that 🙂
Oh, Janet, that article rang so many bells with me! I need to get Smart. I’ve lost count of the people who have said: But I emailed you!!! Soon, everyone will assume we’re all Smart and can access emails any time, any place, any when, any where. I’d better get with the programme. Good to see TWD on your phone, by the way! MXXX
I know what you mean Margaret – we are expected to be available online, reading e-mails, answering calls all the time. That’s fine for me MOST of the time – but I am getting into the habit of turning my phone off when I write. I am in another world then – and don’t want to be disturbed. J X
I absolutely believe in co-sharing books – that is, between paperback and electronic form. I just love the fact that Choc Lit includes the ebook code when you buy the paperback.
The only trouble with travelling is that you have to have your electronic device turned off while the seat belt signs are on and that can be for quite a while. So I’m never without my iPad and a paperback AND my computer when I’m flying anywhere, so that I can utilise every bit of free time for reading and writing.
I agree totally Beverley. I have books in both formats and see that as the only way to go.
Like you – I never go anywhere near a plane without both formats – I have been caught circling London Heathrow for 30-40 minutes after the electronic devices have been ordered off. Doing that without a paperback to read is unthinkable – I might feel inclined to jump out a window.
Before I became a writer I had a Blackberry and an iPhone. I was glad to get rid of them as I was on call 24hrs a day. For the last 4 years I have managed with a primitive Nokia that makes calls, takes photos and sends texts (which I always make a mess of). Smart phones do so much more these days and I am starting to browse. I wonder how long I will resist for? I read on a Kindle btw and love it.
I resisted as long as I could Steve – but now that I have it – I am starting to think it was a really good move. Except for the boss always being able to find me… but apart from that… 🙂
Hi, Janet!
I, too, read on my iphone. I have quite a collection of books waiting there to be read. I”ve been wondering whether to get a kindle since I’ve got used to reading any time, any place on the iphone, but I can’t really see the advantage of the kindle – they’re not much larger and they aren’t all backlit.
I don’t believe an ebook will ever replace the real thing, though. They’re just a lovely addition to have, that can be extremely useful in situations where you’d be unlikely to have a physical book.
Liz, my Kindle is great for reading in bright sunlight – which the backlit screen doesn’t do well.
I think we are going to have both e-book and tree-book around for a while to come – which is great. Anything that makes books more available is a good thing.
Ah, yes, Kindle – at the moment, I read ebooks on my netbook, two page format. This is great because the screen is the same size as an open paperback.
I’m plain greedy, I have two kindles, the fire which is backlit and the older version which is much lighter and better for travel. I always have a paperback on hand … just in case