Posted by
Greta Simpson on January 25th, 2008
As discussed in an earlier post on the emergence of digital ebooks, reading material no longer needs to be made from paper or even exist in hard copy - it can be 100% digital.
A Dymocks bookstore across the Tasman is trialling touch-screen kiosks, at which customers can download books to a USB stick, DVD or portable device such as an iPod. Dymocks even has their own ebook reader, the iLiad (a nifty electronic notebook and a clever name!). Demand for the ebook devices has been much higher than expected, a trend which bodes well for a digital revolution (or at least an evolution) in book reading.
Kiosks where shoppers can buy ebooks are planned for all Dymocks bookshops in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong, although when this will happen is uncertain. In the meantime, browse New Zealand bookshops online for a great read.
Image from Flickr.
Posted by
Greta Simpson on July 18th, 2007
Try not to get sucked into the TV trap, but make sure you check out TVNZ’s television download service. If you miss an episode of your favourite series or want to enjoy a programme for the second time, then this may be for you. They’ve even included some classic moments from the archives of New Zealand television, alongside popular current shows from TV One and TV2 (my picks are the satirical Facelift and Eating Media Lunch).
And if all those hours of watching TV have whittled away your brainpower, don’t fret - it’s simple to use!
You can download programmes onto your computer to watch at your leisure through Windows Media Player, or you can view them straight away on your computer via the streaming option. All you need to do is purchase a licence to watch each show; it’s a steal at just $2.00 a pop. This fee allows you to watch the show as many times as you want for a period of seven days.
There’s great potential here for all screened television programmes to be available at any hour of the day. For now, it’s mainly New Zealand talent that’s showcased, but there are more programmes lined up for release online soon. Ondemand is a great initiative from our state broadcaster: cheers TVNZ!
