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Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

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Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Around 2013 our university digitized their newspaper displays. Prior to the renovation, newspapers were posted daily in large vertical glass-covered display cases in the student lounge of the library (the library would buy and post two copies so all pages were face up). Tens of students at a time would slowly walk down the row of newspapers reading during their study breaks and quietly chatting while sipping on coffe…

It's really hard to nail down, and even harder to explain to a lot of techies (who tend not to even believe it's a thing), but there is something about print-on-paper that just doesn't translate over to electronic displays. I don't think it has to do with the actual appearance of the page, or even the feeling of the page when you touch it. I don't know what it is. But I know a lot of people (including myself) who rea…

Agreed, it also means no/less distractions and maybe that's what is happening. I get close to the words-on-paper immersive feeling when using e-ink style tablets (like supernote which tries really hard to not be more than a journal). But just knowing I can interact with it makes it less immersive. Something about words on paper are static and the information in front of me isn't changing makes it feel more immersive.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#232

Back in 2015, I had a opportunity to work with a group of volunteers (non-profit organization that focused on community development in rural areas of Africa) and started using Kindles loaded with newspapers and magazines from the Kindle Newsstand as part of an education program. The whole group would visit villages and set up reading stations with the Kindles. That program over time, became so successful that it attr…

How does the hardware stand up over time ?

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you know that airplanes have power outlets at foot level, sometimes USB ports higher up? You could simply bring your phone charger with you on the plane..

This varies by configuration. Some aircraft and airlines do not. Only one out of the last 25 or so flights I’ve been on have an outlet. For example, Southwest is one of the worlds largest airlines and didn’t have outlets on any of its 700+ airplanes. (Neither AC nor USB) They just announced they will start ordering jets with USB ports starting this year. Also it is fairly common for short haul or regional jets to lac…

Surprising to hear that such a large airline wouldn't have power outlets in 2023 but perhaps it makes sense, because Southwest doesn't really do "long flights". Good info for fliers to be aware of.

For Southwest and short haul fliers, I would then recommend an USB battery bank. They come in large capacities now which would cover several full charges.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#234
post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Scanning in that fashion is also far faster, more comfortable and efficient. I used to flip through newspapers rather quickly scanning the headlines and first paragraph and reading more interesting articles in depth. Scanning this way is almost impossible digitally. Also headlines were more useful and articles actually had informative first paragraph instead of just "scroll some more" hooks.

It is pretty possible digitally, at least I haven't had much problems doing it with PDFs on good fast reader. Just not in the web way where going further almost always incurs some load time so it is impossible to skim, and it always wants to shove ad in-between

Yeah, it can get close with a lot of work, but I can still scan multiple articles on a large print newspaper faster just by flipping the page.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#235

If you have an Overdrive Library subscription, you can try checking its magazine section to see if your library subscribes to the magazine(s) you read. Locally, my Library has Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker, etc. It used to also have The Economist, but that appears to have recently vanished. For subscriptions to SFF magazines, try WeightlessBooks which offers subscription to a number of magazines [1] [1] https://weig…

I noticed the same thing re: The Economist through Libby (which I think is still Overdrive but prettier?). I wonder if The Economist is quickly pulling away from public libraries?

They just got added to PressReader. Economist was gone for a while from my library and related apps as a magazine. I could still read the articles.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#236

It is depressing how little Amazon cares about the Kindle, a device that would have seemed utterly magical 25 years ago as the internet matured, is just a low margin monopoly it maintains.

They obviously care about the Kindle a lot with respect to reading books. They have regularly designed new hardware and the hardware has gotten very good and very affordable. The book side seems awesome. Magazines and newspapers have always just kind of sucked, and a lot of that is on the magazine and newspaper companies, not on Amazon. Why should Amazon pour money into it if sales are terrible because the Magazines…

Right, the formatting and reading experience has been off. I know for a fact that Amazon does the heavy lifting in converting to ebook format and delivering it.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#237
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Supernote, Onyx have a wide range of options. Onyx relationship with Open Source licensing is… delicate. This could be a stopper for some. I had a Remarkable 1 but I feel the company is trying to be the next Apple. Everything now is subscription. Shame, as The reading experience was good, writing was excellent, software was open but clunky.

I used the Remarkable 1 for many years, until recently I got bored of hum converting hum my kindle library to epub to read on the remarkable. I switched to an Onyx Boox Tab X (effectively an android tablet with eink screen) and wouldn't go back. I have the Kindle reader app and can read very comfortably all my books, with the same comfort as with a Kindle device. But I can also take meeting notes, brainstorm, etc tha…

Calibre let's you convert in bulk fwiw

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#238
Here's hoping this encourages some online newspapers/periodicals to start releasing their digital editions as native EPUBs. I like to read with an e-reader, but I have a Kobo, and the only magazine I ever subscribed to that would give me an EPUB was LinuxJournal (R.I.P). Everything else was either PDF, or assumed you were hooked into the Kindle ecosystem.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#239
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or even worse is Apple News where it's pieces of major newspapers like the WSJ and then dumbed down newspapers like USA Today and nothing of the caliber of Financial Times. What I want is an app/site that has all the news, strong blocklists so I can get rid of junk (USA Today), stuff I'm just not interested in (Wrestling Today if such a thing exists), and get more stuff that I didn't know existed (Upper Siberian Mini…

https://www.pressreader.com might be worth a look. I only have limited access through my German library card, but what I've seen so far I liked.

Whoa.

Where has this been all my life?

Reasonable price, great selection of periodicals and newspapers.

Definite value.

Re: Amazon shuts newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Kindle and print

#240

If you have an Overdrive Library subscription, you can try checking its magazine section to see if your library subscribes to the magazine(s) you read. Locally, my Library has Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker, etc. It used to also have The Economist, but that appears to have recently vanished. For subscriptions to SFF magazines, try WeightlessBooks which offers subscription to a number of magazines [1] [1] https://weig…

> For subscriptions to SFF magazines, try WeightlessBooks which offers subscription to a number of magazines No Asimov's at first glance. Asimov's do offer a non-amazon electronic subscription through some other web site, but it looks like it's only readable through their app. If I go off Kindle, I might as well go DRM free.

Yes, no Asimovs or Analog on WeightlessBooks, unfortunately. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Ficton is there, though.
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