May 17 2012
Thursday Midday Links (and Deals) : Monica Jackson Passed Away, Rumors of an IPad Mini and a Frontlit Kindle
Sometime yesterday, Monica Jackson passed away due to complications of surgery. Monica was a fierce defender of African American authors and multicultural books. Her voice will be missed in our community.
News
7-inch iPad on track for October 2012 release, $200 to $250 price | iMore – “Apple will be going forward with the 7-inch iPad, currently targeting an October 2012 release alongside the new iPhone, and — here’s the killer — at a $200 to $250 price point. According to our sources, the reason for such aggressive pricing is to do to the tablet market what Apple did to the MP3 market in 2004 with the expansion of the iPod product line — leave absolutely no space for competitors. … We haven’t gotten a firm read on the exact screen dimensions, so we’re using 7-inches generically here. Our sources have indicated, however, that the 7-inch iPad will be identical to the current 9.7-inch iPad, just scaled down. That seems to include a 2048×1536 resolution display, just like the new iPad. If accurate, that would put the pixel density at around 326 ppi, the same as the iPhone 4S (and higher than the 264 ppi new iPad) retina display.”iMore
Amazon aims to launch front-lit Kindle in July: source | Reuters – “Amazon.com Inc will launch new versions of its Kindle e-reader and tablet, including a monochrome e-reader with front lighting, a source who has seen the prototype told Reuters. … The world’s largest Internet retailer is aiming to have the new e-reader in stores in July, said the source, who has direct knowledge of the matter but asked not to be named because Amazon has not yet made the decision public.”Reuters
Only Indie is the world’s first dynamically priced eBook store - The Red Ferret Journal – “One innovative company which seems likely to profit from this explosion in use is Only Indie, a new independent online eBook store which offers a range of digital titles in various genres with one great twist. Every book sold on the site starts off at $0.00 in price. But…and here’s the clever part…after 15 downloads, the price starts rising by 1 penny per purchase until it reaches the set retail price.” RedFerret
This Just In: Skechers agrees to pay $40 Million in refunds – The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC : The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC – “Besides Shape-ups, Skechers also made deceptive claims about its Resistance Runner, Toners, and Tone-ups shoes, the FTC alleged. Consumers who bought these “toning” shoes will be eligible for refunds either directly from the FTC or through a court-approved class action lawsuit, and can submit a claim here. The settlement with the FTC is part of a broader agreement, also being announced today resolving a multi-state investigation, which was led by the Tennessee and Ohio Attorneys General Offices and included attorneys general from 42 other states and the District of Columbia….Skechers’ unfounded claims went beyond stronger and more toned muscles. The company even made claims about weight loss and cardiovascular health,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC’s message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims.”Shrinking Jeans
Congratulations, You Have the Creepiest Engagement Story Ever – Dating Fails – Missed Connections, Dating Sites, & Breakups – You have to see it to believe it. Failblog
Deals
- The Bro-Magnet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted * $0.00 * A – unfortunately an Amazon only special as author is utilizing the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library
- Tough to Tame by Diana Palmer * $1.04 * A | BN | K | S
- 1022 Evergreen Place by Debbie Macomber * $1.08 * A | BN | K | S
- Wyoming Tough by Diana Palmer * $1.09 * A | BN | K | S
- The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber * $1.31 * A | BN | K | S
- 1105 Yakima Street by Debbie Macomber * $1.70 * A | BN | K | S
- Hannah’s List by Debbie Macomber * $2.23 * A | BN | K | S
- Ready for Romance by Debbie Macomber * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Ready for Marriage by Debbie Macomber * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- The Return of Rafe MacKade by Nora Roberts * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- The Pride of Jared MacKade by Nora Roberts * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- The Heart of Devin MacKade by Nora Roberts * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- The Fall of Shane MacKade by Nora Roberts * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Unfinished Business by Nora Roberts * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Spellbound by Nora Roberts * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- This Matter of Marriage by Debbie Macomber * $3.44 * A | BN | K | S
- Navy Husband by Debbie Macomber * $3.44 * A | BN | K | S
- On a Snow Night by Debbie Macomber * $3.81 * A | BN | K | S
- Family Affair by Debbie Macomber * $3.99 * A | BN | K | S
Send to Kindle
May 17, 2012 @ 12:28:06
In Monica’s last blog post she wrote that
I’m so sad to read that the situation was, in fact, life-threatening.
May 17, 2012 @ 12:46:11
I’m still shocked over Monica’s passing. I did not expect her to go so soon. Her voice seemed too big for that. She richly deserved credit for kicking our collective arses a few years ago. She’d certainly delivered mine on a plate. She had a wicked sense of humour, too. How unfair. Huge condolences to her family.
May 17, 2012 @ 12:57:18
I’m so sorry to hear about Monica Jackson! I haven’t read much of hers, only a novella in an anthology, but it was the best novella in that anthology. I always meant to read more, but I’m not that into contemporary romance. And yes, what a fierce defender of diversity in romance reading she was. Definitely a voice that will be missed! As Maili says, it is good for the community to have our asses (arses) kicked on this issue.
May 17, 2012 @ 13:15:39
Oh no. I hadn’t been on the web much and was thinking of her recently, thinking of writing her. This makes me very sad.
May 17, 2012 @ 13:34:57
I’m so shocked and saddened that Monica is gone. You didn’t have to agree with her to know that she was an important voice in the community and for the genre. She also was willing to wade in where a lot of other authors and readers have simply given up trying to make others understand their points of view.
If it weren’t for Monica, I never would have found Beverly Jenkins, not to mention any number of other authors. And her books were a lot of fun to read. I still have some in my TBR, I think I’ll go pull one out.
Damn.
May 17, 2012 @ 13:55:10
Oh, so sad about Monica Jackson!
May 17, 2012 @ 16:12:36
Monica was a huge fire that stayed lit under me (and countless others) to write creatively and passionately. I am at a loss and my heart goes out to her family. Rest in POWER, Ms. Jackson!
May 17, 2012 @ 16:40:39
The news about Monica just left me speechless. she’s going to be missed.
May 17, 2012 @ 17:16:46
We’ve lost a brave woman and author in Monica Jackson.
May 17, 2012 @ 17:35:27
I’m shocked and saddened about Monica’s passing. My condolences to her family.
May 17, 2012 @ 18:06:41
My condolcences to Monica Jackson’s family and friends.
May 17, 2012 @ 18:09:11
I am in utter shock at news of Monica Jackson’s death. She had such a STRONG voice in the romance community. She kicked some major ass around here and she also made me laugh in the things she said, too. My condolences to her family.
May 17, 2012 @ 18:19:45
I think a lot of consumers have been waiting for a back-lit Kindle, so it will be interesting to see if anyone gets excited about a front-lit version. It sounds like it will have its own built in light. Whoopee (not). Kindle isn’t the best for low-light reading, and I struggle to find good lighting to read, but I don’t see this as my best solution. I wish it was more along the line of the new Nook. It has a soft back-lit version that looks great, unfortunately most of my e-library is .mobi.
Condolences to Monica’s family. I personally didn’t know who she was, but if she made a positive impact in the literary world she must have been a gem.
May 17, 2012 @ 20:37:52
My condolence to all the people that Monica left behind and to those who will miss her.
If the 7″ ipad is true then I’m really tempted to buy one. I’ve been curious about their app store but I can’t really justify the price for their products.
May 17, 2012 @ 23:45:45
Oh my god, Monica. I can’t even. To her family, I’m so sorry. To all of us in the romance community, we’ve lost an amazing one. :-(
May 18, 2012 @ 08:24:45
So sorry to hear that! Praying for the family.
May 18, 2012 @ 11:23:45
Monica Jackson should be it’s own entry. Hard to move to any other topic.
I call BS on the mini-pad. This rumor surfaces about this time every year. I’d love to be wrong but there are a dozen reasons this is unbelievable. I think the rumors are placed by competitiors so consumers disappointed when a mini-pad fails to appear in Oct look at their products for holiday gifts. Not only has Apple Been actively against a mini-pad, Jobs was especially vocal about it. Is a CEO still hugging the mantle of his predecessor going to launch a product the guy opposed at a price point that competes with their own iPod touch in a month that doesn’t feed their established product launch cycle? I say no. Again. Let’s see what fall brings.
May 18, 2012 @ 13:11:26
Ohhh, all the McKades at that price. I have to get them in e now.