With the increasing number of smart phones, and tablet computers, it's important to consider how your content is server up to your web visitor. Although I'm only in the first phase of my own research, I've already identified some great tools.

My first find is open source (i.e. free) eBook conversion / server software, Calibre. The user interface is amazingly easy to use, and after watching the YouTube overview, there was no reason to read any manuals. In fact it may be a misnomer to think of Calibre as eBook software. A better description might be software which allows one to convert pdf files to the standard ePub format for mobile devices. However, Calibre takes the process one step further and allows you to convert for specific devices (i.e. iPhone, Blackberry, etc). Even better, the software comes with its own server software for delivering up books. Once again the server software is easy use. In a test at work, it took me just a few minutes to get the server online, and an equal amount of small time for a friend to access my server and download a book (no instructions from me). I've included some Calibre screenshots at the end of this post.

Now, like me you may not be independently wealthy … you can't afford to purchase every latest mobile device. Thus, emulators can become your best friend. Here are some good simulators / emulators I have found during this initial research. Please add a comment with your own favorites:

• Android Software Developer Kit
• Apple Software Developer Kit
• Blackberry Simulators
• iPad Air
• iPad Peek
• TestiPhone
• Windows Phone Emulator

It's quite possible that you won't want to use the heavy duty SDK's. Thus, if you just want to view how a page renders, then I recommend a trip to Gomez. This site allows you to submit a url and view the results (emailed to you) on how your web content looks upon a Blackberry Storm, a iPad, an Android Chrome Device, and finally a iPhone.

And now the Calibre screenshots. Click upon any image for a full sized view.

Preferences

.

eBook Manager User Interface

.

Server Root

.

Server Books

.

Mobile Server Root

.

If you've stayed with me this far, I used our family Christmas newsletter for my test. Merry Christmas from Rich and Molly Hoeg (pdf | ePub)

I am not an object oriented programmer, but if I was I would take Stanford’s free course on how to develop apps for the Apple iPad / iTouch / iPhone environment. Given the huge uptake on this technology, I did watch the 1st session of the Stanford course which gives a techie like me an understanding of the Apple iOS. Starting at 16:41 of the first lecture, the course gives a quick overview of how Apple’s development system is constructed. This course is just one example of iTunesU!

I’ve added this course link to my Engineering Learning Portal Software Engineering Section.

However, if Apple is not your cup of tea (or fruit), then spend some time reviewing Google’s long list of software engineering research. You may read / download the abstracts or the full papers. As with the Apple course, I’ve added this content to my Software Engineering Section and Manuals Section of the Engineering Learning Portal.

I just posted the update given below on LinkedIn. I have 427 contacts. It will be interesting to see what happens. I'm genuinely interested in both parts of the result … how the iPad enhances work in either the business or university environment … and the usefulness of LinkedIn updates. I'll post my results early in December (good or bad).

Here is my LinkedIn post:

Testing LinkedIn's use for social updates. Do you use an iPad and also know of blogs which expand the knowledge of how to use iPads in a business or university environment? Please comment and include a url, or just comment to extend the reach of this update to your contacts.

In about 45 minutes, my wife and I will list our home of 25+ years for sale. It's been a good home, and in cleaning up our house for sale, I wondered if there was any reason to keep the 1959 World Book Encyclopedias? After all, the articles are over 50 years old, and most of my research is conducted via the web … and quite often Wikipedia.

My logic says to get rid of my World Books, but how do you say good-bye to an old friend? Somehow, as much as I enjoy the web, there is never the same joy or wonder which comes from pulling a different" letter" off the book shelf and starting to read. At a very young age in my parent's home this is how I explored the world of science, history, literature, foreign lands, etc. The web does not encourage this kind of browsing.

Sitting in front of me to the left of my computer is the Letter R … as in World Book. Normally I would curl up in a good chair, or in bed and read my encyclopedia of the day. Let's see … R (from World Book):

• R (Egyptian … 3000 BC; to Roman … AD 114)
• RA (see New Deal)
• Rabat (capital of French Morocco)
• Rabual (See New Britain)
• Rabbi
• Rabbit

And thus ends the topics from the first page of R! This led me to wonder what I would find on Wikipedia if I start with R:

• R (Egyptian hieroglyph to later Etruscan R)

Here is where the similarity between the two encyclopedias end. Upon review, I can't see whether it is possible to browse to the next "R entry". One can select "random article", but I want to read about R!

My only hope is the development of tablet PC's will bring back "the browse". After all, the software for reading content online is called a "browser", but do our present hardware devices really encourage "browsing"? I need to be in a comfortable chair! Right now, I can't justify the purchase of an iPad (too expensive). I do have my eyes on the Android Archos 101 Internet Tablet! After all, I will need to read "S".

I don't normally post YouTube commercials, but my curiosity has definitely been piqued by the "anti Apple". Android from Google, Verizon and Motorola has major buzz. In addition, this commercial is wicked cool. Enjoy the graphic, also! (click to maximize)

============================================================