Twilight, Travel, and Treats

Before I fell in love with Twilight I was a Pride & Prejudice fan. I've come out of blogging hiatus to tell you about the latest iPad app I like.

Want a good way to introduce Shakespeare or Austen to your little one?



Enter new BabyLit books - available in board book and iPad/iPhone enhanced versions.

I bought the board books first at my local Indigo store and thought it was super cute. It prompted my 8 year old son to spend half an hour asking me about Pride & Prejudice. You know when your child is enraptured by your explanation of why Lizzie won't marry Mr. Collins that this new book has done its job.



The iPad enhanced version is even better. This is a counting book so it's like any other baby iPad book that counts objects except this time they are marriage proposals and ballgowns. Bonuses - you can dress Lizzie in different ballgowns and that the whole first chapter of P&P is narrated at the end for you.

My son has yet to listen to the narrated first chapter of P&P that is on the iPad but it's nice that one day he may stumble upon it.

More titles coming up? Romeo & Juliet is already available but it looks like Jane Eyre and Alice in Wonderland are coming soon.

cross posted on Twi-Mobile

So this is the original Isle Esme photo that Summit released on Valentine's Day

I didn't really like it. It's gloomy looking and not romantic.

So isn't this better?

Desktop size 1900 X 1200

I ended up making iPhone and iPad versions for myself so thought I'd share them with you. Threw in a Blackberry one too!

iPhone 640 X 960

iPad 1024 X 1024

Blackberry/LG Neon

I can't wait to see what it looks like in the film!

Apologies to those who follow both my blogs for all this double posting. But I finally got my copy of Photoshop working on my new computer so forgive me while I get some fun stuff out of my system.

In honour of Valentine's Day...for your desktop, iPhone, iPad, and Blackberry

Desktop 1920X1200

iPhone 4 640X960

iPad 1024X1024

I'll be adding these to the Mobile Wallpaper Archives over at Twi-Mobile of course. Let me know what you think.

Blackberry 480X360

iPhone 4 640X960



iPad 1024X1024


Here are the Edward ones.

Desktop 1920X1200

Blackerry 480X360

iPhone 4 640X960

iPad 1024X1024

Let me know what you think.

In celebration of Valentine's Day and also Breaking Dawn filming coming to Vancouver, I made some Breaking Dawn wallpapers.

Click for full size. I've made desktop, iPhone, Blackberry, and iPad versions.



Desktop 1920X1242 - my personal wallpaper now



Desktop 1920X1242




iPhone 4 640X960 retina screen

 


Blackberry 480X360

 

iPad 1024X1024

iPad 1024X1024

iPad 1024X1024

iPad 1024X1024 - original Summit logo

I found the original Summit logo too red so I toned it down a bit. Let me know what you think or if more sizes are needed.

My fanfic rec today is something I've just started called Going Down? by TexasKatherine. It is a funny fanfic with lemons. Not stupid funny but just light and humourous.
Mini spoiler - the first chapter starts with Bella and Edward trapped in an elevator. The one shot alone should be enough to make you go check it out! I'm just on chapter 3 of 5 now so we'll have to see how things go but so far it's cute. Totally needed after all the heavy epic fanfics I've been reading the last few weeks.

Have you been to my other site lately? If you ever wonder where I am I'm usually doing something on that side. But at least it's pretty over there. Not Edward Cullen kind of pretty but still Twi-Mobile is pretty if I do say so myself. Come have a look!


My eyes are officially buggy from spending the whole weekend revamping the mobile fanfic section of Twi-Mobile. I've added detailed instructions for iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Blackberry, Sony eReader, and Kobo eReader. I'm sure I'm missing a few devices and the list is by no means exhaustive but that's all I've got for now. So if you need more help on taking your fanfic with you to go then please go check it out.

I also made Twi-Mobile easier to navigate by adding drop down menus to the top. Plus I've stickied the important posts for the Twi-Mobile member directory, Fanfic info, and Mobile Blog Set-Up.

Okay off to finish off my fanfic. Anyone have a fanfic rec of what to read after?

Since I didn't win the Rob Pattinson autographed guitar I have been looking for something new (or old) of Rob's. You know it makes me feel sad that "everyone wants a piece of Rob" yet I am so guilty of this. I'd be the crazy fan who'd save the napkin that he used in a bar and then put it in the vault.

So, the next big auction at icollector.com has a few pieces of Remember Me memorabilia. I didn't care before but now that I have finally seen the movie I am stoked.

What's up for auction? Click here for the full list.

Things I'm considering

Fugly backpack

The dreaded backpack that made Rob look "like he was 8" according to Mrs. P.

Still fugly even on Rob

Next up

Seriously it's just a T shirt

worn here

I love how the tag says "Big Rob" - as if we needed any proof

Anyone want to know his clothing sizes?

Someone has already bid on this outfit:

I can't get myself to outbid the $400 as the fake blood just grosses me out.

More clothing (I'm not convinced he actually wore this specific shirt as another one sold a few weeks ago - same item and that one said screenworn)

looks plain enough

but what if he wore it here?

Lastly,


Tempting as it is to buy the screen used fire extinguisher Rob actually threw through the window, I think that Mr. TC would probaby throw it out of the house. Seriously. I mean the shipping alone would be crazy. Could you imagine if I kept it in the front hall or something?

So, the question at the end of this is - how much do you think Rob's sweat is actually worth? According to someone it's at least 400 bucks for that bloody outfit. I'm sure some of you are going "eeww, gross" while others are secretly thinking "hmm, I wonder what it's like to lick him."

Auction starts May 1st - what would you get?

On a separate note, I've got new Twilight wallpapers for you over at Twi-Mobile. I've just started an archive of Twilight wallpapers for iPhone and will be adding that plus a Twilight apps section.
Blackberry users don't despair. I sense that some Twilight wallpapers are coming your way as well but I need to know what models you have.
Anyone with another type of phone wanting Twilight wallpapers too? Let me know what kind of phone you have and we'll we what we can do.

Leave me some love!

This post comes from a thread on twitarded where prstlk brought up that she uses a fanfic downloader. A what?? And how do you then get it onto your mobile device? Lisa @17forever put me on a quest to find out.

What's the benefit? You can read while offline, it splits the fanfic into chapters, it actually looks nicer than reading on the computer, and it's free.

What it doesn't do? Automatically update your fanfic for you into your mobile ereader. I don't think that's been invented yet (please tell me if it has). For now, you'll have to manually update each time.

Note that when you use this method it is great for complete books and if you are willing to download each update yourself onto your iphone then it is totally worth it for the partials too.

Of note, I use Windows XP but all this would work with Vista. I have an iphone and an ipod touch and this method works on both devices. If you have a Blackberry or Palm then stay with me until you get to the Stanza part and you should use Mobipocket ereader instead.

This works with stories from www.fanfiction.net but not http://www.twilighted.net/

Last thing, I am assuming you are using a wireless network and that your ipod touch or iphone (set on Wifi) is on the same wireless network as your PC.

If you are not using a wireless network then see the Stanza FAQ here. You may need to save as a different file type as well in fanfic downloader so take a look at the FAQ first before embarking further.

Things you need to do:

part 1

This first step takes the whole fanfic story you like from www.fanfiction.net and converts it into an electronic book (in this case a Mobipocket ebook) using fanfic downloader.

1) Download and install fanfic downloader from this site Raimonds Homepage.

2) Once you have installed it, open up the application Fanfiction Downloader.

3) Before you do anything else go to the Settings at the top and pull down to Settings. I will uncheck the box that says "###" separator at beginning of each chapter. Leave this alone if you want the whole book to be one big file without individual chapters. Press Save.

Untick the box "###" separator at beginning of each chapter

4) Go to www.fanfiction.net and get the URL for the story you want to convert. I chose Master of the Universe by Snowqueens Icedragon because it's my favourite. It has now been removed from fanfiction.net so I'm glad I got it when I could.

URL in this pic http:www.fanfiction.net/s/5368782

5) In "Step 1: Source URL and ID" copy and paste the URL of the fanfic you want into the field "Story URL."  Then, click continue.

6) In "Step 2: Check download" you can change which chapters you want to download. If you want the whole book then don't change any of the numbers. Next to the "Name" there is a field where you can change what Title this book will have on your computer. I also just leave the default here.

7) Click "Save As" and change which folder you would like this file saved in. Don't worry about the "Save as Type" field and leave it as whatever it shows up as. Then, click continue.



8) In "Step 3: Configuration" choose between having chapters or having one long book. I usually like to have the book broken up into chapters.

9) Next box choose "Save as Mobipocket ebook."

Your screen should now look like this

10) Press Download and wait until you see a black screen zooming by with lots of text. When that finishes then you are done.

Your story is now a mobi file stored in whatever folder you put for "Save As."

part 2

If you have a Blackberry or Palm just go to Mobipocket eReader and follow their instructions.

If you have an ipod touch or iphone then I'll walk you through.

You need to find a way to open this mobi file and then you can read it on your PC. You use Stanza desktop to achieve that. When you have opened a book on Stanza desktop then you can share it with any ipod touch or iphone that is sharing the same wireless network.

1) Download Stanza desktop for your Microsoft Windows PC here and install.

2) Open Stanza desktop and go to File, pull down the menu to Open File. Go to the folder where you have stored the mobi file and select the file itself. Remember choose the file that has the .mobi extension.




3) It should take less than 20 seconds to load and you should be able to see the story now in Stanza Desktop. You can minimize Stanza desktop now but don't close it.

Not always tall and skinny; can change to full screen

transferring from PC desktop to ipod/touch - the tricky part

4) Now you need to transfer it to your ipod touch or iphone. You do this through the wireless network.

5) On your ipod touch or iphone download the free Stanza app.

6) Now on your PC on Stanza Desktop go to the Tools on the pull down menu and go to Enable Sharing. Make sure that there is now a checkmark next to Enable Sharing. This allows Stanza on your iphone or ipod to get any story that is open on your Stanza desktop.



Now Stanza says there are many ways of sharing your books with your mobile - ways listed here.

7) This is the step that gave me the most trouble - sharing your books from the desktop to the ipod/iphone. For this part at first I needed to turn off the firewall on my PC for a very short time. I can't let my husband find out since he is a network security specialist by trade. Please don't email me that we shouldn't turn off our firewalls - I know already...

*********long technical part***********
If you have trouble here see this Troubleshooting FAQ from Stanza.

They will suggest that if you have a firewall enabled (you can find it in the Control Panel under Windows security) make sure that it allows traffic over TCP port 9652. You do this by going to Exceptions and then "Add Port" and typing in name "Stanza" and Port "9562" and tick off the TCP box. They will also ask you to check that the program Bonjour is also ticked off (see Stanza support).




The thing that I finally fixed to get it to work with the firewall enabled was that I made it so JAVA(TM) PLATFORM SE BINARY was allowed to access the internet (it asked if I wanted to keep it blocked and I said no). I actually couldn't find a way to get that step but the computer prompted me.

If you get frustrated remember that in the end I ended up turning OFF my firewall for a few minutes. Just remember to turn it back on after you transfer your fanfic to your ipod/iphone.

*********************************************

8) On your ipod/iphone click on your Stanza app. You should see this screen.


9) Still on the iphone click on the bottom middle "Get Books"

Click bottom left - Get Books

and then go to Shared at the top.

Click Share at the Top and you should see your computer listed below.

You should see your computer listed there under "Computers Sharing Books" so click on your PC name.

Surprised my netbook is named Isabella? How many of yours are too?

10) It should say "Loading" and eventually your story should show up.


11) Click on the green arrow to the right of the title and it will download the file into the Stanza app and put it in your library. When it is downloaded the green arrow changes to a grey circle.

12) Once the gray circle appears, click on the story and voila!


You should be able to flip pages and also be able to touch the screen once to get here

Bottom left Book Icon leads you to Table of Contents

and then if you click on the lower left Book Icon it should take you to this Table of Contents.

what to do about updates?

Every time there is an update you have two choices

1) This way keeps the whole thing together all the time but still with chapter markings. Before you add an update, delete the book off your ipod Stanza. Then go through all my instructions from the top again starting with copying and pasting the URL into fanfic downloader. You will have the whole book every time all as one file.

2) The second way keeps the already existing partial and new updates will appear each as a separate book from the original eg. not adding to the original partial book file. Do the exact same thing as above but in the fanfic downloader step 2 input only Chapter Number "X" for the updated chapter and also change your Save As file to a different filename otherwise you will get confused eg. Master of the Universe 2. Finish the process as above to get it on your ipod.

I am not a techie by any means so I hope this makes sense. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I'll do my best to answer.

Phew! No letting me write technical posts again.