WiFi - Wherever You Are?

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This once mega-idea of creating a virtual airborne worldwide web has turned into a monumental reality: Commercial aircraft are used as “mini-satellites”.  AWN’s primary target customer-base will be worldwide data and communications service providers.
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Airborne Wireless Network has created a network that will provide live streaming to monitor the health of systems on planes, locomotives, ships, help emergency responders and produce a WIFI service that allows for passengers to have a better uninterrupted “WIFI” experience while they travel. In addition, the onboard hardware can support aircraft to aircraft awareness and monitoring, bringing far more safety to the skies.
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Patented Technology
In 1998, during the pioneering days of wireless data-connectivity, the Network's inventor submitted a patent application to the US patent and trademark office, and on September 4, 2001, US patent #US 6,285,878 B1 was granted.  A few days later, an event occurred, which changed the airline industry and which would delay development of this disruptive technology for a number of years.  In 2016, AWN acquired this patent and intends to further develop and deploy this technology.
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A Virtual Airborne “Worldwide Web”
Because it is a meshed network, it is like a web where all nodes are connected via multiple links. With traditional “single link-systems”, such as most cell-tower and satellite systems. There are no single points of failure as there is nearly always another aircraft, ship or earth-station within range of an aircraft.
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Easy to Update, Upgrade or Servicing
As new software becomes available, the system can be easily updated.  When new and more efficient data-transmission technologies emerge, upgrading AWN’s system can be as easy as replacing a single module, and the system is ready for “the future”.  The Network is never obsolete.  Satellite technology, on the other hand, in most cases, has already been surpassed by the time a satellite is launched.  These cannot be upgraded or serviced once launched.
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No Space Junk
Unlike satellites, which can be disabled or knocked out of orbit by space-junk, AWN’s system operates in a safe and controlled environment, typically between 20,000 and 40,000 feet (6,000-12,000 m).  Space junk has been known to cause serious damage to commercial and military satellites.
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Airborne Wireless Network are working to provide you with something that will have the world of technology “soaring” into the future.


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Amazon Prime Membership for Avid Readers

There are over 1.3 million titles listed in Kindle Owners’ Lending Library - not only books but also newspapers and magazines - in print and digital format.  How can readers benefit from these Prime advantages?
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• Borrowing one book per month from the huge Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (roughly 25 percent of all Kindle books).  However, there is no due date, you can keep one title as long as you want.  You need to own an Amazon device – for example, either a Kindle e-reader or a Fire tablet.
  
• Prime Reading of over 1,000 items on a book selection which is being frequently refreshed with new titles. Subscribers can read for free the top-selling Kindle books and comic books.  Additionally, there is free access to premium magazines, from National Geographic to People, to Coastal Living, to Entrepreneur, to Golf, to Popular Science, to Sports Illustrated.
  
• Free two-day shipping of print books plus millions of items from the Amazon online store.  There are over 14.5 million Prime-eligible books in Amazon store.  Prime members can get the Prime-eligible book often delivered the same day - if they live in certain areas.
  
• Getting one “Kindle First” ebook a month, at no extra cost.  Amazon editors select a couple of books that are exclusively published for Kindle.  The list is being refreshed at the beginning of each month.  What’s special about Kindle First is that the featured books are available ahead of their official release dates.
  
• Getting free access to Audible Channels.  Audible Channels is a carefully curated selection of original programs, lectures, and audio editions of articles and news from most popular and opinion-forming sources such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, or the Harvard Business Review among others.

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Amazon Prime – Complete List of Features
Free Two-Day Shipping – on eligible items to addresses in the contiguous U.S.,
Free Same-Day Delivery – in certain areas,
Kindle Owners’ Lending Library – you can borrow one book each calendar month; the catalog includes over 1,000,000 ebooks,
Kindle First – early access to download a new book for free every month from the Kindle First picks,
Audible Channels – free access to original audio editions of standout articles and news from top sources,
Prime Reading – free access to over 1,000 top Kindle books, magazines, and comics,
Prime Instant Video – unlimited streaming of movies and TV episodes,
Prime Music – unlimited, ad-free access to hundreds of Prime playlists and more than a million songs,
Prime Photos – secure unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive,
Prime Pantry – members can purchase low priced grocery, household, and pet care items for a flat delivery fee of $5.99,
Amazon Elements – access to Amazon’s line of everyday essentials,
Prime Early Access – 30-minute early access to select Lightning Deals and new events on MyHabit.com,
Membership sharing – Prime members may share the account with up to four eligible household members living at the same address.
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HOWEVER: these are the benefits for US-CUSTOMERS only!  Amazon customers in Canada, the United Kingdom and other parts of the world may not have all of the same benefits.  Hopefully, Amazon adds all these benefits soon to readers in every country. 

Fellowship & Writer's Residency in Arkansas

Writers of any genre are invited to apply for the Oxford American Jeff Baskin Writers Fellowship.  Although the writer may have published books in other genres, the proposed project must be for a debut book of creative nonfiction.

The manuscript may, however, be in any stage of development: draft, agency representation, contracted, or not.  For the purposes of this fellowship, creative nonfiction is defined as literary journalism, memoir, reportage, criticism, or the lyric essay.

The successful writer will receive:

• a $10,000 stipend paid in installments
• a furnished apartment in Little Rock to live in for the duration of the fellowship. The apartment comes with basic utilities including wi-fi
• and an editorial apprenticeship with the Oxford American (approximately 20 hours per week, with some flexibility)

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To apply for the fellowship applicants must supply:

• a 300 – 500-word book proposal
• a 300 – 500-word statement of interest in magazine editorial work
• a creative nonfiction writing sample of no more than 12,000 words excerpted from the proposed project and
• a curriculum vitae

To be eligible for this fellowship:
Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents. An application fee of $30 is payable at the time of submission. This will be used by the magazine to help cover the administrative costs associated with the prize.
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The Oxford American does not require that the writer or the proposed project have a particular tie to the South; however, applications of equal literary value that align with the Oxford American’s mission will be given preference.

Application Deadline 24 March 2018
Find all the details at:
http://www.oxfordamerican.org/about/fellowship

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New Features at Kindle Direct Publishing

In December, we used for the first time Kindle Direct Publishing to “POD” (Print-on-Demand) the paperback version of Traumberuf Pilot? - which is a handbook for Airline Pilots in the German language.  Quite a bit a mixed experience - as we worked with “real” printers in the past, and recently let our former print distributor eBookPartnership deal with CreateSpace.   Amazon’s Updates to Paperback Features New features to KDP’s paperback self-publishing option - they are now out of the Beta version:

• Publishers and authors can now order printed proofs from KDP.
• Author copies from KDP are a greatly appreciated step too. Books can be stocked in local bookstores and libraries or used as advance review copies, press release packages, paperback giveaways, and for book signings or to sell at readings and workshops.
• KDP introduced their author copies and proofs - printed and shipped from Europe which will please British and European authors.
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Author Chris Mullen wrote: “It looks increasingly as if KDP will eventually become CreateSpace’s equal sister company.  Perhaps the two companies will be soon consolidated, or perhaps all the CreateSpace titles will migrate to KDP."  He wrote a quite detailed comparison between the POD offers of CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing.

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