EBlogger

Britannica Hollywood Handheld Edition, a film, actor, and award database for the Palm and Pocket PC platforms has been released. Available from
smartphone.net, palmgear.com, and others.

The product is also available as a Britannica Profiles Hollywood, a CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh computers.

As Mathias points out, there have been a couple of reviews of the Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite 2006 CD/DVD published recently–one at CNet and another at MacWorld.

While the URS is given fairly high marks, both reviews ding Britannica for splitting the different encyclopedias (”Encyclopedia Britannica”, “Student Library”, and “Elementary Library”) into different areas of the application (in screenshots, the three colored tabs across the top)–a complaint we’ve heard from user interface consultants as well. Oddly, this has been a feature of the design since 2003, but this is the first year we’ve heard significant complaints about that. In any event, we hear you. I’ve seen prototypes for the 2007 edition that attempt to address the problem in a couple of ways.

The CNet reivew is also a bit harsh on Britannica’s customer service, which suffered some system failures during the recent headquarters move–not that that justifies the problem CNet encountered, but it may help explain it. I’ve talked to the head of customer service personally and I guarantee you they are ready and willing to prove their mettle.

One of my co-workers has been pushing a similiar idea for a while, but it looks like Brockhaus has beaten us to it: Brockhaus’ 21st edition is now available on a 1 GM USB stick. Great stuff, but are they really charging 1,500 euros for it?

[Via Gizmodo.]

Get ‘em while they’re, umm, hot.

• Encyclopaedia Britannica 2005 Full (note that the screenshot is from 2004 if not 2003).
• Encyclopaedia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD

The Britannica Store is offering a replica of the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica for $145 (down from $195).

Among the amusing things about the first edition is that it was published in three volumes: A-B, C-L and M-Z. There’s a lesson in that, somewhere.

For the bargain hunter, more Britannica stuff from Craig’s List:

• 1969 Encyclopedia Britannica and more - $50 - New York, NY
• 1967 Britannica World Atlas - $15 - New York, NY
• Britannica Perspectives - $15 - New York, NY
• 1984 Encyclopedia Britannica with shelf - $40 - New York, NY
• 1985 Encyclopedia Britannica and more - $60 - Sacramento, CA
• Mint (Unopened) 1987 Encyclopedia Britannica and more - Free - North Bay, CA
• 1986 Encyclopedia Britannica - $150 - East Bay, CA
• 1963 Encyclopedia Britannica - $40 - East Bay, CA
• 1988 Encyclopedia Britannica - $150 - San Diego, CA
• 1986 Encyclopedia Britannica and Compton’s Encyclopedia - $700 - Denver, CO

If you live in the Toronto area, you may be intersted in this
free set of Encyclopedia Britannica listed on Craigslist. “Pick up only”, of course.

Also available, an 11^th edition for $50 o.b.o. and a “deluxe set” (whatever that is) for $100, both in the Boston area.