Apr 13

April 13 News Update

DailyMail reports that paperback sales have dropped 25% in a year. Mark of the eBook?

NPR gives some background related to the Apple anti-trust lawsuit and says price-fixing is not new to publishing.

The New York Times suggests Apple will not be the biggest loser in the anti-trust lawsuit.

The CBC says the Apple lawsuit may lower eBook prices. (A no-brainer there!)

And POPSCI welcomes the Barnes and Noble Simple Touch With GlowLight, a NOOK E Ink eBook reader with built-in light for reading in dark settings. And it actually works.

Apr 12

More on the U.S. Department of Justice’s case against Apple and Co.

Time digs deeper into the U.S. Department of Justice anti-trust lawsuit against Apple and its publishing conspirators.

This illegal action was a thinly disguised attack on the eBook Revolution that undermines consumer confidence, seriously weakens the argument that publishers had tried to put forth that Amazon is the evil empire, and if there is justice, should leave a stain on Steve Jobs’ legacy.

Greed is not good.

Apr 11

U.S. Department of Justice to sue Apple and price-fixing cronies.

Time reports that the U.S. Department of Justice will go ahead with an anti-trust lawsuit against Apple and publishers Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, the Hachette Book Group, Pearson and Macmillan.

This after Apple held out against a settlement that was already accepted by some of its price-fixing co-conspirators. It’s anyone’s guess why Apple would attempt to defend a sinking ship since a settlement for some of the principals is an admission of guilt for all.

Apr 10

Yahoo preparing for in-eBook advertising.

We know this is going to get worse before it gets better. BBC reports that Yahoo has filed a patent for an eBook advertising system. That’s right. Ads right in our eBooks. Let’s hope this is just a phase.

Apr 09

eBook overpricing to cost consumers $200-million extra.

Computerworld has a post outlining the Consumer Federation of America’s claims that price fixing on eBooks will cost the consumer $200 million extra for eBooks this year.

The group encourages the US Justice Department to take “vigorous action” and pursue its anti-trust lawsuit against Apple and publishers: HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster.

Apr 08

eBook Trailers the ‘latest’ trend?

GoodeReader reports on what they’re calling the ‘latest’ trend in the eBook Revolution.

eBook Trailers are not as new as you think. While the mainstream might be finally getting around to adopting the idea, eBook teaser trailers have been around and used by Indie publishing innovators for many, many years.

Just do a search for ‘eBook trailers’ on YouTube and you’ll see the evidence.

Apr 06

Good Friday eBook Revolution Update

CBC.ca says that U.S. adults are joining the eBook Revolution to the tune of 20% of the population reading an eBook last year.

SocialBarrel gives an update on the preferences of early adopters for E Ink Readers and tablets.

A press release at SourceWire reports on the Pyrus eBook Reader with Digital Ink and unique eReader Suite.

CIOToday says Amazon has opened a Spanish Language Kindle store.

Apr 05

$1.5-million in Harry Potter eBooks in three days.

PaidContent says that J.K.Rowling’s site Pottermore sold over $1.5-million worth of Harry Potter eBooks in the first three days of sales. With Rowling being a huge stakeholder in the Pottermore sales platform, the mind begins to boggle over her profit potential as yet another generation begins to climb aboard the popular series.

Again, I have to wonder when Stephen King (and other best sellers) will begin to sell his own eBooks directly to his millions of readers.

Apr 04

iWriteReadRate: open community for readers and writers.

DigitalJournal introduces some competition for GoodReads by way of iWriteReadRate.com, another social networking community that revolves around the written word.

Apr 03

Potential fallout from Apple anti-trust settlement.

With the U.S. Justice Department anti-trust lawsuit approaching a settlement with price-fixing conspirators Apple and publishers: Simon & Schuster, Penguin, Hachette Group, MacMillan, and HarperCollins we’ve got links to different takes on the fallout at the DailyMail.co.uk and Mobiledia.

This should be a win for writers and readers.