Apr 29

The best advice for Indie writers: Ignore the advice.

The Globe and Mail offers a story on one of the industries that has sprung up around the advent of first the Internet, and now the eBook Revolution, namely: writer advice websites.

It seems that with Indie publishing poised to take over the expanding digital publishing world that writers want to make the best first impression, and sure enough thousands of  ‘experts’ are rushing in with advice of every kind… (Most of it for a price.)

Well worth reading for Indie authors pushing for their first launch, and for readers interested in learning about the pitfalls that surround their favorite scribes.

Apr 28

Kindle with Ads starts shipping.

Ubergizmo says the new, cheaper $114 Kindle subsidized by on-screen ads starts shipping this week.

Not sure if the $25 savings (next Kindle up without ads is $139) justifies the advertising content. Has anyone out there purchased this device?

Apr 27

What does the future hold for books?

Singularity Hub’s Aaron Saenz offers a thought-provoking piece on the future of books.

I’m in agreement with most of the post, but do think that ‘reasonable’ prices will do the same job that ‘low’ prices will. We’ll never get rid of eBook Pirates and file sharers, but we don’t have to encourage them with ridiculous pricing on eBooks.

Apr 26

Battle Heats up on the eBook Technology Front

The eBook Revolution promises an exciting year on the multimedia, full-color tablet front as Sony announces its plans to bring not one but two new tablet-devices to compete in the market that is currently being dominated by Apple iPad. Read the full story at BBC.

Added to the arrival of Rearch In Motion’s PlayBook and the many other tablets expected in 2011, this promises to turn into a buying and selling frenzy that will draw eBooks into the broader battle for multimedia market dominance.

We’ll see some interesting clashes similar to the price and availability competitions that featured in the E Ink eBook Reader market in 2010. Big price drops will ignite an explosion of Apps and digital content.

Apr 25

Paper Purists versus the Digital Vanguard

A post at Bradenton.com in California reports on another front in the eBook Revolution where Book Club members start to show where their true loyalties lie. Passions build on both sides of the digital divide.

Apr 24

eBook Piracy Battle Looming

Many thanks to Jorgen for a link to a Guardian.co.uk story about the developing war on eBook Piracy. Again, one has to wonder how much it’s hurting business, since business is booming…

The powers-that-be (or the powers-that-were) have to realize that similar to the case of digital music some eBook Piracy and file sharing might be part of doing business. (Especially if the product is overpriced…)

Apr 23

Is there any hope for the paper book?

More doom and gloom for traditional publishing over at PCMag in a story called “The End of the Printed Book?” by John C. Dvorak.

It must be the Easter holiday…has everyone wanting to pull the plug.

Apr 22

The Book in Death or Transformation?

Thanks Jorgen for a link to the Los Angeles Review of Books and a provocative article by Ben Ehrenreich entitled “The Death of the Book.”

An excellent Good Friday read.

Apr 21

Kindle Library Lending Coming Soon.

DailyTech says Amazon will begin offering a new feature called Kindle Library Lending. (2011 Launch Date Pending.)

The service will allow you to visit a participating library and check out an eBook that you can then read at home. The ‘borrowed’ titles will eventually expire but for their duration will allow you to read all you want, and even jot notes in the margin.

Sort of like a ‘real’ library book. Fantastic stuff, yah?

Apr 20

Writers Charge into the Indie fray…

A GoodeReader story updates us on the explosion of Indie authors taking advantage of the accessibility offered them by the eBook Revolution. There are so many ways for Indie authors to self-publish, that they’ve left the traditional publishers, agents and authors reeling.

There’s a new game in town–not so exclusive–and the readers and writers are taking control of it.