Aug 15

A future for book trailers.

TheStar offers a post on the impact of video trailers on book and eBook sales. Digital video is a perfect fit for the eBook Revolution.

Aug 13

Check out the Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader

InformationWeek has a hands-on review of the Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader. I’ve downloaded it for a test drive and can see how this App is an excellent offering for the swelling tablet and hand-held market.

It’s still early, and the Kindle Cloud Reader only supports Google Chrome browser, the Apple Safari desktop browser, and the iOS Safari browser for iPhones and iPads. Amazon has promised support for a wider selection of browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox, etc. but has not set a timetable.

If you’ve got the supported browser then search out read.amazon.com.

Aug 12

Apple Inc. named ringleader in Agency eBook Pricing Scam

The Financial Post reports on a lawsuit against Simon & Schuster Inc., HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers and Penguin Group Inc. as parties to a price fixing scheme cloaked in the adoption of the Agency Pricing model.

The Agency Pricing model leaves the pricing of eBooks in the hands of the publisher rather than the retailer. The suit by Seattle-based firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro says Apple Inc. conspired with the publishers to push eBook prices up (sometimes higher than their hard cover versions) in an attempt to take the wind from eBook retail leader Amazon.com’s sails.

The publishers jumped on board to fix higher prices because the profits were vast, and it cooled off the eBook market to prop up sales of paper and hard cover titles.

Aug 10

Amazon books on the Barnes and Noble Nook?

Indeed, Amazon has inked a deal with its enemy Barnes and Noble to allow titles published under the Amazon Publishing imprint to be available for sale and compatible with the B&N Nook.  GoodeReader has the story where Amazon gets its footing in the biggest remaining bricks and mortar bookstore chain in the U.S.

Aug 09

Kindle drops to $99!

CNet reports that minus any fanfare, Amazon has dropped the price of its Kindle to $99. That development goes along with its 3G, ad-free Kindle now priced at $129. With the cheaper refurbished Kindle (plus one year warranty) now clocking in at $99, this is starting to look like a $79 eBook Reader Christmas.

Aug 08

PCWorld reviews the $190 Bookeen Cybook Opus eReader

PCWorld reviews the Bookeen Cybook Opus eReader. I remember previous versions of this sleek little ride hitting the market in the early days of the eBook Revolution.

Looks like they’ve kept the machine’s trim lines, and continue to deliver a highly workable single-purpose eBook reader. However, with a market that is hot for integrated book stores, wireless connectivity and lower prices, the Opus eReader will have to deliver in the performance department to stay competitive.

I’ve always liked the idea of untethered eBook readers, since the integrated eBook stores take away some of the flexibility inherent in digital publishing. But it’s still early in the eBook Revolution, and with Google eBooks finally kicking into full swing with its own eReader, we’re bound to see some rapid changes across the board. (Could that also mean untethered, DRM-free eBooks?)

Aug 07

PCWorld reviews the Aluratek Libre Touch Color eReader

PCWorld reviews the affordable Aluratek Libre Touch Color eReader. At $150 can the full-color machine make up for technical shortfalls with a killer price?

Aug 06

The price of publishing.

Thanks to Jorgen for dropping off a weekend read at the Guardian.co.uk Books Blog that questions the true price of publishing paper and electronic books.

Aug 05

PlayBook searches beat iPad.

This is some good news for Research in Motion. Gadgets and Gizmos reported that trend and savings watchers at ILoveCashback.com have statistics that indicate RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet has passed Apple’s iPad as the most searched-for tablet on the market.

After the PlayBook’s shaky start that accompanied RIM’s recent shortfall in profit and share price, this is welcome news for the eBook Revolution. The iPad is nice, but the consumer gets better prices in a competitive marketplace.

Aug 04

Future/present trends in the eBook Revolution.

Many thanks to Jennifer Lynch, writer at Onlinecolleges.net, for sending us a link to a recent post, “The Next 10 Ebook Trends to Watch For.” You’ll see right away that the trouble with predicting anything in the eBook Revolution is that things are changing so rapidly that the ‘trends’ we’re watching for are happening now.

Certainly, the groundwork is already in place.