Watch out Google Books, looks like the EU is going to push back with the launch of the EU Bookshop’s digital library. Announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the library contains 50 years of documents in 50 languages. All FREE. Check out the story here.
Oct 17
Will Your Brain Like This Article?
Here is a thought-provoking read for your weekend. The New York Times offers an opinion piece on whether the brain is willing to go along with the switch to eBooks and eBook Readers.
They asked five experts from different disciplines and areas of study these questions (from the article): “Is there a difference in the way the brain takes in or absorbs information when it is presented electronically versus on paper? Does the reading experience change, from retention to comprehension, depending on the medium?” Quite an interesting article, actually, and their answers are bound to get your brain comprehending weekend or not, yah?
Enjoy!
(For your pleasure thefreedictionary.com)
Oct 16
Google Editions in 2010
More tough news for Amazon. Google will sell eBooks for any device through an online store called Google Editions that they plan to launch next year.
The development announced in a release here at Reuters is a nice change for Google’s otherwise complicated press life as they battle the many challenges to Google Books. Google Editions will allow Google to start making money from one of its book ventures. (That also includes their controversial index of scanned books through library partnerships…Google Books.)
As yet, they’re not interested in making their own eReading device, opting instead to sell eBooks from publisher catalogues for reading on the various devices already out there.
Not such a nice change for industry leader Amazon’s Kindle that is still coping with a sudden influx of competing eBook Reading devices that are more and more relying on the open EPUB format. Amazon’s still trying to control things with its own (AZW) proprietary format.
Research firm Forrester predicts 3 million eReaders will sell in the U.S. this year, up from a previous total of 1 million. They say it’s encouraged by lower prices, more content and improved distribution. (I seem to remember reading that somewhere before, yah?)
Three words for Amazon: ADOPT EPUB NOW.
Oct 15
Barnes and Noble eBook Reader to Launch Next Week
ZDNet’s got the scoop and apparently pictures of the rumored Barnes and Noble eBook Reader designed and set to launch through a partnership with IREX and Plastic Logic.
Read the story and see the pictures here.
So this is going to heat things up, with Barnes and Noble’s long track record as book seller and distributor, the addition of this eBook Reader will make them a direct and powerful competitor to Amazon’s Kindle.
Now let’s just hope they don’t screw things up by over-pricing it, yah?
Oct 14
Time Magazine cautiously adds its two cents…
Hey, since everyone on the web’s been chattering about eBooks and eBook Readers for years now, isn’t Time kind of imitating us? Anyway, there is a good story at Time about the upcoming eBook Revolution. (Notice how they waited until things got into full swing before commenting…but I digress.) Read the article, it starts out lamenting how poor industry leader Amazon Kindle’s being imitated by all those awful lower-priced, non-proprietary competitors. I still think Amazon only has itself to blame…
And even better the article serves up a sidebar link to a slideshow of nine different eReaders either on or entering the market. (A sweet little showroom…) Check that out here.
It’s getting exciting, yah?
Oct 13
EXTREMELY COOL DEVICE ALERT!
Ok. This device (not sure it has a name yet…) from LG should make a big impact on the eBook Revolution. Let’s face it, like most hand-held devices, power is a concern for eBook Readers. So here’s LG to the rescue with a solar-powered eBook Reader that harnesses light energy to streamline your eBook reading. Check out the article at the guardian.co.uk here.
This is perfect, yah? Once eBook reading devices like this are omnipresent, I can imagine them being configured to display book covers so family members can tell one device from the other. COOL!
Oct 12
Barnes and Noble’s eReader Rumored to Run Android
A special thanks to Jorgen for this story at Gizmodo about Barnes and Noble’s much anticipated addition to the eBook marketplace.
Lots of interesting notions in the offered posting about B&N’s mysterious eReader. Looks like the rumors are starting to pile up.
Oh, and sorry about the delayed postings. This is the Canadian Thanksgiving so we’re encouraged to overeat and avoid work.
Back to business tomorrow, yah?
Oct 11
Smashwords
Smashwords is an online distribution service for independent eBook authors and publishers. And it’s FREE!
They offer a wide variety of eBooks for sale direct from the Smashwords.com bookstore, as well as distribute through various online channels. And many of the titles are very fairly priced, some starting as low as $1.99.
They’ve also inked deals to distribute through major online retailers like Barnes & Noble and Sony, and the catalogs of mobile e-reading apps (Stanza on the iPhone, eReader on the iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile Smartphone, Palm Treo and Centro, Symbian Mobile Phones; Aldiko and Word-Player on Android phones).
This should shake up the eBook Revolution, yah?
Oct 10
The Scourge of Piracy
Jorgen stopped by to direct us to this article at techdirt.com debunking some of the myths that surround digital content piracy and file sharing.
It’s an excellent piece that suggests eBook piracy might not be the bad thing publishers want us to believe it is.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Stop Piracy with Fair Prices and Easy Access.
Oct 09
News on the Kindle Front
Amazon has cut the price of its Kindle 2 to $259. This analysts say, to prime consumers for Christmas.
And, Amazon is announcing the release of the (Global) Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, U.S. & International Wireless, Latest Generation). That device boasts global wireless connectivity and will cost you $279. Check the site to see if they ship to your country.
These developments have been a long time coming and with their arrival Kindle might be able to make up some of the ground it has lost to tetherless and cheaper rivals.
Good Reads
SPECIAL OFFER!
