Jan 31
PCWorld has a post on Amazon’s report that its eBook sales are outpacing paperbacks. (115 eBooks for every 100 paperbacks sold.) While they don’t divulge the actual number of Kindles they’ve sold, the figures are unlikely to correlate anyway.
As the article points out, Amazon’s Free Kindle App is available for purchasing and reading eBooks on various eReaders and mobile devices like iPad and iPhone. Their wide selection of titles is working for them.
Jan 30
ReviewsofElectronics reviews the popular NookCOLOR eReader. Lots of information about the full-color, $249 iPad threat.
PortClintonNewsHerald has a detailed update on the eBook Revolution.
Examiner.com wonders whether eBooks and Apps represent a golden age for publishing.
OnlineAthens offers more on the move among Public Libraries toward eBooks.
Jan 29
GoodeReader offers a hands-on review of the Notion Ink Adam. This much anticipated Tablet PC has joined the ranks of devices in the expanding eBook Reader market. Lots of specs and pictures at the link.
Jan 28
You know that the eBook Revolution has gone mainstream when judges for the esteemed Man Booker prize literary competition have been sent eBook Readers to streamline the process of wading through the more than 100 novels that are in the running. The BBC has a post on this earth-shaking development, as the prize organizers offered the eBook option to avoid sending tons of physical books.
It remains an option, and the more hidebound among the judges can still request hard copies.
Fascinating development though, yah?
Jan 27
CNetNews has an interesting update on ‘budget’ eBook Readers that uses the $139 Amazon Wifi Kindle as the watermark for price and function. It goes on to list several devices on the market priced as low as $99.
(Please remember Kobo’s eReader was the first to sell at $150 and, I think, the one that started all eReader prices dropping.) The post starts a discussion thread that’s well worth the read, too.
Jan 26
Androidcommunity reports Barnes and Noble making moves to discontinue their Nook 3G eBook Reader after market forces drive eBook adopters to the E Ink Nook WiFi and NookColor (tablet). An unfortunate turn for the Nook 3G, but you can’t argue with consumer demand.
Just some growing pains in the eBook Revolution.
Jan 25
The Digital Book World Conference & Expo 2011 opened Monday and runs until January 26th. The Los Angeles Times has a post on it.
I’ve looked around the DBW site but see no mention of Indie authors. I guess they will have no impact on the Digital Book World. Actually, it isn’t surprising that they’ve been overlooked when you consider all of (traditional) publishing’s BIG SIX publishers have sent small armies to attend.
The event’s Program reads like a who’s who of irrelevant business ideas. Just an example: “Fun Facts Now That We’re an Ebook Retailer & Wholesaler” (soon-to-be irrelevant middlemen), “Author Royalties for Ebooks: What the Agents and Publishers Say Is the State of Play” (irrelevant middlemen) and “A CEO’s View of the Future” (irrelevant overlords…).
It would be a gas to check this thing out, yah? I wonder if they failed to mention Indie Authors because it’s like mentioning ‘meteorites’ to dinosaurs…
Jan 24
Sys-Con Media posted on Aldiko’s release of the Aldiko Book Reader 2.0. This FREE updated version of the popular Aldiko Book Reader for Android allows users to access eBook catalogs from various booksellers, as well as read and organize titles through a resident interface. Additionally the updated App supports EPUB and PDF eBook formats. Read the post for more.
Jan 23
Suite101 says Kobo is celebrating Kobo eReader’s guest stint in a recent episode of The Office by arranging a Facebook Contest and eReader giveaway.
The Indian Express has a post outlining the University of Kashmir’s progress in upgrading the Jammu and Kashmir libraries by digitizing some 8 million pages from books in various libraries.
Androinica reports on Sony Electronics announcement about the delivery of a Sony eBook Reader App for Android. The App is available for devices using Android 2.2 or higher.
eBookNewser reports on Amazon extending the 70% royalty option from the Kindle Digital Text Platform (now Kindle Direct Publishing) for independent authors and publishers to include Canadian customers. Up until now the option only applied to US and European customers.
Jan 21
The Guardian.co.uk has a post on an Amazon.com author who published an eBook instructing readers how to manipulate the Amazon sales ranks. The story goes on to say how he did it, and that Amazon responded by taking his eBook off the list of sales items. Can’t say I blame them. Whether his technique actually impacts the sales rank or not, the eBook giant cannot afford to have people lose faith in the system.
