Aug 19

Barnes and Noble taking the fight to Amazon.

Here’s rather an interesting post at MercuryNews.com that goes into a little more detail on what we’ve alluded to many times. Barnes and Noble’s 720 retail stores were the envy and nemesis of every book retailer out there, and have allowed it a dominant position in the North American marketplace.

Then along came the eBook Revolution with its obvious emphasis on the digital platform and suddenly all those bricks and mortar storefronts begin to resemble dinosaur bones.

Or do they? After a shaky start, B&N has charged into the digital age releasing its own eBook reader nook to combat Amazon’s Kindle, while releasing one digital adaptation after another–and all of it tied into its real-world properties. It’s clear that B&N doesn’t just want to survive the eBook Revolution. B&N wants to come out on top.

Aug 18

Nook arrives on iPhone and iPad

Okay, I know that Barnes and Noble already had an App available for iPhone and iPad, but  here’s a story at Intomobile about their new App rebranded under the “nook” name.

It’s noteworthy because it says two things: B&N will continue developing their own nook eReader and they’re committed to an ‘industry-rumored’ move from their numerous (but expensive) bricks and mortar outlets toward an all digital eBook store.

B&N knows that the future is digital.

Aug 17

Que ProReader lies bleeding, iPad is the main suspect.

We talked about the death of Plastic Logic’s Que ProReader here. Now here’s a story at ALL247NEWS.COM that offers a look at the crime scene.

There must be more to the story. It’s starting to be a very crowded eBook Revolution.

But it certainly looks like the iPad’s full-color touch-screen and multi-function capability could be the culprit.

Aug 15

FREE eBOOK! and a Popular One by the Look…The Variant Effect!

variant_effect_cover_3Okay. This G. Wells Taylor’s been a favorite of mine for a while, first with his free Wildclown novel and now this. He’s been online forever (inked a deal to distribute all his titles with Smashwords) and always trying the angles. Looks like he’s finished The Variant Effect Serial started last October, and now he’s releasing all the parts in one FREE eBook.

Here’s most of the release…

“All SEVEN installments of THE VARIANT EFFECT are NOW available in ONE FREE multi-format eBook download at SkinEaters.com and other locations.

Plus, THE VARIANT EFFECT PAPERBACK is available for order at SkinEaters.com.”

So, check it out here. (I hear it’s a wicked horror/scifi blend.)

Aug 14

New Readers coming from Sony

Drop over to the Sony Insider to read about the rumored release of two new eBook readers. With so much competition in the explosive eBook marketplace, we knew it was just a matter of time until we heard from Sony.

The Sony PRS-650 is said to have a six-inch screen while the PRS-350’s screen will be five inch. The new devices boast attractive pricing, faster page turns and improved screen contrast among other things.

Check out the rest of the specifics at the jump.

Aug 13

Great times ahead for Authors… Not so great for publishers.

eBook Rumors has been saying for some time that in the face of the eBook Revolution the biggest challenge for the traditional publishers will be remaining relevant. At the Guardian.co.uk author Ray Connolly writes an engaging update on the state of the publishing nation entitled: “Who needs publishers?”

Connolly’s premise could not be more true now that writers can publish their own works and make them available to a large and rather eager audience through various online and hand-held platforms.

Add in the fact that we’re talking about a large disenfranchised population of writers (shut out of the old paradigm) now able to reach a massive audience that has been slowly starved of variety, accessibility and talent, and one can see that the traditional publishing cadre might have a difficult time staying inside the loop.

Historically, reading has been an intimate communication between the writer and reader facilitated and later controlled by publishers. Publishers now have to convince the new normal that ‘three’ is not a crowd.

Aug 12

Que ProReader Fades into the Night

ITProPortal posted on the sad news about UK-based Plastic Logic confirming its plan to abandon the Que ProReader, a beautiful device that was headed for the office and boardroom. Read Plastic Logic’s press release here.

It’s a sad day for those of us lusting after its sleek lines. After months of delays the rumor mill was churning about the future of this pricey but ‘oh so sexy’ device.

I think its large format E Ink screen and high price pushed it into unexpected competition with the full-color multi-format iPad.

Hopefully, the innovators who dreamed of the device that used plastic electronics will not abandon their foray into eBook Readers.

Aug 11

Is An Amazon Tablet on the Drawing Board?

The New York Times is carrying a rumor suggesting that one look at the job board at Amazon.com’s Lab 126 suggests that the online eBook retailer is getting ready to add more hardware to its arsenal. With Lab 126 responsible for designing Kindle and with Amazon carrying music and digital movies as well as eBooks, do the job specs hint at an Amazon-style iPad down the road?

Take the link to decide for yourself.

Aug 10

Textbook & eText Rental a Money Saver for Students this Fall

The Christian Science Monitor offers a post and advice on textbook rental for students getting ready for the fall semester. It’s a great move to save money that also seems to be the way of the future if the National Association of College Stores has its way with half of its 3,000 member stores offering book rentals this fall. That in concert with Barnes & Noble’s plan to do the same at its 637 college bookstores is sure to make text rental the norm.

When linked to B&N’s NOOKstudy program that offers digital textbook rentals, student’s will have a wide variety of money saving options in the coming year.

Aug 09

A Writer Looks at the eBook Revolution

Gigaom.com has a post by author Simon Wood on the writer’s view of digital publishing. I’d have to say I’m in complete agreement with Wood and can only see an upside for the content creator and reader.

eBooks are here to stay, but so are their paper progenitors–albeit the paperback might be relegated to a print-on-demand version (it was happening anyway) and the hard cover may evolve into high-quality, collectible works of art.

It should be a win-win scenario for writers and readers.