Dec 08

Borders Bids for Barnes and Noble

Now this is an interesting post at GottaBeMobile.com where we’re told that American book giant Borders has filed notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating its intent to buy American book giant Barnes and Noble.

This is seen as Borders’ attempt to acquire Barnes and Noble’s good eBook Mojo. B&N has made enormous strides since late 2009 catching up to Amazon.com by adding an eBook store then releasing their E Ink Nook and more recently their NookColor full color eBook Reader.

This union would create mammoth competition for Amazon and build a powerful foundation in the bricks and mortar arena with B&N’s many retail outlets’ in-store deals and off the shelf convenience.

Full details of the rumored deal at the link. If you can’t beat them, buy them.

Dec 07

Early Google Editions Review at CNN

Google has already said that its new eBook store Google Editions would take some time to roll out, but it doesn’t hurt to get an early peek at it. CNN has a story on it here. Up to now, the biggest complaints from eBook adopters have been about DRM and proprietary formats used by Amazon’s Kindle and other industry leaders, but I’m not sure that Google Editions’ ‘cloud-based’ reading is the answer. People want to own their eBooks, and being able to access them everywhere, on any reader as the cloud allows is not true ownership.

Again, the consumer will have the final say.

Interesting note: Here’s a link to a list of eBook Readers that will ‘read’ Google Editions eBooks.

Dec 06

View Quest Bookbox eBook Reviewed

The View Quest Bookbox eBook is reviewed at ComputerActive. Looks like the budget color eBook reader gets a passing grade as an economy video player but its low-resolution screen comes up short for eBook reading. Who knows, it might still be a nice option for anyone who’s curious about digital publishing or tablets.

Dec 05

Was Reading Always a Social Experience?

Thanks Jorgen for this link to a Booksquare feature that questions whether digital publishing is really changing the way we read. A thought-provoking piece for a Sunday afternoon.

Dec 04

Sony Reader Touch Edition (PRS-650) Reviewed at PCMAG.com

PCMag.com reviews the Sony Reader Touch Edition (PRS-650) ($229.99). This is Sony’s answer to Nook and Kindle and hits the market with the (unfortunate) higher price and USB-only connectivity. Despite the lack of wireless there have been several improvements including screen contrast and a drop in actual weight.

Read the review, and before you pass on it as too expensive, pop into your local Sony or technology store to handle the device. Its solid construction and no-nonsense technology will appeal to the bibliophile or technophile in your life. The things are made to last.

Dec 03

More on Google Editions

The Guardian.co.uk that takes a deeper look at the technology behind Google Editions’ secure eBook delivery system. It goes on to explain how the anticipated eBook store will be good for independent bricks and mortar stores.

Dec 02

Google Editions set to Rock the eBook Revolution!

And Google Editions is bound to cause some major waves in the eBook Revolution when it arrives later this month as it’s described in TechCrunch’s post. The actual ‘shape’ of this new net-wide eBook Store is still nebulous but we’re told it will decentralize eBook sales and make any eBook-related site an eBook store.

We’re also told to go ahead with holiday eReader purchases, as Google Editions is rumored to be an omnivorous creature that will sell titles in formats to suit your device.

More will be known as the month progresses. It’s exciting, isn’t it?

Dec 01

Barnes and Noble evens the Gap.

Here’s a link to an AP story about Barnes and Noble’s bricks and mortar effort to remain competitive in a digital world. The statistics suggest that while they have not taken the lead their leap into the eBook Revolution has certainly paid off by evening the gap in lost earnings. It bodes well for them, and for the consumer. We need competition out there. (Certainly Amazon does…) It is the only way we’ll ever see a drop in the price of eBook titles.

Nov 30

eBook Readers to Dominate Holiday Buying in 2010

With the holiday buying season of 2010 heralded as the beginning of the eBook Revolution`s adoption by the mainstream, it makes sense to prep the readership with a link to a PCWorld guide on how to buy your eBook Reader. This topic will begin to dominate the eBook blogosphere in the coming weeks so we might as well start early. Read the guide here.

And, here`s a link to a Publishers Weekly story on the acceleration of the same eBook Revolution`s Digital Reader penetration (not as much fun as it sounds…). There`s a graph worth looking at that breaks up eBook Reader adoption by age. (I know it`s Kindle-centric, but I think it`s fair to assume that there are similar trends running through the other popular brands.)

Lowering the price of the eBook Readers was factor number one in this sudden surge. Imagine what would happen if they lowered the price of the actual eBooks…

Nov 29

A Paper Book Lover Converts to Digital

L.A. Times writer, Michael Hiltzik offers his adventures in the world of eBook Readers, and chronicles his eventual adoption of the devices over his true love (paper books). I think it’s a phenomenon we’re going to see over and over this holiday season. I’ve always said an eBook Reader in hand will convert the most intractable reader among us.