Sep 03

An example of ridiculous eBook pricing.

Here’s a story at Bookseller.com describing how Transworld, (…there’s a warm and cuddly name for you…) the publisher of Dan Brown’s new book The Lost Symbol,  will release hardback and eBook editions simultaneously on September 15th both priced at $29.95. That while Amazon offers a $9.99 Kindle edition.

Come on! $29.95 for an eBook, when most people think $9.99 is too much? On top of that other retailers will be free to discount their copies, which will further muddy the waters.

It would be easy to be snide, but it’s early in the eBook Revolution. There are bound to be confusing moments like this that consumer backlash is bound to straighten out. Let’s hope the high prices do not promote too much piracy and file sharing.

STOP PROMOTING PIRACY. SELL CONTENT PRICED AS CONTENT!

Sep 02

eBooks Open an Affordable Chapter in Education

Acting on another tip from Jorgen, I visited the Washington Times to read an article about how the cost of printing is forcing a move toward eBook use in schools.

The article makes an excellent point. Texts with a shelf-life are no longer suited to cash-strapped school systems. Having purchased a few over-priced (single-use) texts and reference books over the years, I can understand why there are groups forming to protest these rising costs. If providing a good education is job one, then something’s got to give.

The cost of running schools rises every year and tuition hikes are an annual event, so it seems that a reusable eBook Reader purchased or leased by the school or student might be the perfect fit. Linked to the eBook’s editability and flexible platform, texts could be upgraded whenever the circumstances demanded.

So, it would be interesting to see education drive us toward this new tech, when everyone was expecting entertainment to do it. Perfect for the eBook revolution, yah?

Sep 01

“Muscular Debate” over eBook Pricing

Thanks to Jorgen for pointing us to this article at the Financial Times about the debate over eBook Pricing. Seems publishers are still blaming the greedy authors.

More hilarious quotes as publishers continue to sell us this theory that they’ve never really made much money anyway, and this $9.99 per eBook at Amazon (STILL WAY TOO MUCH to the CONSUMER! ) is just chiseling them into the ground. They always somehow neglect mentioning the important cost saving aspect of producing eBooks, as in there is no printing, shipping or storage to cover. Outside of paying the author his/her royalty (if he/she’s lucky, 8-15% of cover price) there is only some minimal cover design and layout cost, some advertising, and well, they’ve yet to explain where the rest of the money goes.

The truth is publishers have to evolve to suit the new market. There is still plenty of profit to be made, they just can’t make the same profit per item. eBooks are just far cheaper to produce than hardcover or paperback. GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK HEADS!

Aug 31

For eBook Readers and Writers

This article at A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing leans toward eBook Writers and Publishers, but it’s got some excellent background for those of us with only a general knowledge of the new technologies and exploding eBook Marketplace.

There’s a focus on eBook format, too. Something that everyone who’s in the game as a reader or writer wants to settle out soon. The discussion is hurting Kindle (proprietary format), while it’s promoting interest in a more omnivorous machine. (Think Sony’s products or the rumored Apple Tablet.) We need format universality in eBook publishing so we can focus on getting the best out of the technology.

Aug 30

Google Books etc.

Sorry. Technical issues kept us out of the game for most of the day.

Here’s an interesting article at cnetnews to tide you over. Some in-depth specifics and background on the Google Books settlement.

I hope to be back in full swing tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

Aug 29

Asustek to Launch Eee-Book Reader

This article will remind us that there are more ways to read an eBook than Kindle, Sony or Apple’s.

Netbook maker Asustek plans to launch its own eBook Reader under its Eee label. Asustek has been a big player in the netbook market so might prove to be a dark horse in the race. Keeps it interesting, yah?

Aug 28

An Aggressive move by Google!

It was a fight between eReaders by Sony and Amazon that Google Books is now going to turn into an outright mugging. Two weeks ago Sony adopted the open EPUB format for its eBooks and various eBook Readers. (Once it’s downloaded the eBook is yours to read on any device you want.)

Now Google Books is going to offer its million-plus eBooks in the EPUB format. Read the full story at the Los Angeles Times.

Amazon, can you say: Painted ourselves into a corner? It’s going to be hard for Amazon to respond with its locked, Kindle-only proprietary format. There’s only one thing they can do. Adopt EPUB or die!

Now this is getting exciting, yah?

Aug 27

Rumored Apple Tablet Responds to Sony’s Daily Edition

I knew this would happen. With Sony’s announcement of a new 3-G wireless eBook Reader (the Daily Edition) set for a Christmas release, the rumor mill started up about Apple’s Tablet. Read a story about how the fabled machine might measure up to the competition at Computerworld. Most of us are wondering whether the Tablet actually exists, and you can bet frontrunners Sony and Amazon are having some sleepless nights over it. I have a feeling we’ll soon find out.

So, we’re all here waiting. What’s it going to be then, Apple?

Aug 26

Sony Continues Punching, Amazon reels against the ropes!

Okay, Amazon, you better get this straight, if you can even make it back to your corner between rounds: Give your head a shake and come out fighting. Read the full report at PCWorld.

Sony is in this to win. Weeks after announcing two new eBook readers, the PRS-300 ($199) and PRS-600 ($299) Sony continues punching with the December release of the “Sony Daily Edition,” a 3G Wireless eBook Reader ($399) with a 7-inch screen that looks more-than-capable of going toe-to-toe with Amazon’s self-declared champion Kindle. More on the battle for eBook supremacy at Internetnews.com.

Without Kindle’s proprietary format, and free to purchase and read EPUB books anywhere, Sony’s machine (while pricey) is set to win the fight unless Kindle’s plan includes more than a lot of talk about being the best and biggest in the busy. They’re going to need some pretty fancy footwork too, yah?

Aug 25

iRex adds a wireless feature…

This story at ABC news has IREX Technologies getting into the wireless act. They announced Monday that its upcoming reader will give users access to the upgraded and fully functional Barnes & Noble Inc.’s eBook Store.

IREX has several eReaders out on the market and plans a 2009 launch for the wireless machine. This emulates frontrunner Amazon Kindle’s capability while offering an 8.1-inch touch screen.

Now I hope they copy Sony Reader’s adoption of the EPUB open document format for their eBooks, yah?