Nov 23

Slide format A into eBook Reader B?

Our friend Jorgen dropped off another link to a story at The Register that attempts to sort out the compatibility issues of eBook Selection, Distributors, eBook formats and eBook Readers. Good luck, yah?

It’s a good read, but it’s also suggesting that the reliance on proprietary format is going to do anything more that create eBook pirates and eventually spawn an omnivorous eBook reader that ingests all formats.

Proprietary format = locked books, limited selection & high prices. Proprietary formats will not survive the eBook Revolution.

Nov 22

Making that Christmas Purchase

Okay, here’s a story at Digital Trends with some pointers on buying that special someone an eBook Reader this Christmas.

While it seems a bit silly, considering two of the three most popular machines they’re talking about are sold out, this does open things up for the competition. If you doubt that there is any competition, then take the jump to a list of eBook Readers already on the market.

Like so many inconveniences, this lack of vision by the industry leaders (Sony and Nook…only available to order this Christmas) provides consumers an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the growing selection of eBook Readers. And if you’re forced to order and wait, it might be time to wait to order any one of the many devices that are promised in the new year.

Nov 21

The Nook SOLD OUT

Jorgen dropped off a link to a story at MobileMag.com (a link that since died unfortunately …) about Barnes and Noble’s eBook Reading Device, the Nook. It is out of stock and orders won’t ship until after Christmas.  But the same story is available at techradar.

The Barnes and Noble site is kind of pathetically declaring “Order now and we’ll start building your nook right away…”

That just leaves Kindle (however long their stocks last.)

I wish these companies would stop playing it safe. If Amazon is prepared with enough Kindles for Christmas, then the Nook (and apparently Sony is sold out too) has just lost out on a huge opportunity, yah?

Nov 20

Smashwords Acquires BookHabit

Read the Smashwords Press Release here.

Smashwords is the fast-growing eBook publishing service with over 4,700 eBook titles from 2,100 independent authors and publishers from all points of the compass. The eBook savvy net player has opened new distribution channels for Indie talent recently announcing new relationships with major online entities Barnes and Noble, Sony eBook Store and Shortcovers.

Smashwords is the one to watch, yah?

Nov 19

Sony + Public Libraries = Kindle Killer

Thanks Jorgen for this link to a story at Gather No Dust. In it the author suggests that Sony’s plan to link its eReaders to Public Libraries will spell doom for Amazon’s Kindle. I especially like the idea of entering a Zip Code and finding the downloadable item at a library near you. All that content free for the reading, yah?

Nov 18

Kindle Now Available in Canada

Kindle, the actual eBook Reading device, is finally available for sale in Canada. Read the story about the $259 (US) eBook reader in the National Post.

I think they missed an opportunity, coming this late, considering the large number of snooty literary types that inhabit the forests up here salivating for the chance to make the experience distasteful to the mainstream audience. But I’m pleased it’s here…months after Sony’s arrival, I have to point out.

I will say that the KINDLE for PC is now available for download in Canada, too. Get it here. I ‘grumbled’ about it not being available in Canada a few days back. But I’ll give Amazon it’s due. I downloaded it, having always been curious about the interface (but I was locked out) and it plays pretty well. It’s a little bright on the eyes, if you compared it to the actual Kindle device display or  Digital Editions, a competing eBook reader for computer monitor or laptop that uses open format EPUB. I think Digital Editions has a more user-friendly feel and look to its ‘paper’ display. Download it here.

I compared a few eBooks in the Kindle proprietary AZW format versus the Mobipocket PRC format (PRC also plays on Kindle and the Kindle for PC App). I’ll say, there were few differences, so wonder again why there’s all the duplication. (And why Kindle hasn’t adopted the EPUB format yet.)

I’ll keep playing around with it, but so far so good, yah?

Nov 17

BIG NEWS for INDIE AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS!

Media Bistro’s Galleycat reports digital book service Shortcovers has formed a partnership with Indie Author and Publisher platform Smashwords. On Nov. 18  Smashwords will start sharing titles from its growing 5,000+ stable of eBooks from Independent talent. 

This is a significant move as Smashwords accesses Shortcovers’ global infrastructure for reading and downloading eBooks across multiple devices (e.g. iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre , Google Android and Sony Reader.)

On top of similar deals with Sony eBook Store and Barnes and Noble, this coalition begins to challenge even Amazon’s distribution might. As it’s described, the eBook-only distribution deal allows Indie authors and publishers to sell directly, globally, without negotiating the sale of foreign printing rights.

They call it “democratizing distribution.” I call it a win-win scenario for the eBook Revolution, yah?

Nov 16

Doom and Gloom from Ireaderreview

Jorgen dropped off another link, this time to a somewhat gloomy article at Ireaderreview about the ‘value perception’ of eBooks dropping to ZERO.

Give the article a read. I think the author jumps to several conclusions that could be vigorously debated. For instance, there is no real discussion in the piece about how we determine the ‘actual value’ of content. In my books, it’s a leap to consider an eBook being accurately valued at $9.99 (the famous Amazon boycott price.) I would think a much lower price would be appropriate, considering an eBook is a rather small digital file requiring very little storage space that is ‘free’ to ship and can be copied a limitless number of times.

Here are just a couple things that cannot be ignored. Perhaps selling content is not the same as selling actual books. Perhaps methods of appreciating that content have changed. Perhaps the market needs to adjust to the new product.

And I really think it’s a leap to consider Moby Dick or Paradise Lost, both public domain titles and free, to be actual competition for Stephenie Meyer’s latest.

Nov 15

The Future of books: Adapt or Die

I’ve said it many times and it’s finally being pounded home by a long continuous explosion in the eBook Revolution. The future of books is eBooks, and anyone in the business: writers, publishers, agents, book sellers and printers will simply be left behind if they don’t accept it. Adaptation will assure that all of the above can remain competitive.

Here’s a link to a good read at JournalStar.com on the future of eBooks and reading.

Nov 14

The Intel eBook Reader

Jorgen dropped by with a link to this article at Crunchgear about an Intel eBook Reader for the visually impaired.

I agree, at $1,500 it’s jumping into the eBook Revolution with a high price, but the device offers a unique approach to eBooks and reading for the over 50 million people in the U.S. who have sight problems.

This machine comes with a 5 Megapixel camera that can scan whole pages of books or other printed material (e.g. menus) and then display the information as size-adjustable text or audio playback.

Check out the article. There’s a detailed instruction video too. You’ve got to love the way these technologies are being mixed together, yah? (I know it’s expensive, but tech always arrives on the market over-priced.)