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Interview with Rajat Jain - Xerox India : 'I use Kindle to catch up on the latest e-books'

2013-05-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

Rajat Jain, Managing Director, Xerox India

What is your dream machine?

An impending energy crisis along with an increasing environmental degradation is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. A commercially viable vehicle which runs completely on renewable energy with zero emissions (both direct and indirect) would be a dream machine for me.

What do you like about technology.

Innovation! Evolving day by day, month on month, year on year, enabling me to stay connected with whole world through just a gadget in my pocket.

What do you not like about technology

The fact that technology makes a person complacent and tends to completely detach them from what is happening around them. But then again, the positives outweigh the negatives.

What gadgets do you use?

On a regular basis I use my Blackberry Bold 5 & iPad 3

What is your latest gadget possession?

An Apple iPad 3.

What apps or tools do you use personally and for what purpose?

I largely depend upon on my BlackBerry messenger application. Other than that WhatsApp and the email application are

ones I use on a daily basis. On my iPad I use Kindle to catch up on the latest e-books, and Skype and currency converter when I travel abroad.

What is the biggest tech disaster according to you?

The space Shuttle Columbia disaster in which the Indian American astronaut, Kalpana Chawla was killed.

What is the biggest tech success according to you?

The Airbus A380 – a perfect blend of technology, machinery and Aero dynamics in operations since 2007, comes with 30 years of Airbus experience in applying intelligent innovation.

One instance where technology solved your problem.

My car’s GPS navigation system which always helps me in locating unseen destinations.

`Spotify for ebooks' is 24symbols

2013-05-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

By Maddi Ruhi

A Spanish startup called 24symbols is a new reader, and has the attention (and investment) of marketing company Zed.

There are plenty of readers for iPad and other tablets and smartphones out there, but 24symbols is taking a unique angle to the market: reading without ever downloading. The site works with publishers to provide their e-books online for free to users, who can read them right off of the app or browser. There is nothing to download, and users can skip around as they like between titles, all for free. In order to generate revenue, however, there are some optional paid features. For a monthly subscription of approximately $10 or a yearly subscription for $80, the user can gain access to even more content and capabilities.

Zed has taken interest in 24symbols because of its strong potential. The company has just purchased 32 percent of the company shares, which amounts to $2.6 million. 24symbols makes money by paid subscriptions and advertisements, while on the publishers end, money is paid for each page view of their books on the website depending on the popularity of the book.To add a social layer into the program, Facebook is integrated. With nearlt 200,000 readers and over 120 publishers contributing books, 24symbols is positioning itself as a strong competitor for other readers. The startup is now valued at $8.1 million, and will soon be launched globally with the help of Zed.

Falling interest in Kindle and Nook: the decline of ereaders?

2013-05-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

By Benedict Evans

I'm a big fan of Google Trends. It's partial, and you need to think carefully about what you're actually looking at, but used properly it can be very revealing of market trends.

So, caveats aside, this chart shows US search volume for Kindle, Kindle Fire and Nook. Three things stand out:

A large and unsurprising spike at each Christmas
A really substantial decline for 2012 versus 2011 - close to 50%
The Kindle Fire, supposedly the future-proof successor to the Kindle, appears to be falling, not growing

Amazon, of course, tells us nothing tangible about how the Kindle is doing, but Nook's numbers (as reported by Barnes & Noble) are looking terrible, which is consistent with this.

It seems to me that several things may be going on here:

General-purpose tablets (mainly the iPad) are more proving more compelling to consumers than special purpose tablets like the Nook and even the (rather more capable) Kindle Fire
Cheap general purpose tablets (which are very hard to capture in Google Trends, as an aside) have removed or reduced the price advantage the Nook and Fire had last year
These devices have quite long lives - especially ereaders (i.e. the Kindle). Maybe most of the addressable market bought one in 2010 and 2011 and those people didn't come back to the market in 2012

There's a broader story here, of course, in the way that the growth rate of ebooks seems to be slowing as they reach a third or so of the market.

The UK data shows a trend that's slightly different: Nook is MUCH weaker (reflecting the absence of real distribution or brand) and Kindle Christmas interest held up better in 2012, probably reflecting the later UK date - ebooks seems to be about 1 Christmas behind the USA. However, the drop-off seems to be sharper in the beginning of 2013 than in the beginning of 2012, just as in the USA.

The same point is even more clear if we look at search volume for 'ebooks'. The deceleration is clear.

Microsoft Rumored to Buy Nook Media and E-readers for $1 Billion

2013-05-13T08:02:00.001-07:00

by Lisa Eadicicco, Staff Writer

Digsby

IM, Email, and Social Networks in one easy to use application!

http://digsby.com

Microsoft is reportedly attempting to buy Barnes and Nobles’ Nook e-reader and software for $1 billion, according to documents obtained by TechCrunch. The Redmond, Wash.-based company is looking to purchase the digital assets of Nook Media LLC as well as the bookseller’s line of tablets and e-readers.
The documents indicate that Barnes and Noble plans to discontinue its Nook HD and Nook HD+ Android tablets by the end of 2014. The company’s focus would then shift to “third party partner” devices, but the paperwork didn’t specify what this would entail. It did indicate these “third party” devices would be released next year as e-readers and tablets are gradually phased out.

Microsoft already has a 16.8 percent stake in the company, but controlling all of its digital content and tablets would give it an edge when competing with Apple and Amazon. While the Windows Store is showing growth, it only houses about 50,000 apps. Meanwhile, Apple and Google’s stores are approaching the one million mark.
The Nook brand as a whole has been struggling in recent quarters. Revenue from last year’s holiday season was down by 26 percent compared to the prior year, as the company announced in February.
via TechCrunch

E-Books are Changing the Ways of Reading

2013-05-13T07:47:00.005-07:00

By Saral Sharrma

I still remember my mother joking with our relatives and amusingly quipping how the load of my schoolbag, crammed with zillions of books, was way more than my body weight. It was a time when the lives of students revolved around printed books, with most of us delicately draping our school texts in brown and plastic covers, stamping varied colourful name slips on them and then flaunting it to one another. There was a kind of magic attached to the books for every one of us. Even now come my birthday, my friends and parents saddle me with hardback novels and history books. And such fascination is true of millions of people my age or older than I am. But my thirteen-year-old niece is perplexed at what she calls my love for "fat ladies".

She tells me, "I simply can't fathom why on earth anyone could bear toting around burly printed volume of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, especially when you can just easily read it online and that too without any back-breaking weight. She is not alone in holding such views; her penchant for e-books is demonstrative of a paradigm shift from print culture to a large community of readers who finds digital books more desirable owing to their easy portability and multiple other benefits. The idea of e-book took its hold in Indian markets a couple of years ago and has since made a steady growth in capturing a pool of book lovers, ranging from school students, and college-goers to bibliophiles in general.

E-book is a version of a traditional print book that can be downloaded from internet onto small, portable devices such as i-pad, Kindle, Mobi and Nook etc. It is equally readable on one's PC or laptop. The notion of digital book is a revolutionary concept and stands in stark option to old hard-paper culture. An e-book reader device, as opposed to the thick volume of a printed book, weighs simply anywhere from twenty ounces to three or four pounds, and to top it all it is capable of storing hundreds of books without giving you a bother about space and weight. Another advantage it has over hard-paper books is that nowadays many digital books are available for download for free.

One factor that has nudged the growth of digital-book market in India is the introduction and subsequent popularity of Tablets which are available at affordable prices. Tablet introduction has bumped up the potential consumer base for e-books. The rising popularity for digital books is palpable in the fact that the Delhi Book Fair 2012 had e-books as its main theme, with hordes of online publishers; each with its own different programme, from all across the world showcased their ideas at DBF. Publication houses such as Aleph and Penguin have decided to bring out ebooks of all releases.

Readers have reacted favourably to this new format of reading, with the younger generation really lauding the idea of digital books. "E-books are a boon for everyone, primarily because you don't have to lug around heavy texts to colleges. Everything can be downloaded to a tablet and that's it" opines Pratibha Rana, a B.Ed student at DU. Garima Kaushik, English Postgraduate from St. Stephens, makes an interesting observation- "I only buy e-books. It's my bit for protecting our environment and trees. No Paperbacks, less number of trees will face the axe."

However, such zest for digital books is not shared by everyone. Nikita Ahluwalia who is a voracious literati, still holds print editions close to her heart. "I grew up reading paperbacks. Their smell is something that keeps me reading on and on. E-books don't have such aura about them. I would rather stay with my old habits." It's undoubtedly true that a feeling of nostalgia is in the air and many are still, though they do use digital formats, sticking to printed texts. However, it's equally true that e-book phenomenon and its market is and will experience a surge in India and many other developing nations.

Google Glasses - Ebook Killer?

2013-04-20T13:16:00.001-07:00

by Jason Matthews

Google Glasses–Project Glass–Internet Head–Google Goggles–maybe you’ve seen them. The space-age specks enabling you to go anywhere with the internet at your fingertips and eyeballs (assuming you want that) tend to elicit strong responses, polarizing many into camps of thought like heck yeah can’t wait to get mine to those who claim it a sure sign of the end of the world. My opinion is closer to the heck yeah camp. What are your thoughts?

Since the scope of this blog is typically for Indie authors and all things e-publishing, one of my questions was if people would eventually read this way. Seems logical enough. Think you could read an ebook with Google Glasses? Certainly someone will. If so, might theses goggles make Kindles and other devices obsolete just a short time after the majority of readers finally accept them? Probably not. By then, readers might complain that they simply prefer the old-fashioned feeling of hard plastic and e-ink in their hands.

There’s a Google Plus follow page for Project Glass, and yes, they are verified, go figure. Project Glass, really? Why can’t Google brainiacs come up with a decent name right off the bat? Remember their ebook store that came out–Google Editions, which was a dumb name too so they changed it to something really clever–Google Ebooks. Seriously, they need to get a writer on payroll. Google Goggles perhaps? Have a feeling they’re fighting that one tooth and nail.

Seems like just yesterday I was playing Classic Electronic Football that had tiny red lines representing players. Got to admit, it’s hard to imagine what another 35 years of technology could bring. One thing’s for sure in the here and now; several other R & D departments are probably scrambling to put something together comparable to Project Glass and fast. Apple? How about it?

Let's call ebooks books - Renaming the (Digital) Book

2013-03-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

By Anne Kostick

Speaking of user experience—we haven’t yet discovered the word that will describe the digital, transmutable, readable, platform-agnostic, weightless, immersive, elastic … creation, hitherto known as a book. We should hurry up and get this naming process started.

Why should we find a new term? Because while we were busy discussing agency pricing and distribution of digital books, the proliferation of end products that are more or less like books continued apace. Now we have e-books, of course; but we also have enhanced e-books, book apps, Google books, iBooks, Kindle books, and online books. This is in addition to audio books and various editions of books printed on sheets of paper and bound. Some of these literary products are illustrated, animated, interactive, collaborative, updatable and/or editable. And in every case, we call them books. I call it confusing.

We spend a lot of time wondering if one of these creations is or is not a book. We worry that if we read, use, or buy more of one kind of book we’ll hasten the demise of another kind of book. As David Wilk of Booktrix wrote about my favorite subject in his blog, “what will emerge over the next few years is an explosion of digital reading technology. And with that will come an explosion of creativity, as publishers, authors and technologists try to imagine what the digital reading experience can and should mean to readers.” Maybe what’s standing in the way of real innovation is the word “book,” so let’s ditch it, or at least reserve it for printed works on paper.

Why is this a UX issue? Because inevitably our use will determine the definition of the word “book” and whatever new words come up. We want to move past the “is it or isn’t it?” phase. We want to know what we mean when we say “book,” and know what we mean when we say [insert new moniker here].

At last month’s Book^2 Camp, the high-relevance unconference organized by Kat Meyer of O’Reilly, Ami Greko of Kobo and Chris Kubica of Neverend Media, we got the conversation started in a short brainstorming session. When an idea springs up, I figured, better to pounce upon it immediately before it gets away. Our Renaming Group was divided into those who thought we didn’t need a new name at all (so why join the group?) and those who were willing to consider new names. We talked about history, linguistics and usage. Then we started making lists.

Elemental, linguistic: readee, wordup, brainer, knowie, pagey, leeb; bix; dex
Combo: wordea, eyebook, eyedea, thinkdex, newbk
Historical, ironical: caxton (look it up), foliex, edsel, kobo (yes, it could happen)
Techie: masterdoc, rootext, hypertome, alphavol

One keen participant observed that the new word should describe the literary, intellectual kernel, which was preserved digitally and is essentially the same no matter what final expression it takes. How about Bkernel? Bseed? Or maybe Ip (for intellectual property)?

Why should we hurry up? Because, as Chris Kubica said, “We do need a new word for ‘book’…but it will take decades to catch on (if ever).” And, as David Wilk wrote, “Maybe until a perfect new term like ‘blog’ is coined by someone, we’ll be stuck with ‘e-book’ even as the range of what is possible to be written, made, displayed, read and consumed expands exponentially.” Since it will take a long time, let’s get a jump on finding that perfect term.

We know from experience, and from that “Seinfeld” episode about eating a Snickers bar with a knife and fork, that ideas can go viral—we just have to get the contagion going. Everybody think, now.

Ikea lifehacking for e-readers

2013-03-22T09:42:00.001-07:00

E-Reader Boom

IKEA lifehacking is the new 'bom'. And now, it's helping you reading an ebook!

Materials:
- TERTIAL desk lamp
- Exogear Exomount car holder
- Mounting tape
- LED Reading lamp (optional)

Description: I'm too lazy to hold my E-Reader in bed :)
- Unplug the lamp!
- Cut and remove electrical wiring from TERTIAL. Hint: To remove the bulb socket, you need to lift two opposite tabs on the outside of the socket, but it's optional. And be careful of the sharp edges.

- Line the clamping area with anti-slip tape, then attach Exomount there.
- Attach E-Reader (or small tablet) to the Exomount suction cup.
- You can store reading glasses etc where the socket used to be.

PS: Maximum gadget weight ~300g

Enjoy!

See more photos of the e-reader holder.

Review of Susan Cain's Quiet The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

2013-03-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society--from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.

Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Taking the reader on a journey from Dale Carnegie’s birthplace to Harvard Business School, from a Tony Robbins seminar to an evangelical megachurch, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects. She talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools. She questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation, and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. And she draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal the surprising differences between extroverts and introverts.

Perhaps most inspiring, she introduces us to successful introverts--from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions.
Finally, she offers invaluable advice on everything from how to better negotiate differences in introvert-extrovert relationships to how to empower an introverted child to when it makes sense to be a "pretend extrovert."
This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves.

Susan Cain is in conversation with Jon Ronson, journalist, humourist and documentary maker.

In an increasingly social world, author Susan Cain argues that we undervalue the power of the introvert at our peril.

How can organisations ensure that the best ideas dominate, rather than those of the most vocal and assertive people?

the TED talk, In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized

Amazon Exclusive: Q & A with Author Susan CainQ: Why did you write the book?
A: For the same reason that Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique in 1963. Introverts are to extroverts what women were to men at that time--second-class citizens with gigantic amounts of untapped talent. Our schools, workplaces, and religious institutions are designed for extroverts, and many introverts believe that there is something wrong with them and that they should try to “pass” as extroverts. The bias against introversion leads to a colossal waste of talent, energy, and, ultimately, happiness.Q: What personal significance does the subject have for you?
A: When I was in my twenties, I started practicing corporate law on Wall Street. At first I thought I was taking on an enormous challenge, because in my mind, the successful lawyer was comfortable in the spotlight, whereas I was introverted and occasionally shy. But I soon realized that my nature had a lot of advantages: I was good at building loyal alliances, one-on-one, behind the scenes; I could close my door, concentrate, and get the work done well; and like many introverts, I tended to ask a lot of questions and listen intently to the answers, which is an invaluable tool in negotiation. I started to realize that there’s a lot more going on here than the cultural stereotype of the introvert-as-unfortunate would have you believe. I had to know more, so I spent the past five years researching the powers of introversion.
Q: Was there ever a time when American society valued introverts more highly?
A: In the nation’s earlier years it was easier for introverts to earn respect. America once embodied what the cultural historian Warren Susman called a “Culture of Character,” which valued inner strength, integrity, and the good deeds you performed when no one was looking. You could cut an impressive figure by being quiet, reserved, and dignified. Abraham Lincoln was revered as a man who did not “offend by superiority,” as Emerson put it.
Q: You discuss how we can better embrace introverts in the workplace. Can you explain?
A: Introverts thrive in environments that are not overstimulating—surroundings in which they can think (deeply) before they speak. This has many implications. Here are two to consider: (1) Introverts perform best in quiet, private workspaces—but unfortunately we’re trending in precisely the opposite direction, toward open-plan offices. (2) If you want to get the best of all your employees’ brains, don’t simply throw them into a meeting and assume you’re hearing everyone’s ideas. You’re not; you’re hearing from the most vocally assertive people. Ask people to put their ideas in writing before the meeting, and make sure you give everyone time to speak.
Q: Quiet offers some terrific insights for the parents of introverted children. What environment do introverted kids need in order to thrive, whether it’s at home or at school?
A: The best thing parents and teachers can do for introverted kids is to treasure them for who they are, and encourage their passions. This means: (1) Giving them the space they need. If they need to recharge alone in their room after school instead of plunging into extracurricular activities, that’s okay. (2) Letting them master new skills at their own pace. If they’re not learning to swim in group settings, for example, teach them privately. (3) Not calling them “shy”--they’ll believe the label and experience their nervousness as a fixed trait rather than an emotion they can learn to control.
Q: What are the advantages to being an introvert?
A: There are too many to list in this short space, but here are two seemingly contradictory qualities that benefit introverts: introverts like to be alone--and introverts enjoy being cooperative. Studies suggest that many of the most creative people are introverts, and this is partly because of their capacity for quiet. Introverts are careful, reflective thinkers who can tolerate the solitude that idea-generation requires. On the other hand, implementing good ideas requires cooperation, and introverts are more likely to prefer cooperative environments, while extroverts favor competitive ones.

A Reader’s Guide for Quiet:The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking

By Susan Cain

Introduction

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening

to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor

working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is

to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society-from van Gogh’s

sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.

Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people,

Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so.

This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and,

equally important, how introverts see themselves.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. Based on the quiz in the book, do you think you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or an

ambivert? Are you an introvert in some situations and an extrovert in others?

2. What about the important people in your lives—your partner, your friends, your kids?

3. Which parts of QUIET resonated most strongly with you? Were there parts you disagreed

with—and if so, why?

4. Can you think of a time in your life when being an introvert proved to be an advantage?

5. Who are your favorite introverted role models?

6. Do you agree with the author that introverts can be good leaders? What role do you think

charisma plays in leadership? Can introverts be charismatic?

7. If you’re an introvert, what do you find most challenging about working with extroverts?

8. If you’re an extrovert, what do you find most challenging about working with introverts?

9. QUIET explains how Western society evolved from a Culture of Character to a Culture of

Personality. Are there enclaves in our society where a Culture of Character still holds sway?

What would a twenty-first-century Culture of Character look like?

10. QUIET talks about the New Groupthink, the value system holding that creativity and

productivity emerge from group work rather than individual thought. Have you experienced

this in your own workplace?

11. Do you think your job suits your temperament? If not, what could you do to change things?

12. If you have children, how does your temperament compare to theirs? How do you handle

areas in which you’re not temperamentally compatible?

13. If you’re in a relationship, how does your temperament compare to that of your partner?

How do you handle areas in which you’re not compatible?

14. Do you enjoy social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and do you think this has

something to do with your temperament?

15. QUIET talks about “restorative niches,” the places introverts go or the things they do

to recharge their batteries. What are your favorite restorative niches?

16. Susan Cain calls for a Quiet Revolution. Would you like to see this kind of a movement

take place, and if so, what is the number-one change you’d like to see happen?

Review

“A superbly researched, deeply insightful, and fascinating book that will change forever the way society views introverts.”
—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

“Susan Cain is the definer of a new and valuable paradigm. In this moving and original argument, she makes the case that we are losing immense reserves of talent and vision because of our culture's overvaluation of extroversion. A startling, important and readable page-turner that will make quiet people see themselves in a whole new light.”
—Naomi Wolf, author of The Beauty Myth

“Think Malcolm Gladwell for people who don’t take themselves too seriously. Mark my words, this book will be a bestseller.”
—Guy Kawasaki, author of Enchantment

“Susan Cain has done a superb job of sifting through decades of complex research. . . . This book will be a boon for the many highly sensitive people who are also introverts.”
—Elaine Aron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person

Pay-What-You-Want to eBooks

2013-03-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

By Andy Chalk

Here's a pay-what-you-want bundle for gamers who like to do the "reading" thing once in awhile: The Bundle of Holding, a collection of nine ebooks written by the designers of some very well-known tabletop RPGs and a videogame or two. Some, like Chuck Wendig, are established authors, while for others, like Rainbow Six: Lockdown writer Rafael Chandler, this is a first-time venture into the world of novel writing.

Here's how it works: You pay whatever you want for full, DRM-free copies of Fable of the Swan by Jenna Moran, Hexcommunicated by Rafael Chandler, Hero Worship by Derek Pearcy, Birth of the Dread Remora by Aaron Rosenberg, Irregular Creatures by Chuck Wendig and Tournament of Death by Stephen D. Sullivan. If you come across with more than the average purchase price, currently sitting at a little shy of $16, you'll also get three bonus books: Hard Times in Dragon City by Matt Forbeck, Mindjammer by Sarah Newton and Playing For Keeps by Mur Lafferty.

Like certain other bundles you may be more familiar with, the Bundle of Holding allows buyers to divide their payments between the authors, the Bundle folks and two charities, the ever-worthy Child's Play and Reading is Fundamental, perhaps better known as RIF, which works to bring the joy of reading to kids.

All the ebooks come in Kindle, ePub and PDF formats, and as mentioned are DRM-free. So, groovy fantasy tales and a solid for charity, all at whatever price you want to pay - what's not to like? And hey, a little bit of reading never hurt anyone.

Press release: New Digital Publishing Start-up Erudition Will Publish Enhanced Ebooks and Only Sell Direct

2013-03-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Digital publishing start-up, Erudition, beta-launches enhanced eBook series

Erudition, a new digital publishing start-up, has successfully beta-launched its first series of enhanced publications, Practising The Piano. The author, Graham Fitch, is one of the UK’s leading piano teachers and the series features the culmination of years of experience teaching pianists of all levels. The publications fill a gap in the piano literature with a focus on the art of practising, showing the reader exactly what to do in order to get the most out of their practice time.

A digital first approach
The publications are purpose-built for digital consumption using Erudition’s in-house content management system. The layout of content is optimised for onscreen reading on personal computers and iPads. Enhancements such as video clips, audio and additional resources are seamlessly integrated with content. Interactive “sliders” enable important concepts to be broken down and illustrated in a step-by-step format.

Direct sales model
Practising The Piano is marketed, sold and distributed directly to the reader via Erudition’s innovative digital fulfilment platform. The publications can be purchased and accessed via a dedicated website www.informance.biz or the author’s blog www.practisingthepiano.com. Readers view and interact with their content via a cloud library integrated with a web-based reading application which renders HTML5 content for online and offline consumption.

This direct model provides statistics and usage feedback not usually available to a publisher via third-party retail channels. “We’re thrilled with the results achieved so far”, says Ryan Morison, Director at Erudition. “We’ve received positive feedback from customers across the globe and over 70% of readers accessed the entire first volume within the first week of purchasing it.” New editions and volumes will be influenced directly by the feedback obtained from the beta launch.

While many publishers are experimenting with enhanced publications, Erudition’s competitive advantage is its ability to successfully monetise such publications. “We deliberately selected a niche topic in order to demonstrate that we can produce next generation publications that are commercially viable”, says Ryan. “Enhanced publications are often costly, once-off showcases. Our platform and approach requires minimal upfront investment to launch and achieves significantly higher margins thereafter. This enables us to break even quickly and refine our offering based on market feedback.”

The publications have been broken up into “bite-size” volumes in order to increase engagement and lower the cost of the initial purchase decision. The first two volumes of the series are on offer during the beta-phase at a discounted price of £2.50 each or £4.00 for a bundle. The full retail price of each publication will be £5.00 from the 31st of March and a third volume will be launched during the second quarter of 2013. Further publications which include enhanced performance editions of popular pieces and a number of new online reading features will be rolled-out throughout the year.

Erudition now intends to leverage its approach and capabilities to launch new publications across a wide range of topics. Rather than creating its own content, going forward the company seeks to partner with other publishers to create premium digital offerings from their backlist, current or future publications. Publishers who wish to explore opportunities further can contact Ryan directly at ryan@eruditiondigital.com.
About the author
Graham Fitch is a pianist and teacher with many years of experience teaching at the college level. For over a decade, he was Head of Keyboard at the University of Cape Town, and has also taught at the Royal Welsh College of Music in Cardiff and the Mannes College of Music in New York. He is also known as a teacher for specialist young pianists, and has been on the piano staff at The Purcell School and The Centre for Young Musicians in London. Graham is a regular contributor to Pianist Magazine and an adjudicator for the British International Federation of Festivals. Currently, Graham teaches privately in London and attracts a steady stream of students from around the world for lessons.

About Erudition
Erudition™ is a specialist digital publishing company partnering with publishers and content owners to create purpose-built digital publications from new or existing content. We enable publishers to generate new revenue streams through creating immersive and engaging reader experiences.

2013-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

By Robin Shin and Hannah Breeland

Ever since I was a child my mother and father bought me collection of books ranging from science to fairytales. To this day, I have those collections in South Korea and some here in California. I love to read books. They give endless possibilities to another world.The only problem is that they take up a lot of room and have their boundaries in physical form.

When the first ebook was released I was against the idea of buying it due to the fact that I personally have signed books from authors and like to hold and read them with the feeling of self-satisfaction from it. As much as they gave me satisfaction, they also gave me dissatisfaction, or rather my mother to be exact.

Every time I went to a bookstore, I would come back with another book, comic or even manga. I currently have at most 200 mangas in my room and at least 100 books under the roof my family’s home. Be it a bargain, or new for a book signing, I would buy it. That was until my mother told me to stop buying books while presenting me a KindleFire for Christmas.

At first I was against using it and only played games on it, but then my friends online told me of cheap bargains on varieties of certain genre of books. I was hesitant at first, but then I began to fill up my KindleFire with over 300 books in less than an hour.

I used to carry at least one book in my backpack so that I could read it in my spare time. Sometimes the books were small and portable, other times they were so big that they made me look like I was going out for a day trip in the woods. With my KindleFire now holding over 300 varieties of books in my backpack, it is a light travel.

It wasn’t just the size and the capacity that made me convert my reading life to an ebook, it was also the possibilities. I was able to read in the dark without the need of an external light. It also didn’t collect too much dust as my books did. You can call me lazy, but my books really did collect a lot of dust, especially when I was reading a long novel. Ebooks didn’t just give me comfort, but also privacy and access to the Internet to broaden my reading range, such as online works from fans to amateur authors.

It also didn’t make me paranoid about ruining the pages. I ruined quite a number of books due to the fact that they slept in the same bed as I did. I rolled over them would end up losing them through the bed cracks and not find them for days. So having an ebook has its advantages being one form instead of multiple.

Overall, I believe that ebooks have changed the way many people read due to the fact that they are easy to use and portable for anyone who loves to read in the comforts of their own time and place.

Books

Ebooks are a cold, lifeless, steely contraption compared to books. Sure I love technology, but I would choose a book over an ebook any day.

When you look at how far mankind has come with technology it’s amazing. It seems every other year something better comes along.

Right now people can get books on their Kindle, Nook, PC, Macs, Kindle Fire and iPads. That’s great, but who’s to say how long those will last. Books have been around for centuries, and they will never be outdated or obsolete. Sometimes newer doesn’t always mean better.
To even get ebooks, you need one of the ereaders I mentioned before. There are a lot of families that don’t even have a computer to start with. Instead of wasting hundreds of dollars on a Kindle or Nook, people can just get free books from the library, and as many as they want.

Even though I have a job, I still prefer the library. I don’t want to spend money if I don’t have to. Books are cheap and they can come from the thrift shop, yard sales, or borrowing from other people. One thing you can’t do with an ebook is share it. After spending almost $200 for a device, would you really share it? I love my friends but I would have to give it some thought before I start loaning it out to people.

With an ebook you can’t share it, mark on it, or have the author sign it. I have a couple of books, which have been signed by the authors. How could that be done on an ebook?

There are so many down sides to an ebook like my computer crashing or my Kindle getting stolen. I don’t have any fear of losing my books beside fire or water and those are highly unlikely. Even if something happens, they’re cheap to replace. If you drop a book, it’s no big deal, but if you drop a Kindle or Nook more then likely it’s broken or severely damaged. Then you’re out that much money.

For me, my books hold so much meaning; they really make the story come alive. My favorite books are worn out and have dog-eared pages, but that’s what I love about them. No ebook could ever replace the memories it evokes whenever I pick up that book.

For example, my mom used to read me stories from a book she had when she was growing up. I’m in college and I still have that book. Granted, it’s a little more worn out, but it’s still usable. I plan on holding on to it until I have kids. Which brings up another point. In 20 years, could I pick up a Kindle or Nook and read my kids my favorite story? I highly doubt it.

Just because ebooks can be convenient doesn’t make it better. With books, I’ll never need to worry about battery life, plugs or Internet connection to read, all I have to do is pick it up and enjoy. Now that is what I call convenient.

Amazon Wants to Sell Used Ebooks - Used ebooks?

2013-03-02T03:12:00.002-08:00

When you think of the word "book" there are two distinct and different versions: the first is the physical item with pages, a cover, etc; and second, the story contained therein. The nature of ebooks, whether they are thing or e-thing, has been hotly debated since their inception. Are they a physical entity or disembodied story? Now, a new wrinkle: can you resell a used ebook?

Amazon seems to think so. But is there really such a thing as a "used" bit of code since, for all intents and purposes, it remains exactly the same after use? After all, the spine never cracks on an ebook and the pages are always pristine.

A downloaded ebook is by nature not a unique item. New ebook sales are recorded by the download but the seller does not have a warehouse (or server) filled with copies of that ebook. Each download originates from one original set of code provided by the publisher. Unless it were possible to embed a serial number in each download there is no way to prove that a used ebook really is a used ebook. In theory a reseller could sell "new" ebooks as used, excluding both publisher and author from deserved royalties. Most wouldn't, however whenever there is new technology there is always someone trying to break it.

Plus, how do you prove the ebook provided by the original downloader was acquired legally? Would that mean that only the original outlet could resell? As the PW article states, some sort of verification process will need to be implemented, however there's also an appearance of impropriety that needs to be considered.

There is also the problem of pricing to consider. How do you price a used ebook? By the price the original downloader paid? By a ratio of the current suggested retail price of the publisher? Is it to be one set price across the board for each title? There's no physical "condition" to be taken into account. Ebooks are already (for the most part) less expensive than a paper book. If you got a special $.99 deal are you going to resell for $.50? Or if the price is set, could both the original purchaser and reseller end up making a profit?

And then we come to the question of royalties. When a paper book is resold the author doesn't receive royalties on that sale. However, the amount of money he or she received as a royalty on that original paper book sale is generally higher than on an ebook. (Royalties are based on cover price, or gross price, for paper books and net on ebooks.) Should that be taken into consideration? Should resellers be required to pay an author royalty? It's almost impossible to track used paper book sales but for a reseller of ebooks using a verification system it should be very easy to track.

I have always believed that when I buy an ebook that its lack of physical substance should be what allows me to purchase it for a lower price. There are no paper, printing, and binding costs, no shipping, no warehousing. But all of the other costs associated with a published book are still there and should be figured into the retail price. Personally, I never would have considered the possibility of resale of such an intangible item. But it seems an ebook may not be "intangible" in legal or accounting terms.

When someone buys a used paper book they are purchasing a tangible, physical item along with the story or information it contains. They can read it or set their drinks on it but they still have a "thing" they can hold in their hands. When you take that "thing" out of the equation what exactly are you reselling, the story or the code? Either way, the ebook conversation is about to take a turn for the metaphysical.

E-readers can transform education in developing countries

2013-03-02T03:10:00.003-08:00

By John Benson Education

Worldreader has distributed more than 441,000 African and international e-readers to children in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. (Photo courtesy of Worldreader)

Endeavoring to put a book in the hands of developing world students is quite lofty but when that book is being read through an e-reader, the mission seems decidedly impossible and perhaps even pointless. Questions like, “how can a child in Africa learn to use and be able to recharge an e-reader?” abound.

Tired of excuses, Worldreader started up nearly three years ago with such a mission. So far the results are staggering, with the Barcelona-based non-profit distributing more than 441,000 African and international e-books to children in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. Children are now reading up to 50 percent more than before receiving the e-books, with some of them completing up to 90 books in a single year.

“Books for all is our mission,” Worldreader Co-Founder Colin McElwee told VOXXI. “By that, we mean we want to use existing infrastructure of mobile connectivity to get books to as many kids and young people in the world. Basically wherever you can get a telephone call you can get a book. Many people talk about smartphones, mobile phones or 3G networks. We’re talking about 2G, which in Africa has about 80 percent concentration across the continent. So we’re not looking to revolutionize the infrastructure, we want to connect the dots.”

Financially supported by donations small and large, including a recently announced $300,000 grant from USAID, World Vision and AusAID, Worldreader is not only reporting success but also dispelling aforementioned concerns. While e-reader battery charges last upwards of a month, breakage is at less than five percent of users with theft being nearly non-existent.

“We had one child who said, ‘People don’t steal education,’” McElwee said. “They may steal a sexy mobile phone or iPad, but when it comes to books and education, people don’t steal that.”

Currently focused in Africa, Worldreader is about to expand across the Atlantic Ocean into Latin and South America. McElwee said the goal is to get a pilot program started within 18 months that can demonstrate to governments and multilateral organizations in the region about potential impact.

The impact of e-readers in Africa has been transformational for children. (Photo by Worldreader)

If Africa is any indication, that impact can be huge. McElwee said pilot programs in Ghanaian primary, junior and high schools provided an enormously positive educational outcome. Specifically, primary school kids benefited the most.

“One year with an e-reader was worth four to five years schooling without an e-reader,” McElwee said. “And it was local standardized testing. This is absolutely transformational. There’s not major infrastructure investment to go behind this. In fact, there is zero. It uses the current infrastructure. In any sector a big consideration is, ‘Are you looking for a big change of behavior?’ Absolutely not.”

“These are books. It’s not computers, which in [African] education are normally stopped at the door by the teachers who say, ‘This is wonderful technology but you’re going to disenfranchise me. The kids will do this much faster than me.’ Books—even though they’re electronic books—those same teachers who could be blockers become advocates.”

McElwee added that due to the education system built by the English and French in the 20th century, the framework already exists with parent-teacher associations, examination boards and teacher unions.

“But the lifeblood is books, which is not there,” McElwee said. “You have an existing system that’s working pretty poorly because it’s not getting the adequate input. So it’s transformational.”

Looking ahead, McElwee said despite Worldreader’s advances there is still a major hurdle facing the movement. In fact, he said he experienced it firsthand a few weeks ago at an education and technology conference in San Francisco.

“For 20 years people have said ‘If only’ in Africa and Latin America,” McElwee said. “It’s always like if we can do things in the future. So the biggest hurdle is getting people to understand it’s not about tomorrow. It’s today. The infrastructure is already there. You can do it today. It’s getting governments to listen and look at data.”

“For decades people have had a list of excuses not to do things in Africa and Latin America. Now they have no more excuses.”

Preview of Dan Brown Inferno via Read-an-ebook.com

2013-02-08T09:12:00.001-08:00

In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date. In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces…Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust…before the world is irrevocably altered.

Yes, it's a real Dan Brown! And Italy is again the playground of Langdon! We'll bet, this will be the start of a new movie of Mr Landon.Are you excited about the latest Robert Langdon tale? You can order the e-book via e.g. Amazon and Bol.com.

Santa Maria della Vittoria (Angels and Deamons)

We did not want you to forget the interview with Dan Brown by BN Studio.

Add an ebook to your device with pReader

2013-02-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

By Adam Marks

One of the benefits of modern technology is that you almost always have your smartphone with you, especially when you are away from home. In addition to being able to do things like accessing your email or carry around your entire music library, photos and videos of the kids, and a few games to keep you entertained, your smartphone can also play the roll of personal library with your books available for whenever you want to read.

Although we did see a beta release of a Kindle app on the TouchPad, what happens if you want to load up an ebook that you were able to download from elsewhere onto your webOS device? Say, for example, if the editor of your favorite webOS site were to go full nerd and released a free full-length Star Trek fan fiction novel titled Star Trek: Aldrin - Sic Semper Tyrannis; how would you load that on to your webOS device?

One solution is to download pReader from the webOS App Catalog or thehomebrew edition from Preware or WebOS Quick Install on to any webOS device - from the original Palm Pre to the HP TouchPad. pReader, by MHWSoft, will allow you to load up any plain-text, HTML, PalmDOC, MobiPocket (mobi), eReader (pdb), ePub, or Amazon (azw) ebook, plus any DRM-protected .mobi or .pdb file, onto your device for you to read. Note that Amazon and ePub DRM aren't currently supported. You just need to copy the ebook file on to your USB drive of your device and follow these directions:

Open pReader
Tap the "Add Book to Library" button from the app's homepage.
You can choose a specific ebook file type or choose "All" to get a listing of compatible files on your device.
Find the book you want to add and tap on it
The file will be loaded into the app and then appear in the LIBRARY of ebooks.

Once you have a book added to the Library, just tap on it to open up the book. While pReader may not be the most visually stunning app and does not support things like cover photos of books, it does have a myriad of preferences that allow you to customize your reading experience. You can change the background color, text size and font, method to advance the page and more by accessing the Preferences section of the app by swiping down from the top-left corner of the screen and selecting "Preferences" from the dropdown.

One additional action you may want to make is to change the encoding that determines how the text is displayed on the screen. If you are seeing a lot of additional odd characters at the ends of paragraphs or in random places, try choosing "Change Encoding" from that dropdown menu and select "UFT-8" encoding.

Interestingly, because pReader supports text and html files, this app does not need to be limited to just viewing ebooks. pReader also allow you to view (but not edit) any local text file on your device. Please note that although the app support html files, it will only display the text portions of those files and does not support things like embedded links.

pReader is available for free in the webOS App Catalog or Preware and is compatible with all webOS devices running webOS 1.4.5 or higher.

2013-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

5 Reasons E Ink eReaders are Better for Reading eBooks Than Tablets

By Nathan

One question that often comes up with regards to ebook readers and tablets is which is better for ereading? Some people have a hard time trying to choose between something like the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Fire HD, especially when buying them as a gift for someone else.

The main thing to consider is how the device is going to be used. Personally, I feel that E Ink ebook readers are better suited for reading ebooks, and tablets are better for color and large-form content like magazines, comics, newspapers, as well as web reading and PDFs. Ebook readers can do all those things too, but when it comes to reading ebooks specifically, nothing can beat an E Ink ebook reader for the five reasons listed below.

#1. Easier to read for long periods, less eyestrain, better sleep: It’s a highly-debatable topic, but for many people reading on an E Ink display is less strenuous on the eyes than reading on a backlit tablet, especially when reading for long periods of time. It has also been shown in studies that staring at bright LCD screens before bedtime can adversely affect sleeping habits. While neither has yet to be proven conclusively, one thing that has is the simple fact that ebook readers are easier to hold for extended reading times because they are a lot lighter than tablets (for example, the Kindle Paperwhite weighs almost half as much as the 7" Kindle Fire HD). Plus ebook readers are generally thinner and smaller than tablets, making them a little easier to fit in a pocket or purse.

#2. Less distractions: One of the most underrated aspects of E Ink ebook readers is the fact that they are much more focused on reading than tablets. Reading is more difficult on a tablet because there are so many other things to distract one’s attention, such as email notifications, addicting video games like Angry Birds, movies, messaging, etc. Sometimes it can be hard to focus on reading with everything else at hand.

#3. Longer battery life, more energy efficient: One of the main advantages of E Ink is its energy efficiency. Power is only needed to refresh a page; no energy is required to hold an image on the screen. Thus a battery charge on an ebook reader like the Kindle or Nookcan last anywhere from 2-8 weeks when using the device for at least 30 minutes every day. By contrast most tablets need to be charged every 6-10 hours of use.

#4. E Ink is highly readable in direct sunlight and bright light: Like the picture at the top of this article illustrates, another advantage with E Ink is that the display is easily readable in bright light and even direct sunlight, whereas LCD screens that tablets use become glare-ridden mirrors.

#5. Easier to use than tablets: Sometimes simpler is better. Most ebook readers have an easy-to-use interface that makes learning how to use them a breeze, especially for older folks and non-tech people who just want to be able to easily download and read ebooks. Tablets tend to have a lot more settings and apps and things that take more time to learn how to setup and use.

Well, there you have it. My five main reasons why E Ink ebook readers are better for reading ebooks than tablets.

Videos with subtitles into eBooks with StoryBoard

2013-02-01T05:00:00.002-08:00

No, we do not have any relationship with StoryBoard (but we should :-). It's a great feature. See yourself:

Want to read TV shows or movies on your eReader? StoryBoard is a utility that lets you do that. Yep, you read that right: Storyboard takes a video file and turns it into a PDF featuring still images and text from a movie or TV show.

Here’s how it works: Storyboard detects scene changes in a video file and grabs a still image of the relevant frame. It also grabs an image every time the subtitles change.
If your video doesn’t already have subtitles, the script can try to identify the movie or TV episode and grab relevant subtitles from the internet.
The end result is a PDF eBook featuring a series of photos with captions for the text. You can then read a TV show as if it were a picture book — which is a pretty good way to zip through an hour-long TV show in a matter of minutes.
You can also read that PDF file on an eReader, smartphone, tablet, or a laptop.
This isn’t the first time we’e seen this sort of trick. Developer Mark Longstaff-Tyrell came up with something similar a while back and called it iPlayer for Kindle.
But developer Mark Olson’s Storyboard is a bit more sophisticated — and it’s an open source project. You can access the source code at Github, or contribute to development of the project if you want to help add support for EPUB, Mobi, or other formats, for instance.
The tool is also available for installation on a Mac or Linux computer. You can find instructions at Olson’s website.

Reading a book is faster than reading an iBook

2013-01-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

By Ian Paul, PCWorld

It will take you longer to read a book on an iPad or Kindle compared to the printed page, according to a recent study. Dr. Jakob Nielsen of the Nielsen Norman Group--a product development consultancy that is not associated with Nielsen, the metrics company--compared the reading times of 24 users on the Kindle 2, an iPadusing the iBooks application, a PC monitor and good old fashioned paper. The study found that reading on an electronic tablet was up to 10.7 percent slower than reading a printed book. Despite the slower reading times, Nielsen found that users preferred reading books on a tablet device compared to the paper book. The PC monitor, meanwhile, was universally hated as a reading platform among all test subjects.

The Study

Nielsen's findings were based on the performance of 24 users who "like reading and frequently read books." The subjects each read different short stories by Ernest Hemingway on all four platforms, and were measured for their reading speeds and story comprehension. Overall, it took each user an average of 17 minutes and 20 seconds to read a story regardless of the platform and comprehension levels were virtually identical on all four reading formats.

However, Nielsen says the printed book was the clear winner in terms of speed. Users were reading 6.2 percent slower on an iPad compared to paper, and 10.7 percent slower on the Kindle 2. Nielsen did not provide any statistics on the reading time for the PC monitor.

Interestingly, Nielsen's results appear to show that reading on the iPad is significantly faster compared to the Kindle 2. But Nielsen was quick to dismiss this conclusion arguing that the reading speeds between the two devices were "not statistically significant." "The difference [between reading times on the iPad and Kindle 2] would be so small that it wouldn't be a reason to buy one over the other," Nielsen wrote.

The study also asked each user to rate how they liked each format on a scale of 1 to 7. The iPad, Kindle 2, and printed book were nearly tied at 5.8, 5.7, and 5.6 respectively, while the PC monitor ranked last at 3.6 points. The test subjects said that reading on the PC felt too much like being at work, while they found it more relaxing to read a printed book than on an electronic device.

Tablets Still Can't Beat the Book

So it appears technology hasn't quite figured out yet how to replicate the experience of the printed page. That said this study leaves a lot to be desired owing to its small test group size, but it would be interesting to see a similar study on a much larger scale. I'd be curious to find out, for example, if there's any big difference in reading speeds based on age groups.

Would people in their 20s read faster on a screen than a book since they've spent a majority of their lives consuming digital content? How would the younger group compare to people in their late 30s and early 40s who also grew up with electronic devices such as the Commodore Vic-20, the original Mac, and IBM clones?

This study also left out reading on a laptop, which is a far more mobile reading experience than a desktop PC and could therefore be more enjoyable. I'd also like to know if the iPad would remain a faster reading experience than the Kindle in a larger study. On the one hand, the iPad can render a new page faster than the Kindle, which could account for the uptick in speed. But you would think the Kindle's ability to closely mimic the printed page, thanks to its e-ink display, would bring its reading speeds closer to the traditional book.

Regardless of how fast people can read on an electronic device, the e-reader is becoming more popular every year. E-books raked in $313 million in 2009 growing by 176.6 percent compared to 2008, overtaking audio book sales. In 2010, e-book sales are currently growing at a rate of 217.3 percent versus 2009, according to estimates by the Association of American Publishers.

If you want to check out Nielsen's findings for yourself, you can find it here. It's a fairly short read, but if you're pressed for time you might want to print it out.

European Union To Find In Amazon’s Favor Over eBook Battle

2013-01-29T05:01:00.000-08:00

by Michael Harper

Reuters is claiming the antitrust investigation into Apple for their alleged attempts to fix the prices of eBooks in Europe is coming to a close, with Amazon emerging victorious.

The European Union regulators are said to be ready to accept a deal from Apple and four publishers that would lessen the price restrictions on Amazon, according to 2 sources who spoke with Reuters. With this decision in place, Amazon will be able to once again sell their eBooks at a lower price than Apple and other rivals.

Apple and four other publishers, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Livre and Macmillan, offered a dealin September that would allow retailers to set their own prices and offer their own discounts on eBooks for 2 years. Furthermore, this deal suspends “most-favored nation” contracts for 5 years, a clause which enables a seller to give all buyers the best terms.

The European Union (as well as the American Department of Justice) launched investigations into these deals when critics began to complain that the measures prevented Amazon from selling books at their own price.

The Penguin Group is also under investigation, though they did not take part in the offer. The EU Antitrust authority accepted the deal from Apple and the publishers in September and now, according to 2 sources familiar with the matter, the deal will be accepted soon.

“The Commission is likely to accept the offer and announce its decision next month,” said one of the unnamed sources, speaking to Reuters.

A spokesperson for competition policy at the European Commission told Reuters, “We have launched a market test in September and our investigation is still ongoing.”

At the heart of this deal is Apple’s agency pricing model. Before Apple got into the eBook business, publishers would sell their books to retailers and wholesalers, such as Amazon, at one price. These resellers could then sell the book at whatever price they wanted using discounts or wholesale pricing. With Apple’s agency pricing, the publishers set the price and give the reseller 30% of the cut. Apple uses the same model in their App Store, with developers naming their own price and Apple taking 30% off the top. The part that makes this agency pricing so troublesome, however, is the clause saying publishers cannot sell their books to another reseller at a lower price. Therefore, if a publisher offers a book to Apple at one price, they cannot offer it at a lower price to Amazon, effectively preventing Amazon from beating Apple on price.

This case in Europe closely resembles the DOJ investigation currently underway in America. While Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster immediately agreed to settle in the American case, Apple and Macmillan plan to take the case all the way to the courts. Penguin is being investigated in both instances, refusing to settle on either continent.

As a part of the American probe, some customers of Amazon and Apple received emails last month informing them they’d be receiving credits in their account as reimbursement for paying too much for their eBooks.

Three of the publishers, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, suggested a settlement wherein they would pay those customers who may have over paid for their books as well as prevent their ability to set their own prices in the future. Amazon and Apple eBook customers may have a while to wait for these credits to appear in their accounts, however, as the judge won’t decide on this case until February.

Tips for Older Adults on Choosing eReaders

2013-01-29T04:28:00.002-08:00

By Kendal Northern Ohio

With so many options available, eReaders are becoming increasingly popular with older adults. The ability to enlarge the type size of printed materials coupled with the near limitless access to reading materials that is making eReaders popular with Kendal at Oberlinresidents and Kendal at Home members.

The growing popularity of eReaders has many mature adults considering their purchase. To assist people in making purchasing decisions, today we complete our review of popular eReader features begun in our previous post:

Battery life. The life of a typical eReader battery provides about 7,000 page turns. Extra bells and whistles, like Internet browsing, can cut into battery life. Consider how long the device will operate between charges and how long charging takes. Some batteries can go months between charges; other must be recharged every 4 to 5 hours. You might also want to consider the ease of battery replacement. Can you do it yourself or do you have to mail the device to the factory?
Control mechanism. Some eReaders are controlled by a touch screen operated by your fingers or a handheld stylus. Others require manipulation of one or more control buttons. Arthritis sufferers and others for whom finger dexterity is an issue will want to try out the controls before they buy.
Readability. Look for a device with good screen contrast and crisp letters. The screen should be clearly readable in both bright and low light.

There are numerous Internet sites that review and compare specific eReaders, but we found the analyses provided on eReader Central to be particularly helpful. The site provides detailed analyses on all the most popular eReaders and offers a handy chart comparing the features of the four top-selling devices, so check it out today!

Why Some People Hate Ebooks; and Why I Love Them

2013-01-28T16:00:00.000-08:00

By Jeremy Greenfield

Whether you love ebooks or hate them, they’re the future of the book publishing business. Don’t get left behind.

There are some people out there who are frustrated with ebooks. Dylan Love of Business Insider, for one, who published an article yesterday titled “Why I Hate E-Books“.

The ebook revolution is exciting and certainly has been profitable for the book business as a whole, but publishers and booksellers should hear what Love (and others like him) has to say. Here’s why he hates ebooks:

1. “E-books cost too much.” In his piece, he pointed out an example of how an ebook edition of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas (Random House) is more expensive than a paperback edition — when you order it with Amazon Prime, which offers free shipping, that is.

This is a gripe that should be familiar to the ebook business. Love isn’t alone. I spoke with a number ofconsumers in April who were mostly upset about the price of ebooks because the perception was that they cost little to produce and distribute. There have been other media reports that point out similar price discrepancies to what Love pointed out, citing consumer dissatisfaction and confusion.

Love suggests that all ebooks should be under $10. I’m not sure where he came up with that number, but it seems to be the consensus among his set.

2. “When you pay for an e-book, you haven’t bought the book at all. You’ve bought a license.”His piece touches on an issue that has been hot in the book world ever since Amazon reportedly kicked one of its users out of the Kindle walled garden and didn’t let her take her ebooks with her (this turned out to not be the whole story, but still spurred much discussion).

Aside from the principle of wanting to “own” something that he has bought, Love also points out that ebooks are hard to lend.

Love suggests that publishers and booksellers should let readers “own” digital books the way they own physical books — or at least remove any technology or restrictions that put friction between the reader and a feeling of ownership.

—

Publishers, librarians, retailers and readers: While Love is only one guy and might be ignoring some critical stuff here, it’s important to respect his opinion. He’s not the only one who holds it.

That said, what people say and what people do is not always the same. As we’ve seen from looking at weeks of best-seller data, the average price of a top-25 ebook best-seller currently hovers between about $10.50 and $12. That’s more than $10. People might say they’re upset about ebooks priced above $10, but they certainly are willing to buy them.

I think this gets to the hear of the matter: Not all books are created equal and some are just worth more (to me as a reader and to the businesses that create them and profit from them). If I’m a publisher or a retailer and thinking about ebook pricing, I’m thinking first and foremost about how I can get the most value out of a book (i.e., get the most dollars from maximum sales at the highest possible price). And if I have a book that people are willing to pay more for, then I will charge more for it — simple as that.

(I also like to think that the book world is somewhat of a meritocracy: Good writers who write good books should do better as a group than less good writers who write less good books. Part of that scorecard is pricing, in my opinion.)

People might say they’re upset about only licensing ebooks and not “owning” them, but the precipitous growth of e-reading in the U.S. would suggest that they’re basically okay with it.

While I think it’s important that publishers and retailers know why people might be dissatisfied with their pricing and such, it would be a mistake to base strategy and decision-making on the media sensibilities of just one person.

That said, here’s….

Why I Love Ebooks

1. They’re mostly cheaper than print books. My first really pleasurable ebook experience in this arena came when I downloaded Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 (Random House) when it first came out. Hardcover version, ~$35; ebook version, $14.99. Even though there are some that are not cheaper, I’m not really concerned with a dollar here, a dollar there. I’m like most readers in that I’m willing to pay what it costs for what I want.

2. So convenient. You can carry around a library in your pocket. You can have any book, any time, nearly anywhere.

3. I read more. Now that I have a book on me at all times, I’m reading more. Not that I didn’t read a lot before, but I’m reading more on the subway, when I am waiting in line for things and when I walk down the street.

4. I read differently. Now that I read on my Android phone, my e-ink Kindle and my iPad, I’m reading differently. Before, it was my book in various spots and times that were well-defined. Now it’s:

– Any time, anywhere (phone)
– While I’m playing Scrabble (iPad)
– On long, long trips (Kindle — gives me the ability to take many books with me at once)

5. Power to the people. The rise of ebooks as a way that more people are reading has given purchase to authors who never would have had a chance to find an audience. A decade ago, a limited number of publishers was the only real path to a wide distribution of a book. Today, with the rise of self-publishing — mostly ebook self-publishing — anyone can distribute a book. Some are even seeing real commercial success. When it comes to rooting for publishers or retailers or anyone else, I’m a neutral party, but as someone who believes in free speech, I love that the tools to distribute have become even more democratized.

6. So exciting to follow. When I joined Digital Book World just over a year ago, one of the things that brought me here was the opportunity to observe the ebook revolution up close. The growth of ebooks is one of the most interesting business news stories of the past few years — and it’s only going to get more interesting.

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Whether you love ebooks or hate them, they’re the future of the book publishing business. Don’t get left behind. Attend Digital Book World 2013.

Libraries pay price for ebook 'friction'

2013-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

By Peter Korn

Publishers, librarians still look for ways to make high-tech leap

by: TRIBUNE PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER ONSTOTT - Multnomah County Library Director Vailey Oehlke is currently reading an electronic version of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,' checked out from the Multnomah County Central Library.

Multnomah County Library Director Vailey Oehlke is reading “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.”

She checked the electronic version of the bestseller out of the library after having been put on a wait list for a copy, liked it, but between one distraction and another couldn’t finish the book before its due date.

The library wait list meant it could be months before she could check the book out again to finish it, so Oehlke spent $13 and bought a copy of the ebook.

Now, if you think about it, Oehlke’s predicament doesn’t make sense. Electronic books, or ebooks, only exist in cyberspace. Wait lists and renewals shouldn’t matter once Oehlke had downloaded a library copy to her electronic reader.

But there is a lot that doesn’t make sense in the intersecting worlds of libraries and ebooks, as far as Oehlke is concerned. First and foremost, she says, is the fact that the six major U.S. book publishers won’t sell electronic versions of most of their books to libraries, fearing lost business. When they do sell popular ebooks to libraries, they often triple the price.

When the library conducted its most recent annual survey, Oehlke says, the most common request was that it carry more ebooks, which make up about 5 percent of the library’s collection. As far as Oehlke is concerned, given that recent studies project demand for ebooks will skyrocket, especially from young adults, keeping ebooks out of libraries defeats one of the fundamental missions of libraries: equal access to information for all.

The library cannot purchase the electronic versions of more than half of the books on The New York Times bestseller list. That means only people with the money to buy them — if they want electronic versions — can read them.

“Why would we want to hearken back to a time when only people with resources had access to books and learning?” Oehlke asks.

Settling on a price

Book publishers and libraries have always maintained an odd relationship, symbiotic most of the time but occasionally, forgive the metaphor, not on the same page. Publishers want to sell as many books as possible. Libraries foster reading, publishers say, but they also allow people to read books without spending a dime.

With print books, the answer has always been what the industry calls friction. The library wait list is basically a creator of book friction. Enough friction — a long enough wait — and some people will head to the bookstore and buy a copy. Those who can’t afford it benefit because the buyers shorten the wait list for everybody else.

But creating friction with ebooks is a lot more complicated, says Oehlke, who is part of a national library association committee trying to address the problem. For starters, publishers are concerned that despite their software attempts to prevent it, some smart software engineers will figure out how to download ebooks from the library and then share them with others.

“A large part of the conversation now is how do you make it onerous enough for public library users to check out an ebook from the library, that they will be more inclined in certain instances to purchase it?” Oehlke says.

On that, at least, both sides appear to agree. “Nobody seems to be satisfied, either on the publishers’ side or the librarians’ side,” says Adam Rothberg, director of corporate communications for Simon & Schuster.

Print books, Rothberg says, become worn and fall apart after enough people check them out. That results in libraries buying more copies. Ebooks never wear out, at least not unless programmed to do so.

Rothberg says the loss of bookstore sales to electronic retailers such as Amazon, and the ease of placing holds on library books without visiting the library, also play a role in the changing relationship between major publishers and libraries. He says readers traditionally have sampled a book at the library and then bought other books by the same author. But with readers able to order an ebook from either a publisher or from the library while sitting at home, people may simply choose the latter.

“We haven’t yet found a business model with which we’re comfortable and that we feel properly addresses the long term interests of our authors,” says Rothberg.

But they will, says Mark Meckler, chairman of the entrepreneurship and innovation department at the University of Portland School of Business.

“We went through this same battle with music,” Meckler says.

In Meckler’s world, the issue of ebooks and libraries comes down to groups he calls innovators, early adapters and the early majority. Ten years ago, he says, Napster provided software that allowed anyone with a computer and a connection to illegally download music. The people he calls early adapters began sharing songs and record companies and artists lost revenue. Then the early majority rationalized the illegal practice and did the same.

Eventually, all the major stakeholders got together, Meckler says, figured out they were all losing money and found a solution, which included a Digital Rights Management agreement to ensure copyrights. The key was finding a price for legally downloading music that convinced the majority of listeners that they’d rather pay than do something they knew was illegal.

That price was 99 cents a song.

“Even a dollar fifty was too much,” Meckler says. “Somehow 99 cents worked.”

A clunky system

It is likely, he says, that innovators will devise software that will allow the theft of library ebooks. And early innovators are likely to use that technology to illegally download ebooks, unless somebody develops a software standard that satisfies libraries, publishers, authors and readers.

“It is inevitable,” Meckler says. “It’s a matter of patience and it’s hard when you’re the library, because you want to do what is good for your community. Yet if they give out the books before the protective technology the copyright laws are going to get infringed.”

Meckler says the library will have to act as the late majority in this process — the consumers who don’t adopt a new technology until it is “absolutely proven.”

But he has little doubt that will happen. The key for libraries, he says, is that as the ebook version of Digital Rights Management standards gets perfected, the libraries get a voice to make sure the model adopted works well for them.

For example, Meckler says, libraries prefer to maintain the privacy of patrons. But companies through which libraries buy or lease ebooks might prefer a model in which the libraries get ebooks cheap, but the companies get the borrowing habits of library patrons — valuable marketing data.

Another issue to be dealt with, according to Oehlke, is the mechanism by which library patrons download books. The system used by Multnomah County requires readers to go to an online catalog of a company that leases the ebooks to the library. There, readers can download software to their own computers and move the ebooks to their own reading devices. The ebooks stay on those devices for three weeks before software makes those books disappear.

One benefit of the system is that ebook readers can’t accrue overdue fines. But overall, Oehlke says, the system is “clunky.”

As far as creating the friction publishers want, Oehlke has hopes for a new proposal coming out of her national committee. Library patrons who visit the library website and put a hold on an ebook would get a pop up message on their computer screens. That message would say something like, “Wait too long? Why not buy it?” according to Oehlke. And the screen would provide a one-button link to a site that sells the book.

Readers with enough money could buy the book, and those without would wait.

Meckler says he has no doubt that ebooks in libraries will eventually become standard, much as songs legally available by download eventually became standard. But it might not happen at a speed which will satisfy everyone.

“These days, we’re used to everything going so fast, we expect libraries to already have the technology,” he says.

Ebook Best-Seller Prices Continue to Decline; Fifty Shades and Hunger Games Make Comeback

2013-01-28T04:46:00.002-08:00

By Jeremy Greenfield

For the eighth straight week the price of an ebook best-seller has declined. Retailer discounting and the popularity of a surprise self-published hit are the reasons.

The average price of an ebook best-seller is now $8.09, down from $8.23 a week ago and $11.79 on Oct. 22, 2012, the last time the average price of a best-seller increased.

As we described last week, retailer discounting is the culprit:

For instance, this week’s new No. 1, Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (Hachette), was discounted by its retailers to $3.99 on Dec. 20 after several graduated discounts throughout the Fall that saw its price decrease from $9.99, the last price its publisher set. It had been priced at $12.99 when it was new in late 2010 and early 2011. (The ebook was also likely helped by the upcoming film adaptation, set to hit theaters in Feb. 2013.)

Another good example is our last No. 1 book on this list, The Forgotten by David Baldacci (Hachette). It was discounted this week to $9.20 after being priced at $11.04 for most of Dec. The last time its publisher set its price it was $12.99.

Another interesting metric to note is that the number of $10 and above books in the top-25 has taken a nosedive. A month ago, there were nine ebooks at that price point on the list. On Oct. 22. there were 13 books at that price point in the top-25. This week, there are only five. (We’ll be discussing this trend and others at DBW2013, Wednesday morning at 10:45 A.M. in a session titled Ebook Pricing: State of Play and Analysis.)

One last reason for the price decrease is the rise of Addison Moore’s Someone to Love to No. 3 on the list. The $0.99 self-published title has been gaining momentum. It was ranked No. 30 last week.

Meanwhile, both the Fifty Shades and Hunger Games trilogies have crept back up to the top of the best-seller list, taking ranks Nos. 5 through 10, in the usual order.

* Due to Hurricane Sandy, we missed several weeks of tracking and we also took two weeks off tracking during the holiday season at the end of Dec.

Note: Read-an-ebook.com is not responsible for changes in price

Turning Tide As E-reading Catches On Boys Gain on Girls

2013-01-28T04:19:00.001-08:00

By Dennis Abrams

A national survey released by Scholastic in the fourth edition of its Kids and Family Reading Report, looked at the views of kids age 6-17 as well as their parents on reading in the digital landscape, as well as the influences that impact kid’s reading frequency and attitudes toward reading.

Among the report’s findings:

The percent of children who have read an ebook has almost doubled since 2010 (25% vs. 46%).

Half of children age 9-17 say they would read more books for fun if they had greater access to ebooks — a 50% increase since 2010.

Overall, almost half of parents (49%), feel their children do not spend enough time reading books for fun — an increase from 2010 when 36% of parents were dissatisfied with the amount of time their children spent reading.

The report’s findings reveal that eBooks have the potential to motivate boy, who are known as reluctant readers, to read more:

One in four boys who has read an ebook says he is now reading more books for fun.

Ebooks might also be the way to transform moderately frequent readers (defined as kids who read one to four days a week) into frequent readers (those who read five to seven days a week).

More than half (57%) of moderately frequent readers who have not read an ebook agree they would read more if they had greater access to ebooks.

But even with the increased popularity of ebooks, the love and consistent use of print books is still evident, regardless of age level.

Eighty percent of kids who read ebooks still read books for fun primarily in print.

Fifty-eight percent of kids age 9-17 say they will always want to read books printed on paper even though there are ebooks available (a slight decline from 66% in 2010), indicating perhaps that the digital shift in children’s reading has begun.

“We are seeing that kids today are drawn to both print books and ebooks, yet ereading seems to offer an exciting opportunity to attract and motivate boys and reluctant readers to read more books,” noted Francie Alexander, Chief Academic Officer, Scholastic. “While many parents express concern over the amount of time their child spends with technology, nearly half do not have a preference of format for their child’s books. The message is clear — parents want to encourage more reading, no matter the medium.”

The report also notes that the gender gap in reading frequency and attitudes toward reading is narrowing. The bad news though, is that this narrowing is driven more by decreases among girls than it is by increases in boys.

Among girls since 2010, there has been a decline in frequent readers (42% vs. 36%), reading enjoyment (39% vs. 32% say they love reading), and the importance of reading books for fun (62% vs. 56% say it is extremely or very important).

Among boys since 2010, there has been an increase in reading enjoyment (20% vs. 26% say they love reading), and importance of reading books for fun (39% vs. 47%). Reading frequency among boys has stayed steady, with 32% remaining frequent readers.

“While highlighting opportunities, this report remains a call to action to stay focused on increasing reading frequency among our children because the more they read, the better readers they will become and the more they will love it and continue to read,” continued Alexander. “Literacy is a critical doorway to success in both school and life, particularly as the digital world increases access to information. Our children need to gain the skills learned by reading, such as the ability to analyze, interpret, and understand complex texts and separate fact from fiction.”

Read the entire report here.