Today’s links of interest: More weak signalsInteresting perspective from Brian O’Leary about the recent inteview with a pirate. Amazon to publish original manuscriptsMake of this what you will. Adding in Twitter rumor (meaning: this is not verified by anyone): Amazon has also been approaching agents about original manuscripts.
Today’s links of interest: With Kindle, Publishers Give Away E-Books to Spur SalesAnother look at the most misunderstood controversy in publishing. Yes, Penguin, you do give books away (as do all your peers). Yes, free books help sell other books. That’s how it’s worked in the print world for decades. Before E-book Experimentation, How About A Little Back to Basics?I focus on the importance of getting basics right before leaping into the magical world of enhanced ebooks. Apple’s tablet and the future of literatureAnother article about books and technology that pretends the Apple Tablet will offer features not already available
Today’s links of interest: James Patterson Inc.Perhaps the most telling of all is that James Patterson is essentially the co-publisher of his work. Consumer complaints have companies rethinking how to dispose of unsold inventoryThis is not eye opening, except for the part where the Washington Post discovers the unicorn of publishing: a trove of bodice rippers. Which don’t exist. Which is just demeaning. And there were probably a whole lot of other genres there as well.
Today’s links of interest: Kobo Announces Availability for Tablet Computers in February 2010This is why we’re loving, loving, loving Kobo. 2009 O’Reilly Ebook Revenue up 104%Huge numbers for one publisher. Bloomsbury to Rejacket ‘Magic Under Glass’Here’s hoping the third time is *not* the charm for Bloomsbury.
Today’s links of interest: ATT Is an Apple Tablet Dealbreaker [SURVEY]Uh, yeah. Other interesting things in the analysis as well. Borders Plays Favorites, Delays Payments to Small PublishersBorders tries to maximize cash flowing by slowing payments to smaller publishers. Nice, make it harder on the little guys. Concerns over Borders GrowMore on the Borders issue.
Today’s links of interest: BookLocker Settles Amazon POD LawsuitAh, the saga ends with a whimper. (reg req’d) Kindles for All!Or, why investing in the technology people use might help publishing people understand their customers. US Military BitTorrent Users Targeted By MPAA/RIAABecause territorial restrictions make it impossible for our service people to buy products when they are stationed overseas. C’mon content producers, get it together. New Study Finds Reading Holding Steady Among Young PeopleGood news indeed.
Today’s links of interest: Why the Apple/Publisher News isn’t Really NewsAndrew Savikas offers a balanced look at the recent publishers are talking to Apple revelations. Speaking of which, y’all have registered for Tools of Change, right? The Beatles Bookstore and Reference CollectionsAnd another thought about the adding value to make ebooks more, well, valuable. We love this stuff! Big Six Negotiate with Apple, Ready New Business Model for eBooksPublishers Lunch moves the story forward (with a caveat that it may move backward). We like where some of this going, pricing-wise. Here’s hoping publishers really think this one through. It might
Short answer: nobody knows. Longer answer: the magic elixir publishers are injecting into ebooks in hopes they will entice people to pay higher prices. As you might guess, I am a bit of an “enhancement” skeptic. I have a few reasons. First, they feel like an attempt to skip the walking phase. Right now ebooks are crawling, technical quality-wise, and enhanced ebooks will be (theoretically) leaping and pirouetting. Second, what is being proposed in some publisher statements sounds a lot like standard print material (reader guides) and marketing fluff. Finally, I’m not sure readers are clamoring for enhanced ebooks as
Today’s links of interest: Singer Billy Bragg to stop paying taxes over bank bonusesA protest we can support. November 09 E-Book Sales Triple Over 09So the numbers keep rising. November 2009, wholesale sales were $18.3 million, based on a limited number of outlets reporting (ahem, who isn’t sharing?). Also, since it’s the IDPF chart, drink! Why People PirateWhile this seems to be more focused on gamers than other media, three letter: DRM. Half of Bookstore Purchases are ImpromptuCount us in the group who engage in the same level of *online* impromptu buying. Just thinks of it as being ahead of
Brian O’Leary on the major problems surrounding today’s discussions about piracy. More facts, less breathless assumptions. At this point, there’s not much clarity in the debate. If this is an inflection point, we need data to establish trends. Declaring the answer limits discussion. Grounded in reality
