Digital Book World:
Last month was the 2011 Digital Book World conference and by all accounts it was a success. The event brought together writers, publishers, booksellers, and agents and focused primarily on how publishing can adapt to the changing market. For a comprehensive breakdown check out the DBW's site here. Here are some highlights:
- LA Time's book blog, Jacket Copy, has a concise overview of the conference.
- Publisher's Weekly has a piece on DBW's panel on digital books and libraries.
- PW also had a breakdown on DBW's panel on digital royalties.
Book Stuff:
- The New York Time has a great article by Julie Bosman on the various ways independent bookstores are trying to maintain profitably in the digital era.
- The Guardian discusses Philip Pullman's passionate defense of libraries.
Publishing/Business News:
- Amazon has a ten billion dollar quarter and sells millions of kindles reports Ebooknewser.
- Future Book asks how to judge an e-book without a cover.
- The Big Picture discusses Amazon's new Singles Imprint and the New York Times ' first e-book.
Tablet News:
- Wiredreports that the former president of Newsweekly is setting up an app that will sell digital periodicals. Sounds a lot like the app Zinio.
- engadget is not impressed with the new MSI tablet.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Kobo on The Office
Last week's episode of The Office featured a fun piece of product placement. While visiting an unnamed bookstore - clearly Borders - Darryl, played by Craig Robinson, is convinced to buy a Kobo even though he fears devices like that will put Dunder Mifflin out of business.
As part the promotion following the cameo of the e-reader, the folks over at theKobo's official blog announced that they were having a contest for office workers who use their e-readers during work time to share their stories. Check out the details here.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Back From Vacation - Border's Circling the Drain and Do E-reader's Make You Lazy?
Hey Folks,
Back from a wonderful vacation visiting family in Northern California and I am catching up on some work before school starts at the end of the month. Short post but more to follow soon:
- The Vancouver Sun's Shelly Fralic has a fun article about the angst of a newly converted e-reader fan.
- The Times of India reports on studies that suggest that the clarity of e-reader displays decreases reader's retention and contributes to "lazy brain."
Borders Possibly Closing
- LA Times book blog, Jacket Copy, has an article outlining the current serious financial problems facing Borders.
- The Washington City Paper has another piece analyzing this situation. Writer Lydia DePillis makes this excellent point on why Barnes and Noble is doing better then its rival:
"Why has Barnes and Noble fared comparatively better than Borders? Mostly, it has to do with e-strategy. According to publishing industry analyst Michael Norris, Borders blundered by partnering with Amazon.com for its book sales, and the online superstore had no incentive to help encourage brick-and-mortar sales, which Barnes and Noble's integrated site did much better. Then there was the rewards card mistake: Borders started with a free membership program, which customers didn't really value. Barnes and Noble went with a paid rewards card with deep discounts, which brought in more in membership fees and paid itself back in increased sales."
Back from a wonderful vacation visiting family in Northern California and I am catching up on some work before school starts at the end of the month. Short post but more to follow soon:
- The Vancouver Sun's Shelly Fralic has a fun article about the angst of a newly converted e-reader fan.
- The Times of India reports on studies that suggest that the clarity of e-reader displays decreases reader's retention and contributes to "lazy brain."
Borders Possibly Closing
- LA Times book blog, Jacket Copy, has an article outlining the current serious financial problems facing Borders.
- The Washington City Paper has another piece analyzing this situation. Writer Lydia DePillis makes this excellent point on why Barnes and Noble is doing better then its rival:
"Why has Barnes and Noble fared comparatively better than Borders? Mostly, it has to do with e-strategy. According to publishing industry analyst Michael Norris, Borders blundered by partnering with Amazon.com for its book sales, and the online superstore had no incentive to help encourage brick-and-mortar sales, which Barnes and Noble's integrated site did much better. Then there was the rewards card mistake: Borders started with a free membership program, which customers didn't really value. Barnes and Noble went with a paid rewards card with deep discounts, which brought in more in membership fees and paid itself back in increased sales."
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