Category Archives: ebooks

Amazon: eBooks Outselling Hardcovers

Another data point for the growth of the eBook market comes from data released from Amazon.com: “Amazon.com customers now purchase more Kindle books than hardcover books–astonishing when you consider that we’ve been selling hardcover books for 15 years, and Kindle … Continue reading

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The Difference in Printer’s vs. Publisher’s Use of Digital Asset Management

I was recently asked: Is there anything you can share about how the file management needs differ from the way a publisher use a DAM? I would think there would be a lot more transfers of very files (i.e. high … Continue reading

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Which eReader is Right for You? If You’re a Publisher it Shouldn’t Matter!

Apparently Wiley has released an eReader comparison tool intended to allow buyers to compare the right reader for the right person. This is novel and perhaps needed, but it seems to me to miss an important point: Content.

Sure you can compare the devices based on what features they have, whether they are color or black and white, wireless or not, can read the book to you or allow you to read in the dark. Continue reading

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How Book Publishers are Preparing for Change

While eBooks represent less than 3% of total book sales, a new and ongoing study by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) examining “consumer attitudes toward e-book reading” recently presented at the Tools of Change for Publishing conference revealed some statistics that are shaping the early market:

  • Nearly 45% of buyers who have started acquiring eBooks mostly or exclusively purchase eBooks over print books
  • Affordability is paramount
  • The PC is currently the most-used device for reading an eBook (47%), followed by Amazon Kindle (32%), then the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch (21%)

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The Argument for Dirt-Cheap E-Books

There are some interesting arguments about lowering the costs of eBooks. In a post by Chris Dannen, he explains the downward pressure on eBooks prices to the changes that have happened in the movie and music industry. I disagree with the notion that a book is like a song or album and he’s missing the whole section of book publishing that is not for entertainment. This article certainly brings to light a lot of the challenges that are facing book publishers today in how they produce, market and sell their books. From the power struggle with Amazon to the hope for the promise land with Apple, the industry is certainly in the midst of a lot of change. But, change isn’t something this industry has had to do much over history and that adds an interesting dynamic because the executive management at publishers have seen how this movie ends if they do sit back and do nothing, yet the answer on what to do isn’t easily apparent. Continue reading

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Amazon e-Book share to fall from 90% to 35%, Analyst Says

The race is on and that’s good for the eBook market. Three strong competitors (Apple, Google and Amazon) in this market will fuel the need for more content and for enhanced content. The issue will be can publishers keep up? There is so much happening right now with clearing of eRights, back list conversion and dealing with just getting the current product to ePub, how will publishers get to the next stage of dynamic and interactive books? Continue reading

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Trade eBook Sales More than Triple Year over Year!

The Association of American Publishers (AAP), in conjunction with the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), released eBook sales statistics for December 2009. Trade eBook sales were $19,100,000 for December, a 119.7% increase over December 2008 ($8,700,000). Calendar Year to Date sales are up + 176.2%. Continue reading

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iPad set to reach education market

Research firm iSuppli Corp. this week said Apple Inc.’s iPad touch-based tablet will cost less than half the retail price to manufacture. (Link). This is encouraging for the growth in the education sectors. With the opportunity for educational discounts and … Continue reading

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Comment on CBSNews.com Article: How e-Books Are Changing the Printed Word

CBSNews.com Article: How e-Books Are Changing the Printed Word There is an interesting point made in this interview that there have been “incremental advances” in the creation of books since Gutenberg. I agree with the statement that books are not … Continue reading

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Publishers expand content/price for Kindle

Comments on NY Times Article: Kindle Books in Snack Sizes
By MOTOKO RICH
Published: February 8, 2010
FT Press is selling stripped-down, 1,000- to 2,000-word versions of books, for $1.99, and a new series of essays of about 5,000 words, for $2.99…. Continue reading

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