Apple has been fighting the US courts and Justice department for the last three years trying to convince them that a more competitive landscape for e-book sales is best for business. Sadly, Apple has just lost a landmark case that will see the company process over $450 million in e-book refunds from anyone that purchased something from iBooks from April 1, 2010 to May 21, 2012. … [Read more...] about Apple Ordered to Pay $450 Million for e-Book Refunds
Archives for June 2015
Millennials are the New Hot Segment in Publishing
The entire publishing industry has been zeroing in on the hottest new segment, millennials. A new gold rush is currently underway to sign up superstar YouTube celebrities who have built a ravenous community that will likely buy anything they write. The term millennials often refers to anyone born after the turn of the century and are between the 16 and 24. This demographic … [Read more...] about Millennials are the New Hot Segment in Publishing
Overdrive Announces the Future of e-Book Lending for Libraries
A few months ago Overdrive was acquired by Rakuten, the same Japanese e-commerce company that purchased Kobo. When the deal went through many librarians were quietly wondering if the status quo would be maintained or if the company would pivot into a new direction. At the American Library Association annual conference Overdrive has released a new road map that will give … [Read more...] about Overdrive Announces the Future of e-Book Lending for Libraries
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 1 Receives Massive Firmware Update
There are hundreds of e-readers on the market and the vast majority of them receive no firmware updates. Even the big companies like Barnes and Noble hardly ever update their older models with new functionality, opting instead on marketing new devices. Amazon continues to buck this trend by continuing to support older models and today the Kindle Paperwhite 1 has received a … [Read more...] about Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 1 Receives Massive Firmware Update
Amazon Wants you to Share e-book Previews with your Friends
Amazon wants you to start sharing previews and samples of e-books you like with your friends via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or texting. Your buddies who receive a share can instantly start reading right from their phone without having to make an Amazon account or install any software. I think there are a few obvious benefits to this new initiative by Amazon. If you just … [Read more...] about Amazon Wants you to Share e-book Previews with your Friends
Would you Visit London for a Harry Potter Stage Play?
On the 18th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, author J.K. Rowling has announced a new stage play to open next year. It is entitled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and will only be playing in London at the Palace Theater. Details are scant when it comes to the overall plot of the first stage play adaption of Harry Potter. Likely, it has something to … [Read more...] about Would you Visit London for a Harry Potter Stage Play?
Barnes and Noble Launching New Website Next Week
Barnes and Noble has announced that they are redesigning their website that sells e-books, e-readers and consumer products. It will launch next week and this is the primary reason why people have been reporting various issues, such as pages not loading or certain functionality that is missing. During the financial quarterly results released yesterday the bookseller reported … [Read more...] about Barnes and Noble Launching New Website Next Week
Qualcomm is not giving up on Mirasol
Qualcomm Mirasol technology was originally developed for the next generation of color e-readers. The company has spent over two billion dollars trying to make it work but only a handful of devices ever employed it, such as the Kyobo and Koobe Jin Yong Reader. Since they failed to make a meaningful impact in the digital reader space they pivoted and started to optimize it for … [Read more...] about Qualcomm is not giving up on Mirasol
Barnes and Noble Nook Sales Decrease by 40%
Barnes and Noble has announced that they have had a dramatic decrease in Nook sales and sales have plummeted 40% in their last quarter. The Bookseller has also scraped their plans to spin the Nook division into its own company and has decided to keep the business in-house. Barnes and Noble just issued a press release that breaks down the 4th quarter results, but also gives … [Read more...] about Barnes and Noble Nook Sales Decrease by 40%
Amazon has become the next Great Library of Alexandria
The Great Library of Alexandria would be the subject of an epic Hollywood movie. It was the grandest institution of learning in the ancient world and comprised of 700,000 scrolls, the equivalent of more than 100,000 modern printed books. When it famously burned down, its destruction has become a symbol for the loss of cultural knowledge. It took thousands of years but we now … [Read more...] about Amazon has become the next Great Library of Alexandria
CBC Interviews Michael Kozlowski on Library e-books
Libraries all over Canada are disheartened because of the high cost associated with e-books. This has prompted a new coalition to be formed that is trying to bring public awareness to just how bad it is getting. The Toronto Public Library, Canadian Library Council, Ontario Library Association and the Canadian Library Association want to bring awareness to the super high … [Read more...] about CBC Interviews Michael Kozlowski on Library e-books
EL James Grey Sells 1.1 Million Copies in 4 Days
E.L. James has just released a new book that is entitled Grey. It retells the original 50 Shades of Grey from the prospective of Christian Grey and it looks to be a smash for the book selling industry. The title has sold over 1.1 million copies in the first four days. Vintage Books has confirmed that 1.1 million copies of Grey have been sold in audiobook, e-book and print in … [Read more...] about EL James Grey Sells 1.1 Million Copies in 4 Days
Harlequin Launches Innovative Rewards Program
Harlequin has just launched a new rewards program in Canada and the United States. Readers can get Skype conversations with their favorite authors, gift basket or autographed books. A new website has been established called Harlequin My Rewards and readers can earn points by leaving online book reviews, buying books and participating in fun mini surveys. Now I know … [Read more...] about Harlequin Launches Innovative Rewards Program
Dark Horse Digital Comics now on ComiXology
Dark Horse has finally made the decision to make their entire library of digital comics available on ComiXology. The publisher was the last major holdout from signing a deal and they now join Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dynamite, BOOM! Studios, IDW, Archie, Top Cow and Image Comics -- along with a slew of smaller publishers. More than 800 Dark Horse Comics titles have become … [Read more...] about Dark Horse Digital Comics now on ComiXology