Tim O'Reilly announced today that the annual conference will be suspended and the company will no longer run its digital publishing conference in New York.Since 2007, the O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference has been the seminal event for professionals and companies engaged with the challenges and opportunities of new publishing technologies and business … [Read more...] about O’Reilly Tools of Change Conference Discontinued
Business News and Statistics
2012 eBook Sales Increased by 66% in the UK
2012 saw the rise of the digital book and the entire book industry in the United Kingdom is growing. Total digital sales increased by over 66% to £411 million, meanwhile total fiction digital sales up 149% to over £172 million.Richard Mollet, chief executive at the Publishers' Association mentioned that schools and education are seeing the largest growth, but still don't … [Read more...] about 2012 eBook Sales Increased by 66% in the UK
FastPencil Sells Publishing Business to Courier
FastPencil is a multilevel ebook distribution platform for both indie and established authors alike. The company provides cloud software that allows authors to upload their ebooks and then sell them via Apple, Barnes & Noble, Ingram, and Kindle. Last July the company ironed out an agreement that will allow its authors the opportunity to have print editions of their books … [Read more...] about FastPencil Sells Publishing Business to Courier
Bolivia Removes VAT Tax from Book Sales
The president of Bolivia Evo Morales has signed a new law today that removes the 16% tax levied on digital book and physical book sales. The new law also calls for improvements in the country's libraries.A number of publishers will benefit from this new law and are likely see more book sales, due to the reduced prices in their physical and digital counterparts. Scholastic … [Read more...] about Bolivia Removes VAT Tax from Book Sales
HarperCollins to Launch Mystery Imprint ‘Witness’ This October
HarperCollins intends on launching a new digital imprint entitled "Witness" this October. The publishing giant already has close to 100 titles ready to be published, but will start with 10 in the first month. One of the most exciting elements is the royalty payment structure; the company has announced it will pay its writers monthly, to better compete with Amazon Kindle Direct … [Read more...] about HarperCollins to Launch Mystery Imprint ‘Witness’ This October
Trekstor Announces the Pyrus Maxi e-Reader – Lawsuit May Prevent Its Release
Trekstor has seen a little bit of success with its Pyrus Mini e-Reader in Europe, but is virtually unknown in North America. Today, the company announced a new device that should resonate a little bit better, mainly due to its eight inch screen. It should fill the gap in the market with the severe lack of larger screen e-readers currently being offered.The Pyrus Maxi … [Read more...] about Trekstor Announces the Pyrus Maxi e-Reader – Lawsuit May Prevent Its Release
Barnes and Noble Reduces Cost of Nook e-Readers in the UK
Barnes and Noble has slashed the entry level price point for a large number of its tablet and e-reader lineup in the United Kingdom. In addition to the discounts, B&N is also donating 1,000 of its NOOK Simple Touch e-Readers to Beanstalk, a national literacy charity that recruits, vets, trains, and supports volunteers in schools.The UK e-reader scene is quickly getting … [Read more...] about Barnes and Noble Reduces Cost of Nook e-Readers in the UK
Book Expo America Keynote – The Future of the Book
The entire publishing industry is undergoing a paradigm shift, as all players are trying to adjust to an ever shifting landscape. Next month at Book Expo America there will be a major keynote session that will seek to address what the future of the book is.Ingram Content Group Chair and CEO John Ingram will moderate the panel of four industry leaders: ABA Vice President … [Read more...] about Book Expo America Keynote – The Future of the Book
Tablet Usage Growing in the Hotel Industry
Hotels are beginning to move into a more eco-friendly direction to save energy and money. Hotels encourage you to reuse towels, bed sheets, and bath robes  a few times before they dispense new ones. Major hotels are looking to differentiate themselves from the competition by providing VIP members with iPads, giving you the bible on a Kindle or booking your entire stay on your … [Read more...] about Tablet Usage Growing in the Hotel Industry
Instapaper Sold to Betaworks
Betaworks garnered some attention in the tech world when it purchased social media site DIGG. Today, it was announced that the company has absorbed the read-it-later service Instapaper.Instapaper originally launched in 2008 and quickly became one of the most beloved apps for the read it later crowd. It is available for PC, MAC, iOS, Android, and a myriad of other platforms. … [Read more...] about Instapaper Sold to Betaworks
New York Times Removes Digital Videos from Paywall
The New York Times announced today that it is removing all videos on its website from its Paywall. In the past, you could only watch 10 per month before you had to pay a monthly fee to watch more videos and read articles. Now, it is possible to watch unlimited content without ever having to pay.The New York Times Paywall system has been live in some form or another since … [Read more...] about New York Times Removes Digital Videos from Paywall
Kindle Amnesty Program Unveiled in Australia
Amazon has one of the most closed ecosystems in the world. When you buy ebooks from the e-commerce giant, they are incompatible with any other e-reader or tablet. Many people are either for or against this business model, but Booksellers group Pages & Pages is especially against it. On the 3rd Saturday of every month, Pages & Pages will be declaring a Kindle Amnesty. … [Read more...] about Kindle Amnesty Program Unveiled in Australia
Penguin Brings Perseus Books to India
This July, Penguin will begin distributin books published by Perseus International to India. The Perseus Group’s imprints include Avalon Travel, Basic Books, Basic Civitas, Da Capo Press, Da Capo Lifelong Books, PublicAffairs, Running Press, Seal Press, and Westview Press.Penguin has been operating out of India since 1985 and is hoping to capitalize on the growing digital … [Read more...] about Penguin Brings Perseus Books to India
Penguin and Random House Merger Approved in Canada
Penguin and Random House intend to merge and have been submitting approval documents to regulatory authorities in all of the major countries they operate in. When the two companies join forces, they will account for 1/4 of all books published. It was announced late Friday that the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canadian Competition Bureau have both approved the … [Read more...] about Penguin and Random House Merger Approved in Canada