RIM has introduced a new encryption system recently for its App World for the Playbook. With the advent of the recent PlayBook OS 2.0.1 update, the apps and games downloaded via App World are encrypted. These apps will only function if they are run on a single Playbook with the BlackBerry ID you used when you made a purchase. For example, if I purchase an app and gave one of my … [Read more...] about Blackberry App World Purchases Now Encrypted to Curb Piracy
Business News and Statistics
Spain Raises eBook VAT to 21%
The Government in Spain has increased the VAT tax on ebooks to a whopping 21%, while printed books are consistent at 4%! In 2009, Spain lowered the VAT rate on ebooks to a very reasonable 4% and an entire digital industry was born. The country is facing tough economic times and has decided to increase it again. Why the large gulf between the printed variant and the digital … [Read more...] about Spain Raises eBook VAT to 21%
Penguin to Get into the Self-Publishing Game with Author Solutions Purchase
Penguin Publishing is poised to enter the highly competitive market of digital self-publishing. The company today has finished their acquisition of US based Author Solutions for $116 million in cash. Author Solutions will “continue to be run as a separate business” and will be “integrated into Penguin’s back office and technology infrastructure.”Author Solutions may be a … [Read more...] about Penguin to Get into the Self-Publishing Game with Author Solutions Purchase
Kobo Books and e-Readers Available in Japan
Sony held a stranglehold on the Japanese e-Reader and eBook market since last year. The company paved the way for publishers to adopt a digital format for their books, newspapers and magazines. Their foray allowed Kobo via Rakuten to enter the market today and offer an expansive eBook ecosystem and the Kobo Touch e-reader.Kobo has their work cut out for them in the Japanese … [Read more...] about Kobo Books and e-Readers Available in Japan
Google Play Books Now Available in France
Google Play Books is now available in France! Google said its selection includes hundreds of thousands of French titles – everything from new releases to classics to bestsellers. You can easily get access to Antonin Varenne, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, Fred Vargas, and Dominique Sylvain, plus new international bestsellers.This is the 5th European market that Google has entered … [Read more...] about Google Play Books Now Available in France
eBooks Now Account for 30% of All US Fiction
There is strong momentum in the USA's world of ebooks. Sales nearly doubled from 2010 to 2011, and ebooks now account for over 30% of all Trade-Fiction! BookStats compiled a recent report, which examines US publishers' annual net sales revenues and net units. Their research does a good job at tracking sales from all adult fiction, non-fiction, and kids books. Recently the … [Read more...] about eBooks Now Account for 30% of All US Fiction
McGraw-Hill Markets Adaptive LearnSmart Technology to Students
Mcgraw-Hill will be marketing its patented Learnsmart technology to students for the fall semester. This marks the first time that McGraw-Hill Higher Education, traditionally a business-to-business company that sells to instructors and institutions, has marketed and sold its technology resources directly to students. The move expands access to a proven learning technology and … [Read more...] about McGraw-Hill Markets Adaptive LearnSmart Technology to Students
Kobo Launches the Writing Life Self-Publishing Platform
Kobo has finally taken the wraps off of its newest project, Kobo Writing Life. The development of this self-publishing initiative has taken well over a year to develop and is finally released. It gives authors the ability to convert an existing Microsoft Word file to an EPUB format. It also gives you the power to download your file and distribute it to friends and family, or … [Read more...] about Kobo Launches the Writing Life Self-Publishing Platform
Jetbook Color gets Massive Firmware Update
The first e-reader in the world to utilize e-Ink Triton, to give you a true full color reading experience as received an update. The Jetbook Color has finally got WIFI internet access by flipping the switch on the side of the panel. There is a new feature to take advantage of the newly found internet access, such as your internet library. This will store all purchases that you … [Read more...] about Jetbook Color gets Massive Firmware Update
eBook Visibility in Australian Schools Increases Dramatically
Digital eBooks in the Australian school system are increasing dramatically. More than 50% of schools in Australia are doing business with Softlink, who is Overdrives official partner. In the past 12 months alone, over 250 schools in the region have subscribed to the service.This benefits educational institutions to be able to offer digital content for e-readers and tablets. In … [Read more...] about eBook Visibility in Australian Schools Increases Dramatically
How Customers Benefit from the e-Reader Wars at Target
Major companies in the e-reader sphere are jockeying for position in the cutthroat world of retail sales. It looks like Target has had enough of these companies lowering their prices and has slashed their entire inventory. This has resulted in many current generation e-readers to have their prices severely lowered as Target seeks to liquidate the existing stock. This creates a … [Read more...] about How Customers Benefit from the e-Reader Wars at Target
SnapMeUp Offers a New Revanue Model Based on QR Codes for eBooks
London based SnapMeUp is offering a new service for established businesses to earn commissions on ebook sales. The company will offer the ability for customers to scan QR codes via their smartphones or tablets to purchase ebooks. The businesses taking part in this will earn a small percentage of each sale.The new product has been developed by Enterprise Nation and … [Read more...] about SnapMeUp Offers a New Revanue Model Based on QR Codes for eBooks
Eason to Launch Its Own e-Reader
Eason and Son is a storied Irish bookseller that has been in business since 1819. The company now has over 60 outlets and undergoing a massive €1.1 million Cork refurbishment and opening an e-store where customers can download digital books. Source have confirmed today that they will also be branding their own e-reader.The Eason book company is no stranger to selling books … [Read more...] about Eason to Launch Its Own e-Reader
ebrary Adds 9,000 New eBooks to Government Libraries
ebrary won a government contract a month ago that put it in the unique position of being the only ebook business on the government buyers list. This has given the company a huge revenue boost in supplying various libraries, such as the American Water Works Association, Cardiotext Publishing, and Urban Institute Press. The database now includes a growing selection of more than … [Read more...] about ebrary Adds 9,000 New eBooks to Government Libraries