It appears to be the end for one of the industry's top tech blogs, GigaOm, which was founded in 2006 by Om Malik. The site, which recently underwent a high-profile management change, made a significant shift to both research-based projects and the staging of live industry events, which may be at the root of the money problems some insiders have mentioned related to the shut … [Read more...] about The End for Tech Blog GigaOm
Digital Publishing News
Kindle Writeon Moving Out of Beta
Kindle Writeon is a social community where authors post the books they are working on and solicit feedback from the general public. It launches last October and has been in closed beta. Amazon has just announced that readers will soon no longer need codes to enter the site and anyone can join for free.Writeon was developed to compete against the Canadian fan-fiction … [Read more...] about Kindle Writeon Moving Out of Beta
Indie Authors Triumphing over Sexism in the Publishing Industry
Writer/creator Joss Whedon has an epic quote about sexism in the entertainment industry. When asked for the hundredth time why he writes such strong female characters, he simply replied, "Because you're still asking me that question."Like it or not, agree or not, gender inequality is a fact, one that permeates nearly every profession and industry. But coming on the heels of … [Read more...] about Indie Authors Triumphing over Sexism in the Publishing Industry
Digital Shift the Only Way to Save Some Newspapers
With all of the focus on making the transition to digital and how that is helping news outlets and periodicals alike, it's easy to overlook the fact that it's not just about increasing ad revenue or reaching subscribers where they read. For some outlets, it will mean the difference between closing their doors and keeping a centuries-old institution alive.In an article for … [Read more...] about Digital Shift the Only Way to Save Some Newspapers
Publisher Revenue Plummets as the Novelty of eBooks Wane
Major publishers are starting to see lower than expected quarterly results because of the novelty of the e-book has severely waned.Some of the largest publishers such as Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster are facing tough times. Total profit dropped 5.6% at S&S and approximately 12% for Penguin. The lack of revenue is primarily attributed to the lack of … [Read more...] about Publisher Revenue Plummets as the Novelty of eBooks Wane
Where do You Hear about New e-Books?
Every few weeks Good e-Reader Research conducts statistical analysis of the digital publishing industry. Over the course of the last three weeks we wanted to find out how readers discovered their next great read. Over 388 people responded and we are pleased to present our findings.When you think of book discovery in the past, it normally involved going to your local … [Read more...] about Where do You Hear about New e-Books?
Is this the Future of Digital Magazines?
Magazine publishers are constantly talking about the future of their medium. Will people continue to buy the print edition or gravitate towards digital? Are customers satisfied with a replica edition or do they want something more unique and original?AnOther Magazine has their finger on the pulse and has just released a digital first: a high-definition, moving magazine … [Read more...] about Is this the Future of Digital Magazines?
Digital News Readership Continues to Gain New Ground
Newspaper outlets were initially slow to adopt digital publishing in a full-force manner, with many still experimenting with systems like paywalls and subscriber-only content in order to avoid alienating their paid print subscribers. But new data is showing that news outlets have nothing to fear from digital; even as print sales and print advertising revenue continue to … [Read more...] about Digital News Readership Continues to Gain New Ground
No Tax Break on eBooks in the EU
There's a fun throwaway scene in the iconic climate change movie, The Day After Tomorrow. Two intellectuals who are holed up in the New York Public Library to ride out the next ice age are gathering books to burn. One of them grabs a copy of Nietzsche's works, but they argue over the implications of burning such an important thinker's book. The nerdy high school student calls … [Read more...] about No Tax Break on eBooks in the EU
B&N’s Nook Press in Bed with the Author Solutions Devil?
It's no secret among members of the self-publishing community that there are some names you should just run from. Some of those names, like Author Solutions--who is currently embroiled in not-its-first legal battle with authors in a class action suit--are simply synonymous with ripping off authors who have a dream of being published, but who don't have the various tech and … [Read more...] about B&N’s Nook Press in Bed with the Author Solutions Devil?
Playaway Unveils a Pre-Loaded, Controlled Tablet for Kids’ Circulation
Users who are familiar with the technology behind Playaways, the preloaded mini-MP3 players that contain individual audiobooks, may remember that the company has a strong history of providing conveniently packaged "safe" content for multi-user consumption. Whether it's the stand-alone audiobook players or the US Navy-specific NERDs (Naval E-Reader Device) that came loaded for … [Read more...] about Playaway Unveils a Pre-Loaded, Controlled Tablet for Kids’ Circulation
Digital Lending Reaches Japan
Just as libraries in the US have had to learn to navigate the sometimes frustrating world of digital content circulation, libraries in Japan have launched digital lending initiatives of their own. While the numbers remain small--only a total of thirty-three libraries offer some form of ebooks--it's the high rate of adoption spreading throughout the various library systems that … [Read more...] about Digital Lending Reaches Japan
Digital Is the Only Strategy to Save News Outlets
In an interesting juxtaposition in how ebooks were slow to "save" libraries, digital newspapers haven't been the "hit the ground running" salvation of newspapers, especially small town or locally owned news outlets. While it's true that print subscriptions are declining and digital is on the upswing, one keynote speech highlighted the data that says digital adoption isn't … [Read more...] about Digital Is the Only Strategy to Save News Outlets
Digital Editions Fill the Gaps Where Library Catalogs Dwindle
The digital reading space has come a long way from the era in which public libraries had little to offer in the way of ebooks, digital magazines, or digital newspapers. Some libraries, in fact, such as the Riverside Public Library in California, have face dramatic cuts to their print circulations. According to an article in The Press Enterprise, the library lost nearly 300 … [Read more...] about Digital Editions Fill the Gaps Where Library Catalogs Dwindle