Ebooks are not 'stupid' – they're a revolution

The head of publisher Hachette has claimed ebooks are a failure – but as an author and a reader, they’ve completely changed my lifeI was a relatively late convert to the e-reader, getting my Kindle five years ago when it became clear that reading 600-pages of A Suitable Boy while breastfeeding wasn’t going to work. After a frenzied few months of almost exclusive e-reading, I returned largely to the traditional printed book for a number of reasons: screen fatigue, a tendency to scrawl in margins, because I want my kids to see me reading, and because I’m a passionate supporter of bookshops and booksellers. Hachette Livre CEO Arnaud Nourry recently called ebooks “stupid” – but last summer, they changed my life. Related: 'Ebooks are stupid', says head of one of world's biggest publishers Ebooks are not an enhancement on printed books? The built-in, one-tap dictionary is a boon for Will Self fans Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #suitable boy #screen fatigue #printed books

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Ebooks are not 'stupid' – they're a revolution'


Publishers urged to respond to Amazon's new ebook offer

The European Commission (EC) has confirmed that Amazon has offered to remove controversial Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clauses in ebook contracts and is asking publishers for feedback on the pledges. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon reportedly to drop MFN clauses from ebook deals

Amazon has offered to drop the Most Favoured Nation clauses from its ebook contracts, following a European Commission investigation into the online retailer’s deals, it has been reported today.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15014 officially adds ebook support

It's official: With Windows 10’s Insider Preview Build 15014 for PCs and phones, Microsoft’s officially opened its ebook store, adding some nifty disk- and power-management features, too. Strategically, the ebook wing of Microsoft's Store app is probably the most important for the company. But... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2017-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Exclusive Books strikes ebook deal with Kobo

Exclusive Books has struck a deal to direct its customers to the Kobo website to buy ebooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pearson to slash ebook rental prices by 50% in digital push

Pearson plans to launch its own print rental program for courseware and reduce ebook rental prices by up to 50% as it bids to accelerate its shift to digital. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft pilots ebook sales in Windows 10

Publishers offer cautious welcome after leak shows software giant has included a bookselling section in a new build of its operating systemTwo years after Microsoft walked away from digital bookselling, a leak of its latest software has hinted that it may ready to try again.In what may be a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Leaked Windows 10 build shows Microsoft filling a major content hole: Ebooks

For years, Microsoft has sold movies, TV shows, and music, in addition to apps—but not ebooks. A leaked Windows 10 build, however, shows Microsoft plans to shore up that gap in an upcoming release. The leaked build obtained by MSPowerUser reveals a dedicated section of the Windows Store where... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2017-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Leaked Windows 10 build shows Creators Update is getting an ebook store

Google has one, Apple has one, Amazon has one, so Microsoft seems to feel that it should have one too. We're talking ebook stores, and a leaked version of Windows Mobile reveals that this is something that is due to be added to the Windows Store. While Microsoft has been slowly but surely... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2017-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Canada’s Shelfie Data Suggests About Ebook Subscriptions

Penguin Random House 'holds an effective veto on the success of ebook subscription services," says Shelfie's Peter Hudson. The post What Canada’s Shelfie Data Suggests About Ebook Subscriptions appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Polish Ebook Industry Eyes Brussels’ Proposed VAT Reduction

Legimi cofounder Mikołaj Małaczyński is optimistic that Poland's already growing ebook market could further benefit from lower VAT rates proposed by the EC. The post Polish Ebook Industry Eyes Brussels’ Proposed VAT Reduction appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Human revolution' needs to be understood, urges Appelbaum

Publishers need to move away from thinking about digital as a silo and instead focus on cultivating the mindset and behaviours needed to thrive in the digital age, Eva Appelbaum, digital strategy specialist at Digital Talent @Work has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Germany: Report Finds Ebook Sales Rising, Revenue Down, in 2016

In a consistent German book market, the Boersenverein reports rising ebook sales by volume, but lower prices are driving down revenue from digital products. The post In Germany: Report Finds Ebook Sales Rising, Revenue Down, in 2016 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU ebook ruling means change to PLR, says SoA

The Society of Authors has welcomed the European Court's ruling on e-lending, which it argues removes “the final barrier” to applying Public Lending Right (PLR) to the remote lending of ebooks and audiobooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Europe rules that libraries can lend ebooks like normal ones

Europe has ruled (PDF) that ebooks can be lent out just like their physical counterparts. That is, as noticed by Ars Technica, one copy can be "checked out" by one person at a time. After the lending period expires, that user can no longer use the b... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2016-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU Court Decides in Favor of Ebook Lending; FEP Responds

The Federation of European Publishers argues that a recent EU court decision in favor of ebook lending could negatively affect ebook sales in some countries. The post EU Court Decides in Favor of Ebook Lending; FEP Responds appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Verso buys Miéville on Russian revolution

Science fiction and fantasy novelist China Miéville is to make a rare foray into non-fiction to pen a “labour of love” history of the Russian revolution for indie press Verso. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital Census: 'self-published writers to grow ebook market share'

Self-published writers and digital only publishers will continue to grow their share of the digital content market while traditional publishers over-price ebooks, according to early results of the FutureBook Census, launched ahead of this year’s FutureBook Conference, taking place on 2nd December. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Earnings: Sharp Downturn in US Indie Ebook Share

From 50 percent 'of all US Kindle author earnings,' Author Earnings now sees indie share dive below 40 percent, 'all the way back to early 2015 levels The post Author Earnings: Sharp Downturn in US Indie Ebook Share appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon and EU 'in settlement talks' over ebook investigation

Amazon Inc and European Union regulators have started settlement discussions over the internet giant’s ebook deals with publishers, according to news reports. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Prime subscribers now have free ebooks, magazines and more with Prime Reading

If you have been looking for one more reason to become an Amazon Prime subscriber, the newly launched Prime Reading feature could just be the clincher. Prime Reading gives US subscribers access to a library of free Kindle ebooks, magazines, comics and other publications completely free of... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2016-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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