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

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Amazon war with Hachette over ebook profit margins intensifies

Dispute has also dragged in authors including JK Rowling and James PattersonIt is another mystery for inspector Rebus to solve. Why is Amazon UK selling Saints of the Shadow Bible, the latest instalment of Ian Rankin's best-selling series about the Edinburgh sleuth, for half the price being... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ian rankin #cover price #latest instalment


Government: 'no scope to change 20% VAT rate on ebooks'

There is “no scope” to change the 20% VAT rate on ebooks, the UK government said... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk government


Oyster, the Netflix of ebooks, now offers more than 500,000 titles

Oyster, an iPhone and iPad app that gives users unlimited access to its catalog of ebooks for $9.95 per month, announced that it now has more than 500,000 titles available on its service. The New York start-up launched to much acclaim last September, hailed as the Netflix of ebooks. But... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cornerstone to publish Mockingbird ebook

To Kill a Mockingbird (William Heinemann) is to be published as an ebook for the first time by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstone 'predicts ebook decline'

Tim Waterstone, the founder of the Waterstone's book shop chain, predicts that the "ebook revolution" will soon go into decline in the UK. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tim waterstone #ebook revolution


Judge approves class-action suit against Apple in ebooks case

A New York judge has given the go-ahead for a group to collectively sue Apple for damages over its collusion with publishers to fix the price of electronic books.Denise Cote, a judge at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, wrote in her approval of class status that... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #york judge #ebooks case #harpercollins publishers #electronic books #district court #southern district #class status #simon schuster


Amazon's customers get credits from ebook antitrust settlement

Customers of Amazon.com Inc. found credits in their inboxes Tuesday from the settlement of an antitrust lawsuit over ebook prices. Amazon, in a Customer FAQ posting on its website, said the credits are partial refunds and will be applied automatically to the accounts of those eligible: people... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #antitrust lawsuit #ebook prices #simon schuster #publishers agreed


NY AG says ebook buyers getting credits

New York's attorney general says buyers of electronic books will get account credits this week from five publishers from settlements reached after 33 states sued in federal court alleging they... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook buyers #attorney general #electronic books


Amazon paying ebook settlement cash back to Kindle users

Remember that antitrust suit concerning publishers, ebooks and price rigging? The good news, at least if you bought one of the affected titles between April 2010 and May 2012, is that Amazon is sending some money your way. If the book you purchased... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle users #antitrust suit


Amazon sends money to Kindle readers affected by ebook price-fixing scandal

If you bought a lot of bestsellers, you could see a hefty credit on your Amazon account on Tuesday. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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8 Ways Oyster Books Can Rule the Ebook Subscription Market

In the six months since its debut, the $14 million Oyster ebook subscription platform has yet to take off. What's lacking? What could be improved? We advise. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tax change for music and ebooks

The UK government is bringing in new laws that will mean some downloads become subject to UK tax rates. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH/Santillana Merger Threatens Digital Shake Up in Brazil Ebook Sector

Penguin Random House Merger with Santillana will force the Brazilian operation to choose whether to stay or leave the powerful DLD digital distribution platform. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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“Self-Published Authors = 50% of the EBook Market by 2020″

Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, has made the prediction that self-published books will account for 50% of ebook sales by 2020. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook market #mark coker #self-published books #ebook sales


Where did the story of ebooks begin?

Peter James's Host, published on two disks, was an early example – but exactly where the medium started life is surprisingly tricky to identifyWhat was the first ebook? Debate rages … When Peter James published his thriller Host on two floppy disks, in 1993, it was billed as the "world's first... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #growing interest


Starbucks picks Frederator Books' ebook

Frederator Books, the year-old children’s ebook publishing program founded by cartoon veteran Fred Seibert, is getting a boost in the arm, or at least a shot of caffeine: Letters From Catbug,... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Monthly Magazine #2: Ebooks Around the World

Our digital magazine for March focuses on ebook businesses and initiatives around the world, from sales to format, enhanced content to devices. Download your copy here. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gollancz price-promotes ebook debuts

Gollancz is to drop the price of ebooks of six of its 2014 debut novels to £1.99 over... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Startups Tackle Ebook Gifting, Data Mining

Tech is returning dividends to publishing, with Valobox's 'Gift an Ebook' program and Bookseer's advanced social media data mining and price analytics. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indian STM Publishing Worth $200m, 20% Growth, 2% Ebooks

A snapshot of STM publishing in India, which represents 84% of the publishing industry's profits in the country, from this February's GLOBALOCAL conference. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #20% growth #stm publishing #publishing industry #globalocal conference