By Joe Wilcox, Betanews Apple's approach to magazine and newspaper subscriptions and third-party ebook sales stink of the kind of practices that got Microsoft into trouble with trustbusters on two continents during the late 1990s and early 2000s. A year ago, publishers embraced iPad as the savior of their industry. Now iPad looks like a devil's deal instead.Trouble started three days ago, when Sony said that Apple rejected its Reader software from the App Store in a policy change. Apple responded that there is no policy change. Oh? Well, if there is no overt policy change, it is effectively one of enforcement. Either way, the demands Apple is placing on publishers is too much, and arguably being made from a monopoly position. Essentially, the company wants sales to go through the App Store, which would compel the likes of Amazon and Sony to sell ebooks indirectly through Apple and would prohibit magazine and newspaper publishers from offering existing subscribers the benefits of iPad editions without paying more.Policy Change by Another NameLet's start by identifying what is or is not a policy change. Yesterday, during News Corp.'s The Daily Launch, Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of Internet Services, said that "You'll hear an announcement from us very soon for other news publications." That suggests the policy for subscriptions, at least, isn't clear -- if Apple still has something to announce. Regarding content sales, Sony surely seemed surprised about its Reader... Continue reading at 'Betanews'
[ Betanews | 2011-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
Writing for Bloomberg.com, Virginia Postrel has a counterintuitive suggestion for publishers, Barnes & Noble and tech-savvy retail entrepreneurs: embrace showrooming. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jim Hilt, managing director of Barnes & Noble's European ebook business, said the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Uncertainty has been hovering over Barnes & Noble ever since the retailer first reported that 2012 holiday sales— especially those of its Nook reading devices—were well below expectations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It's been a rough week for Barnes & Noble. And month. And year. And it may get worse before (if) it gets better. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Following a shaky fourth-quarter report, B&N announced that it would be partnering with another company to release its Nook tablet line, although the bookstore chain will continue to manufacture its e-readers. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble has announced it will partner with a third party to manufacture tablet devices... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble's Nook Store has offered short-form works much like those we've seen from Amazon's Kindle Shorts section, but they haven't really been a highlight. The company's new Nook Snaps program may give those quick reads their time to shine, however. The effort will see Barnes &... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble has vowed to fight for digital market share in the UK following a recent leap... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Massachusetts-based publisher Barefoot Books had previously cut ties with Barnes & Noble and Borders. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An anonymous Microsoft source calls talk about Microsoft planning to buy the Nook Media branch of Barnes & Noble 'nothing more than a rumor.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft is offering to pay $1 billion to buy the digital assets of Nook Media LLC, the digital book and college book joint venture with Barnes & Noble and other investors, according to internal documents we’ve obtained. In this plan, ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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According to internal documents obtained by the website TechCrunch, Microsoft has offered $1 billion for the digital assets of Nook Media, Barnes & Noble's digital book venture.According to internal documents obtained by the website TechCrunch, Microsoft has offered $1 billion for the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble knows it's not winning the tablet race by any margin, but the book retailer is hoping for a big boost for Mother's Day. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble is adding the Google Play store to HD versions of its Nook tablet, in a bid to counter slowing sales of its devices.Nook HD and Nook HD+ customers will be able to access over 700,000 Android apps and games, millions of songs and more, besides the Chrome browser, Gmail,... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Well, this process seems a bit counterintuitive, eh? This morning, Barnes & Noble introduced a new scheme for getting Nook customers to visit the company's retail stores. The promotion nets you one free ebook when you purchase another, but -- and this is where the offer tripped us up a bit... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble is offering the Nook Simple Touch e-reader for £29 for a limited period... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Capitalizing on the recognition of NOOK, Barnes & Noble has rebranded its self-publishing platform Pubit as NOOK Press and added features from FastPencil. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble's PubIt! self-publishing conduit has been active for well over two years, but you'd be forgiven for overlooking it with that somewhat forgettable (if very emphatic) name. The company might just know what you're thinking, as it's giving the service a considerably more memorable... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes &Noble has reportedly been ordering fewer Simon & Schuster titles than it normally does as the book retailer and the publisher wrangle over cost issues. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble may have saved most of the limelight today for in-app purchasing on Nook hardware, but it's not leaving other platforms by the wayside. Its Nook 3.4 update for iOS focuses heavily on visuals, with new support for both Nook Comics as well as "HD" magazines on Retina... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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