The idea of "social reading" has been around for years, but there's a cluster of new companies trying to make it actually work. Two of these startups, Subtext and Findings, launched Oct. 25. Another, Readmill, built around sharing clips/excerpts, is currently being tested. Subtext, for example, lets publishers and readers annotate ebooks. One of its launch titles was the blockbuster A Game of Thrones, annotated by the author's editor and researcher. Co-founder Rachel Thomas says that in some ways she's just trying to mirror the discussions that readers are already having among themselves. But, she admits, there also are times when you just want to "drop into the book" without being distracted by social commentary. That's why her team has tried to build "fine-grained" controls to determine whose comments you see when. This isn't just about adding a few features to the reading experience. In a recent blog post for the Nieman Journalism Lab, Megan Garber argues that books' immersive, intimate qualities make them "pretty lousy as actual sharers of ideas." With technology, she says, that's beginning to change. Continue reading at 'AdWeek'
[ AdWeek | 2011-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Online retailers continued to increase their market share of book purchases in the second quarter of 2011, according to the latest data from Bowkers PubTrack Consumer service. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Philip Jones and Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 13/10/2011 - 16:10 The quadruple threat of air traffic control strikes, economic slow-down, creaking Blackberry servers and digital disruption failed to dim spirits as the 63rd Frankfurt Book Fair continued this week. read... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 11/10/2011 - 08:50 Book sales remained tough in September according to the British Retail Consortium, which reported total retail sales were up by 2.5% against September last year. The BRC said UK retail sales values were 0.3% higher on a... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Tue, 11/10/2011 - 15:00 Independent publisher Beautiful Books entered administration earlier today (11th October). The company has ceased to trade and four members of staff have been made redundant. A spokesperson for London firm Leonard Curtis, the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Twitter has become part of the daily routine for almost every editor, but are you using it as effectively as you can? Here, four very different editors offer their advice for engaging and growing readership via Twitter. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The appointment late last month of Hector Sierra as general manager and senior v-p for National Geographic Societys books division completes the new management team that will now drive the book operation for one of Americas best-known brands. The change in the division began last October when... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Fri, 07/10/2011 - 16:18 An administrator for Beautiful Books is expected to be appointed by close of business on Monday (10th October). In a letter to authors, David Lewis, director of The Beautiful Group PLC, said the company has had cash flow... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry experts said the biography of Steve Jobs could easily sell millions of copies in print, audio and ebook editions. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Fri, 07/10/2011 - 08:35 Independent booksellers say the government should step in to fix the price of books after the Booksellers Association called on the coalition to do more to maintain bookshops on the high street. BA c.e.o. Tim Godfray appealed... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Donald Trump has trained his eye for promotion on ebooks, teaming up with Robert Kiyosaki, author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad," in a new twist on the traditional... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Thu, 06/10/2011 - 15:25 Oneworld has bought a book by a Private Eye journalist that uncovers how Britain has become a tax haven. Commissioning editor Mike Harpley bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Duty Free: How Britains Become a Tax Haven for Big... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Those who purchased the Kindle with Special Offers version of Amazon's e-reader can now expunge the ads for a one-time fee of $30. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2011-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Robert Stokes Publication Date: Wed, 05/10/2011 - 15:18 Liber, the 29th International Book Fair for the Spanish speaking world, starts today [5th October] in Madrid and takes place against the backdrop of the launch of Amazon.es, which publishers hope will lead to greater interest... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Tue, 04/10/2011 - 10:10 Sky Arts is moving "The Book Show" to a new primetime slot on Thursdays when it returns for a fifth series next week. The show, presented by Mariella Frostrup, will be broadcast at 8pm and opens with four episodes from the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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"All About Steve: The Story of Steve Jobs and Apple from the Pages of Fortune" has been released on Amazon as a Kindle book. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2011-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 03/10/2011 - 08:05 Former Tesco c.e.o. Sir Terry Leahy has written a business book for Cornerstone. Random House Business Books publishing director Nigel Wilcockson bought world rights to Ten Management Lessons by Sir Terry through Danny... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 03/10/2011 - 17:23 The 2011 Galaxy National Book Awards will take place on 4th November, rather than 9th, with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge announced as the location. Agile Marketing m.d. Alastair Giles said: "It's mainly a... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams and Philip Stone Publication Date: Fri, 30/09/2011 - 08:40 Childrens books sales outperformed the rest of the market in the first half of 2011, down just 1% year on year to £143m, due to blockbusting brands and the delay in children adopting digital content in... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Philip Stone Publication Date: Thu, 29/09/2011 - 09:30 Printed book sales in 2011 have passed the £1bn mark two weeks later than in 2010 with David Nicholls' One Day the biggest selling book of the year to date. In total, £29.5m was spent at UK booksellers in the week ending 24th... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 29/09/2011 - 09:37 Titles by Roald Dahl, Rod Campbell and Janet and Allan Ahlberg are included in the selection for the third Richard and Judy's Children's Christmas Book Club, launched today in W H Smith stores. The 12 Richard and Judy... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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