Streaming of books threatens to sell readers down the river

Scholastic is the latest publisher to phase out downloading, meaning ebooks already purchased might become unreadableScholastic, the publisher of such children's book juggernauts as The Hunger Games and the Harry Potter series, announced recently that its Storia ebook shop would shortly be "transitioning" to a streaming model. What this means for its readers is that books they have already purchased might become unreadable. According to Scholastic's website: "The switch to streaming means that ebooks you've previously purchased may soon no longer be accessible." In one of those brilliant physical/digital metaphors that seem to sum up all of the confusion of virtual cultural objects, the site also says: "You may be able to continue using your ebooks by making sure to open them on a bookshelf at least once by 15 October."Unlike some previous depressing episodes in ebook licensing that also hit UK readers, such as Barnes & Noble's shutting-down of its ebook store Fictionwise in 2012, or Samsung's abrupt closure this year of Readers Hub, when many lost not only their books but also their notes and highlights, Scholastic is offering a year to claim refunds on lost books. Given the continued prevalence of digital rights management (DRM) software, intended to prevent digital piracy, this story is likely to continue for a while. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Streaming of books threatens to sell readers down the river"

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games books and films come to fill a psychic void left by the Twilight series. For whatever reason, it seems our culture right now needs a mega-selling YA franchise built around a beautiful, stubborn teen heroine who waffles endlessly between two inexplicably patient lovers as she... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2013-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

'Hunger Games' author Suzanne Collins, in rare interview, muses on war and the cycle of violence

Suzanne Collins says she 'sort of completed' a goal of hers this fall by releasing her children's book 'Year of the Jungle,' which examines war from a child's point of view. Collins wants to write a book about war for every child age group, she says. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Mari Hannah: 'I had to dig very deep to keep the faith'

The creator of lesbian detective Kate Daniels was downcast when publishers rejected her work. Now, she's won the Polari first book prize for The Murder WallSomething extraordinary happened to me last week. I was outed to the whole wide world, having won the Polari first book prize 2013 for my... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

After dystopia, what next?

Book industry experts say dystopian literature, previously represented by bestselling series like 'The Hunger Games' and 'Allegiant,' is done as a trend. So what will be the next big genre in young adult fiction? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Amazon's top NY publishing exec to depart

Amazon Publishing, which launched a general-interest book publishing operation in New York two and a half years ago, is losing its top executive here.Seattle-based Amazon announced Friday that the head of its general-interest publishing division, Larry Kirshbaum, would leave the company Jan. 17... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Kobo removes all self-published titles. Is this censorship, an overreaction, or just good sense?

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo removed self-published pornographic titles from their sites and Kobo stopped sales of self-published titles altogether. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Scribd Founder Envisions Google Glass–like Wearables For E–Reading

The content on Scribd, the San–Francisco based startup that aims to create the digital library of the future, is available on a range of devices, from laptops to smartphones to tablets. But CEO Trip Adler tells Fast Company we won't be reading e–books in our hands in the future––they'll be... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight gets UK price cut, drops below £50

Bookworms in the UK tired of smuggling flashlights to bed might want to take another look at the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight. After all, you can get one for £49 now that Barnes & Noble has slashed £20 off its retail price -- that's far, far lower than the amount people had to pay at... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Editor's Letter: Color commentary

In each issue of Distro, Executive Editor Marc Perton publishes a wrap-up of the week in news. There's a very good chance you're reading this on a tablet. Distro is, after all, first and foremost, a tablet magazine. There's also a reasonable chance you're reading this on a computer. Distro... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

B&N Nook sales drop continues

Nook sales at Barnes & Noble have continued to drop in the first quarter of its new financial... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Reports of Barnes & Noble’s Death Are Greatly Exaggerated

B&N is being eulogized as a 'dead man walking,' but the company still has a firm foundation, including the Nook, and will be with us as long as we still have print. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

A win for readers? DOJ's proposed measures for Apple would make price-shopping easier

One part of a proposal to enforce the verdict against Apple for allegedly fixing ebook prices would require Amazon and Barnes & Noble 'buy' buttons in the Apple store, allowing consumers to easily compare ebook costs. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Barnes & Noble reports it overstated losses in past years

Barnes & Noble says it lost less money than it previously reported during the past two years. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Can Showrooming Actually Save Bookstores?

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 ]
More news stories like this

'Committed' B&N hails Get London Reading festival

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 ]
More news stories like this

Decision Time for Barnes & Noble

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 ]
More news stories like this

Analysis: A Band-Aid for B&N's Gunshot Wound

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 ]
More news stories like this

Nook: Barnes & Noble will hand off tablet manufacturing to a third party

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 ]
More news stories like this

Barnes and Noble posts $119 million loss in Q4 2013, will partner with third party on future Nook tablets

Barnes and Noble has not had an easy go of it. The brick-and-mortar stalwart has seen its revenues and profits steeply decline as we've entered the age of the ebook. In fact, profits haven't just shrunk; they've disappeared. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, the company suffered a... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this