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 electronic novel", and attacked as a harbinger of the apocalypse which would destroy literature as we knew it. Now it has been accepted into the Science Museum's collection as one of the earliest examples of the form, as the spotlight of academia begins to shine on the history of digital publishing."I got absolutely pilloried," says James. "I was on Today accused of killing the novel, I was a front-page headline on papers in Italy – 99% of the press was negative … one journalist even took his computer on a wheelbarrow to the beach, along with a generator, to read Host in his deckchair."The digital version of the novel (it was also published physically) went on to sell 12,000 copies, according to James, and two years later, he was speaking on a panel on the future of the novel at the University of Southern California, together with Apple founder Steve Jobs. "I said ebooks would catch on when they became more convenient to read than the printed novel," said James. "It was astonishing the amount of outrage it caused."And Host – about a scientist who downloads his brain into a computer and has his body frozen – has now become a historical artefact, accepted into the Science Museum's... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chinese authorities have started investigating Amazon’s methods of selling ebooks in the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The New York Times has partnered with Byliner and Vook to publish original ebooks between 10,000 and 20,000 words and designed to be read in one sitting. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European Union regulators ended an antitrust probe into ebook prices after Apple and other publishers offered to abandon the possibility of pricing agreements that would have hindered Amazon selling ebooks more cheaply than their rivals. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The New York Times is getting into the ebooks business through partnerships with digital publishers Byliner and Vook. The Times will up to 12 original e-singles through Byliner on a variety of topics including culture, sports, business, science, and health. The first Byliner title, "Snow Fall:... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2012-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon has started its Chinese Kindle incursion by launching the reader app for Android and iOS in that market, along with a large selection of ebooks. There's no mention of any Kindle devices like the Fire HD in the nation yet, but Amazon just did a similar launch in Brazil and said the... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Carlton Digital has created what it says is "the most advanced, interactive music ebook in... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The European Union has accepted an offer from Apple and four major publishers to reduce pricing restrictions on content offered at Amazon and other book-sellers. After being caught out by the EU, we heard that the offer was likely to be adopted last month, and the commission has now confirmed... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ebooks will bring Cuba's isolated publishing industry and authors to a wider audience across the Spanish-speaking world, but also the US, under the radar of the trade embargo. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon has said that it is to open a European publishing wing headquartered in Luxembourg,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The new app 'Put Me in the Story,' released by publisher Sourcebooks, will allow older readers to add the name of a younger one to Sourcebook titles. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin will refresh its ebook lending system later today, according to a report from the New York Times. The publisher will start lending out its titles in Los Angeles and Cleveland, mimicking the program that trialled (despite some DRM issues) in New York. Public library users can even expect... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Christmas is beginning slowly, independent booksellers have told The Bookseller, as non-... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The first 20 books in the popular children's series by Ann M. Martin will be released in electronic format on Dec. 1. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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App developer TradeMobile is to rebrand as Beyond the Story as it prepares to launch one of its... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Seven Stories museum in Newcastle upon Tyne has changed its name to the National Centre for... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins is capitalising on the forthcoming release of the first Hobbit film by putting out... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European Union regulators are to end a US antitrust probe into ebook prices by accepting an offer by Apple and four publishers to ease price restrictions on Amazon, two sources said on Tuesday. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2012-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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According to Reuters, EU regulators look likely to accept an offer from Apple and a handful of publishers, including Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Livre and Macmillan. The assembled publishers propose that they will allow retailers (including Amazon) to sell ebooks cheaper than... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU regulators will next month accept an offer by Apple and four publishers to end the antitrust... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The European Commission is to give France one month to raise the VAT rate applied to ebooks or... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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