The e-book market in Japan remains small, but publishers and technology experts discussed how to grow the market at the E-Book Expo in Tokyo.
No Surprise: US is 75% of Global E-Reader Market, Apple & Amazon Dominate, Says IDC Study
By Edward Nawotka US-based Apple and Amazon are the leading global vendors of tablet computers and e-readers, respectively, according to the Worldwide Quarterly Media Tablet and eReader Tracker, published by International Data Corporation (IDC). Pandigital and Barnes & Noble have lapped Sony to become the #2 and #3 global vendor of e-readers. Sony is neck and neck with Chinese-producer Hanvon in distributing …
Friends, Romans, Librarians: Lend Me Your E-book (Part 1)
Today, in the first half of a two-part series on library e-book lending, writer Erik Christopher considers the models offered to librarians by the United States’ two largest e-book retailers, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. By Erik Christopher The digital age has complicated things, especially for libraries. Not only do patrons want traditional services, like books and reference materials, they …
ISBNs and E-books: The Ongoing Dilemma
• Should publishers assign a unique ISBN for each e-book format of each title they publish, and what are the implications either way? • There is no consensus of what is the best practice, but one thing is clear: you need to make the decision yourself and not leave it up to someone else. By Erik Christopher ST. CLOUD, MN: …
Sony’s New Readers, Apple’s New iPod Nano
By Hannah Johnson Today was a big day for product launches. Sony has updated its line of Readers, and Apple’s Fall event was held today. New Sony Readers Touch screens, faster page turns and more color options — Sony has launched an updated array of reading devices. However, Sony has not (yet) given in to the heavy discounting that other …
The “Big Money” Speaks: Publishing’s CEOs More Worried About E-Readers than Readers
By Ron Hogan It’s never a good idea for industry conference speakers to show up late for their own panels, but when the assigned topic is “Will the iPad Kill Off eReaders and Other Tablets?” — one of the more eagerly anticipated sessions at The Big Money’s “Untethered 2010: Profitable Media in the Tablet Era” — any panelist who can’t …
What’s Bedeviling Paris’ Salon du Livre?
By Olivia Snaije PARIS: It should be an occasion for celebration — it’s the 30th anniversary, after all — but Paris’ Salon du Livre opens today in a climate of sniping and mudslinging. It’s “the fair we love to hate,” quipped Nicolas Gary on his literary blog, Actualitté. For years, French publishers have been complaining that the fair is neither …
Why Sony is Losing the E-Reading Race
By Erin L. Cox Last week, Steve Haber, President of Sony’s Digital Reading Business, has proven why Sony is lagging behind in the digital publishing and e-reading race. Both at Mediabistro’s eBook Summit and again on the Huffington Post, he called for publishers to “Make your content more interactive” and stated “It’s time for the publishing industry to join them …
Global Trade Talk: Google Editions to Launch in Japan; No Sony E-book Store for Germany
By Hannah Johnson and Siobhan O’Leary According Japanese business daily Nikkei (source: MarketWatch), Google has announced its plans to launch its e-book store service Google Edition in Japan in 2010. Prices will be determined by book publishers, and Google says it will keep 63% of the sales price. Google Edition is also scheduled to launch in the spring of 2010 …
Global Trade Talk: Sony’s E-Reader Hits Prime Time; Lost Symbol Sells 2 Million; Bologna Back to Four Days
By Edward Nawotka Sony has launched a flashy new television ad campaign to promote its new e-reader in the US. The prime time spots features a trio of celebrities — comedienne Amy Sedaris, Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning, singer Justin Timberlake — and a guy named Howard who we’re told is “aspeed reader” — sitting on a spinning dais plugging …