Ebooks

An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Penguin’s Modest Self-Publishing Gamble

Being sold for only slightly more than the revenue you brought in the prior year isn't exactly a signal that anyone believes the company has a lot of growth potential, especially not one whose roster theoretically covers the full gamut of shiny author services so many seem to believe are publishing's revenue streams of the future. Plus, ASI was apparently on the block for a while with no buyer, so I find Penguin's CEO John Makinson's claim odd, as reported by Publisher's Lunch, that he expects there will be a "new and growing category of professional authors who are going to gravitate towards the ASI solution rather than the free model." So then, what's the real angle here?

Continue ReadingPenguin’s Modest Self-Publishing Gamble
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Why DRM is a Toothless Boogeyman, Ebooks are like Video Games, and Amazon is the Winner

It's not a huge stretch to posit Amazon as the reverse-Valve of the ebook world, constantly pushing the envelope in unexpected ways, aggressively experimenting with pricing, developing a core of popular franchises, while staying focused on delivering and optimizing the best consumer experience.

Continue ReadingWhy DRM is a Toothless Boogeyman, Ebooks are like Video Games, and Amazon is the Winner
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Pottermore—When Disintermediation Goes Awry

While it's interesting to see the affiliate script flipped on Amazon, with their redirecting traffic to purchase the ebooks (surely with a nice cut of the revenue), the user experience leaves a lot to be desired, especially if you're used to purchasing your ebooks via the Kindle itself and/or the apps. The whole setup seems to be targeting hardcore fans—most of whom have probably already downloaded the ebooks for free via a torrent site—while asking the more casual reader to jump through hoops Amazon and B&N, in particular, have worked hard to eliminate.

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Ebooks and Libraries: Is it Worth the Effort?

Since publishers are so concerned with the “perpetuity of lending and simultaneity of availability” of their ebooks, I have to wonder if libraries shouldn’t just help them out and hit the STOP button themselves? Stop buying ebooks across the board, at any price, under any terms.

Continue ReadingEbooks and Libraries: Is it Worth the Effort?
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

If Not Readers…?

Amazon has always understood that readers are the most relevant market and that's why they're in the position of power they're currently enjoying. Do they wield their big stick aggressively? Definitely. And so did B&N and Borders before them, and presumably whomever the boogeyman was prior to them were guilty of the same thing.

Continue ReadingIf Not Readers…?
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