As the summer draws to a close, we see Amazon.com dropping prices of Kindle e-readers faster than wet bikinis in a Minnesota February. In its Microsoft-like frenzy for market domination, we’ve seen Team Bezos do everything from sell e-books at loss to multiple revisions of their kludgey hardware. Now, following the Kindle’s move into Target […]
Publishers I’ve spoken to are wary of many aspects of their business model in light of the transition the industry is undergoing. As dead tree books are replaced by their digital equivalents, a very practical question arises. As one old friend who wishes to remain nameless confided, “how do I know if Amazon or Apple […]
It’s an interesting time for the publishing world, to say the least. Those with e-book aspirations—authors, publishers, and e-book sellers (Amazon, Apple, et al.)—continue to jockey for front row seats to watch the continued implosion of retail giant Barnes & Noble. Posting a fiscal first-quarter loss, the vultures continue to circle the B&N carcass. Some, […]
There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord. Similarly, there is timing in the Way of the merchant, in the rise and fall of capital. All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this. —Miyamoto Musashi Depending which […]
Amazon’s latest push into the e-reader market are two new versions of Kindle. As with previous versions, the PR muscle is hard behind these models, set to ship 27 August. Priced a dollar short of $140 and $190, it seems Amazon is competing with Apple’s iPad in the only space they can: price. These models are […]
Today’s lesson is, if you ever perversely doubted it, not all top management is infallible. In a bizarre four-way race with British Petroleum, AT&T and Sarah Palin to see who can deny reality the longest, Apple made my prediction come true regarding the giving away of free “bumpers” for the iPhone 4 in order to […]
Much has happened in the world of e-books this past month. In the face of iPad juggernaut, Amazon.com has been forced to accept reality. The Kindle’s price has been brought more in line with it’s abilities compared to the full-functionality of the iPad. With the Kindle down to $189 from $259, and the Wi-Fi-only version […]
It’s Open Studio Weekend here on the Hudson River. Catch a rare glimpse inside the home of Camber Press. Swing by from noon until five, both Saturday and Sunday, if you’re interested in seeing a real live writer in his natural habitat. Ask about real life survival techniques, getting published, readings, private workshops, proofreading, and […]
Borders announced they’re entering the electronic book market with a low-priced piece of hardware called Kobo. At a hair under $150.00, Kobo is part of a two-pronged attack to not only get inexpensive hardware in readers’ hands, but to tout their own eBook store, which promises to allow consumers to read titles across a variety […]
Apple has released sales figures for the first month of the iPad, and publishers are taking note. Publishers Marketplace (no, I don’t understand where the apostrophe went) has reported significant sales of e-books during the initial 28 days of iPad. More significantly, Apple reported 1.5 million e-books were sold in the initial period. This isn’t […]