Most Active Articles 2009-11-24T10:18:16.499-05:00 Business Exchange Business_Exchange@businessweek.com urn:com:businessweek:bx:topic:most-active:e-books Hardy Green hgreen173 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:2790600030041346119-f76e9588774149e92fa361f56feb27b6 2009-11-18T11:35:37.253-05:00

80% of consumers say they wouldn't bother to access newspaper and magazine content online if it were no longer free. 60% of newspaper executives say they're considering paid content options, even though currently 90% don't charge for any content online. 37% of US consumers say they'd prefer to access content on a Web site if it were no longer offered in print, and smaller percentages say they'd prefer access via portable devices like mobile phones (14%), laptops and netbooks (11%), or eReaders like the Amazon Kindle (3%). Notably, 10% say they'd prefer the anachronistic solution of PDF by email...

80% of consumers say they wouldn't bother to access newspaper and magazine content online if it were no longer free. 60% of newspaper executives say they're considering paid content options, even though currently 90% don't charge for any content online. 37% of US consumers say they'd prefer to access content on a Web site if it were no longer offered in print, and smaller percentages say they'd prefer access via portable devices like mobile phones (14%), laptops and netbooks (11%), or eReaders like the Amazon Kindle (3%). Notably, 10% say they'd prefer the anachronistic solution of PDF by email... http://blogs.forrester.com/consumer_product_strategy/2009/11/new-forrester-report-consumers-weigh-in-on-paying-for-content.html Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 9 7 0 2 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:3072217064703619375-ab75b077a55a324993797b30f7e11104 2009-11-16T11:47:57.927-05:00

Changes in the proposed settlement would pave the way for other companies to license Google’s vast digital collection of copyrighted out-of-print books, and might resolve its conflicts with European governments. The revisions to the settlement primarily address the handling of so-called orphan works, the millions of books whose rights holders are unknown or cannot be found. The changes call for the appointment of an independent fiduciary, or trustee, who will be solely responsible for decisions regarding orphan works. The trustee, with Congressional approval, can grant licenses to other companies who also want to sell these books, and will oversee the pool of unclaimed funds that they generate. If the money goes unclaimed for 10 years, according to the revised settlement, it will go to philanthropy and to an effort to locate rights holders. The changes also restrict the Google catalog to books published in the United States, Britain, Australia or Canada. That move is intended to resolve objections from the French and German governments, which complained that the settlement did not abide by copyright law in those countries. The revised settlement could make it easier for other companies to compete with Google in offering their own digitized versions of older library books because it drops a provision that was widely interpreted as ensuring that no other company could get a better deal with authors and publishers than the one Google had struck.

Changes in the proposed settlement would pave the way for other companies to license Google’s vast digital collection of copyrighted out-of-print books, and might resolve its conflicts with European governments. The revisions to the settlement primarily address the handling of so-called orphan works, the millions of books whose rights holders are unknown or cannot be found. The changes call for the appointment of an independent fiduciary, or trustee, who will be solely responsible for decisions regarding orphan works. The trustee, with Congressional approval, can grant licenses to other companies who also want to sell these books, and will oversee the pool of unclaimed funds that they generate. If the money goes unclaimed for 10 years, according to the revised settlement, it will go to philanthropy and to an effort to locate rights holders. The changes also restrict the Google catalog to books published in the United States, Britain, Australia or Canada. That move is intended to resolve objections from the French and German governments, which complained that the settlement did not abide by copyright law in those countries. The revised settlement could make it easier for other companies to compete with Google in offering their own digitized versions of older library books because it drops a provision that was widely interpreted as ensuring that no other company could get a better deal with authors and publishers than the one Google had struck. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/technology/internet/14books.html Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 5 3 1 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:11083994582277256733-6ca8508bd9a5d6aa60d05192bcff2798 2009-10-28T10:15:21.605-04:00

Just as many entrepreneurs no longer need venture capitalists to launch their companies, authors no longer have to have a traditional publisher to publish. Traditional publishers take enormous risks to acquire, produce and promote books. Good publishers add tremendous value to each book, to the author's career, and to the reading enjoyment of customers. It's difficult for publishers to predict the fickle whims of the marketplace. They never know which book will become the next breakout hit, and which will bomb. In recent years, publishing, like all media business, has struggled to compete against an explosion of alternate - and often free - product vying for their customer's ever-shrinking attention and wallet. If you examine the sales figures from the Association of American Publishers from the last six years and adjust for inflation, book publishing has been in a slow decline for several years...

Just as many entrepreneurs no longer need venture capitalists to launch their companies, authors no longer have to have a traditional publisher to publish. Traditional publishers take enormous risks to acquire, produce and promote books. Good publishers add tremendous value to each book, to the author's career, and to the reading enjoyment of customers. It's difficult for publishers to predict the fickle whims of the marketplace. They never know which book will become the next breakout hit, and which will bomb. In recent years, publishing, like all media business, has struggled to compete against an explosion of alternate - and often free - product vying for their customer's ever-shrinking attention and wallet. If you examine the sales figures from the Association of American Publishers from the last six years and adjust for inflation, book publishing has been in a slow decline for several years... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-coker/do-authors-still-need-pub_b_334539.html Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 40 37 1 2 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:4592451285950309220-e8677f102ae0017203d95f6d68148ccc 2009-11-11T17:38:40.752-05:00

What do consumers think about ebook prices? What will be the impacts on the book industry of an aging population and a less affluent, time-starved generation of younger readers? How should publishers and booksellers respond to these demographic trends and how quickly should they expect book-buyers to return when the recession ends?

What do consumers think about ebook prices? What will be the impacts on the book industry of an aging population and a less affluent, time-starved generation of younger readers? How should publishers and booksellers respond to these demographic trends and how quickly should they expect book-buyers to return when the recession ends? http://publishingpoint.ning.com/video/jonathan-nowell-president Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 4 3 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:16474017837671801181-b009bf39851a679a2e6db9c0f8df2c23 2009-11-03T09:17:39.834-05:00

The Internet Archive (IA) formally announced the BookServer initiative www.archive.org/bookserver which will use an open architecture and open ebook formats to see that ebooks are available-for free or a fee-that will work on any device-whether a laptop, PC, smartphone, game console, or dedicated ebook reader. While it is still in development and probably years from completion, the BookServer project is intended to allow users to search book indexes across the web-whether it be on publishers' sites, libraries, bookstores, universities, or other sources-to identify content, compare vendor offerings, and easily download titles. According to the IA's website, BookServer is "a growing open architecture for vending and lending digital books over the Internet. Built on open catalog and open book formats, the BookServer model allows a wide network of publishers, booksellers, libraries, and even authors to make their catalogs of books available directly to readers through their laptops, phones, netbooks, or dedicated reading devices. BookServer facilitates pay transactions, borrowing books from libraries, and downloading free, publicly accessible books." The initiative is interesting not only in its breadth and scope, but it represents the first major effort to create a noncommercial, standard distribution system for online books and other publications based on clear, open technical standards. BookServer is intended to be easy-to-use, while respecting authors' and publishers' interests in controlling the pricing and market channels for their products. In that sense, this announcement is pointing to a potential 21st-century web-based digital distribution system for information that is more inclusive and far-sighted than Google's controversial scenario.

The Internet Archive (IA) formally announced the BookServer initiative www.archive.org/bookserver which will use an open architecture and open ebook formats to see that ebooks are available-for free or a fee-that will work on any device-whether a laptop, PC, smartphone, game console, or dedicated ebook reader. While it is still in development and probably years from completion, the BookServer project is intended to allow users to search book indexes across the web-whether it be on publishers' sites, libraries, bookstores, universities, or other sources-to identify content, compare vendor offerings, and easily download titles. According to the IA's website, BookServer is "a growing open architecture for vending and lending digital books over the Internet. Built on open catalog and open book formats, the BookServer model allows a wide network of publishers, booksellers, libraries, and even authors to make their catalogs of books available directly to readers through their laptops, phones, netbooks, or dedicated reading devices. BookServer facilitates pay transactions, borrowing books from libraries, and downloading free, publicly accessible books." The initiative is interesting not only in its breadth and scope, but it represents the first major effort to create a noncommercial, standard distribution system for online books and other publications based on clear, open technical standards. BookServer is intended to be easy-to-use, while respecting authors' and publishers' interests in controlling the pricing and market channels for their products. In that sense, this announcement is pointing to a potential 21st-century web-based digital distribution system for information that is more inclusive and far-sighted than Google's controversial scenario. http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Internet-Archive-Dishes-up-BookServer-as-Digital-Books-Market-Heats-Up-57760.asp Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 11 9 1 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:8699844815871168656-ddbe825cf7e6e875cdfd56c4a4a96491 2009-11-10T10:40:39.509-05:00

Why can't a device vendor go with more of a cell phone model, where the low price of the device is subsidized by the longer-term commitment to buying content? How many Kindles do you suppose Amazon could sell if they priced it at $99, or $49? The device costs more than that to make, not to mention the cellular charges they pay Sprint, so why would Amazon price device so low? Hoping that they "make it up in volume" won't help...they'll just lose that much more money in total. But what if all the ebook editions Amazon sells for the Kindle weren't $9.99 but something much closer to the print book's price on Amazon? So a $30 book at 33% off would be $20 for the Kindle edition (as opposed to $9.99 currently), pretty much the same as what you'd pay for the print version. Now there's a bigger margin left over for Amazon to keep part of (to cover the loss on the sale of the device), share some with the publisher/author and even pay Sprint. And oh, btw, we'd put an end to the model where some publishers are delaying the e-version so as not to cannibalize the print version's sales. Publishers would be indifferent, if not prefer the e-version since there's no cost for manufacturing, inventory or returns...

Why can't a device vendor go with more of a cell phone model, where the low price of the device is subsidized by the longer-term commitment to buying content? How many Kindles do you suppose Amazon could sell if they priced it at $99, or $49? The device costs more than that to make, not to mention the cellular charges they pay Sprint, so why would Amazon price device so low? Hoping that they "make it up in volume" won't help...they'll just lose that much more money in total. But what if all the ebook editions Amazon sells for the Kindle weren't $9.99 but something much closer to the print book's price on Amazon? So a $30 book at 33% off would be $20 for the Kindle edition (as opposed to $9.99 currently), pretty much the same as what you'd pay for the print version. Now there's a bigger margin left over for Amazon to keep part of (to cover the loss on the sale of the device), share some with the publisher/author and even pay Sprint. And oh, btw, we'd put an end to the model where some publishers are delaying the e-version so as not to cannibalize the print version's sales. Publishers would be indifferent, if not prefer the e-version since there's no cost for manufacturing, inventory or returns... http://jwikert.typepad.com/the_average_joe/2009/11/is-the-ereader-financial-model-upside-down.html Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 4 3 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:15543406970105236956-794e6380688a74bce72c1f8111142910 2009-11-01T10:29:46.566-05:00

There has been a flurry of news lately about Barnes & Noble's new e-reader, the Nook. It will compete head on with Amazon's Kindle and Sony's Reader, offering additional features such as limited book sharing and newspaper subscriptions.

There has been a flurry of news lately about Barnes & Noble's new e-reader, the Nook. It will compete head on with Amazon's Kindle and Sony's Reader, offering additional features such as limited book sharing and newspaper subscriptions. http://www.business-strategy-innovation.com/2009/11/does-bn-nook-compete-with-amazon-or.html Braden Kelley bkelley034 22 21 1 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:9292728184818446481-79b60bb0b5a0b6bcf5f3a1eb64b889db 2009-10-28T13:06:11.759-04:00

The Nook e-reader has become the fastest selling single item at Barnes & Noble since the retailer introduced the device October 20, company CEO Steve Riggio said in a presentation to investors.

The Nook e-reader has become the fastest selling single item at Barnes & Noble since the retailer introduced the device October 20, company CEO Steve Riggio said in a presentation to investors. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6704157.html?nid=2286&rid=#CustomerId&source=link Hardy Green hgreen173 22 22 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:14769207517537033286-f1a83e38e21300a6b43c67e4098647b2 2009-10-26T12:03:30.341-04:00

A core organizing principle the publishing landscape is that it is now “emergent” (arising out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions). Or, in relatively simple terms, each action by hardware companies, software companies, media companies, artists, writers, publishers, and retailers affects the landscape. The falling of barriers to entry has increased the number of these actors operating on the landscape, and their degree of interdependence has grown. So not only will things continue to change, the rate of change itself is likely to increase. We are not just in transition from one state or model to another state or model, we’re in transition to a state of permanent accelerated transition where the model is continuous rapid reinvention. Publishing will never be stable again...

A core organizing principle the publishing landscape is that it is now “emergent” (arising out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions). Or, in relatively simple terms, each action by hardware companies, software companies, media companies, artists, writers, publishers, and retailers affects the landscape. The falling of barriers to entry has increased the number of these actors operating on the landscape, and their degree of interdependence has grown. So not only will things continue to change, the rate of change itself is likely to increase. We are not just in transition from one state or model to another state or model, we’re in transition to a state of permanent accelerated transition where the model is continuous rapid reinvention. Publishing will never be stable again... http://rnash.com/article/the-emergent-landscape-or-the-continuous-permenant-reinvention-of-publishin/ Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 10 9 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:17459547693318099104-3506cb537808f606edf5fe580825d02b 2009-10-22T09:58:26.810-04:00

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Conde Nast is introducing a slick platform for selling, displaying and enhancing its titles' regular print issues on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Issues rendered for the iPhone screen will sell as apps, starting with this...

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Conde Nast is introducing a slick platform for selling, displaying and enhancing its titles' regular print issues on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Issues rendered for the iPhone screen will sell as apps, starting with this... http://tinyurl.com/yzrxfed David Robbins drobbins708 11 10 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:9864260009745997905-cb2e20104e8287ace4e278a5ab1f25d1 2009-10-27T14:16:59.885-04:00

HP BookPrep is a cloud computing service that enables on-demand printing of books and brings new life to the traditional publishing model by making it possible to bring any book ever published back into print through an economical and sustainable service model. As part of a growing movement to preserve and digitize historic content, major libraries are partnering with technology leaders to scan previously hard-to-find works using high-resolution photography. HP’s process transforms these scans prior to printing by cleaning up some of the wear and tear that often is present in the originals. HP BookPrep significantly drives down the cost of republishing books by eliminating the manual cleanup work that would otherwise be required. Based on imaging and printing technology from HP Labs, the company’s central research arm, HP BookPrep automates the creation of high-quality, print-ready books from these raw book scans by sharpening text and images, improving alignment and coloration, and generating and adding covers. People can now purchase high-quality print versions of public-domain, out-of-print books through HP BookPrep channels, including traditional and online retailers such as Amazon.com.

HP BookPrep is a cloud computing service that enables on-demand printing of books and brings new life to the traditional publishing model by making it possible to bring any book ever published back into print through an economical and sustainable service model. As part of a growing movement to preserve and digitize historic content, major libraries are partnering with technology leaders to scan previously hard-to-find works using high-resolution photography. HP’s process transforms these scans prior to printing by cleaning up some of the wear and tear that often is present in the originals. HP BookPrep significantly drives down the cost of republishing books by eliminating the manual cleanup work that would otherwise be required. Based on imaging and printing technology from HP Labs, the company’s central research arm, HP BookPrep automates the creation of high-quality, print-ready books from these raw book scans by sharpening text and images, improving alignment and coloration, and generating and adding covers. People can now purchase high-quality print versions of public-domain, out-of-print books through HP BookPrep channels, including traditional and online retailers such as Amazon.com. http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2009/091021xc.html Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 10 9 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:13937179429453985447-06ca76e03a034e616d15f0b08d6c0b01 2009-10-20T13:43:08.261-04:00

Apple now allows extra content to be sold through free iPhone apps. Newspapers and magazines are reportedly in talks with Apple about repurposing their content onto a “new device,” presumably the rumored touchscreen tablet. Previously, free apps were not permitted to sell content. Charging for apps cuts off potential customers so by allowing commerce within free apps Apple creates the opportunity for a free media app to serve as a gateway for readers to get hooked. The key for publishers now is to create a convenient experience that readers will pay for after sampling. Who would wish to read a digital newspaper or magazine on the Kindle’s drab e-ink screen if Apple delivers a multimedia-centric tablet?

Apple now allows extra content to be sold through free iPhone apps. Newspapers and magazines are reportedly in talks with Apple about repurposing their content onto a “new device,” presumably the rumored touchscreen tablet. Previously, free apps were not permitted to sell content. Charging for apps cuts off potential customers so by allowing commerce within free apps Apple creates the opportunity for a free media app to serve as a gateway for readers to get hooked. The key for publishers now is to create a convenient experience that readers will pay for after sampling. Who would wish to read a digital newspaper or magazine on the Kindle’s drab e-ink screen if Apple delivers a multimedia-centric tablet? http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/10/tablet-print-2/ Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 14 13 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:10016681069238501750-a5df821bcf3d841e0e70ab53a685c248 2009-10-22T09:21:36.691-04:00

Sellers and owners of electronic reading devices are making the case that people are reading more because of e-books...

Sellers and owners of electronic reading devices are making the case that people are reading more because of e-books... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/technology/21books.html Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 12 11 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:11926424266422059912-078a24e6e70b17571d13639d166b9e2a 2009-10-20T11:44:04.999-04:00

Open Road Integrated Media is seeking new authors willing to be published in the electronic format first and current authors who want their previous books published as ebooks for the first time. They also plan to aggressively promote their books via online marketing in the hopes of reigniting the backlists of well-known authors in the digital world. Because many authors signed print contracts before the growing world of ebooks was contemplated, many older works are not currently available as an ebook. Authors and agents like the idea of a publisher who will focus both on the backlist and the electronic format rather than just the frontlist (new titles). Open Road will also produce video content, including documentaries about the authors and "trailers" that establish the setting for the books, which it will push to fan sites and other relevant Web sites.

Open Road Integrated Media is seeking new authors willing to be published in the electronic format first and current authors who want their previous books published as ebooks for the first time. They also plan to aggressively promote their books via online marketing in the hopes of reigniting the backlists of well-known authors in the digital world. Because many authors signed print contracts before the growing world of ebooks was contemplated, many older works are not currently available as an ebook. Authors and agents like the idea of a publisher who will focus both on the backlist and the electronic format rather than just the frontlist (new titles). Open Road will also produce video content, including documentaries about the authors and "trailers" that establish the setting for the books, which it will push to fan sites and other relevant Web sites. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/books/14fried.html Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 14 13 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:16072495429729074757-ada9d2443b200af47c6ead97df8bb2c6 2008-10-15T12:06:48.059-04:00

My two cents on e-book readers like the Sony Reader: awesome technology, overpriced hardware. I just can't see paying $299 for one. But $149? Now we're in the ballpark. If you don't mind applying for a Sony Visa card,

My two cents on e-book readers like the Sony Reader: awesome technology, overpriced hardware. I just can't see paying $299 for one. But $149? Now we're in the ballpark. If you don't mind applying for a Sony Visa card, http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r1645403310&f=9791 321 320 1 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:9662273202380689408-21da55b192fd337b2c02cb8183d640a8 2009-10-27T08:47:27.327-04:00

In an earlier blog entry on content, readers provided a number of interesting comments. If you haven't already read that article (and the comments), you may want to do so in order to understand this new article. Many did not agree with my point of view.

In an earlier blog entry on content, readers provided a number of interesting comments. If you haven't already read that article (and the comments), you may want to do so in order to understand this new article. Many did not agree with my point of view. http://www.business-strategy-innovation.com/2009/10/content-is-no-longer-king-part-2.html Braden Kelley bkelley034 6 6 0 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:9925450450633715498-cd6e46562f2f2df76815d2c68d113a69 2009-10-27T18:06:10.468-04:00

Multimedia book startup Vook has launched its first video books and utilizes video production network TurnHere to minimize costs.

Multimedia book startup Vook has launched its first video books and utilizes video production network TurnHere to minimize costs. http://paidcontent.org/article/419-embargo-vooks-bradley-inman-on-e-books-fiction-vs.-non-fiction-and-the-/ Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 2 1 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:146141871732315119-191a62f049cd46c895d94067d7adbc83 2009-10-05T18:43:34.065-04:00

One high potential business model for media companies comes from the software industry where Software as a Service (SaaS) has taken that industry by storm. Shipping or downloading a static physical or digital product is a dying business. Pioneers like Salesforce.com, and now Google with their office apps, are showing how a “product” is not a discrete thing. Rather, it’s an ongoing relationship – with continuous updates and two-way communication – with customers and even between customers. This is not just about putting up a pay wall and charging a subscription fee. The “S” in MaaS is not an afterthought or tacked on, it is the entire ecosystem attached to the content. Some notable examples to help guide other media businesses can be found in the games business. While the hardcore online game World of Warcraft led the way out of the boxed product and single transaction business, the casual social games of Playfish, Zynga, and others are taking it to a whole new level. Perhaps a TV show or a book could become a continuum of short episodes distributed via Facebook, Twitter, or other social and real time means. It could be free on a Facebook page, with standard ad units providing the first level of revenue. It might contain social elements (pulled from the Facebook page) built into the content, which would connect the content, the user, and their friends more deeply. Additional “fees,” in the form of demographically tailored offers, micropayments, or subscriptions could come from users who want to be among the first to experience it, buy products based on it, create avatars, host a viewing party, and on and on...

One high potential business model for media companies comes from the software industry where Software as a Service (SaaS) has taken that industry by storm. Shipping or downloading a static physical or digital product is a dying business. Pioneers like Salesforce.com, and now Google with their office apps, are showing how a “product” is not a discrete thing. Rather, it’s an ongoing relationship – with continuous updates and two-way communication – with customers and even between customers. This is not just about putting up a pay wall and charging a subscription fee. The “S” in MaaS is not an afterthought or tacked on, it is the entire ecosystem attached to the content. Some notable examples to help guide other media businesses can be found in the games business. While the hardcore online game World of Warcraft led the way out of the boxed product and single transaction business, the casual social games of Playfish, Zynga, and others are taking it to a whole new level. Perhaps a TV show or a book could become a continuum of short episodes distributed via Facebook, Twitter, or other social and real time means. It could be free on a Facebook page, with standard ad units providing the first level of revenue. It might contain social elements (pulled from the Facebook page) built into the content, which would connect the content, the user, and their friends more deeply. Additional “fees,” in the form of demographically tailored offers, micropayments, or subscriptions could come from users who want to be among the first to experience it, buy products based on it, create avatars, host a viewing party, and on and on... http://paidcontent.org/article/419-time-to-change-the-lens-media-as-a-service/ Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 7 4 1 2 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:13267179140437630552-8e98d04ec0069166930362c8704ac99c 2009-10-01T09:03:00.743-04:00

It's clear that eBook Readers cannot thrive as pure reading devices. It will require niche markets, and none is more ripe for the taking than Academia. So why hasn't someone stepped in with an ideal device for this market? Could Apple be the one?

It's clear that eBook Readers cannot thrive as pure reading devices. It will require niche markets, and none is more ripe for the taking than Academia. So why hasn't someone stepped in with an ideal device for this market? Could Apple be the one? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story226996.html Ron Miller rmiller046 12 11 1 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:14198369807933675041-1fcc935449ca1302193400b8510cfa9e 2009-10-22T10:11:06.431-04:00

http://tinyurl.com/yhuohp6 David Robbins drobbins708 3 2 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:9197593702434141869-6075dc90abc3154fe443093410ebc367 2009-10-05T19:15:15.020-04:00

Many of the early news apps to emerge after Apple opened its store a year ago have been free to download, relying upon advertising revenues to make a return, and are little more than pretty shop windows for what is essentially content already available on websites. But a new generation of apps is appearing which are aimed at generating their own circulation or subscription revenues. While the iPhone app for the Financial Times is free, the content can only be fully accessed by subscribers, with the casual reader given three free articles per month. It has already been downloaded by more than 120,000 people – equivalent to a quarter of the FT's global readership – and it has had a rather remarkable effect, it is driving subscriptions. Other publishers are demanding payment for the app itself, either because it offers a wealth of content not available online for free or because the app offers a service that is tailored for mobile. Part of the reason many in the media hope they can persuade mobile consumers to part with some cash, even though they expect to get everything for free when using the internet, is that consumers are already used to paying for lots of things on their mobile...

Many of the early news apps to emerge after Apple opened its store a year ago have been free to download, relying upon advertising revenues to make a return, and are little more than pretty shop windows for what is essentially content already available on websites. But a new generation of apps is appearing which are aimed at generating their own circulation or subscription revenues. While the iPhone app for the Financial Times is free, the content can only be fully accessed by subscribers, with the casual reader given three free articles per month. It has already been downloaded by more than 120,000 people – equivalent to a quarter of the FT's global readership – and it has had a rather remarkable effect, it is driving subscriptions. Other publishers are demanding payment for the app itself, either because it offers a wealth of content not available online for free or because the app offers a service that is tailored for mobile. Part of the reason many in the media hope they can persuade mobile consumers to part with some cash, even though they expect to get everything for free when using the internet, is that consumers are already used to paying for lots of things on their mobile... http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/05/mobile-phone-applications Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 5 2 2 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:7275531389739127016-f54cced5300b97ccdca5ddb32ff9debc 2009-10-23T10:58:43.217-04:00

In a sign the holiday period could be good to online retailers, Amazon.com Inc. posted a 69% increase in third-quarter profit and offered a rosy outlook for the current quarter. The results were driven by a 44% rise in sales of electronics and general merchandise, including TVs and office supplies, which now account for 43% of the retailer's sales. Amazon also reported a 17% spike in sales of media, which had dragged on earnings in the second quarter because of sluggish video-game sales. Results were bolstered by the debut of several popular books, including Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol."

In a sign the holiday period could be good to online retailers, Amazon.com Inc. posted a 69% increase in third-quarter profit and offered a rosy outlook for the current quarter. The results were driven by a 44% rise in sales of electronics and general merchandise, including TVs and office supplies, which now account for 43% of the retailer's sales. Amazon also reported a 17% spike in sales of media, which had dragged on earnings in the second quarter because of sluggish video-game sales. Results were bolstered by the debut of several popular books, including Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703816204574489750561367182.html?mod=dist_smartbrief Jenn LaRocco jlarocco496 3 2 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:14319369627066643456-80e9d440bffc6753fe4033d42adf9d7d 2008-09-15T12:56:17.827-04:00

Various efforts to make free, downloadable textbooks may undercut the high price of paper-and-print editions.

Various efforts to make free, downloadable textbooks may undercut the high price of paper-and-print editions. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/technology/15link.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=%22Don't%20Buy%20That%20Textbook%22&st=cse&oref=slogin Hardy Green hgreen173 241 239 2 0 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:12046382881709990400-94b2defdfe01d5a5f3af22a224ffffc9 2009-10-19T17:40:14.794-04:00

Predicting ebook player sales may prove more elusive, and more nuanced, than manufacturers and early-adopters care to admit. It is time to consider the demand side of things. The tipping point for a new technology occurs at the transition from early-adopter to early-majority demand, at which point the rate of adoption increases dramatically and sales are thought to become self-sustaining as the product turns mainstream. (It also can become the graveyard of new products that fail to make the cut.) The explosion of MP3 devices and related vertical-support businesses (Napster and iTunes) in the early part of this decade clearly fit the pattern, leading to massive dislocation in the recorded-music industry. Three factors suggest that ebook players are in for more erratic and protracted growth than the MP3 market experience. First, it is not clear whether ebook players deliver greater value than paper books. Screen-reading is not the same as reading print on a page and may inhibit note-taking, immersion, and retention. Second, book purchasing is becoming more concentrated among avid book buyers who tend to be older Americans who have more leisure time for reading and browsing. These readers may not want all the features ebook players have to offer. Finally, the current pricing and distribution structures are confusing. Publishers remain deeply suspicious of Amazon’s below-cost $9.99 pricing for e-books and debate whether ebooks are cannibalizing print book sales. Pragmatic, early-majority consumers may be reluctant to commit to a $259 reading device...

Predicting ebook player sales may prove more elusive, and more nuanced, than manufacturers and early-adopters care to admit. It is time to consider the demand side of things. The tipping point for a new technology occurs at the transition from early-adopter to early-majority demand, at which point the rate of adoption increases dramatically and sales are thought to become self-sustaining as the product turns mainstream. (It also can become the graveyard of new products that fail to make the cut.) The explosion of MP3 devices and related vertical-support businesses (Napster and iTunes) in the early part of this decade clearly fit the pattern, leading to massive dislocation in the recorded-music industry. Three factors suggest that ebook players are in for more erratic and protracted growth than the MP3 market experience. First, it is not clear whether ebook players deliver greater value than paper books. Screen-reading is not the same as reading print on a page and may inhibit note-taking, immersion, and retention. Second, book purchasing is becoming more concentrated among avid book buyers who tend to be older Americans who have more leisure time for reading and browsing. These readers may not want all the features ebook players have to offer. Finally, the current pricing and distribution structures are confusing. Publishers remain deeply suspicious of Amazon’s below-cost $9.99 pricing for e-books and debate whether ebooks are cannibalizing print book sales. Pragmatic, early-majority consumers may be reluctant to commit to a $259 reading device... http://paidcontent.org/article/419-why-e-reader-adoption-will-be-slower-than-people-think/ Pete Nikolai pnikolai463 6 5 0 1 urn:com:businessweek:bx:article:6099572358684299860-59dc3b3693c111e742ecd00e5f3168f3 2008-11-29T08:54:34.690-05:00

The latest edition of Sony’s Reader Digital Book offers an interactive touch screen display that allows for an intuitive digital reading experience. The new model, PRS-700, will join the PRS-505 model...

The latest edition of Sony’s Reader Digital Book offers an interactive touch screen display that allows for an intuitive digital reading experience. The new model, PRS-700, will join the PRS-505 model... http://mytechbox.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/sony-reader-digital-book-2/ Rakesh Raman rraman103 179 178 1 0