Ebooks

Review: Kobo Aura HD

Review: Kobo Aura HD

A couple of weeks ago Kobo announced a new reading device, the Aura HD. The Aura brings something new to the table when it comes to eInk readers, a little bit larger screen with a higher resolution than ever before. While the most common size for eInk readers has for years been the 6 inch(…)

Is there an answer to Scott Turow’s lament

Scott Turow has taken his lumps around the internet for his bombatic lengthy editorial on the NYTimes. Turow targeted everyone from readers and libraries to search engines as contributing to the death of the American author. But Turow’s lament offers no solutions, only complaints. The main crux of his argument is that the current system(…)

The case of the used digital book store

The case of the used digital book store

In January 29, 2013, Amazon was granted a  business systems patent for the sale of previously owned digital products. This patent was applied for in 2009 and Amazon has done nothing to indicate that it intends to set up a used digital bookstore either when it filed for its patent or when it received approval(…)

Some post price fixing settlement thoughts

Some post price fixing settlement thoughts

I have a number of thoughts running around my head over the Agency pricing resolution and the post settlement state of affairs. 1)  Will Agency pricing be brought back in two years. Per the terms of the settlement, publishers’ right to control prices will return in two years.  The question is whether the publishers will(…)

Guest Post: What’s Hot in Romance? from All Romance eBooks

Guest Post: What’s Hot in Romance? from All Romance eBooks

Jane kindly invited me to share a bit of what we at AllRomance.com learned about reader preferences in 2012. For those of you who aren’t familiar with All Romance (also known as ARe), we are a niche on-line bookstore that specializes in the sale of…. Yes, you’ve guessed it, Romance eBooks This past fall we(…)

Discovery of eBooks Will Never Improve Until Retailers and Publishers Learn to Speak Like Customers

Discovery of eBooks Will Never Improve Until Retailers and Publishers Learn to Speak Like Customers

When readers talk to other readers about books, they speak in a language of tropes, character types, and hot button issues. They ask for spoilers and in depth details. They want to know if a character in book B is like the character in book A that they love. A quick run down of forum(…)

Have Publishers Won the DRM Debate and Does It Matter?

Have Publishers Won the DRM Debate and Does It Matter?

How many people remember that All Romance EBooks sell DRM free ebooks from Avon? Or put another way, how many people actually buy from All Romance for the purpose of obtaining a DRM free ebook? Avon doesn’t make it easy for you to find the DRM free ebooks. You must first use its Facebook App(…)

A review of the 2012 publishing predictions

A review of the 2012 publishing predictions

Last January I made 10 publishing predictions. I thought it would be fun to review these predictions. Next week I’ll post my 2013 publishing predictions. 1. (TRUE) More authors will self publish than in 2011. I promise that this was more amazing at the end of 2011 than it seems now because there was still(…)

Must Have Apps for your Android Device

Must Have Apps for your Android Device

Here is a brief list of some apps I have found to be among my “must haves” for the Android platform. I look forward to hearing what others find some of their “must haves”.   Reading apps Even though it’s not the best reading app available I find the Kindle app to be just OK(…)

Must Have Apps for your iOS Tablet

Must Have Apps for your iOS Tablet

Dropbox + Airfile (free) Despite the security concerns that exist around Dropbox, it is one of the easiest cloud storage programs on the market to use.  You designate a folder on your harddrive as the Dropbox folder and anything you place in there is instantly synced with the cloud. On the road, you can access(…)

A secure alternative to Dropbox: Tondio, SpiderOak, Cubby, and GoodSync

A secure alternative to Dropbox: Tondio, SpiderOak, Cubby, and GoodSync

In light of the David Petraeus scandal, we learned that an existing law enacted in 1986 allows law enforcement entitties to obtain your entire cloud based storage without a warrant.  This means that your information is only as secure as the third party deems it to be private.  If they want to give it up,(…)

An iOS App Update

An iOS App Update

Marvin App Recently a new ereading app has been released for iPad users.  Marvin is currently free but I suspect that there may be a charge for it in the future. Marvin touts itself as an intelligent reading application.  It’s intelligence is based on the app’s ability to process and analyze the text in the(…)

2012 eBook Reader Holiday Buying Guide

2012 eBook Reader Holiday Buying Guide

Reader K Harris emailed me a couple of weeks ago with the following question: Hi! I was wondering if you were planning on doing a post on e-readers for the coming holiday gift-buying season. I have a Sony Reader Touch which I love dearly but I’m feeling seduced by the new generation of readers with(…)

Your Rights and Deadlines Under the Price Fixing Settlement

Your Rights and Deadlines Under the Price Fixing Settlement

Introduction This post is to help ebook buyers understand their rights and deadlines in the price fixing settlement.  Minnesotans, this post is not for you. Nor does it apply to those in DC  or one of the five Territories or Commonwealths  It’s about the ebook price fixing settlement and for some reason, your state or(…)

REVIEW: Kindle Fire HD 8.9″

REVIEW: Kindle Fire HD 8.9″

Contents Kindle Fire HD comes with the device and USB 2.0 cord. No power adapter is provided.  Amazon gets a big fat raspberry for that. Initial impression My first thought when I lifted it out of the box was that it was heavy.  According to the Amazon site, the Kindle Fire HD with the 8.9″(…)