JanePublishing News22 Comments

30% Off Harlequin Titles with “koboharlequin30”

Apple iPad dominates tablet market, Amazon’s Kindle Fire fizzles – “ABI Research on Monday revealed the results of a its latest study concerning the global tablet market, which grew a whopping 185% year-over-year. The research firm found that Apple’s iPad continued to dominate the market, and after an explosive debut quarter, demand for Amazon’s Kindle Fire has begun to slow. Manufacturers shipped more than 18 million tablets in the first quarter of 2012, with Apple accounting for 11.8 million devices, or nearly 65% of the market. Shipments of Amazon’s Kindle Fire “fizzled” allowing Samsung to ship the most Android tablets, although it still only managed to move 1.1 million units. “A pattern similar to smartphones is also occurring in tablets,” said Jeff Orr, ABI Research group director of consumer research. “Apple and Samsung have demonstrated staying power while other tablet vendors ebb and flow like the tide.” The research firm found that only two manufacturers saw shipments increase in the first quarter over the same period a year earlier: Research In Motion, which saw shipments of its PlayBook tablet grow 233%, and Lenovo. ABI’s press release follows below.” Boy Genius

Sony Unveils Wonderbook, ‘Next Step in Reading and Augmented Reality Gaming’ | Digital Book World – ” [Sony] has released Wonderbook: Book of Spells, an interactive Harry Potter reading and augmented reality game. According to a company announcement, Wonderbook features original J.K. Rowling writing and allows readers to cast spells as they read using the motion-sensitive PS3 controller. “This is an extraordinary device that offers a reading experience like no other,” said Rowling in a statement. This title is the first of a series of “Wonderbooks” from Sony, which aim to offer readers a unique, new reading experience using the PlayStation 3 video game platform.” DBW

Numbers That Make Great Reading (@ BEA) from Lulu.com – Numbers That Make Great Reading … * Lulu.com’s self-published authors have netted more than $36 million over the last ten years * 56% earned more than $25,000 * 1.9 million registered buyers have bought from Lulu * … From my inbox

Kobo Inc. | Triple Digit Year-over-Year Growth Strengthens Kobo’s Global Leadership – “TORONTO, June 4, 2012 /CNW/ – Kobo Inc. a global leader in eReading, today announced triple digit growth, growing eBook downloads by 400 percent, eReader sales by 160 percent, and eReaders by 280 percent year-over-year, cementing its competitive position for an aggressive year of expansion. Kobo’s success during its short history demonstrates its winning partnership “playbook” for booksellers and retailers as the eReading industry gains momentum around the world.” Kobo

Ten Reasons to Avoid Doing Business With Amazon.com | The Nation – “Even with Borders gone and independent booksellers struggling to get by, the war for the future of publishing rages on. As Steve Wasserman explains in “The Amazon Effect,” which appears in this week’s special issue of The Nation, booksellers and publishers have shifted toward digital books, and Amazon.com, which sells more electronic Kindle books than physical hardcovers, is well positioned to overpower its rivals. But what’s at stake in the battle over e-commerce and why should you avoid doing business with Amazon.com?” The argument is that if you are socially conscious and community supportive, you shouldn’t shop at Amazon. Amazon is an evil monopolistic company out to take advantage of its workers and spy on its customers. The Nation   The problem with this piece, and with all the anti Amazon pieces, is that Amazon customers love Amazon and by insulting Amazon, you insult the customers. But it is kind of incredibly how much the traditional guard really despises Amazon whereas business magazines like Forbes can’t be more adulatory.  

Amazon Media Room: Press Releases – ” Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Avalon Books today announced that Amazon Publishing has acquired the publication rights from Avalon Books to over 3,000 backlist titles predominantly in the Romance, Mystery and Western categories. Established in 1950 by Thomas Bouregy, Avalon Books has long been a home to writers specializing in wholesome entertainment across popular genres, such as Holly Jacobs, Carolyn Hughey and Carolyn Brown, whose book “The Ladies’ Room” is nominated for a 2012 RITA by the Romance Writers of America. … Avalon books will be published under the West Coast imprints of Amazon Publishing, including Montlake Romance and Thomas & Mercer. These books will continue to be available in print for booksellers and libraries nationwide. Ms. Mickelsen will be assisting for several months to support a smooth transition for authors and to help secure eBook amendments for some of the older Avalon titles whose digital rights are not owned by Avalon, with the intention of bringing these books to a wider audience.” Amazon Press Release

Jane

Jane Litte is the founder of Dear Author, a lawyer, and a lover of pencil skirts. She self publishes NA and contemporaries (and publishes with Berkley and Montlake) and spends her downtime reading romances and writing about them. Her TBR pile is much larger than the one shown in the picture and not as pretty. You can reach Jane by email at jane @ dearauthor dot com

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JanePublishing NewsBook-club / free-book / futuristic / Newspapers5 Comments

I have to go to the dentist today for an aching tooth. Yes, my hardliving consisting of peanut m&ms and Mountain Dew is catching up with me. That’s some real news I know you all were dying to read.

DNAML, a company with more consonants than sense, is selling a PDF to ePub converter. This would be great if we knew how well it worked but alas, DNAML doesn’t believe in trial versions of its software. It’s $99 if you want to take the chance.

Laura Benedict explores the advantages and dangers of the free giveaway.

Technology gives us the ultimate democracy. Ultimate freedom. Anyone can be an artist. Put the work out there and you, too, can be judged in the marketplace of ideas. As long as you don’t plan on making a living at it.

Rupert Murdoch has begun to charge for the Wall Street Journal’s mobile content. In an interview, Murdoch sounds positive about the future of journalism.

Almost in every property at the moment [there is] a slight lift," Mr Murdoch said. "It’s very much better than it was a couple of months ago. It’s everywhere," he added, highlighting an 8 per cent fall in revenues at News Corp’s television stations in September, compared with an expected 20 per cent decline for the year to date.

Murdoch is convinced that moving to digital will reduce costs because there will be no unions (the printing unions are apparently killing him), no paper, no printing plants. I’m not as convinced as Murdoch that the costs of journalism will decrease so dramatically but it’s nice to see him have a positive outlook, right?

Ariana Huffington will be launching a book section to the Huffington Post and a new book club. It’s highly unlikely that romance will ever star in Huffington’s new book club. In a bid for legitimacy, the only appropriate action is to condemn the genres and go straight for the literature books with a capital L. Huffington will be partnering with New York Review of Books. The editor of the site is Amy Hertz, a Penguin editor for the Dutton division.

Gizmodo links to an article on Transhumanists and their opinion of the future of sex. Basically virtual reality will destroy physical relationships. The future is either full of woe or WHOA depending on your point of view.

Jane

Jane Litte is the founder of Dear Author, a lawyer, and a lover of pencil skirts. She self publishes NA and contemporaries (and publishes with Berkley and Montlake) and spends her downtime reading romances and writing about them. Her TBR pile is much larger than the one shown in the picture and not as pretty. You can reach Jane by email at jane @ dearauthor dot com

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