Apple finally adds gifting option to iBookstore
Just in time for the holidays, Apple has finally added the option to send e-books from its iBookstore as gifts.
New F.A.A. rules on use of electronics could be tricky to enforce
Restrictions on the use of portable electronics may be soon relaxed but how will the rules be enforced? It’s a sticky situation since phone sizes are getting close to tablets and you simply can’t tell what people are doing with their devices.
Defending the Apple way
The crux of the government’s case against Apple is that it acted as the “ringmaster” of a conspiracy among the publishers to raise the price of ebooks above what Amazon was selling them for. But what the government calls a conspiracy in restraint of trade, Apple calls standard operating procedure for entering a concentrated media market.
Tablets surge past e-readers as ebook reading grows
The Pew Research Center reported that almost a quarter of Americans are reading ebooks. But more of the growth in ebook reading devices is happening on tablets than dedicated e-readers.
Ebook Bestsellers Breakdown: October 26, 2012
This weekly feature (back after a brief hiatus) looks at the books that are selling better in digital format than in print. This week’s picks: Two books from self-published author Michelle Leighton, who’s just signed a deal with traditional publisher Penguin.
In digital textbook transition, device availability is just the beginning
In the past year, leading technology companies have made big strides in bringing tablet computers into classrooms across the country. But while the availability of new devices is certainly critical, the successful transition to digital textbooks relies on many interconnected factors.
Oyster gets $3M to become the Spotify of books
Oyster, a new startup that wants to be the Spotify of books, announced it has raised $3 million led by Founders Fund. The money will help Oyster build a library that allows members to access an unlimited number of books for a monthly fee.
Lawyer files Hail Mary request to stop ebook price changes
A surprise ruling last week will force publishers to tear up their e-book contracts with retailers. The ruling is scheduled to go into effect in the next few days and, if it does, Amazon and others will be allowed to slash the price of e-books. A prominent lawyer has filed a Hail Mary brief to stop the process.
Amazon’s disruptive timing
The synchronous timing of the court’s approval of the settlement agreement between the government and a group of publishers in the e-book price-fixing case, and the Amazon’s news conference to unveil the new Kindles was obviously coincidental. But it couldn’t have been more fitting had Jeff Bezsos been able to arrange it all himself.
What the ebook settlement means for publishers, Apple and you
States want to give consumers $69 million worth of refunds to compensate them for overpriced ebooks. How much will you get? And how will this affect the publishing industry? Here’s a simple guide to what’s really going on.