For most people Google’s Chromecast (a dongle that lets you display video from computers and tablets on a TV screen) was their most enticing product announcement on Wednesday. But those announcements included the news that digital textbooks will be added to the US Google Play store in August. Google will join Kindle, Nook, iBookstore, CourseSmart and others in providing “a full catalog of higher education titles in math, science, history and more” for purchase or rental. For now they make the same claim as Kindle and others on pricing — that digital rental can provide “up to [an] 80 percent […]
ebookstores
eNews: Feeding Book Buzz; Apple Touts School iPad Sales; Kobo Self-Publishing Stats
BuzzFeed.com added a books section, Poynter discovered. Managing editorial director Summer Anne Burton is the “point person” for the feature, and she indicates, “We’re running it kind of informally because we already had a ton of book content on BuzzFeed and now it’s just the space for that to live.” Burton says that librarians and YA fans are already viewing the section in discernible numbers. Apple reported third quarter results after the close of the market on Tuesday, moving another 14.6 million iPads in the period — lower than sales of 17 million tablets a year ago (though iPhone sales were […]
People, Etc.
Editor-in-chief at School Library Journal Rebecca Miller has been promoted to editorial director of Library Journals, with added responsibility of LJ as well. Current editor-in-chief of LJ Michael Kelley is leaving the company. At Morrow/Avon, Emily Krump has been promoted to editor. At the Gernert Company, Anna Worrall has been promoted to the newly created position of Marketing & Social Media Manager. Israeli author Yoram Kaniuk, 83, died Saturday in Tel Aviv. Kaniuk wrote more than 30 books, including THE ACROPHILE (1960), ADAM RESURRECTED (1968), adapted into the 2008 movie of the same name, and 1948 (2010), published in the […]
Nook Looks to Add Some Snap with Commissioned Short Works
Nook Snaps, the company’s brand for short-form content (or “singles”) first introduced in late 2011, has received a relaunch. The company is highlighting a new program of specially-commissioned original works, promising 3 to 5 new titles every two months priced at $1.99. Maris Kreizman is the editor for the line at Nook, and the company is setting up a “submissions box” as well. In contrast to Kindle Singles, works are exclusive to Nook for the first 60 days only. Spokesperson Mary Ellen Keating tells us that during that first 60-day period, “the author receives 100 percent of royalties. Then, it’s […]
BEA-Timed Announcements: S&S Streamlines Promo Funds for Indies; Penguin Sells Books on Wheels; PublicAffairs Pairs with The Economist; Ingram Partners with Courier; and More
Simon & Schuster is expanding its offerings to booksellers with a new “premier marketing plan” that simplifies access to promotional funds for independent booksellers. They will bolster that new plan on June 10 with a new customer portal that consolidates marketing/co-op information, order tracking, invoices and digital catalogs. Independently owned and operated brick and mortar bookstores with a maximum of 15 shipping destinations qualify for the new allowances, which replace traditional and newsletter co-op, and eliminate existing co-op approval procedures. Promotional funds will be based on the previous year’s total direct and indirect net physical purchases, paid to booksellers in quarterly credits. It also offers […]
Ingram Announces Broader Printing Program
Ingram has announced what they call “a comprehensive solution for publishers to manage the complete life cycle of print books,” under the banner LifePrint. The program lets publishers manage everything from print-on-demand and digital short-runs up through full offset runs from a master digital file, so they can “manufacture books in any quantity, from a single copy to a high-volume print run.” It pairs Ingram’s own extensive on-demand print centers with “high-volume, offset book printing affiliates to provide a seamless solution with a simple pricing structure.” In another pre-BEA product announced, Rowman & Littlefield has launched an ebookstore as part of […]