Amazon has excitedly started shipping their ad-support Kindles a week early–which raises the question of who is going to advertise on the device. Given what we’ve been told about the pitch, it probably won’t be publishers, even though Amazon doesn’t include “literary references” among the categories of ads that users can designate as preferred, and you can see how a Kindle would be a good place to advertise books. But not at the premium prices Amazon is looking for. According to the company’s rate sheet, they are charging $45,000 a day for ads that share the screen savers with up […]
eReaders
eNews: e-Royalty Escalators; Sony Tablets On the Way; Product Placement; and More
Some UK agents claim to the Bookseller that they have negotiated e-royalty escalators and expect this move “will be the norm, not the exception” in the future, but it sounds more like an aspiration than a well-documented accomplishment. Blake Friedmann agent Oliver Munson is the only one saying on the record they’ve already done this: “We’ve certainly had e-book escalators in a number of contracts….. I can’t realistically envisage the much-trumpeted 25% net receipts remaining the benchmark for much longer either.” Piers Blofeld at Sheil Land also says “I have negotiated an escalator, but not with one of the big four. That would be […]
Comprehensive Nook Color Update Includes Email, Apps, and Social Networking, Plus New Ad Campaign
This morning Barnes & Noble confirmed what had been rumored over the weekend a major firmware update to Nook Color (now on Android’s 2.2/Froyo OS) that makes the device a lot more like a proper tablet, with new apps, additional illustrated and enhanced ebooks, the ability to check email, more magazines for sale, and social networking. Nook Email allows users to check a variety of accounts, while social networking service Nook Friends allows for book-swapping and targeted library lending, “liking” titles and viewing other customer recommendations. “Frankly most of the things they have asked us about are very popular tablet […]
Kindle Launches German Store With Over 25K German Titles; Apple Sells Another 4.7 Million iPads
As long expected, Amazon announced today the launch of their first non-English Kindle store, debuting in Germany with “over 25,000 German-language titles,” including “71 of 100 Spiegel bestsellers” and “thousands of German classics downloadable for free.” The store appers to have lots of English-language titles for German customers as well, since the company says the store has over 650,000 titles in total. When the German Publishers and Booksellers Association launched their own ebookstore last November through Libreka.de, they also began with approximately 25,000 German-language ebooks for sale (which is still the count displayed on the site). Amazon says their title […]
eNews: ABC Launches Video eBooks; Staples Stocks Nook Color; Kindle DX Price Drop; Disappointment with Blackberry Playbook; and More
Talk about burying the lead. Hyperion had announced the release of Jane Green’s enhanced ebook, A Modern Fairy Tale: William, Kate, and Three Generations of Royal Love but didn’t underscore what looks to be the interesting business news. Their corporate television partner is participating in a line of ABC Video Books, and has launched their own video bookstore app for the iOS to sell those ebooks directly, using Apple’s in-app purchasing program. The ebook line, which also includes THE AMANDA KNOX STORY: A Murder in Perugia, is available through other major etailers as well. ABC says the ebooks “will draw […]
Coming May 3: $114 Kindle With Ads on Home Page, Screen Savers
Amazon announced Monday that it will issue a “new” edition of its wi-fi Kindle priced at $114, $25 less than the going rate for the current wireless edition. The catch–or hook, depending on your vantage point–is that this edition, which ships starting on May 3, will feature Special Offers, the retailer’s preferred name for ads that will run on the e-reader’s home page and screen savers. Among the deals on offer for the first few weeks include discounted Amazon gift cards, discounts on other Amazon products like jeans and swimsuits, and free gifts for signing up for an Amazon Rewards […]