Microsoft formally confirmed that the release of the Windows 10 Creators Update on April 11 that will make the Microsoft Edge browser “the default reader for books in Windows Store” for ebooks purchased from the Windows Store. First reported in January, the features have been available only to a group of “Windows Insiders” until now. Microsoft software engineer Dona Sarkar tells Geekwire this was a user-driven addition: “We got feedback galore from Insiders saying ‘you know what, I love to read on my Windows tablet or my Windows Surface device and I would love to be able to actually read books in […]
eNews
Hachette UK Buys Bookouture
Hachette UK has announced the acquisition of digital publisher Bookouture, founded by Oliver Rhodes in 2012. Rhodes will continue to run the unit, and will also serve in the new position of digital publisher at Hachette UK, “steering and advising” to “help increase ebook sale across the group,” and join the company’s board. He will report to David Shelley, and Little Brown UK will publish some of Bookouture’s titles in print. Rhodes says the acquisition “will help us to build on the significant momentum we already have and achieve even greater things for our authors.” The Bookseller notes that Bookouture has […]
HarperCollins Celebrates 200 Years
HarperCollins announced a campaign to commemorate its 200th anniversary — beginning with the creation of J. & J. Harper, Printers in 1817 — focused around a new website. Anniversary events will include a campaign to support literacy and reading, charity projects, and an exhibition of historical items at the Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library in New York City. The site is organized into five sections, including: The HarperCollins 200 is a collection of Harper titles curated by booksellers and librarians from around the world; Inside the Archives, presenting images of story notes from authors, correspondence, photographs, original manuscripts, and more; […]
HarperCollins Launches Book Recommendation Bots
HarperCollins has announced the launch of BookGenie and Epic Reads, two bot-powered book recommendation engines available through Facebook Messenger. Both provide book recommendations through one-on-one chatting. With Bookgenie, readers request a recommendation based on a book they enjoyed, or select from curated recommendations. Epic Reads, related to the publisher’s YA-focused site, allows readers to specify what kind of mood they’re in, as well as what books and authors they enjoy. HarperCollins vice president of marketing Carrie Bloxson said in the announcement, “We’re always looking for ways to help readers discover new books and authors. The BookGenie bot combines the power of […]
People, Etc.
News Corp. has announced that Bedi Singh will step down as chief financial officer on March 1. Susan Panuccio, currently cfo of News Corp. Australia, will succeed him. Executive chairman Rupert Murdoch said in the release: “Through his astute financial management of key acquisitions and divestitures, and with the prudent institution of cost controls across the businesses, Bedi has helped News Corp. weather the challenges of this era better than its peers, and put it on firm footing for long-term growth and profitability.” Singh, who has served as cfo since 2013, will continue to advise the company on digital property interests […]
Kobo Plus eBook Subscription Service Launches In Holland and Belgium
Kobo has launched an ebook subscription service, called Kobo Plus, in Holland and Belgium, jointly created with their local partner, the online bookseller bol.com. Priced at €9.99 per month (with a one-month free trial), the services promises unlimited access to 16,000 titles in Dutch and over 40,000 titles in all, “with considerable growth expected in the coming months.” Those titles come from major publishers — ceo of Dutch publisher WPG Patrick Swart is quoted in the press release — as well as Kobo’s self-publishing initiative. Indeed, Kobo says the service “was developed in close collaboration with leading Dutch publishers” and is […]