Bookshop.org founder Andy Hunter is the latest interviewee on the Open Book with David Steinberger podcast. Hunter reports that their recent initiative to add ebook sales to the retail site is, “Already performing three times what we expected when we launched—about 5% of our sales now, and I thought it would take a year for us to get to that point.” On overall sales through the site, Hunter says they are growing significantly: “This year we’re looking to do about $70 million, maybe $75 million.” That would be significantly ahead of sales of $44 million in 2024, which showed modest […]
eNews
NetGalley Fixes Kobo Downloads, Expands Relationship
When NetGalley launched their in-browser NetGalley Reader in January, using Readium LCP-protected downloads, they left some users of dedicated ereading devices, particularly owners of Kobo devices, unsupported. Now the service announces that a “Send to Kobo” capability will be available to NetGalley members “starting late May.” Clients can bulk-enable a “Send to Kobo” reading option for their digital review copies now in advance of the customer launch. The company reports, “Once live, the Kobo integration will allow NetGalley members to seamlessly send NetGalley epub files to their Kobo eReaders or the Kobo app, offering greater reading flexibility and convenience without the […]
NetGalley Responds to Kobo Device Owners
NetGalley’s newly-launched implementation of Readium LCP-protected downloads left some users of dedicated ereading devices, particularly owners of Kobo devices, unsupported for now. The service wrote to users who reached out about the issue, “We understand change is hard, and we hear you — and we love Kobo, too! We’ve been actively in contact with Kobo, and the good news is they do have LCP support on their roadmap, we just don’t yet know the exact timeframe.” They note that, “Since Adobe unfortunately no longer provides active support for their DRM (.acsm), it is unsustainable for the long-term.” NetGalley evp Lindsey […]
NetGalley Launches In-Browser Reader
NetGalley has launched NetGalley Reader, a proprietary in-browser platform allowing users to read approved ebooks without downloading them, using an external device, or navigating away from the NetGalley website. The platform supports both ePub and PDF formatted ebooks. Audiobooks can still be accessed through the NetGalley Shelf app. The upgrade is now live across in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan. The company has also introduced downloads secured with EDRLabs’ Readium Licensed Content Protection. “We’re committed to making books easily and securely accessible to NetGalley members, however they like to read,” said Firebrand Technologies and NetGalley chief […]
Kindle Adds Color Device In “Entirely New Lineup”
Amazon finally announced a color ereader, Kindle Colorsoft, priced at $279.99, releasing October 30. They are also revamping the rest of the Kindle device line, with their “thinnest and fastest ever” Kindle Paperwhite, and an entry-level Kindle “in a fun new Matcha color.” In the announcement, vp of Amazon Devices Kevin Keith notes, “[ebook] sales last year hit a decade high with the majority of purchases going to first time Kindle device owners.” He added, “We are excited to bring our customers a completely new Kindle lineup, including our first color Kindle and a re-imagined Kindle Scribe with even better in-book […]
IPG to Offer Client Digital Product to Libraries for Perpetual Access
Independent Publishers Group (IPG) has paired with the Digital Public Library of America to offer “tens of thousands of ebook and audiobook titles” from a number of their publisher clients for outright purchase and perpetual access, rather than time- or usage-limited access. IPG recently sold their digital distribution business to Bookwire. Clearly welcomed by libraries, unfortunately the announcement engages in inflammatory and disingenuous rhetoric. They claim that, “Since the advent and spread of digital content, libraries have only been able to license ebooks and audiobooks from publishers and aggregators with no option to buy, trapping libraries in licensing agreements where […]