Further to yesterday’s story on Samsung tablet’s and their Kobo-powered reader app and store, the company will release the device in Italy first and then in other parts of Europe in an agreement with Vodafone. A US release is still expected for this fall, after the company lines up a cellphone carrier. Executive Hankil Yoon says in an interview with the WSH that they expect to ship 10 million units worldwide next year. WSJ
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Sony Releases Like Its 2009
As long-expected, Sony finally released the new versions of their Readers. The prices remain surprisingly high and out of step with the market, ranging from $179 for the Touch Edition up to $299 for the Daily Edition (which is the only model in the line with any wireless connectivity.) The company also finally acknowledged their lack of reading apps for mobile platforms and said they will release iOS and Android apps soon. They eliminated their unsuccessful touchscreen technology in favor of a new infrared optical touchscreen that is already receiving good reviews, now featured on all of the Sony models. […]
Stephenson and Bear Partner for New Approach to Digital Novel
This press release caught our eye as something a little different. Neal Stephenson and Greg Bear have collaborated on THE MONGOLIAD, a speculative fiction digital work that will allow readers to participate via a “social book platform.” A new chapter is delivered weekly via a variety of apps, and the platform “enables the inclusion of meta-narrative and para-narrative elements such as character sketches, articles, short stories, music, video, and social features for discussions among the book’s community.” Sold by subscription, it costs $5.99 for six months or $9.99 for a year. Stephenson claims, “Kindles and iPads were little better than […]
People
Hachette UK has hired Matthew Cashmore for the new position of digital director, charged with evaluating their digital strategy and finding new online revenue streams. He was innovation and ecosystem manager at Lonely Planet.
California In Broad Digital Licensing Deal with Big Textbook Publishers
California’s giant state university system (with over 425,000 students on 23 campuses) is starting a pilot digital course content licensing program with the major textbook companies–Macmillan’s Bedford/Freeman/Worth, Cengage Learning, McGraw-Hill Education, Pearson, and Wiley. Senior Director of Academic Technology Services Gerard Hanley says “the purpose of the Digital Marketplace is to provide everyone access to quality, affordable educational content. This is a wonderful example of an academic institution and publishers working together for the benefit of our students.” The announcement explains that “each participating instructor volunteered for the program that promises students will pay the lowest price available for the […]
eReaders: Price Cuts and Kindle in Staples
Borders is trying to keep up with the price cuts on ereaders, lowering the tab on their Kobo reader $20, down to $129. They are dropping the Aluratek Libre price by a similar amount, now at $99.99. Separately, the AP reports that Staples will join Target in carrying all three models of Kindle readers in their stores this fall.