Some book publishers fear of how e-books might change their bottom line is causing them to try to punish the consumer by delaying the publication of the electronic format of new books.

Nick Bilton, writing for the New York Times, believes that people don’t invest several hundred dollars in an e-reader in order to save money by not purchasing hard bound books.  Instead, they are avid readers who like to have a library of books in one neat portable package.

If they can’t purchase the e-book format of a new book (because of publisher delays), they will just find another available e-book to purchase immediately — they won’t automatically rush off to the bookstore to buy the hard cover.  The consumer understands that digital means immediate and infinite, and the limits imposed by paper no longer exist, he says.  Bilton owns both an Amazon Kindle and a Sony Reader.

Some publishers, understandably wary about digital formats, are burying their heads in the sand, trying to pretend that the old business model isn’t changing.  But “the next generation of book buyers won’t understand why they can’t access any information they want in a digital format. They have grown up in a world where everything, from movies to magazines, is basically just a collection of digital bytes,” warns Bilton.

Frankly, I don’t think it’s going to take as long as “the next generation of book buyers” to disprove the old model.

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/srharris/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

Who owns the electronic rights to older titles is in dispute, making it a rising source of conflict in one of the publishing industry’s last remaining areas of growth, reports the New York Times.

The family of William Styron wants to see e-book versions of titles like “Sophie’s Choice,” “The Confessions of Nat Turner” and Mr. Styron’s memoir of depression, “Darkness Visible” created.  They believe they retain the rights to digital editions, but so does Styron’s publisher, Random House.

“The discussions about the digital fate of Mr. Styron’s work are similar to the negotiations playing out across the book industry as publishers hustle to capture the rights to release e-book versions of so-called backlist books. Indeed, the same new e-book venture Mr. Styron’s family hopes to use has run into similar resistance from the print publisher of “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller,” says the NY Times.

While most traditional publishers have included e-book rights in new author contracts for 15 years, many titles were originally published before e-books were explicitly included in contracts.  Random House has sent a letter to dozens of literary agents, writing that the company’s older agreements gave it “the exclusive right to publish in electronic book publishing formats.”

Some authors or their estates are seeking alternatives for e-books partly because they are dissatisfied with the digital royalty rate, typically 25% of net proceeds, offered by most traditional publishers.  The argument is that because it costs publishers less to produce and distribute e-books, authors should receive more, not less, in digital royalties.

“I think the potential danger that publishers run by not talking this through carefully,” said Andrew Wylie, a literary agent who represents the estates of authors of backlist titles not yet in digital form, including Ralph Ellison and Vladimir Nabokov, “is that they will be excluded from e-book rights in a significant way.”

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unlugarenelmundo/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

At paid.Content.org, there’s an article with predictions from Forrester Research for the E-Reader and the Ebook market in the coming year.

They note that this “has been a breakout year for e-readers and e-books—device sales will have more than tripled by the end of this year, and content sales are up 176% for the year. But next year will be anything but boring.” Here’s what they are saying:

1. E Ink will lose its claim to near-100% market share for e-reader displays. Competition will come in three forms: 1) cheaper substitutions for E Ink that use the same electrophoretic display technology; 2) dual-screen devices that have both an E Ink and an LCD screen; and 3) devices that use an entirely different display technology, such as transflective LCD or OLED.
2. Dual-screen mobile phones and netbooks will eat into e-reader demand.  Consumer electronics manufacturers will tap into the growing digital reading trend by launching new versions of their devices with reading-optimized screens. For instance, mobile phones like the Samsung Alias 2 already have secondary E Ink screens, which could be repurposed for reading rather than typing or time-telling. Netbooks will also launch with dual E Ink/LCD screens, like the Asus EEE PC prototype that debuted at CeBIT in 2009.
3. Apps will make non-reading devices more e-book-friendly.  Next year will see more e-book apps on more devices. These apps will make it easier to view reading content on non-reading-optimized devices, which will provide a “good enough” experience for the majority of consumers who don’t read enough to justify buying a single-function e-reader, and will provide multiplatform convenience for consumers who do own e-readers.
4. eReaders will get apps, too. As anyone with an iPhone knows, apps are where the magic happens: They make the device infinitely more useful.
5. Amazon will launch a suite of new touchscreen e-readers. Awkward Kindle keyboard, begone! We think 2010 will bring several entirely new e-readers from Amazon, featuring touchscreens, color (by the end of the year), and flexibility.
6. B&N will steal market share from Amazon and Sony. This year was a setup year for B&N, and 2010 will see its efforts start to pay off. In 2009, B&N acquired Fictionwise, launched its own eBookstore and reading app for mobile phones and PCs, announced partnerships with e-reader manufacturers Plastic Logic and iRex, and launched its own Nook e-reader (which it promptly sold out of). In 2010, B&N will rack up significant sales of Nooks and e-books, as some consumers look for an Amazon alternative. Sony will launch its own new devices, and will work on improving the software and book-buying experience. B&N will end up taking market share from both Amazon and Sony, but Amazon will retain its dominant position as market leader.
7. E-book content sales will top $500 million in the U.S.
8. E-textbooks will become more accessible, but sales will be modest.
9. Magazine and newspaper publishers will launch their own apps and devices. Magazine and newspaper publishers aren’t satisfied with the way their content looks and acts on the Kindle and Sony Readers—they want color, video, interactivity, the ability to sell ads and control the subscriber relationship.
10. China, India, Brazil, and the EU will propel global growth, but the U.S. will still be the biggest market. Right now, the U.S. is the biggest market for e-readers and e-books, and that won’t change in 2010. But the rest of the world will start to catch up.

Photo credit: goXunuReviews: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43602175@N06/ / CC BY 2.0

Despite problems, eBook checkouts in libraries increased to more than one million in 2009, up from 600,000 in 2007, according to OverDrive, a company offering both eaudio and ebooks to libraries.

“eBooks are quickly proving an unstoppable force, and opening the floodgates have given libraries the chance to increase readership and cater to a new age of information seekers.  Downloading a book in the comfort of home is no longer just a concept for most.  It’s a daily reality.  For libraries, it is still a relatively new venture, riddled with many obstacles, but even more opportunities,” says Project Gutenberg News.

It behooves libraries to attract the digitally savvy new generation.  The transition to digital downloadable books has been gradual for the library.  The New York Public library currently offers over 17,000 eBook titles, just a fraction of their 800,000 circulating print titles, a small percentage of their acquisitions budget.

Why the seeming reticence to stock up on eBooks?  “One obstacle libraries face is the inability to keep up with new devices now dominating the industry.  Although most libraries offer eBooks that are compatible with computers, Sony Reader and a handful of other digital devices, many of their downloadable offerings cannot be read on Amazon’s Kindle or the Apple’s iphone, both very popular e-readers.” 

The fault here lies not with the libraries, but with many of the makers of ebook readers thinking of their devices as a means to SELL books, not as another way to accommodate the reading public.

Another issue slowing down eBook acquisitions for libraries is publishers’ fear that eBook versions of their print copies in libraries will decrease sales of their print editions.  “This decision comes despite the fact that checking out a downloadable eBook greatly mirrors a checkout of a print copy.  Instead of physically walking out of a library with book copy in hand, all is done at home, or anywhere else, with a digital device. The differences, in the instance of library patronage, seem more academic than financial.”  In other words, it’s a non-issue.  Libraries buy a certain number of licenses for ebooks, just as they would buy a certain number of print books.  I wait for my turn to check out ebooks, just as I do for those in print.

We have seen “fear of format” over and over again whether it was a move from tape to CD, videotape to DVD, eaudio, or ebook, downloading or streaming.  I’d like to see businesses understand that new ways of doing the old things are going to happen with technological development.  Figure out what’s going to work for the consumer if you want to thrive, don’t just get in the way.  [via ResourceShelf]

My eye was caught by this PC World article reviewing ebook readers currently on the market (excludes new B&N Nook).

Once again, Amazon’s Kindle readers’ proprietary system makes them less desirable than those that are open to multiple file formats.  If you don’t care that you can only get books from Amazon itself, the two Kindle models rate highly, especially with the included wireless access.

But more and more publishers are releasing ebooks in the ePub or Adobe PDF formats, and devices that can easily handle them, as well as other formats, are looking good.  If, like me, you prefer to borrow library books and are very selective in what you buy, you must choose carefully.  Some devices claim they are compatible with the ePub format, but check out whether that includes DRM protected files that libraries offer.

Even then, you may experience difficulties.  I bought the Sony Reader Touch Edition basically because my library said that Sony was producing ebook readers, including that one, that could manage the files.  The Sony Touch is rated number one in PC World’s review.  Check out the top five here.

I have discovered, however, that the Sony Touch has problems with these protected files.  I can usually load one library book and read it without a problem (and I do like the reader’s feel, options, and portability).  But when I load more than one, I often find that the previously loaded book is no longer readable, but is noted as “protected.”  Or sometimes it’s the book I’ve just loaded that can’t be read.  Or sometimes both.  I have tried loading only books in the ePub format and not include any in the Adobe PDF format (both easily available at my library).  Still have the same problems.  When I transfer a library book to the reader, I never know what to expect.

I had a long discussion with a Sony support person who said the company was aware of the problem and working on a solution which they hope to have within a few weeks.  In the meantime, it was suggested to me that I only have one library book at a time on the reader.  Wow.  Sure hope they DO find a solution or I will have expended a lot of money just to carry around one library book in electronic form instead of print (many of the library books are available in both formats, usually with longer waits for print.)

A number of ebook readers are being introduced this year in an apparent bid to compete with Amazon’s Kindle, thought to be very successful although the company has not revealed sales information.

One of the “cool” features of the Kindle, as yet unmatched by any other reader (stay tuned for developments later this fall), is the free wireless access to the Kindle Store anywhere the cell network is available.  Barnes & Noble’s new ereader that they have named Nook provides users wireless access only when they are in a physical B&N store.

B&N is doing it right, however, in several other ways.  Notably, the ebook reader supports a number of different formats, including the open ePub standard.  Amazon’s decision to use a proprietary format for its ebooks is looking less and less competitive today as open standards allow for more flexibility in reading choices.

I took a careful look at Nook’s information about supported formats, but it left me wondering if the support for PDF and ePub included “protected” files in these formats that you check out of a library.  The ability to check out and read library books on an ereader (like my Sony Reader Touch Edition) is one of the most important features for me.

The Nook also allows owners to “lend” a book for a maximum of two weeks to a friend who has downloaded B&N’s eReader software.  The friend doesn’t need to also own a Nook, the book can be read on a PC, Mac, BlackBerry or iPhone.  Since the Nook is running Android, I wonder if Android phones will be next.

CrunchGear states that the Nook “has upped the ante with a small, 3.5-inch LCD screen in the lower quadrant adding touch capabilities that the Kindle definitely does not have.”  B&N says, “Control your nook with an easy-to-use full-color touchscreen, created to work seamlessly with the crisp, clean E Ink ® display.  Just use your finger to swipe through titles and tap open your next read.”

The Nook has 2 GB of storage (about 1,500 eBooks) and an SD slot for expanded storage.  Battery life beats the Kindle with wireless turned off.  Like other recently introduced ereaders, Nook uses the easy-to-read E Ink® display and “retains important reading rituals like bookmarking, making notes, and highlighting passages,”

The Internet Archive (IA) is in the early stages of development of BookServer, with the “lofty goal to essentially create an open web of books where anyone can publish their books and make their content available via search,” says ReadWriteWeb.

According to IA, BookServer is “a growing open architecture for vending and lending digital books over the Internet.  Built on open catalog and open book formats, the BookServer model allows a wide network of publishers, booksellers, libraries, and even authors to make their catalogs of books available directly to readers through their laptops, phones, netbooks, or dedicated reading devices.  BookServer facilitates pay transactions, borrowing books from libraries, and downloading free, publicly accessible books.”

BookServer will provide book publishers and online libraries with the means to more effectively compete with online bookstores like Amazon and Google.  It will allow publishers to set their own pricing and manage the distribution of their books.  A secondary goal of BookServer’s open system is to fight back against the proprietary marketplaces, such as Amazon’s Kindle Store and other booksellers using proprietary formats.  It’s confusing for consumers who face a multitude of choices with limited information about which formats will work on which devices.

RWW notes that “while Google promises its Google Editions store will allow anyone to access digital books as long as they have a web browser and internet access, it’s still unknown at this time how the company plans to make the digital content available offline.  Will it require the use of special web browser plugins to do so? Until Google reveals more about the technical details, it is not possible to know how truly open their online store will be.  And even if their store is 100% open, they are still a company whose ultimate goal is to profit from their work of digitizing books.  BookServer’s goal, on the other hand, is to provide universal access to book data made available in open formats.”

IA says that many will benefit from BookServer:

• Authors find wider distribution for their work.
• Publishers both big and small can distribute books directly to readers.
• Book sellers find new and larger audiences for their products.
• Device makers can offer access to millions of books instantly.
• Libraries can continue to loan books in the way that patrons expect.
• Readers get universal access to all knowledge.

They have provided a slide show called Web of Books on Slideshare to explain how BookServer will work.

Google Inc. will launch a new online service for ebooks next year that will be accessible on any device with a Web broswer, ranging from computers to mobile phones.  Google will actually host the ebooks and make them searchable, although consumers can buy directly from any number of online booksellers and other retail partners as well as Google, using the Google Editions platform.

Google expects the program to start with 400,000 to 600,000 books in the first half of 2010.  They will try to keep purchase transactions simple, maybe by using the existing Google Checkout platform.  You can find details of how they intend to split revenue in the article from the Seattle Times.

Books bought through Google Editions will be stored on the device and readable without a live Internet connection.

Google Editions will cover only books submitted and approved by the copyright holders when it launches next year in an effort to avoid further criticism (and law suits) from authors, publishers, and librarians over copyright issues.

I’m hoping that Google will also see its way clear to making the ebooks transferable to ebook reader devices.   They have indicated that they might, but have not been specific.  I recently purchased the Sony Reader Touch Edition because I was tired of trying to read on my laptop, and I certainly have no wish to read anything lengthy on my mobile phone.

Resource Shelf has a round-up of news about the launch.  Image by Carla216.  Creative Commons license.

On Demand Books announced today that “Google has agreed to provide On Demand Books, LLC (ODB), the maker of the Espresso Book Machine® (EBM), with immediate access to over two million public-domain titles in the Google digital files.  This unprecedented number of reading options is in addition to the current 1.6 million titles already available directly to consumers via the Espresso Book Machine®.”

What Gutenberg’s press did for Europe in the 15th century, digitization and the Espresso Book Machine® will do for the world tomorrow, they say.

The Espresso Book Machine® is a small, patented high-speed automated book-making machine that can print, bind and trim a single-copy library-quality paperback book complete with a full-color paperback cover in a few minutes.  Why Espresso? “Espresso: something made to order, one at a time, at point of sale, quickly.”

They list the key benefits of On Demand Books:

1. Decentralizing the production and distribution of physical books.
2. The ability to offer bookstores, libraries, universities and other retailers, a virtually limitless digital inventory and a more efficient delivery of printed books.
3. Enabling self-published authors to have instant print distribution.
4. Bringing books to underdeveloped areas to encourage literacy.
5. Reducing the carbon footprint by matching supply with demand, eliminating returns and supply chain costs as well as unnecessary pulping of paper.

The Espresso machine can print about 145 pages per minute at a cost of about 1 cent per page.  The machine itself costs around $100,000.  On Demand Books sees it revolutionizing the distribution of books by decentralizing the marketplace for their distribution and giving libraries and bookstores a potentially unlimited inventory.

The machines are only available in a about a dozen locations now around the world, including the University of Michigan Shapiro Library in Ann Arbor, MI, and the Bibliotheca Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt.  By early 2010, On Demand Books hopes to have sold about 35 to 40 machines and the deal with Google should help the company reach its goal.  [via ReadWriteWeb]

You can see a video of how the machine works.

Ever since I noticed that my library has a number of ebooks in Adobe formats (ePub, PDF) that can be downloaded to a computer and read with Adobe Digital Editions, I have been seriously considering getting a compatible eReader so I can take them with me.  Unfortunately, the Kindle is not one of them.

The idea of an ebook reader is attractive to me for several reasons: 1) I like gadgets; 2) I like the idea of carrying around many books on one small device; 3) Every reader I have heard about lately has easy on the eyes eInk and you can adjust the font to suit your needs.  The latter has become more appealing to me as I age.  I can still read small paperback books but they strain my eyes and I much prefer a larger font.  I often get “large print” books from the library when they are available.

And mentioning the library — that is the biggest draw.  I read, or start to read, hundreds of books a year.  Inevitably, some just don’t appeal and I return them partially read to the library.  I really don’t want to buy all the books I think I might want to read.  Owning a book I am sure I want to read and keep is another matter.

TechCrunch notes that Google is challenging the proprietary Amazon Kindle line through several partnerships.  The most recent is with British Interead, bringing the same amount of ebooks to an online store outside the U.S. for the first time (where close to half a million of them are available for free).  Interead is behind the COOLERBOOKS ebook store.  The company also manufactures COOL-ER eReaders, “small, elegant ebook readers that kinda look like giant iPods and cost $249 in the United States.”

The COOL-ER uses E InkR, which gives a “like paper” display, replicating the experience of reading a book.  The reader uses power only for “page turns” which means that a “single charge lasts for 8000 pages and unlike a book, the electronic display allows you to change the text size to suit you!”  The Cool-ER has a bookstore with more than 750,000 titles and supports Adobe Digital Editions.  You can view the specs here.

Google first teamed up with Sony, adding about 1 million public domain books to the technology giant’s eBook Store which has both free and low-cost books.  Sony has several ebook readers that support the books I can download from my library, the newest one being the Reader Touch Edition ($299.99) which is “temporarily out of stock”.  It has a touch screen which is appealing to me.  There is a brief video on the site showing how it works.