…our analysts on what it means in real life.
Posts tagged ‘e-books’
In August 2010, the attorney-general’s office in Connecticut, US began investigating pricing of digital content by Amazon and Apple – expressing concern over pricing agreements with publishers and its possible implications on consumers. The attorney-general’s office went on to find identical prices for titles distributed by Amazon, Apple, Borders and Barnes & Noble. So, what’s the deal with e-book pricing?
How do publishers price their digital content?
Digital is a place everyone seems to be going. Since Gutenberg’s modern press, printing presses across the world have churned out copious amounts of content (estimates suggest printing revenues to be in excess of $ 1 trillion). To digitize all of it is a Herculean effort.
The iPad is still making the news – a search on Google News for the keyword ‘iPad’ returned close to 19,000 articles for the last month alone. The iPad, since its launch 80 days ago, has already sold three million units and shows no sign of slowing down. Like it’s other products, Apple has managed to create a strong market buzz for the iPad.
Recently, I had the chance to get my hands on an iPad – and I was impressed. The few minutes I had with the device left me appreciating the effort Apple has put into the device. The interface, driven by a touch screen, is remarkably easy to use and it makes it all the easier to access the web or play games. But what really caught my eye was the e-book experience. The book (if I remember correctly, the free copy of Winnie the Pooh), looked great – so great that I can imagine myself using it for all my reading. I can’t help but wonder if more like me are considering the switch?
For an industry that has been questioning the way it has been functioning for the past decade, the publishing industry seems to be rejuvenated with the potential of the digital market. While publishers look to overcome the decline of print by developing digital market as a revenue source, it becomes even more important to have the right vision while addressing it. Venturing into potentially unchartered waters, require the publishers to adopt a steep learning curve that means not only operating like a Net company but also creating a strong value proposition.
A significant section of publishers addressing the digital market have relied on partners. Right from producing books, adapting them to various devices or distributing them to readers, publishers have seen the merits of depending on partners. Take for example the Apple iPad. Publishers look at this piece of gadgetry with the same glee that the music industry did when the iPod was released. Some have gone to the extent of proclaiming the iPad as the backlit beacon of hope for the publishing industry. I do not think so!
Continue reading ‘Will the iPad help the publishing industry?’ »
It’s easy to dismiss technological alternatives to established time-tested tools as fads… And easier still, to get carried away by the sweeping power of technological innovation! Well, in this case I am referring to the Kindle, Sony reader and the ever-evolving e-reader clan and the writing off of paper and print. Critics across generational divides have strong opinions supporting both sides. Technology drove the music industry’s evolution and the fade-out of non-adapters. Will this be replicated in the publishing industry, evolving rapidly in a digital era?
Almost everyone in the industry is trying to make sense of what lies ahead… Which technology will emerge stronger and which one will bite the dust? Will e-readers replace print books entirely? Where will the industry head to if it doesn’t toe the line?
