Harper Collins To Charge Libraries For Being A Library That Lends eBooks

I want to reserve judgment on this until we see where this goes. HarperCollins is gong to start charging libraries for licensing fees. That means they want taxpayers like you and I to pay for a service that some folks use on a regular basis.

As a taxpayer, I think libraries are great but I'm not sure I like companies to make money off of public institutions like this. And perhaps, HarperCollins is simply using this as a negotiation ploy or they're just afraid like every other old media about the new media future.

More at Greenjava.

Android 2.2 Not Ready For Tablet Primetime Says Google

I don't want to get into a pissing contest with Steve Jobs about what is the perfect screen for the tablet. iPads have done will but Android's day under the tablet sky will come.

Right now there are a few unsanctioned Android tablets on the market if you're willing to chance it. Yeah, I thought so. So then therefor Samsung's Tab which will cost close to $1K unsubsidized, $400-600 depending on carrier subsidy.

But even then, Google has publicly said that Android 2.2 is not optimized for tablet use and we'll have to wait for Android 3.0 at the end of the year.

What's clear though is that Android tablets will flood the market early 2011. And if you thought waiting until then is hard, just wait until we have to chose between different versions, screen sizes, and which works best for us.

Cheaper Readers Coming. Maybe Even Free And New Store Models

I've got three different Audible.com accounts. Essentially, if I sign up with Audible for a year, I got a $100 credit towards any MP3 player I wanted from Amazon. So can Amazon or Barnes and Noble essentially do the same thing with ebooks?

Subscriptions. If publishers can be persuaded to offer books at a lower price in exchange for volume or a promise of minimum cut, it is possible for ebookstores to offer subscriptions to books much like Audible is doing and give users a discount on compatible readers.

And with pricing dropping due to competing readers and stores, i wouldn't be surprised that prices may drop to $99 for the WiFi-only Kindle or Nook in 2011.

Bundles. An alternative for attracting readers may be to bundle books based on authors or series.

For instance, buy the whole Ender series, the buyer can knock off $25 of the Nook. Will this work? If SciFi doesn't fancy the reader, maybe the whole Jack Ryan series will get you $50 off a Kindle.

For years, game console makers, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony, have bundled hardware with selected accessories and games or services. Therefore, publishers of literatures like their video game counterparts would, should, be open to such an arrangement.

As booksellers, Amazon, Borders, and BN should do whatever is necessary to embrace the new ebook market. There is still a lot of growing to do. That means mistakes but it also would mean opportunities to experiment with new business models.

If you are offered a discounted or free reader from ebook sellers but in exchange, you have to buy books you're going to buy anyway, why not take it?


-- Post From My iPad

Barnes And Noble To Power Textbooks?

When the iPad came out, I had hoped that it would truly revolutionize the textbook market. Granted that it has been a mere 2 or 3 months since the iPad has been on the market and granted that Apple has sold a gazillion of them (okay, more like 3+ million), there is almost nothing I've heard about the textbooks.

Maybe Barnes And Noble's upcoming Nookstudy can do something about that. It'll be released in August and though I'm not longer a professional student, I intent to download it as I am a curious creature, interested in all things.

But will this do what the iPad hasn't been able to do so far? Oh, and Kindle tried but failed big time so far. I hope so.  Is Nookstudy going to make a difference?

Despite iPad Success, eReaders Might Be Harder To Kill Off Than Expected

Maybe Amazon and Barnes And Noble are going about this the wrong way. Maybe Kobo Reader has it right after all. How so?

Maybe digital book readers should be a combination of the follow two factors that Kobo reader has:  simplicity and a relatively low price (though recently, the Kindle and Nook both had about $50 chopped off their retail price).  

Kindle/Nook Versus "Just Readers. Until the Kindle came on the scene, readers were fairly expensive and it was not easy to upload books into these readers.  Kindle made that iPod-like simple and has since been joined by Sony Reader and the Nook.  However, despite Amazon's claims of success, there is still no figure provided by Amazon about how many Kindles were actually sold and how may ebooks have been bought by Kindle owners since its debut.

But Kobo with its simple read-only device isn't shy about saying how well it's done in New Zealand.  According to Stuff, the first two batches of thousands of Kobo readers have sold out and a third batch is on the way in July.  And with books costing $10-15 (7.15-10.75 USD), this is cheaper than even what Amazon, BN, and Apple sells.

Kobo - Cinderella Reader? So what has made the Kobo such a large success?  It is more simple than the Kindle to install books?  First, the Kobo reader has no 3G or wireless access so the reader would need to buy books form a computer and then install it on the reader.  That might be cumbersome but it isn't any different from what many users do to sync media with Apple's mobile iOS devices for nearly a decade now.

What likely makes Kobo a success is that it just lets the user reader books.  It does not nothing else.  Just read.  And quite frankly, I, and likely many readers, find that refreshing.  I was not always impressed with the Kindle because it has a lot of features and yet it does none of them well.  Then along came the Nook and it was great to see the Kindle with a competitor and while it was based on Google's Android OS, my complaints against it was the same as that of the Kindle. It has features other than being a reader but none of them are easy to use.

Then the iPad came along but let's be honest. It's a great tablet and Apple has been hugely successful by selling three million iPads in just 80 days.  The complaints I had against the Nook and Kindle were solved with the iPad but the iPad isn't a great reader.  I've read only two books on it since I got it and I've got five others to read and I've been putting it off.  Plus, the iPad with its plethora of features, apps, and multimedia functions are a distraction.

And that's where readers like Kobo are different and might find success.  The Kobo reader just let users read books.  And just like a book, it offers no distraction.  When BN released a 3G-less Nook last week at $150, I nearly pulled the trigger (I've already bought two Nooks for family members) on it.  But then the old complaints about it still exist.  Honestly, trying to browse the Web or play games on the Kindle and Nook is very maddening and suffocating.

Borders is currently offering the Kobo reader for pre-order in the US.  So for anyone looking for a dedicated reader that is free from half-baked features like the Kindle or the Nook or isn't in the market for a full-featured tablet like the iPad, I definitely encourage anyone in the market for a good digital book reader to take a look at Kobo reader.  

So I think Kobo and other readers should do well in the market long-term.  I also foresee a significant price drop in the next year or so.  At $150 (Borders price), the Kobo is a still mildly expensive so it isn't out of the realm of possibility to see a $25-$50 decrease in the retail price.  Heck, just wait until a Chinese company come out with a $50-$75 reader in the next year or two.  

Conclusion.  The iPad is a success and its the standard bearer for tablets.  The Kindle and Nook will try to add features because the companies that produced them will try to match them with the tablets feature for feature.  But at the end of the day, book lovers just want to read.  And that where Kobo and others will dominate.

More at Teleread, Stuff, Kobo, And Borders (Kobo's Page)

Note: I've included a link for Borders' Kobo reader page but I don't have any interest (ie. associate link) from any sale of the reader.

Nook: BN Puts Pressure On Amazon with Less Expensive Nook

I am now considering getting a Nook for myself.  I have already bought two for members of my family and I do have an iPad but the Nook as a dedicated reader is an entirely different beast.  I also want to disclose that in addition to buying ebooks from Barnes and Noble and Apple, I've also bought books in the past from Amazon.
 

But with this move by BN and as a support of Apple, I'm likely to leave Amazon's Kindle behind.  The giant bookstore has updated the Nook by lowering its price from $259 to $199 and released a newer Wi-Fi only version for $159.  This is a similar move like Apple's iPad line - Wi-Fi only and another version with 3G wireless connection (BN's Nook can only use the 3G to download books, no true 3G Internet access).

We'll likely see Amazon make a similar move in the months if not weeks ahead.  As a matter of fact, I fully anticipate Bezos and company to update the Kindle.  In recent weeks, Amazon's digital book plans has faced revolt from publishers to shift to the agency model as well as competition from the iPad.

Isn't competition grand?  How will this impact users?  A first-rate ereader at $159.  First, we have Amazon to thank for this.  With the Kindle, and Steve Jobs has said as much, Amazon has done a great job in bringing ereading to the forefront of the general public.  And while the original price of $400 of the first Kindle was steep, there were adopters.

Competition with the entry of BN and, more recently, Apple has heated up the ebook market.  As a result, we are seeing great readers for affordable prices.  There is simply no way anyone could have anticipated readers at $159 in 2010 before the Kindle was released.  Then the Sony Reader was over $500 and ebooks were more expensive than their print counterpart.

I've been an ebook reader since the Palm V and Zire days with the eReader.com app.  I've read dozens of books, paying a premium at times, and I cannot be happier than what BN is doing today.  Now, we await Amazon's response.  Many bloggers as well as analysts think Amazon will respond with an updated Kindle.  Furthermore, Amazon is likely developing fully mobile computing solution for the Kindle.  Yes, a Kindle that is more likely a tablet than just a reader.

But today, it's all about the Nook.  Here is a comparison chart of the two Nook models.  After reading this, head over to BN if the Nook has been the reader at the right price for you.

More at BN's Nook page and Amazon's Kindle page (amazon offers two models of the Kindle based on screen size).

Note:  The link for BN.com is just that a link.  I am merely a mobile fan in this matter.  The Kindle link does have an association link where if you click on it and buy something from Amazon, I will make a couple of bucks.  I just want to let you know that.  You know, full disclosure and all.

Optimal Size For a Tablet

3.5". Or 10" as what Apple put in the iPad?

Dell's new Android based slate has a 5" screen. Barnes and Noble's Nook offers a 6". So what's the perfect size?

I suppose it depends on what you want to do with it. The iPad offer a good size for viewing documents and the Internet. And as with any video, the bigger the screen the better.

Plus, it offers a semi-full sized keyboard for two hand typing. However, it does take some getting used to. In the beginning, I found it not as easy as typing on the iPhone with my thumbs but it did get better over time.

So it brings me to thumb-typing. I think for folks who complained about typing on a touch-screen, it probably works better then the screen is bigger. I think the ideal size is 4-5 inches though I'm doing quite well on the 3.5" on the iPhone.

At the end of the day though, the onscreen keyboard does play a role in how well the typing experience goes. I simply am unable to type as fast with the Android keyboard. From verion 1.0 to 1.5 to 1.6 to 2.1, Google has made noticeable improvement. Supposedly, 2.2 is even better but even Google engineers say they've got a lot way to go.

Having said that, my experience typing on the Nexus One has lead me to believe that 5-7" screen size would be optimal for a user who want to thumb-type no matter of the OS platform used. Plus, a tablet or slate that is 5-7" should wait much less than the iPad which weighs in at 1.5".

I'm sure we'll see a wide range of screen sizes. Pretty sure we'll see ones bigger than 10". It's a matter of balancing the user's needs.

I'm happy with the 10" iPad because of the large screen that works for both productivity as well as entertainment. Eventually, I think I'll probably have with a smaller size tablet to serve as my mobile communication center when I don't find the need to take the iPad with me. I would be fine with something that has a 5" screen.

On balance, I would be looking for a 7" tablet because it can as a mini iPad that can fit in my jacket or a small messenger bag.

eBook Reader Not For Everyone - My Nook Opinion

eBook readers are another class of mobile devices but a very limited one. I think there are many folks who are in love with the Kindle and other forms of readers like the Sony Reader and the newcomer, Nook. But for what it is, it's quite limited. Here's why.

For mobile warriors like myself who are somewhat also power users, an ereader with its obvious singular function is not going to satify all the other mobile computing needs. Anyone who buys an ereader will know that. Argument closed. But keep in mind that these readers also have wireless connection with mobile service providers. Personally, I think it's just a shame that these devices with dedicated wireless connection are limited to one function.

The Kindle has a rudimentary browser with limited access. The Nook, which I am fortunate to have in my hand, is based on Android, Google's mobile OS, and, yet, all that power is wasted. For instance, the Nook limits me to browse the election of books in Barnes and Noble's ebook store. Where are the apps? Where are the Google web services?

I think once avid readers have had their fill of these readers, ereader developers will need to move to the next step and offer other functions to these reader that will allow users to do more than just read.

• I want to be able to check e-mails. 
• I want Facebook and other social access so I can share thoughts on books with other readers.
• I want basic Internet access.
• I want Google webapps.
• I want multi-touch - it was maddening to trying to press the e-ink screen thinking that I could just touch the selections I want.  I took a while to get used to the fact that I'm limited to the 3" color screen on the Nook.  It was like when I got my G1 and I was constantly trying to do the pinch gesture that I had been used to on the iPhone.

Eventually, these readers will gain enough functions where the link between this class of mobile devices and that of an emerging class of mobile tablets will be blurred.  In fact, I'm hoping that Apple's forthcoming tablet will be the first step towards that. 

A note on the Nook:  Man, is that thing slow.  I love the design and the black and white screen for reading is just superb.  But navigation is just painful.  There ought to be an update in the next week or two.  We'll see if things changed.

Reading On A Smartphone Is Good Enough?

A friend sent me a great article from the NY Times about ereading and whether people will be reading with their iPhones or Kindles.

I had some time to think about that since I ordered my first reader, Barnes and Noble's Nook.  I won't get it until early December.  I eagerly anticipate it's arrival and I can see myself get a lot of mileage out of it.

Nevertheless, the mobile device I carry with me, whether it is my G1 or iPhone, will almost certainly be with me 24/7.

The NYT article doesn't take sides but I decided to provide a little more meat on the subject.  It's an interesting one.  It's also quite important because our reading behaviors can ultimately decide what publishers and tech companies do.

Lots more at Onxo Mobile Society.

More at NY Times.

BN's Nook - Worth Reader But Not For Everyone

I ordered the Nook today because I do a lot of reading on my iPhone and having a dedicated reader will let me save battery power on the iPhone.

Still, why did I not get the Kindle 2? Well, for a number of reasons one of which being that I did not like the design and feel of the Kindle 2 even if it was a great improvement over the original Kindle. I'm not saying the Kindle 2 isn't a good reader. It's just not one for me.

The Nook, while not perfect, is closer to what I want. And the Nook running Android help as I have experience with the OS, owning a G1 and all.

Still, I want to be honest with the mobile warriors who read this journal. The Nook has some severe limitations. One that quickly comes to mind is the limitation BN puts on wirless access (no browsing) despite running on Android. As such, it is a feature the Kindle 2 users can brag about.

I've left the meat of the matter about the Nook, Kindle, and ereading at Mobile goodness. BN brought a lot to the ebook market with Nook. I only hope that BN will unleash the Android power within and let Nook serve as a part-time tablet.

More at Mobile Goodness. Perhaps, we'll see another Android reader in the near future without BN's artifical limitation. Even better is if Apple give us the iTablet already.