I'm wondering whether anyone has noticed any significant amount of new additions to the Connect Store. I keep checking for new offerings, but am not really seeing any.

Also, does anyone know of a site or blog or somewhere that Sony communicates with its customers about its progress or intentions regarding the Connect Store?

Not really, the page (http://ebooks.connect.com/categories/morereleases/all_frag.html) with new releases hasn't been updated for at least a week, may be more.

Right, that's where I've been looking, but I'm pretty sure that toward the beginning I was seeing additions that weren't listed there. I wouldn't be surprised if the list didn't reflect the reality. I haven't seen that list change since the beginning.

Maybe the early additions I saw were really corrections of errors revealing existing content.

Didnt Jane say something about new releases for publishers coming on, say, a couple of particular days each month? Maybe there is a similar frequency wrt ebooks?

The specials end on 17th don`t they? They may update then.

Still, shocking support so far really.

All the major entertainment providers put out their releases on Tuesdays. Music, DVDs and books. For books, most releases happen on the first Tuesday of each month or the last Tuesday of each month. A bookstore can get a book in the store before then and put it out on the shelf unless the publisher has bought a "street" date or a "lay down" date. If a bookseller puts out a book that is has a street date before the street date, they can get "punished" by not getting the books on time in the future or being fined or some such crazy thing like that (think JK Rowlings). These street dates are to facilitate an author getting on a bestseller list.

For ebooks, however, there is no early release date (except S&S and Harper Collins have recently instituted early releases on a few select ebooks). So each books street date for publication is abided by for the e-release. On the publisher ebook websites, you can generally download those ebooks at 12:00 EST of the release date.

Certain publishers release some books throughout the month for big time authors. I.e, Janet Evanovich gets released in June, about the third Tuesday in June, IIRC.

Ereader.com is excellent about getting the new releases out each Tuesday. Fictionwise, because of some stupid business model, puts out new releases on Monday so they are always a week behind in getting books out.

I have no idea what Sony is doing. I haven't seen updates to its "new book" section although it did announce in a timely fashion the winners of the Quill Awards which were released last week. That is the only update I have seen on the Connect store. HTH

I went to Ereader.com just now for the first time, but (due to my inexperience) I can't tell what the file extension of their books is. Are these .LIT files that we can reformat?

Ereader... file extension of their books...eReader uses their own format and DRM, which is different from .lit, .pdf, mobipocket and others. One advantage of eReader DRM is that it is unlocked by your credit card number. So there's no chance of "using up" licenses when, say, you have to rebuild your PC or buy a new one, etc. And if you trust someone enough to give them your CC#, they can technology-wise read your books. Obviously that's a very limited group of people so it pretty much eliminates any chance of piracy. On the other hand, you can only read the books on eReader software which is not available on e-ink devices, and if they ever go out of business, new devices will never be supported for reading those books.

I think we will find that if Sony can work out their pricing issues and successfully continue to add content, people will in general be okay with that. One needs to remember that it's not the best way to build a library (you can only read the books on the Sony reader or future Sony devices that support the same format), but for getting books to read on a great device that you don't plan to keep around afterwards, it's not too bad. You can't give the book away when you're done, but you do get to read it in e-ink.

But that does seem to depend on seeing pricing glitches worked out a continual flow of new content...

I was hoping that Connect would add more books to broaden its offering, not necessarily newly released books. Theoretically that could occur anytime, not on new release dates.

Ah. Broadening the store content with existing ebooks could happen with any timing, couldn't it? I guess the publishers may be looking to see how sales go before adding additional titles that aren't new. I'm sure if sales are good, there will be big incentive to add more titles.

But without books ppl like to buy sales wont be good :)

So, Egg or Chicken ?-)

Right now the sales figures will look fairly healthy, thanks to the $50 credit. Sony can easily show publishers that people who bought a reader are spending at least $50 on books almost straight away. That should lead to more content, very clever move by Sony to kick start the cycle.

The real tell will be when all the credit has run out. How many people come back and keep shopping at the connect store.

I definitely will keep shopping there, as long as they add more books that I want to read.

That's going to be the key for me too, LG. :beam:

New books have been added (http://ebooks.connect.com/categories/morereleases/all_frag.html) :-)

The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
$11.20

Imperium
Robert Harris
$13.59

Thirteen Moons
Charles Frazier
$14.36

Jimmy Stewart
Marc Eliot
$14.36

Blood and Thunder
Hampton Sides
$14.36

1491
Charles C. Mann
$7.96

The Tree
Colin Tudge
$14.36

Prisoners
Jeffrey Goldberg
$14.36

Insecure at Last
Eve Ensler
$14.36

The Good Guys
David Fisher
Bill Bonanno
$4.79

Fleshmarket Alley
Ian Rankin
$4.79

Cinnamon Kiss
Walter Mosley
$14.36

Blink
Malcolm Gladwell
$13.56

Cell
Stephen King
$13.59

Saving Graces
Elizabeth Edwards
$14.36

Where can one buy more "serious" literature in ebook format? Seems like it's impossible to find literary novels or Pulitzer/Noble prize-winning stuff in electronic format. Too small a market?

Hi vrf,

I agree with you. I was trying to find this year's Pulitzer/Nobel prize winners' books, and couldn't find. Then I tried previous years', still not there. Even if you go to mobipocket site, they don't have. Such is the small market for ebooks! Unless the publisher or ebook content provider can make money they don't care about what we want. That's the business!!!

New books have been added (http://ebooks.connect.com/categories/morereleases/all_frag.html) :-)

Cell
Stephen King
$13.59


Wow, this was not already there? No offense to Sony meant, but you would think if you include an excerpt of the book on the device, when it launches that book would be available in the store. Very weird.

Wow, this was not already there? No offense to Sony meant, but you would think if you include an excerpt of the book on the device, when it launches that book would be available in the store. Very weird.
Actually, Cell was indeed available on the Connect Store the day the store went online. So I have no idea why they would list it as being a "New Addition"...using it as an example, then EVERYTHING in the store could be considered a "New Addition". And Cell is also one of the first books I pointed out was overpriced on the store, as it is available in paperback from Amazon for $9.99

...I was trying to find this year's Pulitzer/Nobel prize winners' books, and couldn't find. Then I tried previous years', still not there.

I tried a little test. I rounded up the last dozen or so novels I've purchased to see if electronic versions of those books were available... Not. A. Single. Freakin'. Hit.

Until the content really improves... I guess no Sony reader for me. (Will Amazon get it right?)

Some very interesting new bundles available now.

interesting bundles are available but there is no way to search for them. I have found a few by browsing around but I would really like some way to see them. Only a handful are listed in the specials section. I think bundles could be the way that you both save money and get something that is difficult in real life. They typically save the price or one of two of the books and you can get 5 in a series immediately without having to go to the store with a suitcase to hold them all.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest searching for the keyword "bundle" :grin:

http://ebooks.connect.com/specials/bundles.html this is not complete?

Well, sure, igorsk, if you want to do it the easy way. :smile:

I counted 26 on that page, but the "bundle" search turned up 34 -- I didn't check carefully for dupes though....

Edit: There do seem to be at least some dupes in the "seached" list. I found one, anyway. It won't let me copy the titles list out, so I can't use excel or word to sort them. :sad:

Edit 2: Um, and some of them aren't actual bundles. :thinking:
It looks like 1 dupe, and 7 'not bundles' which would leave 26 bundles, so the "easy" way is probably the 'better' way too. :grin:

Davec67, You click on Specials at the top, then View More Bundles.

New books have been added (http://ebooks.connect.com/categories/morereleases/all_frag.html) :-)

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/432/400000000000000047432_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/432/400000000000000047432.html)
The Uncrowned Queen (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/432/400000000000000047432.html)
Posie Graeme-Evans (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/423/24/42324.html)
$7.19

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/428/400000000000000047428_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/428/400000000000000047428.html)
On Truth (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/428/400000000000000047428.html)
Harry Frankfurt (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/423/22/42322.html)
$14.36

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/427/400000000000000047427_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/427/400000000000000047427.html)
The Mission Song (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/427/400000000000000047427.html)
John Le Carre (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/336/16/33616.html)
$14.39

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/425/400000000000000047425_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/425/400000000000000047425.html)
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/425/400000000000000047425.html)
Bill Bryson (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/305/77/30577.html)
$14.36

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/424/400000000000000047424_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/424/400000000000000047424.html)
The Cleanup (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/424/400000000000000047424.html)
Sean Doolittle (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/423/18/42318.html)
$5.59

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/418/400000000000000047418_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/418/400000000000000047418.html)
Captain's Glory (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/418/400000000000000047418.html)
Garfield Reeves-Stevens (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/330/96/33096.html)
William Shatner (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/423/12/42312.html)
$13.59

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/416/400000000000000047416_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/416/400000000000000047416.html)
The Lizard's Bite (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/416/400000000000000047416.html)
David Hewson (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/423/09/42309.html)
$14.36

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/414/400000000000000047414_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/414/400000000000000047414.html)
No Shortcuts to the Top (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/414/400000000000000047414.html)
David Roberts (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/340/81/34081.html)
Ed Viesturs (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/423/07/42307.html)
$14.36

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/408/400000000000000047408_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/408/400000000000000047408.html)
Buyers Are Liars and Sellers Are Too! (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/408/400000000000000047408.html)
Richard Courtney (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/423/04/42304.html)
$7.19

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/404/400000000000000047404_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/404/400000000000000047404.html)
Bleak House (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/404/400000000000000047404.html)
Charles Dickens (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/328/75/32875.html)
$5.59

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/399/400000000000000047399_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/399/400000000000000047399.html)
Fragile Things (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/399/400000000000000047399.html)
Neil Gaiman (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/422/99/42299.html)
$15.96

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/377/400000000000000047377_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/377/400000000000000047377.html)
The Faith Club (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/377/400000000000000047377.html)
Ranya Idliby (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/422/78/42278.html)
Suzanne Oliver (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/422/79/42279.html)
$13.59

http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/375/400000000000000047375_thumbnail.jpg (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/375/400000000000000047375.html)
Circle in the Sand (http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/047/375/400000000000000047375.html)
Christian Alfonsi (http://ebooks.connect.com/author/422/76/42276.html)
$14.36

Thanks for letting us know! At this rate, I think a thread like this is a must. (Too bad I just bought Gaiman's book in hardcover).

Mmmm, new Gaiman. :cool:

Mmmmm... new John le Carré!

Mmm, new Charles Dickens... :tongue3:

Mmm, new Charles Dickens... :tongue3:There's no such thing. :laugh4:

Mmm, new Charles Dickens... :tongue3:

Really? :D

There's no such thing. :laugh4:

And tell us about your battery life!From one who finds "my battery life" interesting... :wink:

Believe it or not, I find both your battery life and your Dickens interesting. ;-)

Alas, I have no Dickens...but my battery has life!

You know, of course, that a lot of Dickens is available at Gutenberg, and probably at ManyBooks also. But it's also easy to just pick up a copy at Connect with no fuss.

A new addition: Stephen King Bundle. And King's new Lisey's Story.

Rats! I'd been hoping for a Dark Tower Bundle!

A new addition: Stephen King Bundle. And King's new Lisey's Story.

Rats! I'd been hoping for a Dark Tower Bundle!

I would buy a Dark Tower bundle as soon as it's available, I was wanting to re-read the older ones and the newer ones for the first time recently but was put off by re-buying all the books.

Is the bundle that's there any good? I haven't read any of those books, haven't really kept up with any King from the last 10 years or so.

I haven't read King in many years. I was thinking of making an exception if the Dark Tower books were ever bundled on Connect. They do offer all of them, but I haven't heard of them planning to offer a DT bundle.

New books have been added (http://ebooks.connect.com/categories/morereleases/all_frag.html) :-)

Between Brothers
C. Kelly Robinson
$7.96

Every Second Counts
Sally Jenkins
Lance Armstrong
$5.59

Emma
Jane Austen
$3.16

Catch As Cat Can
Rita Mae Brown
$5.59

Through Violet Eyes
Stephen Woodworth
$5.59

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Ann Brashares
$3.19

No One to Trust
Iris Johansen
$5.59

Frankenstein
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
$3.16

A Cold Heart
Jonathan Kellerman
$5.59

It Must Have Been Moonglow
Phyllis Greene
$7.96

In the Night Room
Peter Straub
$5.59

Why Courage Matters
John McCain
Mark Salter
$10.36

Tales Before Tolkien
Douglas A. Anderson
$7.96

Shoulder the Sky
Anne Perry
$7.96

Reading Lolita in Tehran
Azar Nafisi
$7.96

Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart
Alice Walker
$7.96

Jack
Geoffrey Perret
$7.96

FM
Richard Neer
$9.95

The Dante Club
Matthew Pearl
$7.96

As Luck Would Have It
Joshua Piven
$10.00

Sweet Land Stories
E. L. Doctorow
$7.96

The Naked Olympics
Tony Perrottet
$7.96

Due South
R. Scott Brunner
$7.96

Days of the Dead
Barbara Hambly
$5.59

Built in a Day
Steven Rinehart
$7.96

Lisey's Story
Stephen King
$13.59

I noticed a bunch of new books on Friday. Looking back through this thread, I think maybe Fridays are the days to watch for new books.

Pretty sure these books were added about a week ago. The new Stephen King was definitely already available for over a week.

Laurens, as you pointed out, those were books listed above are from 10-27. (See the thread post date.) I'm guessing Michele was talking about additional new books.

Laurens, as you pointed out, those were books listed above are from 10-27. (See the thread post date.) I'm guessing Michele was talking about additional new books.

Ah yes, I see it now. :surprised

Yes, new book have been added. This time whole page (http://ebooks.connect.com/categories/morereleases/all_frag.html) was updated.

The Explorer King
Robert Wilson
$11.99

Dance of the Gods
Nora Roberts
$6.39

The Phony Marine
Jim Lehrer
$14.36

A Christmas Secret
Anne Perry
$14.36

A Million Little Pieces
James Frey
$7.96

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Lisa See
$7.96

The Other Side of Me
Sidney Sheldon
$4.79

Every Breath You Take
Judith McNaught
$14.36

Elizabeth
J. Randy Taraborrelli
Lynne Maclean
$14.39

Showdown
Tilly Bagshawe
$14.36

Murder at the Opera
Margaret Truman
$14.36

Blind Submission
Debra Ginsberg
$14.36

Act of Treason
Vince Flynn
$13.59

Kull
Robert E. Howard
$7.96

What Is Mine
Anne Holt
$14.39

Driven by Eternity
John Bevere
$14.36

Cage of Stars
Jacquelyn Mitchard
$14.36

The Book of the Dead
Lincoln Child
Douglas J. Preston
$14.36

The Betrayed
David Hosp
$14.39

Tiger Force
Michael Sallah
$14.36

Testing Kate
Whitney Gaskell
$7.96

Stand for Something
John Kasich
$14.36

The Hummingbird's Daughter
Luis Alberto Urrea
$7.99

Darkfever
Karen Marie Moning
$14.36

Crime Beat
Michael Connelly
$14.36

Beach Road
James Patterson
Peter de Jonge
$14.36

Oh the Glory of It All
Sean Wilsey
$12.00

Mysteries of the Middle Ages
Thomas Cahill
$14.36

The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Kim Edwards
$11.20

Miss Julia Takes Over
Ann B. Ross
$11.20

Wives Behaving Badly
Elizabeth Buchan
$19.96

G'Day to Die
Maddy Hunter
$4.79

Keeper of the Keys
Perri O'Shaughnessy
$14.36

Judge and Jury
James Patterson
Andrew Gross
$14.39

Rise and Shine
Anna Quindlen
$14.36

Trump
Donald J. Trump
Meredith Mciver
$5.59

Hand-Me-Down Heartache
Tajuana Butler
$14.40

Guiding Lights
Eric Liu
$14.36

The Greatest Generation Speaks
Tom Brokaw
$7.96

Girls' Poker Night
Jill A. Davis
$5.59

French Lessons
Peter Mayle
$7.96

Emperor
Conn Iggulden
$5.59

Devil's Waltz
Jonathan Kellerman
$5.59

Wuthering Heights
Emily Bronte
$3.96

Winesburg, Ohio
Sherwood Anderson
$3.16

The White Crow
Cynthia Peale
$7.96

The Idiot
Fyodor Dostoevsky
$5.59

The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club
Laurie Notaro
$7.96

The Headhunter's Edge
Jeffrey E. Christian
$7.96