Book publishers tackle digital challenges (Australia)

alvico · 02-15-2010, 12:20 AM

From ABC News:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...15/2819883.htm

asjogren · 02-15-2010, 01:07 AM

These folks have the opportunity to create a successful pilot project that shakes up the entrenched Industry practices. What do they have to lose?

If they do it right all us foreigners might just have to get VPN access down under! And fake Australian addresses.

AlexBell · 02-15-2010, 01:56 AM

Thanks, Vicki, that's most interesting. I listen to ABC Stereo FM, but had completely missed the item.

Now if we only had a way as customers to have some input..

I wonder if Christine of ECO Reader fame will be taking part and can give us some feedback?

Regards, Alex

sabredog · 02-15-2010, 02:01 AM

Very interesting article, thanks for the link. Let us hope that geo restrictions removal is part of the talks.

it certainly needs to be!

lene1949 · 02-15-2010, 03:00 AM

I grew up in Denmark, and can confirm that Australia is about 10 years behind the rest of the world...

m-reader · 02-15-2010, 04:36 AM

So long as they don't push the government to repel the parallel import restrictions, this is all futile ...

neilmarr · 02-15-2010, 05:45 AM

About time, too. Really there was no need for Australia to be so far behind when it could have been ahead of the game.

One of the first small publishers to dedicate itself exclusively to ebooks was the excellent Jacobyte Books in Adelaide, back in the nineties. (The forward-thinking professional author/editor Meredith Whitford, who ran the house, is an MR member.)

But there was so little interest in digital books -- zero from local arts councils -- that my own wee BeWrite Books took over the company in 2004 to save some of its authors and titles from oblivion.

There's a wealth of talent still untapped in Australia because the publishing industry there seems to be dragging its feet.

Cheers. Neil

Solicitous · 02-15-2010, 06:13 AM

Good article, thanks for the link. I have two things to say, (a) it is about time, here in Australia we are so far behind the 8-ball on so many things, and (b) I truly hope a model isn't rushed and pushed to market which will give an end result of high prices, essentially pricing themselves out of the market.

montsnmags · 02-15-2010, 06:16 AM

...and, Neil, the cynic in me suggests that our most forward-thinking "Australian" publisher lives half a world away and goes by the name of "Neil".

Cheers,
Marc

neilmarr · 02-15-2010, 06:47 AM

Coming from a chap who numbers among his pastimes stump collecting, brainspotting and word-botching, I take that as a great compliment, Mark. Thanks. By the way, did you see local author Andrew Thelander in this week's Noosa News? Very best. Neil

montsnmags · 02-15-2010, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Coming from a chap who numbers among his pastimes stump collecting, brainspotting and word-botching, I take that as a great compliment, Mark. Thanks. By the way, did you see local author Andrew Thelander in this week's Noosa News? Very best. Neil

I just went to the reading room and checked it out. He toots for ebooks and his wonderful publisher.

I think I might have to grab a "hard copy" from one of our few local bookstores (he says they should be there) as it looks a good read (I thank you for earlier offer - I'd like to give a local in particular some dollar support).

Cheers,
Marc

cbell · 02-15-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Thanks, Vicki, that's most interesting. I listen to ABC Stereo FM, but had completely missed the item.

Now if we only had a way as customers to have some input..

I wonder if Christine of ECO Reader fame will be taking part and can give us some feedback?

Regards, Alex

Hi Alex, I wasn't at the symposium yesterday, but my colleague was, so I'll ask him.

I'm pleased to see meetings like this happening in Melb and Sydney.

sabredog · 02-16-2010, 12:04 AM

Well, the Federal Government has told publishers to pulll their collective fingers out...

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/167288...n-e-books.aspx

m-reader · 02-16-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabredog

Well, the Federal Government has told publishers to pulll their collective fingers out...

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/167288...n-e-books.aspx

Thanks for the article. It's a sad state of affairs in Australian publishing industry if the government has to step in to tell them how to do their business.
I think the government should probably do something about the parallel import legislation which was passed not so long ago. The publishers certainly don't want to see this go away. If the government is serious about putting pressure on the publishers, they should threaten to remove parallel import protections.

Blue Tyson · 02-16-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lene1949

I grew up in Denmark, and can confirm that Australia is about 10 years behind the rest of the world...

The media is, certainly.

wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait ... maybe copy ...

is hardly going to get you to industry leadership positions.

02-15-2010, 12:20 AM	#1
alvico Addict Posts: 279 Karma: 400001 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Victoria, Australia Device: iPod Touch	Book publishers tackle digital challenges (Australia) From ABC News: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...15/2819883.htm

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02-15-2010, 01:07 AM	#2
asjogren Addict Posts: 266 Karma: 1378 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle / San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico Device: Kindle & WiFi Nook & PocketBook IQ	These folks have the opportunity to create a successful pilot project that shakes up the entrenched Industry practices. What do they have to lose? If they do it right all us foreigners might just have to get VPN access down under! And fake Australian addresses.

02-15-2010, 01:56 AM	#3
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	Thanks, Vicki, that's most interesting. I listen to ABC Stereo FM, but had completely missed the item. Now if we only had a way as customers to have some input.. I wonder if Christine of ECO Reader fame will be taking part and can give us some feedback? Regards, Alex

02-15-2010, 02:01 AM	#4
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Very interesting article, thanks for the link. Let us hope that geo restrictions removal is part of the talks. it certainly needs to be!

02-15-2010, 03:00 AM	#5
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	I grew up in Denmark, and can confirm that Australia is about 10 years behind the rest of the world...

02-15-2010, 04:36 AM	#6
m-reader Guru Posts: 785 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-300. PRS-650, PRS-900, iPad2, Iconia A500, Irex Iliad (sold)	So long as they don't push the government to repel the parallel import restrictions, this is all futile ...

02-15-2010, 05:45 AM	#7
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	About time, too. Really there was no need for Australia to be so far behind when it could have been ahead of the game. One of the first small publishers to dedicate itself exclusively to ebooks was the excellent Jacobyte Books in Adelaide, back in the nineties. (The forward-thinking professional author/editor Meredith Whitford, who ran the house, is an MR member.) But there was so little interest in digital books -- zero from local arts councils -- that my own wee BeWrite Books took over the company in 2004 to save some of its authors and titles from oblivion. There's a wealth of talent still untapped in Australia because the publishing industry there seems to be dragging its feet. Cheers. Neil

02-15-2010, 06:13 AM	#8
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	Good article, thanks for the link. I have two things to say, (a) it is about time, here in Australia we are so far behind the 8-ball on so many things, and (b) I truly hope a model isn't rushed and pushed to market which will give an end result of high prices, essentially pricing themselves out of the market.

02-15-2010, 06:16 AM	#9
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	...and, Neil, the cynic in me suggests that our most forward-thinking "Australian" publisher lives half a world away and goes by the name of "Neil". Cheers, Marc

02-15-2010, 06:47 AM	#10
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Coming from a chap who numbers among his pastimes stump collecting, brainspotting and word-botching, I take that as a great compliment, Mark. Thanks. By the way, did you see local author Andrew Thelander in this week's Noosa News? Very best. Neil

02-16-2010, 12:04 AM	#13
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Well, the Federal Government has told publishers to pulll their collective fingers out... http://www.itnews.com.au/News/167288...n-e-books.aspx