04-27-2009, 05:30 PM | #16 |
Technogeezer
Posts: 7,233
Karma: 1601464
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Virginia, USA
Device: Sony PRS-500
|
There are flaws in Mobipocket that they have never been able to get rid of -- page numbering comes to mind as the most bothersome. ePub is coming and this gives Amazon a jumpstart in the field.
They can also use the technology to produce a better reading experience for the Kindle owners. I see this as a win-win. |
04-27-2009, 05:34 PM | #17 | |
creator of calibre
Posts: 43,858
Karma: 22666666
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Mumbai, India
Device: Various
|
Quote:
|
|
Advert | |
|
04-27-2009, 05:38 PM | #18 |
Wizard
Posts: 3,671
Karma: 12205348
Join Date: Mar 2008
Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7
|
|
04-27-2009, 05:39 PM | #19 |
Bookaholic
Posts: 14,391
Karma: 54969924
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Minnesota
Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +
|
Just out of curiosity is there a list of all the companies they own now somewhere?
I know they own... IMDB Audible Booksurge Brilliance Audio CreateSpace AbeBooks Mobipocket Shelfari Reflexive |
04-27-2009, 05:47 PM | #20 |
Wearer of Pants
Posts: 1,050
Karma: 7634
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Norman, OK
Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone
|
I think the doomspeak is a bit premature. Amazon has bought lots of companies, and I can't think of any that they crippled after purchasing (even when they were in their fields.)
Best to see what happens. |
Advert | |
|
04-27-2009, 05:50 PM | #21 | |
Kate
Posts: 1,683
Karma: 3165009
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon, United States
Device: Nexus 7 2013, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma
|
Quote:
http://www.seobythesea.com/?p=342 |
|
04-27-2009, 05:55 PM | #22 |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
Posts: 12,375
Karma: 23555235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC Metro area
Device: Shake a stick plus 1
|
I can
|
04-27-2009, 05:56 PM | #23 |
Provocateur
Posts: 1,859
Karma: 505847
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbus, OH
Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS
|
Go Amazon! All you Amazon-haters should get on board the Amazon Train; toot toot!
|
04-27-2009, 05:56 PM | #24 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 8,478
Karma: 5171130
Join Date: Jan 2006
Device: none
|
Okay, after thinking about this a leetle bit further, I came up with this:
Is Amazon likely to start selling its books in anything other than its existing format? Two formats? I doubt it. But Amazon always wants to find ways of selling to more people. So it seems sensible that their acquisition of Lexcycle could be to speed up the process of developing apps for non-Kindle devices, to expand the range of devices that can read Amazon’s e-books. As they have already embraced the iPhone, and Lexcycle has made clear that they wanted to develop Stanza for other devices (meaning more customers), aiding that process would make sense. As I’ve said before, not everyone in the world owns an iPhone. The alternative would be that Amazon wants to quash non-Kindle access to their store. This doesn’t seem to make sense, as it means they are limiting their potential customer base. The third possibility, that Amazon wants to quash ePub, just seems ludicrous. The genie’s already out of that bottle. But if future Stanza apps support AZW and not ePub (or just not support it as well as AZW), that would track with Amazon thinking. |
04-27-2009, 05:57 PM | #25 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 73,974
Karma: 128903378
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
|
04-27-2009, 05:58 PM | #26 |
Provocateur
Posts: 1,859
Karma: 505847
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbus, OH
Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS
|
I think they realize Stanza is a popular reader and want to get their books available on it. I think there might also be some technology development cross-sharing they can use to improve Kindle with Stanza code and vice-versa.
As for ultimately embracing more formats? That remains to be seen. |
04-27-2009, 06:00 PM | #27 |
creator of calibre
Posts: 43,858
Karma: 22666666
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Mumbai, India
Device: Various
|
The biggest reason, IMO, for this takeover (though I doubt that Amazon would ever admit this), is that Lexcycle was encouraging the development of independent book retailers, by providing a popular platform from which they could sell books.
|
04-27-2009, 06:14 PM | #28 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 8,478
Karma: 5171130
Join Date: Jan 2006
Device: none
|
Quote:
I think Amazon sees Stanza specifically as the app to get Amazon onto more devices, as opposed to keeping other retailers out. After all, they already have the virtual warehouse everyone else lusts after, so they will have it easier convincing others to buy from them once they have an available app for their device. |
|
04-27-2009, 06:25 PM | #29 | ||
creator of calibre
Posts: 43,858
Karma: 22666666
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Mumbai, India
Device: Various
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
04-27-2009, 06:43 PM | #30 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 8,478
Karma: 5171130
Join Date: Jan 2006
Device: none
|
Quote:
The most this could accomplish is to create two global markets: The United States; and Everybody Else. And as long as there are other formats out there, the U.S. market won't be Amazon's monopoly for quite some time. |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Would it be possible for Amazon to re-compile Amazon Reader App for Pocketbook OS dev | brecklundin | PocketBook | 3 | 09-22-2010 08:04 PM |
Classic Broken search function in Trook / lexcycle catalogs | Astro | Nook Developer's Corner | 0 | 06-29-2010 08:46 PM |
Load amazon books onto a 700? and back to amazon? | Douglasco | Sony Reader | 12 | 02-22-2009 11:54 PM |
Breaking: eReader.com changes hands again, acquired by Fictionwise | Alexander Turcic | News | 43 | 01-15-2008 08:07 AM |
Zinio sold and acquired by FIJI Water founder | Alexander Turcic | News | 7 | 02-14-2007 11:04 AM |