The Sunday Times:Google makes a grab for e-books

Kris777 · 03-29-2009, 03:30 AM

Interesting article in The Sunday Times:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/...cle5987343.ece

Google has joined forces with Sony to take on the staid world of book publishing. The internet giant aims to make up to 7m books that it has scanned from the world’s libraries available for customers to download onto an electronic reading device, known as an e-reader.

The move has not only shaken traditional book publishers, but is a body- blow to Amazon, the online book retailer, which had hoped to corner the market for electronic books with its state-of-the-art e-reader, the Kindle 2.

...

The British Booksellers Association also sees the writing on the wall. In a world where the likes of the Sony ebook reader has eventually replaced print, and Google has inevitably stretched its American rights register to encompass the rest of the world, the company would provide virtually the only route for authors to publish their work. “If this one-stop-shop direct-to-consumer approach of Google comes to Europe, it will surely result in a world that is culturally poorer for the consumer,” the association said.

But just as Google has shrugged off privacy concerns over Street View, its photographic city-mapping service, the juggernaut could again be unstoppable. We may all soon be reading g-books.

Curly · 03-29-2009, 03:55 AM

Interesting article. What it doesn't make clear however, is that folk in the UK can't access the Sony ebook store and hence the Google epubs without lying.

HarryT · 03-29-2009, 04:07 AM

... but all the books are also available via books.google.com. Are you that bothered about having them in ePub format?

stustaff · 03-29-2009, 04:31 AM

What? daft article!

"Google has inevitably stretched its American rights register to encompass the rest of the world, the company would provide virtually the only route for authors to publish their work."

shows they really dont understand what they are writing about IMO as any authour can publish an ebook its one of the greatest parts of the ebook model!

And it also ignores the fact that Amazon as far as Im aware arent publishing any new books from actual currently working authors!

HarryT · 03-29-2009, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stustaff

And it also ignores the fact that Amazon as far as Im aware arent publishing any new books from actual currently working authors!

I think you mean "Google" rather than "Amazon", don't you?

Curly · 03-29-2009, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

... but all the books are also available via books.google.com. Are you that bothered about having them in ePub format?

No, just think its misleading since the article seems to be aimed at people who don't know a lot about ebooks.

cerement · 03-29-2009, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly

No, just think its misleading since the article seems to be aimed at people who don't know a lot about ebooks.

You're expecting journalistic research and integrity from modern newspapers?!?

rcuadro · 03-29-2009, 06:40 AM

Now, all that Amazon needs to do is strike up a deal to be able to use ePub on the Kindle and then all this is a mute point

I think the true success of an eReader is its ability to display multiple formats...

Kris777 · 03-29-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

... but all the books are also available via books.google.com. Are you that bothered about having them in ePub format?

Books in ePub format looks more readable (without OCR errors) if compare with books in PDF format available on books.google.com website.

Google don't provide access to ePub books via books.google.com

03-29-2009, 03:30 AM	#1
Kris777 Banned Posts: 1,767 Karma: 2520493 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Nexus 7, jetBook-Lite, jetBook mini, Toshiba Thrive, JETBOOK COLOR	The Sunday Times:Google makes a grab for e-books Interesting article in The Sunday Times: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/...cle5987343.ece Google has joined forces with Sony to take on the staid world of book publishing. The internet giant aims to make up to 7m books that it has scanned from the world’s libraries available for customers to download onto an electronic reading device, known as an e-reader. The move has not only shaken traditional book publishers, but is a body- blow to Amazon, the online book retailer, which had hoped to corner the market for electronic books with its state-of-the-art e-reader, the Kindle 2. ... The British Booksellers Association also sees the writing on the wall. In a world where the likes of the Sony ebook reader has eventually replaced print, and Google has inevitably stretched its American rights register to encompass the rest of the world, the company would provide virtually the only route for authors to publish their work. “If this one-stop-shop direct-to-consumer approach of Google comes to Europe, it will surely result in a world that is culturally poorer for the consumer,” the association said. But just as Google has shrugged off privacy concerns over Street View, its photographic city-mapping service, the juggernaut could again be unstoppable. We may all soon be reading g-books. Last edited by Kris777; 03-29-2009 at 03:33 AM.

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03-29-2009, 03:55 AM	#2
Curly I need a holiday! Posts: 1,227 Karma: 4622 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scotland Device: PRS-505, ipod touch	Interesting article. What it doesn't make clear however, is that folk in the UK can't access the Sony ebook store and hence the Google epubs without lying.

03-29-2009, 04:07 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	... but all the books are also available via books.google.com. Are you that bothered about having them in ePub format?

03-29-2009, 04:31 AM	#4
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	What? daft article! "Google has inevitably stretched its American rights register to encompass the rest of the world, the company would provide virtually the only route for authors to publish their work." shows they really dont understand what they are writing about IMO as any authour can publish an ebook its one of the greatest parts of the ebook model! And it also ignores the fact that Amazon as far as Im aware arent publishing any new books from actual currently working authors!

03-29-2009, 06:40 AM	#8
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	Now, all that Amazon needs to do is strike up a deal to be able to use ePub on the Kindle and then all this is a mute point I think the true success of an eReader is its ability to display multiple formats...

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