Since ebooks are easily updated (unlike their pbook counterparts), I could see it taking the route that video game advertising has, where the ads are generally unobtrusive and can (reasonably) easily changed. For example, maybe the protagonist is drinking a Coke. But the next time you download the book, it has changed to a Pepsi. I would really date the books though... I've read some older Stephen King books where I have to look up what a product is because I've never heard of it. Some of the brands that were around in the 70s just aren't ubiquitous today.
From the article:
Quote:
|
Some Wowio e-books have three pages with promotions: an introduction and a closing page each with an ad, plus another full-page ad.
|
I'm ok with this. I can ignore it if I want to, just like I generally ignore the current pbook ads for additional books (unless I'm really looking for reading recommendations from a publisher...)
Quote:
|
The company [Wowio] also is experimenting with techniques to insert ads between chapters and to target ads using profile information that users submit to its website
|
No. Just no. I read the free ebook version of a Doctorow book (I believe it was Little Brother) where each chapter started with an ad for a bookstore. It disrupted the flow of the book, jolting me out of the story every time. Now, as a free book, I'm forgiving of it. But if I pay for a book, there better not be ads interrupting the text.