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Old 09-05-2013, 11:43 AM   #1
holymadness
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Posts: 722
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Device: iPhone
Oyster: unlimited e-books for $9.95 a month, now live with invite (iOS)

A few months ago I signed up for alerts about the launch of Oyster, a Netflix-like reading service. It gives you access to an unlimited number of books for a monthly fee. Today I got an email announcing that the service is live for those with an invitation (those without can join the queue to receive one). You can access it at https://www.oysterbooks.com and there is some information about the launch at http://blog.oysterbooks.com/. It's an iPhone-only reading app for now, which is a bit of a curious choice.

Here's an overview of the service from GigaOm, which includes some interesting details: http://gigaom.com/2013/09/05/oyster-netflix-for-ebooks/
  • The service launches with 100,000 in-copyright ebooks (i.e., not free public domain stuff)
  • Publishers participating — making at least a few titles available, not their whole catalogs by any means — include HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Workman, Algonquin, Melville House, Rodale, Open Road, RosettaBooks, F+W Media and self-publishing distributor Smashwords.
  • Oyster wouldn’t get into details about how it’s compensating publishers and authors, and wouldn’t state whether newer, more well-known titles are getting better royalties than older ones.
  • With Oyster, after you add a book to your reading list, you can access it offline. You only need an internet connection to download new titles.
  • An iPad app is coming this fall
  • Oyster currently has no “concrete plans” to launch on platforms beyond iOS.

I've taken some screenshots of the website for those without invitations. I haven't yet had time to look at the app.

EDIT: Seems like the app is only available in the US iTunes store for now. A tweet from the developers reads, "No announced plans for expansion outside the US yet but it's definitely something we want to do."
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Last edited by holymadness; 09-05-2013 at 03:01 PM. Reason: moved to frontpage
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