Shortcovers launches tomorrow!

Alexander Turcic · 02-25-2009, 03:30 PM

It's been a long time coming and we've heard a lot about the "Kindle killer", but now is the time for Indigo's Shortcovers to open its doors and show us what's inside.

Public launch is tomorrow, February 26th
Shortcovers will be launching on iPhone, Blackberry and Android
The service will be available globally, but launching with US and Canadian currencies
Shortcovers will have 200,000 first chapters of books, 50,000 full books at launch, but adding much more content in the coming weeks from top publishers such as Random House, Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins.
Shortcovers’ eBooks will cheaper than their hardcopy counterparts – ranging in the $4.99-$19.99 range.

It should go without saying that we're eagerly waiting to hear of your first Shortcovers hands-on experiences.

zelda_pinwheel · 02-25-2009, 03:36 PM

this is one of those things that tempts me to buy a smartphone, even though i don't really need one.

daffy4u · 02-25-2009, 03:49 PM

99 cents a chapter could be very expensive. They must have better pricing for the whole book.

DixieGal · 02-25-2009, 04:09 PM

Does anyone know if they have anything for the 505?

RobbieClarken · 02-25-2009, 04:23 PM

I'll definitely be trying them on my iPod Touch but I hope there will be PC software to read shortcovers books as well.

fugazied · 02-25-2009, 04:55 PM

$19.99 seems kind of expensive to what Amazon is offering? I'll bookmark it though!

AnemicOak · 02-25-2009, 04:58 PM

Is this going to be yet another format or is it just a new service using an existing format?

CCDMan · 02-25-2009, 05:11 PM

Nice to see competition but first, it is no competition price wise and second, reading on a phone totally sucks.

But competition never hurts and it will be great for the eye doctors in about 20 years. <g>

lilac_jive · 02-25-2009, 05:58 PM

I might utilize this for chapters...

vivaldirules · 02-25-2009, 06:13 PM

I know I'm being really petty but don't you find websites annoying that hijack your browser and won't let you "back out"?

lilac_jive · 02-25-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I know I'm being really petty but don't you find websites annoying that hijack your browser and won't let you "back out"?

No, I hate that too.

DaleDe · 02-25-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I know I'm being really petty but don't you find websites annoying that hijack your browser and won't let you "back out"?

I hate that, but you can get out using the history drop down to bypass the page.

Dale

Ea · 02-26-2009, 07:12 AM

I'm trying it out right now, and so far it's an okay experience. It was a bit difficult to find the HOW information, which was what I craved the most. A little too much of 'look how cool we are!' to wade through. I don't like that I sat for 5 min. thinking; yes this is great - but how do I BUY stuff?

I haven't been able to find content for sale - yet - most of it seems to be sample chapters, and while it's nice to try things out, I wan to be able to buy the whole book right away.
Edit: I can see whole books for sale, but there seem to be a lot of books where they only have the first chapter (for now?). I won't even try to start a book unless I know I can get all of it.

The setup seems really easy to use, because it's synced both online and mobile. I only have an iPod Touch though, and free, accessible wi-fi hotspots does not abound where I live, so I can't really acces the site on the go. But if I could, this would not only be good, but really great! I obviously need an iPhone

Edit: Tried to buy a Niel Gaiman book, but ran into the 'cannot buy bec. of geographic location' problem... Bleh.

jrial · 02-26-2009, 07:52 AM

Well, it's a novel concept, but I don't think it will really fly. See, what they're trying to do is offer bite-sized pieces of content that can be sampled and consumed in short bursts. The problem might be their target audience: we're readers... We read... We have enough time and patience to read a *whole* book. The hyperactive kids who need their entertainment in short bursts lest it distracts them from the next piece of entertainment usually don't hang around those "boring old bookstores" anyway.

On the other hand, they are a good contender for the "most frakked up launch of the year" award... Way to screw up a launch, guys. At least you've put the other ebook site owners out there at ease: "if the competition is this competent, we'll do alright, y'all".

RobbieClarken · 02-26-2009, 08:15 AM

Been using it for 5 minutes and already there are many things that bother me:

1. Most of the books I'd consider buying are restricted to US customers.
2. Scientific books have text like "[MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] (1)" or "A(detected at O)= [summation over (i)] A(S [right arrow] [A.sub.i] [right arrow] O) (1)" where equations should be. This is a pretty major issue which will make some books impossible to follow.
3. No figures (at least in the books I've flicked through).

I do like the ability to sample chapters though, so I expect I'll use that feature but probably not buy anything from shortcovers.

02-25-2009, 03:30 PM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Shortcovers launches tomorrow! It's been a long time coming and we've heard a lot about the "Kindle killer", but now is the time for Indigo's Shortcovers to open its doors and show us what's inside. Public launch is tomorrow, February 26th Shortcovers will be launching on iPhone, Blackberry and Android The service will be available globally, but launching with US and Canadian currencies Shortcovers will have 200,000 first chapters of books, 50,000 full books at launch, but adding much more content in the coming weeks from top publishers such as Random House, Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins. Shortcovers’ eBooks will cheaper than their hardcopy counterparts – ranging in the $4.99-$19.99 range. It should go without saying that we're eagerly waiting to hear of your first Shortcovers hands-on experiences.

02-26-2009, 07:12 AM	#13
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I'm trying it out right now, and so far it's an okay experience. It was a bit difficult to find the HOW information, which was what I craved the most. A little too much of 'look how cool we are!' to wade through. I don't like that I sat for 5 min. thinking; yes this is great - but how do I BUY stuff? I haven't been able to find content for sale - yet - most of it seems to be sample chapters, and while it's nice to try things out, I wan to be able to buy the whole book right away. Edit: I can see whole books for sale, but there seem to be a lot of books where they only have the first chapter (for now?). I won't even try to start a book unless I know I can get all of it. The setup seems really easy to use, because it's synced both online and mobile. I only have an iPod Touch though, and free, accessible wi-fi hotspots does not abound where I live, so I can't really acces the site on the go. But if I could, this would not only be good, but really great! I obviously need an iPhone Edit: Tried to buy a Niel Gaiman book, but ran into the 'cannot buy bec. of geographic location' problem... Bleh. Last edited by Ea; 02-26-2009 at 07:27 AM.

02-26-2009, 08:15 AM	#15
RobbieClarken Addict Posts: 371 Karma: 1002274 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Device: Kindle	Been using it for 5 minutes and already there are many things that bother me: 1. Most of the books I'd consider buying are restricted to US customers. 2. Scientific books have text like "[MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] (1)" or "A(detected at O)= [summation over (i)] A(S [right arrow] [A.sub.i] [right arrow] O) (1)" where equations should be. This is a pretty major issue which will make some books impossible to follow. 3. No figures (at least in the books I've flicked through). I do like the ability to sample chapters though, so I expect I'll use that feature but probably not buy anything from shortcovers. Last edited by RobbieClarken; 02-26-2009 at 08:18 AM.

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02-25-2009, 03:36 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	this is one of those things that tempts me to buy a smartphone, even though i don't really need one.

02-25-2009, 03:49 PM	#3
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	99 cents a chapter could be very expensive. They must have better pricing for the whole book.

02-25-2009, 04:09 PM	#4
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Does anyone know if they have anything for the 505?

02-25-2009, 04:23 PM	#5
RobbieClarken Addict Posts: 371 Karma: 1002274 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Device: Kindle	I'll definitely be trying them on my iPod Touch but I hope there will be PC software to read shortcovers books as well.

02-25-2009, 04:55 PM	#6
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	$19.99 seems kind of expensive to what Amazon is offering? I'll bookmark it though!

02-25-2009, 04:58 PM	#7
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Is this going to be yet another format or is it just a new service using an existing format?

02-25-2009, 05:11 PM	#8
CCDMan *** Posts: 335 Karma: 5759 Join Date: Mar 2006 Device: ***	Nice to see competition but first, it is no competition price wise and second, reading on a phone totally sucks. But competition never hurts and it will be great for the eye doctors in about 20 years. <g>

02-25-2009, 05:58 PM	#9
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I might utilize this for chapters...

02-25-2009, 06:13 PM	#10
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I know I'm being really petty but don't you find websites annoying that hijack your browser and won't let you "back out"?

02-26-2009, 07:52 AM	#14
jrial Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Diepenbeek, Belgium Device: Sony PRS-505, iRex Iliad, nokia 770, gp2x, palm zire 71	Well, it's a novel concept, but I don't think it will really fly. See, what they're trying to do is offer bite-sized pieces of content that can be sampled and consumed in short bursts. The problem might be their target audience: we're readers... We read... We have enough time and patience to read a whole book. The hyperactive kids who need their entertainment in short bursts lest it distracts them from the next piece of entertainment usually don't hang around those "boring old bookstores" anyway. On the other hand, they are a good contender for the "most frakked up launch of the year" award... Way to screw up a launch, guys. At least you've put the other ebook site owners out there at ease: "if the competition is this competent, we'll do alright, y'all".

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