07-21-2014, 02:53 PM | #1 |
friendly lurker
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What is it with Amazon’s Kindle love affair?
The thing is, Kindle Unlimited is anything but unlimited because they refuse to do business with those of us with ePub eReaders, and that makes no business sense at all, not when they can easily make it truly unlimited to the benefit of readers, authors and Amazon.
The thing is, an increasing number of indie authors are publishing in Kindle Direct Publishing without DRM. So why not give authors an option on the book’s page to list their books, DRM free, that is, in both Kindle and ePub? Something like the old “Multiformat” listing, to tell reader that this one is on loan for their Kindle, Kobo, nook or Sony eReader. How would it hurt anyone? Sure, Kobo, Google, Barnes and Noble and maybe Apple would lose some book sales but that’s just ordinary competition between rival shops, and don’t forget, those KU books are all exclusive imprints of Amazon anyway, so as it stands, those of us without a Kindle can’t read them. Audible authors have have always had the choice to forgo DRM, this idea offers the chance to reach a wider audience. People like me, with a different eReader (and love what they have) would be able to subscribe to KU and have the chance to discover new works and new authors that are otherwise not available. Okay, Amazon would probably lose a few Kindle eReader sales too, but they would more than make it up in book sales. So why not? |
07-21-2014, 02:58 PM | #2 |
Guru
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Amazon would lose a lot. Kindle is about keeping customers in Amazon services, not about DRM.
Amazon Music, Audible, Prime Videos... It is about a whole system. Kindle is just one of the doors, as the others are. |
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07-21-2014, 03:21 PM | #3 | |
friendly lurker
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As to the DRM-free provision, it simply keeps the cost of the Kindle book the same as the cost (to Amazon) of the ePub version since they don't have to pay Adobe for using Adept DRM. |
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07-21-2014, 03:28 PM | #4 | |
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07-21-2014, 03:37 PM | #5 |
monkey on the fringe
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07-21-2014, 03:50 PM | #6 | |
friendly lurker
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Besides, Kindle Unlimited is one service, not the entire bookstore. Better to tempt customers with the Amazon experience than simply lock them out of the store. Mobileread members have no trouble owning multiple eReaders but we are not typical. They are missing a market by shutting ePub out. |
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07-21-2014, 03:53 PM | #7 | |
Force-Aware Elf
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07-21-2014, 05:04 PM | #8 |
Wizard
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To me it seems senseless for Amazon to start lending epubs unless they are also selling epubs.
I can imagine the accusations that would fly. Lots of reasons have been speculated upon as to why they don't sell epubs and many make sense. One very good one in my opinion is because kindle is synonymous to ereader to a great many people already and they want to keep it that way. Helen |
07-21-2014, 05:14 PM | #9 |
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07-21-2014, 06:12 PM | #10 | |
friendly lurker
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The big barrier to Amazon selling ePub has always been Adapt DRM--they like the closed garden, no outside services, but since KU is an Amazon imprint the big 5 have no say and restricting ePub offerings to books without DRM keeps KU inside the Amazon ecosystem. Publishing in both major formats should reassure authors who are reluctant to sign an exclusive contract. They will see advertising for KU on forums that appeal to ePub owners as well where links to KU speak to both formats in venues like Goodreads, Audible and elsewhere. The idea is to move Kindle Unlimited from being a niche for Kindle owners to a service offering ebooks and audiobooks, period. Last edited by 6charlong; 07-21-2014 at 06:14 PM. |
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07-21-2014, 08:39 PM | #11 | |
Wizard
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Personally I don't think Amazon would cavil at the 22 cent DRM fee or that they harbour animosity towards Adobe. Adobe is a service, not a competitor. A recent report stated that more than 90% of published books had DRM on Amazon and 50% of Indies. This is a matter of choice by the authors on the Indies at least and by the majority of publishers. Even many the smaller publishers are pro DRM presently. Sure it would be nice for us epub fans, but I doubt that is the intent behind the service. Amazon wants to have everyone buy Amazon books, and by promoting a value added service exclusively to kindle owners they may very well add more kindle owners. Not me as I am happy enough where I am but I am sure that is there intent. It is possible that they are shooting themselves in the foot, by offering a subscription service where people can get books cheaper, but I cannot think that they have not at least thought through all of the angles including those you mention. Helen. |
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07-21-2014, 08:57 PM | #12 |
Wizard
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If the books have no DRM, they are easily converted to ePub.
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07-21-2014, 09:11 PM | #13 | ||
Bookaholic
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I honestly think that your average users don't care one way or another what format their books come in and are more interested in if there's a way for them to read the books some how on their device. Sure Kobo, Nook and Sony eInk owners (etc.) are out as far as this service goes, just like they're out when it comes to Scribd and Oyster. It seems that these services are betting on PC's, tablets and smartphones as having enough of the reading market to make a go of things. |
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07-21-2014, 09:13 PM | #14 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Well they designed the Kindle to work with Mobi format books so how can they not favor that format?
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07-21-2014, 09:25 PM | #15 |
Wizard
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