08:12 PM by Bob Russell in E-Book General | Deals and Resources (No...

When we hear of new e-book publishers, it always makes our ears perk up a bit. Walk Broad Publishing is a new children's e-book publisher with a daring new start from scratch.

We certainly can't argue with the motivation.

Walk Broad Publishing is a company dedicated to bringing quality, original e-books to the Next Generation of Readers.

I started Walk Broad to serve those readers who have embraced e-book reading on their desktops, laptops, tablet PC as well as devices like the Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle, Cybook, iLiad (to name a few) to supplant, or in addition to, paper books.

Being an avid reader of e-books (who prefers them over paper books whenever possible), I am striving to do my part for their more general acceptance.

The first e-book offered is "Good Morning, Friend Moon" for $4.99, currently in "a customized PDF that will work in all available ereader hardware, the Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle, Booken's Cybook and iRex iLiad.

As one looks at the site, the first thought that strikes me is how much work goes into a successful e-book publishing launch. A decent web store, with all the needed information about the books and formats, is already a challenge. Not to mention having good quality books in the first place. Then providing enough formats, and deciding where to start is another hurdle. Some of the veterans like the folks at Manybooks and Feedbooks show us what can be done if you are a sophisticated user.

Of course, there are the decisions to be made about DRM. I'm not sure what Walk Broad has decided, but you have to think that integrating DRM makes it a tough sell. However, I suppose, maybe a standard Digital Editions or Kindle DRM might have a chance, especially with those new to e-books.
And then there is the toughest thing of all. Even if you have top notch writing, and the best web site, and every format is supported and you don't burden the user with DRM... you still have to get people to notice you and be interested in getting your e-books. Free e-books are a great way to attract interest. If you have a great product, the more you grow awareness, the more you can reap the rewards with future sales. It's my firm belief, and I think so far the market bears this out for lesser known writers especially, that offering at least some free (and DRM-free) e-books is really the way to go.

Will Walk Broad Publishing (or the other e-book publishing startups) be successful? I don't know. I hope so. A lucrative market that shows successes from smaller publishers will certainly make e-books much more available to consumers are reasonable prices.

Will $4.99 for a new .pdf e-book from a new unknown publisher cut it? I don't think so. Especially without any obvious sample chapters to preview. But Walk Broad, we wish you well. And it's a long road from starting point to success, so I'm sure we'll see a lot of evolution in your web site, marketing and products over time. Good luck to you!

05:45 PM by CCDMan in E-Book General | News

Noted on a Kindle thread, but the Kindle is back in stock as of 1:30 PM (PST) today (Saturday the 19th). Let's see for how long...

07:00 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Week in Review

Another week, another steady stream of mobile goodness here on MobileRead. Our authentic roundup of what's been going on:

E-Books - News

• Penguin to publish new titles simultaneously as e-books
• Epson and E-Ink developed advanced display controller
• PVI to double E Ink panel capacity - will it help to meet Kindle demand?
• Display 2008: E-Paper in "57 flavor-packed varieties" / FLEPia still pricy
• Orange launches "Read & Go"

E-Book Devices - Sony Portable Reader

• PRS505 available for Pre-Order on SonyStyle Canada's site!
• New Sony Reader mystery bundle offered for Mother's Day
• So where the heck is the Sony Reader's new firmware?!?

Miscellaneous - Lounge

• Patented computer software may replace human authors

07:03 PM by maggotb0y in E-Book Readers | Sony Reader

February's come and gone... As well as March and soon April. And still no new firmware from Sony.

sigh.

Anyone have any inside info on when this may happen?

(Not really expecting an answer, just hoping to see it sometime soon).

07:35 AM by Bob Russell in E-Book Readers | Sony Reader

It can usually be said that those who like e-books began as readers. But now, maybe some e-book fans will come from converted television fans as well, because, starting today, Sony is offering a James Patterson Reader Bundle that will appeal to many fans of James Patterson's "Women's Murder Club."

For about $330, you get:

• A Sony Reader "...[e]ncased in a limited edition autographed James Patterson cover"
• Six downloadable titles from "the incredibly popular
  'Women's Murder Club' series courtesy of Sony's eBook Store."
• "A customized 'Women's Murder Club' protective skin from SkinIt
  to minimize any wear and tear to your Reader"
• A pre-loaded excerpt from James Patterson's upcoming romance novel "Sundays at Tiffany's."

Yes, you read that correctly! A romance novel by James Patterson. I thought it was romance writers moving into other genres, not the other way around, but I guess that goes to show the strength of the romance market.

If this is something that you want to get for dear mama this year, check out the bundle at SonyStyle stores or www.SonyStyle.com.

01:55 PM by Hadrien in E-Book General | News

What is Read&Go? A new terminal combining the reading comfort of paper with the easy access and response of electronic media. With this new e-paper terminal, users can read and refresh five major French newspapers throughout the day: Le Monde, Le Parisien, Les Echos, L’Equipe and Télérama

Today, in partnership with five major French newspapers, Orange has launched the trial of Read&Go – the first 3G-connected mobile newspaper kiosk: a new digital terminal with e-paper technology, combining ease of use with a mobile terminal offering the read comfort of paper. Every morning, testers will be able to read news from Le Monde, Le Parisien, Les Echos, L’Equipe and Télérama, refreshed every hour with the latest information from their electronic editions.

For this innovation, Orange has specifically developed Wifi/3G coupled connectivity with a dedicated distribution platform, user interface and browsing capability. Read&Go has a storage capacity of 1 Gb – more than 200 newspapers – and also contains a e-library of thirty or so books (literature, strip cartoons, children's and practical publications, etc.) provided by Feedbooks, Médiatoon (Dargaud, Dupuis, Lombard et Kana) and Mango editions.

Orange and its partners will be running Read&Go trials with around 150 testers recruited from their audiences for a period of two months providing free, unlimited access. In particular, the trials will enable this new screen to be studied as regards use when reading information in mobile situations as well as the ergonomics of the offering and associated terminal...

Full press release: http://www.orange.com/en_EN/press/pr...ReadGo_ENG.pdf
Video (French): http://orange-innovation.tv/webtv/mo...ang/fr/play/1/

Disclaimer: I'm the co-founder of Feedbooks which is involved in this trial.

07:01 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News

Over in the land of the rising sun, visitors of the Display 2008 Expo this week have a chance to marvel at the latest advances in e-paper technologies. TechRadar's Mark Lytle reports about a plethora of new e-paper panels by manufacturers like PVI. He also chatted with a Fujitsu Frontech representative about their much-hyped FLEPia device (which has a color screen based on cholesteric LCD layers).

According to Utsumi Kiyoshi, retail director at Fujitsu Frontech, there has been one major hurdle all along. He told us: "Cost is still a problem – we can deliver samples of the 8-inch FLEPia, but that still costs ¥200,000 for two (£1,000). We aim to get that down to ¥40,000 (£200) each by the time we actually sell it."

Sounds like a catch-22 situation. People won't buy that thing before its price goes down; the price won't go down unless more people will buy it.

Btw, Mark, it's not the "Sony Libirie e-book", but probably the Sony Portable Reader you've seen on the expo.

Related: PVI to double E Ink panel capacity - will it help to meet Kindle demand?

05:36 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News

Digitimes is reporting that Prime View International (PVI), the producer of E Ink panels, is "to double its capacity for electrophoretic display (EPD), as revenues and orders from the segment continue growing."

Liu [chairman of PVI] told investors that the first quarter of 2008 was the best-ever first quarter for the company since its establishment. First-quarter revenues totaled NT$2.6 billion (US$85.8 million), with an operating profit of NT$404 million, according to the company.

Whoa there. This is potentially great news for every prospective Kindle buyer. Despite its $399 price tag, the initial stock of Kindles sold out in the opening hours of appearing on Amazon's web site. Of course, I don't know how many units Amazon allocated for the initial sales period, but I suspect it was a pretty small number. Given the PVI commentary, any bets on how long before we can buy the Kindle again?

Related: No shortage of E-Ink screens?, PVI cannot meet Amazon Kindle demand

Thanks to Ebook lover for the news!