Today we read the opinions of many in the trade and business press on the surprise move by James Daunt to let Amazon in to Waterstones through the front door. It is interesting to not that many state the obvious and then pull back to cover the bases just in case it’s a move that may win. Many talk about the so called capitulation over digital and hand over of that business to Amazon. Read more »

Today is a new dawn for UK Booksellling, as its premier retail chain Watersones, effectively handed over its digital if not its future to Amazon. We will read in the press how this is a logical move by Waterstones and is the dawn of a new ebook beginning under its new management, but some will now start to ask whether this is the end of the beginning, or in fact the beginning of the end?  Read more »

We know that readers are reading more ebooks in the US, but now new research gives us some interesting insights into their behaviour and their use of digital and physical content. Some 30% of those that read econtent claim that that they now read longer, with some 41% of tablet readers and 35% of ereaders readers claiming to be reading more. Read more »

Brazil is not a world example when it comes to digital books. The estimate is that we are three years behind big markets like North America. However, 2012 promises to be the year that things will really happen, so we present here an overview about the technology - both formats and devices - used in Brazil. Read more »

Yesterday we sat down with someone who is starting a new digital venture. As we discussed the potential, the market, the options and much more, it became apparent to us that there are a lot of things that applied to the physical book market, that simply do not apply, or should be questioned in the digital market. Read more »

In a move clearly aimed at the international market KOBO has been acquired by Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten for a reported $315 million in cash. The ebook world todate has been very US driven, but this could change as all the major players now vie for the other markets where they all wish to be number one. Read more »

The Nikkei newspaper’s report that Amazon will launch a Japanese Kindle service within 2011 ends two years of gloomy speculation across an industry nervous about the impact of the global eBook giant. The leaders of Japan’s publishing industry may wish to consider three questions, the answers to which will indicate how their industry will develop over the next ten years. Read more »

One of the clear themes coming through from the Tools of Change conference, Frankfurt, was the notion of "Social Reading" or, at worst, reading online and sharing the experience. There was an inspiring keynote from Bob Stein and presentations from the team behind Valobox, and Justo Hidalgo from 24symbols - both of which were introducing new business models for reading online (both worthy of debate, I think). Read more »

James Daunt’s surprise announcement that Waterstones plan to release their own ereader by spring next year has led to lots of debate on the net about what they’re planning. Responses vary from the wildly enthusiastic to the distinctly sceptical, but what chance does the device (inevitably christened the ‘Wook’ by the twitterati) really stand? Read more »

We’ve this week uncovered Amazon’s secret weapon in the eBook reader land grab. It explains why the new Kindle reader is selling in its droves and why the other eReader manufacturers need to retaliate very quickly.

Code named ‘Operation Sandwich’ it’s a devilishly clever new tactic in the battle for ereader supremacy. Read more »