| A new European study has found that Kindle owners have a harder time recalling key plot points than paperback readers. The study, presented in Italy at a conference last month gave 50 readers the same short story by Elizabeth George to read. Half read the 28-page story on a Kindle, and half in a paperback, with readers then tested on aspects of the story including objects, characters and settings. Anne Mangen of Norway’s Stavanger University, a lead researcher on the study said “The Kindle readers performed significantly worse on the plot reconstruction measure.” The readers struggled to make sense of the key 14 plot aspects. The researchers suggest that “the haptic and tactile feedback of a Kindle does not provide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does”. “When you read on paper you can sense with your fingers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right,” said Mangen. “You have the tactile sense of progress, in addition to the visual … [The differences for Kindle readers] might have something to do with the fact that the fixity of a text on paper, and this very gradual unfolding of paper as you progress through a story, is some kind of sensory offload, supporting the visual sense of progress when you’re reading. Perhaps this somehow aids the reader, providing more fixity and solidity to the reader’s sense of unfolding and progress of the text, and hence the story.” “We need to provide research and evidence-based knowledge to publishers on what kind of devices (iPad, Kindle, print) should be used for what kind of content; what kinds of texts are likely to be less hampered by being read digitally, and which might require the support of paper,” said Mangen. “I’m thinking it might make a difference if a novel is a page-turner or light read, when you don’t necessarily have to pay attention to every word, compared to a 500-page, more complex literary novel, something like Ulysses, which is challenging reading that really requires sustained focus. That will be very interesting to explore.” This report makes a lot of sense when it comes to the mental processing of reading digitally vs reading the print edition. You get a sense of accomplishment when you are making significant headway in the paperback, you can see the tangible progress. Kindle Owners Tend Not to Remember Key Plot Points is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Kindle Owners Tend Not to Remember Key Plot Points
Major Celebrities Lend their Voices for The Legend of Drizzt Audiobook
| World War Z, by Max Brooks had an all-star cast loaning out their voices for the audiobook that came out at the same time as the movie. No audiobook in history has had as many voices chronicling the zombie apocalypse, until now. The Legend of Drizzt will be hitting Audible very soon and a slew of actors will be contributing their own voices to the tale of our favorite Dark Elf. The Legend of Drizzt: The Collected Stories features twelve novels in the collection about the iconic Dungeons & Dragons dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden.Each one is narrated by a different actor; the eclectic group of performers includes Sean Astin, Michael Chiklis, Felicia Day, David Duchovny, Tom Felton, Greg Grunberg, Dan Harmon, Ice-T, Danny Pudi, Melissa Rauch, Wil Wheaton and Al Yankovic. The production is part of a partnership between Audible and Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast, through which Salvatore's entire Drizzt catalog will be recorded in audio. Salvatore's first published novel, The Crystal Shard, introduced the world to the dark elf Drizzt; since then, his books have sold more than 15 million copies in the U.S. and have been translated into 14 languages. So what is the deal with Drizzt? He is a Dark Elf that has a moral code, amidst a matriarchal civilization that promotes backstabbing and treachery. Instead of resigning himself to this life, he transcends the Underdark to the Surface world. Many adventures ensue, and some of the most notable characters from the Forgotten Realms game setting make appearances.
Major Celebrities Lend their Voices for The Legend of Drizzt Audiobook is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Amazon Offers $20 Discount on the Paperwhite 2
| Amazon is hoping to steal a bit of the limelight off of the brand new Samsung Galaxy 4 Nook tablet by offering a $20.00 discount on the second generation Kindle Paperwhite. Starting today, the main Amazon website is discounting the WIFI only version to $139 and the 3G model for $189. Within the next month it is believed that Amazon will be releasing two new e-readers and three new tablets They are intending on refreshing their entire hardware lineup with new technology. The discount to the Paperwhite serves to give an incentive to people on the fence about going over to Barnes and Noble. Since the Paperwhite 2 originally came out, it has received a number of firmware updates and hardware enhancements. Some of the more notable software features include the social book discovery site, GoodReads and a more stable PDF experience with a new preview window. On the hardware front, customers in the UK and Canada are seeing an increased amount of Kindle Storage, from 4GB to 8GB. Amazon Offers $20 Discount on the Paperwhite 2 is a post from: Good e-Reader |
First Look at Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook (Videos)
| Earlier today Barnes & Noble unveiled their new co-branded tablet with Samsung, called the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook. Ever since the partnership was first announced, we knew that B&N would be using Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 4 hardware, the big question was what would B&N do to customize the software. After watching some hands-on YouTube […] |
Barnes and Noble Hypes Free Content on Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook
| Barnes and Noble has just launched a brand new tablet in conjunction with Samsung. It costs $179 with a $20 mail in rebate, but the bookseller is hyping the fact you get an extra $200 worth of free content. What free stuff are they actually giving out? When you pick up a new Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook you get three free eBooks. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt, The Wanderer by Sharon Creech and I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. Customers can also pick 4 digital magazines from a pool of 12 for a free two week trial. There is a ton of great content, including Cosmopolitan, Sports Illustrated, and US Weekly. Back issues are also available for your selected magazines at no extra cost. Nook Video is giving free content to the hit HBO Series Veep, Hannibal, and Orphan Black. New Barnes and Noble customers are also automatically given $5.00 in free credit when they buy the new tablet, giving them the ability to either get an eBook for free or use the money to subsidize a new mainstream bestseller. Barnes and Noble is really hyping the free content as a way to lure existing customers to upgrade and offer a big incentive to new people looking for a tablet billed as an e-reader. Barnes and Noble Hypes Free Content on Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Icarus Illumina HD PDF Review (+Video)
| I decided to go ahead and put together a PDF review for the Icarus Illumina HD because people are always asking about PDF support on E Ink ebook readers. I generally recommend getting a tablet for PDFs, or at least a large-screen ereader like the Onyx M96, and this case is no different. Unlike the […] |
Amazon Fire Phone review
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A unique gimmick Amazon includes with the Fire Phone is four sensors on each corner of the front, called Dynamic Perspective sensors, allowing the device to perform interesting 3D effects when you tilt the phone. When viewing the selection of apps, the icons slightly rotate, and the lock screens are kind of stunning. Are these effects enough to really make this phone stand out above the dominant Android and iPhone models? Let's find out. When you get past the visual effects, you see that the biggest feature of the Amazon phone is Amazon itself. The left side of the phone boasts a button which activates the camera feature, augmented with an app called Firefly. When you're not taking pictures, you can scan barcodes to search for products on Amazon. I tested this out with a bottle of sports drink, and sure enough, Amazon had plenty in stock. Like Apple, Amazon isn't just selling you a portable device; they are inviting you into an ecosystem. Amazon is as deeply integrated into the Fire Phone as iTunes is with the iPhone. Need an app? Amazon's shop app is preinstalled, and you have instant access to many great apps, including the OverDrive app – offering access to titles available from your library's digital collections. Despite having Android at its core, the Fire Phone does not give you the Google experience. Amazon has clearly used Android as a foundation upon which to build an empire of their own. The question is: will you join? I think the biggest deciding factor is how invested in Amazon's ecosystem you already are, or would be willing to be. If you're a Prime member or you're interested in Kindle Unlimited, this might be the ideal phone for you. Personally, I think the phone has a visual hook with the 3D effects, and it performs about as well as my Droid Maxx, but the amount of battery life devoted to the 3D effect means you need to keep your charger handy. I don't know if this is an iPhone or Android killer, but I think the Fire Phone just might ignite its own niche.
Justin Noszek is a Support Services Specialist at OverDrive.  |
After finding success with the Kindle Fire, Amazon has decided to dip their toes into the smartphone waters with the Fire Phone. Their newest offering is a phone running the Android-based Fire OS 3.5 on a 4.7 inch screen, with a 2.2 GHz Snapdragon processor, 2 GB of RAM, and 32 or 64 GB storage options.Barnes and Noble Announces Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook
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The new Samsung Galaxy Tab for Nook features a seven inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 Pixels and 216 ppi. This is a bit of a downgrade in the resolution department, the Nook HD had 1600 X 900 resolution. Underneath the hood is a Quad-core 1.2 GHz and 1.5GB of RAM. It has 8B of internal memory and an MicroSD port for an extra 32GB. Unlike prior Nook tablets, this one has two cameras, which will insure apps like Vine and Snapchat will be relevant. It has a 3 MP rear facing camera and a 1 MP edition on the front. It is lighter and thinner than any previous color NOOK device at 9.74 ounces and .35 inches. The new Nook Tablet is running the most current version of Android 4.4 Kitkat. It does not feature the same TouchWiz UI that most Samsung tablets rock, instead Barnes and Noble has created their own custom UI. It also has access to Google Play, which will insure that hundreds of thousands of apps are available to download, no matter what country you live in. Barnes and Noble has designed the UI to focus primarily on readers. The ecosystem currently offers over 3 million books, comics, magazines and kids books. When it comes to your library, managing content it is broken up into video, books and magazines. During the unveiling event in New York, Barnes and Noble trumpeted the fact that many people prefer to use their tablets for e-reading, instead of playing games or watching videos. – Over three-quarters (77 percent) of U.S. adult respondents to a recent online study conducted by Harris Poll for Barnes & Noble agree with the statement that "Reading has always been an important part of my life." - Over two-thirds (67 percent) say reading puts them in a better mood. - Seventy-six percent of U.S. adults state their reading habits have increased over the past three years, and nearly half, over two in five (44 percent), attribute access to an eReader, tablet or smartphone as the reason. - Tablets have not only changed our reading habits, but what it even means to read – personal email (96 percent) is now the number-one item read, followed by social media (67 percent); Web sites, online articles or blogs (73 percent); work-related materials (46 percent); eBooks (31 percent); and digital magazines or newspapers (40 percent). The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK is available starting today at over 660 Barnes and Noble stores in the US. It is retailing for $179, which is actually cheaper than the Samsung exclusive device which is $199. We will be getting our hands on this in the next few days, for a comprehensive hands on review and a ton of comparisons against the previous generation Nook HD tablet and also other e-reading first devices from Amazon and Kobo. Barnes and Noble Announces Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Galaxy Tab 4 Nook Released, Comes with $200 Free Content
| Today Barnes & Noble and Samsung introduced their new co-branded Galaxy Tab 4 Nook tablet. It’s basically a copy of the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 that I reviewed a few months ago, but with custom Nook software tweaks. The retail price is the same as the Galaxy Tab 4: the list price is $199 […] |
Getting hooked on programming with YRS project ‘Hook’
| Carrie Anne: A few weeks ago, Raspberry Pi hosted its first ever Young Rewired State centre and took part in the Festival of Code. We had a lot of fun. Our participants talked about their experience in this blog post. Whilst we were at the finals in Plymouth, our teams were competing against a group from BBC Birmingham mentored by our good friend Martin O’Hanlon, and their Raspberry Pi project blew us away. Here in their own words is a little more about it.  Not only functional, but stylish too! While taking part in the YRS Festival of Code at BBC Birmingham our team wanted to come up with something fun. The idea we finally settled on after much talk of boats and canals (thanks Martin!) was the internet enabled coat hook – a coat hook which would tell you what to wear that day based on the weather forecast. Fuelled by an endless supply of biscuits and coffee at BBC Birmingham and with the help of our mentors we set about creating our 'hack'. At the weekend down in Plymouth we were lucky enough to make it into the final three for the 'Best in Show' category, losing out to another team. However since we were runners up in the category we were rewarded with some limited edition Blue Raspberry Pis! Our idea was well received throughout the weekend in Plymouth, but what surprised us most was the reception that it received online. Seeing people we've never met before announce online that they'd buy our 'internet enabled coat hook' that we'd hastily constructed a few days prior was the craziest part of the weekend. We've each written a short paragraph about our contribution to the 'hack' and what we learnt during the week.
We built the Lego around the coat rack and then the LED chipboards to secure the whole thing together, originally using a breadboard to connect up the Raspberry Pi and the LEDs with crocodile clips, however we kept facing issues where the LEDs would not light up. We realised that this was because one of the clips wasn’t on properly or the pin in the breadboard was loose, so decided that it would be more secure and look better if we created an actual chipboard and soldered all the parts together: cue multiple expeditions down to the workshop and a lot of time bonding with the soldering iron (if you'll pardon the pun). The building of the Lego structure took around half a day, not including the numerous heated discussions about which colour bricks to use, and then completing the circuitry meant we had a working prototype design only a couple of hours later.
I started off figuring out how to control the LEDs using an Arduino, but then we all agreed that it would be better to use a Raspberry Pi rather than an Arduino because I find Python much easier to understand than Arduino, and we could also use the GPIO to hook up the LED devices to the Raspberry Pi. So, it seemed simpler to use the Raspberry Pi to control everything instead. I used Python and the RPi.GPIO library to write the code to allow the back end to control the LEDs.  Darci presents Hook
 YRS BBC Birmingham Team Hook Carrie Anne: Although this project did not win in its category, it could still win the public vote! If you are as impressed as we are with this project then head on over to the voting page to cast your vote for Hook! |
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Icarus Illumina E653 vs Kobo Aura
| Welcome to another Good e-Reader Comparison Video! Today we take a look at the brand new Icarus Illumina second generation and the Kobo Aura. The premise of this comparison is to take a look at ePub eBooks and PDF documents. Both of these devices handle these formats in completely different ways. The Kobo Aura does a splendid job in handling PDF files, with their preview window pane and ability to pinch and zoom. The Icarus really stutters with large PDF files, but does have a neat ability to increase the darkness of an image, but manually adjusting the gray scale.
Icarus Illumina E653 vs Kobo Aura is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 – Onenote Review
| The Microsoft Surface Pro Windows 8 is currently in the third generation and has some revisements with the way the digital pen works. Cased in aluminum, Surface Pen looks and feels more like a fountain pen than a traditional stylus for a natural writing experience. Today, we look at how the Pen is able to handle drawing via Onenote. Microsoft Onenote for Windows 8 allows users to write documents from scratch and save them to their Skydrive accounts. Whenever you click the top of the Stylus, it automatically opens Onenote. In the video below, we give you a quick overview of the day to day tasks that can be accomplished in OneNote and give you an in-depth look at the stylus.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 – Onenote Review is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Google Photo Sphere 360-Panorama App Released for iOS
| Google has found themselves in Apple’s App Store once more by porting their popular Photo Sphere app to iOS. Having debuted on Android last year, Photo Sphere invites you to “look up, down, and all around to revisit the amazing places you've encountered.” Even if you aren’t interested in creating your own Spheres (described as being a series of photographs that, when combined, give you a 360-degree view of your surroundings), consider taking a look at a few that others have shared. While you may have seen many landmarks and locations in movies already, this feels different because they are recorded by real people not unlike you or me. It’s the ultimate form of ‘wish you were here’ to share with your friends and family when you find yourself someplace special. Of course, it isn’t a coincidence that a huge function of Photo Sphere is the ability to share your creations with Google Maps –basically making you into a content contributor, adding value to their system. When you consider the price of the app (free), it is definitely a win-win scenario. If you would like to try your hand at taking beautiful, 360-degree images, download Photo Sphere Camera for your iOS devices.
Google Photo Sphere 360-Panorama App Released for iOS is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Microsoft Improves OneNote App For Tablets
| Microsoft OneNote has been available for Android and iOS tablets for quite some time, but a new update has tailored the app to best suit their larger screens. OneNote now offers handwriting support, allowing you to capture and format the notes you take during school lectures or board meetings. OneNote has evolved to become a very full-featured digital notebook that allows you to record audio, snap photographs, create checklists, apply font and style formatting, organize your notes into sections, and add tags to your content. Have multiple devices? Need to collaborate with fellow students or colleagues? OneNote gives you access to all of your notes from all of your computers and devices (no matter whether they are Anrdoid, Windows, iOS or MacOS). Microsoft has been criticized lately for all but missing the boat when it comes to mobile devices and integration, but seeing sophisticated apps like OneNote emerging is enough to make me wonder if their next niche won’t be related to apps instead of operating systems… If you would like to take Microsoft OneNote for a test drive on your Android device, download it for free now.
Microsoft Improves OneNote App For Tablets is a post from: Good e-Reader |
Icarus Illumina HD Kindle App Review (+Video)
| The Icarus Illumina HD is a 6-inch E Ink ebook reader that runs Android 4.2 and comes with the Kindle reading app preloaded. It’s a newer version of the Kindle Android app, version 4.5.1.6, with adjustable font types and audiobook integration, although audiobooks don’t work on the Illumina HD because it does not support audio. […] |
Action movies streaming through OverDrive
| They've been called movie eye candy by many. Besides a good comedy, they're likely the most fun you'll have watching a movie, and there's no better time for them than now. Hollywood blockbusters and superhero movies fill the theater seats, and we can't help but keep coming back for more. They're action movies, and they're available right now in OverDrive Marketplace through our streaming video format, with more added every day. Here are just some of my favorites: Django Unchained (2012) Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson. Directed By Quentin Tarantino. Academy Award® Winner: Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. What it's about: Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django, promising to free him upon the capture of the Brittles—dead or alive. Why your patrons will love it: This movie has everything that makes action movies fun: gun battles, explosions, an awesome hero, a crazy villain, etc. Tarantino movies have always been the epitome of "cool," but they've never really been considered "fun." While there are parts of Django that will make some people uncomfortable, this is easily his most accessible movie. It's also his most successful movie, making over $162 million at the box office.
Kill the Irishman (2011) Starring Ray Stevenson, Christopher Walken, and Val Kilmer. Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. What it's about: During the summer of 1976, 36 bombs detonated in the heart of Cleveland while a turf war raged between Irish mobster Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson) and the Italian mafia. Based on a true story, Kill the Irishman chronicles Greene’s heroic rise from a scrappy union official in a tough Cleveland neighborhood to a local mob enforcer who took on some of the biggest crime syndicates. Why your patrons will love it: It's one of the few movies that stays pretty true to the source material, which is a terrific novel by Rick Porrello, which in turn is based on the real events depicted in the movie. Ray Stevenson is almost uncanny as Danny Greene, and while the action may be more crime drama, it keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Even though the move wasn't that successful at the box office, it's found a lot of popularity in the home video market. The movie also has special ties to Cleveland, OverDrive's home city.
Traitor (2008) Starring Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, and Jeff Daniels. Directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff. What it's about: When straight arrow FBI agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) heads up the investigation into a dangerous international conspiracy, all clues seem to lead back to former U.S. Special Operations officer, Samir Horn (Don Cheadle). A mysterious figure with a web of connections to terrorist organizations, Horn has a knack for emerging on the scene just as a major operation goes down. Obsessed with discovering the truth, Clayton tracks Horn across the globe as the elusive ex-soldier burrows deeper and deeper into a world of shadows and intrigue. Why your patrons will love it: The movie is reminiscent of old-school spy thrillers, albeit with more action scenes. The movie keeps you guessing throughout with wonderfully timed twists that help achieve that, "did he/didn't he" game in the viewer's head. It also boasts a twist ending that many won't see coming.
These great titles (and many more!) are available with the streaming video format. If you don't have streaming video yet, contact your Collection Development or Account Specialists to get started today. Jim Monastra is an Account Specialist at OverDrive.  |
Have you signed up for the OverDrive streaming video webinar?
 There’s still time to register for OverDrive’s Streaming Video webinar, taking place this Thursday, August 21, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT). Join us for a free, informative webinar to learn how the streaming video lending service from OverDrive benefits your library or school. We’ll go over the details of the service, what the different lending models mean, budgeting tips, how to promote to your users, and more. We’ll dedicate the last 15 minutes to answering your questions in real time. Sign up today to learn more about OverDrive’s streaming video for libraries and schools. Can’t make it this Thursday? Be sure to watch the full recorded webinar following the live session at the OverDrive Learning Center.
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Amazon Whispersync for Voice Debuts in the UK
| Amazon WhisperSync for Voice is a system that includes immersion reading and was designed to pick up where you left off in an eBook in the audio edition. It also allows you to both listen to the audiobook, while reading the eBook and text is highlighted as the words are spoken aloud. The service has just rolled out in the United Kingdom and 25,000 Kindle books and 25,000 audiobooks are supported. Audible founder and CEO Donald Katz said: "We hear from many Kindle and Audible customers in the US that Whispersync for Voice has profoundly changed the way they read. In fact, switching back and forth between reading and listening has become their preferred way of experiencing stories. We are thrilled to be able to open this up to UK listeners and readers for the first time." Jorrit Van der Meulen, VP of Amazon Kindle Europe, said: "We're working hard to help customers find more moments each day to enjoy a great book I think WhisperSync for Voice is one of the those programs that never caught on in a big way, but people who enjoy the audiobook experience can get more synergy with the digital book edition. I know many people who read the book at night and then listen to the audiobook on the way to work or walking the dog. Its fairly cool to have both mediums synced whether you are using the iOS or Android apps, or using hardware like the Kindle Fire. Amazon Whispersync for Voice Debuts in the UK is a post from: Good e-Reader |
The first Raspberry Pi computer room in Togo
| Dominique Laloux first got in touch with us in May 2013 when he was on the point of leaving to spend a year in the rural Kuma region of Togo in Western Africa, an area where, until 2012, 75% of teachers had never used a computer. He had previously joined a team of Togolese friends to set up the Kuma Computer Center in the mountain village of Kuma Tokpli for the students and teachers of five local secondary schools, and planned to introduce Raspberry Pis there.  The building that currently houses Kuma Computer Center’s first computer room in Kuma Tokpli We next heard from Dominique earlier this month. We were delighted to learn that besides the Center’s first computer room, which has now been up and running for almost two years, the team has established a fully functional Raspberry Pi computer room, with 21 Pis and a couple of other PCs, in Kuma Adamé, a village about 20 minutes’ motorbike ride from Kuma Tokpli. This will be used daily by the 200 students of the local middle school, and was financed largely by former Adamé residents who have settled in Lomé, Togo’s capital. A team of students and teachers from The International School of Brussels, where Dominique works, helped fund the purchase of the Raspberry Pis and their accessories.  The new Raspberry Pi computer room in Kuma Adamé The initial focus is on teaching the students basic computer literacy, and the team chose the Raspberry Pi based on its low initial cost, its anticipated low maintenance costs, its low power consumption and its use of Open Source software. Dominique believes – and we think he’s probably right – that this is the first Raspberry Pi computer room in Togo! He says,
 Before work began on the new computer room Key to the sustainability of the project is that it has been developed within the local community for the benefit of community members, having begun as an idea of teachers in Kuma. Various groups in the community are represented in the management of the project, contributing different kinds of support and expertise. Dominique again:
Currently the team is constructing a small building in Kuma Tokpli, which will become the permanent base of the Kuma Computer Center (and the second largest building in the small village), superseding the facility currently made available by a local farmers’ association. They also continue to work on the curriculum, and hope to introduce the students to programming in addition to teaching ICT and using the Raspberry Pis and other computers to support learning across the curriculum. If you’d like to support the Kuma Computer Center, with funds or otherwise, have a look at their website. And if you’ve got an idea as good as this one to teach young people about computing, you’ll want know about the Raspberry Pi Education Fund, recently opened for applications and aimed at supporting initiatives like this with match funding; learn more here! |
Blurb signs New Deals with Amazon and Ingram for eBook Distribution
| Online magazine and eBook publishing company Blurb has been busy of late. They have just a signed a new global retail distribution partnership with Ingram Content Group, and free output to reflowable ebooks for all Amazon Kindle devices and Kindle readers. Blurb now has the broadest self-publishing platform available, enabling indie authors to publish books, magazines, and ebooks in multiple formats, and then sell direct on Blurb.com or via distribution programs with Amazon and Ingram. There is not too many self-publishing companies that are heavily invested in the magazine space, other than Glossi, who is entirely online. "Authors, like artists, want two things: Control over their product and process, and fair compensation for their quality work," said Eileen Gittins, founder and CEO, Blurb. "The elements are now all here for indie authors to design, market and sell their books – at a healthy margin – via global distribution to booksellers both online and at retail. We're thrilled to deliver a truly complete offering for creatives of all kinds who want to bring their passions to life. Authors can now make the beautiful books Blurb is known for at more competitive prices." Ingram is likely the biggest deal for Blurb others, because it gets their books physically printed in over 39,000 locations. Here is some info the company provided to us on options for indie authors. “Blurb's new Trade Books come in three industry-standard trim sizes: 5×8, 6×9, and 8×10, in uncoated text-weight paper. Trade Books are available in both hardcover and softcover, and all formats are eligible for global distribution through Ingram, giving Blurb authors a much broader target audience. Authors have two print options: Economy and Standard. Economy printing offers a lower print-on-demand starting price ($3.99 for color, $2.99 for black and white), while Standard printing features a wider color range and rich blacks, comparable to Blurb's existing trade and pocket book printing.”
Blurb signs New Deals with Amazon and Ingram for eBook Distribution is a post from: Good e-Reader |
