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Apple Tablet Rollout Has Publishers Scrambling

War with Kindle to transform business

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 27, 2010 7:25 AM CST | Updated Jan 27, 2010 7:46 AM CST
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(Newser) – Book publishers were locked in last-minute talks with Apple ahead of today's unveiling of the tablet, which has been touted as promising to change the publishing industry as radically as the iPod did the music industry. The tablet's model for books, which puts it in direct competition with the Amazon Kindle, moves away from the heavy e-book discounting the Kindle has brought, asking publishers to price books at $12.99 or $14.99, rather than the $9.99 Amazon favors.

Publishers will probably have to choose between Apple and Amazon, the Wall Street Journal reports, and the choice won't be easy. With the tablet they'll regain control over pricing, but actually make less—Amazon pays them half the hardcover price, which is typically $28.95, and takes a loss, while Apple will pay 70% of the tablet price. The industry is also hoping for an increase in sales volume: "The gamble is if Apple comes to the table with their sexy device and their millions of customers, will they dramatically increase the e-book business?" a publishing executive said.


FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2009 file photo, the Kindle 2 electronic reader is shown at an Amazon.com news conference in New York.
FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2009 file photo, the Kindle 2 electronic reader is shown at an Amazon.com news conference in New York.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2009 file photo, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is seen during an Apple event in San Francisco.
FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2009 file photo, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is seen during an Apple event in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
inky
Jan 28, 2010 12:15 PM CST
So basically, you're saying a Kindle is the literary equivalent of a Snuggie.
schmidtkoff
Jan 28, 2010 1:38 AM CST
no @inky - kindle is the literary equivalent of mylar thermal.
schmidtkoff
Jan 27, 2010 8:44 AM CST
i want a book that i can feel, make notes in the margins, underline. a book i can smell the newness of and in some feel the silkiness of the pages and the crinkly sound of said pages, such as the pages of the bible - albeit i am not a proponent of it i appreciate the the 'bookiness' of it. not a word but - so what. books are kind of comforting. the kindles are like a mylar thermal blanket functional but not as comforting than a real blanket to wrap yourself around in.

 
Apple • iPod • publishing • electronic books • Kindle • Amazon • ebooks • publishing industry • e-book • Apple tablet • iPad

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