Libraries Embrace E-Book Lending

(NEWSER) - Amazon is widely rumored to be releasing a new version of its Kindle e-reader next week, and the e-book industry appears to be growing, Fortune reports. Sony is pushing its own device, Google has opened up access to millions of books online and for download to mobile devices like the iPhone, and other manufacturers are expected to introduce tablets similar to the Kindle soon. More»

Device owners read more slowly, make up for it by reading everywhere

(NEWSER) - If your New Year’s resolution was to read more, you might want to buy an e-reader. About 40% of e-reader owners say they read more than they used to, according to a new study. On average, they say, they finish 2.6 books a month compared to a traditional book reader's 1.9. E-reader owners buy more books, too: 51% increased their e-book purchases in the past year, and Amazon says Kindle purchasers buy 3.3 times more books than a non-e-reading customer, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Hachette is third major house to push for higher, iPad-style prices

(NEWSER) - Hachette has joined Macmillan—and, seemingly, HarperCollins—in demanding control over the pricing of its e-books sold through Amazon, a move apparently sparked by Apple’s more flexible model for titles that will appear on its iPad. Hachette sent a letter to agents yesterday announcing it would seek an Apple-style agreement with all retailers. The company’s iBooks store will price titles at $12.99 to $14.99; Amazon offers all bestsellers for $9.99. More»

Pressures publishers to accept lower prices

(NEWSER) - In a bid to boost its ebook business, Amazon is now offering authors and publishers 70% of every sale of a title for the Kindle. The move more than quadruples the standard royalty of 15% or less, to put more in writers' pockets even as the price of their books drops. Amazon’s deal only applies to ebooks listed for $9.99 or less, offered at or below the price of offerings on other e-readers, and at least 20% below that of any physical copy. More»

Miracle device rumored to have social networking and go for less than Kindle

(NEWSER) - Barnes & Noble’s entry into the e-reader market, supposed to be under wraps until next week, has been ferreted out, and it’s got something no one else has. Rumors predicted color e-ink—not true—but the device has “got something almost better,” Kit Eaton writes: two screens. The gadget has a regular, non-backlit e-ink screen like the Kindle, but below it—voila!—a full width touchscreen LCD display reminiscent of the iPhone. More»