Tag Archives: e-readers

Apple’s Eddy Cue acknowledges e-book price increases at antitrust trial, reveals talk of Amazon deal that would split books/music control

Antitrust trial reveals Apple discussed Amazon deal to split control of music and books

The issue of e-book prices, and alleged price fixing, has come up again and again in recent years, with the focus most recently shifting to a Manhattan courtroom where Apple is at the center of an antitrust trial. After revealing new details of the company’s market share yesterday, Apple’s Eddy Cue has today offered another piece of surprising news: that he and Steve Jobs once discussed a potential deal that would see Apple stay out of the ebook market if Amazon agreed stayed out of music. There’s no indication that went beyond the early discussion phase, or actually involved any discussions with Amazon, but it would obviously raise considerable antitrust questions had it gone any further.

As CNET and The Verge report, the DOJ is hoping that revelation will bolster its case that Apple engaged in antitrust practices to inflate ebook prices across the market. On that front, Cue, who the DOJ describes as the “chief ringleader of the conspiracy,” reportedly acknowledged that the prices of some ebooks did go up from April of 2010 (when it opened its iBookstore) through to 2012, but he attributed that to publishers unhappy with Amazon’s $9.99 pricing. Cue’s facing further questioning from Apple’s attorneys this afternoon, with the trial expected to wrap up by the end of next week.

Filed under:

Comments

Source: CNET, The Verge

Excerpted from:
Apple’s Eddy Cue acknowledges e-book price increases at antitrust trial, reveals talk of Amazon deal that would split books/music control

Share/Save/Bookmark

Apple’s Eddy Cue acknowledges ebook price increases at antitrust trial, reveals talk of Amazon deal that would split books/music control

Antitrust trial reveals Apple discussed Amazon deal to split control of music and books

The issue of e-book prices, and alleged price fixing, has come up again and again in recent years, with the focus most recently shifting to a Manhattan courtroom where Apple is at the center of an antitrust trial. After revealing new details of the company’s market share yesterday, Apple’s Eddy Cue has today offered another piece of surprising news: that he and Steve Jobs once discussed a potential deal that would see Apple stay out of the ebook market if Amazon agreed stayed out of music. There’s no indication that went beyond the early discussion phase, or actually involved any discussions with Amazon, but it would obviously raise considerable antitrust questions had it gone any further.

As CNET and The Verge report, the DOJ is hoping that revelation will bolster its case that Apple engaged in antitrust practices to inflate ebook prices across the market. On that front, Cue, who the DOJ describes as the “chief ringleader of the conspiracy,” reportedly acknowledged that the prices of some ebooks did go up from April of 2010 (when it opened its iBookstore) through to 2012, but he attributed that to publishers unhappy with Amazon’s $9.99 pricing. Cue’s facing further questioning from Apple’s attorneys this afternoon, with the trial expected to wrap up by the end of next week.

Filed under:

Comments

Source: CNET, The Verge

Here is the original:
Apple’s Eddy Cue acknowledges ebook price increases at antitrust trial, reveals talk of Amazon deal that would split books/music control

Share/Save/Bookmark

Amazon’s Kindle comes to China: Paperwhite for $138, Fire HD for $244 (16GB) or $293 (32GB)

Amazon's Kindle comes to China Paperwhite for $138, Fire HD for $244 16GB or $293 32GB

Amazon launched its Kindle e-book platform into China last Christmas, but locals looking to get their mitts on the company’s hardware had to look, ahem, elsewhere. Fortunately for everyone but grey market importers, Amazon has released the non-cellular Paperwhite and the two 7-inch Kindle Fire HD tablets to the nation. Our colleagues over at Engadget Chinese have added that as well as being able to buy the devices from Amazon’s local site, users will be able to pick up the units at Suning and Shi Tesco stores across the mainland. The Paperwhite is marked up at 849 yuan ($138), with the Kindle Fire priced at 1499 yuan ($244) for the 16GB edition and 1799 yuan ($293) for 32GB.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: Engadget Chinese (Translated)

Source: Amazon China (Translated)

Source:
Amazon’s Kindle comes to China: Paperwhite for $138, Fire HD for $244 (16GB) or $293 (32GB)

Share/Save/Bookmark

Kindle DX available from Amazon once again for $299

Well, it seemed like Amazon had finally moved on from its large-format Kindle DX e-reader last fall, but it turns out that was only a brief hiatus. As spotted by The Digital Reader late last month, the circa-2010 device is now available to order once again for $299. Amazon itself isn’t offering much indication as to how long it will remain available this time, though, saying only in a statement that “our website lists the most up to date availability for all products,” and adding that “we’re excited to offer customers this option.”

Filed under:

Comments

Via: The Verge, The Digital Reader

Source: Amazon

Here is the original post:
Kindle DX available from Amazon once again for $299

Share/Save/Bookmark

Amazon launches Kindle Worlds publishing platform for fan fiction, will pay royalties to writers and rights holders

Amazon launches Kindle Worlds publishing platform for fan fiction, will pay royalties to writers and rights holders

Amazon’s taken a number of steps to bring different types of content to the Kindle Store, and it’s now venturing into an area that has a long history with the internet: fan fiction. The company’s today announced Kindle Worlds, a new publishing platform that promises to pay writers royalties for stories inspired by established works. Naturally, the original rights holder needs to be a willing participant as well, and they’ll also be paid a royalty for all fan fiction stories sold (Amazon itself with retain the rights to those stories). So what are your options for now? For the launch, Amazon has partnered with Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment to open up three of its series to fan fiction enthusiasts, giving you the chance to write stories set in the world of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars or The Vampire Diaries. The company’s promising that additional licenses are on the way, but for now you can check out the finer details in the press release after the break and at the source link below.

Filed under:

Comments

Source: Kindle Worlds

Go here to read the rest:
Amazon launches Kindle Worlds publishing platform for fan fiction, will pay royalties to writers and rights holders

Share/Save/Bookmark