Will Google Compete with Amazon as a Bookseller?

Vik RubenfeldFor Readers, For WritersLeave a Comment

via TechCrunch:  Google Is Building A Same-Day Amazon Prime Competitor, “Google Shopping Express”: Google is stealthily preparing to launch an Amazon Prime competitor called “Google Shopping Express.” According to one source the service will be $10 or $15 cheaper than Amazon Prime, so $69 or $64 a year and offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores like Target, Walmart, Walgreens and Safeway … Read More

Amazon to Launch Its Own Currency?

Vik RubenfeldFor Readers, For Writers2 Comments

Are we going to start buying e-books with Amazon e-bucks? Amazon is launching its own private currency:. Amazon has just announced a new virtual currency for Kindle Fire owners to use on in-app purchases, app purchases, etc. in the Amazon Appstore. The service will launch in May, at which point Amazon will be giving away tens of millions of dollars worth … Read More

Headlines Implying that iPads Now Cost $799+? Not So!

Vik RubenfeldFor ReadersLeave a Comment

There are a lot of headlines today that seem to imply a new Retina-screen iPad will set you back $799 or more. From CNET: Apple unveils 128GB fourth-gen iPad starting at $799 From Techcrunch: Apple Debuts 128GB Fourth Generation Retina iPad, $799 For Wi-Fi, $929 For Wi-Fi + Cellular, On Sale Feb. 5 From Gizmodo: The 128GB iPad Is Real, … Read More

With New E-bookstore, Read First, Pay Later

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via Mashable-bookstore: One-Liner Pitch: An e-bookstore and e-reading platform that lets you pay only for what you read. Why It’s Taking Off: Total Boox lets you sample e-books, and take in single pages or chapters, without forking over the full purchase price.  

How to Send Web Content to Your Kindle for PC/Mac

Vik RubenfeldFor ReadersLeave a Comment

via Good E-Reader: So I followed the article’s link to Amazon and I found that there is a whole slew of stuff that Amazon provides. There are browser add-ons for Chrome and Firefox that allow you to send news articles, blog posts, and other content to your Kindle with one click. An add-on for Safari is coming soon, they say. I … Read More

Pros and Cons of Launching a Book on Kickstarter

Vik RubenfeldFor WritersLeave a Comment

Seth Godin has put a lot of thought into this: The good news is that the enthusiasm and support that early adopters bring to the table is extraordinary. This is an untapped human need, and people (some people, anyway) really enjoy the role of patron and early supporter. Others, of course, magnify the impact of their investment and are hard … Read More

iPad Mini On Track to Outsell iPad

Vik RubenfeldFor ReadersLeave a Comment

It’s cheaper. It’s lighter. It’s easier to carry. “The iPad Mini apparently is selling better” than the new iPad 4, Hsieh said in response to an e-mail query. “It seems people especially like the size…[it’s] lighter, slimmer and easier to carry.”

Do Magazine Apps Suck?

Vik RubenfeldFor ReadersLeave a Comment

TechCrunch points out all the magazine apps that suck because they require you to download 100 to 700 megabytes of data. Amen to that. I had to stop using them for the same reason. But you know what I use every day on my iPad, that’s exactly like a magazine? Zite. It’s awesome. Techcrunch points out a magazine app that … Read More