PAN MACMILLAN AUSTRALIA announced today the launch of MOMENTUM, its new digital-only imprint. Momentum will publish an exciting and vibrant list of new works from established and emerging authors, as well as partnering with agents and individual copyright holders to digitally republish titles that are currently unavailable in print. Publishing ebooks and utilising print-on-demand (POD) technology, Momentum aims to make new and old books more accessible than ever before.

The research question of this study was, how does giving away digital books influence the print sales of those books? In the 10 weeks following the free books being made available, sales of the seven books studied increased 25.9%. via quod.lib.umich.edu Deseret Book решило десяток книжек с падающими продажами отдать на свободное скачивание. Экономисты проанализировали эффект: рост продаж на 26%. Это, правда, второе исследование такого рода. До этого эксперимент ставил O’Рейли ещё в 2008 году.

Futuresource Consulting, a UK-based consulting firm, published the research on e-books and e-readers. “Despite all this rapid growth in demand for e-books in Western Europe, the market is still in its infancy, representing less than 1 percent of total consumer spending on books,” Futuresource market analyst Fiona Hoy said. “Moving forward, there are enormous opportunities within the market and our forecasts show Western European e-book revenues will reach €1.6 billion by 2015, accounting for 15% of total book spend and representing one out of every five books sold in the region.

E Ink says that displays for e-book readers are in such high demand that its tripling every year. They say that the number of e-readers sold in 2011 could reach 25-30 million, 3 times the number sold in 2010. DisplaySearch estimates that about 27 million units will be shipped in 2011. via e-reader-info.com EInk, видимо, знает, что говорит. К этому правда, видимо, надо добавить какое-то количество экранов от SiPix — тоже «бумага».

“Let’s say my goal is to sell 10,000 copies of something. And let’s say that if by putting DRM in it I sell 10,000 copies and I make my money, and if by having no DRM 100,000 copies go into circulation and I still sell 10,000 copies. Which of those is the better outcome? I think having 100,000 [books] in circulation and selling 10,000 is way better than having just the 10,000 that are paid for and nobody else benefits.

via economist.com О будущем бумажных книг. Когда закончится эпоха тиражей, бумажная книга отчасти перекочует в раздел «дико прикольной штуки». За которую не жалко заплатить денег. Тем, более, что, в отличие от винила, её и вправду можно сделать руками.

via wired.co.uk Объект называется “5 Million Dollars, 1 Terabyte”. Художник тщательно подбирал контент подороже.

Но только не за 400 баксов.

A confusing maze of e-book stores, a difficulty in rendering text and high costs of purchase are dissuading Japanese customers from buying into e-books. via thebookseller.com Чем-то похоже на Россию: кто в лес, кто по дрова. И хорошо бы просто разные каналы, а так — сумятица.

The only solution ultimately is a political one. As we grow increasingly disillusioned with quick-fix consumerism, we may want to consider an option which exists in many non-digital industries: quite simply, demanding that writers get paid a living wage for their work. Do we respect the art and craft of writing enough to make such demands? If we do not, we will have returned to the garret, only this time, the writer will not be alone in his or her cold little room, and will be writing to and for a computer screen, trying to get hits on their site that will draw the attention of the new culture lords – the service providers and the advertisers.