Publishers talk about the iPad, Kindle and other tablets as their salvation. New consumer research suggests that view may be well-grounded: Tablet users are devouring more content -- and are reconciled to paying.
Conde Nast launched an iPad version of The New Yorker today. The editors of the venerable magazine say they are delighted -- if a little bewildered -- by the new technology.
Sony unveiled a refreshed lineup of its e-book Readers on Wednesday that features a lighter and smaller model, and adds touchscreen displays to all three models. But while Sony's new designs take a page or two from the competition, its heftier price tags don't.
For the quarter ending July 31, overall sales dropped 11.5% from a year ago to $526 million, continuing a downward spiral that's seen revenues over this time decline year-on-year from $945 million in 2007 to $749 million in 2008 to $617 million in 2009.
Faced with tumbling book sales, Borders, the country's second largest bookstore chain, will begin selling stuffed animal kits from Build-A-Bear Workshop in its stores. It also plans to cut prices of its e-reading devices.
Amazon is raving about sales of its new-generation Kindle, calling the device its fastest-selling e-reader ever. But it won't say how many have sold -- is it worried that Wall Street will be disappointed?
Barnes & Noble reports a consolidated net loss of $63 million, or $1.12 per share. That's considerably more than the loss estimated by investors. Meanwhile, a battle with a major shareholder intensifies.
After losing in court, renegade investor Ron Burkle is poised to launch a proxy contest for Barnes & Noble that will be tinged by animosity between Burkle and B&N founder and chairman Leonard Riggio.
The fight between Barnes & Noble and its second-largest shareholder, Ron Burkle, appears to be over. A deal has apparently been reached that would give Burkle three board seats in exchange for dropping his suit.
Apart from the many strategic issues that have weighed down Barnes & Noble's stock price, there's another good reason for the company to put itself up for sale: An effort to liberate itself from the manipulations of investor Ron Burkle.
E-readers like the Kindle and Nook may be on a rapid descent toward rock-bottom prices, but what about the prices of e-books? According to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, they are too high, too uniform, and look too much like a violation of antitrust practices.
If you're were thinking of ordering one of Amazon's brand-new Kindle e-readers, get in line. Just five days after announcing the new Kindle 3G Kindle WiFi models, both devices are sold out, and anyone who pre-orders now won't get one until Sept. 4, a week after the original ship date.
Amazon dropped the price of its basic Kindle e-reader last month -- and sales quickly reached what CEO Jeff Bezos calls a "tipping point." But the lack of inventory could hurt as Amazon fights to build market share.
