Thursday, May 5, 2011

The wave of e-book engulfs New York

New York Correspondent - December 27, Amazon has sold in a day of digital books (e-books) that during the previous three months, indicating that its portable reader Kindle was a hit at Christmas. And, after the teenagers, the American online bookseller attacks the "segment" of the parents. In major newspapers in the country flourishes an advertisement reads: "Kindle, the perfect gift for Mother's Day.

Totally new, smaller, brighter, faster. Think of a book and start reading it after 60 seconds." Want to buy drink in the moment, a dream business school ... In fifteen months, sales of Kindle were multiplied by twelve! Just take the bus to New York to see the folly of the digital book captures the country at breakneck speed, while in 2007, when the first players appeared, mayonnaise did not seem to take.

Don Linn, publishing specialist, uses the term "tectonics" to describe the shock suffered by the profession. The digital is already 10% of total book sales (1% four years ago) and it reached 40% in some niche markets, according to a study by the Association of American Publishers (AAP).

Some data are staggering: in general literature, for the first time he has sold in the United States in February more digitized works for adults in paperback! With 80% market share, Amazon Kindle has imposed its because he had a huge file of "consumers" of books. Recently, the company has signed a distribution agreement with 11 000 libraries in the United States.

But competitors are progressing: the big bookstore chain Barnes & Noble (B & N) has launched its model, the Nook, the only color. Sony has his own, less competitive. Google seems to trailer, but Apple iPad intends to position itself as a formidable competitor. Apart from B & N, none was a major player in book ten years ago.

Today, a large publisher like Hachette Book Group (HBG) publishes books in various formats: card, digital, pocket, audio ... "We are moving towards a world where, to read a book, you take what is at hand: we read on the bus on their smartphone, we continue in his bed on his screen reader.

They will be interconnected, it resume exactly where it left off, "announces Maja Thomas, head of digital at HBG. However, it is relative success of digital. Today, sales are largely made up of sentimental trifles, from thrillers or suspense. There is also "history books, above 20%," says Paul Kozlowski, director of editorial and commercial Other Press, a successful independent publisher.

However, guides, encyclopedias, essays and professional books are difficult to market: what the reader "does not necessarily want to read linearly" is less easy to access on-screen and on paper, he says. As for comic books (comics, encyclopaedias ...), their digital versions are not yet well adapted to the screen.

In addition, manufacturing issues remain. Mr. Kozlowski shows a book recently scanned by Stuart Sutherland, entitled irrationality: a whole chapter is illegible on e-book: "About 200 companies will scan it in India for $ 100 work. Nobody checks the product quality ". To cut costs, publishers outsource the manufacture of e-books, and catalogs include some best-sellers for a vast majority of books at low royalties.

Another problem is the price. To the editor, digital offers significant advantages. Gone are unsold and the additional costs of reprints. The expenses are lowered, but the e-book creates a new expectation in the reader: to pay "as little as possible." Great success, How to Live, a book on Montaigne Sarah Blackwell, is sold $ 25 in hardback, but it is proposed to 9.99 on Kindle.

Now Amazon has purchased from the publisher $ 12.50 each. What's wrong with Amazon is dumping. At this stage, the company not so much seek to sell books is to crush the competition in favor of the Kindle. She maintains a risk: that of making it impossible, tomorrow, the book sale real price.

Already, Internet, books are offered at 99 cents. Latest issues finally: civil liberties - like Google has a copy of all your contacts on Gmail, Amazon and others retain a copy of your purchase - and intellectual property. "Protecting against rogue publishers even more expensive, says Tom Allen, president of the AAP.

It will soon international laws to better protect the creation and dissemination of works." Remains the concern of non-household over 50 years: the paper book Will it disappear? "He will not die, provides Maja Thomas. But where you enter the store just to buy a printed book, it's over." Andi Sporkin, vice president of the AAP, is optimistic: "Some technologies are transforming societies.

The digital player will have consequences even more extensive than the mobile phone: it will allow access to books to billions of beings. " Most editors observe these changes, swinging between hope, fear and uncertainty. "Today, a publisher proportionately more money with a digital book, admits Mr.

Kozlowski. But given its low price, the e-book the book phagocyte-free paper clear enough revenue. "He concluded:" Whoever you predicted the future of the book with your insurance lowered. "A wise ... Discover books on fnac. com

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