[OPLIN 4cast] OPLIN 4cast #378: E-reader woes

Wed Mar 26 10:30:15 EDT 2014

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OPLIN 4Cast

OPLIN 4cast #378: E-reader woes
March 26th, 2014

e-reader app iconsLibraries should probably be happy that they are not 
in the e-reader hardware business. While libraries have plenty of issues 
when it comes to ebooks themselves, at least they're not losing money 
trying to sell dedicated e-reader devices, which seems to be happening 
more frequently to some big-name companies. With e-reader apps on other 
computing devices taking more and more of the market share, we're 
beginning to see some consequences for the dedicated e-reader device 
industry.

  * Sony exits the North American ebook business and gives its customers
    to Kobo
    <http://gigaom.com/2014/02/06/sony-exits-the-north-american-ebook-business-and-gives-its-customers-to-kobo/>
    (GigaOM/Laura Hazard Owen)  "In addition, Kobo's Android app 'will
    be pre-loaded on select Sony Xperia smartphones and tablets,'
    according to Sony's official announcement
    <http://blog.sony.com/press/sony-selects-kobo-to-bring-its-world-class-ebookstore-to-sony-readers-in-the-us-and-canada/>,
    released in conjunction with its quarterly earnings. [...] The news
    isn't much of a surprise since Sony had said last fall
    <http://gigaom.com/2013/09/27/sonys-not-even-going-to-bother-selling-its-new-e-reader-in-the-united-states/>
    it wouldn't bother selling its new e-reader in North America, citing
    'the region's market changes' (i.e., competition from Amazon and, to
    a lesser extent, Barnes & Noble and Kobo)."
  * Commentary - If I was in charge of the Sony e-reader or Reader store
    <http://goodereader.com/blog/commentary/commentary-if-i-was-in-charge-of-the-sony-e-reader-and-reader-store>
    (Good E-Reader/Michael Kozlowski)  "When the company first started
    releasing e-readers they basically had no competition. Within four
    years they had hundreds of competitors, and they were caught
    unprepared for how fast the industry had grown in the few short
    years. In the past, Sony would always release three new e-readers a
    year and for the last three years has only issued one."
  * Microsoft and Nook redo their agreement; no Microsoft e-reader in
    the works
    <http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-and-nook-redo-their-agreement-no-microsoft-e-reader-in-the-works-7000027295/>
    (ZDNet/Mary Jo Foley)  "It is rather confusingly named 'Microsoft
    Consumer Reader.' This is *not* a dedicated e-reader, I hear from my
    sources. [...] Instead, I think this is just the name for one of
    Microsoft's coming e-reading apps. There seem to be at least two of
    these apps in the works. The Microsoft Office Reader app
    <http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-company-meeting-more-on-rio-moorea-and-remix-7000021273/>,
    which company officials showed off last year at an employee meeting,
    will provide users with access to digital content, PDFs and
    textbooks, according to leaks. The Xbox team also is believed to be
    readying a reading app. It's not clear whether this is the same or
    different from the Office Reader."
  * Undeterred by failing Nook, Barnes & Noble will launch new model
    this year
    <http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/02/undeterred-by-failing-nook-barnes-noble-will-launch-new-model-this-year/>
    (Ars Technica/Cyrus Farivar)  "Despite the fact that Nook sales
    plummeted
    <http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/01/nook-sales-crashed-by-over-66-percent-during-2013-holiday-season/>
    by 66 percent during the 2013 holiday season, struggling book
    retailer Barnes & Noble isn't giving up on its e-reader. In fact,
    the company will be putting /more/ effort into its e-reader in the
    near future. In its latest quarterly earnings report, company CEO
    Michael P. Huseby announced
    <http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890491/000115752314000806/a50812131_ex991.htm>
    Barnes & Noble would unveil a new Nook device in the coming months."

*/Contrary fact:/*

While sales of some e-readers have been weak, the number of adults that 
have dedicated e-readers went from 24% last September to 32% after the 
holidays, according to January survey 
<http://www.eweek.com/small-business/e-reader-sales-up-but-print-still-holds-a-strong-grip-pew.html> 
data.
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