Buzz - iPhone Book Readers
by John Wolf
Are you ready for this—they now have eBook readers built into cell phones. I can't imagine anyone using an iPhone to read a book that would be deeply involved with the content. They would more likely want to read synopsis or abridged renditions to be in the know without having to actually read the "real" book. It is true the Big Six in New York fight off anyone on their paper turf and have avoided getting involved with things electronic, but in the last two years they have come out of their shells. All the major publishers have self-publishing arms now, eBooks, audiobooks, and are getting into mobile from many imprints that the pundits don't even realize are outlets owned by the Big Six.
We're are talking about the paper mob here, they get it. They're in every dark alley of publishing. Where they have fallen short is under estimating the power of Amazon. Amazon is a turd in the punch bowl of publishing. They have brought their marketing bravado into the publishing world by charging any independent author wanting to advertise and sell a book on their site a $39 per year fee. They have their own self-publishing branch - BookSurge. They have the most successful eBook reader - Kindle. They have worldwide electronic distributions and sales. They out sell the big box book stores ten-to-one. Amazon is on everyone's hit list of bullies.
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What is good is all the talk about books, period. Readers could easily be forgotten about in the cluttered minds of the masses with all the other things electronic that vie for attention besides reading a book, be it on a two inch screen or a coffee table behemoth. People are seeking knowledge shooters. They want to be in the know with one quick drink. They want to slam back a hit of being noticed, being hip, having it all right now. Reading is a drag, so anyone with a way to inject knowledge can sell his product. Whether all this will stick is yet to be seen. A lot of people bought a Kindle reader because it was cool and no one else had one yet. But, with the economy on the blink, a four hundred dollar reader that requires expensive service and batteries is becoming less of a draw. You can't beat pulp to get into a fantasy world, which most of us will be doing more and more as the electric light become candles and we slide back into the Dark Ages run by barbarians.
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John Wolf keeps the kennels clean at the Fox&Quill Hunting Club JohnWolfBooks.com |
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