eReaders & eBooks

Quite a few new good summaries if you’re following eBooks and trying to come to terms with ths rapidly changing segment of the content world. Here are three:

Educause has a new 7 Things doc out:

7 Things You Should Know About E-Readers (ID: ELI7058)

Abstract: E-readers are portable, low-power, high-resolution devices that display digital versions of written material from books, magazines, newspapers, and other printed sources. They typically use e-ink, a display technology designed to simulate printed paper that offers similar resolution as newsprint and, relative to an LCD screen, eliminates glare and reduces eyestrain. Digital texts can be updated easily and often include advanced features such as annotation, hyperlinking, cross-linking, saved views, interactive quizzes for individual study, analyses, and shared commentary. E-readers are changing the economics of text-based intellectual property, including educational materials, and a move to digital texts would have broad implications both for the traditional campus bookstore and for an institution’s library.”

Access To Full Text Available here.

Next check out the whole post from the Kindle blog:

Top 50 eReader + eBook Trends for 2010

2010 was supposed to be the Year of the eReader but it’s morphing into the Make or Break Year for the Dedicated eReader (and perhaps the make or break year for eBooks). Here are the top 50 eReader and eBook trends for 2010.

“1. iPad vs Kindle – There is a possibility that Apple steals away Kindle #1 market position.
2. Multi Purpose Devices vs Dedicated eReaders – Will dedicated eReaders be able to survive the onslaught of do-everything devices?
3. Color eReaders – By end 2010 we should have color screen eReaders. We get to find out whether color really does increase sales.
4. Arrival of Flexible, unbreakable eInk screens – These eliminate the fragility of eReaders and make them much more usable for children.
5. Arrival of the 3rd generation of eReaders – Kindle 3, Sony 606, and various other eReaders will try to prove that the third generation really does get things right.
6. Kindle Apps and their impact. It’ll be interesting to see if Kindle Apps can give Kindle a significant advantage and start a trend of eReader apps.
7. Increase in eBook sales – eBooks could make up 10% of total book sales (up from 5% or less in 2009).
8. Increase in eReader sales – eReaders could sell 6 million or more units (up from estimated sales of 3 million in 2009).
9. Brutal Competition amongst eReaders – There seems to be a new eReader announced every day and they are all gunning for the same customers. There’ll definitely be blood.
10. The Transformation of Publishing – Barriers and Costs are going down and competition and confusion are increasing. It’s hard to predict what model of Publishing will make the most sense by the end of the year.

Top Publishing related eReader + eBook Trends for 2010

1. Publishers using iPad to fight $9.99. Competition isn’t always good for customers.
2. The Fight for $9.99. Will readers stick to their guns and keep up their boycott of books over $9.99?
3. Publishers delaying eBook release dates. Publishers are trying everything in their power to kill eBooks.
4. Amazon striking deals directly with authors. Amazon starts bypassing Publishers.
5. Expansion of Amazon Encore. Again, Amazon doing its level best to bypass Publishers.
6. Rise of Publishing upstarts like Open Road, Rosetta Books, and Smashwords. This is the perfect time to start a Publishing company.
7. Rise of Indie Authors. There’s never been a better time to self-publish – no barriers, 70% royalties, direct channels to customers, and readers willing to give indie authors a chance.
8. Published Authors vs Indie Authors – Published Authors flock to the defence of their Publishers and set up an interesting clash with indie authors.
9. Experimentation – What model is going to work? What company is going to make it work? Who should authors and publishers choose to side with?
10. Rise of new Middlemen – There’s quite a high chance that we end up replacing one set of leeches with another.

Top Amazon and Kindle related Trends for 2010

1. Rumored free Kindles for Prime Members – Will Amazon really make such a bold move?
2. New Kindles – Kindle 3, Kindle DX 2, and perhaps other new Kindle family members.
3. Spread of Amazon’s reading apps to various devices. We have Kindle for Blackberry already. Kindle for Mac is next.
4. Better accessibility – Kindle gets accessible menus and a super size font by summer.
5. The Holy Grail – Folders for Kindle to arrive by summer. Perhaps it’s all a dream.
6. Kindle Store embracing new languages and going worldwide.
7. Amazon expanding same day delivery to more cities and setting up shop in Canada (it may not get the Canadian government’s approval).

[Another] 23 more eReader/eBook Trends for 2010

1. Rise of Android – eReader makers continue to adopt Android. Doesn’t make the Top 10 only because of the iPad.
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23. Rise of Community – A site or a Kindle App ought to be able to unleash the power of the Kindle Community. We finally find out just how powerful and influential the Kindle’s owners are and will be.”

See the rest in the full posting.

And, lastly, the real question: Exactly what constitutes an eBook?

It’ll be a big year for change in eBooks, readers, and everywhere we read.

Stephen