It's no eBook reader

[samcraig]

Here's something to consider...

Yes - the iPad will be a decent e-reader. But since it does SO many other things, isn't the iBookstore getting a bit diluted?

What I mean is - if you own a kindle - it's an eReader only. Which means it's for books only. No other content. So consumption on a Kindle is very focused on one type of media.

If the iPad is a media device - then people buying it aren't only going to buy/use it for eBooks - it's just an "added" extra, Per se.

Do you think that the iBookstore - alone (on a consumer level vs academic) will be as active as Amazon or Barnes & Noble in terms of BOOK sales?

Hard to predict. But I suspect that the iBookstore will do well, naturally. But that the iPad is going to dilute revenue across mp3, video, ebooks, etc.

Again - I am just speaking in regards to the iBookstore. Overall, the iPad can definitely be a greater profit center for iTunes across the board. But as far as books go - who can say.

 

[mkrishnan]

Do you think that the iBookstore - alone (on a consumer level vs academic) will be as active as Amazon or Barnes & Noble in terms of BOOK sales?

Hard to predict. But I suspect that the iBookstore will do well, naturally. But that the iPad is going to dilute revenue across mp3, video, ebooks, etc.

It's an interesting question... if the analogy holds, it's noteworthy that Walmart, of all places, became relevant in book sales through the bulk of muscle of everything else they offered, and in the same way, consumers who are already buying a large amount of music (but not so many videos or movies) on iTunes might be drawn to keep it simple and buy books there too.

At the same time, Amazon just unveiled its latest numbers (to some extent... all they'll say is they've sold "millions" of Kindles), and they continue to look very compelling. We'll have to see what happens in the next six months with them.

 

[samcraig]

It's an interesting question... if the analogy holds, it's noteworthy that Walmart, of all places, became relevant in book sales through the bulk of muscle of everything else they offered, and in the same way, consumers who are already buying a large amount of music (but not so many videos or movies) on iTunes might be drawn to keep it simple and buy books there too.

At the same time, Amazon just unveiled its latest numbers (to some extent... all they'll say is they've sold "millions" of Kindles), and they continue to look very compelling. We'll have to see what happens in the next six months with them.

Indeed. I posted a great zdnet editorial which touches on this factor. Amazon is hoping (and I think for now they're pretty safe for 2010) that people are accustomed to buying books on their site. They've done it for years now. And that Amazon will continue to be the "go to" place for books.

The editorial also says that the "war" - if any - wouldn't play out until the earliest 2011.

 

[r0k]

BTW, you do remember that Jobs said they are using epub format right? There are a plethora of options for reading books in epub format even if Apple never "gets around to" writing their own windows or osx ebook viewer.

Maybe... this is only true if the Apple books are DRM-free (see ref).

I did notice the mention that epub supports drm. I would not be surprised to see drm on current best sellers and I would accept that they are only playable in Apple software much like I tolerate this situation with iTunes and the music I purchased through iTunes.

I also own a lot of music from Amazon in mp3 format and I don't have to think twice about being able to play it on non iThings. I prefer my de-Apple'd (mp3.com, ripped my own cd's, purchased from amazon) music to my iTunes music so much that I have over 30gigs of mp3 stuff and only a few gigs of iTunes stuff.

So I must agree that the jury is out on the so called openness of epub until we find out whether apple offers drm-less books and if they don't offer drm-less books, will Apple give us software to view them on other platforms.

But as long as Apple doesn't give Kindle for iPhone the big boot, I know I can use an iPad to enjoy my library of Kindle books. And I bet some of them are drm'd and will only be viewable in the Kindle software but not Apple's native player. Don't you just hate DRM?

 

[Alchematron]

Will it highlight books like a yellow marking pen???

 

[samcraig]

.

But as long as Apple doesn't give Kindle for iPhone the big boot, I know I can use an iPad to enjoy my library of Kindle books. And I bet some of them are drm'd and will only be viewable in the Kindle software but not Apple's native player. Don't you just hate DRM?

interesting post. I think you're right. Kindle books will be available to be read via an App and not in the native book reader.

I think Apple would be foolish to not allow Kindle books on the iPad. Yes - they could lose revenue from iBookstore - but at the same time, if they don't - they'll be hard pressed to get people who own a Kindle and have amassed a library to abandon their device.

 

[mkrishnan]

I did notice the mention that epub supports drm. I would not be surprised to see drm on current best sellers and I would accept that they are only playable in Apple software much like I tolerate this situation with iTunes and the music I purchased through iTunes.

Now this is not a rhetorical question, but aside from the people offering free copies of old works, are there really many sources for DRM-free versions of major publisher books -- all the major release novels, literary fiction, non-fiction books, etc -- whether they're best sellers or not? I'm under the impression that "real" options for reading (not that classics aren't real, but I don't consider a solution credible if it can't read any books published in the last 20 years) are all DRM franchises....

 

[cube]

Well, I never understood why would people want to carry an iPod when they could just use their cheap phone with a cheap memory card to play music.

In the same way, people who want the best reading experience will still buy a dedicated reader. Until a future, more compact iPad is implemented using electronic ink.

 

[ac4lt]

Now this is not a rhetorical question, but aside from the people offering free copies of old works, are there really many sources for DRM-free versions of major publisher books -- all the major release novels, literary fiction, non-fiction books, etc -- whether they're best sellers or not? I'm under the impression that "real" options for reading (not that classics aren't real, but I don't consider a solution credible if it can't read any books published in the last 20 years) are all DRM franchises....

Most publishers are still clinging to DRM, but a few don't. O'Reilly, a publisher of technical books, offers ebooks without DRM. I think Baen, a science fiction publisher is also DRM free. But, alas, they are the exception rather than the rule.

 

[mkrishnan]

Most publishers are still clinging to DRM, but a few don't. O'Reilly, a publisher of technical books, offers ebooks without DRM. I think Baen, a science fiction publisher is also DRM free. But, alas, they are the exception rather than the rule.

Ahhh, well, I guess that is something. But let me ask a more personally motivated version of this. I'm understanding that pretty much nothing on the NYT Bestseller lists is available DRM-free, right?

Is the same pretty much true for books that have won the major literary prizes in the last 20 years -- if you look at Man Booker, Pullitzer, Nobel, National Book Award, etc, authors, how much of that stuff is available DRM-free? I'm thinking the answer is once again going to be close to bubkis....

OTOH, DRM-free eventually came to the music industry, a few years after iTunes sales really took off. Much to my chagrin, since I bought a fair amount of music with DRM. Maybe the same will ultimately happen to books, for the same underlying reason, once there is a critical mass and booksellers believe in the market.

 

[cube]

DRM is not so much of an issue, because people move music and video across many devices, but not physical books.

 

[samcraig]

DRM is not so much of an issue, because people move music and video across many devices, but not physical books.

Well Book DRM is an issue to publishers don't want you taking their books and duplicating/distributing them for free.

 

[ac4lt]

Ahhh, well, I guess that is something. But let me ask a more personally motivated version of this. I'm understanding that pretty much nothing on the NYT Bestseller lists is available DRM-free, right?

Is the same pretty much true for books that have won the major literary prizes in the last 20 years -- if you look at Man Booker, Pullitzer, Nobel, National Book Award, etc, authors, how much of that stuff is available DRM-free? I'm thinking the answer is once again going to be close to bubkis....

I think you are correct.

If publishers are forcing DRM then hopefully Apple is using Adobe's DRM. It doesn't tie you into one vendor like Amazon's does and allows up to six devices to be registered at one time.

I seriously hope they haven't rolled their own DRM. That would really dilute the value of using epub.

 

[mkrishnan]

I seriously hope they haven't rolled their own DRM. That would really dilute the value of using epub.

To date, Apple has used their own DRM (Fairplay) every time they've used DRM -- music, videos, the App Store... they've used it as a competitive advantage, since it "works" fairly well and they've managed to avoid too much backlash from people wanting an open standard. I think that's why Adobe was assuming that Apple would use Fairplay on their books, too.

 

[cube]

Well Book DRM is an issue to publishers don't want you taking their books and duplicating/distributing them for free.

I meant there's little barrier to buying a digital DRM'ed book instead of a printed book. Contrast this with DRM'ed music compared to physical supports.

But still, DRM'ed books should be based on an open standard.

 

[samcraig]

I think you are correct.

If publishers are forcing DRM then hopefully Apple is using Adobe's DRM. It doesn't tie you into one vendor like Amazon's does and allows up to six devices to be registered at one time.

I seriously hope they haven't rolled their own DRM. That would really dilute the value of using epub.

You can add several devices to your amazon account (kindles, iphones, etc) for their DRM content. I think it might even be 6 devices as well.

So that's out of the equation...

 

[cube]

If you're locked in to one type of proprietary DRM, there's no competition on content price.

 

[samcraig]

If you're locked in to one type of proprietary DRM, there's no competition on content price.

Cube - ahhh.. there's the rub, right? Unless that proprietary DRM is so popular that others want to license it - making it a profit center for the originating company + opens up the marketplace for others...

 

[mkrishnan]

DRM is not so much of an issue, because people move music and video across many devices, but not physical books.

If you're locked in to one type of proprietary DRM, there's no competition on content price.

Are you arguing both sides of the fence now, cube?

Normally, I'd agree with you (second quote), but look at online sales in recent times... Apple launched iTunes, used proprietary DRM, insisted on fixed pricing, much to the industry's anger. And songs cost $0.99... Now, fast forward several years, the DRM is gone, and by and large (less on Amazon than on iTunes), the songs all cost $1.29.

Similarly, Amazon has done an excellent job of pushing booksellers to sell their books at $9.99 or less, on their closed, DRM-free store... meanwhile, Jobs initially projected books cost $13-15, and then he had to backtrack and promise to meet Amazon's pricing.

 

[cube]

Cube - ahhh.. there's the rub, right? Unless that proprietary DRM is so popular that others want to license it - making it a profit center for the originating company + opens up the marketplace for others...

If the creator is a content seller, most probably it will not want to license the technology.

 

[cube]

Are you arguing both sides of the fence now, cube?

No, I meant DRM is not a problem compared to buying the physical book. In the digital realm, of course there are problems.

 

[samcraig]

If the creator is a content seller, most probably it will not want to license the technology.

I wouldn't say that. It all depends on what $$$ is to be made. If it can be a profit center without disturbing the financial model already created - it would be advantageous. If there is concern it will erode the investment they've made and continue to make on their own - then sure, it would be foolish

 

[cube]

Similarly, Amazon has done an excellent job of pushing booksellers to sell their books at $9.99 or less, on their closed, DRM-free store... meanwhile, Jobs initially projected books cost $13-15, and then he had to backtrack and promise to meet Amazon's pricing.

Technical books don't carry such an aggresive pricing.

 

[cube]

Normally, I'd agree with you (second quote), but look at online sales in recent times... Apple launched iTunes, used proprietary DRM, insisted on fixed pricing, much to the industry's anger. And songs cost $0.99... Now, fast forward several years, the DRM is gone, and by and large (less on Amazon than on iTunes), the songs all cost $1.29.

That's because of agreeing to variable pricing, not agreeing to increase the price for the final removal of DRM.

There's not such a need for books to be DRM-free. Just than the DRM is completely cross-platform and future-proof for the consumer.

 

[mrgreen4242]

Cube - ahhh.. there's the rub, right? Unless that proprietary DRM is so popular that others want to license it - making it a profit center for the originating company + opens up the marketplace for others...

If that were true we'd have all kinds of vendors selling DRM'd music and video content for the iPod/iPhone/ATV. It's by fair the most widely used media DRM sceme so if you were correct Apple would be making a killing selling it to all the eager resellers.

There are plenty of places that I suspect would like to play ball with Apple, but they have no incentive to do so, and so don't.