Tag: Kindle

Amazon Offers New Royalty Program For Kindle Authors

Amazon.com said today it is now offering independent authors and publishers who use its ebook self-publishing program, the Kindle Digital Text Platform (DTP), a 70 percent royalty option.

For each book sold from the Kindle Store for Kindle, Kindle DX, or one of the Kindle apps for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, BlackBerry, PC, Mac and Android phones, authors and publishers who choose the new 70 percent royalty option will receive 70 percent of the list price, minus delivery costs.

Delivery costs are based on file size, and pricing is set at $0.15/MB. At today’s median DTP file size of 368KB, delivery costs would be less than $0.06 per unit sold. For example, on an $8.99 book an author would make $3.15 with the standard option and $6.25 with the new 70 percent option. This new option, first announced in January, will be in addition to and will not replace the existing DTP standard royalty option.

"We’re excited about the launch of the 70 percent royalty option and user experience enhancements in DTP because they enable authors and publishers to conveniently offer more content to Kindle customers and to make more money from the books they sell," said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President of Kindle Content.

To qualify for the 70 percent royalty option, authors and publishers must meet a number of requirements. The author or publisher list price must be between $2.99 and $9.99 and the list price must be 20 percent below the lowest price for the physical book. In addition, books must be offered at or below the price of any competitor, including physical book prices.

June 30, 2010
Amazon Adds Video/Audio to Kindle Apps

Amazon has announced an update for its Kindle apps for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch that lets users see embedded video and hear audio clips within Kindle books. Of course new books that actually take advantage of this functionality have been announced as well.

The first books to utilize it were Rick Steves’ London from Rick Steves and Together We Cannot Fail by Terry Golway. However, there are 13 on the list currently (including more Rick Steves books).

"We are excited to add this functionality to Kindle for iPad and Kindle for iPhone and iPod touch," said Dorothy Nicholls, director, Amazon Kindle. "Readers will already find some Kindle Editions with audio/video clips in the Kindle Store today–from Rose’s Heavenly Cakes with video tips on preparing the perfect cake to Bird Songs with audio clips that relate the songs and calls to the birds’ appearances. This is just the beginning–we look forward to seeing what authors and publishers create for Kindle customers using the new functionality of the Kindle apps."

"In the new Kindle Edition with audio/video of Rick Steves’ London, the embedded walking tours allow customers to listen to Rick as they explore the sites of London," said Bill Newlin, publisher, Avalon Travel. "Rick’s narration adds depth to the reader’s experience, while listeners can follow the routes more easily with the text."

Last week Amazon lowered the price on its actual Kindle device in response to a lower price on the competing Nook from Barnes and Noble.

June 28, 2010
Barnes & Noble Forces Amazon to Lower Kindle Price

Earlier today, Barnes & Noble revealed a new Wi-Fi version of its Nook eBook reader, and along with that, dropped the price of its 3G version to $199. Not to be outdone, Amazon has now announced that it has dropped the price of its Kindle from $259 to $189.

Barnes and Noble noted in its announcement that the new Nook 3G price made the device the first undre $200 dedicated full-feature eBook reader to offer both free 3G wireless and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Amazon says of the Kindle, "Even though it’s a 3G wireless device, Kindle has no monthly fees or annual contracts," noting that 3G eliminates the need to hunt for Wi-Fi hotspots.

Amazon makes a point of saying that its device is in stock and available for immediate shipping.

It looks like the real winner of this price war will be the consumer.

June 21, 2010
Amazon Launches Kindle For iPad App Globally

Amazon said today its Kindle App for iPad is now available in all countries where the device is sold.

The move by Amazon comes as Apple today launched its iPad internationally in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Switzerland and the UK.

Amazon says the Kindle for iPad app will complement its Kindle reader, offering its synchronization technology of books across a number of Kindle apps, and an interface designed for the look and feel of the iPad.

"We’re thrilled to make Kindle for iPad available to readers around the world," said Jay Marine, director, Amazon Kindle. "Kindle for iPad includes all the features customers love about Kindle for iPhone, including great selection and synchronization of their books across a variety of Kindle apps, along with a beautiful new user interface tailored to the look and feel of iPad."

"Kindle for iPad is the perfect companion for the millions of customers who already own a Kindle or Kindle DX, and a way for customers to download and enjoy books even if they don’t yet have a Kindle."

May 28, 2010
Kindle For Android App Out This Summer

Amazon.com said today it will release a free Kindle for Android application sometime this summer.

Kindle for Android will allow users to browse and read from over 540,000 books in the Kindle Store.

Kindle for Android features Amazon’s Whispersync technology, which saves and synchs a user’s bookmarks across their Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, PC, Mac, and BlackBerry.

"Kindle for Android is the perfect companion application for Kindle and Kindle DX owners, and is also a great way for customers to enjoy over 540,000 books in the Kindle Store even if they don’t yet have a Kindle," said Jay Marine, director, Amazon Kindle.

"We think customers are going to love the convenience and simplicity of having instant access to a massive selection of books from Amazon on their Droid, Nexus, Incredible and many more Android devices."

Key features of Kindle for Android include:

*Choose from five different font sizes

*Read in portrait or landscape mode, tap on either side of the screen or flick to turn pages

*Read the beginning of books for free before purchasing

May 18, 2010
Amazon Kindle To Add Support For Facebook And Twitter

Amazon has introduced a 2.5 software update for its Kindle, which features support for Facebook and Twitter.

The new Facebook and Twitter support will allow Kindle users to share book passages with their friends on the social networks.

Amazon said it is rolling out the new software update to a limited group of Kindle users and plans a full release in late May.

Other new improvements with the update include the ability to organize books and documents into one or more collections, zoom into PDFs and pan around to view small print and detailed tables or graphics.

Other enhancements include:

Password Protection- password protect the Kindle while it’s not in use

More Fonts & better clarity- two new larger font sizes and sharper fonts for a better reading experience

Popular Highlights- See what the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you are reading

April 29, 2010
Amazon First Quarter Earnings Up 68%

Amazon.com reported today that its net income for the first quarter increased 68 percent to $299 million, or 66 cents per share, compared with net income of $177 million, or 41 cents per share in the first quarter of 2009.

Analysts expected earnings of 61 cents a share on revenue of $6.87 billion, according to a consensus forecasts from Thomson Reuters.

"We remain heads-down focused on customers," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com.

"Amazon Prime has just celebrated its fifth anniversary, adoption of Amazon Web Services continues to accelerate, Kindle remains our #1 bestselling product, and earlier this week, Kindle selection reached 500,000 titles."

Net sales increased 46 percent to $7.13 billion in the first quarter, compared with $4.89 billion for the same period the previous year.

For the second quarter net sales are expected to be between $6.1 billion and $6.7 billion, or to grow between 31 percent and 44 percent compared with the second quarter of 2009.

Operating income is expected to be between $220 million and $320 million, or to grow between 39 percent and 102 percent compared with the same period the previous year.

April 22, 2010
Amazon Kindle Leads iPad In Brand Recognition

While eReaders are still becoming mainstream, the Amazon Kindle leads its competitors in brand recognition, with 61 percent of consumers having heard of the device, according to a new report from PriceGrabber.

More than half (55%) of consumers said they had heard of the Apple iPad. Thirty-four percent indicated they had heard of the Sony Reader, and 28 percent of consumers were aware of the Barnes & Noble nook.

While more consumers are familiar with the Kindle, the Apple iPad is the most popular eReader among consumers planning to make a purchase in the next year. Twenty percent of consumers plan to purchase the Apple iPad in the next year, while only 12 percent plan to buy the Kindle. This is followed by 6 percent of consumers planning to purchase the Sony Reader and 5 percent planning to buy the Barnes & Noble nook.

Consumers’ agreement about the primary use of an Apple iPad is undecided. When asked how they would use the iPad, 13 percent said they would primarily use it as an eReader. Twenty percent would use it as an additional mobile productivity device. Nineteen percent would use it as a replacement for a laptop or a netbook, and 10 percent would use it as an entertainment device.

PriceGrabber predicts the touchscreen feature alone likely will not convince consumers to buy an eReader, but eReaders have many features consumers find appealing. Forty-five percent said the touchscreen was an appealing feature of the eReader. Thirty-nine percent of consumers like the portable size, and 37 percent find the availability of eBooks appealing.

March 30, 2010
Amazon Releases Kindle For Mac App

Amazon.com has released its free Kindle for Mac application that allows users to read books from the Kindle Store on their Mac computers.

Kindle for Mac is Amazon’s latest application aimed at expanding Kindle content to a wider range of devices. Kindle books can now be read on the iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, PC and Mac. Amazon said it also plans a Kindle app for Apple’s upcoming iPad tablet. Also look for Amazon to possibly release a Kindle app for Android somewhere down the road.

"Kindle for Mac is the perfect companion application for customers who own a Kindle or Kindle DX," said Jay Marine, director, Amazon Kindle.

"For those customers around the world who don’t yet have a Kindle, Kindle for Mac is a great way to instantly access and read the most popular new releases as well as their old favorites."

Kindle for Mac features Amazon’s Whispersync technology that automatically saves and synchronizes bookmarks and last page read across devices. Kindle for Mac allows users to read some on their Mac and some on a Kindle, while saving their place.

Amazon says several new features will be added to the Kindle for Map app in the near future, including full text search and the ability to create and edit notes and highlights.

March 18, 2010
Amazon Rolls Out Kindle App For BlackBerry

Amazon.com has launched "Kindle for BlackBerry," a new free application that can be downloaded from the retailer’s website.

Kindle for BlackBerry offers access to over 420,000 books and is available on variety of BlackBerry devices. Kindle for BlackBerry allows users to save and synch bookmarks on their Kindle devices, iPhone, iPod touch, PC and BlackBerry. Amazon said it has plans to do the same for Mac and iPad soon.

"Since the launch of our popular Kindle for iPhone app last year, customers have been asking us to bring a similar experience to the BlackBerry," said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle.

"Kindle for BlackBerry is a great way for customers to continue reading their current book wherever they are – in between meetings, at the grocery store or waiting in the doctor’s office. We think customers are going to love how easy and fun it is to read their Kindle books on their BlackBerry."

Customers using BlackBerry devices on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and other U.S. carriers can get wireless access to Kindle books, most for $9.99.

Key features of Kindle for BlackBerry app include:

*Automatically synchronize the last page read between their Kindle-compatible devices

*Create bookmarks and view annotations they created on their Kindle, Kindle DX, or Kindle for iPhone and iPod touch

*Adjust the text size of books

*Read books in full color

February 18, 2010
Majority Of E-Reader Owners Have No Complaints

Owners of e-readers such as the Kindle report they are happy with their devices according to a new study by The NPD Group.

The majority (93%) of owners said they were "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with their device. Only 2 percent indicated any level of dissatisfaction.

Features are important to e-reader owners. More than half (60%) said wireless access was their favorite feature on their e-reader and nearly a quarter (23%) mentioned touch.

"Both the display technology and available content on e-Readers are optimized for those interested in books, said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis at NPD.

"Pairing these optimizations with wireless technology for transparent access and touch screens for easy navigation has resonated with the avid readers that have been early e-Reader adopters."

Even with great features, e-reader owners are still looking for more in these relatively new devices. Some recommended improvements from owners include more book title availability (42%), longer battery life (39%), and color screens (34%). Content is important, with 46 percent of owners saying they were most satisfied with the selection of titles for their e-readers while 39 percent said they could find every title they were looking for.

E-reader owners are not completely tied to their devices to do their reading. About three-in-ten say they use at least one other device for reading e-books, such as a PC or a smartphone.

"As we have seen with music, photos and video, books and other printed matter are slated to appear on a wide array of devices that offer tradeoffs in such factors as screen size and battery life," said Rubin.

"As the recent introduction of Apple’s iPad demonstrates, applications now on smartphones benefit from larger screens, and industry leaders are recognizing the importance of supporting multiple platforms by supporting multiple clients and open standards."

Related Articles:

> Android May Power New Barnes & Noble E-Reader

> Consumer Interest In E-Readers Mixed

> Sony Can’t Guarantee E-Reader Holiday Shipments

February 3, 2010
Amazon Posts Strong Q4 Results

Amazon.com today reported strong fourth quarter profits that beat Wall Street analyst’s estimates.

The online retailer said its net income increased 71 percent to $384 million in the fourth quarter, or 85 cents per share, compared with $225 million, or 52 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Net sales increased 42 percent to $9.5 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with $ 6.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.

"Millions of people now own Kindles," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com.

"And Kindle owners read, a lot. When we have both editions, we sell 6 Kindle books for every 10 physical books. This is year-to-date and includes only paid books — free Kindle books would make the number even higher. It’s been an exciting 27 months."

Amazon said it expects its operating profit for the first quarter of 2010 to be between $275 million to $365 million, on revenue of $6.4 billion to $7 billion, for growth between 32 percent and 43 percent.

Shares rose 3.7 percent in after hours trading to $130.41 signaling investors were pleased with Amazon’s Q4 results.

Related Articles:

> Amazon Kindle Publishers and Authors to Get More Royalties

> Amazon Kindle Breaks Monthly Sales Record

> Amazon In eBook Deal With Best Selling Author

January 28, 2010
Amazon Opens Kindle to Third-Party Apps

Amazon announced that it is inviting software developers to build and upload "active content" that will be available in the Kindle Store. In other words, look for something like an app store for the Kindle in the future.

The company is releasing a new Kindle Development Kit, which gives developers access to APIs, tools, and documentation to build such active content. The kit starts limited beta mode next month, but developers can currently sign up to be notified when that begins.

"We’ve heard from lots of developers over the past two years who are excited to build on top of Kindle," said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. "The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities–we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent."

Participants in the beta will be able to download the kit, access developer support and text content on the Kindle, as well as submit finished content, once the beta goes live next month.

"Those wait-listed will be invited to participate as space becomes available," says Amazon. "The Kindle Development Kit includes sample code, documentation, and the Kindle Simulator, which helps developers build and test their content by simulating the 6-inch Kindle and 9.7-inch Kindle DX on Mac, PC, and Linux desktops."

On a related note, Amazon is apparently giving a money-back guarantee on Kindle devices. People can get their money back and keep the Kindle if they "don’t love it." It’s unclear how this "love" will be determined by the company, but Amazon has reportedly confirmed the legitimacy of the deal.

Related Articles:

> Amazon Kindle Publishers and Authors to Get More Royalties

> Amazon Kindle Breaks Monthly Sales Record

> Amazon In eBook Deal With Best Selling Author

January 21, 2010
Amazon Kindle Publishers and Authors to Get More Royalties

Amazon announced details of a new program in which it will provide a new 70% royalty option for the Kindle, meaning authors and publishers can earn more royalties from every Kindle book that is sold. Under this new option, authors would get 70% of the list price, net of delivery costs. The option will not replace the current option of the DTP standard.

"Today, authors often receive royalties in the range of 7 to 15 percent of the list price that publishers set for their physical books, or 25 percent of the net that publishers receive from retailers for their digital books," said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President of Kindle Content. "We’re excited that the new 70 percent royalty option for the Kindle Digital Text Platform will help us pay authors higher royalties when readers choose their books."

Could higher royalties help push e-reader devices further into mainstream usage? Many think they are going to get much more popular anyway. When authors and publishers can get more money out of Kindle books, it’s going to help push more publication of e-books, if not Kindle-specific titles.

Rory Cellan-Jones at BBC News has an interesting piece, which asks, "Is publishing about to have an iPod moment?" It looks at the very real possibility that e-readers will become much more mainstream.

"…2010 is supposed to be the year that publishing’s digital revolution really gathers pace," he notes. "There is now a wide range of e-readers on the market – in the UK devices like the Sony Reader, the Cool-er, and Amazon’s Kindle are all making it relatively easy to download and read e-books."

We recently got an up-close look at the latest Cool-er devices at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Vegas. You can check that out below.

As for the Kindle itself, DTP authors and publishers will be able to select the royalty option that best meets their needs. For that new 70% option, books must meet the following requirements:

– The author or publisher-supplied list price must be between $2.99 and $9.99

– This list price must be at least 20 percent below the lowest physical list price for the physical book

– The title is made available for sale in all geographies for which the author or publisher has rights

– The title will be included in a broad set of features in the Kindle Store, such as text-to-speech. This list of features will grow over time as Amazon continues to add more functionality to Kindle and the Kindle Store.

– Under this royalty option, books must be offered at or below price parity with competition, including physical book prices. Amazon will provide tools to automate that process, and the 70 percent royalty will be calculated off the sales price.

The option is only for in-copyright works and is not available for books published previous to 1923, which are public domain. The option will only be available for books sold in the United States.

Related Articles:

> Amazon Sells More Kindle Books Than Real Books On Christmas

> Amazon Kindle Breaks Monthly Sales Record

> Amazon In eBook Deal With Best Selling Author

January 20, 2010