Related:

– New Kids Digital Reading Platform Promises Education and Discovery

– Ruckus Launches Its Next Generation Digital Reading Platform

[Press Release]

Ruckus Media Group, an independent family entertainment company, has received a grant from the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) to build Read Together While Apart ™ (RWTA) Technology, a collaboration infrastructure that will run on networked mobile and non-mobile devices and supports a parent and their child reading Ruckus’ eBooks together and playing interactive games in the eBook while the parent and the child are not in the same location.

Academic research supports the observation that when a parent and a child are together, the parent can help the child with his/her reading and improve literacy skills. NSF awarded Ruckus the grant to address the positive contributions that collaboration provides in learning to read and to construct and install functionality inside an interactive eBook that enables the co-activity.

The challenge to collaborative learning comes when the parent is not co-located with the child — when a parent is away from the family home serving in the military or on a business trip, for example. Currently eBook platforms do not provide the opportunity for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets to work, in real time, with non-mobile devices like desktop and laptop computers; by automating the process and tapping into the growing ubiquity that networked, mobile technology can address, Ruckus’ RTWA technology will provide a parent and child with the experience of being co-located so they can take advantage of the value of synchronous collaboration.

In addition, RTWA Technology, developed in consultation with Elliot Soloway, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan School of Education and Cathleen Norris, Regents Professor, University of North Texas can support a parent/guardian helping his/her child to learn to read (or vice versa in some cases) and will provide parent resources, scenario-based materials that will describe, in words, pictures and videos, specific ways to interact with children using the Read Together While Apart technology to effectively exploit the technology.

In addition, RTWA Technology, developed in consultation with Elliot Soloway, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan School of Education and Cathleen Norris, Regents Professor, University of North Texas can support a parent/guardian helping his/her child to learn to read (or vice versa in some cases) and will provide parent resources, scenario-based materials that will describe, in words, pictures and videos, specific ways to interact with children using the Read Together While Apart technology to effectively exploit the technology.

“Nothing fosters literacy like parents, caregivers and kids reading and sharing books together,” says Jason Root, Ruckus’ Chief Content Officer. “Storytelling has a rich read-along, read-out-loud heritage. We are honored to have been selected by the NSF to further our idea of utilizing proprietary mobile technology to create remote read-together experiences in real time. Parents may be separated from their children due to military or business assignments or divorce, and grandparents often live in different states or countries — yet they all want to read with their children. Our goal, simply, is to keep families connected through reading, whether they are physically co-located or not.”

Ruckus Media Group has a proven record of creating award-winning, innovative interactive storybooks, and the company’s passion to entertain and educate children while supporting reading and literacy progress drives all its efforts. Recently, Ruckus announced a partnership with Connecticut Public Television to create a station-branded content delivery and mobile engagement platform for CPTV, with plans to incorporate the RTWA technology into the offerings within this platform as well as those developed for public broadcasting stations nationwide.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year 2012, its budget is $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,000 new funding awards. NSF also awards nearly $420 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

ABOUT RUCKUS MEDIA GROUP

Ruckus Media Group creates award-winning interactive applications for mobile devices designed to entertain and educate children. Its latest release, the Ruckus app, delights children with interactive storybooks featuring favorite brands (Hasbro, Crayola, SeaWorld); ReadAlong eBook versions of celebrated titles (Curious George, The Polar Express); original content from top names in entertainment (Butch Hartman, The Wiggles); and Video episodes from the best in children’s TV and music (Sid the Science Kid, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!, KidzBop). Parents are provided with feedback on their child’s experiences within the application, including time spent, and reading tips from educators and parents. Since the company’s launch, Ruckus has been recognized with more than 30 parenting and app awards, including a Mom’s Choice Gold Award for the #1 iTunes bestselling “My Little Pony: Twilight Sparkle, Teacher for a Day,” based on the ever-popular Hasbro toy characters and a Kidscreen iKids award for the Crayola Ruckus Readers, among many others.

For a full listing of titles and additional information, please visit our website as well as the Ruckus at the App store and follow Ruckus on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HD 8.9” Now Available for Pre-Order for Customers in over 170 Countries Around the World, Shipping June 13

Kindle Fire HD—with a stunning custom 7” or 8.9” HD display, ultra-fast Wi-Fi, and exceptional battery life—perfect for web browsing, apps, games and books

Instant access to the most popular apps and games, including Where’s My Perry?, Pinterest, NBA JAM, and Asphalt 7—each one optimized for Kindle Fire HD

Today Amazon announced that Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HD 8.9” are now available to customers in over 170 countries and territories around the world for pre-order through Amazon.com, giving customers access to millions of apps, games, books, audiobooks and magazines, including more than 300,000 books that are exclusive to the Kindle Store.

“Not only does Kindle Fire feature advanced hardware, it’s also a service. When combined with our content ecosystem, great email and browsing and top-rated customer service, we hope people around the world will agree that Kindle Fire HD is the best tablet for an incredible price.”
Designed for entertainment, Kindle Fire HD is perfect for web browsing, apps, games and books. Features include:

Stunning customized HD display with in-plane switching, Advanced True Wide polarizing filter and customized laminated touch sensor for 25% less glare with rich color and deep contrast from any viewing angle; ideal for movies, apps, and gaming.
Custom Dolby audio and dual stereo speakers for crisp, rich sound.
The most popular apps and games.
Ultra-fast web browsing and streaming with built-in dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi.
Front-facing HD camera for taking photos or making video calls.
Exceptional battery life—Kindle Fire HD gets over 10 hours of battery life.
Easy-to-use e-mail, calendar, and contacts for work or home, including Gmail, Hotmail, Exchange, and more.
Amazon-exclusive features like, Whispersync for Voice and Whispersync for Games.
“Buy Once, Read Everywhere” with the free Kindle app available on the largest number of platforms so customers can use their Kindle books on any of their devices.
Amazon’s top-rated, world-class customer service.
“Kindle Fire HD is the #1 best-selling item in the world for Amazon since its launch, and we’re thrilled to make it available to even more customers around the globe today,” said Dave Limp, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “Not only does Kindle Fire feature advanced hardware, it’s also a service. When combined with our content ecosystem, great email and browsing and top-rated customer service, we hope people around the world will agree that Kindle Fire HD is the best tablet for an incredible price.”

Kindle Fire is a Service

Kindle Fire is more than just great hardware—it’s a service. When a customer orders a Kindle Fire, it arrives pre-registered to their Amazon account and greets them by name. All of the customer’s Kindle content is there waiting for them to download and start enjoying—no long set-up process, and no syncing with a cable. Kindle Fire also comes with instant access to Amazon’s digital content right from the device, including all of the features customers love about shopping on Amazon—customer reviews, one-click purchasing and more. Whenever customers shop on Amazon, or buy a Kindle they know that they are also getting Amazon’s world-class customer service. Customers have been shopping on Amazon for over 15 years, and they continue to do so because of the unparalleled, end-to-end customer experience.

Arrives Pre-Registered

Kindle Fire HD comes automatically pre-registered so customers can immediately start enjoying their digital content purchased from Amazon or shop for new content.

Connect with Bluetooth and HDMI

Kindle Fire HD supports Bluetooth, enabling customers to connect their wireless Bluetooth headphones or Bluetooth speakers to listen to songs or audiobooks. With Bluetooth connectivity, customers can also easily connect to a wide range of Bluetooth-enabled keyboards. HDMI out makes it easy for customers to connect Kindle Fire HD to their big-screen TV to enjoy their favorite videos and photos.

Stunning Custom HD Display

The 8.9” display on Kindle Fire HD features an incredible 254 pixels per inch with a resolution of 1920×1200, meaning that pixels are indistinguishable to the human eye. The 7” Kindle Fire HD features a stunning HD display with 1280×800 resolution that delivers deep, detailed contrast and rich, natural color. Kindle Fire HD a laminated touch sensor to reduce glare and make the display easy to view even in overhead light, and an Advanced True Wide polarizing filter that results in a display that shows the same deep contrast and rich, detailed color from any angle.

High-End Laptop-Quality Wi-Fi—Fast Downloads and High-Speed Streaming

Kindle Fire HD comes with dual-band Wi-Fi and can automatically switch between the 2.4 GHz network and the less crowded 5 GHz network, resulting in better range and less interference.

Stay in Touch with Front-Facing HD Camera

Kindle Fire HD features a front-facing HD camera. Skype created a customized app tailored for Kindle Fire HD that is ready to use out of the box for free HD video calls at home and abroad. Kindle Fire HD makes it easy for the over 250 million customers already using Skype to get in touch with friends and family.

Email and Calendar

The Kindle Fire family features world-class Microsoft Exchange integration, with fine-tuned performance on many of the most critical email functions. For example, typical Exchange accounts sync with the oldest emails first, ending with the most recent emails—Kindle Fire instead syncs with newer emails first, then with older emails, getting customers access to the most recent emails they are looking for. Kindle Fire also features a new calendar app, making it easy for customers to stay connected and keep track of their schedules. The new email client offers support for the world’s most popular email providers—including Gmail, Microsoft Exchange, Hotmail and more.

Photos Brought to Life

Photos come alive in stunning high-resolution on Kindle Fire HD. Fire’s mosaic view arranges personal photos beautifully, and customers will be delighted to see their best shots on their TV with HDMI out. Kindle Fire lets customers easily import their photos from Facebook and because their photos are securely stored in the Amazon cloud, they never have to worry about losing their favorite pictures.

Millions of Apps, Games, Books, Audiobooks and Magazines

Kindle Fire provides customers an incredibly large selection of digital content, including thousands of exclusives:

Instant access to the most popular apps and games, including Where’s My Perry?, Pinterest, NBA JAM, and Asphalt 7—each one optimized for Kindle Fire HD.
Millions of books, including over 300,000 titles that are exclusive to the Kindle Store. Over 650,000 books are priced at $4.99 or less; over 1.2 million are $9.99 or less. Hundreds of magazines and newspapers—including Vogue, Esquire, National Geographic and Better Homes and Gardens—with glossy full-color layouts, HD photography, and beautifully detailed illustrations.
Over 100,000 professionally-narrated audiobook titles available, with free samples to listen to before buying.
16 or 32 GB of On-Device Storage, Plus Free Cloud Storage for Amazon Content

Kindle Fire HD is available with 16 GB or 32 GB of on-device storage. This large on-device storage capacity is in addition to the free storage Amazon provides for Amazon digital content in the Amazon Cloud. Amazon digital content is automatically backed up for free in the Amazon Cloud’s Worry-Free Archive where it’s available anytime.

Powerful World-Class Processor—Snappy and Smooth

An HD display and HD content must be driven by a powerful processor and optimized software. The Kindle Fire HD family features world-class processors and an Imagination Technologies graphics engine for lightning-fast HD graphics and excellent fluidity. The 8.9” Kindle Fire HD is powered by the latest generation OMAP4 4470 processor and Imagination SGX544 graphics engine capable of over 12 billion floating point operations per second, and both Kindle Fire HD 7” and 8.9” come with higher memory bandwidth than Tegra 3. Combining the latest generation processors with significant customization of the Kindle Fire software by Amazon engineers results in a snappy and smooth experience for the user.

Dual Stereo Speakers and Exclusive Dolby Audio

Kindle Fire HD combines dual stereo speakers with the Dolby Digital Plus audio platform—the standard in high-performance audio—to offer a world-class audio experience. Dolby’s audio suite for Kindle Fire HD includes technology used to adjust volume and deliver easy-to-understand dialogue, and also optimizes for headphones versus speakers. All of these pieces combine to create an exceptional audio experience that results in clear, crisp and balanced sound quality.

10 Hours of Battery Life

Kindle Fire HD is optimized to deliver high performance without sacrificing battery life, delivering over 10 hours of battery life.

Thin and Light

Even with a custom display, a powerful processor, extra speakers and dual-band/dual-antenna Wi-Fi, Kindle Fire HD 8.9” weighs only 20 ounces and is just 8.8 mm thin.

Beautiful Leather Covers

Covers for Kindle Fire HD feature a premium textured leather exterior in a variety of colors and a subtle woven nylon interior to provide our lightest and thinnest form of protection. The integrated magnetic clasp ensures the cover remains securely closed while in a backpack, purse, or briefcase. The cover automatically wakes Kindle Fire HD upon opening and puts it to sleep when closed, making it easy to dive right back into whatever content a customer is enjoying.

Customers can discover full details and order Kindle Fire HD at www.amazon.com/kindlefirehd.

Pricing and Availability

Kindle Fire HD 8.9” is available for preorder starting today for just $284 at www.amazon.com/kindlefirehd.

Kindle Fire HD 7” is available for preorder starting today for just $214 at www.amazon.com/kindlefirehd.

Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HD 8.9” will be available for order and ship June 13 to customers in Ireland and Gibraltar from www.amazon.co.uk; for customers in Austria and Luxembourg from www.amazon.de; and for customers in Monaco from www.amazon.fr.

Kindle Fire HD is also available at various retailers around the world. Customers can discover stores and location at www.amazon.com/KindleRetailers.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is our most-advanced e-reader with 62% more pixels and 25% increased contrast, a patented built-in front light for reading in all lighting conditions, extra-long battery life, and a thin and light design. The latest generation Kindle, the lightest and smallest Kindle, features improved fonts and faster page turns. Kindle Fire HD features a stunning custom high-definition display, Dolby audio with dual stereo speakers, high-end, laptop-grade Wi-Fi with dual-band support, dual-antennas and MIMO for faster streaming and downloads, enough storage for HD content, and the latest generation processor and graphics engine—and it is available in two display sizes—7” and 8.9”.The all-new Kindle Fire features a 20% faster processor, 40% faster performance, twice the memory, and longer battery life.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, www.amazon.es and www.amazon.com.br. As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

[Press Release]

Simon & Schuster and Folger Shakespeare Library team with Luminary Digital Media to create Interactive Shakespeare Apps

Simon & Schuster and Folger Shakespeare Library announced today that they are working with Luminary Digital Media to create an interactive app using the renowned Folger Editions, the leading Shakespeare texts used in secondary schools in the United States. The Luminary Folger Shakespeare, which will be built on Luminary’s social reading platform for mobile devices, will use the Folger Shakespeare Editions text, supplemented with newly commissioned audio performances produced at the Folger Theatre, expert commentaries from the world’s leading Shakespeare scholars and teachers, image galleries, video performances and interviews, audio recordings, classroom resources, and learning modules. The app will have unique social reading, private network and content-creation tools that allows readers to customize their own experience and connect instantly with friends, classmates, and colleagues worldwide. The Luminary Folger Shakespeare will transform how Shakespeare is read, learned and taught for the 21st century.

The first apps will publish in November 2013 and will include Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The remaining plays will be released on a regular basis until the entire collection is complete.

“The Luminary platform is the perfect digital environment in which to engage with the richness of Shakespeare’s works. In addition to immersing readers in the riches of the Folger Editions and Folger Theatre, it also allows students, teachers, and the reading public to share their ideas about the plays, making Shakespeare’s works accessible in an entirely new way,” said Michael Witmore, Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library.

“The Folger Editions have long been the gold standard for reading Shakespeare both at home and in the classroom, and we couldn’t be prouder of our partnership and our joint efforts to bring this vital series into the digital age,” said Simon & Schuster President and Publisher Jonathan Karp. “These new apps will tap Folger’s expert scholarship, the ability of digital media to make Shakespeare come alive, and the growing phenomenon of social reading to create a world class Shakespeare experience for the mobile reading audience. We’re confident that Folger Editions will, in this new digital format, prove attractive and informative to an entirely new generation of readers.”

“At Luminary, we are delighted to work with two world-class partners like the Folger Shakespeare Library and Simon & Schuster to create the next generation of Shakespeare for all readers,” said Elliott Visconsi, principal and co-founder of Luminary Digital Media.

The Folger Shakespeare Library is a world-renowned center for scholarship, learning, culture, and the arts. Home to the world’s largest Shakespeare collection and a primary repository for rare materials from the early modern period (1500–1750), the Folger is an internationally recognized research library; an innovator in the preservation of rare materials; a national leader in how Shakespeare is taught in grades K–12; and an award-winning producer of cultural and arts programs. For more information, visit the website at www.folger.edu.

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

Luminary Digital Media is a mobile software company founded by two professors– Elliott Visconsi of the University of Notre Dame and Katherine Rowe of Bryn Mawr College. Based in South Bend, Indiana and incubated at the University of Notre Dame, Luminary builds mobile learning experiences around humanities content for trade authors, schools, and cultural institutions, combining outstanding expert content with social networks, broadcasting channels, and collaboration tools. Luminary’s first offering The Tempest for iPad was launched in April 2012, and has users in 25 countries worldwide. Luminary has been featured in leading venues such as FastCompany, The Atlantic, PBS MediaShift, and elsewhere. Luminary experts come from a worldwide network of colleges and universities, including Notre Dame, Bryn Mawr, Yale, Harvard, Indiana, Villanova, Delaware, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Irvine, Cambridge, York, Penn, Princeton, George Washington, Pittsburgh, King’s College London, USC, Virginia, National University of Singapore, Northwestern, and New Hampshire. www.luminarydigitalmedia.com.

To get all the ebook and digital publishing news you need every day in your inbox at 8:00 AM, sign up for the DBW Daily today!

The rest of the day’s top news:
 
Taking on Amazon (DBW)
Books-focused social networking site TheReadingRoom.com will launch a print book sales business, DBW has learned, to add to its new ebook sales business. Now that Amazon owns Goodreads, The Reading Room is billing itself as a social networking and book retal alternative.

Penguin Pays Through the Nose (Pub Lunch)
Last among the publishers to settle with the U.S. states in the matter of ebook price fixing, Penguin will pay $75 million to consumers and $15 million in various legal fees.
 
The Future of Content (DBW)
Ebooks are sure to factor heavily in the future of what Americans read. The American Library Association has put together a series of essays from notable thinkers on what that future might look like. See the highlights here.
 
Half-a-Million Ebooks (Pub Lunch)
That’s roughly how many ebooks Pub Lunch estimates that Dan Brown sold of his new book Inferno in the first five days of sales. That was enough (probably by a huge margin) to put it at the top of the ebook best-seller list.
 
Art to Leave Storey (PW)
Long time Storey publisher Pamela Art is leaving the Workman imprint after 30 years with the company to pursue a vague new project. Could this have something to do with Bob Miller’s departure from the company earlier this year?

Microsoft Predicts the Future of E-Reading in 1999 (The Atlantic)
In 1999, when Microsoft launched its Reader e-reading device, it made a spate of predictions about the future of e-reading. Many of them are accurate except for the timing (isn’t it all about timing?). Interestingly, Microsoft’s 2010 prediction is much more accurate than its 2001 prediction. In 2010, MS predicted that “eBook devices weigh half a pound, run 24 hours, and hold as many as a million titles.” Ironically, it was Amazon that made this a reality.
 
Jobs the Negotiator (QZ)
Emails released by the Department of Justice in support of its case against Apple in the matter of ebook price fixing and collusion show then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs to be a savvy negotiator and, surprisingly, a really good writer.
 
New Distribution Deals for INscribe Digital (DBW)
The digital content distributor has inked new deals with academic, Christian and multicultural publishers.
 
Who Is in Charge of How We Read? (Independent)
In reaction to Stephen King’s decision to not release an ebook version of his latest novel, one commentator questions whether it’s up to him to decide how people consume his work. (In short, for now, for the most part, yes, it is.)

 

To receive this information in your inbox every morning at 8:00 AM Eastern Time, subscribe to the DBW Daily below.

* Email Address:

Image Credit: options image via Shutterstock

INscribe Digital Inks New Distribution Deals with Academic, Christian and Multicultural Publishers

With more than 20,000 titles distributed by INscribe Digital in two and a half years, the San Francisco-based eBook distributor has added a number of new publishing partners in the university press, Christian publishing and Spanish Language publishing sectors, INscribe Digital Executive Vice President/General Manager Anne Kubek announced today. These new clients are now leveraging INscribe Digital’s proven expertise with general interest, regional, specialty and international publishers, as well as its highly flexible digital distribution platform.

The latest additions to the INscribe Digital fold include Harvard Education Publishing Group, which publishes innovative and authoritative books about critical issues in education; University of Southern California Annenberg Press, which publishes scholarly works about communication, journalism, media research and application; and Abilene University Press, specializing in Christian studies, international studies, Texas regional studies, and original literary works.

INscribe Digital has also inked new distribution agreements with the Christian publishing house Gospel Lights Publishing, a leader in the publishing of Sunday School Curriculum, Vacation Bible School, Bible Lessons and Church ministry resources; and Ediciones Encuentro, the largest Spanish publisher of major twentieth-century Catholic authors.
Other presses that have recently signed on with INscribe Digital include New Vessel Press, an independent publisher of English translations of foreign literature; Caslon, Inc., an independent publisher of texts for professional educators in language and literacy education promoting multilingualism and intercultural communication; and Hinkler Book Pty. Ltd, an Australian-based international publisher that publishes value titles across a broad range of categories.

“We are delighted to welcome these publishers to the growing list of publishers partnering with INscribe Digital as we launch our new Athena content distribution platform,” said INscribe EVP Anne Kubek. “As a technology company infused with book industry expertise, we know how important it is for publishers of every size to maximize the functionality and special features available with digital books, and also to access new markets with greater automation and transparency. We are very focused on building our client base in key content areas.”

About INscribe Digital
INscribe Digital (parent company Isolation Network) leverages a decade of experience in delivering music and other digital media assets to leading retailers worldwide to an evolving publishing industry. Working closely with the engineers who make up almost half of INscribe’s staff, our seasoned team of book industry professionals offers flexible and scalable solutions for eBook production, conversion, and distribution to publishers of all sizes, as well as agents and authors. The next-generation technology of INscribe’s Athena content distribution platform removes the complexity of distribution and provides maximum transparency to clients. Our strong retail relationships enable INscribe to deliver customized solutions for a variety of global retailers and eReading devices, as well as marketing and sales reporting to our partners. For more information, visit www.INscribeDigital.com

At about half-a-million members, TheReadingRoom is less than a tenth the size of the largest books-focused social media site, Goodreads. But now that Goodreads is a subsidiary of Amazon, TheReadingRoom sees an opportunity to capture users who want an alternative to buying books from the world’s leading bookseller.

Launching print sales to compliment its ebook sales platform will reinforce “the company’s place as a viable and genuine independent alternative for buying and enjoying books in the digital age,” the company said in a statement to be released to press next week at Book Expo America.

“We function as an independent bookseller but take the relationship one step further than mere browsing by also serving as a reliable and trusted digital source, with a range of online tools and community resources – providing the powerful potential for discovery,” said TheReadingRoom CEO Kim Anderson in the statement.

Baker & Taylor, which is already partnered with The Reading Room for ebook sales and for its e-reader, will be providing the print fulfillment, according to Lance Ellisor, the company’s vice president of product and marketing. Initially, there will be about one million titles available from all major U.S. publishers with a focus on trade books.

Acting as a conduit for intellectual property, Amazon will pay royalties to both the authors of the new works and the rights holders for the original works.

Amazon has already acquired licenses for authors to start working on and profiting from stories based on franchises Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and Vampire Diaries. The company plans to announce more deals soon.

The project launches with 50 works already created by known authors such as Barbara Freethy, John Everson and Colleen Thompson.

In a press release (below), Amazon touts that Kindle Worlds benefits rights holders, authors and readers.

For rights holders, it gives them a new way to monetize their worldwide rights to intellectual property. For authors, it gives them a way to sell fan fiction. And for readers, it gives them yet another conduit to engage with characters and settings they already know and love.

One open question is how will Amazon control how authors expand a story’s characters and settings in way that rights holders and other stakeholders are comfortable with? Amazon has eliminated the possibility that Kindle Worlds could create another Fifty Shades of Grey, which started as fan fiction for the popular Twilight series with a “no porn allowed” disclaimer (the blockbuster hit is not alone in the genre of taking familiar characters and putting them in a more erotic setting than where they started); but what about when fan fiction conflicts with itself or when characters and stories are taken in a direction that leaves the rights holders uncomfortable?

According to an Amazon spokesperson, “World licensors have provided content guidelines for each world.”

[Press Release]

Amazon Publishing Introduces “Kindle Worlds,” a New Publishing Model for Authors Inspired to Write Fan Fiction—Launching with an Initial License of Popular Titles from Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment
Like Kindle Singles and Kindle Serials, Kindle Worlds Adds a New Approach to Digital Publishing

Today, Amazon Publishing announces Kindle Worlds, the first commercial publishing platform that will enable any writer to create fan fiction based on a range of original stories and characters and earn royalties for doing so. Amazon Publishing has secured licenses from Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment division for its New York Times best-selling book series Gossip Girl, by Cecily von Ziegesar; Pretty Little Liars, by Sara Shepard; and Vampire Diaries, by L.J. Smith; and plans to announce more licenses soon. Through these licenses, Kindle Worlds will allow any writer to publish authorized stories inspired by these popular Worlds and make them available for readers to purchase in the Kindle Store.

Amazon Publishing will pay royalties to both the rights holders of the Worlds and the author. The standard author’s royalty rate (for works of at least 10,000 words) will be 35% of net revenue. As with all titles from Amazon Publishing, Kindle Worlds will base net revenue off of sales price—rather than the lower, industry standard of wholesale price—and royalties will be paid monthly.

In addition, with the launch of Kindle Worlds, Amazon Publishing will pilot an experimental new program for particularly short works—between 5,000 and 10,000 words. For these short stories—typically priced under one dollar—Amazon will pay the royalties for the World’s rights holder and pay authors a digital royalty of 20%.

Beginning today, interested writers are encouraged to visit Kindle Worlds (www.amazon.com/kindleworlds) to learn more and get a head start on writing. In June, the Kindle Worlds store is expected to launch with over 50 commissioned works from authors such as #1 New York Times best-selling author Barbara Freethy, Bram Stoker Award-winner John Everson and RITA Award-winner Colleen Thompson. At that time, the Kindle Worlds self-service submission platform, where any writer can submit completed work, will also open.

World Licensors benefit from Kindle Worlds because:

It’s an entirely new way to monetize their valuable franchises
It allows them to extend their Worlds with new stories and characters and more deeply engage with existing fans, while also reaching new audiences
Amazon Publishing will work with them to establish content guidelines that balance flexibility and openness for writers with what’s reasonable for the franchise
“Our books have generated a massive amount of fan fiction, and we see this as an evolution in publishing and a valuable way of broadening our brands and engaging fans,” said Leslie Morgenstein, President Alloy Entertainment. “When working with Amazon Publishing on this scale, we know we’re in good hands and everyone will benefit.”

“Seeing Pretty Little Liars fans adapt and create their own stories is both exciting and flattering and I think what Amazon Publishing is offering through Kindle Worlds is a great way to reward their ingenuity,” said Sara Shepard, author of Pretty Little Liars.

Writers benefit from Kindle Worlds because:

Amazon Publishing has already secured the necessary licenses to write about any Kindle World
They can earn royalties writing about established characters and universes
The Kindle Worlds self-service submission platform is easy to use
“I loved writing the characters in this world, the dynamics of the friendship between the four girls as they deal with life-threatening situations,” said Barbara Freethy, writing in Pretty Little Liars. “I also really enjoy the ongoing mysteries and surprising twists that always keep the reader guessing. It’s great that Amazon Publishing has given those who put passion into fan fiction the opportunity to commercialize this work.”

And readers benefit from Kindle Worlds because:

They can find a stream of new stories in Worlds they love
They can discover new Worlds and corresponding great new stories
As with all Kindle books these are “Buy Once, Read Everywhere”—they can read on Kindle or Kindle Fire as well as with a free Kindle app for all of the most popular devices and platforms
“At Kindle, we’re not only inventing on the hardware and software side of the business, we’re inventing new ways to create books,” said Philip Patrick, Director, Business Development and Publisher of Kindle Worlds. “Our goal with Kindle Worlds is to create a home for authors to build on the Worlds we license, and give readers more stories from the Worlds they enjoy. We look forward to announcing additional World licensing deals in the coming weeks.”

Amazon Publishing is engaged with additional rights holders from different areas of entertainment—books, games, TV, movies and music—and looks forward to announcing future deals soon. To get started writing works in licensed properties, visit www.amazon.com/kindleworlds for submission guidelines and updates on licensed properties.

About Alloy Entertainment

Alloy Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Television Group, develops and produces original novels, television series, and feature films. More than seventy-five of AE’s books have been on the New York Times bestseller list, including The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, The Clique, The Lying Game, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Private and The Luxe. AE has successfully adapted several of its top selling books into hit television shows for broadcast across multiple networks including The CW, ABC, ABC Family and Nickelodeon. Current Alloy Entertainment television series include Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries, Lying Game, and soon to premiere Originals, Ravenswood and The 100.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is the most-advanced e-reader ever constructed with 62% more pixels and 25% increased contrast, a patented built-in front light for reading in all lighting conditions, extra-long battery life, and a thin and light design. The new latest generation Kindle, the lightest and smallest Kindle, now features new, improved fonts and faster page turns. Kindle Fire HD features a stunning custom high-definition display, exclusive Dolby audio with dual stereo speakers, high-end, laptop-grade Wi-Fi with dual-band support, dual-antennas and MIMO for faster streaming and downloads, enough storage for HD content, and the latest generation processor and graphics engine—and it is available in two display sizes—7” and 8.9”. The large-screen Kindle Fire HD is also available with 4G wireless, and comes with a groundbreaking $49.99 introductory 4G LTE data package. The all-new Kindle Fire features a 20% faster processor, 40% faster performance, twice the memory, and longer battery life.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, www.amazon.es and www.amazon.com.br. As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

In a previous post, I talked about a new phase with respect to the Big Six, now that they seem to be on track to fully offer ebooks to libraries (we’re counting on you, Simon & Schuster, to go forth beyond New York City). This new phase focuses on the myriad contract terms, from pricing to preservation.

In the report, Clifford Lynch, executive director of the Coalition for Networked Information, focuses on the library’s roles in society to preserve the cultural heritage, provide accommodation for people with disabilities, and protect individual privacy—and how the ebook status quo gravely threatens libraries’ ability to fulfill these roles. Lynch also provides some overall thoughts about the current state of library ebook lending—which he characterizes as “appalling.”

In “The Unpackaged Book,” Peter Brantley, director of scholarly communication at Hypothes.is, uses Snow Fall, an interactive online narrative published by the New York Times, as a counterpoint to current ebooks from major trade publishers. In libraryland, our focus is on ebooks as intact products with definite boundaries. Thus, we can still think about them as things to acquire, collect, lend out, and preserve. Brantley raises questions about how libraries will need to reconceptualize “library ebook lending” as ebooks become more like living websites rather than information containers.

We read in Digital Book World and elsewhere about the rapid growth of self-publishing fueled through the rise of digital publication. James LaRue, in his article “Wanna Write a Good One?” urges libraries to consider a role as local community publishers and how community members themselves could be involved in deciding which ebooks are made available by libraries.

There is much more—take a look! Also, several of us ALA folk will be at Book Expo America next week, including Maureen Sullivan (ALA president), Keith Michael Fiels (ALA executive director), and me. In particular, Maureen will be on a panel organized by the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR) that includes Steve Potash (OverDrive), Paul Aiken (Authors Guild), Jack Perry (38enso Inc.), and Ginger Clark (Moderating for AAR), in the Javits Convention Center, Room 1E10, May 30, 2013, 3:30–4:20 p.m. Hope to see you at this session or in the hallways!

To get all the ebook and digital publishing news you need every day in your inbox at 8:00 AM, sign up for the DBW Daily today!

The rest of the day’s top news:

 
Tech to Help With Digital Book Signings (DBW)
Now that we know how digital book signings can help with sales, here is a list of relevant technologies to help authors put their digital John Hancock on readers’ ebooks. Related: Digital Book Signings Help Grow Author Careers.

Ebook Sales in Canada Plateau (DBW)
According to a wide-ranging survey of the Canadian book market by BookNet Canada, ebooks have plateaued at 15% of all unit sales as of 2012. After the first quarter of the year, ebook sales as a percentage of all unit sales declined in each quarter.
 
MetaComet Launches AuthorPortal.com (PW)
The new site will allow publishers to organize contracts, manuscripts, royalties and more for their authors. The largest publishers already have customized author portals but many small and mid-size publishers may find this out-of-the-box solution a better fit than building it all themselves.
 
Digital Drives Profits at Bloomsbury (Pub Lunch)
Profits were up markedly on a small revenue gains at the British publisher as digital became a bigger part of the mix in its last fiscal year, ending February 28. Related: Bloomsbury Digital Sales Surge in First Half.
 
Uber BEA Schedule (Pub Lunch)
Want to take it all in next week at BEA? Pub Lunch has you covered with a document that organizes all of the panels and events into one spreadsheet. Also, don’t forget to play as hard as you work: Pub Lunch’s BEA party planner.

Publishing Ebooks on Paper (Pub Perspectives)
South Africa’s Paperight helps local copy shops publish books on plain, old copy machines for a reasonable fee those who don’t have access to relatively expensive e-reading technology. The firm wants to make sure that the world’s poor aren’t left behind in the digital reading revolution.
 
New E-Ink Technology (DBW)
Despite the declining popularity of e-ink e-reading devices, E Ink, the company that produces much of the technology, is pressing ahead with research and development into new e-ink technology. The latest developments are three-pigment screens and screens that can perform in ultra-cold environments.

No Paperwhite? No Problem (BookRiot)
Don’t ruin your eyes straining to read your old backlight-less e-reader without sufficient illumination. Buy one of these incredible bookish lamps.

 
 

To receive this information in your inbox every morning at 8:00 AM Eastern Time, subscribe to the DBW Daily below.

* Email Address:

The first is dubbed Spectra, an e-ink display with black, white and red pigments; it will be available in the third quarter of 2013. The second is called Aurora, an e-ink display able to function at extremely cold temperatures.

Unfortunately for publishers and manufacturers of e-reading devices, E Ink did not invent a way to reverse the worldwide trend of readers abandoning e-ink reading devices in favor of tablets and smartphones.

[Press Releases]

E INK LAUNCHES SPECTRA, THE WORLD’S FIRST TRUE THREE PIGMENT
ELECTRONIC PAPER DISPLAY

E Ink Technology Solves Unmet Need to Include Color on Electronic Shelf Labels
to Highlight Promotions, Sales and Logos

E Ink® Holdings, “E Ink” (8069.TW), an ePaper and Electronic Shelf Label visionary, today introduced E Ink Spectra, the world’s first three pigment electronic paper display (EPD), featuring black, white and red pigments. Spectra is currently being shown at SID Display Week 2013 in Vancouver, CA.

Price optimization strategies and adaptable technology are vital to ensuring retailers’ competitive advantage, success and growth. By using electronic shelf labels (ESL) with E Ink’s technology, retailers have the ability to change pricing strategies as needed in real time, allowing them to stay one step ahead of competitors while attracting consumers based on changing market conditions. Spectra allows retailers to elevate the impact of their ESLs, by adding color to logos and quickly directing consumers’ attention to important information, such as product sales and promotions.

“The three pigment system is a major achievement for E Ink, and a technological accomplishment in our industry,” explained Giovanni Mancini, director of product management, E Ink. “As the first product line to feature this advanced ink, Spectra provides retailers with the same visual and power savings attributes of our black and white ESL products, with the option of adding a third color to highlight promotions or other relevant information.”

“We are excited to see the addition of color, something requested by many of our customers,” said Niclas Qvist, Head of Marketing and Global Partner Management at Pricer, the leading Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) solution provider. “Pricer use E Ink’s e-paper in all our graphic products today. E Ink and Pricer are leading the way by giving shoppers the best in-store experience with clear and easy to read price tags. Product development is guided by market feedback and the first products will be developed in close cooperation with both E Ink and selected customers.”

“Pervasive Displays is committed to delivering innovative electronic paper enhancements and solutions that enable revolutionary commercial industrial electronic paper display applications,” said Scott Soong, CEO of Pervasive Displays. “Adding color to electronic paper is an effective advancement to this technology. Color adds the benefit of being able to quickly draw attention to specific messages – in retail, red is prevalent for promotions; in other industries red is used for exception management. The ability to quickly discern the importance of a message is critical in any environment.”

Spectra will support both active matrix and segmented format ESLs, making it the ideal product for a range of retail applications. The three pigment EPD is also appropriate for industrial, smart card and medical market applications, where Spectra can be used to display information on electronic identification badges.

While the eReader market continues to be an important part of E Ink’s business and the company remains committed to the eReader product line, over the past few years E Ink has invested resources into supporting different applications across markets.

“We have always been fortunate to have high customer demand for our electronic paper displays for non-eReader applications,” stated Mancini. “The results of our investments will be evident in 2013 as more non-eReader products using E Ink EPDs are released into the market.”

Spectra will be available in Q3 2013.

E INK UNVEILS AURORA, THE WORLD’S FIRST LOW TEMPERATURE MATRIX ELECTRONIC PAPER DISPLAY FOR FREEZERS

E Ink® Holdings, “E Ink” (8069.TW), an ePaper and Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) visionary, today announced the upcoming release of E Ink Aurora, a first-of-its-kind electronic paper display (EPD) able to withstand freezers temperatures. The new solution provides retailers and business owners with greater flexibility and a more efficient solution in managing pricing strategies for products sold in freezers and cold outdoor climates. A demonstration of Aurora, along with E Ink’s latest products can be seen at Display Week 2013 in Vancouver, CA from May 21-23.

Providing low power usage and cost optimization through a 5-volt driving capability, Aurora supports applications in conditions as cold as -25 C. Additionally; Aurora has been tuned for non-eReader applications, and is ideal for electronic shelf labels (ESLs) and smart cards in the retail, medical and logistics markets. Aurora will be available to partners and customers starting in July 2013.

The release of Aurora is an indication of E Ink’s product diversification strategy and commitment to providing the ESL market with an extremely durable, low power display technology. While eReaders continue to be an important market for E Ink, and the company is unequivocally committed to the eReader product line, E Ink believes that its unique technology addresses retailers’ and business owners’ needs to install displays in previously impossible or impractical locations across markets.

“Opticon is excited to work with E Ink to expand our portfolio of e-paper based electronic shelf labeling (ESL) products. With the integration of a low temp film, we can finally install our ESL solution into all departments in a grocery or convenience store,” said Mike Waters, Opticon, Inc. “To date, we’ve lacked the technical capability to operate our wireless shelf tags inside a freezer, limiting the opportunities to completely eliminate manual paper price changes. Opticon will now be able to offer a line of IP rated freezer tags in 2″, 2.7″, 4.41″, and 7.4″ form factors.”

“Pervasive Displays is committed to advancing the use of electronic paper in industrial applications,” said Scott Soong, CEO of Pervasive Displays. “The new Aurora product from E Ink extends the reach of electronic paper to cold chain applications, signage, automotive and a myriad of additional industries, unlocking new ROI potential for e-paper applications.”

“Inaccurate prices are one of consumers’ major gripes when shopping at supermarkets,” said Giovanni Mancini, director of product management, E Ink. “With an average of close to 40,000 items carried in supermarkets, effective price management can become a herculean task. At E Ink we believe that ESLs not only cut down on the instances of mislabelled information, but also can ultimately help retail stores maximize profits.”

In the Food Marketing Institute’s 2012 Shopper Trends report, consumers rated accurate shelf tags as one of their most important criteria in selecting their primary store. Learn more about Aurora and E Ink’s other breakthrough ESL and display technologies by visiting booth #1215 at SID from May 21-23 or by going to www.eink.com.

About E Ink Holdings
Founded in 1992 by Taiwan’s leading papermaking and printing group YFY (1907.TW), E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TW) is the pioneer of TFT and ePaper business in Taiwan. Its corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences, and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper display as well as its 2008 acquisition of Hydis Technologies, manufacturer of the world’s best wide viewing angle LCDs and its 2009 acquisition of E Ink Corporation, the worldwide leader in ePaper. Listed in Taiwan’s GreTai Securities Market and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world’s largest supplier of displays to the eReader market. For corporate information, please visit www.einkgroup.com; for EPD information, please visit www.eink.com / tw.eink.com; and for FFS information, please visit www.hydis.com.

All trademarks above are property of their respective owners.