I read several news releases today about Google's announcement that they are launching their eBook store this summer (June or July) to compete with Amazon and other on-line booksellers. This store, called Google Editionsis is not the same as Google's plan to digitize and sell out-of-print books. It's a totally different business effort by Google.
Here's the part I found really interesting in today's announcement. Google Editions will allow a buyer to download and read books using their Web browser, without any sepaate apps or interfaces required. PC World specifically said the following: "Any device that can surf the Web is fair game: your laptop, your computer, even your Kindle, Nook, or iPad." "No separate apps or interfaces will be required. And unlike many of the current e-book options on the market, Google Editions will let you buy and use its books wherever you want."
Today's Wall Street Journal had a quote from a VP at Oxford University Press: "This levels the retail playing field," said Evan Schnittman, vice president of global business development for Oxford University Press. "And as a publisher, what I like is that I won't have to think about audiences based on devices. This is an electronic product that consumers can get anywhere as long as they have a Google account."
I'm hoping this means that Google Edition books are going to be accessible from the get go, with any software like a screen reader that interfaces with a web browser. It sure sounds like it.
I've got my fingers crossed that Bookshare is talking to publishers who are participating and Google and can talk all of them into somehow making these available to Bookshare members. Wouldn't that be stellar?
According to another PC World article, roughly 500,000 titles will be available for purchase when Google Editions launches this summer.
Here's links to PC World's two articles from today on it. http://www.pcworld.com/article/195594/google_editions_bringing_ebooks_to_your_browser.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/195560/google_to_launch_ebook_store_early_summer.html And here's a link to the Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703866704575224232417931818.html?mod=WSJ_business_LeadStoryCollection Judy s. To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.
