digital publishing

A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing And Publishing An AppBook

When I dipped my toe in the world of digital publishing, I expected the tech to be puzzling, the marketing untested, and the devices shiny but confusing. What I didn't count on was the crowd of people we used to call "readers" to turn into a chorus of critics demanding to be engaged. The journey to creating this app involved a whole new way of thinking and a unique workflow. READ»

Can Comics Make The Leap To Digital In A Single Bound?

Will digital distribution revitalize the comics industry or kill it? DC Comics brings judgment day nearer with a big move to "day and date" digital release for its "New 52" launch.READ»

Harry Potter Spell To Help Sell Sony E-Reader [Updated]

Harry Potter will apparate as an e-text exclusively on new Sony e-readers. It's a clever move that could give Sony some room to maneuver against Amazon and Apple.READ»

Apple Throws Digital Publishers A Subscriptions Bone (But Is It Tasty?)

In a move that'll help some digital magazine publishers and possibly streaming content providers, Apple has adjusted the terms and conditions for its subscriptions service. But how much help will it provide the struggling industry?READ»

Goodbye Wheelie Backpacks: Digital Textbooks Will Dominate Over Paper Ones Soon

Your backpack is about to get (much) lighter. Heavy paper textbooks are about to become collectors' items thanks to the instant popularity of tablets, and a number of other e-book market trends. READ»

Could an Apple Magazine Template in iOS Change the Industry?

The iPad is a natural device for magazine content--it may be the future of the genre, in many ways. But successes have been few and far between so far, so Apple may be trying to help digital magazines by building in a template to its code. READ»

Can Google Beat Apple With Its Publisher-Friendly "One Pass" Digital Subscriptions?

The day after Apple's App Store starts a subscription service, Google unleashes One Pass, its own Android subscription model that lets publishers "set their own prices and terms for their digital content." Does this mean war? (Hint: yep.)READ»

Apple's App Store Is Now Offering Subscriptions

After an extended period when we knew they were coming but had no insight into how they'd work, subscription powers have hit Apple's App Store, ready to support digital magazines and newspapers. READ»

With the Atavist, E-Reading Goes to Great Lengths

A new startup digital publishing venture opens up a realm of novella-length stories to journalism--and comes today to Amazon's new "Kindle Singles" store. The app launches next week for iPhone and iPad, and stories will also be coming out for e-readers like the Kindle.READ»

E-Books And Online Mags Find A Second Life In Print

"Print is dead," says everyone except, oh, publishers that began online and are now slaying trees. Here, a snapshot of the digital divide--those who left print for online, and those doing the opposite. ONLINE DIGITAL DIVIDE ...READ»

iFive: Gawker Hacked, WikiLeaks Rival Out, Holiday Spending Goes Digital, The Atlantic Magazine's Money, Sports Illustrated App

Another week begins, innovation slaps on its office attire, downs a coffee and catches the train into work: So here's the early news, ready for you to do the same:READ»

Google Editions E-bookstore Due Soon, Controversy (And Failure?) Not Far Behind

Google's efforts at a digital publishing bookstore, teased months ago, are due soon according to the Wall Street Journal. But given Google's jagged history and Apple and Amazon's dominance in the field, Google's got a rocky road ahead. READ»

Neal Stephenson's Novel-Redefining Novel, "The Mongoliad," Launches, Online

Ghengis Khan shook up the world in the 12th Century, and now in the 21st Century Neal Stephenson's novel about him may shake up the publishing world: It's partly interactive, partly social media, and wholly digital. READ»

Apple Reveals More About iBooks

Apple's iPad went on pre-order for the lucky Amer'cans today (the rest of us have to wait an interminable extra week or so) but Apple also revealed a little more about its iBooks effort. Guess what? It's surprisingly ...READ»

Major Print Publishers Gang Up to Pre-Empt Apple, Already Make Mistakes

Well, it's been recently speculated, and now it's true: Five big names in ink-and-paper magazine and newspaper publishing have ganged up in a joint venture. It's aim, despite grandiose PR? Outsmart Apple, and side-step Amazon. The ...READ»

HarperStudio: A New Book Publishing Model That Pays Authors 50-50

Julia Cheiffetz edits books at HarperStudio, a new imprint of HarperCollins that's trying to rethink both the format of books and the business model. HarperStudio will publish just two books a month and offer authors 50-50 profit sharing, rather than a traditional 7% to 15% royalty.READ»

• Fast Talk: The Do-It-Yourselfers
• Fast Talk: The Virtual Book Clubber
• Fast Talk: The New Storytellers

Blurb's $30 Million Sold Proves Print Still Rocks

Eileen Gittins runs Blurb, a profitable print-on-demand startup that sold $30 million worth of books last year.READ»

• Fast Talk: The Experimenter
• Fast Talk: The Virtual Book Clubber
• Fast Talk: The New Storytellers

Can E-book Readers Like the Sony Reader Dominate the Industry in 10 Years?

Steve Haber developed the Sony Reader, an electronic reading device. The Reader tripled its sales last holiday season; the third-generation Reader (complete with touch screen, and highlighting and notation features) debuted last November and is available at Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart.READ»

• Fast Talk: The Virual Book Clubber
• Fast Talk: The New Storytellers
• Fast Talk: The Experimenter

The 39 Clues: Reading Is Just Part of the Game

John Yoo, David Levithan, and Rachel Griffiths created the children's series "The 39 Clues," which weaves its story through 10 books, an online game, and trading cards. The first three books sold more than 2.5 million copies, DreamWorks bought the movie rights, and the fourth title will be released in June.READ»

• Fast Talk: The Virual Book Clubber
• Fast Talk: The Experimenter
• Fast Talk: The Do-It-Yourselfers