Google Editions

[Tom]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/google-starts-new-chapter-in-the-battle-for-ebooks-1804446.html
Google is set to challenge Amazon (and Barnes and Noble) for the eBooks market. Some people think it is a diversionary tactic. I think it is for real. Google have spent many fortunes on digitizing books and the law pretty well requires them to make a return on this money. The best way, obviously, is to start selling eBooks. I have contacted both Amazon and B&N about this (ie re selling stuff I have written) and found their responses highly unsatisfactory. But Googlebooks http://books.google.co.uk/advanced_book_search already provide a brilliant service and I think they could soon own the eBooks market.

[Tom]

Now see what Barnes and Noble is offering: the Nook. It uses colour and you can share books with friends http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10379125-1.html

[Tom]

And look what Nokia is offering: a mobile broadband notebook http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/24/nokia-introduces-booklet-3g-mini-laptop/

[Matthew]

Why can't these guys ever get together on functionality, one offers "speach to text" the other dosen't, seems that would be a default app on a device like this. Then the Nook introduces "sharing of ebooks", a noval idea-no pun intended and then restricts a users right to 14 days of sharing, how stingy. I still think the likes of Microsoft, Apple, Kindle and who ever else are offering "big technology to the world should stop trying to control everyone and force us to buy their gear. It may become more appealing. Sorry for the rant....

[Tom]

Apple have done OK with a proprietary music format but SURELY it will be overtaken by an open standard. Ditto for proprietary book formats. This is what I hope as a reader but as an author I am not so sure!
PS Everyone feels better after a good rant.