The Book Power 100

[Will]

The Guardian has published its 'Power 100' (sounds like some lottery derivative) of the top 100 in the industry. The list is here (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/datablog/2011/sep/23/books-power-100-list).

It seems mostly sound, and common sense. Though I wouldn't have placed Jamie Oliver quite so high.

[David]

Agreed. And the No.1 spot could well be confirmed next Wednesday when Amazon make their big announcement. Do you think an Android Kindle is an iPad competitor? (notice I'm not going as far as saying "iPad killer".)

[Tom]

I don't think the the 7" Android Kindle Tablet is aimed at the iPad. It is aimed at: (1) the Barnes and Noble Nook Color - which is a real threat to Amazon (2) boosting Amazon's sales of everything-under-the-sun.

The anticipated 10" Android Kindle Tablet is another matter and, if it happens, may well be planned to take a bite out of Apple. It could convert the iPad into a centre party and then squeeze it. The 7" will be cheaper and the 10" will be better. Just so you can check my guess in a year's time, here it is: the 10" will have a dual display (capacitative and colour eInk) and a mini keyboard for those, like me, who do not take to virtual keyboards.

Amazon's key advantage is being the world's largest eTailer. Mail order companies have always given away fat catalogues and Amazon can afford a fat subsidy for any device which pushes retail sales to Amazon. One day, they could be fixing Kindles to cornflake packets, if anyone is still eating cornflakes.

People considering a small-scale ecommerce operation need to ask themselves the question: 'Can I do something which Amazon can't do?' I would not like to be competing with Amazon in selling any of the classic high-value low-weight mail order items (CDs, watches, books, etc). One could also be pondering the question 'as a content-creator, how can I take advantage of the eReader volcano now rumbling beneath our feet?' And 'Should I be getting involved in ePublishing, given that print publishers are now where the music labels were ten years ago: tottering on the edge of an abyss?'

Re the Guardian list, it is VERY VERY significant that JK Rowling is second to Jeff Bezos. She owns the electronic rights to all her books and has told her publisher that she plans on selling eEditions in competition with them. The Scots are canny. A high-profile operation of this type could tip the publishing industry as presently constituted into the aforementioned abyss. I see a need and an opportunity to educate people for the eBook revolution. She may sell through Amazon, so Jeff's position is assured. But if she gives anything to her publishers (as I believe she intends) it will be crumbs.

[Will]

Agreed. And the No.1 spot could well be confirmed next Wednesday when Amazon make their big announcement. Do you think an Android Kindle is an iPad competitor? (notice I'm not going as far as saying "iPad killer".)

I think it could compete, and I think that's their aim down the line, from a cloud perspective. Notice Amazon bought into online video providers, and likewise have their own cloud storage. They effectively have the infrastructure/shop, just not as neat and tidy as Apple's iTunes offering.

Rowling's electronic publishing is definitely huge - but as I understand it she won't sell through Amazon or iTunes, bypassing them completely - she doesn't need them. If her books appear on Amazon, it will be in the form of a loss leader for Bezos in some way or another.