Maryland libraries ride high on e-book wave
When the heads of Maryland public libraries opted to create a statewide e-book loaning program in the spring of 2004, they weren’t sure if e-books would last. But they decided to gamble on the young technology. As e-books have exploded in popularity, that gamble now seems prophetic.
Generating meaningful business leads
It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, business owners say the one thing they need more than anything right now is leads – and not just any leads.
Barnes & Noble, Microsoft team up on Nook, college businesses
NEW YORK — Books and bits united Monday as Microsoft provided an infusion of money to help Barnes & Noble compete with top electronic bookseller Amazon. In exchange, Microsoft gets a long-desired foothold in the business of e-books and college textbooks. Microsoft Corp.’s $300 million investment sent Barnes & Noble Inc.’s stock zooming up $9.15, […]
U.S. sues Apple, publishers over electronic books
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department and 15 states sued Apple Inc. and major book publishers Wednesday, alleging a conspiracy to raise the price of electronic books they said cost consumers more than $100 million in the past two years by adding $2 to $5 to the price of each e-book. Attorney General Eric Holder said […]
Study finds tablet, e-book ownership soared
SAN FRANCISCO — Tablets and e-readers were a popular gift over the holidays, so much so that the number of people who own them nearly doubled between mid-December and January, a new study finds. A report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project set to be released Monday found that 29 percent of Americans […]
Apple starts selling interactive iPad textbooks
NEW YORK — Apple Inc. on Thursday launched its attempt to make the iPad a replacement for a satchel full of textbooks by starting to sell electronic versions of a handful of standard high-school books. The electronic textbooks, which include “Biology” and “Environmental Science” from Pearson and “Algebra 1” and “Chemistry” from McGraw-Hill, contain[...]
European Union in antitrust probe of Apple, e-book publishers
BRUSSELS — The European Union’s antitrust watchdog is probing whether Apple helped five major publishing houses illegally raise prices for e-books when it launched its iPad tablet and iBookstore in 2010. The probe, announced Tuesday by the European Commission, offers a glimpse into the fierce fight for shares of the growing e-book market, especially as […]
Consumer’s guide to downloadable gifts
Remember when gifts were objects, purchased or crafted and wrapped with a bow, then presented with a flourish? Over the last few years, gift cards have become a popular alternative, and now as we become increasingly connected to our smartphones, laptops and e-readers, gifts are going digital, too. Here’s what you need to know to […]
Google opens e-book store in challenge to Amazon
SAN FRANCISCO — Google Inc. is making the leap from digital librarian to merchant in a challenge to Amazon.com Inc. and its Kindle electronic reader. The long-awaited Internet book store, which opened Monday in the U.S., draws upon a portion of the 15 million printed books that Google has scanned into its computers during the […]