Google Editions - the facts and the fiction

If you haven't heard yet, Google is to launch a new service by the end of June called "Google Editions" where they will supposedly be competing in e-book sales competing against the Apple iPad bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.  At present it is rumored that Google right out of the gate will begin with over 4 million publications. 

The Wall Street Journal stated last week that publishers have not yet made any commitments and Japan Today stated yesterday that nearly all publishers are on board. 

The mystery it seems to be around how Google will handle the sale and content of its e-books.  If you visit http://www.google.com/books you can currently see a huge collection that Google has acquired and offering in epub format for downloading.  These are primarily scanned copies and do not offer a high quality reading experience, but certainly do the job of keeping an electronic copy.  There is speculation that Google will use a browser based format but many are concerned with having the ability to access the files offline.

Lets explore the option of Google staying with the open source EPUB format for a moment.  Google certainly has traditionally supported open source formats.  However, even though the EPUB standard is based on common platforms such as XHTML, XML, and a subset of CSS to layout content.  EPUB has a couple of major issues from what I see standing in the way of it being adopted as Google's e-book platform of choice.

First the EPUB format does not have a standardized DRM to be used with the .epub format.  Meaning, an .epub file sold with a DRM specifically for an iPad will not necessarily work on an Android device even though it has the same file extension.  This openness of the standard actually creates elements of closed source for books to be sold.

Second, and what can be seen as a huge flaw in the Google eye is the fact that the EPUB standard uses an OCF 1.0 container format (similar to a zip file) that makes linking outside of that file very difficult.  It also uses very structured metadata for keywords in its XML structure, meaning limited search capability.  This most likely has little appeal to Google as keyword indexing is the life blood of every entity of Google's ability to match advertising to user interests.

A lot of speculation is that Google will use a browser format and this in itself seems to fit the model for Google more closely.  By using a browser based reader Google can easily provide the service across any Internet capable device and can stick to the 'keep it in the cloud' philosophy.  As far as people's concern for being able to read offline, that may be a back burner issue to Google as they inch their way into the Wifi arena.  I think it's safe to say that the days of being 'offline' will be a thing of the past as I with all the speculation that exists about Google and Verizon tablet to be I'm sure will be an always online device as well.

Technology and Publishing roundup

There's been quite a bit of new information in the last few weeks concerning technology that will help change the publishing industry, so we'll dive right into some of it.

Amazingly, APPLE, with all the great press they received last month, is taking a beating this month. After Steve Jobs chose to tell Adobe to take a hike, and say Adobe Flash wasn't allowed on his precious iPad, the US government is now considering suing them over the decision. So much for the "savior" of the publishing industry. Oh, and Gizmodo (who was the happy recipient of a recently found iPhone 4), is considering suing the local police after Apple ordered a house-raid of the Sr. Editor from Gizmodo.  Ridiculous.

With the coming digital age, and thus eBook copying and piracy, most publishing companies are going to be throwing their eggs into DRM,: Digital Rights Management. The problem is that it doesn't always work, and that sometimes it just pisses people off.  Take an example from computer games: Ubisoft  is pissing off its customers with over-doing encryption, etc.  Hopefully the publishing industry doesn't throw all their eggs into that basket, as I'm confident there will be backlash if they do.

Speaking of pissing off customers, here's another: When a company chooses to "control" its hardware too much by manipulating what software you can put on it (*cough*, Apple).. they oftentimes anger customers. SONY recently chose to remove the Linux-install option on the PS3 and is now getting sued by its customers.


Any company wishing to enter into the eBOOK hardware space in the future should take note.

Since they are all the rage at the moment, how about we look at iPad's competition?  First, there's the JooJoo. The product is quite interesting as it and others like it will end up being the biggest competition for the iPad. "Why?" you ask...  because the joojoo's standard OS is Linux (Ubuntu), it is capable of 720p video, and a far-more-powerful Intel ATOM based processor. The battery life is half, which is a huge plus for apple, but many computer geeks like myself are willing to trade performance for battery life.  Plus, you can put it into lower power modes.  Linux offers open-source software, and often free downloads. You don't have to go through Apple to get your books movies, music, etc.  Apple can, and may, win this fight with billions of marketing dollars, but in the end, the geeks like us will prevail with a more open source product.

Then, there's the HP Slate. With HP's recent purchase of PALM phones and operating system, they will enter the fight... too late, but will enter it nevertheless. There's a news article about it's delay here. And an interesting comparison between it and the iPad here.

Another piece of the competition pie is the Notion Ink ADAM.  It, too, will run a more open-based operating system (like Android), and a swivel (front-to-back) camera, and uses an NVIDA chipset. The chipset is being delayed, so unfortunately Apple continues to earn the gold medal for time-to-market with the iPad.  Next year, however will prove the most interesting.


All of the newest technology will prove quite valuable in the continuing eBook revolution, where you'll be able to use software like Stanza and Kindle apps to search for your favorite book.



Lastly, there's information about the now-available Google book store.  What does it mean that Google, Stanza, and other companies are entering the eBook fray?  In my opinion, it means the market is about to be flooded with a gross amount of lesser-quality-material, books, articles, and magazines that aren’t as well edited.  (uh… like a blog??)  It also means FAR more chances (um… like a blog) to get your material out there.

All of the above information, in my opinion of course, is great news for new authors.  It can also be great for established authors.  They no longer have to worry about that little thing called shelf space.  Also, here's an article about how, with the coming eBook age, the publishing industry's tactic of "returning" un-purchased books is over.

I'm off on vacation...see you in a week or two.