In connection with the just past Frankfurt Book Fair E-Books were, at least in PR terms a big issue. Although dominated in the halls still thick tome of paper, the number of sent press releases by e-book reference however, we should definitely seen as evidence of some nervousness in the scene, the so seen is not entirely unjustified: Apple successfully turned the music industry and is now preparing, similar to do on the book market.
Similar to the download service for music, the price is a hotly debated topic. The publishers find it difficult to clearly move away from the retail price of the printed issues, as the savings in the production and logistics costs for books are still quite a bit higher than with CDs. The Germany valid in book prices seems to discussions on this issue for many providers involved having to be a convenient, is not even an excuse. (The competent Association of German Book Andels advises the request “under the table” at a discount of about 10 percent to the printed version – to be sold at the same price would have to officially e-books.)
Currently under the indecision of publishers suffer primarily of cash willing customer. As once the music industry, Apple’s initiative, which is in a traditionally interdependent market initially viewed more critically. Lack of competition to be taken seriously (Amazon offers this country still does not provide e-books) many publishers tend to practice in cooking their own soup – to the detriment of customers. IPad alone (which also iBookstore compatible with the iPhones and iPods aside) is likely to be found in Germany in more households than any competing e-book reader combined. Who wants to read the books but from different vendors should go some way inconvenient, because unlike in real life you can not here all the books together inst Billy shelf and make good. The announcements in the Book Fair have mostly clear indication that any publisher or supplier zükünftig will have its own shelf in the living room of the customer (would be just to accept), in the worst case, it should be even a full shelf (App) per book (including the current Rowohlt notice – typically one has there been problems with the “Add to Cart” link to be operational).
A subjective conclusion: Thus, the no. I want to manage my digital books like comfortable as my library, and this is where iBooks. The concept is expandable and is sure to develop, as has iTunes also developed over the years. Interesting for us as customers, it is the latest, although Amazon is active on the German market. With the Kindle app we can look forward to a serious competition and / or alternative to iBooks. And the publishers? Will close down their experiments just as it once did Sony and Co. (remember to copy bad-disaster) and sell their books and now also Buch?ndler: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, perhaps, and this includes Apple.
Not to mention we want to be in this context the efforts of Libri. Once worked as a wholesaler exclusively between the publisher and Buch?ndler, based in Bad Hersfeld company markets since 2008, e-books online. To Libri Book Fair now has its own app with similar functionality as Apple’s iBooks announced . “EBooks for iOS” should be available in December and provide access to approximately 20,000 book titles in the Epub format.