Google to launch e-book store - Polidicks

[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/50289000/jpg/_50289965_006972603-1.jpg[/img] [b]Google hopes to write itself a substantial chapter in the digital books story with the launch of its own store.[/b] [quote]Google eBooks, formerly known as Google Editions, launches in the US on 6 December. It will allow users to download three million e-books to a range of devices. It will put it head-to -head with Amazon, which links its Kindle device to its own store, and Apple with its iBookstore. [b]Library fears[/b] The launch of the service has been delayed, due to legal and technical wrangles. But Google is hopeful that its "device agnostic" store will rewrite the current generation of digital books. "It benefits authors because they will be able to be more visible and more accessible than with the physical constraints of a book store," said Santiago de la Mora, director of books at Google. "It will also be good for publishers who will be able to promote backlist titles," he added. James McQuivey, an analyst with research firm Forrester, predicts Google could become an important player in the market. "It is sitting on information that no-one else has. It knows when you are searching for authors and what book titles and that is its biggest strength," he said. "It may not lure people away from the Kindle but there are tens of millions of people who read but don't own a Kindle," he added. According to Forrester, 10.3 million e-readers were sold in the US during 2010, not including the iPad. It predicts that by the end of 2010, the e-book market will be worth $966m (£615m). Google does not have an unblemished record when it comes to digital books. Its work to scan millions of books has courted huge controversy from critics who were concerned that it could become the sole curator of a huge online library. It has been fighting a two-year legal battle with authors and publishers in the US. It has agreed to set up a Books Rights Registry through which authors could register their works and get compensation but no ruling from the US court looking at the case has yet been handed out. Google's ability to offer users access to classic literature could boost its eBook project, thinks Mr McQuivey. "If you can read Les Miserables for free using Google's system it is a way to lure people in and whet their appetite for e-reading," he said. He expects the e-reading market to nearly double in size in 2011. Google's eBook service is expected to launch in Europe in 2011.[/quote] [b]Source:[/b][url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11913870[/url]

I've got a better idea: Books made of paper! You buy them cheaply, read them once or twice, then you can sell them to your friend! Everybody wins!

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535140]I've got a better idea: Books made of paper! You buy them cheaply, read them once or twice, then you can sell them to your friend! Everybody wins![/QUOTE]Except the environment.

I have no idea why this E-Book thing is becoming such a fad now.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535140]I've got a better idea: Books made of paper! You buy them cheaply, read them once or twice, then you can sell them to your friend! Everybody wins![/QUOTE] Better idea: Digital Media No more deforestation Everything is compact Multiple copies for free Everybody wins

[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;26535147]Except the environment.[/QUOTE] Paper, grows on trees! AMAZING!

Cool. Shame they burn your retinas.

I never liked the idea of digital books, especially on small phone-sized devices. I'd much rather have the book itself so I can have it physically in my personal library. However, saving tree's is a great advantage to this. Hopefully someone will invent a way to read e-books on your iPad while outside during a sunny day.

[QUOTE=superdinoman;26535165]Better idea: Digital Media No more deforestation Everything is compact Multiple copies for free Everybody wins[/QUOTE] You're not taking into account the power required for the downloading of the app and the upholding of the app.

[QUOTE=Dirf;26535157]I have no idea why this E-Book thing is becoming such a fad now.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=superdinoman;26535165]Better idea: Digital Media No more deforestation Everything is compact Multiple copies for free Everybody wins[/QUOTE] This basically.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535140]I've got a better idea: Books made of paper! You buy them cheaply, read them once or twice, then you can sell them to your friend! Everybody wins![/QUOTE] I can't agree more. I really hate the "green" movement. Worse than eating tape worms to help digestion.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535188]You're not taking into account the power required for the downloading of the app and the upholding of the app.[/QUOTE] It'd be negligible to cutting down a forest.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535140]I've got a better idea: Books made of paper! You buy them cheaply, read them once or twice, then you can sell them to your friend! Everybody wins![/QUOTE] who the fuck sells their used books to friends "hey wanna buy my old history book" sounds like you're the biggest asshole in the book, I'd loan one if anything.

[QUOTE=BlkDucky;26535179]Cool. Shame they burn your retinas.[/QUOTE] The kindle does a good job in not raping your eyes, but having to read on a phone for a long period of time would be hell.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535188]You're not taking into account the power required for the downloading of the app and the upholding of the app.[/QUOTE] Oxygen > Power.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535188]You're not taking into account the power required for the downloading of the app and the upholding of the app.[/QUOTE] Electricity is cheap and always becoming cheaper.

[url]http://www.zdnet.com/blog/doc/which-is-greener-paper-or-digital-the-answer-may-surprise-you/771[/url] Really now? [editline]7th December 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=superdinoman;26535233]Electricity is cheap and always becoming cheaper.[/QUOTE] Running a server to allow people to download an ebook is more polluting than printing ink on paper.

[QUOTE=Mr.Dounut;26535218]who the fuck sells their used books to friends "hey wanna buy my old history book" sounds like you're the biggest asshole in the book, I'd loan one if anything.[/QUOTE] What I do is I periodically do a book donation in my school. I get an announcement out in my school and have a box out in the cafeteria for people to drop off their old books they don't read anymore. I then donate those books to those unfortunate enough to not be able to enjoy a book or two. Awhile ago, I remember we donated a whole bunch of books to a school that recently burned down.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535168]Paper, grows on trees! AMAZING![/QUOTE] Yeah who cares if everything including animals dies around them! [img]http://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/79/84/798497_e95d33d6.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535250][url]http://www.zdnet.com/blog/doc/which-is-greener-paper-or-digital-the-answer-may-surprise-you/771[/url] Really now? [editline]7th December 2010[/editline] Running a server to allow people to download an ebook is more polluting than printing ink on paper.[/QUOTE] Cutting down trees to make said paper is worse/more polluting than running a server.

[QUOTE=poopsicle;26535283]Yeah who cares if everything including animals dies around them! [img_thumb]http://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/79/84/798497_e95d33d6.jpg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] Grow some more then. [editline]7th December 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=redBadger;26535291]Cutting down trees to make said paper is worse/more polluting than running a server.[/QUOTE] You know most of the worlds oxygen doesn't come from trees?

I'm interested in how Google will handle this. I can definitely see e-book usage going up in the near future, and if they can pull it off successfully, this could be the start of mass e-book usage.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535250] Running a server to allow people to download an ebook is more polluting than printing ink on paper.[/QUOTE] Um no, to produce newspapers they have to cut down endless amounts of trees.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535250] Running a server to allow people to download an ebook is more polluting than printing ink on paper.[/QUOTE] Wait so heat from a server is more polluting than clearing a forest for paper, running equipment on gasoline, and then making ink? No idea where you get your facts from but Servers are far more green in the long run. Edit: Dont bring up power plants, I run a server farm on nothing but Solar, Wind, and batteries.

[QUOTE=superdinoman;26535347]Dont bring up power plants, I run a server farm on nothing but Solar, Wind, and batteries.[/QUOTE] Care to prove that?

why are people so attached to paper books i don't understand

[QUOTE=butters757;26535337]I'm interested in how Google will handle this. I can definitely see e-book usage going up in the near future, and if they can pull it off successfully, this could be the start of mass e-book usage.[/QUOTE] They also have the advantage of already having a huge library of books.

[QUOTE=Lazor;26535427]why are people so attached to paper books i don't understand[/QUOTE] Because they come from a generation where everyone used newspapers.

[QUOTE=Lazor;26535427]why are people so attached to paper books i don't understand[/QUOTE] I'm guessing it's just that fact that most don't want to adapt to change. Most people in the world are used to paper books, and would much prefer reading one over an e-book.

[QUOTE=Coffee;26535406]Care to prove that?[/QUOTE] No because I'd rather not give away my place of work or where I live. [QUOTE=redBadger;26535452]I'm guessing it's just that fact that most don't want to adapt to change. Most people in the world are used to paper books, and would much prefer reading one over an e-book.[/QUOTE] I rather like digital books. I have a touch pad with over 200 books on it and never have to set it down to find another one. Makes reading a series of books so much more interesting/fun.