Google’s new e-books store launched today, offering over 3 million titles in a new format that will compete directly with established retailers like Amazon. The store offers everything from the latest bestsellers (mostly in the $9 to $15 range) to public domain classics like Moby Dick (free, unless you think in terms of time=money, in which case it has its usual price of around $800,000).
Instead of downloading an actual file, Google’s e-books are stored in “the cloud,” a fun sci-fi-sounding term for Google’s online network, which allows readers to buy, store, and access their books from multiple devices using free apps on each. So if you start reading a book on your phone, you can pick up where you left off on your laptop, and finish things on your work computer. (Not that anyone would ever use office equipment for non-work related reading…) Some books will also be available in PDF or ePub versions for offline reading.
In something of a glove-slap-across-the-face to Amazon, Google’s e-books isn’t compatible with the Kindle — though it will work with the Barnes & Noble Nook, the Sony Reader, the iPhone, and pretty much every device short of that portable crossword thing you bought your grandpa last year for Christmas. And you don’t even have to buy the e-books on Google; third-party retailers like Alibris and Powell’s are getting in on the fun, too.
Check out the store, and then let us know: Do you think Google’s e-books will transform the publishing industry? Or will you still prefer other ways of getting your lit fix?
I have a kindle and you cant get the same books for free through amazon that you can find through google, so I don’t think this is going to hurt amazon
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October 23, 2010 at 7:06 pmI sure hope not. I cant think of ayhnting more relaxing than reading a book. I will definitely vote no! Reply
12-6 cloud yes or no?
i have bought several books thru Amazon at very low prices; Google does not offer books priced competitively with Amazon, in my opinion.
Ooo cool! I have a Nook, so I might look into the free books. It’s easier just to get them at the B&N store through my Nook though.
Tried it out for the nook – works great! super easy to use.
Yay for mentioning Powell’s!
Wow. I’ve been trying it out tonight and I really like it. Do not have a kindle so I’m liking it on my droid phone. I’m sure google will ultimately make their prices competitive or what would be the point?
Nooo! I have a Kindle…but oh well. I’ll take other readers’ words Amazon still has a better selection.
The Kindle store works almost exactly the same. I can read my books on any of my devices (Kindle, PC, iPad), and it saves my place. The Kindle uses Amazon’s own cloud services. The concept of the Kindle has become more about the store and books rather than the device itself.
As long as I can continue getting the books I want from Amazon, I don’t see the need for Google’s service.
I publish on Kindle. Check out Parasites and Lovers. It’s a sexy vampire romp! Only 99 cents!!!!
This format along with the Kindle format is worrisome. If the text you’ve purchased is tied to a specific company what control or rights do you have over it. What if Google has problems with their cloud and at some point decides to stop supporting access to books you’ve purchased? The Kindle format is similar since reading the book is tied to a service provided by a particular company. If you remember tons of people lost old magazines when they switched to the new Kindle. Maybe, for most people this is not really important if you are talking about a $9 romance novel. But what about when you get into the realm of hundered dollar text books? This is simply something that consumers should consider when we make choices in who to purchase ebooks from. There is no reason the book format needs to be tied to a company in this way.
Adam– loved the “portable crossword thing you bought your grandpa last year” comment– I almost did a spit-take! Thanks for the laugh.
Question: if I’m reading a book from the “cloud,” do I have to keep my wifi on the entire time? That’s a REAL drain on the battery.
takled about the Amazon Kindle in a previous post, as it’s the best device to read several books concurrently especially when
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