eReader News – 6/15/2010 no comments
Looking for a place to connect your Wi-Fi ereader or iPad while out on the road? Starting July 1, 2010 Starbucks will offer unlimited free Wi-Fi powered by AT&T that anyone can access with one click without a Starbucks card.
Starbucks has also partnered with Yahoo to create the Starbucks Digital Network which will offer digital content and a few business related tools such as a resume writing application. Free unrestricted access to various paid sites such as WSJ.com will also be available. Some of the content providers listed as participating in the launch of Starbucks Digital Network include iTunes, The New York Times, Patch, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! and Zagat. The Starbucks Digital Network will debut in the fall and will be available only at US company operated Starbucks stores.
* * *
Leading textbook retailer www.ecampus.comhas announced
that they have expanded their textbook rental program to include all major titles for the fall semester. Almost half a million titles are available to rent now.
When renting textbooks, students pay a much lower price for the title and then return it at the end of the semester or school year. This makes eCampus.com a more economical solution than the college bookstore.
Besides renting textbooks, eCampus.com also offers digital etextbooks and buys and sells used textbooks. The promo code JOCK can be use for a five percent discount on textbook rentals at eCampus.com – the coupon expires on July 15,2010.
* * *
Although Amazon and Penguin reportedly have trouble on agreeing on some things such as the prices of ebooks, they have apparently been able to reach agreement as to who the winners are for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
The winner for the general fiction category is Patricia McArdle for her novel “Farishta,” which will be published by Riverhead books.
The winner for the young adult fiction category is Amy Ackley for her novel “Sign Language,” which will be published by Viking Children’s Books.
Both of these titles are available for pre-order at Amazon.
The winners were selected by tapping the wisdom of the crowd:
“Thousands of Amazon.com customers participated in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award by posting reviews and casting votes for the winners,” said Jeff Belle, vice president, U.S. books, Amazon. “The results of this year’s vote were the closest we’ve ever had, which is indicative of both the competitiveness of the entries and the exceptional work from our finalists.”
Both winners will receive a publishing contract from Penguin Group USA, which includes a $15,000 advance.
