First Sale - Free online Kindle-Kindle conversion

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Barry Ritholtz <ritholtz () optonline net>
> Date: March 22, 2010 6:16:35 AM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Re: [IP] First Sale - Free online Kindle-Kindle conversion

> Hi Dave,
>
> For IP, if appropriate
>
>
>
>
> Amazon Apologizes to Michael Lewis Over Kindle Flap
>
> http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/03/amazon-apologizes-to-michael-lewis-over-kindle-flap/
>
>
>
> I posted my disgust with the kindle fanboys trashing of Michael Lewi 
> s’ new book, The Big Short.
> I was surprised to hear from a number of literary agents who wrote  
> to thank me for that. They have apparently been having all manner  
> of  issues with Amazon reviewers over the years, and the kindle  
> kooks have  ignited a small firestorm. I even heard from someone who  
> works with Lewis who informed me that Amazon called him (Lewis) to  
> apologize over the fanboy rage against the book.
>
> That, however, does not address the underlying conflicts between the  
> three distinct roles Amazon.com plays. They are:
>
> 1) Book seller;
> 2) Publisher of book reviews;
> 3) Designer/manufacturer of a new book reading technology.
>
> It is in this last capacity that Amazon has the greatest conflict  
> (let’s hold the debate as to whether they as a bookseller have a bia 
> s towards better, pro-book reviews for another time).
>
> The delay in selling the kindle version is a situation of Amazon’s o 
> wn making.
>
> Why? The mandatory kindle book pricing scheme.
>
> If you want to know why the kindle version is not available  
> immediately, it is because the publisher wants to charge full boat  
> for their newest hardcover books. They consider that their “theatric 
> al release,” with the kindle being the equivalent of the HBO version 
>  and the paperback the DVD. This is their decision, and while I may  
> not necessarily agree with it, it is the publishers’, and not my cho 
> ice.
>
> The rampant 1 star fan boy reviews are nothing more than collective  
> bullying. Give me your lunch money (kindle version), or I will beat  
> you up during recess (give you one star reviews).
>
> These release dates are a function of the mandatory Amazon price  
> point. Bezos has foisted upon the publishers a price scheme which  
> they  don’t care for. The wounded publishing industry needs to max o 
> ut their revs, and they believe selling kindle versions during the f 
> irst few months of the hard cover hurts sales. Again, you and I may  
> not agree with that belief system, but it is not our place — or Amaz 
> on’s — to dictate release terms and prices to publishers.
>
> Two other factors worth considering:
>
> 1) Amazon’s super useful crowd sourced reviews were a great innovati 
> on. From their own selfish perspective, AMZN should be more protecti 
> ve of that. They should carefully consider how Yahoo allowed  their  
> comment streams (for just about every property) to become polluted w 
> ith touts and spam and trolls and haters to the point where it is no 
>  longer useful. Then Bezos might want to notice the long slider in Y 
> HOO’s stock price over the same period. Coincidence? I doubt it.
>
> If Amazon is going to allow a major asset of theirs to become  
> devalued, it could hurt the actual value of the company.
>
> 2) I have no plans for getting the Apple iPad, but Apple’s willingne 
> ss to let publishers set their own price is a very interesting devel 
> opment. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Apple iPad version of boo 
> ks released BEFORE the kindle version due to this pricing scheme.  ( 
> note: this is my own wild speculation, and I haven’t heard anything  
> from my Apple contacts).
>
> Amazon.com, you have been warned!
>
> Bottom line: This is a problem that is more or less of Amazon’s own  
> making. Their allowance of this book review abuse has the appearance 
>  of impropriety. It looks especially self-serving. I have been a hug 
> e Amazon fan over the years, and I expect better from Bezos & Co. I  
> was hoping they wouldn’t turn out to be just another collection of c 
> orporate douche bags intent on profit regardless of how they have to 
>  screw over their suppliers and consumers.
>
> There is still time for them to avoid this fate — but its their call 
> . Take a page from Google’s While”Don’t Be Evil” mantra and  
> do the right thing.
>
>
>
>
>
> -Barry Ritholtz
>
>
>
> On Mar 22, 2010, at 6:02 AM, David Farber wrote:
>
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > From: dewayne () warpspeed com (Dewayne Hendricks)
> > Date: March 21, 2010 2:51:58 PM EDT
> > To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <xyzzy () warpspeed com>
> > Subject: [Dewayne-Net] First Sale - Free online Kindle-Kindle  
> > conversion
> >
> > [Note:  This item comes from reader Castell Faber.  DLH]
> >
> > From: Castell Faber <professor.castell.faber () googlemail com>
> > Date: March 21, 2010 10:13:26 AM PDT
> > To: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
> > Subject: First Sale - Free online Kindle-Kindle conversion
> >
> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> > (and your list distribution)
> > -----------------------------------
> > ALPHA TEST NOTICE
> >
> > Ever wanted to lend, sell or give away your e-book?
> > Now you can!
> >
> > Without learning about the internals of e-book technology or the  
> > risk of installing questionable software First Sale's servers can  
> > convert Kindle books in your collection to run on any other Kindle.
> >
> > During ALPHA testing First Sale will only be accessible via I2P  
> > (preferred) or Tor networks. Using our servers is convenient via  
> > one of the I2P/Tor gateway in-proxies and standard web browsers.
> >
> > Of the two networks FS seems to operate much faster via I2P.
> >
> > The in-proxy URLs for FS are <http://firstsale.i2p.to> and <http://voba3xuuqisvloqe.tor2web.com 
> > >
> >
> > In-proxies can significantly slow access to First Sale so please be  
> > patient if you use them.
> >
> > Regards,
> > The FS operators
> >
> > PS: Our advisers have reviewed relevant international law  
> > (especially WIPO) and concluded that due to our jurisdiction First  
> > Sale operates legally.
> > Your mileage may vary.
> >
> >
> >
> > RSS Feed: <http://www.warpspeed.com/wordpress>
> >
> >
> >
> >
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