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Who owns a Kindle or Kobo ereader?
Do you know that you can buy ebooks from hundreds of different bookshops, not only Amazon or Kobo?
It's not scary, perfectly legit, and opens up your reading to wonderful new authors and books!
The @epubizer can help! https://theepubizer.com/
Do you know that you can buy ebooks from hundreds of different bookshops, not only Amazon or Kobo?
It's not scary, perfectly legit, and opens up your reading to wonderful new authors and books!
The @epubizer can help! https://theepubizer.com/
After you've gotten the gist of things from @epubizer, visit the huge list of ebookshops over here: http://Libreture.com/bookshops
And visit our very own ebookshop to find something unique to read.
Our special edition ebooks work on any reading device, and come with exciting digital extras! https://scarletferret.com/
Our special edition ebooks work on any reading device, and come with exciting digital extras! https://scarletferret.com/
Ebooks come in two main types of file: ePub and Mobi.
If you buy your ebooks direct from the same company that made your reading device, such as Amazon, Apple, or Kobo, you never usually have to worry about which type of file you should download.
If you buy your ebooks direct from the same company that made your reading device, such as Amazon, Apple, or Kobo, you never usually have to worry about which type of file you should download.
They will usually automatically appear on your e-reader, mobile app, or tablet after you've bought them.
But if you want to buy ebooks from independent bookshops you'll need to know what format suits your device.
But if you want to buy ebooks from independent bookshops you'll need to know what format suits your device.
Many independent shops will provide a selection of file types with every purchase, others will ask you to choose one particular format.
You'll usually have a choice between ePub or Mobi.
You'll usually have a choice between ePub or Mobi.
If you have a Kindle, choose Mobi formatAs well as its own Amazon-only format, the Kindle can also display Mobi books.
If you have any other reading device, choose ePub formatAlmost every e-reader and ebook app, other than Kindle, can display ePub books.
One thing you should watch out for though is DRM!
DRM, or Digital Rights Management, is a way of locking an ebook to work only on a particular device or to limit its use.
And this is what confuses and scares off a lot of readers from buying from indie bookshops.
DRM, or Digital Rights Management, is a way of locking an ebook to work only on a particular device or to limit its use.
And this is what confuses and scares off a lot of readers from buying from indie bookshops.
You've probably seen a lot of people (especially wonderful librarians) mention that you never really own the ebooks you buy.
They say this because most ebooks are locked with DRM, and you don't hold the keys - the publisher or retailer does.
But this isn't always the case...
They say this because most ebooks are locked with DRM, and you don't hold the keys - the publisher or retailer does.
But this isn't always the case...
Most independent ebookshops, publishers and authors sell ebooks without DRM applied.
It's sometimes because they simply can't afford the cost of the DRM software, but it's more often because they know that it does nothing to curb ebook theft and ends up punishing real customers.
It's sometimes because they simply can't afford the cost of the DRM software, but it's more often because they know that it does nothing to curb ebook theft and ends up punishing real customers.
What librarians are most often talking about is the DRM issue with large publishers, the big ebook online shops, and within ebook lending.
But beyond those walls. Outside the big publishers, and ebook library lending, you actually get to own your ebooks!
But beyond those walls. Outside the big publishers, and ebook library lending, you actually get to own your ebooks!
Digital goods, such as digital music, books and comics are often devalued, and this is what can lead to digital piracy and theft.
If you convince people that this particular piece of media or art is cheap, they're going to see it as being less valuable. And 'not worth as much'.
If you convince people that this particular piece of media or art is cheap, they're going to see it as being less valuable. And 'not worth as much'.
That's what many Big Shops do. Supermarkets, whether online or off are built on thin profit margins that are amplified by the range of products they stock. To increase their profits, they drive down the costs of many products to sell more.
That happens with ebooks too!
That happens with ebooks too!
Take a look at The Supermarket Model.
You can probably see how it is being applied to e-bookshops, can't you? https://thecumbrianbookbird.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/the-supermarket-model-how-amazon-messed-up-the-publishing-industry/
You can probably see how it is being applied to e-bookshops, can't you? https://thecumbrianbookbird.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/the-supermarket-model-how-amazon-messed-up-the-publishing-industry/
The founder of @Smashwords, @markcoker, has written extensively about this.
Take a look at his latest predictions. Point 7 is:
Subscription services to drive devaluation
https://blog.smashwords.com/2020/12/publishing2021.html
Take a look at his latest predictions. Point 7 is:
Subscription services to drive devaluation
https://blog.smashwords.com/2020/12/publishing2021.html
All this is why independent e-booksellers are SO IMPORTANT!
Over at @libreture, I've listed almost 300 bookshops that sell ebooks without DRM. They are out there, but they're not always part of readers' experience of buying ebooks! https://www.libreture.com/bookshops/
Over at @libreture, I've listed almost 300 bookshops that sell ebooks without DRM. They are out there, but they're not always part of readers' experience of buying ebooks! https://www.libreture.com/bookshops/
But the really, really should be!
Algorithms don't always drive discovery, that's not ultimately their job. They're there to drive sales.
Have you noticed that with many digital services, you're presented with suggestions that are very similar to things you've already watched?
Algorithms don't always drive discovery, that's not ultimately their job. They're there to drive sales.
Have you noticed that with many digital services, you're presented with suggestions that are very similar to things you've already watched?
And if there isn't something new that matches that, you're just shown the same old stuff you've already seen or aren't interested in.
I've found that @kobo presents the best and widest suggestions, but they're still based on what you've bought.
Why not something new?
I've found that @kobo presents the best and widest suggestions, but they're still based on what you've bought.
Why not something new?
Something a bit different?
Well, that's where Scarlet Ferret comes in!
We hand-pick our ebooks. You get two formats with each purchase, so you can read them on ANY device. 80% of the list price goes to the author or publisher.
And you get Extras! Because books have value!
Well, that's where Scarlet Ferret comes in!
We hand-pick our ebooks. You get two formats with each purchase, so you can read them on ANY device. 80% of the list price goes to the author or publisher.
And you get Extras! Because books have value!
We LOVE 
every book we stock because we've read them all!
And we think you'll love them too! No algorithms, just readers who love books, and loads of talented authors and small publishers.
You can do better than the book supermarkets! https://scarletferret.com/books/
every book we stock because we've read them all!And we think you'll love them too! No algorithms, just readers who love books, and loads of talented authors and small publishers.
You can do better than the book supermarkets! https://scarletferret.com/books/
