'Enriched' e-books: Will they fly? |
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'Enriched' e-books: Will they fly?
From Amazon.com
Amazon.com early on made a habit of pricing digital versions of new release books at $9.99, well below hardcover list price. That irked publishers, who thought the $9.99 standard would devalue books in the minds of consumers. Now, with Apple offering publishers the ability to set higher price points (up to $14.99) on e-books, Amazon is being forced to accept such terms as well.
Now some publishers are betting that consumers will spend even more for so-called "enriched" e-books, equipped with special features. Case in point: David Baldacci's new novel, "Deliver Us From Evil," which will be available in "enriched" digital form for $15.99.
The "enriched" Baldacci novel, which comes out April 20, "will include passages deleted from the final text, research photos, an audio interview and video footage of Baldacci at work," AP reports. It's being published by Hachette, one of the publishing houses working with Apple on books for the new multi-function iPad tablet. Hachette is "unsure" of whether the enriched Baldacci book will work with Amazon's Kindle or other e-reader devices.
"I want people to have a great experience and give them a behind-the-scenes look at what I do, the way you would have it on a DVD," Baldacci told AP.
The concept of "enriched" electronic books adds another dimension to the battle between Apple's iPad and Amazon's Kindle. "Enriched" e-books can tap into the iPad's video and other functions which are not available on Kindle (though Amazon is likely developing new Kindles with more advanced features).
Earlier this year, Amazon temporarily removed the buy button on books from publisher Macmillan in a pricing dispute over digital titles, but later said it "will have to capitulate and accept Macmillan's terms" for higher retail prices on some e-books.
Right now Amazon.com is offering the hardcover version of Baldacci's "Deliver Us From Evil" for pre-order at $15.11 and the Kindle edition for $13.60.
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