links for 2009-03-26

Author focused directory and review site

A new Web site that features 1.8 million author Web pages has been launched by Filedby, Inc., a new company founded by former Ingram executive Peter Clifton and industry analyst Mike Shatzkin. Filedby.com host Web pages that provides a brief biography and a list of works for all American and Canadian authors. Users can login and write reviews or make comments about authors. Authors, or their publishers, can update or link to the page.

Picador formed a new book club on Twitter today, and at two o'clock this (Tuesday) afternoon, they will give away free copies of the inaugural book.

Yesterday the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival concluded. A four day event spun off from the more famous music festival in Austin, it has over the last 15 years developed a reputation as the venue for new ideas in technology and media. Bloggers, designers, artists, programmers, and activists descend on the convention center to learn new tricks and share experiences. The conference fosters an openness that is especially refreshing–though commerce is never far from the surface, the spirit is always open source. Please check your copyright at the door.

Fictionwise, the e-book etailor recently acquired by Barnes & Noble, has launched a beta version of its popular eReader app for the Blackberry smartphone, making Fictionwise’s 50,000 title catalog available on another device

Adam Hodgkin at the Exact Editions blog posted a piece that explains the ebook strategies of Apple, Amazon, and Google in simple terms. Hodgkin’s piece really helps think things through, but I think his analysis is a bit oversimplified (which is part of why it helps think things through.)

The three biggest players in the digital editions or eBooks space may have already announced their presence in the market: Amazon, Google and Apple. Apple did it this week and I am not sure that onlookers have yet understood the Apple position. There has been a persistent view that Apple may be planning to develop an eBook or a digital books strategy. I think it is now clear that their very clever strategy is based on the insight that they don't really need one.