Years ago the newspaper industry saw a shift from readers picking up the morning newspaper during coffee and breakfast to reading the latest headlines on the Internet, and now to scanning the latest Twitter updates from multiple news organizations. While the shift to technology continues to emerge, many did not know whether reading a book on an electronic device would become the next big hit.
While scrolling through pages on an electronic device isn't the same as snuggling up on the couch flipping the paper pages of your favorite classic novel, this has not stopped the evolution of technology creeping into all aspects of our lives. Instead, Amazon's Kindle has shown a large increase in sales since its launch in November 2007.
After such a successful launch, Amazon then followed up with two more generations of the Kindle. On December 27, 2010, just 4 months after the launch of the Kindle 3, Amazon announced the Kindle 3 had already become Amazon's bestselling product in history.
Due to the high nature of e-book buying, Amazon has introduced the Kindle Million Club. The Kindle Million Club is for authors who have reached 1 million paid book copies in the Kindle Store. Currently three authors are on the list which includes James Patterson, Stieg Larsson and the newest member, Nora Roberts.
Just like any shift away from the normal habits of everyday life, the evolution towards the kindle e-book hasn't been without its own issues. Many established publishers have worried the increased sales and popularity of e-book readers, including the Kindle, will undercut sales in the hardcover and paperback market. Also Amazon's agreement, which was announced in October, gives self-publishing authors through the Kindle store a higher royalty. This has evoked anger and fear within publishing houses. Amazon has agreed to a 70 percent royalty instead of the standard publishing contract's 25 percent.
In 2007, the Kindle may have seemed like a joke to some individuals, but three years later the view has shifted. The Kindle is not the next fad that comes and goes after a year of two. Instead, it seems that it is here to stay and is ever-expanding. This can best be seen by looking at the amount of other e-book readers that have been developed and are now being sold in the market. The next question is, how long will bookstores continue to stay in business or will they face the same downsizing that print newspaper has seen.
We have a great review of some of the best kindle dx covers at our kindle site!
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