Tag Archives: Simon Schuster
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A Power Bank for Donut Lovers!
Power banks come in all shapes and sizes nowadays, especially as the demand for them is increasing as our phones age! But this power bank in particular stands out for one very good reason… its undeniably unconventional, donut-like form!
STRöM offers all the functionality of a more regular power bank but looks funky while doing so; half of the ‘donut’ swivels on a hinge to reveal two charging ports that are neatly concealed when not in use. Facing outwards are five LED lights that clearly indicate the battery level to the user, so they can avoid any annoying, battery-less situations!
To make carrying STRöM a little easier, a neat rubber carry handle has been integrated into the design, where the only part of any colors is located… a little blue button. It certainly moves away from the more mundane power banks that are readily available, and brings a little bit of humor to the charging experience!
Designer: Simon Schuster
EU regulators to accept Apple and book publishers’ offer of cheaper e-books
According to Reuters, EU regulators look likely to accept an offer from Apple and a handful of publishers, including Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Livre and Macmillan. The assembled publishers propose that they will allow retailers (including Amazon) to sell e-books cheaper than Apple currently does. The move will attempt to end the EU's anti-trust investigation that looked into the publishers' e-book pricing model that unfairly affected retailers' ability to compete with Apple's own electronic book collection.
Filed under: Apple
EU regulators to accept Apple and book publishers' offer of cheaper e-books originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Reuters | Email this | Comments Google, Association of American Publishers strike deal over book digitization
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) and Google today announced an agreement that marks the end of nearly seven years of litigation, kicked off in 2005, when five members of the organization filed an infringement suit against the online giant. The deal helps bring digitized books and journals to the Google Library Project, giving publishers control over what content will make it into Google's collection. Publishers who opt to keep their book in the online library will get access of the digital copy for their own purposes. As a jointly issued press release notes, the deal, which includes McGraw-Hill, Penguin, Wiley, Pearson Education and Simon & Schuster, does not impact current Authors Guild litigation.
Google, Association of American Publishers strike deal over book digitization originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |Google | Email this | Comments Apple and publishers offer deal to put price fixing scandal behind them in EU
In the US, the e-book price fixing scandal appears to be winding towards its inevitable conclusion. Many of the publishers settled with the DOJ right off the bat, and now the states themselves have gotten three publishing houses to cough up $69 million in their own agreement. (Of course, Apple, Macmillan and Penguin have all decided to go the trial route, but we'll have to wait till next year to see how that plays out.) In Europe, the battle is still raging on, but Reuters is reporting that the accused are offering concessions in a bid to put the antitrust allegations behind them. The only name missing from the list is Penguin, which may or may not be part of the plea deal. Not all the details of the proposals have been revealed yet, and there's no guarantee the commission will accept them. The heart of the settlement, however, would involve allowing Amazon to sell e-books at a discounted price for two years. Would cheaper Kindle books be good, clean fun for the whole family? Sure, but it certainly pales in comparison to the potential penalties if Apple and their publishing partners go to trial.
Filed under: Apple
Apple and publishers offer deal to put price fixing scandal behind them in EU originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |Reuters | Email this | Comments States reach $69 million settlement with three publishers in e-book price fixing case
When the US Department of Justice sued Apple and five major book publishers over alleged e-book price rigging, it immediately became clear that a few of these companies would do just about anything to avoid trial. That same day, three of the publishers -- HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette -- elected to settle with the DoJ. Now, those same three publishers have reached an agreement in 49 states (all but Minnesota), wherein consumers will receive a combined $69 million in compensation.
Specifically, the payout applies to people who bought agency-priced e-books between April 1, 2010 and May 21, 2012. Interestingly, the payout includes folks who bought e-books from Macmillan and Penguin, even though those two publishers aren't settling. As for making sure people get paid, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google, Sony, Apple and Kobo have agreed to identify and contact affected customers. According to ABC News, most of these retailers will give customers the option of receiving a check or a credit toward future purchases. Sony, meanwhile, will automatically issue checks, while Google will direct customers to an online submission form where they can file a claim. Whatever the method, payments are expected to begin 30 days after the settlement is approved. The DoJ settlement, which is separate from the agreement with the 49 states, is still awaiting clearance.
States reach $69 million settlement with three publishers in e-book price fixing case originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |PaidContent, ABC News | Email this | Comments Australia pondering joining e-book lawsuit bandwagon
If Apple and the Big Five thought they only had to contend with a federal e-book lawsuit in the US, they'd better think again. Australia's Competition and Consumer Commission is inviting local businesses to raise formal concerns as it weighs up launching its own judicial broadside against the alleged cartel. The Commission refused to comment publicly on its plans beyond saying that it was "aware of the latest developments" and would listen to local resellers who had concerns about the Australian market. While Simon & Schuster, Hachette and HarperCollins made back-room deals with the DoJ yesterday, they'd still be involved (at least initially) with the second front of this conflict. Meanwhile, the threat remains of the European Union joining in: turning it from a spot of local trouble into a global courtroom battle for the future of e-book pricing.
Australia pondering joining e-book lawsuit bandwagon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Next Web | Financial Review | Email this | Comments Justice Department formally charges Apple, big five publishers in e-book price fixing case (update)
The Justice Department has formally decided to sue Apple, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillian, Penguin and Simon & Schuster over alleged e-book price-rigging. Apple and Macmillian have already denied any wrongdoing, saying that the agreements were enhancing competition in an industry previously dominated by Amazon. The case centers around a deal to switch to agency pricing, where the vendor takes a 30 percent cut of each sale rather than the wholesale model which allows stores to sell books at rock-bottom prices. It was previously believed that the publishers had cut back-room deals with the Government agency after bowing to pressure to withdraw Cupertino's "favored nation" status. If successful, the DoJ will allow Amazon and Barnes and Noble amongst others to return to the wholesale model to sell best-sellers at a loss, something that the big five are desperate to avoid, and will look to fight the battle in court.
Update: The PDF of the DoJ's filing is now available online -- it makes for fascinating reading.
Update 2: Bloomberg is now reporting that Simon & Schuster, Lagardère SCA's Hachette Book Group and HarperCollins have settled with the DoJ over unspecified terms. Hasty!
Update: The PDF of the DoJ's filing is now available online -- it makes for fascinating reading.
Update 2: Bloomberg is now reporting that Simon & Schuster, Lagardère SCA's Hachette Book Group and HarperCollins have settled with the DoJ over unspecified terms. Hasty!
Justice Department formally charges Apple, big five publishers in e-book price fixing case (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |Bloomberg, Department of Justice filing (PDF) | Email this | Comments