Dear All:
I have not yet decided whether to keep this blog going or not.
I was terminated at Astak/Team Research/EZRead.
Maybe I will get on with another eBook device or bookstore. That would be great.
This blog, also, was never appreciated by that company. On the other hand, they totally devalued just about every contribution I made.
I do not wish to rant and rave here. Have no desire to say bad things about my old "friends".
But I think you all should know that the best laid plans and best intentionsdo often go astray and this is that case.
eBook Readers are still an incredible asset to the environment!! Please stick with "reading green"!!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
New eBook store launched and new company
The new name for Astak's eBook division is now "EZRead, Inc." This is the start of a massive change in where we are going from here. EZRead, Inc. is not a divsion but a separate company with its own CEO and its own game plan. It is an exciting time!
Yes, some people have written and stated that the lowering of prices by Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and Sony mean Astak should follow suit. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to lose money like these others. They are now selling at lower than their cost to make the devices. We have beem selling at our cost for quite some time. We have built up a large following of loyal end users that realize EZRead makes a great product that is consistently lighter, faster, and far more full featured than the other choices. We want to keep them happy also!
We cannot lower our prices any further as we are at cost already. These large three can sustain losing for years if they want. Many other eBook Device makers have gone bankrupt and that is sad as it means that less innovation and less creativity will be the result. While some end users may love the lower prices... most onnovation comes from samll to medium sized companies and not giant conglomerates. So, EZread will continue to make and sell new models and existing models that will continue to offer a better value. They will have more features and far greater value. They will be competitively priced; but are not going to sell at a loss. The first of these (EZ Reader PLUS) will be selling before the end of July.
What we are putting a large investment into is our eBook Store (http://www.ezread.com/). That is getting a complete redesign by a professional firm and will offer more eBooks, more author interviews, a wish list, a better search engine, and a lot more that is confiential right now. We aim to make this eBook Store (now open during remodeling) fabulous. Right now you will note that prices are lower than at other bookstores and we will keep it that way! Keep your eyes on that eBook Store for real excitement!! Yes, you could shop elsewhere for the same book and pay a lot more... but why not get the ideal eBook for less and support EZRead? Also... EZread supports and courts the Independent Authors and Publishers in addition to the major Publishers!! You will find titles there that are fabulous and not available elsewhere! If you utilize Adobe Digital Editions... shop EZread!! We have 400,000 "pay" titles and the entire Google Free Library of 1 MILLION FREE eBooks!! Membership is FREE!!
I am going in for Knee Surgery on July 14, 2010... and will not be posting for 2-3 weeks. Please be patient. This blog will soon be buzzing with a lot of new information on devices and eBooks!
Yes, some people have written and stated that the lowering of prices by Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and Sony mean Astak should follow suit. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to lose money like these others. They are now selling at lower than their cost to make the devices. We have beem selling at our cost for quite some time. We have built up a large following of loyal end users that realize EZRead makes a great product that is consistently lighter, faster, and far more full featured than the other choices. We want to keep them happy also!
We cannot lower our prices any further as we are at cost already. These large three can sustain losing for years if they want. Many other eBook Device makers have gone bankrupt and that is sad as it means that less innovation and less creativity will be the result. While some end users may love the lower prices... most onnovation comes from samll to medium sized companies and not giant conglomerates. So, EZread will continue to make and sell new models and existing models that will continue to offer a better value. They will have more features and far greater value. They will be competitively priced; but are not going to sell at a loss. The first of these (EZ Reader PLUS) will be selling before the end of July.
What we are putting a large investment into is our eBook Store (http://www.ezread.com/). That is getting a complete redesign by a professional firm and will offer more eBooks, more author interviews, a wish list, a better search engine, and a lot more that is confiential right now. We aim to make this eBook Store (now open during remodeling) fabulous. Right now you will note that prices are lower than at other bookstores and we will keep it that way! Keep your eyes on that eBook Store for real excitement!! Yes, you could shop elsewhere for the same book and pay a lot more... but why not get the ideal eBook for less and support EZRead? Also... EZread supports and courts the Independent Authors and Publishers in addition to the major Publishers!! You will find titles there that are fabulous and not available elsewhere! If you utilize Adobe Digital Editions... shop EZread!! We have 400,000 "pay" titles and the entire Google Free Library of 1 MILLION FREE eBooks!! Membership is FREE!!
I am going in for Knee Surgery on July 14, 2010... and will not be posting for 2-3 weeks. Please be patient. This blog will soon be buzzing with a lot of new information on devices and eBooks!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
New EZ Reader PLUS being ordered from factory
The new EZ Reader PLUS, which will make ALL the difference, is being ordered from the factory. The shipment will be in our warehouse in about 4 weeks.
The new PLUS is a very, very strong 6 inch contender. WHY? This has 16 level grey scale, the Epson controller with 400MHz processor for blazing page turns, USB 2.0, SD card memory expansion to 16GB (enough for 8,000 novels and your MP3 music), 64MB SD RAM (double the norm for faster opening of eBooks), a USER-Replaceable Rechargeable Battery, comes with the quality crush-resistant case and ear buds included, has 20 formats and displays 26 languages, ported with Adobe Digital Editions, and has the now-famous Astak Dedicated Forum where you can get answers to your questions and help from Astak ONLINE! Price will likely be about $219.
AND... of course... buying eBooks or getting free eBooks is simple at the new Astak eBook Store: www.EZread.com where we have 400,000 pay titles and more than 1 MILLION Google Free Library eBooks.
Now, we still have a few hundred EZ Reader Basics left in stock. We have them on sale now with a free 2GB SD card, preloaded 500 classics, and a FREE download of the bestseller: "The Girl With the Dragon Taatoo". You can find that at: www.theEZreader.com (domestic)or www.astak.com (international). That price is $199 with all the free goodies until July 4. That is still a remarkably able 6 inch that has a fabulous screen and has proven to have almost zero returns.
In any case, those must sell out first!!
We HAVE to move out all the EZ Reader Basics before we put the PLUS on sale.
The new PLUS is a very, very strong 6 inch contender. WHY? This has 16 level grey scale, the Epson controller with 400MHz processor for blazing page turns, USB 2.0, SD card memory expansion to 16GB (enough for 8,000 novels and your MP3 music), 64MB SD RAM (double the norm for faster opening of eBooks), a USER-Replaceable Rechargeable Battery, comes with the quality crush-resistant case and ear buds included, has 20 formats and displays 26 languages, ported with Adobe Digital Editions, and has the now-famous Astak Dedicated Forum where you can get answers to your questions and help from Astak ONLINE! Price will likely be about $219.
AND... of course... buying eBooks or getting free eBooks is simple at the new Astak eBook Store: www.EZread.com where we have 400,000 pay titles and more than 1 MILLION Google Free Library eBooks.
Now, we still have a few hundred EZ Reader Basics left in stock. We have them on sale now with a free 2GB SD card, preloaded 500 classics, and a FREE download of the bestseller: "The Girl With the Dragon Taatoo". You can find that at: www.theEZreader.com (domestic)or www.astak.com (international). That price is $199 with all the free goodies until July 4. That is still a remarkably able 6 inch that has a fabulous screen and has proven to have almost zero returns.
In any case, those must sell out first!!
We HAVE to move out all the EZ Reader Basics before we put the PLUS on sale.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Some interesting statistics from IDPF/BEA
Astak went under the name EZRead, Inc. This is our new name as we break off the eBook Readers and eBook Store (www.EZread.com) into a separate and much stronger company of its own. EZRead, Inc. is ramping up with a major push and this is the type of kick-off we needed.
The following statistics were announced at the conference and are a result of polling 40,000 eBook Reader owners. These statistics have a 95% confidence level:
eBook sales really started to take off in Q1 of 2009. eBooks have finally come into their own.
39% that own an eBook Reader said that they purchase just as many Printed Books (pBooks) as they did before they boought their device. eBooks are not hurting pBook sales like most thought they would do.
There is an average savings of $6.25 in purchasing eBooks over pBooks. This may drop some now that the Agency Model is in place by the publishers.
In Japan, 75% of middle school girls do all their reading of novels on their smart phone. This may be as a result that some Japanese books are horizomatal read or read right to left and EPUB is not yet set up for this.
51% of all eBook Buyers are now Male. This is a small change from 60% of sales were female in 2008.
The higher income segment (over $75,000 annual) is growing on eBook Readers.
48% are from the suburbs.
Why people buy eBooks instead of pBooks (in order):
1. Affordability
2. Ease of downloading
3. Readability
4. It helps the environment
37% of all eBook Reader buyers purchased in the last 2-6 months.
44% buyeBooks online.
Favorite vehicles for eBook Reading are:
Computer (37%)
Kindle (32%
iPhone (10%)
Sony (9%)
Nook (3%)
iPad (3%)
Astak (1.5%)
28% said they have a major issue with DRM
39% said they have a small issue with DRM
30% said they have no issue with DRM
Reasons why people buy eBook Readers in order:
1. Portability
2. Instant Access instead of driving
3. They can carry entire libraries with them.
4. There is a great availablity of FREE eBooks on the market.
Favorite Categories of eBooks:
1. General Fiction
2. Detective
3. How-To Guides
4. Science Fiction
5. Business/Finance
6. Romance
I hope you enjoyed finding out about these statistics. Astak (EZRead, Inc.) will be growing a lot this year so we are fine with 1.5% in 2009. We look to grow steadily in 2010!
The following statistics were announced at the conference and are a result of polling 40,000 eBook Reader owners. These statistics have a 95% confidence level:
eBook sales really started to take off in Q1 of 2009. eBooks have finally come into their own.
39% that own an eBook Reader said that they purchase just as many Printed Books (pBooks) as they did before they boought their device. eBooks are not hurting pBook sales like most thought they would do.
There is an average savings of $6.25 in purchasing eBooks over pBooks. This may drop some now that the Agency Model is in place by the publishers.
In Japan, 75% of middle school girls do all their reading of novels on their smart phone. This may be as a result that some Japanese books are horizomatal read or read right to left and EPUB is not yet set up for this.
51% of all eBook Buyers are now Male. This is a small change from 60% of sales were female in 2008.
The higher income segment (over $75,000 annual) is growing on eBook Readers.
48% are from the suburbs.
Why people buy eBooks instead of pBooks (in order):
1. Affordability
2. Ease of downloading
3. Readability
4. It helps the environment
37% of all eBook Reader buyers purchased in the last 2-6 months.
44% buyeBooks online.
Favorite vehicles for eBook Reading are:
Computer (37%)
Kindle (32%
iPhone (10%)
Sony (9%)
Nook (3%)
iPad (3%)
Astak (1.5%)
28% said they have a major issue with DRM
39% said they have a small issue with DRM
30% said they have no issue with DRM
Reasons why people buy eBook Readers in order:
1. Portability
2. Instant Access instead of driving
3. They can carry entire libraries with them.
4. There is a great availablity of FREE eBooks on the market.
Favorite Categories of eBooks:
1. General Fiction
2. Detective
3. How-To Guides
4. Science Fiction
5. Business/Finance
6. Romance
I hope you enjoyed finding out about these statistics. Astak (EZRead, Inc.) will be growing a lot this year so we are fine with 1.5% in 2009. We look to grow steadily in 2010!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
What is new, huge, and will shape everything?
Every year about 250 people assemble for a 1 day conference known as IDPF (International Digital Publishing Forum). Here we hear what will be facing the eBook and Reader industry for the next year. Big names like Adobe, Google, Apple, Sony, Kindle, and more will all give their views on the state of EPUB as a format, new devices, the Agency Model, DRM and Non-DRM strategies, iPad, MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices),new eBook Stores, and a lot more. The Statistics alone that are released are amazing.
BUT... this year this little conference joins with the giant BEA (Book Expo America show). Now the show runs about a week long and brings in about 200,000 book lovers. This means that the publishers will be in full force at the event. Every author you can imagine will be represented there as well as hundreds of independent authors and publishers. Astak will be meeting with the actual publishers and authors... trying to build for the future.
The first thing that will come out of this combined event is statistics on the industry. What is working and what is not. We will start to hear from websites that are NON-DRM and how they are doing with that. Every genre from erotic to politics to espionage and crime will be talked about and new titles shown. Hundreds of publishers will be planning their first foray into eBooks and away from Printed Books.
Two years ago we went to BEA and found almost NO support from anyone for eBooks. We were dismissed as a nuisance. This year most of the hour long sessions are on eBooks with advice on how to get involved to new titles in Spanish and other languages. You would not belive just how major the impact of eBooks is on the Printed World.
Yes, the iPad will be there... all two pounds of it with 8-10 hours of battery life. Think the end of the Dedicated eBook Reader is at hand? Think again. Changes are coming to eBook Readers to make them more interactive and the dawn of the MID (Mobile Internet Device) may make the bulky tablet obsolete. Imagine a device that does MORE than the iPad, has a web cam and a camera, gets a few days to a charge, is color, weighs about 14 ounces tops, and costs quite a bit less.
So where will this leave Dedicated eBook Readers? Better, faster, stronger, lower priced, and the light weight champion for reading by far.
Anyway, from May 24-28, I will not be blogging but will be getting info for some great new stuff.
I will try to give you a better perspective soon on this show and what is coming up soon!! It will effect you and you should know about this!!
BUT... this year this little conference joins with the giant BEA (Book Expo America show). Now the show runs about a week long and brings in about 200,000 book lovers. This means that the publishers will be in full force at the event. Every author you can imagine will be represented there as well as hundreds of independent authors and publishers. Astak will be meeting with the actual publishers and authors... trying to build for the future.
The first thing that will come out of this combined event is statistics on the industry. What is working and what is not. We will start to hear from websites that are NON-DRM and how they are doing with that. Every genre from erotic to politics to espionage and crime will be talked about and new titles shown. Hundreds of publishers will be planning their first foray into eBooks and away from Printed Books.
Two years ago we went to BEA and found almost NO support from anyone for eBooks. We were dismissed as a nuisance. This year most of the hour long sessions are on eBooks with advice on how to get involved to new titles in Spanish and other languages. You would not belive just how major the impact of eBooks is on the Printed World.
Yes, the iPad will be there... all two pounds of it with 8-10 hours of battery life. Think the end of the Dedicated eBook Reader is at hand? Think again. Changes are coming to eBook Readers to make them more interactive and the dawn of the MID (Mobile Internet Device) may make the bulky tablet obsolete. Imagine a device that does MORE than the iPad, has a web cam and a camera, gets a few days to a charge, is color, weighs about 14 ounces tops, and costs quite a bit less.
So where will this leave Dedicated eBook Readers? Better, faster, stronger, lower priced, and the light weight champion for reading by far.
Anyway, from May 24-28, I will not be blogging but will be getting info for some great new stuff.
I will try to give you a better perspective soon on this show and what is coming up soon!! It will effect you and you should know about this!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Dictionary Support in the hopper
In answer to a comment sent to me, I am responding with good news. We finally have the factory in the process of adding Dictionary Support to the Pocket PRO and we hope the 6 inch EZ Readers also. It is going to take a while... guess is 6-8 weeks... but it finally is moving forward.
I know that this has seen a lot of stops and starts before... but this time it really looks like it is for real.
Meanwhile, I would love to invite all on this blog to join our new discussion forum (Astak Dedicated Forum) at:
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=204
Also, be aware that we now have the ideal place to get eBooks: www.EZread.com
This new eBook Store is different. The search engine is more specific, the prices are lower, it has 200,000 "pay" titles and the entire Google FREE 1 Million library. Soon, it will also have a forum on eBooks that is interactive. You can request eBooks and authors, read eBook reviews, and read "Meet The Author". You can complain or post thanks! You can chat with others who share your interests! Plus, we are going after Independent Authors and Publishers at Book Festivals all over the nation to get their titles on our website! It is a very different eBook Store and a great one. Why not give it a try?
I know that this has seen a lot of stops and starts before... but this time it really looks like it is for real.
Meanwhile, I would love to invite all on this blog to join our new discussion forum (Astak Dedicated Forum) at:
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=204
Also, be aware that we now have the ideal place to get eBooks: www.EZread.com
This new eBook Store is different. The search engine is more specific, the prices are lower, it has 200,000 "pay" titles and the entire Google FREE 1 Million library. Soon, it will also have a forum on eBooks that is interactive. You can request eBooks and authors, read eBook reviews, and read "Meet The Author". You can complain or post thanks! You can chat with others who share your interests! Plus, we are going after Independent Authors and Publishers at Book Festivals all over the nation to get their titles on our website! It is a very different eBook Store and a great one. Why not give it a try?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
New eBook Store announced!!
Tired of worrying about finding the right books at the lowest price in the right format? Spending more time hunting for eBooks than reading? Worried about DRM?
Join Astak at the newest eBook Store: www.MyEZread.com. You will find most of our eBooks are either FREE (Google Free Library) or pay titles at the lowest price. We have 1 Million Google Titles and 200,000 PAY titles. IF your device uses Adobe Digital Editions (and most do with the exception of stubborn Kindle)... this site has it. We simplified everything: all titles are in either PDF or EPUB (both ideal for Adobe Digital Editions).
The site has a very sophisticated search engine, sub-category search, and search by Title, Author, or BOTH! One button gives you the latest BESTSELLERS straight from the New York Times charts. Not positive if you have Adobe Digital Editions? The site lists all applicable devices PLUS has a link for free download of Adobe Digital Editions.
You can either stay worried about hunting up sites OR join the crowd at: www.MyEZread.com!!
Simplify your life! Get the best price, the perfect format, and a huge selection at this new eBook Store! Coming soon to this site: a full-fledged forum with eBook Reviews, chatting, and making requests!
Join Astak at the newest eBook Store: www.MyEZread.com. You will find most of our eBooks are either FREE (Google Free Library) or pay titles at the lowest price. We have 1 Million Google Titles and 200,000 PAY titles. IF your device uses Adobe Digital Editions (and most do with the exception of stubborn Kindle)... this site has it. We simplified everything: all titles are in either PDF or EPUB (both ideal for Adobe Digital Editions).
The site has a very sophisticated search engine, sub-category search, and search by Title, Author, or BOTH! One button gives you the latest BESTSELLERS straight from the New York Times charts. Not positive if you have Adobe Digital Editions? The site lists all applicable devices PLUS has a link for free download of Adobe Digital Editions.
You can either stay worried about hunting up sites OR join the crowd at: www.MyEZread.com!!
Simplify your life! Get the best price, the perfect format, and a huge selection at this new eBook Store! Coming soon to this site: a full-fledged forum with eBook Reviews, chatting, and making requests!
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