Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers -

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leep

30 Jun 2012, 09:39 AM | Post: #1

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Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

An interesting article from the WSJ about how ebooks are used to report back on readers' habits:

http://online.wsj.com...

Quote: It takes the average reader just seven hours to read the final book in Suzanne Collins's "Hunger Games" trilogy on the Kobo e-reader—about 57 pages an hour. Nearly 18,000 Kindle readers have highlighted the same line from the second book in the series: "Because sometimes things happen to people and they're not equipped to deal with them." And on Barnes & Noble's Nook, the first thing that most readers do upon finishing the first "Hunger Games" book is to download the next one.

It seems some are using them to pass on to authors to help 'inform' on their writing, some publishers are presumably using it to determine which books they buy/commission (or will) and some are using it to introduce new formats to better suit readers' habits.

Where do you stand on people knowing what you do with the books you buy, a good thing or a bad thing?

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Ceinwenn Reading I Shall Not Hate - Izzeldin Abuelaish

30 Jun 2012, 04:39 PM | Post: #2

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

Well, I don't like it, but I suppose it's just an extension of what info is collected from the use of store loyalty cards, etc. Other than the murders - it's kinda like the Jeffery Deaver book The Broken Window

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sujay Reading The Glass Guardian by Linda Gillard

01 Jul 2012, 08:56 AM | Post: #3

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

If I buy a book in a bookshop or supermarket then people know what I have bought, so how is them knowing what ebooks I buy any different?

It all goes back to the old adage, if you have nothing to hide then why worry?

Only happy when I am immersed in a good Kindle book Thumbs Up

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Ken Magee Reading The Testing of Archie Rathbone by Alex Hunter

01 Jul 2012, 09:10 AM | Post: #4

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

I like people knowing what I like because then they can offer me more of the same... as long as they don't phone me.

Ancient magic meets the Internet - life will never be the same again.

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I ♥ my Kindle Reading The Dead by Charlie Higson

01 Jul 2012, 01:05 PM | Post: #5

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

(01 Jul 2012 09:10 AM)Ken Magee Wrote: I like people knowing what I like because then they can offer me more of the same... as long as they don't phone me.

Do you not think though, that you end up being more limited as you may not seek new stuff for yourself because it is being presented to you?
While I realise not everyone would go with just 'recommended', there are a lot of people that do not have the time or inclination to search for themselves, so would.

Personally I think any-body poking around my files, collecting data on me is unwanted, but I still choose to be a part of digital-living, so also accept that it will happen to some degee.

What I would object to is my Kindle, giving up all it's files to Amazon if Amazon were to ask it to (phone home...)

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I ♥ my Kindle Reading The Dead by Charlie Higson

01 Jul 2012, 01:13 PM | Post: #6

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

(01 Jul 2012 08:56 AM)sujay Wrote: If I buy a book in a bookshop or supermarket then people know what I have bought, so how is them knowing what ebooks I buy any different?

They do not know it was you, personally, who bought the book, just that a copy of the book has been sold (unless loyalty card is used).

Unless I tell someone what I have bought, it is nobody elses business.
Lets face it there are plenty of avenues for people to tell the world just about anything these days... By Choice.

I have nothing to hide, but for instance if I wanted to buy a controversial book (can think of none though Smile

Then I do not want my Amazon page spamming 'Because you downloaded this .... 'Hunks in Chocolate'* you might like this... 'Lads in Loganberry juice'* there is more than just me that uses the account...

*Obviously made up titles, shows the limits of my imagination, despite being a reader lol, shows why I'll never be a writer!
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Ken Magee Reading The Testing of Archie Rathbone by Alex Hunter

01 Jul 2012, 02:16 PM | Post: #7

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

(01 Jul 2012 01:13 PM)I ♥ my Kindle Wrote: 'Because you downloaded this .... 'Hunks in Chocolate'* you might like this... 'Lads in Loganberry juice'*
*Obviously made up titles, shows the limits of my imagination, despite being a reader lol, shows why I'll never be a writer!

I love your made-up titles... you should write both those books (not for me, you understand!).

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Ken Magee Reading The Testing of Archie Rathbone by Alex Hunter

01 Jul 2012, 02:18 PM | Post: #8

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

(01 Jul 2012 01:05 PM)I ♥ my Kindle Wrote: Do you not think though, that you end up being more limited as you may not seek new stuff for yourself because it is being presented to you?

I think recommendations just add yet another choice. I get my reading list from loads of places, including checking out the books by active KUF authors.

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Notoriety Reading The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi

01 Jul 2012, 08:51 PM | Post: #9

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

(01 Jul 2012 08:56 AM)sujay Wrote: It all goes back to the old adage, if you have nothing to hide then why worry?

As said by dictators and tyrants everywhere to justify anything - and by a few British politicians too.

As I recall the sharing options (highlights etc) are turned off by default on the Kindle so these 18,000 readers must have turned them on. Can't see why. Even less can I see why a dreary and banal sentence like that would be highlighted. But then I haven't read the book. Whistle

Tony

Arab proverb: Only a fool lends his books and only a fool returns them.

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Trace Reading

02 Jul 2012, 05:32 AM | Post: #10

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RE: Publishers and retailers collecting stats on ebook readers

I've really never given any thought to people knowing what I'm buying or reading. As for recommendations I find that some of them are useful, some are not so I'm still picking and choosing my books myself. I have a Goodreads account where I list and sometimes review a lot of the books I'm reading or intending to read - I guess I just think that word of mouth about whats good/bad about any book is probably a good thing.

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