Ebooks have had false starts before but there are solid reasons to believe that they’re now well and truly on their way. Digital Publishing Forum NZ Director Martin Taylor provides some background to the ebook hype, explains some jargon, highlights some trends and opportunities, and updates you on the latest digital publishing developments internationally and in New Zealand.

1. The Rise and Fall and Rise of Ebooks Martin Taylor Digital Publishing Forum digitalpublishing.org.nz Thanks to our sponsors

4. Ebook readers today Amazon Kindle 2 (approx 500,000 sold, USA only) Sony Reader (400,000 sold, US, UK) Apple iPhone / iPod Touch (30 million sold In 80 countries)

5. Books feature strongly in iPhone App store downloads 4 th by downloads Week of 1 March 09

6. Coming up Fujitsu FLEPia colour ‘e-paper mobile terminal’ Plastic Logic Large e-ink displays due mid-2009 with wireless, touchscreen E-ink can be printed onto flexible surfaces Netbooks may become a viable reading platform

7. Technology adoption lifecycle Rogers bell curve

8. US consumer technology adoption Source: New York Times 10 Feb 2008

13. Where's the money? US wholesale ebook revenues December 2008 quarter +100% vs prior year Source: idpf.org

15. How much should the ebook edition of a $30 paper book cost? Source: Digital Publishing Forum: digitalpublishing.org.nz – online poll conducted February-March 2009

18. Thanks! Martin Taylor web: digitalpublishing.org.nz email: martin@digitalstrategies.co.nz blog: activitypress.com/ ereport