We have been covering the growing e-book market very carefully over the last few months. There has been near weekly movement in the sector, and with nothing less than the future of a huge slice of the media world at stake it is hard to ignore. Apple has been making waves with its iBooks platform, but no one is sure if it has a real shot against the more entrenched players in the e-book market.
Hype does not have a direct one to one correlation into sales figures.
Surely the iPad itself is selling well, but on that device Apple is forced to compete with Kindle, Kobo, Stanza, Barnes and Noble, and Borders among others. That is a stiff collection of competitors for the new iBooks application which still suffers form a title shortage that Apple has yet to fully remedy.
Not to mention its massive multi-platform strategy, Kindle appears in the mind of the average consumer to be synonymous with e-books. The Google search data sums it up:
Despite the literally endless free promotion that iPad and iBooks have received in the last few months, Kindle is burying Apple’s reading solution around the world. Its also worth nothing that the Nook is also ahead of iBooks, putting Steve Job’s market position in third place, most likely ahead of Sony.
This market is young, but so long as the Kindle has been out it has ruled the roost. iBooks has yet to live up to its massive launch.
This is very flawed thinking: ibooks is the name of an application, not a device. The same comparison with nook, kindle and *ipad* (instead of ibooks) produces vastly different results. In fact kindle and nook barely register as blips on the chart. While people may not be searching for ibooks, they certaintly are for ipads; which features the ibooks application prominently. You need better data; for instance kindle e-books sales versus ibooks e-books sales.
To the contrary – people search for the Kindle for one reason: reading. People tend to search for the iPad for a much more diverse set of reasons.
Blips? They are stomping iBooks.
Yes, Apple does promote iBooks, but the other applications are often on the top 10/20 charts, so even on the iPad they are performing well despite also having their own dedicated devices. iBooks is not even ruling its own platform.
Very unconvincing post.
Check this out: “ipad” in stead of “ibooks” gives whole different picture!
http://www.google.com/trends?q=kindle,+nook,+ipad&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=1
Talk about missing the picture. If you think that that is a fair comparison, why not just compare Amazon to iPad on Google trends? Here, I did it for you: http://www.google.com/trends?q=ipad,+amazon
I love iPads, but they are multifunction devices. iBooks is Apple’s e-reading solution. It has to be compared directly, not the iPad, with the other e-reading platforms in the market.
Given that iBooks is in good competition on the iPad and iPhone, and is not available anywhere else, it is hardly ahead in any way. It is barely the leader on its home turf. How is that impressive?
Jorge Adot wrote: You need better data; for instance kindle e-books sales versus ibooks e-books sales.”
You are wrong about that, Jorge, TNW has exactly the data it needs to fabricate another Apple “FAIL” story. Apple fail stories are the bread and butter of TECH sites. Apple fail is what brings in the clicks from thousands of PC gamer/hater creeps. It also brings in the ad bucks from Microsoft. THW is on VERY good terms with MICROSOFT.
This is probably one of my favorite comments of all time. I love how *anyone* not buying the Jobs kool-aide is indication that they are on the take. Low man, to insult my integrity because I tried to take limited data and draw conclusions from it.
Shit, I need to cash this check from Ballmer so that I can tattoo sellout on my ass. Peace out ya’ll.
I think one of the more interesting comparisons isn’t Kindle vs. iPad, but Kindle vs. Nook. The Nook’s “LendMe” feature should’ve helped them trounce the Kindle, but B&N’s lack of forward-motion in expanding this should-have-been-a-game-changer feature has allowed Amazon to still rule the roost. Bring on the posts about KvN, now that they’re both available in-stores and are engaged in a price-war.
As for the fan boys who scream against anything other than glorious praises of Apple, I’ve finally developed an immunity from caring about their rhetoric:)
Wow, this really does make a lot of sense dude.
Lou
http://www.total-anonymity.es.tc
It is helpful to avoid the trap of confusing the eBook channels with the devices. Apple may be selling loads of iPads, but Kindle (the channel) is already available for the iPad. And iPhone, and Blackberry, and Android, and, of course, the Kindle devices. I know if I had an iPad (I don’t), it’d stil be more likely i’d be buying my books from Amazon.
Although I love my Kindle (the device; try reading outside on your iPad), it certainly won’t surprise me if more people opt for the more versatile iPad as a reading platform (or one of its direct competitors). But Amazon has shown it is ready to be there. If Kindle (the device) loses, Amazon is still in a winning position. The battle here is going to be for the publishers who are sure to leverage their copyright monopolies to their own advantage. Perhaps Apple can win that one, but its Amazon’s market to lose.
“Hype does not have a direct one to one correlation into sales figures.”
Neither does Google Search data.
Of course not. I just pointed out that among people searching for an e-reading solution, Kindle is far more popular than iBooks.
Microsoft propagandist creep Alex Wilhelm wrote: “This is probably one of my favorite comments of all time. I love how *anyone* not buying the Jobs kool-aide …”
Sure, creep. You aren’t buying the Jobs “KOOL-AID”. You’re a gamer/hater Microsoftie. You work for Microsoft. TNW is a Microsoft propaganda site. You are paid to generate Apple Hater crap.
Listen to your own 2-digit bullshit:
“Low man, to insult my integrity because I tried to take limited data and draw conclusions from it.”
HAHAHAHA!!
That’s MY all-time favorite line from a propagandist creep.
Why not get better data before posting BULLSHIT?
Because that wouldn’t result in a Apple FAIL story, Which is what all the Microsoft EGOIST creeps like you are looking for.
And then you come on macho at the end with the 4-letter words, to show the loser egoist creeps that you are a tough guy. You are a creep.
I love it. I write post after post on how I love my iPad, and I am a MSFT fanbo1!!1. Really, this is just too great.
As to ‘get better data,’ you obviously know literally nothing about how reporting works. You gather data, look at trends, and come to best conclusion that you can. In this case, I am right.
Nothing you said refutes my points that:
Kindle as a stand alone reader is more popular among consumers searching for an e-reading expierence than iPad or Nook.
Kindle, as a platform, is also present on the iPad, and is a very popular application for that device, as it is for PC, Mac, iPhone, and others.
Hence, with that data in hand, and especially the disparity in search traffic between Kindle and iBooks, and especially given Kindle’s superior library of titles, it appears to be winning tidily.
Hate on me if you want, but come up with a real reason other than “OMFG MSFT DICK SUCKER!”
Creep: “I love it. I write post after post on how I love my iPad, and I am a MSFT fanbo1!!1″
Really? creep. I thought you “didn’t buy the Jobs KOOL-AID.”
You’re a 2-digit Microsoft bullshitter. You work for Microsoft, writing Apple fail bullshit. TNW is building it’s numbers by giving the GAMERS the Apple FAIL they live for every day.
Idiot creep: “As to ‘get better data,’ you obviously know literally nothing about how reporting works. You gather data, look at trends, and come to best conclusion that you can. In this case, I am right.”
You’re just making yourself look dumber and more pathetic with each post.
damn the shareable page eats a shit load of MB from the memory =\ wtf
iPad is a tablet while Kindle is a reader, making their core functions different. The iPad is great for web browsing, social networking, games and videos but the Kindle is hands down the best for reading. Because the Kindle does not have a backlight and looks just like paper, it puts less strain on the eyes when reading for hours, ideal for students of marketing who have to go through lots of textbooks and reports.