Have a seat, Kindle: Barnes & Noble nabs #1 Books spot on "Top Free Apps"

We were excited to see on GalleyCat today that Barnes & Noble has taken top honors in the "Top Free Apps" category under App Store's "Books" category, just a little over a week from the release of their new B&N Bookstore App. We were also pleased to see that in addition to searching event calendars for author readings, the new app allows users to watch video interviews with authors (speaking of....we might know somebody who does author interviews......!).

But truth be told, like GalleyCat, we were downright shaking with geeky glee when we learned about the snap-and-search feature. As B&N explains, users can simply snap a picture of a book, and in seconds, gain product reviews, editorial reviews, and customer ratings - even locate it at the nearest B&N, and reserve it for pick-up.

I know book lovers - I know! Finally, we are getting as techy as the music crowd! Before you know it, Pandora will have swept in to generate reading lists based on our favorite books and/or authors! Oh wait, someone already has.

Ground Zero at SXSW

Here in Austin, it's SXSW madness this week. Everywhere you turn, there are badges being flashed, iPhones snapping pictures, and hipsters feigning ennui with Kanye's show confirmation (while secretly PUMPED). We love it terribly.

A few updates from SXSW Ground Zero, from the worlds of publishing, PR, and media:

PUBLISHING

"Publishing has never been in my lifetime in such a powerless state as it is now."

It was the quote that launched a thousand tweets at the SXSW panel "New Think for Old Publishers" on Monday. By now everyone's read GalleyCat's report, and here in Austin, we thought it presented a fine opportunity to open the discussion for the future of publishing. Social media, eBooks, the Kindle, etc. are changing the way those of us in the lit world conceptualize production, distribution, and consumption of books. Take a look at the links, and then tell us: What are your thoughts on the matter? How do you envision the future of publishing?

PR

We caught up with HARO's Peter Shankman at Aces Lounge on Monday, for the Sassy Interactive Party put on by Do512, Action Figure, and VM Foundry. Next time we saw Peter, it was on the interwebs, backed by some rockin' Bon Jovi:



MEDIA

Tomorrow night, we'll be at USA Today's Pop Candy Party at The Belmont. We love Whitney Matheson and we know you do too, so give us a shout if you're headed out there!

Quick hits: Kindle 2.0, "How to Publish in a Recession" and farewell to Domino magazine

It’s already shaping up to be a busy week here at Phenix & Phenix and it seems that this is the case with our colleagues elsewhere in the industry! I thought I’d write some brief blurbs on a few headlines that caught my eye this morning:

Kindle 2.0 is here

A couple of years ago the first Kindle "Wireless Reading Device" was released to quite a bit of buzz and mixed opinion. Personally, I’m not sold on it just yet. I love having a real book in my hands and I don’t know that I’d be able to get used to reading a book on a little screen! To date, Amazon has sold over 200,000 Kindles and the features on this new model can only make it more enticing to the gadget lovers among us. The Washington Post has a really nice write up on the new Kindle. Some of the improvements include longer battery life, more memory and “it’s much less ugly.” What do you think? Are you a fan of the Kindle?

"How to Publish in a Recession" series

I’ve been reading this very interesting series on the blog Conversational Reading thanks to a link on GalleyCat. Aptly titled, “How to Publish in a Recession,” Conversational Reading is featuring a series of interviews with publishers at small presses and getting their perspective on what it takes to be successful during an economic downturn. Today’s piece features an interview with Margo Baldwin, publisher and president of Chelsea Green Publishing. Chelsea Green is a small press that focuses on sustainable living and environmental titles. The publisher had a banner year for sales in 2008 (along with several best selling titles in the last few years,) while many of the major publishers have had to restructure. Baldwin has some really interesting thoughts on the future of publishing and the business model of the small press.

Bye-bye Domino

Several of us here at the office were saddened to learn recently that Domino magazine is folding. Another victim of the economic downturn, this Condé Nast publication was a great source of design inspiration and articles on achieving a chic look with pieces from the likes of Target. The New York Times has a lovely story on the magazine and its former editor, Deborah Needleman. The article also provides great insight into the life cycle of a modern magazine.