Kindle

Amazon rolled out Kindle ebook borrowing across 11,000 public libraries yesterday, and I couldn't wait to try it out. Fortunately the Boston Public Library was one of the organizations offering the service.

Even the most ardent consumers of technology can't own everything. And unfortunately for manufacturers of ebooks, laptops and netbooks, a growing number of buyers forced to make a choice are opting for tablets -- specifically Apple's iPad -- at the expense of these other products.

Amazon's Q4 financial results include statements that ebooks for its Kindle platform are now outselling all print books (hardcover and paperback) from its online store. However, the company is still playing coy about how many Kindle devices it has shipped, perhaps because it hasn't really shipped that many.

Some people have been surprised that Barnes and Noble online sales figures for print books have fallen behind Nook ebook sales, but there are several concrete reasons why the company's well planned e-reader platform is gaining such momentum.

The rise in ebooks (and their somewhat lower cost), might make you think that there's no real production costs or processes. But, the actual process of producing a book is largely the same for print or electronic release. Here's a snapshot of those costs and processes.

It's hard to make an argument that we need yet another source for e-books, but that hasn't stopped Google. You can read Google eBooks in a browser, app, or download a file that you can read on any e-reader that can handle Adobe DRM EPUB format.

Barnes & Noble is holding a 'special event' for the Nook today. Coincidentally (of course) Amazon and Borders both have some e-book news of their own to share.

Catching up on some of the week's gaming rumors. We've got a studio boss questioning the power of the Nintendo 3DS, more evidence of a new PSP headed our way, and a technique for playing classic text adventures on a Kindle. Happy Friday!

Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It may not have been the first though and it certainly won't be the last.

Amazon just sold more e-books in a month than hard-covers. Is this end of the road for the printing press?

Sorry Barnes & Noble Nook and Amazon Kindle fans slightly better readability today won't save e-readers tomorrow.

Amazon seems very dedicated to turning Kindle into a platform, and that's bad news for Apple's iBook store, as savvy customers will pick the e-book format with the largest choice in e-reader hardware/software.